Use of an Apple iPad Pro to augment stock Chart Plotter

[baz]

Subject: Use of an Apple iPad Pro to augment stock Chart Plotter

My late 1st Mate left me her Apple iPad Pro 12.9" model.

I did have a mind to have a 2nd Chart Plotter display installed alongside the stock Chart Plotter on my new 2019 R29 CB. However, to save money I've opted to make use of an iPad Pro 12.9" model having Wi-Fi to be installed alongside the stock Chart plotter. I will use a RAM iPad cradle bolted to the helm console and for the iPad Pro to be dimensionally aligned to the left of the stock Chart Plotter. It will appear I have two Garmin Chart Plotters :lol:

The intent will be for the iPad to be connected to the Garmin 7612's locally hosted Wi-Fi network and share its display. The Garmin 7612 and the iPad will be capable of showing different displays such as engine data on one and map on the other.

I know others here have done something similar to this and ask for advice for setting the iPad up in this manner. The iPad I'm using does not have Cellular access but does have some form of "assisted" GPS (not sure about this currently). Not having Cellular access for the iPad will limit its access to whatever the Garmin local Wi-Fi can deliver.

My iPhone obviously has Cellular access so it, with a data plan, can augment my access to such as Navionics and have the iPhone's display streamed to the iPad's display.

I will install the iPad in landscape orientation to match the stock Garmin 7612 display.

I'm also assuming this iPad with its music and video/movies can share its music to the Fusion Radio via Bluetooth and its video/movies can be streamed to the boat's TV sets if the TVs have an Apple ATV device connected (via HDMI cable) to them; the ATV would be configured to use the Garmin's locally hosted Wi-Fi network. That is, the Garmin, iPad and ATV are all on the Garmin's locally hosted Wi-Fi network.

The one thing I'm also thinking about is that the Apple ATV requires a 110v connection which will not be an issue when shore power connected but would need the Inverter to be active when underway presumably, right ?

Thanks for any help setting this up. 🙂

 

[mjq1987]

I can't help with the Apple TV questions, although your approach sounds reasonable. We've streamed movies to the TV from an HDMI connected Surface.

The iPad connected to the Garmin network will only mirror the chartplotter it's connected to and different displays between the two can't be selected. To get a different display next to the helm chartplotter, you will need to power on the command bridge chartplotter, pair the iPad to it and then you can use the iPad to control the bridge chartplotter and set up a second Garmin-look display at the helm. In practice, we use the helm iPad setup to monitor weather, run an independent navigation app, check Active Captain notes, check marina info, etc. If conditions warrant, I set up primary navigation on the iPad and radar on the chartplotter. I maximize available engine/boat sensor data displays by monitoring some on the chartlplotter and others on the Volvo Penta display.

 

[baz]

Hey: Thanks for the heads-up about having a separate display on the iPad that's different from that on the cabin helm's Garmin 7612, by using the Garmin 7612 on the bridge. I thought I had checked this out on my R27/OB but forgot that the iPad simply mirrors the stock single Garmin 7612's display.

Your insights are a great help... thank you. 🙂

As an aside, we lived/worked in Hampton-Newport News for several years and my two daughters were born there.... Oyster Point Road and Hamilton Drive Apartments come to mind.... 😉 ...and I'm sure the scenery there has changed a great deal as nothing was around there except for empty fields when we lived there.

 

[mjq1987]

The area has changed quite a bit in the 25 years I've been here. The one constant is I-64 construction/deconstruction/reconstruction/obstruction...

 

[ixlr8]

I use my iPad w/ Active Captain to download maps and updates to my plotter. I also use the iPad to run the charting software, or use it in "helm" mode to copy what is on the plotter. Sometimes the first mate will take the iPad to the cockpit when she wants to sit out there to follow along with where we are. Which often leads to her asking me to change course to check something out. My iPad does not have a cellular connection, it is WiFi only. I will download the maps and updates at home and then transfer them at the boat. I use my phone to look up weather and winds. I can use my phone as a hotspot if I need to connect the iPad to the internet. But so far I haven't found a good reason to do so. I have 4 boating/charting apps on my iPad, including Active Captain, I am still experimenting to see which one I like best.

EDIT: OOPs My iPad is the upgrade that does have GPS and cellular capability, but I don't have a SIM card for it so I can't use the cellular capability. I bought the upgraded unit so I didn't have to carry, deal with, a separate GPS 'dongle'. Cost was about the same and for me I saw no reason to have the separate GPS device.

 

[baz]

Jim: Thanks Jim.... Isn't Active Captain now part of the Garmin offerings ? I like the iPhone hot-spot option technique.

I'm guessing (as I've done this before) having the iPhone display the boats position an iPhone screen shot can be taken and Emailed to family to keep them appraised of where the boat/me is. 😀 My family gets a bit nervous when I'm out solo. 😱 :lol:

 

[ixlr8]

Thanks Jim.... Isn't Active Captain now part of the Garmin offerings ? I like the iPhone hot-spot option technique.

Yes, Active Captain is now part of Garmin offerings and is also what you now use to download maps/updates to all the Garmin devices onboard your boat, don't need to use a SD card to transfer the data. Although you do need an SD card in the second slot that is used as a storage device for data and an activation key, from what I was told. It does have a size limit.

I'm guessing (as I've done this before) having the iPhone display the boats position an iPhone screen shot can be taken and Emailed to family to keep them appraised of where the boat/me is. 😀 My family gets a bit nervous when I'm out solo. 😱 :lol:

My motorcycling buddies found an app which updates your position on a regular basis and you can send a link to your friends and family which they can use trace your journey. I will see if I can find out more about it if you are interested.
If you are running an AIS that transmits your position, if you give folks your MMSI number, they can look up your position real time on http://www.marinetraffic.com

 

[baz]

Ah yes.... the AIS 600 option which I will have on my R29 CB.... forgot about that. I had AIS 600 on my R27/OB and never got around installing the included software and configuring it.... I was unaware of having to find where the Garmin AIS 600 box was and using the included optical disc to install things... I was too busy doing other things. :lol:

 

[JamesTXSD]

If your particular model iPad has "assisted" GPS, then it has GPS. The "assisted" part of that uses cell towers to aid in acquiring the satellites faster. That phrase has confused iPad owners for years. If the iPad has cellular capability but is not connected to a cellular carrier, it still has a functional GPS receiver. This also has confused people. Over the years, we have had 6 iPads - none have ever been connected to a cellular carrier, but I can assure you that the ones with cellular capability can be used (with the right app) as a chart plotter.

If your iPad does not have cellular capability (wifi only), there is no "assisted GPS." In that case, you can add a small GPS receiver, like the Bad Elf, and you will have a full-functioning GPS with the iPad...

https://bad-elf.com/pages/be-gps-1008-detail

My wife was gifted an iPad that does not have cellular capability, and she added the Bad Elf to it - works just fine. If buying new, I would opt for the wifi AND cellular capable iPads for the GPS capability. The cost difference between a wifi only and a wifi/cellular capable iPad is about the same as the cost of the Bad Elf.

From a safety/redundancy standpoint, the iPad with cellular capability (or with an external GPS added) will still give you navigation information in case your main chartplotter craps out.

 

[Rocky]

Hi Barry,
Let me second the "bad Elf" GPS receiver with an Ipad. I ran that as my primary nav on my old boat. Backed up with a 12 year old chartplotter. The Bad Elf setup works great Navionics or ISailor and it is seamless. It bluetooths to the Ipad nearly instantly - 1st time, every time.

That being said - I have an R29s with the 2 side by side Garmin 7612's installed and I love it. Having 2 chartplotters that talk to each other via nmea 2000 is pretty amazing. I moor in La Conner and having a full screen sonar on one screen and my other screen full size nav to follow my route info does make me feel better headed out the Swinomish Channel. Once in the open water I can have my radar overlay on one and my primary nav on the other at different zoom sizes.... The options for this set up are endless.

Obviously this option wasn't free, but I feel like it was worth every penny. Don't tell Andrew, but his price for the second 7612 was less than Amazon last year when I did it. Besides, that big empty spot on the panel was just asking to be filled... 🙂

Enjoy the new boat!! We love ours....and our is Hero Red as well, without the command bridge. Be prepared to hear from random people what a nice looking boat you have..

Rocky

 

[baz]

Rocky: Did you install the 2nd Garmin 7612 yourself ? The RT charges $3299 (plus sales tax of around $340) for the 2nd Garmin 7612.

An already paid for iPad Pro 12.9" for me is free (just +$25 for a RAM cradle to secure the iPad) and as far as I can see having the R29 CB it should be as good as or as close to having a 2nd Garmin 7612 (a 3rd in my case having the command bridge).

I've chatted with Andrew when going from R29 S to the R29 CB and he convinced me in no uncertain terms that using my iPad made so much sense vs. the extra $3,640 to RT for opting for their 2nd 7612.

This thread of mine is my attempt to flush out the differences between having a stock Garmin 7612 and an iPad Pro 12.9" on my R29 CB's cabin helm console vs. having RT install the 2nd Garmin 7612 alongside the stock cabin helm's 7612.

I did start with wanting the R29 S with the two 7612's but after changing to the R29 CB I needed to try and save some money.

 

[TugScout]

One more shout out here for the Bad Elf. In addition to my 741xs on my 21EC, I have my iPad loaded with Navionics software and linked via Bluetooth to the Bad Elf Plus. The Elf can connect to two or three devices simultaneously. It's a great backup for security and gives me the flexibility to play with two separate charts/views at the same time.

Cheers,
Mark

 

[baz]

I can't help with the Apple TV questions, although your approach sounds reasonable. We've streamed movies to the TV from an HDMI connected Surface.

The iPad connected to the Garmin network will only mirror the chartplotter it's connected to and different displays between the two can't be selected. To get a different display next to the helm chartplotter, you will need to power on the command bridge chartplotter, pair the iPad to it and then you can use the iPad to control the bridge chartplotter and set up a second Garmin-look display at the helm. In practice, we use the helm iPad setup to monitor weather, run an independent navigation app, check Active Captain notes, check marina info, etc. If conditions warrant, I set up primary navigation on the iPad and radar on the chartplotter. I maximize available engine/boat sensor data displays by monitoring some on the chartlplotter and others on the Volvo Penta display.

I'm interested in the process for doing this -> "pair the iPad to it and then you can use the iPad to control the bridge chartplotter and set up a second Garmin-look display at the helm".

The iPad being on the Garmin's locally hosted Wi-Fi network will I assume be able to see the two Garmin 7612's. What is the configuration needed on the iPad to pair it with the Command Bridge's 7612 ? I'm sure I can figure this out but thought I'd ask you as you've already done this. Thanks... 🙂