Visit our Popular Forums

Sid at SailAway · 09-03-2012, 14:21

Talk free is cool but you may want to google it and read about a problem users are having with it on the ipad/iphone. Seems once you install it it can't be deleted. All the details are at your fingertips...Sid

Nicholson58 · 09-03-2012, 15:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by tartansail

Here are the technical specs for the new iPad:
Apple - The new iPad - View all the technical specifications.

If the plan is to use the iPad for navigation, the built-in GPS is the way to go. (IMHO)

There are several new tablets available that are waterproof. DO a google search. I keep thinking I am about to buy an onboard computer but the options change weekly.

NDH · 10-03-2012, 00:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cotemar

NDH,

As with any GPS device, be it iphone or ipad in the car or on the boat.

You should always have it plugged in when using GPS.

Keep in mind if you have tracking on, a bread crumb trail is being displayed on the screen every few feet and you do not want the gps to go into sleep mode as you will loose your track and accuracy.

Ok, thanks for that information. So presumably plugged into the 12v circuit, next question, do I need any sort of 12v converter to give a stabilised supply ?

**Cotemar** · 10-03-2012, 04:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by NDH

Ok, thanks for that information. So presumably plugged into the 12v circuit, next question, do I need any sort of 12v converter to give a stabilised supply ?

NDH,

Just plug it in with a 12 volt iPad charger.
Here is what I use. It puts out 10 watts.

Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

Nicholson58 · 11-03-2012, 10:09

Even with the boat's main solar power, I think we will add on of those small solar mats made specifically for lap-tops. I really think the competition shoud start forcing the absurd prices down on the big guys. One of the techy guys even told me at a show that the computers they all use are antiques compared with any new PC you might buy. The only thing they have is water proofing. Seems that may not be true much longer.

foolishsailor · 11-03-2012, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaduction

Am I thinking correctly here:

1. I buy a new iPad with no cellular service carrier involved.
2. I download iNavX app via my internet connection (about $50).
3. The built-in iPad GPS receiver will show my position on the downloaded charts.

Sounds too good to be true!
I'm about ready to spring for an iPad!

Yes and no.

1. you need a waterproof solution to use outside. There are cases and a mew nanotech solution to dip in as well

2. They are total **** in sunlight. This for me is the "app killer" even thoug i use them as a secondary nav system

3. I am not aware of any app or hardware that allows them to overlay radar

You can however get a wifi nmea multiplexor and app that allows all nmea info to overlay your nav screen.

For me i can li e without radar above deck as my main desire is to be able to see digital nav charts for tricky situations, my furuno system is at my nav station, but i have found that daytime and a difficult pass are not a good time to be trying to decifer and ipad2 in bright light.

cchesley · 11-03-2012, 11:15

They work pretty good as back up plotters. Not being waterproof AND their total inability to be seen well in sunlight (or with polarized sunglasses) pretty much precludes them from being the sole GPS/plotter... at least for me. However, as a back up, they're great and on my boat I don't have to be 'outside' to be at the helm so their weaknesses become less of an issue. I do prefer to have something cleanly hardwired to my house bank though since battery consumption for all portable gps's is horrid otherwise.

Nicholson58 · 11-03-2012, 11:39

Our boat was built pre-massive electronics. There is no convenient location for anything on deck. The top of the binicle is a large compass. I have tested some of our electronic devices and find that even the Garmen hand held moves the compass. I installed the Simrad and everything else below but have run aux lines to the binnacle for the times we must have a display. The Simrad runs an external dumb display on a VGA line. We can leave the screen stowed unless it is really needed. With the autohelm driving, the nav station is a better place to plan and use the instruments most of the time. The monitor on a RAM mount is a 12 inch - smallest LED I could find. You can see the binacle is pretty well packed and the nearest other location is over the companion way where you see AIS, Wind, Depth and Speed, B&G NMEA 183 repeater.

Noname · 11-03-2012, 12:09

Posts #36 and #37 pose very good (or bad) drawbacks to using ipad for primary navigation. I think a backup chartplotter may be a better use of money, considering these issues.

Nicholson58 · 11-03-2012, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by cchesley

They work pretty good as back up plotters. Not being waterproof AND their total inability to be seen well in sunlight (or with polarized sunglasses) pretty much precludes them from being the sole GPS/plotter... at least for me. However, as a back up, they're great and on my boat I don't have to be 'outside' to be at the helm so their weaknesses become less of an issue. I do prefer to have something cleanly hardwired to my house bank though since battery consumption for all portable gps's is horrid otherwise.

agree - all good points except - there are waterproof tablets now. I'm hanging on for about another year for more to be available.

foolishsailor · 11-03-2012, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

agree - all good points except - there are waterproof tablets now. I'm hanging on for about another year for more to be available.

Dont pay for waterproofing order the following

http://www.liquipel.com/

Its like buying a hardened laptop...you pay 5x the price to have a laptop that will be obsolete in2 years....

Same with iPad...don't buy if you don't have the cash to stay on the upgrade curve...

...to protect your investment and stay on the "bleeding edge " of mobile platform navigation goto

http://www.liquipel.com/

To keep your early tech safe.

The only issue is "multiple contact point points " ie where you plug the damn thing in for a recharg....it rubs off....

But hey if you are using an iPad for nav you know your are using beta tech with all it's perks an drawbacks right? ...right?

redcobra · 11-03-2012, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by foolishsailor

Dont pay for waterproofing order the following

Liquipel | Waterproof Your Cell Phone, No Case Required!

Its like buying a hardened laptop...you pay 5x the price to have a laptop that will be obsolete in2 years....

Same with iPad...don't buy if you don't have the cash to stay on the upgrade curve...

...to protect your investment and stay on the "bleeding edge " of mobile platform navigation goto

Liquipel | Waterproof Your Cell Phone, No Case Required!

To keep your early tech safe.

The only issue is "multiple contact point points " ie where you plug the damn thing in for a recharg....it rubs off....

But hey if you are using an iPad for nav you know your are using beta tech with all it's perks an drawbacks right? ...right?

Beta tech?

foolishsailor · 11-03-2012, 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by redcobra

Beta tech?

Alpha is usually pre release and uses experienced developers to find issues and bugs...

Beta used to be the same as alpha but further along the development path and primarily used developers and advanced power users to flesh out final bugs, but in the case of iPad and windows now beta really mean general population, and they use unshosticated useers to flesh out bugs without the implied consent of users. Ie they sell you a product and wait for you to complain that it doesn't work as it should. Not nice if you are relying on a nav product and it craps out....

The iTunes store has allowed the rekease nav utilities without any real idea about the real use in real conditions. The platform, non hardened and non waterproff ipads, is not designed for the conditions of intended use, the screen of the device is not designed for the conditions, iPad doesn't work well in direct sunlight, and the firmware/software doesn't work optimally for the desired use, ie iPads gps update rate is vastly slower compared to comparable nav products...

...that makes it "beta tech"