tablet talk · 2018-10-12 · vesper xb-8000, chartplotter and ipad 34 vesper marine xb-8000 class...

Tablet Talk©

Using Tablet Computers Onboard

Rick Edel, PhD

United States Power Squadrons® January, 2016

Copyright ©, 2016

Abstract of Tablet Talk

• Many boaters are now using iPads or other tablets, and smartphones as sources or backups for navigation - and for other boating information. In this seminar you will see many different apps demonstrated that cover the spectrum of those available.

• Some apps offer comprehensive navigation functionality, that is, chartplotter-like capability, others are simpler. – Some will offer integrated tides and currents, AIS, and other

utilities that are useful while underway.

• An Apple iPad will be the primary demonstration device. Whether you have a tablet already or are thinking of purchasing one, this talk will help you sort out what is available to you and how effective they are."

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Today’s Emphasis

• A little about tablets – iPads and Others

• Navigation – GPS Chartplotter

• Tides and Currents

• Weather

• AIS

• Demo of Apps

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Boating Apps

• What is an app?

– A computer application program that runs on tablets and smartphones

– Term now being used for laptop/desktop programs, too

• Usually designed for specific functions

• Inexpensive

• Easy to get and use

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Apple versus Android versus…

• Number of Apps – iTunes – Apple – >1.4 Million – Android – Google – 1.6 Million – Windows – Microsoft – >0.3 Million – Amazon – Amazon – >0.2 Million

• User preference prevails – Apple sells 2 out of three – Android catching up

• What device do you already have? • A competition at its finest • Not all apps are available on all platforms

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Apps Categories and Quantity

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20 Categories Reported

Navigation

iTunes (Apple) Apps

• Over 1.4 Million

– Over 100 Billion downloaded by June 2015

– > 725,000 native to iPad

• Navigation is smallest category (= 1.2%)

– Includes Auto and Aircraft Nav.

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Apps for Boating Offer Many Subcategories

• GPS

• Charts and maps

• Tides and currents

• Weather

• Reference

• Rules

• Boating info

• Boating calculators

• General calculators

• Celestial navigation

• Magazines

• Manuals

• Astronomy

• Wikipedia

• States Info

• Online courses

• Knots, bends, hitches

• Repair References

• Trailering - Boat launching

• Wildlife tracking and identification

• Marine biology

• Inventory

• Clocks and timers

• Sailing

• Fishing

• First aid

• Recipes

• Forums

• Active Captain

• Trawler forum

• Panbo - Marine Electronics Hub

• Marina information

• Email

• VOIP telephone e.g. Skype

• Cameras

• Monitor Slave or Primary Copyright 2016 8

Two App Strategies

1. Free or low cost app (< $10) – In-app purchase or additional cost for charts,

etc.

– Updates may cost too

2. Moderate cost for app (≈ $50) – Free charts

– Options may be available at add’l cost

– Updates free or low cost

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Active Captain Newsletter #238 - October 22, 2014

It’s For Safety

1. “The iPad – It is the single best safety device you can have

onboard – It's a backup navigation system and a portable viewer into

hundreds of weather and information capabilities – It's an entertainment device and it'll connect you to your

friends, family, and the community of other boaters – When all the navigation electronics on our boat failed in

2011 (at night, offshore), it was the iPad that guided us and never missed a beat. A disconnected, backup navigation system with its own GPS is critical, in my opinion. The iPad provides all that, and more.”

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Apple’s iPad

• First successful tablet; > 300 Million sold • Is a real computer • Huge number of apps • When upgraded with cellphone option, has

internal GPS – Does not need cell connection for true GPS – Also has assisted GPS – AGPS

• Battery lasts 2-3 hrs with internal GPS – Can be charged while using

• Has 10” or 13+” high definition screen

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iPad and iPhone (iWatch)

• GPS-equipped model needed

– Or, after-market GPS must be added

– After-market adds WAAS – may extend battery life

• Accuracy

– Usually better than 40 feet

– More likely approx. 16 feet

• Dependence

– GPS-equipped tablets do not need cell tower connectivity

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Data Connectivity Options • GPS

– iPad Wi-Fi models need an external GPS source or device

– iPad cellular models often work best with an external GPS source as well (battery drain)

– Connect via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, connector plug • Bad Elf GPS (plug-in or Bluetooth), Dual Electronics (Bluetooth)

• Beware of iOS 8.3 Bluetooth bug

• Other marine instruments

– Bluetooth or Wi-Fi multi-function devices, gateways or multiplexers e.g. iMux, DMK

– Some chartplotters e.g. Raymarine, Simrad

• Remote services

– Network-based data feeds such as AIS, weather

– Require a connection to Internet

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Bad Elf GPS

Dual Electronics

Bluetooth GPS

Comar NMEA-2-

Wi-Fi Converter

RN340 Serial

to Wi-Fi

Slide Content Courtesy of Milltech Marine

How Used For Navigation

1. Backup navigation

2. Primary navigation (usually not endorsed for)

3. Functionality 1. Hazard viewing and avoidance on e-charts

2. Follow boat over selected chart

3. Verify positions with ATONs / Landmarks

4. Pre-plan and save waypoints

5. Build routes from waypoints

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Apple App Boating Display

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iPad Navigation Apps - A Sampler -

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Marine Navigation Apps • Lots of choices!

– iNavX, iSailor, SEAiq, Navionics, Garmin BlueChart, MaxSea TimeZero, Navimatics Charts & Tides, NavLink US

• May require two purchases: app and charts

– E.g. iNavX $49.99 + Navionics 2XG charts $54.99 (free NOAA)

– High quality charts available (Navionics, Garmin, NOAA, Transas)

• What can you do?

– Routes, waypoints, weather, tides & currents, monitor instruments

– AIS, ActiveCaptain, log, local information, geo-tagged photos

– Some allow integration with chartplotters e.g. Raymarine, Garmin, Simrad

17 Raymarine Viewer iNavX Nobeltec TimeZero

Garmin BlueChart

iSailor

Navionics + SonarPhone Slide Content Courtesy of Milltech Marine

Nav Apps Nice To Have Features

• Raster and Vector chart capability • Free or low cost chart updates • User choosable variables (speed, depth, distance, time,

estimates, …) • North up; heading up; course up choice • True or magnetic directions • Track mode • Waypoints and route manager • A to B ruler and protractor • Night mode • Seamless scrolling and zooming • Integration with Tides and Currents

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Other Uses While Boating

1. Tides and Currents on screen or lookup

2. Weather overlay or lookup*

3. AIS slave or cell data lookup*

4. Text communications device*

5. Voice (VOIP, e.g., Skype®) communications*

6. Rules of the Road

7. First Aid

8. Many more

* Will need data connection

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Active Captain Newsletter #238 - October 22, 2014

It’s For Safety

6. “A smartphone - Android or iPhone – Get an iPad for a tablet because there are better

boating apps with larger screen support for iOS. – For a phone, it's pretty much a toss-up between

Android and iPhone today. Just get one of them because they provide too many useful features.

– They will be your chartplotter for the dinghy. – They're the voice communications centerpiece for

your boat as well as the backup internet connectivity via personal hotspot capabilities.

– Stop using that old flip phone or Blackberry. It's time to move on.”

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Selectable Display Variables (Not in all Apps)

• Sometimes called Instruments or Widgets • More complete packages offer choices • Examples:

– iNavX • inavx.com

– Transas’ iSailor US • isailor.us

– Nobeltec TimeZero • app.nobeltec.com

– SEAiq • seaiq.com

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Other device options

• Android tablets

– Low cost

– Some good apps e.g. Navionics, SeaPilot but fewer features

– Device connectivity can be a challenge

• Windows 10 tablets & PCs

– Dozens of Windows-based solutions

– Lots of connectivity options (USB, Wi-Fi)

– Rose Point Coastal Explorer works well

• Macs

– MacENC, GPSNavX, OpenCPN (free)

• Macs / PCs used as data server for iPad

24 Slide Content Courtesy of Milltech Marine

Android App Sampler January 2016

Breaking News: OpenCPN now available

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Tides and Currents Apps

1. Check tides and currents pre-voyage – Especially important for sailboat and trawler

speeds

– And deeper draft vessels

2. Check tides and currents enroute

3. Check anchorage/safe-haven depth

4. Bridge Clearance

5. Today and future dates

6. Local and selectable sites

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Tide App Example

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Tide App Example

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Weather Apps

1. Pre-voyage forecasts and planning

2. Departure forecast and planning

3. Enroute observation comparison, forecasts, and planning

4. Download / display GRIB* data

* Gridded Binary – data format

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Weather App Example

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Weather App Example

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AIS

• Tablet as display of ‘real’ AIS receiver – No cell data connectivity needed

– VHF Radio with AIS or separate AIS receiver / transponder needed

– DEPENDABLE FOR SAFETY OF LIFE

• Cell Data tablet app as AIS substitute – Will need “cellular data” or WiFi connectivity

– NOT DEPENDABLE FOR SAFETY OF LIFE • May have a delay

• Usually passive

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Sample Configuration Vesper XB-8000, chartplotter and iPad

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Vesper Marine

XB-8000 Class B

AIS Transponder

VHF to

transponder

GPS antenna iPad iNavX view

AIS data to

Chartplotter

via NMEA 0183

or NMEA 2000

AIS/GPS/NMEA

data to iPad

over Wi-Fi

Chartplotter

data to XB-8000

via NMEA 0183 or

NMEA 2000

Slide Content Courtesy of Milltech Marine

AIS within iNavX

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Cell Data AIS app from Marine Traffic

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Typical AIS Slave App

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Another AIS Solution

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Quality Cell Data AIS App

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Add’l Cell Data AIS Apps

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Other Tablet Uses

• Recently as RADAR display and control – Furuno

• Portable repeater to Chartplotters, RADARs, Depth Sounder/Fish Finders

• Display for systems data sensors (Signal K) – Engines – Bilge alarms – Battery / shorepower condition/state – Temperature, Humidity – More

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Radar Display and Control

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How to Connect - 1

Also will connect your AIS-enabled

VHF/DSC radio to your

iPhone/iPad

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How to Connect - 2

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How to Connect - 3

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Apps Are Personal

• Users need to experiment with several until finding the one(s) that fits their needs

• Apps function similarly no matter what the device or operating system is

• Most app developers look forward to feedback – feel free to contact them

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Raymarine Free Repeater App

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Nobeltec TimeZero App

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Furuno iPad Repeater App

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Lowrance Repeater App

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Other considerations

Cases, mounts, power…

54

LifeProof case

& mount $$$

SeaSucker $$

Andres case with power & RAM mount $$$$

OtterBox & RAM mount $$

Slide Content Courtesy of Milltech Marine

My Tablet Page for Boating

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My Tablet Group for More Navigation

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My Tablet Group for Weather

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My Tablet Group for Stars and Time

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Useful Links to App Reviews

• http://www.usps.org/national/eddept/misc/apps.htm

• http://www.panbo.com/archives/2010/05/the_damn_ipad_inavx_x-traverse_navimatics_ac.html

• http://i-marineapps.blogspot.com/p/best-marine-charting-apps.html

• http://www.macsailing.net/fbb/showforum.php?fid/23/

• http://www.sailmagazine.com/diy/electronics/navigating-the-app-world/

• http://www.practical-sailor.com/

• http://www.nwboatinfo.com/Nautical-Apps.html

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Acknowledgements

• Apple iTunes Store

• Google Play (Android App Store)

• United States Power Squadrons®

• Panbo

• Garmin

• Furuno

• Raymarine

• Nobeltec

• iNavX

• Lowrance (Navico®)

• Navionics

• SEAiq

• Polar Navy

• Sail Magazine

• Wikipedia

• DMK

• Digital Yacht

• Milltech Marine

• PassageMaker®

• i-Marine Apps

• MacSailing

• Practical-Sailor

• Statista

• Northwest Boating Information

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Thank You! And Happy Boating!