The iPad alongside the fixed chartplotter...

Guess I shouldn't be surprised but it looks like you can still get one of these (updated of course). Used to have one, it had a lot of power and could make a connection where others couldn't.

Motorola-bag-phone.jpg


Sorta like a crippled DROID on steroids... :mrgreen:
 
Regarding tethering... PDAnet download will allow you to tether your Droid with a Mac (or PC). One more way to connect. My tests show that it is just a bit faster than the Mifi when used as a wifi, about the same as the Mifi tethered to the computer. We have doing this stuff for a while and still have unlimited on both the Mifi and Droid.

Just wanted to present one more way to connect up. Oh, and you don't have to pay Verizon anything additional when tethering with the PDAnet app. Just saying.
 
Well aware of PDANet, have used it in the past on a Treo. Probably violates every carrier's terms of service, just saying...Might have used it on the BlackBerry Storm, but decided to be "legal." It added $30 per month for tethering, since the Storm required a data plan anyway.

You can jail-break a 3G iPhone with LimeRain, install PDANet with Cydia, and your iPhone becomes a mobile hotspot. Nephew is an expert at this.

A mobile hotspot enabled Droid with mobile broadband is probably a good option for the boat, the Verizon mobile broadband plans are 5 gb and 250 mb, was not aware of a 2 gb option. Still has a $30 data plan and $30 for the mobile broadband though.

The Novatel 2200 Verizon MiFi was offered free on an internet promotion with activation waived, 250 mb for $40 or 5 gb for $60 per month. This is how I got mine when the BlackBerry died. The $60 a month 5 gb mobile broadband plan is a wash for the $30 data plan and $30 tethering.

Big plus for the MiFi is that we will definitely use it at Birch Bay in lieu of the land line / dsl, which we will cancel and use cell for voice and MiFi for internet, saving $60 a month, which is money we will be ahead. Not yet sure whether we will cancel land line / dsl in Fall City, but if we do that, we will be another $70 a month ahead. So far, the MiFi is really comparable to the CenturyTel dsl but that is just because our CenturyTel is so crappy.


JamesTXSD":1xs5h6r1 said:
Regarding tethering... PDAnet download will allow you to tether your Droid with a Mac (or PC). One more way to connect. My tests show that it is just a bit faster than the Mifi when used as a wifi, about the same as the Mifi tethered to the computer. We have doing this stuff for a while and still have unlimited on both the Mifi and Droid.

Just wanted to present one more way to connect up. Oh, and you don't have to pay Verizon anything additional when tethering with the PDAnet app. Just saying.
Click to expand...
 
Hi Pat,

We have been using the Mifi as our only Internet connection for over a year now. It is faster than the previous wireless card... that was our only Internet connection at that time. Before we retired, we had land lines at both houses, DSL at one, and cable modem at the other. Since that time, it's been cell phones only and the wireless broadband. Money-wise, it's about a wash (although we have had cell phones since the bag phone days) ... but, we do have phone and Internet wherever we go.

The Mifi and iPad IS a great combination, but be sure to get the 3G iPad, since the wifi only models do NOT have the built-in GPS chip. So, that combo from Verizon won't be the best boat solution. Unless my information is wrong, not all models of the iPhone have a GPS chip, but rely on triangulation from cell towers... no idea what the "upcoming" Verizon iPhone will have for GPS.

Ain't technology grand?

Best wishes,
Jim
 
In my initial post on this thread, I mentioned that I wasn't able to get this app to run "track up", only north up. In doing some research, I found that the similar app for the iPhone, on the 3Gs model, you can double tap on the "GPS" button to change from north up to track up. I tried that with the iPad... no joy. Have any of you iPad users come up with a way to switch from north up to track up?

Also, when I bought the Navionics app for the Droid, they were $4.99 to $9.99. When I bought the iPad version, the price was $19.99... that same app is now $24.99, some areas are higher. 25% increase in a couple months. I'm not saying, "Buy now before the price goes up," ... just saying. I think these apps have been pretty popular. Oh, and while poking around, I found that these apps are apparently the equivalence of the "Gold" Navionics chart chips.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I looked at your picture showing both units on the boat and iPad's screen looked darker but it might the angle and lighting. Does Ipad have a bright screen compared to the chart plotter?
 
BrentB":2akqe6h4 said:
I looked at your picture showing both units on the boat and iPad's screen looked darker but it might the angle and lighting. Does Ipad have a bright screen compared to the chart plotter?
Click to expand...

The iPad screen has a brightness control that was set down about 30% from max in the photo; the chartplotter screen was set for full brightness. Similar brightness at full, but the iPad screen is glossy and will pick up reflections depending on the angle... hasn't been any problem. No night-mode on the iPad; generally with the chartplotter, instead of using the night mode, I just turn the screen brightness way down.

Oh, and I've seen the TV commercial with the woman in the bikini reading a different eReader. I've used the iPad inside and out... again, no problem.

Hope that helps.
 
I had an interesting thing happen 2 days ago. We're heading down the ICW in North Carolina when my main Raymarine chartplotter starts self-resetting. Nice. We run with our iPad following along (and even an old Palm Centro) and never missed a beat - just looked at a different screen. It does course up which I prefer.

We keep our iPad running Navimatics Charts & Tides because of the ActiveCaptain support (we're biased). Using it with all the Hazard markers on the ICW has been really great - just wrote about it in our newsletter yesterday:
http://www.activecaptain.com/newsletters/2010-11-03.php

Updates and review entry are coming soon to that product too. I'm currently working with Navimatics on it. Other apps with AC support are coming as well. There's a lot going on.
 
O.K. Does any of these devices come with an English Translation "app" which might let the rest of us OFs know what the XXXX you're talking about?

Paul Priest
Sequim
 
ppriest":9m04er45 said:
O.K. Does any of these devices come with an English Translation "app" which might let the rest of us OFs know what the XXXX you're talking about?

Paul Priest
Sequim
Click to expand...

Hi Paul,

If you can use a computer (and you're on here, so we're assuming you can), you will find an iPad is even easier. Touch screen instead of a mouse. Inexpensive apps instead of pricey software or chart cards for a chartplotter. I'm sure not saying it's for everyone, but not much of a learning curve.
 
Paul, an "app" is an application, which you get from an application store--for the apple products, it is an i store. This application allows you to run a number of soft wear programs. Some are free, others cost a few dollars. Some of my most expensive ones are high def charts of the entire Caribbean, Mexico up to S. Calif--and that was about $40.

The applications are easy to run, and you basically just touch the icon, and then follow the directions. I have not yet run Active Captain on my i pad, but probably will buy that application which uses the Navimatics, and allows Active Captain--which is an excellent tool.
 
Hi All:
I'm seriously considering purchasing a 3G/Wi-Fi IPad mainly for internet, news & e-mail access while traveling. I currently have a 15" Dell laptop that is great except it weighs a ton & I hate carrying it around. I would like to know if the IPad (with Navionics App) GPS will function offshore on the boat without having to be connected to the internet? Thanks!
Paul K
 
Christopher-Robyn":1po1ppok said:
Hi All:
I'm seriously considering purchasing a 3G/Wi-Fi IPad mainly for internet, news & e-mail access while traveling. I currently have a 15" Dell laptop that is great except it weighs a ton & I hate carrying it around. I would like to know if the IPad (with Navionics App) GPS will function offshore on the boat without having to be connected to the internet? Thanks!
Paul K
Click to expand...

Hi Paul,

The 3G model iPad has a built-in GPS chip, so it will function without having an internet or cell connection. The wifi only model does not have that chip. We bought the 3G model for that reason, with no intent to hook up to AT&T. It works great with our Mifi with Verizon, but that isn't necessary for the Navionics app. If you want to use Google Earth overlay or be able to pull up the website for marinas on the chart or weather, an internet connection is necessary.

Hope that helps.
 
Jim:
Thanks for the quick reply. That's the last piece of info I need. I've been playing with all the IPads, 11" AirMacs & ITouches at the Apple Store in Thousand Oaks, CA for the past couple of weeks, but when I read your posts on the subject it really helped me make the decision to buy the IPad. Thanks again for the help.
Paul K
PS-I can't tell you how much I enjoy reading about all your adventures! Coming originally from New York, I especially liked the Erie Canal journey. Hope to meet you & your family someday.
 
Thanks to those who chose to ignore my editorializing and actually provided some comprehensible elaboration. Ah 'preciate it.

Paul in Sequim
 
JamesTXSD":2zilxcgf said:
Christopher-Robyn":2zilxcgf said:
Hi All:
I'm seriously considering purchasing a 3G/Wi-Fi IPad mainly for internet, news & e-mail access while traveling. I currently have a 15" Dell laptop that is great except it weighs a ton & I hate carrying it around. I would like to know if the IPad (with Navionics App) GPS will function offshore on the boat without having to be connected to the internet? Thanks!
Paul K
Click to expand...

Hi Paul,

The 3G model iPad has a built-in GPS chip, so it will function without having an internet or cell connection. The wifi only model does not have that chip. We bought the 3G model for that reason, with no intent to hook up to AT&T. It works great with our Mifi with Verizon, but that isn't necessary for the Navionics app. If you want to use Google Earth overlay or be able to pull up the website for marinas on the chart or weather, an internet connection is necessary.

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Great... :x Caryn, bless her heart, who's not the most technically savvy person around ordered an iPad thru work. I think they asked her if she needed the 3G model and she probably replied that she didn't know and didn't need it. Needless to say, when I started looking into it, it became obvious to me that she should have got the 3g model. Now Jim tells me the wifi model does not work with the marine GPS app-Navionics. And of course, by this time the return window had passed and now we're stuck with it.

Anyone want to buy a practically new iPad wifi?
 
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