How far are we away from 100% iPad / PC navigation?

[Tar34]

Originally Posted by GPSNavX

Not true, A SeaSmart WiFi adapter makes it quite easy ..

SeaSmart




The Navionics charts for iPad/iPhone are much lower cost then their MFD equivalents.

You mean free.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by mikereed100

[B]We also have paper charts as backup because we are all only a lightning strike away from the 19th century.

I think this cancels out the 100%. There's nothing more secure than non-electronic navigation and the know how.

[goboatingnow]

There's nothing more secure than non-electronic navigation and the know how.

That of course protects you from droping the sextant over the side, or loosing your sight reduction tables.

All methods have failure modes.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Tar34

You mean free.

My ipad navionics charts are not free, funnily if I buy a new garmin plotter ( and ray marine) I get " free charts ".

Dave

[Tar34]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

My ipad navionics charts are not free, funnily if I buy a new garmin plotter ( and ray marine) I get " free charts ".

Dave

Funny, i Just downloaded all the charts from Portland Maine to the Bay of Fundy to my iPhone, free. What am I missing? I also use GPSNavX and download all my charts from NOAA free too. Is the iPad different? I don't think so..

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Not all Ipad charts are free. some are quite expensive, like European

The HD Navionics marine maps for the iPad covering most of Europe (excluding the UK) are about $70. The lower definition iPhone marine map or Europe is about $25.

[goboatingnow]

The ones on my latest Garmin 555 are also free.

Dave

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Tar34

Funny, i Just downloaded all the charts from Portland Maine to the Bay of Fundy to my iPhone, free. What am I missing? I also use GPSNavX and download all my charts from NOAA free too. Is the iPad different? I don't think so..

US charts are free for a different reason

[goboatingnow]

The fact is whether the chart is free or low cost or whatever should never really determine the choice of plotter. With the increasing availability of charts, more competition and the arrival of tablets and smartphones all charts are getting cheaper or are bundled in free.

Neitehr is one buying a chartplotter, they disappeared years ago, You are buying a control hub, a display device for many things and a control centre for things like autopilot control, network configuration and the integrated display of large amounts of information. Chartplotting is the least of it.

[GPSNavX]

Another thing to consider is the cost and availability and ease of updating the charts. Great if the charts are free, but if there is no update or the cost is prohibitively high.

[noelex 77]

Electronic marine maps are becoming incredibly cheap.

There is a revolution going on and it is creating some real anomalies in the market place.

Any chart plotters/ tablet/ PC navigation system is not very functional without maps. Make sure you factor the software cost into your purchase decisions.

However, we do need to consider that some the cost of maps is already built into the initial price of some devices. The maps might be "free", but you have already paid for the licence in the purchase price of some chart plotters.

In most ways we live in the golden era of both navigation and cruising. Multiple cheap devices that will fix our position to within a few meters, 24 hours a day, anywhere on the earth. Cheap, or free marine maps. We can mostly visit these places on our maps for minimal cost.
There is sometimes too much doom and gloom on CF, lamenting the "good old days".

The good days are here and now.

[SunDevil]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

That of course protects you from droping the sextant over the side, or loosing your sight reduction tables.

All methods have failure modes.

I've always wondered about overcast conditions or fog when using sextant navigation.

Or navigating in a storm while using paper charts and a sextant doesn't sound too easy.

As for the iPad, it needs a way to connect to power just by sitting it down. And the communications have to be wireless or built into the waterproof case.

As for Garmin and RayMarine, they should look at using an iPad or Mac as the display, but add their instruments and waterproof case and connectors to it. Updates would be much easier. Cell phone access and near real time satellite weather and wave height would be good too. And it would be nice to use while in port.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by SunDevil

As for Garmin and RayMarine, they should look at using an iPad or Mac as the display, but add their instruments and waterproof case and connectors to it. Updates would be much easier. Cell phone access and near real time satellite weather and wave height would be good too. And it would be nice to use while in port.

I don't see the point. I want at least one dedicated multi function display, soley supporting the navigation of the boat. That doesn't preclude connecting in a tablet. But I don't want an unreliable commercial software , multi app device as my primary device.

Dave

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

I don't want an unreliable commercial software , multi app device as my primary device.

Dave

My plotter died about two years ago and since then my primary have been a PC. Along the ICW it was iPad (a damn toy). So now I am quite happy without a plotter.

I just don't think the plotters are cutting the mustard.


Mark

[Heritage]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

The ones on my latest Garmin 555 are also free.

Dave

Dave:
Could you tell us how you persuade Garmin to upgrade the charts for free. Updated charts for my Garmin chartplotter are expensive.