Navico's Gofree wireless device

jkidd

jkidd

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C Dory Year
2007
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Hull Identification Number
CDo22670C707
Vessel Name
Voyager
There's an article in January's Yachting Magazine. It talks about Navico's wireless device. It looks like it can be hooked to any Ethernet network and see nmea 0183 and nmea 2000 data and send it to pads and phones. It's open source so you can make your own apps. There are already some apps available that can be used with it. You have to buy an additional license if you want to move radar, maps or sounder screens. Looks like an interesting toy if your can't afford one of those $5000 plotters.
 
It is interesting and has been reviewed in Panbo twice--once in Jan 12 and once in Oct 12: http://www.panbo.com/archives/2012/10/navico_gofree_wifi1_the_0183_link.html

My impression is that you will have to have considerable computer skills (Like Jody) to make your own apps. I see it as a portable screen--might be great to watch the primary plotters from the cockpit when fishing on the C Dory--but probably even better in a larger boat. For example, we had repeaters over our bunk so I could see them at night on our ocean crossing boats using primitive (by today's standards) products form Signet Marine. The i pad in this application could be taken with you to the main saloon for dinner, and then put in a holder over the bunk to monitor issues if you awake and "things don't seem just right"....heck, I guess you could use it in the C Dory--but if things "don't seem right"--most likely you are "there"!

Sort of the wave of the future.
 
Ok I confess I mounted a plotter in the cockpit for a while till I figure that I could just as well turn my head around and look at the one on the helm. :roll: There is 1 app for the Ipad that will read the Nmea 2000 data and send it to the tablet. I was just thinking it could be a less expensive way to read the data and give you back screen space on the plotter. Bob your right about the bigger boat but now we could watch the lead C-dory fuel consumption, Rpm, Speed. Just think you could have multiple Ipads one for each boat. :lol: :lol:
 
so could I use this on my c80 raymarine to view info on a ipad or other device?
 
starcrafttom":1c9m2avh said:
so could I use this on my c80 raymarine to view info on a ipad or other device?
Click to expand...

Does your C-80 have an Ethernet port?
 
no. I believe it just has sea talk and n18something. I need a second station at the controls on the back deck for fishing. I want to buy one. I also would like a pad of some sort for work. It would be nice to kill two birds with on stone, and cheaper. If I could get my radar to work on a new lowrance or simrad unit I would consider buy that for the helm and then be able to use a pad at the rear station. But I dont know is that will work or not.
 
It requires Ethernet to work. Your C-80 is old enough that I would just use it for radar. When you get the new Lowrance or Simrad just make sure they use Ethernet then it will work. If you use Navico product then you should be able to see mapping and sonar on the Ipad as well.
 
Jody,
What is this App that reads NMEA 2000? Is this N2KView Mobile? It requires connection to N2KServier, running on the vessel to retrieve the data. --apparently the screens are built on the PC or Mac, and then wirelessly transmitted to the I pad. Although the app is free--the software is $465, plus the dedicated computer and/ or Maretron interface (USB100) for about $360 or IPG100 for about $100 more. There appear to be Maretron (alternate is Maretron MBB100 for $1200--no screen--or DSM800 for $1600, which has an 8" screen)

Jody-does this rely on just NMEA 2000, or is it compatible with NMEA 0183 input? It looks as if the interface will allow both, and conversion form NMEA 2000 to NMEA 0183, for programs which use that data.

Apparently it has been around since 2009, but I have not heard much about it being used--a few posts on Panbo forum, after the initial write up as well as on the Maretron forums.

Thanks
 
thataway":ir6nwkmj said:
Jody,
What is this App that reads NMEA 2000? Is this N2KView Mobile? It requires connection to N2KServier, running on the vessel to retrieve the data. --apparently the screens are built on the PC or Mac, and then wirelessly transmitted to the I pad. Although the app is free--the software is $465, plus the dedicated computer and/ or Maretron interface (USB100) for about $360 or IPG100 for about $100 more. There appear to be Maretron (alternate is Maretron MBB100 for $1200--no screen--or DSM800 for $1600, which has an 8" screen)

Jody-does this rely on just NMEA 2000, or is it compatible with NMEA 0183 input? It looks as if the interface will allow both, and conversion form NMEA 2000 to NMEA 0183, for programs which use that data.

Apparently it has been around since 2009, but I have not heard much about it being used--a few posts on Panbo forum, after the initial write up as well as on the Maretron forums.

Thanks
Click to expand...



Here's a like to their video.
http://www.simrad-yachting.com/en-US/Pr ... echnology/

Looks like there are three apps that work with it so far. Inavx, iRegatta and Simrads Gofree. The article talks about fishing charters telling their clients to download the Gofree app so they can see sonar data while fishing. The way I understand it is they give you a way through there open source program to have access to read 0183 and 2000 for free. If you want to go beyond that then they charge a license fee there are five tiers to it the first two are free and the last three would require the fee. They mention that Navico branded product might get the last three tiers for free as a value added thing. They mention PC and Mac based programs will work as well.
 
OK--Summary:
The GoFree will work with recent Navico (Simrad or Lowrance instruments)--and there are several apps for it. It uses a router which sends out wi Fi signals, which then can be received by the i pad. As the others below sets up a network. You can receive the pictures, but also can adjust the instruments. However control is limited to only a few Navico products, such as the Sinrad NSS.

RayMarine new line also uses WiFi for communication both between the instruments and to I pad--so Tom Can update (for a few $$ his RayMarine instruments to the new e or c series which are non touch or hybrid touch with wireless to an I pad. An advantage here is that the FLIR picture can be transmitted (although there are work arounds for that from a standard computer and display)

Better yet for Tom is the i MUX mnea 0183, i MUX ST--for Sea Talk (and there is a nmea 2000 version) which has a "Sea Talk" version, which probably will work with Tom's current Raymarine. That is streamed via WiFi to an i pad. This is by Bookhouse

Or he can go with the Maretron system interface, which appears to work with any NMEA 2000, and probably any NMEA 0183 system, and will transmit to WI Fi, assuming he has a computer or a Maretron base unit which will transmit Wi Fi.

Furuno also has a wi fi interface for their latest instruments.

Garmin has the Blue Chart mobile App and a $200 Wi Fi marine adaptor kit (apparently now is charting, but suspect that other functions are not far behind!)

So there are a number of communicators with the i Pad from the marine instruments--just depends on if you want to upgrade, or spend the $$ to make your current instruments compatible. Also what you want to do. The advantage of GoFree is that it is open to other developers for Apps--but you probably will be restricted to Navico products....(maybe some hacking for others?--but is it worth it?
 
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