Garmin Bluechart Mobile App - Where are you?

[ActiveCaptain]

I also note that depending on the chart's magnification you may or may not see the ActiveCaptain icons. Is this by design and if so what was behind the decision ? This is true for other icons such as icons displaying wind velocity if one has that feature enabled.

It's that way on every implementation of ActiveCaptain data. The "problem" (if it could be considered a problem) is that we have too much data. As you zoom out, the chart gets cluttered with it and blocks out all surrounding chart data. Our own website does the same thing.

 

[baz]

OK -- I understand the issue. It would be nice however, to have a means for showing the AC icons if configured to be displayed no matter what magnification is current otherwise it takes several attempts downsizing the magnification to see them, and this I find is a PITA. Not sure how this could be implemented on the IPhone in particular as the screen real estate is far less than on the iPad... maybe another little icon with "AC" on it.

I was wrong about the wind velocity icons... they always display no matter what the screen magnification is set to.

One thing I've noticed today on the iPhone is that for some reason the App is continually polling my Wi-Fi network,... for data presumably! This causes the battery charge to drain more quickly. After just a few minutes it reduced by 5%. If I switch to another Application the Wi-Fi access shown by the rotating cog wheel in the iPhone's Title bar will disappear, and when returning to the Bluechart Mobile App the Wi-Fi cog wheel starts up again. This tells me the Wi-Fi is being interrogated only by the Bluechart Mobile App. I did note that after maybe 10 mins this Wi-Fi activity ceased... I wonder what all this signifies ?

 

[baz]

Recording Track...

This is a nice feature in BCM (acronym used by AC). I activated the "Record Track" on my iPhone 4S to check it out and forgot to turn it off. This was done while at home. Several hours later I used my phone and realized I had left the "Record Track" feature active. The display below shows all my travels about my home... I guess I get good exercise walking about. :lol: It would have been more interesting had I also walked my two Fox Terriers about the neighborhood as well... :roll:

 

[knotflying]

Very funny :lol: Looks like you pace back and forth quite a bit. This is what happens to a RangerTug owner when stuck on the hard!!

 

[baz]

I wonder what it would take for Garmin to provide a feature to be able to place a name on the boat icon... kind of personalizing it.

This "Record Track" will be useful for 1st mate and passengers to see exactly where the boat is at any time using the iPad and/or iPhone regardless of there being a configured route laid out on the iOS device.

1st Mate will be in the forward berth area at times reading, doing a crossword or doing web research when we're on a multi-hour cruise and will occasionally ask/yell where the heck are we at. Now 1st Mate will have that info at the finger tip... :lol: We can take a screen shot of the iPad or iPhone and shoot an Email with the image attached to family and friends as well so they'll know we we are at.

 

[baz]

Tracking course lines can be misleading if the GPS signal is lost for periods of time. The iPad screen shot picture below shows this. I turned on tracking and drove some 22 miles to a destination. Then for some reason I lost the GPS signal and the long straight line is what the tracking showed when the GPS was regained. Thus this long straight line is incorrect as it does not accurately depict the course I travelled between the two point.

IMO, when the GPS signal is not present the Application should not assume a travelled course from the point when last receiving a GPS signal. It should leave that section blank and leave some kind of indication that the GPS signal was lost between two points on the chart. What do others think ?

 

[JamesTXSD]

It's an app... and for less than $50, offers an amazing array of features. Instead of lamenting what it doesn't do, take time to marvel at the capabilities. I know the name of my boat, can't see the value in having the name on the chart icon.

Just a few short years ago, this hand-held, carry it anywhere technology didn't exist... at any price.

Kudos to Garmin and Active Captain!

In the words of the wise philosopher, Tiny Tim: bless us one and all. Oh, and: iPads rock! Learn the system, love the system.

Happy Holidays,
Jim B.

 

[baz]

It's an app... and for less than $50, offers an amazing array of features. Instead of lamenting what it doesn't do, take time to marvel at the capabilities. I know the name of my boat, can't see the value in having the name on the chart icon.

...snip...

Jim B.

Jim:

Please do not interpret my posts that articulate issues with this new Garmin BlueChart Mobile App as me lamenting or being ticked off or annoyed or unhappy in any way. I do marvel at its capabilities to be sure -- especially knowing how hard the software development and implementation can be for these Apple iOS devices.

I absolutely agree with you that this App is both a significantly cost effective product compared to what Garmin offers on their Chart plotter, provides a useful and worthy backup to the Chart plotter capabilities, is more than competitive with other similar navigation Apps and is a wonderful piece of technology/software/graphic-design etc... and having ActiveCaptain 'onboard' is awesome and welcomed as well. The chart details are simply wonderful... and having them portable increases their value tremendously IMO. I applaud Garmin's technique for allowing just a portion of a huge map data base (typically 100s of mega bytes in size) being downloaded for a particular region a boater requires. This is a smart use of the computer's memory resource which for iPhones and iPads is a scarce and valuable resource.

I understand your view on not needing or wanting you name fixed to the boat icon... fair enough. However, I like to personalize things; it makes it 'mine' kind of. My passengers may not know my boat's name and if I were to take a screen shot it helps me identify it as mine at a later point. Others can do the same and share their Charts with their own boat's name in it. Again, it would be user configurable so the default would be to not name the boat icon... just like you can configure not to display ActiveCaptain icons, wind, weather/cloud data, routes, tracks, weather stations, etc.

I'm afraid I cannot help myself do anything different in reporting my findings as I've been designing, developing, testing and implementing software for computer systems for over 45 years. Currently I'm employed by Apple to test their OS software releases which I do with great zeal. I take great pleasure having a software release be as bug free as is possible while operating within a restricted timeframe. As you surely are aware, no software is perfect and bugs will always be present. It's people like me that go to a lot of trouble and painstaking effort to ensure software releases have been thoroughly tested out and to have all major and/or serious problems resolved before it gets into the hands of the general public. The Garmin App is no different in this respect and as ActiveCaptain has posted, it's been tested thoroughly over a period of 8 months or more... and it shows this was done well. However, both Garmin and ActiveCaptain will admit that no matter how much testing has been done there could be issues/errors remaining or whatever you want to call them with this new App release as Version 1.0.2 (presumably meaning it's gone through at least 2 beta testing releases before hitting the store shelf). Both Garmin & ActiveCaptain provide a means for sending 'feedback' for notifying them about issues, errors, problems and wanted enhancements. This is normal practice these days as there's no better testing method than getting the public at large to use the Application to weed out the 'bugs' that eluded the software developer's testing processes.

When I notice an issue I do send detailed and substantiated feedback to Garmin and/or ActiveCaptain. I will at times also post here to advertise my finding(s) in the hope it helps others avoid or understand the App's limitations, and to maybe encourage them to also explore the operating boundaries and to provide their own feedback to Garmin and ActiveCaptain. In this way the App can approach 'perfection'. 🙂

I will add, that so far this App is pretty darn well free of serious bugs IMO. It's not perfect but then it's Release version 1.0.2. It will get better if we all take due diligence in reporting problems and requesting personal enhancements back to Garmin and ActiveCaptain. If we collectively stay quiet on things we find as problems then no real advances in making this App even better can be expected. If you find a problem or want an enhancement then be sure to take the time to send your feedback to Garmin and ActiveCaptain. In addition, if you have the time then also share your thoughts here for the rest of us to ponder on.

Thanks... and Happy Holidays... 🙂

Barry

 

[JamesTXSD]

... snip...

If only it were that easy. :lol:

 

[rem1473]

Does anyone have the configuration for the Ubiquiti PicoStationM2? To make it work on the Garman marine network. Even if full details cannot be revealed. How about a starting point?

 

[baz]

Try this ref http://www.panbo.com/archives/2012/11/garmin_bluechart_mobile_wifi_adapter_hands-on_2.html

 

[ActiveCaptain]

Does anyone have the configuration for the Ubiquiti PicoStationM2? To make it work on the Garman marine network. Even if full details cannot be revealed. How about a starting point?

I'm working on getting permission for it.

 

[rem1473]

I purchased a PicoStation a few months ago. It's a really nice device! I hope that I can get it to extend my Garmin network into the air and to BCM on the iPad.

baz: not seeing much help on that Panbo post, other then verifying that the PicoStation is what Garmin is selling. I'd like to know where to get that 12v POE injector though. My PicoStation came with an 120v AC injector. The 12v would be nicer on the boat.

While I am not a TCP/IP & Wifi Zen master, I do know enough to be dangerous. I would like to get the IP address block to get started. I was considering jacking in my laptop to the network. I think if I fix my laptop IP, and set the netmask to either 0.0.0.0 or 255.255.255.255, and then do a broadcast ping, I can find other IP addresses on the network. I have not tried this yet, as I really don't want to futz up my plotters. What I am proposing should not fry anything. If someone can tell me that I am on the right track to discovery though, I would appreciate it. Once I get the IP address block, I'll fix the IP address of the PicoStation on the same subnet.

ActiveCaptain: looking forward to some assistance. I wear my AC hat proudly! Thanks for the good work on a great WebApp. I still don't know anything about the topology of the Garmin TCP network, but I wonder if you can use a netmask to filter out the IP address of your radar. Netmask can mask a range of addresses. Can you mask the radar without masking the plotter(s)? Again, I don't yet know enough about Garmin network topology to speak intelligently about it. Just a suggestion.

 

[ActiveCaptain]

If you don't have Garmin radar/sonar, almost any router will work. If you have radar you need the PicoStation-M and that -M is critical.

I hope to get permission to release configuration parameters perhaps even next week. Without a great amount of fixed IP expertise, I don't think you'll be able to figure it out on your own. I'm also talking to a Ubiquiti distributor who is interested in selling the router and config with tech support.

Give me some time to get that worked out. I won't be able to do support on it.

 

[rem1473]

I am just looking for a starting point right now, I completely understand that I am not going to get support on this venture. I like to experiment! I don't have radar or a network sounder, so it sounds like I should be fine with which ever PicoStation that I have. I am pretty sure I have an "M" model. But I am not 100% sure. I'll have to check it when I get to the boat tonight. I have all weekend to mess around.

I am guessing the real tricky part is getting the DHCP in the PicoStation to assign the correct information to the iPad. It's got to assign an IP address (and netmask) that is inside the subnet of the Garmin Network. I might start with the DHCP off in the PicoStation and fix the IP address of the iPad. Once I get an IP address that is known to work, I can configure a more robust solution by flipping on the DHCP in the PicoStation and configuring the DHCP pool with valid IP's and the correct netmask length. I wish Apple sold a 30pin to ethernet adapter so I could take any wireless variables out of the equation while I experiment.

Garmin is saying that you can never bridge the Garmin Network to the Public Internet. I am guessing that Garmin is using a fixed IP address block that are outside the Private address blocks specified by RFC 1918 and RFC 4193. If the iPad needs to be assigned an address outside that block, then any router is going to prevent the iPad from being on the Internet at large. That means you can never have one network where you can simultaneously browse the internet and update your plotter waypoints with BCM. Although if you have 3g on, you might be able to?

If I do get any progress, I'll be happy to post my config. Although I warn that my config may only work for me. I may find an IP/netmask combo that works for me, while on another network with other Garmin devices, that IP might be used by another device, which would make it not work. Only Garmin knows a good block of IP's that can be reserved and will never be used by their own devices.

These are my speculations without any actual experimentation yet. I am going to set up a Linux laptop to listen to the packets while I fire up the Garmin network to see if I can figure out what's happening before I do anything.

This will likely be a weekend to test my patience! 🙂

 

[Indigo/Jon]

I am new to this group, having found my way here via a reference to Jeff that Ben Ellison made in a Panbo article on the Garmin wifi adapter. After reading all of the posts in this thread, I quickly determined that I have been missing something great by not having previously joined AC, but I remedied that today and look forward to contributing. I have already been doing some of that type of information input as Port Captain for Traverse City (MI) for the Great Lakes Cruising Club, so I hope to be able to help keep the AC database updated for the area of Northern Michigan in which we typically sail.

Concerning BCM and the Garmin adapter, I had been originally planning to fit a DMK Box aboard Indigo in order to send wind information via wifi to Craig Summers' SailTimer app, and when I saw that BCM was available, I decided to install that as well. Now it appears that Garmin is about to release new chartplotter models (among them GPSMap 547 and 741) which Garmin says will offer "full wifi connectivity", so it appears there may be another avenue than that offered by the Garmin/Pico adapter. I am wondering if Jeff would have the answer to the questions:
1. Will that "full wifi connectivity" include data for GPS, wind, depth etc which exists on the N2K network?
2. Will BCM therefore be able to show AIS targets?
3. Will the wifi transmissions allow for UDP, that some apps/programs require? The DMK Box will send UDP packets, but a person wouldn't need that additional box if Garmin's "full wifi connectivity" embraces UDP as well.

Sounds as if a hearty "Thank-You" is due Jeff for all of his work with AC, Companion, beta testing etc...I know I appreciate it.

I look forward to participating in the AC community.

 

[walldog]

I am new to this group, having found my way here via a reference to Jeff that Ben Ellison made in a Panbo article on the Garmin wifi adapter. After reading all of the posts in this thread, I quickly determined that I have been missing something great by not having previously joined AC, but I remedied that today and look forward to contributing. I have already been doing some of that type of information input as Port Captain for Traverse City (MI) for the Great Lakes Cruising Club, so I hope to be able to help keep the AC database updated for the area of Northern Michigan in which we typically sail.

Concerning BCM and the Garmin adapter, I had been originally planning to fit a DMK Box aboard Indigo in order to send wind information via wifi to Craig Summers' SailTimer app, and when I saw that BCM was available, I decided to install that as well. Now it appears that Garmin is about to release new chartplotter models (among them GPSMap 547 and 741) which Garmin says will offer "full wifi connectivity", so it appears there may be another avenue than that offered by the Garmin/Pico adapter. I am wondering if Jeff would have the answer to the questions:
1. Will that "full wifi connectivity" include data for GPS, wind, depth etc which exists on the N2K network?
2. Will BCM therefore be able to show AIS targets?
3. Will the wifi transmissions allow for UDP, that some apps/programs require? The DMK Box will send UDP packets, but a person wouldn't need that additional box if Garmin's "full wifi connectivity" embraces UDP as well.

Sounds as if a hearty "Thank-You" is due Jeff for all of his work with AC, Companion, beta testing etc...I know I appreciate it.

I look forward to participating in the AC community.

Hi Jon,

Welcome to the TugNuts. Your three questions mirror my own questions. As the app matures and the connectivity improves, I am sure we will find the answers and have many more. Having the depth and AIS on the iPad will make our cruising safer. Not absolutely necessary, but safer. We have been using Navionics on our iPad for planning before we leave the dock and for Willie to follow along as we cruise. She is able to help me watch and look closely for any hazards on the charts. Having AIS will allow her to pull up target information for us while I continue to pilot the boat. Pulling up AIS information on our 5212 while easy does take a couple of steps that require me to leave the chart screen and concentrate on a couple of pages of data while maintaining control of our boat. If my partner could do that from her position in the pilot house, it would be ideal for us. At this time, even though connectivity is not available, BCM will be our app of choice for planning, following along, and backing up our 5212. As my friend, Capt. Jim B says, it is an iPad app. A very good app and one we will use daily to supplement our installed equipment, but not a complete full featured replacement for our chartplotter.

Again, welcome to the TugNuts. We are probably the largest concentration of Garmin Marine Product users on the web. If not the largest, we are certainly the most vocal. Your input here will be welcome.
.

 

[ActiveCaptain]

I have already been doing some of that type of information input as Port Captain for Traverse City (MI) for the Great Lakes Cruising Club, so I hope to be able to help keep the AC database updated for the area of Northern Michigan in which we typically sail.

We love you. Seriously. Starting June 2013, we're heading to the Great Lakes ourselves to bring as much attention to it as possible - to prompt the creation of more AC data. We have a good start of data through the Great Lakes (Georgian Bay, Michigan, etc) but could use some real local knowledge experts helping.

1. Will that "full wifi connectivity" include data for GPS, wind, depth etc which exists on the N2K network?
2. Will BCM therefore be able to show AIS targets?
3. Will the wifi transmissions allow for UDP, that some apps/programs require? The DMK Box will send UDP packets, but a person wouldn't need that additional box if Garmin's "full wifi connectivity" embraces UDP as well.

I can answer this based on what I know along with things I'm doing myself. My own software development obviously involves Garmin but they're one of 35 companies we're working with today on data support. A big thing that I'm working on is connectivity between devices and especially "legacy" devices that should have a few more years of use even if they don't have N2K or any of the new things that require new hardware. I want our data and especially route information to flow between any two devices. Right now everything is quite proprietary with respect to personal data on all of these charting devices. Environmental data (wind, GPS, depth) is very open and easy to integrate. But the average user doesn't care about the issues and data storage. They just want to plan their next passage and have it available everywhere.

Every company we're working with likes this connectivity. Even Garmin is interested in giving us access to that user data so we can push it to other places. It'll take some time to get there because connectivity isn't easy, technically or politically, but you should be able to tap in a route on your Garmin BCM, get back to the boat, and have it immediately available on your Raymarine, Coastal Explorer, your iPhone, and sitting on our server available for your family to see where you're going (optionally respecting privacy) as well as making your route available for others to share and use themselves even on their 8 year old Sitex chartplotter or The Capn running on XP - heaven forbid.

Your questions:

1. Garmin repeats GPS data on their Ethernet/WiFi network. I believe this is something new - I tested a few firmware updates as part of coming along with BCM. I know they certainly have the ability to put any data over that network/WiFi. GPS is there now. What this means is that if you have an iPad without GPS, you can use the live stream from the Garmin GPS driving the iPad/BCM. I can't see any reason why any other data couldn't be put on the network in the same way (wind, depth, etc) but I honestly don't know if that is being done today. More on connectivity below.

2. AIS - really the same as #1. The capability is certainly there to bridge the AIS data across the Garmin network. I don't know if they're doing it today because BCM does not support it today. I definitely do know that development hasn't ended on BCM. Far from it. I don't think I'm breaking any confidences to say that there is new AC functionality that we've assisted them in implementing for the next release of BCM - it's complete. Over the last 2 weeks I've been working on the 3rd version with even newer stuff being added involving AC. I know they intend to continue enhancement.

3. Garmin's initial connectivity is between BCM and Garmin equipment. They're not saying whether that is TCP or UDP. There is no reason it couldn't be both.


A little more on connectivity from my perspective.

There are two types of connectivity as I wrote about above - environmental data and user data. In the worst case, the environmental data is easy to put over the air. I have a DMK and a Chetco installed on my boat now - both are built in. Those devices sit on NMEA 2000 and/or NMEA 183 and gateway the data bidirectionally to Ethernet/WiFi. Both work as servers allowing many devices to connect and receive the streaming data - that's something special about them too. The existing iAIS and other ActiSense type of products are single shot - only one device can connect at a time. A real server is needed so I can get the raw data on my iPhone, Nexus 7, and PC at the exact same time. DMK and Chetco allow for this now. We're working with both companies.

Whether a particular product like BCM will allow for this type of environmental data to come in from other sources isn't clear. They could allow it. Or they could require that BCM be connected to a Garmin network to get it. I think that'll take time to iron out. All I can add is that it is quite definitely a marketing decision, not a technical one.

My development revolves around user data - the things created by people, not the environment. Those are things like routes, reviews, data updates, plans about where you're going, and information about the people you know who are along your travels. The existing ActiveCaptain part of that is in many products like BCM today. You can write a review or add a hazard comment right now - many have been streaming in from BCM for the last week. Our next data integration is with routes. Our server has support for it now. Our API's will allow apps like BCM to easily synchronize your personal routes with our server much like they synchronize anchorage details and reviews right now. Having bidirectional route data going to our server creates a path between any two products that then support our route API. So if you tap in that BCM route and synchronize (automatic on BCM), and then synchronize Coastal Explorer (also interested in supporting our route API) then your BCM route magically appears on your PC ready to drive your autopilot.

Getting connectivity of routes out to legacy products will is a part of our own Companion apps to be released as soon as I can! The Companion obviously syncs with our server but then has custom software for DMK and Chetco to move user data across to other devices that support NMEA 2000 or 183. Even routes can be moved across 183 serial connections so there is no reason that a route couldn't end up on a 10 year old chartplotter.

I dumped a lot here - sorry. I hope that answers more questions than it creates!

 

[baz]

These last few posts have been very revealing and I thank those that have taken the time to enter all the useful data. This is great communication and well presented.

My primary requirement for this new BCM is for allowing others (authorized 'others') to see where our boat is, where its been and where it's heading to. Top of this list is for my 1st mate to be in touch with what I see on the chart plotter etc.

Basically, being able to share the BCM data among people is paramount for me. I'm not really that interested in sharing the BCM data with the Garmin chart plotter unless it's relatively inexpensive, technically safe and does not compromise the chart plotter's operation. The Garmin hardware and software is already doing some pretty complicated things and I'd hate to see this get messed up along the way... and I'm sure Garmin will ensure this does not happen. The one thing useful to me would be for having the Garmin chart plotter transfer its calculated 'safe course' line to the BCM so first mate has a clue as to the route the auto pilot is directing the boat along.

For authorized 'others' to share our BCM data as we cruise will require the data to be deposited into a secure sharable resource, and AC has mentioned the 'Cloud'. This reminds me very much of the way Apple allows Calendars, Contacts, etc to be shared between groups of people using the Apple iCloud feature.

At this time we can share the BCM data by taking periodic screen shots of the iPad display and sending them to the 'Cloud' (Apple's iCloud, Dropbox or wherever...) for authorized 'others' to obtain and view.

This BCM has great promise, its current release is already a very useful companion to have onboard and has been worth the wait.

Of course, the next big improvement for ActiveCaptain would for it to be integrated with the Apple's Siri feature. Instead of locating and tapping an AC icon for specific location info, how about simply speaking "Active Captain... Details for Port of Edmonds." or "Active Captain... Current tide." for examples. 😎

 

[Indigo/Jon]

"Dear Jon Kinne,
Thank you for contacting Garmin International.
No it cannot. BlueChart Mobile is meant as a trip planning aid, not as a primary navigation tool. I do not believe they will add AIS functionality, but you can submit your suggestion within the app under Settings >> Feedback.
With Best Regards,
Christopher Bl.
Product Support Specialist
Marine
Garmin International
913-440-8280 (fax) Att: Christopher Bl., Associate #5842
Original Message Follows: ------------------------
Escalation from KANA On Demand Self Service Subject: AIS Display
Message: Can the new Blue Chart Mobile app display AIS targets? If not is there any possibility of adding that capability?"

Just had this exchange with the "Support Specialist"...I was expecting that would be a priority. Yes, it's a planning aid, but it has the capability to do so much more, without it being seen as a "primary navigation tool". Maybe Jeff will be able to nudge them a bit on this issue if many other users have the same desire. FWIW, I did send a feedback message asking for AIS as well as wind direction and speed.