Searches for IPADS,GPS,VHF etc.

[David S]

Thanks folks for commenting on my post, IPADS, GPS, VHF, etc. on 03/21/2014
Here is what I found:

GPS- Hisense Sero 7 LT 7" Tablet 4GB Memory Dual Core Refurbished
Walmart $79.99 . I like the 7" screen for old eyes. Is refurb OK? I must
find out if it is sunlight readable?

Depth Gage- still searching for one can see screen in daylight. Overtons has Garmin
Echo 100 #93356, $76.99.
Walmart has #200 Model# 010-00953-00 Sun Light Readable, $135.

VHF- Standard Horizon HX370S or HX290 Floating Hand Held VHF Radio $129.99
at Overton.com What is diff., about VHF and VHS ?

Compass- Ritchie Trek Flush Mount Compass with White Dial, Built in 12 Volt Green
NiteVu Lighting $49.99 at Overton. I like the white dial and night light. Does this plug into my boats 12 volt battery power with a cable ? I must check on that.
My 79 O'day 22 has a compass mounted outside on the cabin wall, will it need
to be reset or can it be? It seems to be fairly accurate. If this compass is good I
am thinking of mounting the new one on small base to use inside cabin.

Someone mentioned putting downloadable charts and print them for a 3 ring notebook if I understood correctly ? Would some one expand on this ?

David S

 

[Forrest15112]

Thanks folks for commenting on my post, IPADS, GPS, VHF, etc. on 03/21/2014
Here is what I found:

GPS- Hisense Sero 7 LT 7" Tablet 4GB Memory Dual Core Refurbished
Walmart $79.99 . I like the 7" screen for old eyes. Is refurb OK? I must
find out if it is sunlight readable?

Depth Gage- still searching for one can see screen in daylight. Overtons has Garmin
Echo 100 #93356, $76.99.
Walmart has #200 Model# 010-00953-00 Sun Light Readable, $135.

VHF- Standard Horizon HX370S or HX290 Floating Hand Held VHF Radio $129.99
at Overton.com What is diff., about VHF and VHS ?

Compass- Ritchie Trek Flush Mount Compass with White Dial, Built in 12 Volt Green
NiteVu Lighting $49.99 at Overton. I like the white dial and night light. Does this plug into my boats 12 volt battery power with a cable ? I must check on that.
My 79 O'day 22 has a compass mounted outside on the cabin wall, will it need
to be reset or can it be? It seems to be fairly accurate. If this compass is good I
am thinking of mounting the new one on small base to use inside cabin.

Someone mentioned putting downloadable charts and print them for a 3 ring notebook if I understood correctly ? Would some one expand on this ?

David S

VHF is Very High Frequency (30MHz-300MHz) and represents an area of radio frequencies. It's the frequency band where the marine VHF radios operate - around 160MHz. Your FM stereo receiver also operates in the VHF band at 87-108MHz. VHS is a video recording standard that stands for Video Home Standard - you know VHS tapes. The two terms are often misspoken when referencing one or the other, but they really have nothing to do with each other.

NOAA has charts available in .pdf format that you can simply download, save on a tablet or PC and print if you like. Link - http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/pdfcharts/

 

[Forrest15112]

Was looking at your tablet choice. The Lt model doesn't have a GPS receiver so you wouldn't get any chart-plotting capabilities, but the "pro' model does and claims to have a bright display perfect for when you're "catching some rays". It looks like a nice tablet for the price, but that really isn't my forte. My wife has an ASUS TF300 that is probably 3-4 years old and is awesome still. Refurb is usually Ok, but warranty may be shorter. I know a couple of folks with Google Nexus 7"tablets and they both love them. They have all the features you're looking for and <$200 new. Walmart has refurbs available too.

 

[Bill1565]

I bought a lowrance fish finder for $79 works great

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

I have a HiSense 7, with MX Mariner loaded on it- MX Mariner is 7 bucks, charts are free. GPS enabled. Mine was new for $127. I put a 16 gig micro card in it and loaded all the charts to that

NOAA has a function called "Booklet charts" you can print them on 9 x 11 pages and put them into a three ring binder. URL here-

http://www.nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/staff/BookletChart.html

 

[Brian D]

Handheld VHF radios are fine for short, local communications. I would recommend, if not already done so, that you install a VHF antenna on the top of your mast and run the coax cable to the cabin. You can connect your handheld to the that cable and extend your range of communications. Do understand that you will not get the range a 25 watt radio will get, but you will get an extended range.

I wouldn't skimp on the tablet as a means of navigation. That probably is the one most important thing to determine where you are. I know the nay-sayers out there will say you HAVE to use paper charts. Do have paper charts on the boat. Paper technology does not require batteries nor is it dependent on mech/elec items moving about in the sky. I have waterproof charts on my boat that I purchased from West Marine. Check SBO Store for charts.