Garmin's BlueChart Mobile for iPhone and iPad

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Exile

Either way, it's pretty cheap redunancy I suppose.

I dunno.
Wouldn't it be better to get a different set of charts like offered on iNavx then if there's a problem with one, or a difficult patch, you can look at the other charts?

I have that, but on three systems, or four really, the CM93 on Opencpn on the PC, INavx and also East Coast. The last is my Garmin on PC world planner with blue charts of the America's.But I don't use that much.

Each different chart system shows different stuff. I find it useful

[Exile]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I dunno.
Wouldn't it be better to get a different set of charts like offered on iNavx then if there's a problem with one, or a difficult patch, you can look at the other charts?

I have that, but on three systems, or four really, the CM93 on Opencpn on the PC, INavx and also East Coast. The last is my Garmin on PC world planner with blue charts of the America's.But I don't use that much.

Each different chart system shows different stuff. I find it useful

I've had iNavX on the iPad & MacENC on my Macbook (same deal) for awhile now, but with Garmin plotters it probably also makes sense for me to spend the $30 for the new Garmin app. I've downloaded OpenCPN but haven't messed with it yet. Probably should for the sake of having different mapping resources as you suggest.

You probably already know this, but Garmin has stopped supporting BlueCharts for the PC which is a bummer -- especially after paying so much for each region! Still useful, just no updating presumably. Can use their "Basecamp" function instead to display on a computer, but need one of their devices with preloaded maps that also has a USB port. Not 100% sure that this works with their marine mapping.

[Greenhand]

Could you please explain what happens on a chartplotter when you activate a route? Wouldn't you need the actual charts, versus this bare boned map?

[Capt.Don]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I think Navionics is only a planner too. I was thinking of buying it, but when this thread and Garmin issue came out I had a look at Navionics and it definitely says planning...

At least the Garmin one was free, then buy the charts where the Navionics you fork out the $59 then find out its only planning.

That's what I thought at first. You have to purchase their additional nav module, that gives the speed, track, heading, distance information. For iPhone, $1.99, iPad $4.99. Here's a screen print from my phone at home (not moving).



I looked at iNavX, iSailGPS, Navionics and Navamatics. Of the set, I like Navionics. I wish they had a waypoint upload, like iNavX and iSailGPS. I'm finding that for navigation, I'm leaning towards Navionics with iNavX a close second. If you care about community info (Active Captain), then Garmin and Navimatics are the way to go, though Navionics has their community POIs too.

I'm really disappointed in the Garmin BlueChart Mobile app......
Don

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Capt.Don

That's what I thought at first. You have to purchase their additional nav module, that gives the speed, track, heading, distance information. For iPhone, $1.99, iPad $4.99.

I'm really disappointed in the Garmin BlueChart Mobile app......
Don

WAREHAM, Massachusetts – Navionics, the world leader in electronic navigation, has launched the highly anticipated In-App Purchase of the Nav Module for its award winning Navionics iPhone and iPad HD Applications.

The Nav Module expands the navigation capabilities of the Navionics App by providing users the ability to enter routes and analyze vital details such as estimated time of arrival, distance to arrival, heading to waypoints and fuel consumption. Editing can be done underway while receiving real time route data, or planned off the water, syncing to your other mobile devices.

Boaters can elect to upgrade to Nav Module via Apple’s In-App Purchase for a one-time charge of $1.99/€1.59 on iPhone and $4.99/€3.99 on iPad with most recent software version of 3.2.

Ok found it!


I think I officially hate Garmin

[sabray]

On a positive note. The grib file view is nice. There are screen slots that should be showing heading location and speed but they are blank. ???? Very easy to create a route maybe if i were moving it would fill in some blanks.
There is a chart with Canada it is one of two north america versions.
Otherwise it feels like they released it to early or before its time.

[Cotemar]

Here is what I like about Garmin BlueChart Mobile, so far it does more than all my other iPad apps.

1) Head up or North up chart display
2) App is Free to play. $30 bought me all the charts I need from Maine to BVI including the Bahamas Explorer charts
3) ActiveCaptain data built in
4) Tides and Currents
5) Identical routes and waypoints on iPad and my Garmin 5208 chartplotter
6) Plan and follow the same routes on my iPad
7) See the same tracks on iPad and Garmin 5208 chartplotter
8) Ability to overlay weather and satellites data on my charts $4
9) Show wind data pressure and temps on chart

This is what I currently own for iPad Nav Apps:
Garmin BlueChart Mobile
Memory Map PocketNav
Navionics – USA HD
INavx
Navimatics – US East Coast
eSeaCharts
GeoGarage

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by sabray

There is a chart with Canada it is one of two north america versions.

Sabray, have you purchased "North America v2012.5"? The packages says it includes Canada, but does it include the actual chart data from Canadian charts? NOAA has large scale charts for all of North America, but only Canadian charts give the detail (small scale) for Canadian waters. It's also unclear as to whether northern Lake Superior and Huron are included.

I was originally assuming this package does include Canadian data, as other Garmin products do, but someone else on this thread indicated otherwise.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Here is what I like about Garmin BlueChart Mobile, so far it does more than all my other iPad apps.

But you do agree it won't navigate?
You can't activate a route.
So you can't do a go to. Can't get a course prediction, etc,
You have noticed that?


By the way, I love the weather graphics. V cool


Mark

[Exile]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

But you do agree it won't navigate?
You can't activate a route.
So you can't do a go to. Can't get a course prediction, etc,
You have noticed that?


By the way, I love the weather graphics. V cool


Mark

I assume an internet connection is required for the weather to display? Would the XM sat weather display if it functioned on a Garmin plotter?

[Greenhand]

Originally Posted by Exile

I assume an internet connection is required for the weather to display? Would the XM sat weather display if it functioned on a Garmin plotter?

I think you would have to upgrade to the advanced weather option.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by Greenhand

I think you would have to upgrade to the advanced weather option.

I thought there was only one weather option. I'll look again.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Sabray, have you purchased "North America v2012.5"? The packages says it includes Canada, but does it include the actual chart data from Canadian charts? NOAA has large scale charts for all of North America, but only Canadian charts give the detail (small scale) for Canadian waters. It's also unclear as to whether northern Lake Superior and Huron are included.

I was originally assuming this package does include Canadian data, as other Garmin products do, but someone else on this thread indicated otherwise.

This picture is why I believe they did not have Canadian Data, but now I see It says Canadian coast lines

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

But you do agree it won't navigate?
You can't activate a route.
So you can't do a go to. Can't get a course prediction, etc,
You have noticed that?

By the way, I love the weather graphics. V cool

Mark

Yes, I agree with Follow route not Navigate route

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

This picture is why I believe they did not have Canadian Data

Yes, I know Cotemar, and I really appreciate your response. That is why I asked if someone actually had the package. If you do, then you can easily find out what data sets they have -- just zoom into Thunder Bay, ON for example. Lots of detail? Great, then it's Canadian data.

From the image you show (which is the only info I can find on their base data), I am left questioning what they include. If it is simply American charts that happen to overlay Canadian waters, then it's no good to me. It also appears from the pic that they don't include northern L. Superior or Huron.

I like the look and feel of the product, but I shouldn't have to dig this hard just to find out what datasets they are using...