Garmin Bluechart Mobile App - Where are you?

[ActiveCaptain]

it's a learning curve for me...

I think all of those modal displays are a bit subdued. They need to stand out a little bit more. I've done that exact same thing and almost put my fist through the screen because it was annoying me.

I really like the measure tool. I just used it tonight when we pulled into Cumberland Island to drop anchor. I like picking out a spot to anchor and swinging the ruler around to get distances. Then I plant the boat inside the first circle and know all the surrounding distances. It's really a nice implementation of measuring that provides other uses.

 

[cotemar]

A Nice upgrade would be to use e-mail or and SD memory card to move routes between devices instead of buying a Garmin Marine Wi-Fi Adapter Kit $199.

I put all my routes and waypoints in my Garmin GPSMAP 5208 using and SD memory card.
I should be able to put those same routes and waypoints in my BlueChart Mobile device using the same SD memory card?

 

[ActiveCaptain]

My vision is that all routes should be in the "cloud" and accessible anywhere by any software/hardware. Garmin probably won't ever do an interface to Raymarine. But I will. And of course, the routes are available on the website too for others to share and use as templates.

I'm working on this now. All products that use our data will have to share route storage too. It'll be my job to make the translations to the legacy hardware. That's part of the design of the Companion - to talk to non-supported hardware/software over network, NMEA, or a memory card if needed. That job might require some special hardware like Chetco or DMK. No one is tying all that together yet.

When I create a route, moving it from one product to another should be easy and not user-hostile like it is today.

 

[baz]

I notice that Garmin has a built-in User Feedback via Email for reporting issues/errors etc. I cannot find a similar feature for reporting ActiveCaptain issues/errors! Am I just not seeing it somewhere I wonder? I ask as I've already found a few minor inaccuracies for my home port marina... 😉

For example, the boat launcher has a 7500# capacity whereas the ActiveCaptain info shows this to be 7200#. This boat launcher can accommodate 10feet to 26feet long boats and up to 9feet wide. The Port of Edmonds also has a 50-ton capacity Travel lift (max 15.5 feet wide and up to 60 feet long) and a well organized boat yard. Even though ActiveCaptain provides a URL for the marina this is useless unless one has an internet connection while on the water.

 

[baz]

A Nice upgrade would be to use e-mail or and SD memory card to move routes between devices instead of buying a Garmin Marine Wi-Fi Adapter Kit $199.

I put all my routes and waypoints in my Garmin GPSMAP 5208 using and SD memory card.
I should be able to put those same routes and waypoints in my BlueChart Mobile device using the same SD memory card?

I concur and is something I suggested earlier in this thread.

I do like ActiveCaptain's suggestion for keeping route data in the 'Cloud'. This however, presumes one has access to the internet when on the boat, which has to be problematic for many. As long as I'm within Cell coverage I can access the internet, but having Wi-Fi access to the internet is not always possible.

 

[ActiveCaptain]

I cannot find a similar feature for reporting ActiveCaptain issues/errors!

EVERYTHING in ActiveCaptain can be edited by you. Everything.

If you have knowledge about the launcher capabilities that's different from what ActiveCaptain has, you can update it. Garmin doesn't support the update API today (they will) but you can always edit anything on the website.

There's a Getting Started page that gives the basics about how to do everything on the website:
https://activecaptain.com/articles/misc/gettingStarted.php

The whole zen of ActiveCaptain is that everyone updates and uses the data. Everything about ActiveCaptain is completely free. The "price" is adding the things you know to be true. With 3+ million updates done so far, it hasn't been all entered by me!

 

[ActiveCaptain]

I do like ActiveCaptain's suggestion for keeping route data in the 'Cloud'. This however, presumes one has access to the internet when on the boat, which has to be problematic for many. As long as I'm within Cell coverage I can access the internet, but having Wi-Fi access to the internet is not always possible.

The "cloud" doesn't have to mean internet access. I'm on my boat right now (full time, liveaboard). I know that there isn't internet access everywhere. I totally appreciate (cherish?) the times when we get somewhere without it.

I'm the one who designed the sync API to keep our entire website's data offline with 20+ navigation products (like Garmin's). It provides all the data even when there is no internet capability.

The next generation is this new Companion set of apps/software. It will transfer data if there is an internet connection but it'll also act as a traffic cop within your boat to move data around between devices and software for the times when you don't have an internet connection. Once an internet connection is had, it'll then replicate the data back on the ActiveCaptain server. So when remote without internet, you can't see all of my routes but you'll certainly have access to all of yours even if you just created them onboard right then.

 

[Bruce Moore]

I'm the one who designed the sync API to keep our entire website's data offline with 20+ navigation products (like Garmin's). It provides all the data even when there is no internet capability.

The next generation is this new Companion set of apps/software. It will transfer data if there is an internet connection but it'll also act as a traffic cop within your boat to move data around between devices and software for the times when you don't have an internet connection. Once an internet connection is had, it'll then replicate the data back on the ActiveCaptain server. So when remote without internet, you can't see all of my routes but you'll certainly have access to all of yours even if you just created them onboard right then.

Thanks for everything you do, the web site, integrated products, newsletter, blog, marina minutes, etc. You've made remarkable progress in the four years we've been using the data. And, we happily anticipate all forthcoming products you're working on.

We keep working on our marina, and look forward to increased ActiveCaptain traction on the west coast.

Scratch Dyna and Dylan behind the ears for us.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[ActiveCaptain]

... and look forward to increased ActiveCaptain traction on the west coast.

Have you seen the anchorages and hazards for Alaska? There's a ton of data that has been added there.

I'm not sure why we haven't seen more west coast use. I know there was more data added in Indonesia last week than in the Puget Sound. I've yet to figure out why.

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Not to hijack the thread, but I want to add my thanks for all you've done with ActiveCaptain. It is a valuable and valued resource. I use it all the time and I edit it as well. But I want to add that it is a mystery to me why folks don't seem to be using or adding to it as much in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay. 500 miles of inland waterways for year-round cruising and you would think more would take advantage of the program.

I spent the morning messing around with Bluechart Mobile. Although there are some aspects of the aesthetics that I am not enamored with, the rest of it is terrific, particularly the route planning (which Navimatics is lousy at). Looking forward to more upgrades and bug fixes.

Jeff Mount

 

[walldog]

We use Tides and Charts app for the iPad. All active Captain data is on our iPad with this app. We can make reviews and changes off line and when we return to internet access, the data is updated. Not having internet everywhere we travel does not effect the functionality of these apps. Glad to see the same thing on the new Garmin app. I have spent quite a bit of time with the new app and I really like it. One thing it has over the Navionics app is the head up operation. Navionics limits you to North up.

When we are able to connect to the Garmin marine network on our tugs, the app will be much more complete. On another thread, we were discussing a way to keep depth information available when the chartplotter crashes. It is not a stretch to believe that depth information could be shown on the chart of the Garmin app as that is available on the NMEA 2000 network. Raymarine and others are doing it through wifi to the iPads now. So I am sure it is just a matter of time for Garmin. I am a little concerned that Garmin is planning to use the Ubiquiti wifi, as that appears to be primarily for long range. Most of us do not need long range wifi to reach our iPads from our NMEA 2000 network, seems a bit overkill. But other factors that I am not aware of probably drive those decisions.

Herb

 

[ActiveCaptain]

It is not a stretch to believe that depth information could be shown on the chart of the Garmin app as that is available on the NMEA 2000 network.

Go into Settings/Units. That gives away a bunch of the future plans without me divulging a thing!

I am a little concerned that Garmin is planning to use the Ubiquiti wifi, as that appears to be primarily for long range.

It wasn't for long range. You can turn down the transmission output too. I don't think that Ubiquiti is a long-term plan for them (my guess).

The special things about the PicoStation-M2 are that it can filter out an IP address, it has a fast CPU for keeping up with the 100 mbps incoming radar data, and it's pretty inexpensive. The issue is that radar streams on the Garmin network at incredibly high rates - too high for other routers. Something needs to block it from getting through.

I'd prefer to have some type of really cheap firewall hardware capable of blocking a static IP. I can find expensive ones but just don't know of any cheap ones. Finding something that could do that would make this all very simple. I wish I had time to play with a Rasberry-PI and whip something up!

 

[baz]

We use Tides and Charts app for the iPad. All active Captain data is on our iPad with this app. We can make reviews and changes off line and when we return to internet access, the data is updated. Not having internet everywhere we travel does not effect the functionality of these apps. Glad to see the same thing on the new Garmin app. I have spent quite a bit of time with the new app and I really like it. One thing it has over the Navionics app is the head up operation. Navionics limits you to North up.

If ActiveCaptain data has a URL ref and you don't have internet access you're out of luck... this was the point I was making earlier.

For example, if I'm approaching a marina with several miles to go and all I have is a URL for the marina web site and I have no internet access I cannot get the needed info.

Don't misunderstand me... I think this new Garmin App is awesome, especially given it is a 1st release. A huge amount of beta testing has obviously been done. Beta testing is hard and time consuming and requires enormous attention to detail.

I hope Garmin decides to incorporate computing/displaying 'safe courses' in a future release... I would think this to be an easy software addition as they have this already for the chart plotter.

 

[baz]

I cannot find a similar feature for reporting ActiveCaptain issues/errors!

EVERYTHING in ActiveCaptain can be edited by you. Everything.

Hmmm... I'm using the App on my iPhone and I'm logged into AC and have selected some AC data/info to display. I can press and hold to get the magnifying glass to appear but this does not allow me to position a cursor to edit some text... just how does one edit the 'local' AC data on the iPhone?

 

[Bruce Moore]

For example, if I'm approaching a marina with several miles to go and all I have is a URL for the marina web site and I have no internet access I cannot get the needed info.

In such an instance, contact the marina via VHF or use your smartphone as a phone and call them. The off-line ActiveCaptain record for the marina in question, resident on your device, will have both numbers.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[baz]

For example, if I'm approaching a marina with several miles to go and all I have is a URL for the marina web site and I have no internet access I cannot get the needed info.

In such an instance, contact the marina via VHF or use your smartphone as a phone and call them. The off-line ActiveCaptain record for the marina in question, resident on your device, will have both numbers.

Cheers,

Bruce

Of course you're right... you need more than ActiveCaptain provides at times.

 

[ActiveCaptain]

I'm using the App on my iPhone and I'm logged into AC and have selected some AC data/info to display. I can press and hold to get the magnifying glass to appear but this does not allow me to position a cursor to edit some text... just how does one edit the 'local' AC data on the iPhone?

It depends on the app you're using. Navimatics supports updating all fields, writing review, writing comments, etc. right now. Garmin support reviews and comments. The next version adds updating.

Originally all developers were required to add updating. I've reduced that requirement because of the upcoming Companion product that'll have full support on all platforms for updating and adding new data. Still, some developers want to add it and it's part of the API available to them.

 

[HRowland]

I have been waiting for this app since Summer. I was very disappointed when I could not download and use it on my 1st generation iPad which is only about 2 years old! Garmin requires iOS 6.0 or later and Apple chose not to upgrade original iPads beyond iOS 5.1.1.
I know the early iPad is slower but I would accept that to make use of the new Garmin app. Navimatics Charts and Tides works great and provides ActiveCaptain data. iNavX also works great on my iPad.
Garmin must have use an iOS 5.x build during initial development and testing of their app, why do they now require iOS 6.0?
Note that I am also not happy with Apple for failing to allow iOS 6 to run on a 2 year old iPad. I now have to decide if I want to spend the money on a new iPad since I already own one.

A better solution would be for Garmin to release an Android version of the app so we are not locked into Apple products.

Howard

 

[ActiveCaptain]

I know the early iPad is slower...

It's not that. I have multiple iPads including an iPad 1. I ran into the same issues in my ActiveCaptain Companion development that Garmin ran into. You're right, it originally ran on iOS 5 and I tested it on an iPad 1. It wasn't that it was slow. It was that it crashes. The same thing happens with my app development.

When Apple created the iPad 1, they gave 500 MB of RAM available for software use. It's hard for me to even imagine saying this but in today's world, 500 MB isn't enough. The iPad 2 up'd the allocation to 1 GB. The iPad 3 up'd it again to 1.5 GB. Charts, navigation, GPS, database access, etc, along with all of the other new things running on iPads from Apple take tremendous amounts of RAM. iOS makes it very difficult to anticipate the RAM problem. It just crashes the app.

Even though you think you could put up with the slowness, you wouldn't put up with the continuous crashing. And again, it has little to do with Garmin because my own code does the same thing.

We still use our iPad 1 every day. It's used for videos and it sits in the galley handling recipes, menu preparation, and groceries. But for anything serious and especially for navigation, it's really time to update and get a new (cellular, 32 GB or more) iPad. Two years is a very long lifetime for the first release of a new category of products.

 

[baz]

...snip...
Note that I am also not happy with Apple for failing to allow iOS 6 to run on a 2 year old iPad. I now have to decide if I want to spend the money on a new iPad since I already own one....snip...
Howard

Howard, my advice to you is a little late in the day for you... but this is what I do with respect to keeping up with technology.

As with Apple, product line updates can be in as little time as 6 months and typically done within 2 years (the Mac Pro being an exception at this time). In many cases the new model benefits are significant.

Here's how I deal with this technology advance issue...

We own Apple product exclusively and have done so since the 1980s. When a new model, and especially the iPhone and iPads, we immediately offer our old model for sale on Craigslist. For iPhones the market value sale price is typically more than the upgrade price offered by Apple/CellularService. Thus, selling the old model iPhone more than covers the cost of obtaining the new iPhone model. I'm not sure why people pay more for the older iPhone models than the cost of upgrading... but suspect these somehow find their way to Eastern countries as unlocked models or areas where the iPhone is in short supply.

I adopt the same strategy for our iPads. In this case the older iPad model sells on Craigslist very fast but for $100 to $200 less than the new iPad model. I consider this expense simply as the cost for keeping up with the technology. I made an exception for the new iPad Retina display model as I found the previous iPad model was not selling well on Craigslist for some peculiar reason... and because the new model was released barely 6 months after the previous one. The new iPad Retina display model is significantly faster (processor-wise) and its screen display simply marvelous.

For our Apple computers we keep the laptops for not much longer than 2 to 3 years before trading them or selling them. Laptops seem to fail after a 3 to 4 year time frame of heavy use... and can also fall behind as being incompatible hardware for the new operating systems -- this is simply a fact of life as maintaining operating systems for a wide range of aging hardware is just too expensive for software companies.

For our desktop computers we keep them for as long as they can do useful work and stay reliable. Typically, I don't look at a new desktop computer unless it offers at least 4x in performance and/or capability or offers a technology that I simply must have to get something done. Mind you, today the 4x in performance increase is getting harder and harder to realize. The use of many many processors offered in the graphic cards may break this barrier shortly. Look up the Cray Titan computer recently installed at the U.S. government's Oak Ridge facility for further reading if you have an interest.

The first high performing computer my company bought in 1977 had just 8 MB memory. It cost close to $12 million and as we developed its operating system we actually rented 2 MB memory, then 4 MB and finally the full 8 MB when our work was close to completion. The attached disks were the size of washing machines. Technology has advanced in leaps and bounds since then and high speed memory is readily available for a few dollars today along with the replacement of physical rotating disks by Solid State Devices. All this and the rapid reduction in computer physical sizes is simply astounding.

Whether you are a technology follower or not you do have to marvel at these advances. As these tools get better and better it allows humans to accomplish things that were simply dreams in the past.