Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 19-12-2024, 12:52   #1
Registered User

Join Date: May 2022
Location: Missoula, MT
Boat: Looking
Posts: 10
Question Recommend me some Instruments

I sail a Potter 19 on inland and protected coastal waters. I navigate with compass, depth sounder, Navionics and paper charts. I trim by windex, telltales and the wind on my face. I have a handheld VHS. I know that I don't need any more instruments. In addition to simple sailing I do have a fondness for gear and electronics. I also like to satisfy my hobby addiction in a simple and cheap manner.

I would like to put together a tablet based system that would allow me to see charts, AIS info and wind data. I would like it to be wireless and not involve things like a NEMA backbone or running power to devices. An exception would be a VHS with AIS transponder that would connect with my tablet, perhaps by wifi. I'm also open to dedicated wind displays.

There are several choices on the market. I would like to know what folks on this board are using, where you would start, what you like and don't like, what you would do differently and what you plan to do in the future.

Again, I know I don't really need any of this. I'm exploring it because I find it to be fun. Oh, and the safety factor of AIS in busy waterways. I want them to see me.

RC
Missoula, MT
rocu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-12-2024, 14:25   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 21,199
Re: Recommend me some Instruments

A Windows or Android will run the software. 25 to 250 USD second hand, depending on how very modern and big you like to be.



OpenCPN is free and can give you chart and AIS and instrument panel.


Instrument data can be fed over wifi. I think also over BT.


There are serial-wifi bridges on the market, not very expensive. Or you can build your own.


b.
barnakiel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 19-12-2024, 15:37   #3
Registered User

Join Date: May 2022
Location: Missoula, MT
Boat: Looking
Posts: 10
Re: Recommend me some Instruments

The tablets I've used tend to be hard to read off axis and/or in direct sunlight.

Any specific recommendations? I know about Sailproof and might go that route.

I've used OpenCPN and might use it again.

Any specific wireless wind sensors?
rocu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2024, 18:31   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 21,199
Re: Recommend me some Instruments

I have many devices and I think those with AMOLED work pretty well (e.g. Samsungs, also many old ones) in daylight.


The point about daylight use is that you want an APP that reverses the patterns for night and day viewing. It is black on white for day and white on black for the night. Look at expensive B&G racing instruments - they all reverse the pattern for day / night.


And for wireless sensors - I would not use these. I would wire from the sensor to the wifi hub, and then connect the hub wirelessly to the mobile device.


Most devices can connect to only ONE wifi thing at a time. And you may want more than one sensor I guess (gps, ais, depth, hdm, awa, you name it)


So you can make it wired to a wifi hub, and from the hub wifi the multiplexed data to the device. Make the device display black on white for day viewing.


Old Samsungs with AMOLED screen. Or something bright, like the ALLDOCUBE (inexpensive, but bright).



Cheers,
b.
barnakiel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2024, 19:13   #5
Moderator
 
Don C L's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Channel Islands, CA
Boat: 1962 Columbia 29 MK 1 #37
Posts: 15,337
Images: 67
Re: Recommend me some Instruments

I know you meant VHF, but I have a bunch of old VHS tapes, and I'd love to have a handheld VHS player.
__________________
DL
Pythagoras
1962 Columbia 29 MKI #37
Don C L is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2024, 21:25   #6
Registered User

Join Date: May 2022
Location: Missoula, MT
Boat: Looking
Posts: 10
Re: Recommend me some Instruments

Quote:
Originally Posted by Don C L View Post
I know you meant VHF, but I have a bunch of old VHS tapes, and I'd love to have a handheld VHS player.
rocu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20-12-2024, 21:28   #7
Registered User

Join Date: May 2022
Location: Missoula, MT
Boat: Looking
Posts: 10
Re: Recommend me some Instruments

Good point about the wifi hub with multiple devices.

Any specific recommendations on sensors and or hubs built for this type of usage?
rocu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21-12-2024, 05:28   #8
Registered User
 
ranger58sb's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Maryland, USA
Boat: 58' Sedan Bridge
Posts: 5,628
Re: Recommend me some Instruments

Quote:
Originally Posted by rocu View Post
I sail a Potter 19 on inland and protected coastal waters.

Again, I know I don't really need any of this. I'm exploring it because I find it to be fun. Oh, and the safety factor of AIS in busy waterways. I want them to see me.

Can't say I'd expect much improvement from AIS on inland and some coastal waterways. It can help, but I'd guess 95%+ (at least) of boats don't have it...

We use Samsung tablets for backup nav, with varying degrees of successful viewing in bright sunlight. (Works OK on our enclosed flybridge helm.)

One of our installed systems is Furuno, and we can mirror some of that on Furuno's counterpart tablet apps. Haven't seen any utility in that, so haven't explored. Other brands may offer similar mirroring capabilities.

The app we use is AquaMap, and I think there's a way to get AIS on there. But if their AIS info on an app is just a feed from an internet source like marinetraffic.com, that won't be particularly useful. (We have AIS on our installed nav systems, so haven't tried with the tablet.)

Or, you could run TimeZero Navigator on a laptop and network all your instruments to that. You can get everything you want on there, including real AIS (not an internet feed), but I dunno much about how to do all that. (We run TZ Navigator on a Windows laptop for backup, partly because it's a near analog of our installed Furuno nav system, but haven't ever bothered to network the thing.)

Another possibility might be TZ iBoat which runs on Apple iThings. Same networking as whatever it takes to connect TZ Navigator.

-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA.
ranger58sb is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
instruments, men, rum

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Recommend me some ripping yarns about sailors crossing the Atlantic Ocean or similar The Wolf General Sailing Forum 54 30-01-2024 18:40
Where could I send some hydraulic oil for some testing? CarstenWL Construction, Maintenance & Refit 12 05-02-2015 12:03

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:56.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.