Navionics for iPad

dutch123 · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:35 pm Post subject: Navionics for iPad

Whats the deal with downloading this program? Anyone use it? Just curious if it's worthwhile. More importantly how do you download it? Thanks

colobear · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:58 pm Post subject:

Go to the App store type in navionics, choose US and Canada, about $50 US; buying is easy, just follow the steps on the screen.

It is the same chart I use on the Raymarine C80 and I like it a lot.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:33 pm Post subject:

Do a search on it here, and you will find LOTS of discussion about the iPad as a nav device. We use Navionics, others have been pleased with the Navimatic and INavX apps. I like the Navionics app because it is similar to the charting on our Raymarine E-Series. We've been using it as a companion chartplotter since it first came out (along with the app) - two thumbs up.

thataway · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:35 pm Post subject:

Excellent graphics. You should have a 3G or 4G enabled i pad, because without that there is no GPS chip. With the GPS chip you can navigate. Excellent charts. I have several different types and like the Navionics best.

starcrafttom · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:03 am Post subject:

http://www.practical-sailor.com/issues/37_14/features/ipad_nav_apps_10715-1.html

Heres a good read on the subject

colobear · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:03 am Post subject:

Actually there is a way to have a gps and navigate without the 3g or 4g. I bought an IPad2 wi-fi only thinking it had a built in GPS, red face, red face. I found a stand alone GPS by Dual (XGPS150) for $100 that connects to my IPad2 via bluetooth and works just fine...and I have no monthly connection fee. I'm told that the new IPad wifi has a gps built in and solves the problem. Its worth checking at an Apple store.

wapiti · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 8:33 am Post subject: I-Pad 3G 4G

Colobear;
You are correct in pointing out that you can obtain GPS without 3G by purchasing an add on GPS puck for about $100.00. But there is no cost for having the built in 3G chip in the I-Pad and using the GPS programs such as the Navionics for the I-Pad. I have also been using the Tom Tom land GPS program and have no need to connect to any providers and pay any fees other than the original cost of the GPS programs.
Cheers!
Wapiti

dutch123 · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:01 am Post subject:

I was under the impression that because I have a 3G enabled iPhone 4 I can use it as a hotspot for my wifi only iPad. It seems that there is some confusion here from others I have talked to as well. Does anyone know if I can receive a gps signal this way without buying another device like a dual or bad elf?

wapiti · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:16 am Post subject:

Dutch123
You can definitely use your current iPhone 3G to receive a Gps signal, and thus run the Navionics and TomTom apps. without any costs other than the app. But whether you can then display in on your iPad I am not sure if this is possible. Maybe some iPad gurus can help with this portion of your question?
Wapiti

dutch123 · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:36 am Post subject:

After a little research it seems that when a wifi only iPad is tethered to a 3G iPhone that it does get the gps signal as well! Only thing I'm not to sure of is the update time between the two devices, it's not real time as far as I can tell on the iPad and this may be a bit of a concern.

cbgale · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 1:30 pm Post subject:

All Ipads get data from cell sites via wifi, hotspots, or are individually enabled with their own data plan. Each cell site has a gps antenna. Your location is shown on a map if you get sufficient data from cell sites by any means, but not as accurately as you would with an internal GPS chip. The data link to a cell site enables app downloads. This does not mean that your Ipad has GPS capabilities. If you have a dedicated GPS chip in the Ipad, then you can use your Ipad to run navigation apps that require an internal GPS chip. You don't even have to have a data link once you have the download, so you can still use when out of range of cell sites. I have found that many stores selling IPads don't know the difference, and claim all Ipads have "GPS".

thataway · Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 5:46 pm Post subject:

cbagle's post is a bit confusing. The WiFi only I pad does not have a GPS chip--and has to rely on other devices to get a GPS "fix". This can be from information from wi fi spots (but not every wi fi spot has a GPS chip --they are known locations). From external GPS receivers, such as Bad Elf etc, or from some some i phones which do have a GPS chip in them. You do not have to have cell tower connection to have a very accurate GPS location and you can use these alternate methods of supplying GPS data.

I have a first generation I pad, which has the 3G enabled feature--but also has a built in GPS. It does not rely on cell towers for position. It is as accurate as any of the several GPS receivers I own.

It will give an accurate GPS position on the Navionics chart well out of range of any cell towers, and without any data plan.

dutch123 · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 9:52 am Post subject:

As far as I can tell the iPad with 3G has a gps chip that uses AGPS data for faster location data. What is not clear to me is how many satilites it can lock onto when using intergrated gps which is the method used by other chart plotters that is known to be an accurate means of locating your exact position. Of course there is military deviation applied to this signal so it still has some errors. The military version is called p code and I don't think this is available for civilian use as fas I know.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:27 am Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 11:28 am Post subject:

I believe that Dutch is correct that the i pad uses AGPS (that is assisted GPS chipset) because that allows it to find "first fix" from a cold start more rapidly. The "A" has nothing to do with accuracy.

Most likely the I pad uses the SiRF Star III chip set. This is the same chip set used in most small GPS receivers which are highly accurate and will work under the roofs of buildings, in boats or in cars--with some sky view. Generally this chip set tracks 20 satellites (although it can receive all 66 channels)--and picks the best for a spacial fix.

There used to be a degradation of the civilian GPS signal by the military, but that was turned off many years ago. Currently the Military uses a separate code which gives greater accuracy. (Now the M code--the p code was changed to a Y code, and most receivers do access it periodically. Both M and P in its full extent are used by military. ) My understanding is that there are also a second encoded frequency used for the high grad military receivers. There are some changes in the satellites and frequencies in the next few years. The current system is to remain active thru 2015, and then a new system will be phased in (some of the satellites are up already).

A couple of years ago, no GPS worked in your house--now almost all GPS work in the house, and many (including the i pad) will show where you are in the house (assuming that you are not in a concrete or metal windowless building)...