Wireless sonar with Navionics on a tablet

[peterhull]

Does anyone have any experience or recommendations for installing a wireless sonar sender to link up with my Navionics software on my tablet.

I trailer sail and although I have already bought NASA Clipper depth sounder ( but not installed yet ) I do wonder if there is any advantage in changing to a wireless set up. I did investigate this about 6 months ago but of course there still a requirement to provide power to the transducer so there is still a need for wiring back to the switchboard.

Is there any advantage over conventional sounders I ask myself.

What do YM forumites think?

 

[davethedog]

If the depth sounder and instrument display output NMEA then you can always add an NMEA multiplexer/WIFI router and this will then send the depth data to navionics.

Something like this:

QK-A026 AIS Receiver with NMEA Multiplexer + WiFi + GPS - AIS receiver, Marine NMEA multiplexer,IoT solutions in UK

If you then add an extra VHF/AIS antenna you can get that data also on navionics (so Navionics will show the AIS data and the depth as well as the chart.

 

[Gixer]

I can vouch for the Quark 026, works perfectly. I bought a splitter for my VHF and also now get AIS on navionics.

 

[peterhull]

If the depth sounder and instrument display output NMEA then you can always add an NMEA multiplexer/WIFI router and this will then send the depth data to navionics.

Something like this:

QK-A026 AIS Receiver with NMEA Multiplexer + WiFi + GPS - AIS receiver, Marine NMEA multiplexer,IoT solutions in UK

If you then add an extra VHF/AIS antenna you can get that data also on navionics (so Navionics will show the AIS data and the depth as well as the chart.

Thank-you Dave I will have a look at that.

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

In order for navionics to pick up the depth data in needs a position in the same nmea sentence. Most new fish finders (circa £140) have a gps so no issue. My old Garmin fish 100 does not so did not work with my Yacker wifi/navionics setup.
New fish finder is on my list. Far better value and build quality than a NASA depth unit...

 

[peterhull]

I try to keep electronic equipment to the minimum. When I first came across wireless sounders I immediately thought it would do away with wires!!

When i looked into it more thoroughly, the sounder transducer needs a power supply so you still have to run a wire from the sounder to the switchboard. I then questioned whether in fact there was any advantage over a conventional sounder apart from i suppose integration on the same screen.

When I am ready to install electrics ( i only trailer sail in sheltered waters) I am intending to install a 4 gang switch panel with usb and 12v sockets, a sounder, a tablet with Navionics installed , LED cabin lights, and combined mast navigation and anchor light. A 10 watt solar panel which I plug in when berthed or at anchor.

I have a Handheld Icom 91d which has DSC and GPS so I can hit the distress button if I get into difficulty. I also have 2 PLB's

I dont really need AIS

 

[prv]

In order for navionics to pick up the depth data in needs a position in the same nmea sentence.

That's not possible since neither DBT nor DPT have fields for position.

Pete

 

[Andrew_Trayfoot]

That's not possible since neither DBT nor DPT have fields for position.

Pete

You are right I did not use the right words.
I think it needs depth and position from the same 'talker identifier' which is the fist field in the sentence.
Mine kept erroring with 'No position data"

 

[peterhull]

Just reviving this thread. I have seen adverts for EchoZilla that links tablet to sounder with a tablet or smartphone.

EchoZilla Marine Electronics - Smartphone Sonar Navionics software .

Anyone used this or have any thoughts about it