IPAD vs Android for navigation

[captstu]

Hi,

I'm looking to augment my R-25 navigation with either an IPAD or an Android tablet running an Active Captain integrated charting program.

Any thoughts on which platform I should choose? We have both an IPAD (admiral) and Android (me) on board already.

Thanks /Stu

 

[knotflying]

Cannot speak for the android. I use the iPad with garmin blue charts. I do not have the iPad integrated to my Garmin. I want separate systems for redundancy in case the Garmin goes out. I never had any issues except one time with and iOS update. It took Garmin over a month to come up with a fix. Other than that it is great. I find it easier to set up routes using the iPad and I like the Radar overlay, which you pay an additional $2.50 to purchase. You do need the iPad with cellular capability though. You do not have to get cellular service, but the iPad with cellular capability has the built in GPS.

 

[Irish Mist]

Knotflying
How does or what does radar overlay do on mobile app? Tryed google search and no luck
Thanks

 

[rheimb1]

It sounds as if you're already tied into either ios or android. I'll throw this in there just for good measure. If you are thinking about getting a new device I would go with a Surface. I've had a surface for quite awhile now and love it. It is a full functioning computer and have had absolutely zero issues with it. And it's way more secure. I know many people that have tossed the iPad and their Macs and switched to the surface. Like I said, if your are thinking about getting a new device, take a look at the surface and it's abilities.

 

[knotflying]

Knotflying
How does or what does radar overlay do on mobile app? Tryed google search and no luck
Thanks

You get weather radar on your chart. You can see your boat at its current position as well as the radar weather. You do have to be on the internet to pick up the radar. If you are underway and do not have cellular you can always use your phone as a hot spot.

As a side note, I also have the surface, but use it strictly for my computer needs. As I said, I like redundancy and separation of usage. I surf the net and use my ipad for apps. All my personal stuff and files, I use the surface. As per the previous post, it is great. My only complaint is that because of the small keypad i tend to misspell a lot. and the other complaint is if you have light behind you, you get a lot of glare. Probably a matte finish screen protector will fix that.

 

[tkaustin]

I'm using Navionics "Boating HD" as backup. Runs on Android, and for $55 you can get detailed maps of all waterways in USA & Canada. It's easy to download subsets of that, so you don't need to carry more maps than you actually need.

Does not require cell service; I'm running on a simple, 7" Tablet which has GPS. Water depth, route planning, fuel usage, if you provide your cruising speed and burn rate. It's pretty useful.

 

[steven_ickman]

I have an iPad Mini with Blue Charts Mobile. I also had my dealer install the Bluetooth Adapter on the Garmin so I can theoretically beam routs from the iPad to the Garmin. I say theoretically because I haven't actually tried it yet. The app itself seems functional enough.

-steve

 

[Hydraulicjump]

And I use Charts&Tides from Navimatics. I love it. Better than Garmin. And I use it on an iPad which is plenty large enough to read without my spectacles.

 

[HRowland]

The ActiveCaptain site has a list of Nav applications that provide Active Captain data.

https://activecaptain.com/navProducts.php


Howard

 

[SGIDAVE]

I use a great nav app called Skipper on my iPad. It too interfaces with Active Captain...they actually endorsed it in one of their newsletters last year.

Dave