Displaying NMEA, Chart info on a tablet

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OS2Dude

OS2Dude

.
May 7, 2011
239
Catalina 36 1430 Lake Lanier
I have a Garmin 421s attached to a NMEA2000/0183 network. (Sounder, Wind data, GPS, AIS, etc.) Trouble is I can't easily see the screen on the chart reader. I don't have the room or money to go to a bigger Garmin display device.

I've been looking at the i-NavX software, x-Traverse charts and SeaSmart Wi-Fi to give me access to the NMEA data and display it all on an i-Pad.

Does anyone use this setup? Is there a better way? (Not married to an i-Pad, another tablet would do if software is there.)
 
Sumner

Sumner

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Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Most of the apps you and sum mentioned use the free NOAA RNC charts. These are ONLY available for coastal waters and the great lakes. For inland lakes (like lanier) you are out of luck.

The notable exception is the navionics app, which has great mid-sized lake coverage

If thats where you are sailing, thats your choice.

2 things

The app is REALLY geared for fishing. The 1-foot contours on many lakes are great for zoomed in use looking for bottom cover, but almost useless when sailing, if you zoom out too far, the majority of the display turns black with contours.

Its really mostly a map viewer. The have added SOME nav capabilities, but no one would call it a navigation system, functionalitywise.
 
B

Boatsail1

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Jul 30, 2012
43
O Day 28 foot Fernandina Beach
Chris,
Doing the same shopping here. I've been looking and went from my Garmin to Lap top and considering Navtronic program. Let us know how all works out. I'll do the same. Coastal cruising in Oday 28. Bill
 
Sumner

Sumner

.
Jan 31, 2009
5,254
Macgregor & Endeavour 26S and 37 Utah's Canyon Country
Boatsail1 said:
Chris,
Doing the same shopping here. I've been looking and went from my Garmin to Lap top and considering Navtronic program. Let us know how all works out. I'll do the same. Coastal cruising in Oday 28. Bill
Click to expand
If you are going with a laptop consider SeaClearII (which we have been using) or OpenCPN (which we are switching to). Both free and use the free NOAA charts that most others base their charts on anyway.

Here is a screen shot from OpenCPN....



...that I did earlier in the day that also shows the current at 7 Mile Bridge (top arrow) for this coming Monday and can also show the tides there at the same time and AIS targets if you have that with you VHF and much more. Great program,

Sum

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