Simple electronic navigation solution?

[sepharad]

I am prepping for my first cruise. My Standard Horizon CP300i GPS Chart Plotter is so old they no longer sell the chips and am lucky a king member send me his old European chip.

I read that a Samsung Galaxy S8 loaded with Navionics was simple, straightforward, and economical. Now I see a multi-page complaint about 100+% price increasing and use limitations.

What is a solid, simple electronic navigation solution for me, please.

Super technical solutions are incomprehensible to me.

If it say things like download X files Convert them to Z files and upload them as Y files, it is utterly meaningless to me.

Solid and simple without being gouged.

[El Pinguino]

i-Sailor on an iPad - just make sure you buy an ipad with wifi and cellular.

[mvweebles]

I see you're in Spain so not familiar with your options. I'm not keen on the price increase for Navionics, but in their defense, it's a good charting program and you don't have to update it each year if $50 (USD) is out of reach for you. It's still my go-to for quick information. I use it on my MFD system. It has improved over the years - the chip I recently purchased for Central America is quite good despite its cost (around $200 USD).

For bav apps, I've tried many of them. The last couple years I have increasingly been using AquaMaps. To my eyes, their interface is easier to decipher. I see the Spain/Portugal charts are $28 (USD) p.a. What I don't know is after a year whether they disappear or simply stop updating meaning you have dated charts that are very usable for some time to come.

[sepharad]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

i-Sailor on an iPad - just make sure you buy an ipad with wifi and cellular.

I already made this mistake. I bought iPad without cellular.

Can ISailor run on less expensive mistakes, like a SamsungGalaxy S8?

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by sepharad

I already made this mistake. I bought iPad without cellular.

Can ISailor run on less expensive mistakes, like a SamsungGalaxy S8?

No, only Apple phones or tablets.

You don’t have to have cellular (required to provide GPS) but then you would need to be able to provide your device with position information (and other boat data such as wind speed and direction). There are several companies that have NMEA WIFI gateways that plug into your navigation system. But if no boat navigation system network, then you will need cellular.

[boatman61]

My simple solution is my Notebook (10"),a gps Puck and CM 93 charts on OpenCPN which I managed to download from my Nimble Navigator program.
It was pretty simple in the end considering I'm barely computer literate.
Sadly it seems the creator has died during Covid as I have not been able to raise him for a couple of years now.

[fxykty]

Originally Posted by boatman61

My simple solution is my Notebook (10"),a gps Puck and CM 93 charts on OpenCPN which I managed to download from my Nimble Navigator program.
It was pretty simple in the end considering I'm barely computer literate.
Sadly it seems the creator has died during Covid as I have not been able to raise him for a couple of years now.

OpenCPN is good, but charts can suck depending where in the world you are. We’re in Indonesia and the only commercial chart available is €270!!! The CM93 world base map is more offset and useless than useful around here. If it wasn’t for satellite chart repositories available from other cruisers and the ability to make our own (neither job suitable for the computer near illiterate), OpenCPN wouldn’t be all that good either. And it’s not available on devices.

[davil]

Originally Posted by sepharad

I already made this mistake. I bought iPad without cellular.

Can ISailor run on less expensive mistakes, like a SamsungGalaxy S8?

======================
same mistake
If you already have the IPad and like it.

solution for me from Amazon

I run Navionics and Aqua Map

===========================

Dual Electronics XGPS160 Multipurpose Universal 5 Device Bluetooth GPS Receiver with Wide Area Augmentation System and Portable Attachment
Visit the Dual Electronics Store
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 934 ratings | Search this page
100+ bought in past month
$168.99$168.99

[davil]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

i-Sailor on an iPad - just make sure you buy an ipad with wifi and cellular.

=================================
+1
But
if you already made the mistake like I did

Dual Electronics XGPS160 Multipurpose Universal 5 Device Bluetooth GPS Receiver with Wide Area Augmentation System and Portable Attachment
Visit the Dual Electronics Store
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 934 ratings | Search this page
100+ bought in past month
$168.99$168.99

[MikeHoncho]

I use a IPAD with redundant Iphone. I started with I-Boat and, although I like the charts, its interfaces and options were lacking, along with increases in annual costs. I switched to TimeZero IBoat and have been really happy, especially withe their recent version. A Ipad, a GPS receiver (if the ipad doesn't have a GPS receiver) and a good charger.

[Scorpius]

I've been using OPENCPN for years and am quite happy with it. No cell service necessary.

[Time2Go]

Originally Posted by MikeHoncho

I use a IPAD with redundant Iphone. I started with I-Boat and, although I like the charts, its interfaces and options were lacking, along with increases in annual costs. I switched to TimeZero IBoat and have been really happy, especially withe their recent version. A Ipad, a GPS receiver (if the ipad doesn't have a GPS receiver) and a good charger.

Second thumbs up for TZiBoat on Ipad
I have used used it extensivley on Long Island sound
and throuhout the Caribbean and Bahamas
You can add GPS to you Ipad with a Bad Elf or similar
The only thing a bit out of thr ordinary is that you have to be cognizant
of your state of charge. I usually dont have it on 100% of the time
If you got to go 100nm in open water you only need your magnetic
compass to keep on course.
Don't know about what charts are available for your areai
Cheers
Neil

[Scrimshaw4]

The XGPS 150A is also available on Amazon for $116. Not sure how it differs from the 160 other than an 8.5 hr battery vs 10 hr.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by sepharad

I read that a Samsung Galaxy S8 loaded with Navionics was simple, straightforward, and economical. Now I see a multi-page complaint about 100+% price increasing and use limitations.

What is a solid, simple electronic navigation solution for me, please.

You might have a look at Aqua Map on either an Android tablet or an iPad (latter with an internal or external GPS source).

It's an Italian company, so I'd guess they do charting for Europe and elsewhere...

TZiBoat is probably primo for an iThing (with GPS source)... assuming it's as good as the TZ Navigator software we use on the ship's laptop. No Android version of Time Zero, though (that I know of).

-Chris

[K_V_B]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

i-Sailor on an iPad - just make sure you buy an ipad with wifi and cellular.

I looks like i-sailor hasn't been updated in 5 years, and the latest update made the map to cluttered at certain zoom levels. A pity, as I liked it, especially its night mode is great.