More on Navigation "apps" versus navigation electr

I've been using the HD Navionics (US & Canada) with mixed success on my old IPad I. When it works, it's truly wonderous. But, on two or three occassions after using it when I try to open the program the following day it opens to a dark screen with no chart. The boat's position marker is visible, but with no visible chart it doesn't help. I've had to uninstall and reinstall the program and the charts. (Rebooting the IPad didn't help).

Anyone else have this problem? If so, what is the fix? :crook
 
Clear this up in a couple of sentences. The Ipad with GPS will track the satelites. You only need the wifi to connect to the internet to download the program and charts. Once you have done that you are good to go. No need for a cell tower. I have been using Navionics for about a year and love it.
About the screen going black. I experienced the same thing several times. There is a combination of key strokes that seem to cause that. I think it may have been addressed in an update. I never had to re-boot however,
 
Love my fully integrated Raymarine C-80 with the navionics charts and display. My smart phone loaded with the navionics lakes map works perfectly as a back-up, small screen and all. I also carry an older hand held garmin for use off the boat while hiking. I have a personal preference for integrated systems on boats that probably comes from my aviation experiences. I've found that mixing and matching different platforms can cause things that go bump in the night on any one of the platforms. I may be mistaken, but I don't think the Ipads are set up yet to do integrated overlays of the radar, sounder, and GPS displays. I really like the ability to look at one screen and see my environment. I'm not familiar with the C-70, but if it does the integrated view of your environment, I'd stick with it and pay the relatively inexpensive hundred bucks for the C-70 navionics compatible chart chips. When the integrated system goes up in smoke, then look at something cheaper in the form of a mix and match hybrid set of electronics.

Oh, and if it hasn't been mentioned, electronics are only a tool and don't replace situational awareness using the eyes and ears and a simple paper map to assure the electronics aren't lying to you. Yes, the electronics will lie to you sooner or later, and at the most unfortunate times.
 
I had been a "gotta have paper charts" kinda guy since we started boating... a hold-over from my pilot days (always have VFR charts even when flying IFR). Well, flight crews are using iPads in the cockpit... without the benefit of paper backups. We have been using electronic charts for 6+ years, and still carrying paper backup. If I already have paper for an area, I'm not going to dispose of them, but for any new areas, I feel comfortable with electronic charts. We have the charting on the iPad, both phones (iPhone and Droid), AND a DVD of all US charts that can be put in either of the laptops. All of the above with independent battery sources and can also be plugged into 12v. And, the Raymarine E-80 with charts of the East coast, West coast, Gulf coast, and inland lakes. I think we're covered. :wink:

As far as trusting the electronics, I was taught "trust, but verify." If they are doing what they are supposed to when everything is good, I trust that they will do so when the vis or conditions are bad. I trusted lives to IFR equipment for a lot of years; yes, it was certified and inspected. But, the advantage with a boat is you can pull the throttle back, stop, and re-evaluate the situation... can't do that in the air.

The iPad and phones are not integrated with the radar, depth finder, VHF, and autopilot like the E-80. I consider the iPad and phones to be a back-up, but I would be comfortable using any of them as a primary nav unit (and have on other boats).
 
We agree. We don't buy paper charts anymore. The iPad is a great and reliable plotter. But we also have the old raymarine, the iPhone, a handheld...and some old paper charts.
 
I also only use the IPad as a back-up -- I've had great success with my Standard Horizon CP390i -- and I always carry my Garmin handheld chartplotter as well as my paper charts. But, considering the Navionics wouldn't open, I was somewhat unpleased. I can't imagine anyone is flying aircraft with full dependence on an IPad. Interestingly, never had a blip with the IPhone version.
 
I use a Toshiba Thrive tablet running the android app MX Mariner as a backup navigation system, but use a Raymarine C-80 integrated with a DSC enabled VHF for my primary navigation system. As far as I know none of the apps on tablets can offer the safety of automated marine radio distress alerts that comes from linking your gps to VHF with DSC.
 
We use the iPad 4G which we found used on craigslist for $420 which we have mounted on a Ram mount. The charts we purchased are the Navionics HD.

The plotter we use is the Garmin 740s which gives the radar, depth, and sounder features.

The thing I like about having both running simultaneously is that I can set both at different scales. One example was when we traveled to the San Juans for the first time, we could have the Ipad set for long range viewing so we could see the big picture of where we were headed. The Garmin 740s was used for short range so that we could view the detail of the immediate surroundings while using the radar split screen to see what boat were nearby. Having both maps up at the same time allowed me to view each without having to shift scale as one would have to do with just only device on board.

So for us, it works as a backup as well as additional information displayed while underway.
 
I have a Samsung Galaxy tab without any sort of cellular capability (wifi only) and use mxmariner and nuticharts.

The mxmariner charts are free. But when you use the program you have to change regions manually (but the regions are pretty large, so this does not happen all that often).

Nuticharts requires buying the charts by state (around $6.99/state) through Google Play. Nuticharts supports ActiveCaptain markers. The ActiveCaptain marker download is free (but does not mean much without the charts).

Both programs use quilted NOAA charts.

I use the tablet as a backup to my chartplotter. It is also useful for studying charts and planning routes when away from the boat's plotter.

Tablets in the last few years have high sensitivity GPS receivers. These will work better than older ones when inside buildings at the like. My tablet GPS works fine inside my house (upstairs), inside my car, and inside my CD, without any sort of external antenna.

If the GPS has been off for a long time (i.e. several days), its position has changed by a large amount while off, or is moving at a high speed when trying to initialize, it can take several minutes for the Android GPS to get a solution. In my experience, when a consumer GPS is moving very fast (i.e. in a jet plane) it can take quite awhile to get a position solution if you try to initialize when moving.

The GPS in my android tablet works better than the one in my android phone. Probably because the tablet is newer. I also Nuticharts and Marine Navigator Lite on my phone, but the tablet's bigger screen makes it easier to use.
 
I am looking for something to put on my Samsung phone and/or Tablet for a backup to my Garmin Chartplotter. Navionics has been recommended, but I am having difficulty figuring out what to get and whether or not additional charges for charts are required. Any input will be appreciated.

J
 
I love the navionics apps on my tablet and cell phone. So far, for my 50 bucks or so, I only have to go out to the site and mark a map area and hit download. It moves into my device and stays there and can be used without cell access or internet access until I delete it. They are very good maps, but I confess that my use has been exclusively on freshwater inland lakes. In fact, I'm not going to replace the chart plotter on my boat which is showing its age. I'm putting the tablet in a Ram holder and it will be my primary and I have my cell phone as backup.
 
I Keep the Navionics USA&Canada version on my Android phone and so does Cindie. It is a nice backup and reference when we are even away from the boat. Cost is 15 bucks then you can add a bunch of other features for more if you like.

Greg
 
Thanks for the feedback. Is the $15 the total cost or did you pay for charts in addition?

How about usage on sunny days? I can hardly see my phone or table screen on bright days.
 
I can't quite tell because it is already on the device, But I found the initial 15 dollar cost plus I see an 8 dollar cost for what looks like a set of "advanced map options" that I think Cindie and I both agreed we wanted to add.

When used inside the C-dory cabin, the visibility is fine but I would imagine the visibility would be harder in the open sunlight.

We are dedicated device people so we also have two Garmin units at the helm that will never be replaced by a tablet or phone. Cindie does use a 7in tablet with navionics for a co-pilot view under her control then we have it also on the phones for backup and exploration when away from the boat.

Greg
 
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