Remote monitoring function in Anchor drag alarm

[Gnilias]

I've used the Anchor drag alarm from the developer Pomacanthus for a few years. In particular, the remote monitoring function was great - leave one phone on the boat, set remote monitoring mode on it and on the device I take ashore, and track the boat / anchor position from ashore. It saved my bacon once by alerting me to the anchor dragging.

I can't get this remote monitoring function to work anymore and I've tried emailing the developer Pomacanthus but it appears that they are no longer accepting responses.

I've changed my router (now using a Teltonika RUTX50) and also moved on from iPhone8's to current model iPhones, so these could be contributory factors.

I've tried with both phones connected to the same network delivered via the router, or via PredictWind data hub. Location monitoring services appear to be on on both devices. I've deleted and re-installed the Anchor app on both devices. With the app open on both devices, and the anchor set on the sending device, I've used remote mode to "invite a remote device to monitor this device" then transferred the file via airdrop to the other device, which I then open in the anchor app on the other device. I've checked the password in the remote alerts section of the app is the same on both devices.

I'm stumped. Can anyone who knows this app shed some light on why it's not working for me? Or can anyone who uses an alternative app for remote monitoring when ashore recommend it?

Many thanks

[MathiasW]

I am not familiar with this particular app (or more precisely, it is rather late here, and I did not bother to look it up in the big review of anchor alarm apps that I did some years ago ), but how do the two phones communicate with each other? The one left on the boat, and the one you take with you.

If it is based on a central server that both phones communicate with, then this server is likely operated by the company that sold this anchor alarm. Perhaps they have stopped support for the app and stopped the server? Or the server is simply down for one reason or another, and they are not aware of it?

I once had such an issue with the anchor alarm app that I am using, and it turned out to be a hiccup on the server side, which the developer fixed in no time once I had made him aware of it.

Cheers,

Mathias

Anchor Chain Calculator

[Gnilias]

Hi and thanks for your suggestion,
I’m not sure how the two phones communicate other than they both need to have an internet connection.
You mentioned that you’d done a review of anchor apps in the past - seeing as i cant get my one to work, can you suggest a good alternative? Many thanks!

[MathiasW]

Meanwhile, I've found your app in my review - which is located here:

https://trimaran-san.de/en/anchor-alarm-apps-overview/

I am using the Anchor Sentry app, which also has this functionality you are looking for. I think it is a better app than what you currently have, in terms of setting up the allowed swinging area etc.

Cheers,

Mathias

Anchor Chain Calculator

[Gnilias]

Hi Mathias
Thank you for your recommendation and your fantastic review of all the apps out there. It is very comprehensive and should be a 'go to' reference for anyone wanting to choose an anchor app. It must have taken a lot of time to compile.
I'm going to install Anchor Sentry, it looks good.
Thanks
Julia

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by Gnilias

Hi Mathias
Thank you for your recommendation and your fantastic review of all the apps out there. It is very comprehensive and should be a 'go to' reference for anyone wanting to choose an anchor app. It must have taken a lot of time to compile.
I'm going to install Anchor Sentry, it looks good.
Thanks
Julia

Hi Julia,



we use the Pomacanthus one and by far we found it the most useful and intuitive to use.

Especially the coloured track is extremely helpful.

Still works on one of our phones.



But, as you also mentioned it can not be installed on some phones which is really ashame.



As you mentioned you installed Anchor Sentry instead. It's a paid app, so before spending some money, one question, does it draw the track as well?

Sadly I can't try it out before purchase.



Regarding remote monitoring. I feel it's only useful if you are close bye. In a way it gives a false sense of security.

We once had a situation in the Pomacanthus app when we where in a supermarket few miles inshore. The alarm went off, it looked like she slips and we rushed with utmost urgency back to the boat, to find it where it was supposed to be.

We would not have been fast enough back to save her had it not been a false alarm.



If you are not far it can be helpful though.



Fair winds, Franziska

[barnakiel]

A newer device will have a newer OS and this may be a contributing factor.



Tried with an older device already ?


b.

[Franziska]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

A newer device will have a newer OS and this may be a contributing factor.



Tried with an older device already ?


b.

Funny enough it runs on the newer one, but not on the older ones in our case. Pomacanthus did not reply either to question. Shame, as they have a great product.
Thankfully without subscription and social media features.

Despite the app being around for some time..

[Gnilias]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hi Julia,



we use the Pomacanthus one and by far we found it the most useful and intuitive to use.

Especially the coloured track is extremely helpful.

Still works on one of our phones.



But, as you also mentioned it can not be installed on some phones which is really ashame.



As you mentioned you installed Anchor Sentry instead. It's a paid app, so before spending some money, one question, does it draw the track as well?

Sadly I can't try it out before purchase.



Regarding remote monitoring. I feel it's only useful if you are close bye. In a way it gives a false sense of security.

We once had a situation in the Pomacanthus app when we where in a supermarket few miles inshore. The alarm went off, it looked like she slips and we rushed with utmost urgency back to the boat, to find it where it was supposed to be.

We would not have been fast enough back to save her had it not been a false alarm.



If you are not far it can be helpful though.



Fair winds, Franziska

Hi Franziska
Thanks for the info. As i said, Im going to install Anchor Sentry but i havent done so yet so cant answer your questions. The link that Mathias posted is quite a comprehensive review of most of the apps out there, and you might want to check it out to see if it answers your questions.
Fair winds!

[MathiasW]

Pomacanthus - basic version is free only for Android last time I checked. For iOS it is a one-off fee. The Pro version for Android has a ridiculous monthly subscription fee.

Anchor Sentry - yes, it does track the vessel's position. On iOS one can point the phone towards the anchor position and put in the distance to the anchor and one is all set. On Android this pointing feature is not available last time I checked.

[Franziska]

Regarding Anchor Sentry, the developer confirmed the tracking to me too, he also said one can store anchorage info for different spots locally on the phone and even transfer this to another phone.

Further he might add a track with color change feature.



So, if it runs on all our phones we might switch as the Pomacanthus doesn't.


This despite being big fans of the Pomacanthus app.

We did initially install it for the remote monitoring feature, and tried it. Never bought it though as we did not use the remote feature after the experience I described earlier.
The free Android version is good enough for us. Pricing options, see attached (click it to read it better). We never do subscriptions and I agree pricing is a bit hefty for the "lifetime" purchase if you need the remote feature.

[SV Coronado]

I, too, am/was a big fan of Anchor! and have been using it for many years. However, I've noticed more issues with it recently. It appears the last time the iOS version was updated was three years ago. I suspect Pomacanthus has abandoned the app. I wish they would turn the source code into an open source project so others could keep it maintained. It's a shame because it was a great app.

[MathiasW]

Originally Posted by SV Coronado

I, too, am/was a big fan of Anchor! and have been using it for many years. However, I've noticed more issues with it recently. It appears the last time the iOS version was updated was three years ago. I suspect Pomacanthus has abandoned the app. I wish they would turn the source code into an open source project so others could keep it maintained. It's a shame because it was a great app.

Open source projects do not work with iOS as Apple has managed to keep it a closed system. They are being forced to open up by the EU now, but it will take years.

As long as you are tied to App Store, somebody needs to cough up 100 bucks every year to keep the app alive and available in the store.

So, even if you do it as a hobby, as I do for my app, it costs money every year.

[MathiasW]

Actually, I am not sure that I would want an open source app on my phone, if the phone is doing all kinds of online banking and other sensitive operations.

Open source is not a guarantee for proper peer-review of source code so that no malicious code can be introduced on a computer. Just remember the attack earlier this year via the XZ compression tool kit for Unix, an open-source project with a maintainer running it, which almost succeeded. And if it had, many millions of computers would have had a most-convenient backdoor built in.

So, no, thank you very much, I rather pay a couple of bucks to protect a rather expensive boat whilst at anchor.