Author : Francis

From 2009 independent IT trainer and consultant for boating. Translator of several navigation apps on iOS and MacOS. Professional in boating for over 30 years old, I provide training for applications and consulting and assistance for the integration of mobile devices (tablets, smartphones) on board pleasure boats.

Seasmart WiFi connects NMEA network 2000 to your iPad

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SeaSmart WiFiMarch, the SeaSmart WiFi, presented by iTabNav.fr at the Nautic de Paris last week, allows a WiFi connection to iPad , iPhone or other computer over WiFi to a NMEA network 2000.

Designed by Chetco Digital Instruments, Brookings, Oregon (USA), SeaSmart is a wireless transmitter NMEA2000 and NMEA0183 compatible consists of an USB/serial gateway, a WiFi transmitter 802.11 b/g and an embedded CGI/AJAX web server. Compatible with web browsers on most smartphones, like iPhone, iPad or Android, SeaSmart.Net translates NMEA 2000 (PGNs) messages through an open protocol in HTML pages updated in real time and sent streaming to web server. The transfer is bi-directional. In addition, NMEA 0183 connector allows to interface instruments that use this protocol, like an AIS, their data being multiplexed and added to the flow of data powered by SeaSmart.net. Read more …

iOS 5 can erase your Navionics charts without warning

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Good surprise during the ARC transatlantic 2011.

After transferring photos from my device to my iPad, for an unknown reason the storage memory was full. I had 9GB free and I only transferred the contents of a 2GB SD-Card. Mystery !

Anyway, after two or three system messages warning me of the upcoming saturation, iOS 5 has simply deleted all my Navionics map used by iNavX !

When asked by e-mail, Rich Ray confirmed the fact possible :

"This is an unfortunate change in iOS5, the iOS will and can clear any apps downloaded data without notice if another app needs more space.. iOS doesn't give any notification to the app if this happens".

Olivier Bouyssou told me it was possible for developers to store application data in a folder reserved unerasable, but that this was rarely allowed by Apple. This was a big problem because no one knew how iOS selected which apps it cleared from.

Yachtmen my friends, be prudent : if you do not want to lose your charting during the cruise, away from any network allowing you to download them again, monitor the available space of your iPad and iPhone.

Navigation with iPad trainings : a complete solution

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With Weather4D PRO and Iridium Mail, associated with a satellite phone Iridium, we now have a complete solution, reliable and low cost to receive, display and manage GRIB files in open seas with iPad.
iNavX and Navionics cartography also provide a complete navigation solution, supporting files transfers with Weather4D PRO : GRIB, routes, tracks, that allows simultaneous display in both applications.

These solutions, perfectly complementary and consistent with each other, have been tested on more than 2800 NM in the automn during a crossing from Canaria to the Caribbean, on board Catana 47 "Burst", token place in ARC rally 2011. In addition, Olivier Bouyssou was able to improve his Weather4D Pro application "over time", correcting, adding and optimizing daily development onboard. Read more …

Weather4D PRO 1.0 integrates routes from iNavX

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Weather4D ProThe new app Weather4D PRO for iOS (iPhone / iPad), developed by Olivier Bouyssou, was submited yesterday to Apple. It provides advanced functions associated with GRIB files for demanding users. It comes in addition to Weather4D app which was promoted as one of the best apps in Apple AppStore for few weeks.

This Pro version, quickly available, will provide following features :

GRIB files management :

  • Importation, sharing (export ), copy-paste, folders filing, history, request from SailDocs by email

Routes management :

  • Route import in KML format from iNavX or other apps, overlay route display with forecasts, boat progress with forecasts scrolling, route settings (heading, speed, date, etc…).

Iridium satellites tracking :

  • Prediction of transition from Iridium satellites to optimize the connections to run queries GRIB files. Automatic updating of ephemeris and parameter setting coverage (rising, timing). Read more …

I am writing to you from Gibraltar

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Hey yes ! After this wonderful stay on the island of Reunion, here I am embarked without transition aboard "Rafale", a Catana 47 chartered for the ARC rally, A specially equipped proprietary model with carbon mast, Horn Mylar SGS, spinnaker, and other I forget . Underway to the Canarias, via Gibraltar, to start in Las Palmas.

Gibraltar

Under way to Gibraltar

Read more …

Galileo, here we go !

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Barely published, the 20 October, my previous post about iPhone 4S new GPS chipset – allowing you to receive signals from the Russian GLONASS system – in which I inserted a skeptical comment about the future of Galileo, that I see myself caught up in the news.

Not only did the first two satellites of Galileo were launched the next day 21 October with success from Kourou, but also by the Russian Soyuz launcher ! I hope you enjoy the comic of the situation… Read more …

iOS5 and iNavX update

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Richard Ray informs us :

I noticed after updating to iOS 5 that all my maps downloaded in iNavX were gone. This happened because the iOS update 5 update requires a full restore of the device and the charts are not stored in the iOS backup (because of iCloud). Let me know if you experience any different operation.

To restore any NOAA charts, Select any NOAA region, then select the Recent filter (looks like a clock), then select "Update Maps".

To restore any charts from X-Traverse (Navionics charts, NV-Verlag, Solteknik, aso.) : Select the folio you want, select "Update Map List", select a map and then "Download all".

If you have any problem with your X-Traverse account, Contact support@x-traverse.com

Iridium - iPad connection – is coming out !

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The Iridium AxcessPoint WiFi Router

I dont like to advertise products or features before they are available, but in this case the subject can guide choices or postponements of purchase among potential users.

Iridium announced on last 7 September the creation of a free service called Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web app which will be available before the end of the year 2011. This will be a mail and web compression service, hosted by Iridium, specially designed to optimize data transmission with the new Iridium WiFi router Iridium Mail. Read more …