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iPod Touch

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5352 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/17/2011 : 15:31:22

Anybody use their iPod touch for trip planning or on board? I've got the tide app and GeoGarage maritime charts on it for planning a trip. Problem is it needs wireless internet to work while on board. I can get a cell phone that will work like a WiFi hotspot, but the question is why not just get an iPhone instead? In a word: FEES.

What's your approach?

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - on

Tom Gauntt
Navigator

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204 Posts

Response Posted - 02/17/2011 : 23:10:04

iPad with Navionics... works great, lasts a long time. I'm thinking about downloading the Android version to my phone as well. I've been very happy with Navionics for iPad. Best $9.99 I think I've ever spent. http://www.navionics.com/NavionicsMobile.asp

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Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2011 : 08:28:54

Rockethub from rogers. http://your.rogers.com/business/wireless/products/business_products_details.asp?PRODUCTID=W35FWTR&summary=1 http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=56136#

When faced with our home internet dilemma (world's worst service or crazy fees) it was the only viable solution. A lucky bonus is that the rocket hub is essentially a cell phone with a data plan and a built in bluetooth router, albeit a plug-in cell phone. What all this means is that we can put a 12v inverter in the cig lighter, run the hub up the mast, and get some pretty good reception down in the boat.

I keep meaning to get a small pelican case and drill a hole in it for the wire, but it isn't on teh top of my to-do list.

A secondary bonus is that the hub acts as a cell phone if we ever feel the need to call someone while we are out there.

I am NOT saying this is the best solution. It is more than a little cludgey, but it works as a home internet and boat internet solution.

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PCP777
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1225 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2011 : 08:37:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Voyager
 Anybody use their iPod touch for trip planning or on board? I've got the tide app and GeoGarage maritime charts on it for planning a trip. Problem is it needs wireless internet to work while on board. I can get a cell phone that will work like a WiFi hotspot, but the question is why not just get an iPhone instead? In a word: FEES.

What's your approach?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes, I posted this in another thread, but I just bought a Mytouch 4G that also serves as a mobile hotspot so I get broad band speeds in the middle of the lake or at the dock. This means I can use my phone as a WIFI hot spot, and I can stream Netflix to my lap top, an IPOD or IPAD or surf the net very quickly. Not that you'd want to, but I can support 5 devices at a time off my phone's hot spot. It is much faster than 3G. Last weekend when we went sailing I had my phone running Pandora through the boat's radio and I had the kids surfing the net on an IPAD.

Iphones only run at 3G, and there is a big difference. The Iphone 5 will be a 4G phone and I'm not sure what they will charge for data.

Unlimited data from Tmobile is $20 and I can run up to five devices at a time from my phone. Set up is simple and wireless.

Oh, also, since both boats I cruise on have a USB port in our radios, I also can charge the phone off the radio.

Before you make a choice though, make sure you check out the coverage maps.

Edited by - PCP777 on 02/18/2011 09:15:14

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 02/18/2011 : 11:11:19

BTW, I saw an article on the so-called 4G, comparing vendors among other things... It turns out the "4G" is whatever a vendor wants to call "4G". It isn't a standard speed or protocol--just a marketing moniker. Each vendor has his own flavor. There isn't even a universal "minimum speed" that qualifies for 4G--just an unofficial definition of >= 100 mbps. Don't expect the same 3G-to-4G comparisons on Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, et al.

Here's an interesting [url="http://www.funtechtalk.com/3g-vs-4g-wireless-what-is-the-difference/"]historical/future perspective[/url] on all of the alphabet soup under those blankets. (Scroll down and Play Video.)

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 02/18/2011 11:13:24

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 02/19/2011 : 10:30:50

Thanks Dave, I've almost mentioned that several times. The standards for 4g haven't even been finalized yet. It is purely an advertising gimmick. Early adopters of 3g, as in service providers like Verizon and others, distributed wider coverage than the later adopting companies like AT&T and others, but improved technology made AT&T 3g dramatically faster in their coverage areas - far and away the fastest in independent testing. They needed a buzzword as they distributed the latest and fastest 3g technology yet. Many pundits say that wide distribution of true 4g will take 7-10 years, but it will equal cable download speeds 31 miles from the transmitter and reasonably fast uploads. It will be a package for home, boat, car, and in between. Like current technology, the performance is better if you are closer to the transmitter. It will also resolve the current issue of whether or not you can do voice and data at the same time, an issue dependent on your carrier's underlying technology - Iphone on AT&T = yes, Iphone on Verizon = no.

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