So I am searching for marine related apps for my tablet (Lenovo quad core and GPS chip.) Memory Map, no charts: Navionics (Garmin), pay, pay, pay so I search GPS Reader and come up with exactly that top of the page and free from "Dead Duck Software".
Who could resist that??? Works a treat!!
In the back yard it pulled up lat,long, speed and direction in less than 90 secs. Give it a burl Curl.
Saildroid gives you location, speed, waypoints and course - all free.
Cheers
Bristol
These apps are fine but don't expect the same accuracy as a real GPS especially one with a SIRF 4 chip or equivalent. Phone and tablet GPS are not the same. Local oyster farmers were using phones and tablets to find their stakes and had little joy till they borrowed mates handheld Garmin 73. I will download Saildroid though and see how it compares. Price is right!
Interesting how Saildroid gives magnetic headings. Probably good enough for rough fixes down the side of the phone if not in strong sunlight!
What charts are you employing, MemoryMap?
If so, how come you are not using the MemoryMap app?
Am l missing something? 
Memory Maps (as in the App itself) is only the mapping program, much like OpenCPN. I think it may come with one free and very basic land based map (well mine did at least). You will need to either purchase the maps or download any free maps such as from NOAA. I don't think there are any free Aussie marine charts.
It is a good program and I use if for more than just for the marine charts. But it is not free unless yo can find the free sources.
hate to say this but possibly Navionics (owned by Garmin). They are switching to a new consolidated app but you can still get the AU & NZ subscription price for under $40 for 1 year. After that you can either continue with a new subscription or not. Regardless the maps should remain on your device even after you choose not to renew.
I know people hate to pay for things but if you think the official government charts are cheaper, think twice
www.hydro.gov.au/prodserv/pricing.htm
Agree with Seabreasy on this. $40 is chump change when it comes to the cost of boat ownership. I think this is definitely one of those cases of you get what you pay for....
Yes, we all know that, the AHO is pricey but this is where MemoryMap is a winner.
Same RNC charts, QuickCharts Australia Ed 5 for usd 39.99 forever.
That is cheap and reliable!
Select to expand quotesirgallivant said..
Yes, we all know that, the AHO is pricey but this is where MemoryMap is a winner.
Same RNC charts, QuickCharts Australia Ed 5 for usd 39.99 forever.
That is cheap and reliable!
+1
So I am searching for marine related apps for my tablet
Cisco. I checked the Dead Duck app.
Looks similar to the best one I have come across, Boat Speed.
BIG FONT is what I like most. Heading, Speed, Position and Accuracy displayed
Free! Free! Actually I will fork out the $3 now to support them and go Ad-Free1
Gary
GPS Essentials
(android app)
We use it instead of a handheld gps (checked it against Garmin handheld and same exact position).
Super simple to choose which info/size to display (position, bearing, course to, speed etc)
Just for use as a position readout, not for nav maps
Nothing wrong with navionics and if they switch or are owned by Garmin I don't care. I have to renew tommorow. I will pay the yearly renewal. It was free 7 years ago. If your a tight ass and want to download some free Nav aids well good luck. As they say u only get what you pay for!
The freebies are quite useful on back up devices like your phone.
Out of interest, I put the wide bay bar waypoints on saildroid on my phone and on a Garmin handheld last time we went through - as well as having all the usual. Comparing them all, both the Garmin and saildroid were very accurate and either would have allowed me to navigate perfectly well in an "everything else stuffed" situation
I do rate Navionics, and pay our subscription happily.
It's pretty fantastic that we now have 5 devices on board capable of giving accurate GPS data at very little cost.
Oh, and on the subject , the anchor watch apps are very good. We use Anchor Pro, but the free version is very good.
Cheers
Bristol
Select to expand quoteToph said..
Memory Maps (as in the App itself) is only the mapping program, much like OpenCPN. I think it may come with one free and very basic land based map (well mine did at least). You will need to either purchase the maps or download any free maps such as from NOAA. I don't think there are any free Aussie marine charts.
It is a good program and I use if for more than just for the marine charts. But it is not free unless yo can find the free sources.
Memory map does not offer any marine charts for Australia free or otherwise at the moment, here is the response I received this morning:
I am afraid at this point, we are not able to offer new licenses for Australia marine charts, but we are working out the license details and will be adding those again in the future.
Sincerely,
Ron
Memory-Map Support
Select to expand quoteBristolfashion said..
Saildroid gives you location, speed, waypoints and course - all free.
Cheers
Bristol
I had a fiddle about yesterday with this app. Compared with a magnetic compass, Garmin 72 and the normal compass/GPS on my phone. Both phone GPS positions were the same as you would expect. Saildroid shows the heading in magnetic though which is weird. Phone shows true but it was the same heading! Garmin showed the phone GPS was about 50 metres out but tomorrow I will check with my onboard GPS.
This arrived yesterday:
Hi John,
The user for this account is ........... Those charts are still available on the server and should be listed under the OLD EDITIONS section. As the charts are on our primary server now, there should be no unusual issues with downloading.
Sincerely,
Ron
Memory-Map Support
My system is working fine.
Select to expand quotesirgallivant said..
This arrived yesterday:
Hi John,
The user for this account is ........... Those charts are still available on the server and should be listed under the OLD EDITIONS section. As the charts are on our primary server now, there should be no unusual issues with downloading.
Sincerely,
Ron
Memory-Map Support
My system is working fine.
Yes obviously they are honouring existing licences but not offering ones.
I'm not sure if I'm out of step, but I don't tend to worry about a 10m (or whatever) "error" in a GPS location - generally that close is too close. The detail is down to the Mark one eyeball.
Of course, we often determine a GPS error by comparing the device which we think is right to the wrong 'un - but, of course, neither might be right or the reference device could be out.
Probably the best way to check is to go to one of those GPS check marks that are scattered around.
The anchor pro app reports GPS accuracy and it does vary a bit - however, it does sound an alert if it loses GPS and I'm only really interested in significant shifts.
Talking of the limits of instruments, we went in to anchor at a beach with a sharp shelf recently. I went up front to keep an eye out. When I could suddenly distinguish individual sand grains I did the turn, turn call only to get the response ,"don't worry, we've got 6m!". The !@#$ing turn for !@#$s sake got the right response. The helm admitted that we got to zero on the depth sounder!
Cheers
Bristol
Bristol
I have C-Map (running on Plan2 Nav), because that is what everyone had around me here in Japan.
Last summer I ran a basic check; comparing hand held compass, C-Map and depth sounder.
I understand that these results on one short run are not definitive, but this whole coastline was moved (up to 5 metres) and buckled (up to 2 metres) by the tsunami and it will years before it is all surveyed properly.
The google map photo is the narrow passage that I passed through.
The chart shows the various depths that I passed over..
I compared the depths to the contours on the chart and they were all less that a minute (in time) different.
As I say not exactly scientific, but interesting
Gary
Interesting Gary, of course, very shortly all our boats will be feeding back GPS and sounder data, so surveys will effectively be continuous. I know this can happen with Navionics already.
In an idle arvo, you'll be able to sail around your locale and see the chart update in real time.
Cheers
Bristol
Select to expand quoteBristolfashion said..
Interesting Gary, of course, very shortly all our boats will be feeding back GPS and sounder data, so surveys will effectively be continuous. I know this can happen with Navionics already.
In an idle arvo, you'll be able to sail around your locale and see the chart update in real time.
Cheers
Bristol
In a sense it is ironical that we users are doing the mapping for these companies, who in return as a thank you make us pay for usage of the very same charts
Select to expand quoteSeebreasy73 said..
In a sense it is ironical that we users are doing the mapping for these companies, who in return as a thank you make us pay for usage of the very same charts
It is a con job!!
I bought a Garmin 75dv when it was on special for $750 and paid the extra $199 for the SD card upgrade for 3D view etc. So southace's implication that those seeking free apps to download on our mobiles are tight arses is quite insulting.
I say this in light of the fact that the very accurate Google Maps and others are totally free because of attached advertising.
Marine maps from most vendors carry advertising for marinas etc but it is still the same old mantra, put the word marine in front of it and you have a licence to double or treble the price. I am sick of it.
Then you have as mentioned above that users of the software are upgrading the software by their usage and recording. An ultimate con.
In the U.S. the coast guard and their charts are funded by the taxpayer as it is in Australia. However the U.S. charts are FREE to download.
The tight arse here is the Australian Hydrographic Service or should I say lack of service??
What say ye to that argument? I believe the general boating public is being ripped off big time.
Australia is nearly the only country left now that makes it's citizens pay for the charts twice! Even New Zealand has free charts now.
Select to expand quoteRamona said..
Australia is nearly the only country left now that makes it's citizens pay for the charts twice! Even New Zealand has free charts now.
and NZ also provides free maps for some of the South Pacific areas.
But, you can get the free maps here too in the "beacon to beacon" publication, but that is not exatly useable in a chartplotter
Select to expand quotegarymalmgren said..
Bristol
I have C-Map (running on Plan2 Nav), because that is what everyone had around me here in Japan.
Last summer I ran a basic check; comparing hand held compass, C-Map and depth sounder.
I understand that these results on one short run are not definitive, but this whole coastline was moved (up to 5 metres) and buckled (up to 2 metres) by the tsunami and it will years before it is all surveyed properly.
The google map photo is the narrow passage that I passed through.
The chart shows the various depths that I passed over..
I compared the depths to the contours on the chart and they were all less that a minute (in time) different.
As I say not exactly scientific, but interesting
Gary
Gary , can I ask what was the datum setting on your gps
L
Select to expand quoteRamona said..
Australia is nearly the only country left now that makes it's citizens pay for the charts twice! Even New Zealand has free charts now.
Just found these of the WA coast
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/nautical-charts.asp
Large gaps in the available charts in the far north, but IIRC those charts (in detail) weren't available in hardcopy either.
Select to expand quoteToph said..Ramona said..
Australia is nearly the only country left now that makes it's citizens pay for the charts twice! Even New Zealand has free charts now.
Just found these of the WA coast
www.transport.wa.gov.au/imarine/nautical-charts.asp
Large gaps in the available charts in the far north, but IIRC those charts (in detail) weren't available in hardcopy either.
The charts that are there are excellent!
