Best iPad/iPhone Anchor Alarm?

[colemj]

Originally Posted by tightgroup

A bit puzzled.. Sailboat worth 6 figures , Alarm system 5 bucks

I like to rely on proven technology that is based on knowledgeable engineers, who understand the concept of sailing. My 2 cents

I am a bit puzzled by what your meaning is. Are you suggesting anchor alarms in general are bad? Or that the ones mentioned are bad?

Do you suggest a specific one? Is there such a thing when it comes to anchor alarms as a "proven technology based on knowledgeable engineers who understand the concept of sailing"? (and what does sailing have to do with anchoring?).

For instance, DragQueen was written by an actual engineer who lives and cruises on a boat. I think AnchorWatch also written by a software engineer living and cruising on a boat.

Mark

[darylat8750]

Originally Posted by NorthPacific

Ya me 2. I tell the wife we could drift on the rocks. I always sleep sound. Mind you she often looks bit ragged in the morning.

Maybe thats psychology more than technology?

Great idea!
But in my case that would be WAY more expensive than an anchor alarm!

[Capt.Don]

You may already have an anchor alarm included with your navigation app - both SEAiq and iNavX have anchor alarms built-in!
Don

[kas_1611]

Originally Posted by tightgroup

A bit puzzled.. Sailboat worth 6 figures , Alarm system 5 bucks

I like to rely on proven technology that is based on knowledgeable engineers, who understand the concept of sailing. My 2 cents

Please enlighten us on what you mean by "proven technology" as GPS has been used to accurately map the world, fly cruise missiles right around the globe to hit a target a few feet in diameter and even deliver your Christmas presents on time. Your chartplotter uses GPS not just for the position but all the charts are drawn to the WGS84 datum which is the datum used for the GPS system. If this is not a proven technology then I'd like to know what you think is.

I'll happily use a £5 app to assist in the monitoring of the safety of my £100K boat while I'm on anchor especially if it means we get a good, relaxed nights sleep. I wouldn't necessarily rely on it alone, in the same way I don't rely on the chartplotter alone. Most important is ensuring your anchor is holding you properly first of all rather than just relying on technology, don't just lob it over the side and think "anchor alarm set, job done, crack open the wine"

Keiron

[tightgroup]

Originally Posted by colemj

I am a bit puzzled by what your meaning is. Are you suggesting anchor alarms in general are bad? Or that the ones mentioned are bad?

Do you suggest a specific one? Is there such a thing when it comes to anchor alarms as a "proven technology based on knowledgeable engineers who understand the concept of sailing"? (and what does sailing have to do with anchoring?).

For instance, DragQueen was written by an actual engineer who lives and cruises on a boat. I think AnchorWatch also written by a software engineer living and cruising on a boat.

Mark

For one Software engineers are a dime a dozen , the good ones are few and far in between.

Now to elaborate,

1) How was the app designed ? its architecture, what dev tools are utilized ?
2) Testing , Operational testing does it meets design parameters ?
3) Real world testing (pilot group)
4) How are bug fixes distributed, when are they fixed, how are they discovered ? (Hopefully not by the users in real world conditions)
5) Specificity. What degree of accuracy ? Does the GPS need support from other sources ? What is the average battery consumption rate ? Does it understand wind shifts, tides or other situation ?


You see I expect a degree of certainty that the app I have will work and work well in all conditions.

again my 2 cents

[colemj]

Originally Posted by tightgroup

You see I expect a degree of certainty that the app I have will work and work well in all conditions.

again my 2 cents

Do you have any suggestions of a suitable one to add to the discussion? If not, then are you suggesting that using all of the apps currently available is worse than using none at all?

BTW, I won't pick apart your arguments other than to say that at least one of the apps mention so far fit all your criteria. I don't think you know anything about them - mostly you seem to be just speaking in pedantic generalities.

Mark

[Snore]

Originally Posted by tightgroup

For one Software engineers are a dime a dozen , the good ones are few and far in between.



Now to elaborate,



1) How was the app designed ? its architecture, what dev tools are utilized ?

2) Testing , Operational testing does it meets design parameters ?

3) Real world testing (pilot group)

4) How are bug fixes distributed, when are they fixed, how are they discovered ? (Hopefully not by the users in real world conditions)

5) Specificity. What degree of accuracy ? Does the GPS need support from other sources ? What is the average battery consumption rate ? Does it understand wind shifts, tides or other situation ?





You see I expect a degree of certainty that the app I have will work and work well in all conditions.



again my 2 cents

I will gladly perform the required test data and supply it in a peer-reviewed response. My cost will be $5000.

Or you could spend $5 and do the testing on your vessel. Me? I spent $5 and tested it. Drag Queen rocks - just plug in the iPhone or iPad.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[kas_1611]

Originally Posted by tightgroup

For one Software engineers are a dime a dozen , the good ones are few and far in between.

Now to elaborate,

1) How was the app designed ? its architecture, what dev tools are utilized ?
2) Testing , Operational testing does it meets design parameters ?
3) Real world testing (pilot group)
4) How are bug fixes distributed, when are they fixed, how are they discovered ? (Hopefully not by the users in real world conditions)
5) Specificity. What degree of accuracy ? Does the GPS need support from other sources ? What is the average battery consumption rate ? Does it understand wind shifts, tides or other situation ?


You see I expect a degree of certainty that the app I have will work and work well in all conditions.

again my 2 cents

Oh come on! With regard to point 5, any GPS based system, be it chart plotter, twat nav or anchor alarm app, is only as accurate as the GPS signal it is using. We all know GPS accuracy can vary from a few inches to 100ft and sometimes disappear for no apparent reason. Does your chart plotter understand wind shifts, tides etc? If I turn off the wifi and mobile signal (airplane mode) on my phone the battery lasts all night with the GPS running without a problem. If I left the chart plotter on all night with the same anchor alarm running I'd have a flat battery by about 2am.

Instead of continuing to poo poo all anchor alarm apps please suggest an alternative that meets or exceeds your specifications.

Keiron

[MarkJ]

Righty-Oh. Lets go through the contenders...

iNavX will not put a track down and will not stay on in the background.

"Anchor Watch" puts a short non persistant track down, but I want a saved long track. It wont all me to scroll away from the boat or allow a different zoom level.

"Anchor!" Seems to be OK, cheap, tracks but wont save the track after you turn it off. Works in background. But no sectors.

"Boat Sentry" has sectors but GUI very difficult to work and anchor watch not saved when you close it down or turn ipad off. Features good but it just doesnt work. Software is not being worked on as last date was 18 months ago

Drag Queen not in Ap Store

"SafeAnchor" expensive, has a vague sector. I didnt buy it. No reviews on it. Tries to sell you weather updates. Yawn.

The damn ipad aps try to be so simple they are stupid, or so complicated to do something so simple. And i dont want a simple program! I want a specialised anchoring program but usable!

The best of features is "Boat Sentry" pity it does not work.

So if someone is a programmer there a HUGE hole in the market!


So now I am using "Anchor!" During the day when the iPad is on. At night I use my Garmin 76CX and in storms my full size computer with Opencpn.



Mark

[colemj]

Originally Posted by kas_1611

twat nav

I am so out of date with the new technologies…

Mark

[colemj]

SeaIQ provides tracks and zoom and stays on in the background, etc.

DragQueen was in the app store last time I looked and downloaded it.

Mark

[MarkJ]

Sceenshots showing Dragqueen, both spellings, are not found in Ap Store.

[Prairie Chicken]

Mark, I downloaded DragQueen from the app store yesterday. It's there as one word, and was an ActiveCaptain design. Haven't tried it, but it looks very basic. It doesn't run in the background though so you'd want your iPhone plugged in.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by Prairie Chicken

Mark, I downloaded DragQueen from the app store yesterday. It's there as one word, and was an ActiveCaptain design. Haven't tried it, but it looks very basic. It doesn't run in the background though so you'd want your iPhone plugged in.

I installed USB charge points in each cabin, so now I can go to bed without worrying that my phone runs out of power during the night

[Capt.Don]

It may be that DragQueen is not available outside the Apple US store. I found it,