Things are moving on the iOS app publisher side. Updates follow one another and new functions appear. A quick tour of the new virtual products, because I haven't tested anything at sea yet. It will come, Don't doubt it ! Read more …
The aiShell waterproof case for iPad Mini
This time, it came up ! The new waterproof case for iPad Mini by Andres Industries, to whom we owe the famous iPad Case, is finally available.
Smaller, lighter, more discreet, but just as robust, it is ideal for protecting your iPad Mini on boat, on beach, under the rain or in the desert (¹). With this funny name “ aiShell " , literally “Coquillage Andres Industries”, the manufacturer offers a case with all the tips of the big brother for iPad : a waterproof power connector, windows for cameras, adaptation to existing REM mounts. It even added two retractable legs to facilitate its use on a flat surface. A completely Germanic design. Read more …
ENCs, Routing and sailing shaves stone
The relationship of a recent experience of an iNavX user and Weather4D PRO routing function invites me to bring a warning to the attention of novices boaters in computer use.
A regatta course, departure from St Helier (Jersey) to arrival Granville, optimized with Weather4D PRO using fine grid GCWF model and MyOcean currents prediction, gave the following route in iNavX :
The optimized route transferred to iNavX
Mirror iPad screen… in the cabin. [Update]
Hey yes, this is the world upside down ! At the beginning of iPad use in a boat, the tablet was used to capture the screen of a PC fixed to a chart table for display applications such as MaxSea in the cockpit. The solution has been - and still is - widely used. But since I've been working with a few accomplices to demonstrate that the iPad is capable of providing a perfectly autonomous navigation solution (¹), These tablets are increasingly installed at a fixed position in the cockpit.
Once attached and connected to a waterproof power supply, on a wheel column or close to the tiller, disassembling the iPad may seem tedious for a few minutes to spend inside the cabin. The solution would it not mirror its screen to display on a single PC screen via WiFi, in order to monitor the progress of the boat on the electronic chart while we are active in the galley ?
[Update September 24/08/2020]
Weather4D PRO 1.3.3 further improves routing
Improvements…
No respite for this application : two and a half months after integrating the currents into the routing calculation, this latest version provides significant advances on this function. The improvements bring greater precision to the calculation of the optimized route and new parameters allow for fine-tuning.
… and two pieces of good news :
They concern currents, follow the leader… Read more …
Install a WiFi network onboard
Request more frequent from boat owners is for the installation of a WiFi reception onboard. The proliferation of computers, tablets and smartphones on boats incentive to maintain a connection with the Internet, even while sailing. Exchange emails, Follow social media, Receive weather files, and how many other reasons lead to an irrepressible addiction. C’est la vie !
I have already mentioned on my website, in chapter about means for receiving GRIB files, some available solutions : Read more …
Combine instruments NMEA 2000 and NMEA 0183
In a previous entry I talked about NGW-1 by Actisense company (¹), an NMEA 0183 gateway converter to NMEA 2000 bidirectional.
Since then, This footbridge has been declined in several versions. Each of them allows you to connect to the NMEA network 2000 A range of special instruments, and so combine their data with other NMEA 2000 instruments already present on the network. This can be particularly interesting, in an installation mixing both protocols, to facilitate data transfers in iNavX. Read more …
ADS-B transponders on future Iridium NEXT satellites
I mentioned in two previous posts, on the one hand ADS-B equivalent to AIS for aeronautics, on the other hand, the future of satellite communications with the next constellation Iridium NEXT. Believe it or not, the NewScientist teaches us, In a recent article dated 14 December, that the Iridium NEXT satellites will carry ADS-B transmission devices. I give you below a freely adapted translation.
These two communication technologies combined will revolutionize air traffic in the next ten years. Read more …
Navigate with an iPad at the Nautic Paris boat show
Already two days past and the dream team was overwhelmed by a huge number of visitors. Don't let this photo fool you : it was taken yesterday evening after closing, whew, A little respite !
An expanded stand this year
On the program of presentations :
- iPad accessories with exclusive new protection LifeProof received on Friday.
- Our favorite apps : iNavX and Navionics charting, Weather4D PRO and routing feature, with the exclusive presentation of iPolar for easy creation of speed polars.
- Demonstration of WiFi connection with networks NMEA 0183 and NMEA2000.
Come see us, iPadNav gives you great prices, you'll be able to see our iPads splashing around in the aquarium and our apps on the new iPad Mini, A must !
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Weather4D PRO 1.3.2 adds the currents in the routing
With the version 1.3.2, Weather4D PRO allows to get and display currents as GRIB data. To begin with, currents available are provided with subscription by Tidetech, I mentioned there in the past (¹). Once entered in Weather4D PRO settings a username and password, provided at the time of subscription, you can access Tidetech global catalog.
Only one PRO subscription to Tidetech allows you to obtain files in GRIB format. The company is considering a specific offer for applications on iPad / iPhone. Read more …