IPADS,GPS, VHF, new guy

[David S]

Re: iPhone, depth gauge, compass, hand-held VHS

David...Sandusky, I purchased a Garmin XTREX-10, but found out from calling Garmin it is too limited for marine use, too late, maybe I can trade up at Overton's.com . I would like a good deal of info from my SBO friends what I need to look for in a tablet? And then call the tablet companies customer service and find out if there product will do what I need.

David S

 

[Brian D]

Tablets are not marine proof. Meaning, they are not designed for that environment. What I do is put my tablet in a zip-lock gallon bag. This protects it if there is spray and also keeps at best the salt air out of the electronics.

My tablet is a Samsung Tab 3 10.1", model P5210. There are a host of applications for nautical chart use. Some free and limited, some full featured and inexpensive. Some use NOAA Raster Charts that you can download. Some use their own charts. I do not have an iPad Tab so I cannot speak for them. But the Android tabs are decent.

My tab is Wifi only and its GPS uses both US and Russian satellite. I have had up to 20+ satellites locked to my position. I have also had my error down to a boat length. When I pull into my slip and I am using the NOAA charts, the GPS puts me right where I belong. Nice.

I went with the Samsung because that is what my wife bought me for my birthday. I was going to get a used 1st generation iPad. I read that the iPad that has 3g capability has the GPS enabled. The Wifi version does not. I did not have any plans on using 3g, I was just wanting the GPS.

I am sure more will come along and describe their tools.

 

[David S]

fwiw, the IPAD w/ 3g has built in gps. wifi only does not.

'bad elf' sells a 30pin or lightning plug in gps add on. (-I have not bought one yet, but read good reviews...)
(had I to do over, I would have gotten the 3g, and not enabled the cell )

Hi MrBill_FLL, thanks for responding. Could you bring all this Professor lingo down to class 101 for a technically shy old man! like what is; fwiw? 30pin ? or lightning plug ? Can any of these be operated w/or wo a cellular provider ?
Can a tablet operate separate from a cellular provider or not? And what is the advantage either way?
In the Charlotte Harbor area what cellular provider has the best reception?

Thank you, David S

 

[Bill1565]

Tablets

describner, you mentioned using tablet. I visited local Best Buy, and tried asking a lot of ?'s about tablets and he seemed to say it might not be very good for marine boating use. But I wasn't happy with his info, I think he is not knowledgeable about tablets for marine use. I am still stuck here w/ a bunch NC mountaineers, so would some of you flat land mariners elaborate on tablet brands and what all can be used with a tablet? What provider has the best reception in PG and down towards Sanibel ?

David S

P S , I should have replied to your #15 post. DS

David, you need to learn to use the search function on SBO. there have been several recent extensive discussions of tablet use. Reading these threads will expose you to a wide variety of opinions and some facts. As far as cell phone coverage, I don't know anyone with two different ones to compare. We have used Verison here and all over the country with good results..Good buddy stands by ATT. My advice would be keep what you have.

 

[Brian S]

David S, the Apple iPad comes in several flavors. In the past, it used a "30-pin Apple dock connector" to plug in for charging and USB connection to computers and such. The newer models use a smaller "Apple Lightning connector" which can be plugged in either right side up or upside down to accomplish the same. (Apple is currently selling only iPads with Lightning connector. The 30-pin dock connector is deprecated.)

An iPad with only wi-fi networking does not have a GPS chip built in - to get GPS functionality you'll need either a GPS receiver. The Bad Elf makes both a GPS device to plug into the Lightning connector, and a GPS device for the older 30-pin dock connector: http://bad-elf.com/pages/products There are also GPS products that connect to the iPad using the Bluetooth wireless connection that is built in to all iPads. The Dual is an example: http://gps.dualav.com/explore-by-product/xgps150a/ (Bluetooth is a short-range wireless connection standard often used for phone headsets, wireless speakers and the like.)

However, if you buy an iPad with cellular and wi-fi, the cellular chip inside the iPad contains a GPS chip. You do not need to enable the cellular service EVER in order to use the GPS functionality built in. You will, however, have to pick if you want your iPad to have a Verizon or AT&T compatible cellular chip, because VZ and ATT networks are not compatible with each other. Again, you DO NOT need to ACTIVATE a cellular data service on one of these iPads. Don't pay for a data service if you don't want it.

More info on the current iPad lineup is here: http://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/

Many people feel the iPad is expensive, and they opt for a less expensive tablet that runs the Android operating system. I hear some folks have good results. I don't use Android devices, so I can't help. But what I can tell you is that you often get what you pay for…

I have been happy with my Apple iPhones and iPads through 4 different models now. I generally use my iPhone to provide GPS speed and direction on the boat. I would like to use an iPad Mini with cellular, but I honestly don't have the need for a chart plotter where I sail, so the iPhone showing me speed readouts is good enough. If I were to sail coastal areas like Barnegat Bay in NJ or the Upper Chesapeake, I would break down and buy a GPS adaptor for my iPad wi-fi only, or maybe a new iPad Mini...

If you choose an iPhone or iPad to help you with onboard navigation, I suggest the LifeProof line of cases: http://www.lifeproof.com/en/ I am excited to use the LifeProof suction cup mount with my iPhone 5s and LifeProof case this summer. I'll be able to stick it right to the back side of the cabin, or maybe on the inside of the transom right under the tiller. But I think I'd rather keep it in front of me, in the direction I'm headed and looking most of the time...