Hooray, finally I have Navionics on my ipad. I put on more NSW coast maps than
I'm going to need. If in the future I need to extend the coastline maps, can I do
that ? or am I stuck with what I've got. I'm going to try it out tomorow.
Thank you everybody for your input

So, the only smart device I have on board now sit on my shoulders. Otherwise, just paper charts and an older Raymarine GPS for LAT/LONG and a few waypoints. I am keen to get a tablet, but probably not upgrade to a plotter. However there is a view abroad that some cheaper models claim GPS, but it is really only triangulation from the phone network. Does a model such as SirG's Galaxy 10.1 actually work directly off real GPS/GLONASS satellites, without the need for an external receiver? After following this thread, my requirements would be: 1) Cheaper than a plotter. 2) Easy to load MemoryMaps. 3) Real GPS. 4) Chargeable from 12V. Suggestions please!

After decades staring at paper charts, I am thoroughly convinced by SirG's arguments in favour of Memory Maps, and I have no idea how I would handle another internet account for data. Phone might suffice for weather, if within range.

I quite like the look of the MMap SirG, do you get the gizmo's that you get with the vector chart software like ERBL electronic range bearing line's etc?.
I am running Transas iSailor (one off $55) that I am very happy with for coastal. But admittedly its a little annoying to zoom in at greater zoom along a track to see hazards details, however this does make me also look at the paper charts for any route (I only refer to the Crawfords now, as its much , much easier than full sized paper charts.)

I just wonder how many of us have carefully and accurately applied all the chart updates using correct symbols and in the correct order to every chart we use or may use?

E-charts are routinely updated.

Cheers

Bristle

sirgallivant said..
FR, that is exactly what l am trying to avoid at all costs, the extra craps on the app. like photoes and other 'toys'.

I am navigating with the program not playing tourist, sight seeing etc.

That is the reason l am very fond of MMap.

The navigation palette is tunable, mine is like this at the moment:

I'm not sure that I would class photos as tourist toys, Allen Lucas makes very good photographic navigational explanations on entering ports etc. and if a fellow cruiser leaves a note on a chart indicating an anchorage or fishing spot they enjoyed or not I have no issue with that. But that being said we also plotted our course on paper charts, tho at times with a good beam sea it was trying

Bristolfashion said..
I just wonder how many of us have carefully and accurately applied all the chart updates using correct symbols and in the correct order to every chart we use or may use?

E-charts are routinely updated.

Cheers

Bristle

E-Charts may be routinely updated, but how often to sailors update the card in their Chartplotter? This was brought home to me recently as I wondered about the difference in river bar entry information between my Garmin Chartplotter and my iPad Navionics. I had paper charts too, but hadn't updated them. As it happened, a pretty significant change - a green starboard pole re-painted red two weeks earlier because the channel had moved - hadn't yet been updated anywhere.

Plan A is to update my Chartplotter map card!

I renew my CMap on the plotter every year or 18 months. So the MMap.
I use android, no iPhone or iPad here.
The 10.1 inch tablet gives plenty of 'plotting power', do not need larger screen.Yet.
And internet works with the mobile Wi-Fi along the coast.

It's all good Sam. If it suits you, fine. Just be careful! There are hidden bits in it.

fishmonkey said..

samsturdy said..
Saintpeter....my ipad is an elderly 4th generation ... 4th gen have built in GPS

to avoid confusion, whether or not an iPad has a GPS chip is not to do with the generation.

every generation of the iPad has two basic variants: WiFi-only, or WiFi + Cellular. the WiFi-only models do not have an internal GPS chip. the WiFi + Cellular models can take a SIM card, however you do not need an active SIM card for the GPS to work.

personally i would not recommend buying an iPad older than the first generation iPad Air...

Why ? How does the iPad Air differ from say an old 3rd or 4th ? If running the latest iOS ? And for our proposes using a good quality external GPS

fishmonkey said..

woko said..

fishmonkey said..

samsturdy said..
Saintpeter....my ipad is an elderly 4th generation ... 4th gen have built in GPS

to avoid confusion, whether or not an iPad has a GPS chip is not to do with the generation.

every generation of the iPad has two basic variants: WiFi-only, or WiFi + Cellular. the WiFi-only models do not have an internal GPS chip. the WiFi + Cellular models can take a SIM card, however you do not need an active SIM card for the GPS to work.

personally i would not recommend buying an iPad older than the first generation iPad Air...

Why ? How does the iPad Air differ from say an old 3rd or 4th ? If running the latest iOS ? And for our proposes using a good quality external GPS

because the iPad Air is significantly more powerful than the older non-Air iPads, and each version of iOS tends to need more power. i'm not saying the older ones are not worth having if you already have one, but if you are buying a second hand one now i wouldn't by a non-Air one...

Phew ! I thought I was about to find out my vintage 3rd gen wifi only job was about to become redundant. That being said I have to close any other apps that are running or else I get little joy out of the GPS / chart plotter apps.

If by Chart Plotting you mean plotting a route?Yes. In the map view at the bottom you can see the "route" button.

You get a pop up saying automatic or manual.

I always go manual.

Then just add in your waypoints.

See how you go.

You sure do get a nice blue line to follow.

Just press and hold the point where you want to go on the screen. You will see it creates a waypoint from your current position.

If you want to be a bit more fancy then you can pre-plan a route by pressing route button at the bottom, then adding various waypoints (as per above). You can move the waypoints around once set. Just click on one to delete.

The version the guy is using in the video looks a bit more fancy than the one i have on my iphone but it gives you the general idea.



Ed.

Yeah I don't understand some of the naysayers in this thread, its been hard keeping my mouth shut. IMHO you have done exactly the right thing. The 4th gen Ipad is also perfect for your needs. Comes with a decent display and capabable of running the latest Apple Operating System.

Thanks Bushdog. Yes I did notice a reasonable amount of power was used, I think nearly
half the battery in 4/5 hours. However, I do have a 12v outlet (lighter) that I can plug a
charger into if I was ever in a situation you describe.
I had a go at pressing the +/- buttons and was very pleased with what happened. I'm not
asking much (yet) from this technology but I'm happy to have it on board. Oh yes, and I
like the way you can move the chart around by putting your finger on it and dragging it.
It'll do me.

OK thanks Cav. I think Missus said I should be able to do that. I don't know if an operation manual
can be downloaded, might be useful. Thanks mate.