iPad for Navigation at Sea + Navionixs app

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by ZenithOcean

I'm not decrying the iPad, I personally use it as well and planning to purchase several others for the boats at work.
More of a word of caution related to anyone thinking of going out and buying the wi-fi only version.

I have a gen 1 iPad WiFi only.

I bought both the bad elf and xgps150 external gps units. Both do a great job.

Bad Elf - advantages - plugs directly into the 30 pin. External power via usb can be plugged into one port on the bad elf and charge/power both gps and iPad. New version of bad elf software is much improved and has individual satellite and aggregate signal strength and positional error displayed visually and numerically. Disadvantages - dongle can be knocked loose. Not sure how the 30 pin connector will hold up over time. Single led indicator light. Very small and easy to lose!

Xgps150 - Advantages - Bluetooth unit can be placed anywhere on boat to improve reception if necessary. Great software for determining signal strengths. "Seems" more robust than bad elf. Multiple leds indicating power state, reception state, etc. Disadvantages - takes up the bluetooth channel on the ipad if you need it for something else, i.e. I often tether to my phone to get cell data connection. Needs to be periodically charged (might be able to hardwire something)

All in all I use the bad elf more often. With no 3g plan I am often connected to the phone by bluetooth, especially when driving. In fact the most common set up on boat and car is, cradled, bad elf plugged in, cigarette lighter usb power plugged in and tethered to the phone and often the phone also plugged into usb power.

If in the market today I would definitely get the 3g capable iPad with no plan. This rerlieves the need for an external gps, bluetooth can still be used to tether for cell data and if accuracy is a concern an external can still be added. I also got the 32gb and would definitely get the most memory available - almost the number one rule of computing... You cant have too much memory or storage.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by surfingminniwinni

Does that mean I could use the iPad as a radar display?

yes.

With the new Furuno and Ray chartplotter systems.

http://www.navnet.com/

http://www.raymarine.com/Default.asp...on=2&page=1007

[foolishsailor]

Nice to see the system has IPad capability, but it is still proprietary. You have to spend what 10k? To get the furuno system and then you can control that system via an app that connects to their proprietary ztouch system...

Better than nothing I guess...

Edit: after looking at the product video for furuno it looks like it is a furuno version of AirPlay and like apples AirPlay it is has significant issues with lag and refresh rate. I have an older furuno navnet system, not the touch version, so I am a firm believer in their quality, and the touch system looks amazing in the video but the iPad control app looks poor...

...and I am afraid to ask what it costs...

[Dulcesuenos]

The Pantech. Element is waterproof and even submersible for 30 min. It does have the built in gps module. But operates on the android platform which I have found to be no biggie.

Originally Posted by ozskipper

the only thing I dont like about tablets is that they arent designed to be splashed etc. Unlike most plotters that can live quite happily at the helm and suffer rain and salt spray.

[FUTURE DAYS]

Thanks Cal, you have convinced me..!

[Ex-Calif]

Put this in the category of, "Ya learn something every day."

Yesterday I fumble fingered and accidentally selected a second Bluetooth device from the ipad menu, and it connected!

Apparently you can connect multiple bluetooth devices together. As a demo I am tethered to my phone typing this and running the xgps150.

Good news!

Doesn't change the fact that with xgps150 I have to power the ipad, gps and phone (when tethered) separately for long term use but still good news.

A dry bag and glare filter are also essential if using the ipad on deck.

[FUTURE DAYS]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Put this in the category of, "Ya learn something every day."

Yesterday I fumble fingered and accidentally selected a second Bluetooth device from the ipad menu, and it connected!

Apparently you can connect multiple bluetooth devices together. As a demo I am tethered to my phone typing this and running the xgps150.

Good news!

Doesn't change the fact that with xgps150 I have to power the ipad, gps and phone (when tethered) separately for long term use but still good news.

A dry bag and glare filter are also essential if using the ipad on deck.

Thanks for the info! Cheers Harry