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Garmin BlueChart is available for IOS today

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/28/2012 : 10:21:46

I just got this in the mail from Active Captain:

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">!! Late Breaking News !!!

Garmin's BlueChart Mobile for iPhone and iPad is being released today,
November 28 at 9 am EST in the Apple App Store. There have been hundreds
of you who have written to us asking about it over this last year and we
want to make sure everyone knows that it is now available.

We've been using and testing it heavily for 8 months. You do not need
Garmin chartplotters to use it - it's a stand-alone product all to itself.

It's our opinion that this is the most significant boating app that has
been released for iOS. If you have an iPhone or an iPad, this is the
product to buy (we make no fees on the product at all). If you don't have
an iPad, BlueChart Mobile is more than enough reason to buy one (get a
cellular, 32 GB, latest model).

There is so much we've been dying to write about this new software but
couldn't. We'll tell all next Wednesday.

It's hard to find the new app in iTunes - we're not sure why. But go to
this link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/garmin-bluechart-mobile/id523635526#

and click on "View in iTunes". The app is free - charts are added for
very low prices. If these links don't work for you, please do not write
us - write to Garmin or wait until it's fully up in iTunes.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I've downloaded it but not had a chance to look at it (I'm on a break from an all day class). Thought I'd post it while it was fresh in my head. Oh, and I don't know why they say it's hard to find, I just searched for "garmin bluechart" in the App Store.

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

Edited by - delliottg on 11/28/2012 10:24:00

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9044 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2012 : 13:51:10

I'm downloading it now for my iPhone 4S... I like the weather overlay option--we'll see what the chart prices look like. Thanks!

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2012 : 17:03:36

I put Navionics on my Droid for 10.99... Got the whole country.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9044 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2012 : 18:50:11

On Apple's store, the US Coastal Bluechart (incl. Great Lakes, Hawaii, major rivers, the Bahamas, PR, and the west coast of Canada) is $30. $4 adds radar and satellite weather imagery that can be overlaid on the chart. Route planning, tide date, and points of interest appear to be similar to those Garmin's chart plotters, although I haven't seen these since I haven't bought the chart yet.

Looks like Garmin suspects they're going to lose the low-end hardware market to smartphones, just like the camera and music player makers have. One thing missing is a NMEA interface from a phone to a DSC VHF for emergency position reporting.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/28/2012 18:51:10

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5308 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2012 : 19:13:32

Some new VHF radios come with Bluetooth.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2012 : 21:38:26

That really would have interested me if I hadn't already gone with InavX for its rich compatibility with MacENC on my laptop. I generally like Garmin's user interfaces, and it is cheaper than INavX. INavX's free charts and app and chart updates are nice, but the $49.99 price was a bit staggering.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4298 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2012 : 06:28:57

Wish they had this for a droid. I'm about to dump XM Satellite Weather (great product but too costly) on my GPS and it would be nice to have cheap charts with a weather overlay.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9044 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2012 : 07:43:25

What I didn't see was whether the $30 covers future updates to charts (like the new "lifetime maps" Garmin Nuvis), or just one download. It does allow you to download your chosen area (as "tiles") to your phone or pad and access the rest via the web when you point or move elsewhere.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/29/2012 07:45:32

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2012 : 11:37:08

For those of you who have both an iPhone & iPad, are you able to sync between them for apps? My understanding was that you could. In other words, if you download the app & charts to your iPad, can you also use them on your phone or is it a separate purchase (making this less attractive).

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2012 : 12:12:53

For this to work on your mobile device, would you have to be connected to the internet via 3G, 4G, or wifi? I'm thinking if you get too far from shore this would no longer keep tabs on your position on the map, because you'd get beyond the range of the cell coverage. I'm specifically thinking about how I would use this up on western Lake Erie.

Edited by - Ben on 11/29/2012 12:22:29

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2012 : 12:30:02

The GPS chip is independent of the radio, so assuming you have the charts downloaded (I'm pretty sure they store them locally, but don't actually know that), it *shouldn't* matter if you're out of cell range. This is guesswork on my part, and I know that Waze (another GPS navigation package, highly recommended for ground based travel) does not work if it has no signal. I know this because it doesn't work on my Android tablet (wifi only), but it does work on my phone (3G / wifi).

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9044 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2012 : 14:54:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ben
 For this to work on your mobile device, would you have to be connected to the internet via 3G, 4G, or wifi? I'm thinking if you get too far from shore this would no longer keep tabs on your position on the map, because you'd get beyond the range of the cell coverage. I'm specifically thinking about how I would use this up on western Lake Erie.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">After you download the app, you decide on what to buy for charts. Once you buy a chart package, you decide what sections of it ("tiles") you want to download to your device for local access. From what I read, if you travel or point outside of the downloaded sections, it will access the data via whatever the phone or tablet can do, although I'm not sure it can use both xG and wifi. Anyway, you should be able to download your L. Erie area so you can use it with no connection. However, I don't yet know the storage requirements and therefore how much I'll want to keep on my 16GB iPhone.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2012 : 17:13:08

I actually downloaded it as well as the charts with Lake Erie. It's pretty sweet, but I guess my concern is that I dont' understand how the app would be able to keep track of where my boat is if I go outside of the device's data package coverage area. The program does indeed run independently on my iphone, but would it continue to track my boat's position? It's not really like a gps is it, where your position is constantly monitored by satellites? I thought it was dependent on the data package with your device, whether is 3G or 4G, or wifi. For example, I go to a cabin in Michigan, there's no 3G or 4G, so I can't use the "smart" capabilities of my phone. Obviously there wouldn't be wifi out on the open water, and maybe 3G and 4G extend out into Lake Erie to include the islands, i just dont' know.

Edited by - Ben on 11/29/2012 17:17:52

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4298 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2012 : 18:37:02

Your phone has a GPS built into it (that's how your phone knows what POI are close by) and is not dependent on the cell towers to track your position. At least some of the "smart" capabilities would definitely be affected by the loss of 3G, 4G, or wifi.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
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Djibouti
9044 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2012 : 19:06:29

As in many chartplotters, the app has a crude "base map" that you can view if you haven't downloaded any charts. If you go outside of your downloaded charts, it apparently uses your phone's GPS to figure out which additional "tile" to access via 3G or whatever (apparently without saving it).

My iPhone's GPS generally locates me within a few feet--cell tower triangulation can't come close to that--my old flip-phone sometimes could put me within a few hundred yards. I suspect wifi can only give the recorded location of the network's modem using static IP addresses, although it can deliver map data for your location, however it's determined, a lot faster than 3G or standard cell data.

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 11/29/2012 19:09:46

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 11/29/2012 : 21:49:39

Ben,
GPS doesn't monitor your position; the chip in your phone calculates your position from the broadcasting satellites' precisely known positions. It is equivalent to taking bearings on a number of objects.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2012 : 05:44:28

Ahh...okay, for some reason I always thought my position was calculated via the data package. This could be a really good app then! Now I gotta load it on my wife's ipad. It's way too small for the iphone. :)

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 11/30/2012 : 22:29:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Stinkpotter
 What I didn't see was whether the $30 covers future updates to charts (like the new "lifetime maps" Garmin Nuvis), or just one download. It does allow you to download your chosen area (as "tiles") to your phone or pad and access the rest via the web when you point or move elsewhere.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What cracks me up is the fact that big plotters are history. Game over Garmin, Magellan, TomTom... a GPS phone and I'm done... The anchor alarm for droid is awesome and free. Free near shore - which is when you need it - AIS app, and the whole US for 10 bucks? Screw Garmin and their LATE product valued at $30... Don't care...

sten

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 12/01/2012 : 06:58:15

There are pro & cons using dedicated chart plotters v I-pads/Androids/Netbooks.

However, there is one feature of an Apps based unit that the dedicated units have not addressed.. Updates!

We have to jump through several hoops to update our Garmin Chartplotter, it's only a click for my Tablet.

Somehow I see Garmin et.al. coming out with an App based chartplotter in the near future. All the thoughness of a dedicated unit, all the flexibility of a tablet.

Paul

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2271 Posts

Response Posted - 12/01/2012 : 22:03:13

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 ...What cracks me up is the fact that big plotters are history...AIS app...Screw Garmin and their LATE product valued at $30...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I'm not sure what AIS app you are referring to, but if it's MarineTraffic.com, Maritime Traffic, Boat Beacon, or any of the other apps that downloads AIS traffic from the web, these programs are specifically labeled "not for navigation," and for a good reason. The web data is subject to delays and blackout zones. The only truly reliable AIS data is the signals that your boat picks up from nearby vessels through its antenna, using an actual AIS receiver.

If anyone has seen an Android or iOS app that receives and displays actual AIS signals (perhaps passed from your boat's AIS receiver via Bluetooth, WiFi, RS422 cable, or USB cable), please let me know.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 12/03/2012 : 21:01:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by TakeFive
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 ...What cracks me up is the fact that big plotters are history...AIS app...Screw Garmin and their LATE product valued at $30...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I'm not sure what AIS app you are referring to, but if it's MarineTraffic.com, Maritime Traffic, Boat Beacon, or any of the other apps that downloads AIS traffic from the web, these programs are specifically labeled "not for navigation," and for a good reason. The web data is subject to delays and blackout zones. The only truly reliable AIS data is the signals that your boat picks up from nearby vessels through its antenna, using an actual AIS receiver.

If anyone has seen an Android or iOS app that receives and displays actual AIS signals (perhaps passed from your boat's AIS receiver via Bluetooth, WiFi, RS422 cable, or USB cable), please let me know.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Agreed, but I have found marinetraffic to be very useful and very accurate. Great for nightime coastal navigation and/or harbor entrances.

sten

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2271 Posts

Response Posted - 01/03/2013 : 20:54:02

Any more reviews on the quality of the app and charts? We're leaving for a BVI charter early Saturday, and I'm considering purchasing their US charts for $45 to get coverage of that area.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2013 : 11:46:22

Rick,
This is totally subjective, but from my dry sailing I've done with the app (it's never been on the boat yet, have yet to get a waterproof enclosure for the iPad), I like it. The data seems accurate, the live data (I purchased both weather and the $30 coastal maps) seems accurate with the spot checks I've done. There are some things I don't like about it, like having to click twice on the hotspot bullseyes that pop up to make them go away, but maybe that's configurable.

This may sound like a stupid question, but is your iPad a 3G model? If not, it won't have the built in GPS chip you'll need, unless you can get it via BT or WiFi from an external antenna.

Are you signed up with Active Captain? It's free and provides a lot of good local data, which you can add to. Sort of a sea-going Wiki with geo-location, so the data that's useful to you is presented on the screen when it's useful, and isn't when it's not.

Edited by - delliottg on 01/04/2013 11:46:52

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2271 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2013 : 16:23:04

My son got us the AT&T version of the iPad specifically for the GPS chip. We have not signed up for wireless, and it would not work in BVI anyway.

I do have an account on ActiveCaptain and have already downloaded the database into the Apple app. So I'll have that with me even if I don't purchase the chart. The $30 coastal chart does not include BVI, so I would need to buy the $45 US charts. That's still quite a bit less than Garmin's SD card charts.

Edited by - on

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 01/04/2013 : 19:13:10

It looks like the BVI have GSM, you should be able to buy a chip for data for the iPad when you get there. That's exactly what Rita & I do when we visit SE Asia.

This seems like it has good information, if a few years old:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147354-i546-k404660-Which_mobile_phone_services_work_in_Tortola-Tortola_British_Virgin_Islands.html

Edited by - delliottg on 01/04/2013 19:19:04

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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Response Posted - 01/05/2013 : 14:43:39

My research on more recent info suggested that http://mrsimcard.com has the best prices on the BVI Lime Card (GSM SIM card), but I decided to just grab a wifi hotspot from shore once every day or so. Sunsail provides an emergency phone, and that's all I really need. Plus I'm trying to get away from 24/7 Internet. ;-)

Garmin app caches the map (which I bought) and the ActiveCaptain data, which gives me more than I need.

FYI, I'm writing this in Road Town on the marina's hotspot.

Edited by - TakeFive on 01/05/2013 14:46:29

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