Anyone using iNavX for iPad?

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Concerning charts: They are expensive compared to some other variants, and you are locked into Fugawi. It used to be that they had a very generous policy of allowing you to access charts you purchased even when they were far out of date, something very useful to me since I never used INavX for primary navigation and didn't need to update the expensive charts. Technical support were very responsive and helpful if you had problems with the charts.

I understand these policies have changed, and if that is true, that certainly diminishes the appeal.

I THINK the “lack of functionality” is a direct result of it supporting so many different formats. My best guess.

As to charts...this is a 3 vendor solution
1- Apple sells the hardware
2- iNavEx sells the app
3- chart suppliers sell the chart data. That data is distributed through Fugawi/iNavEx but the conditions of sale originate with the chart vendor be it NOAA (free), CHS, Explorer, Navionics, etc. The chart vendor has the copyright.

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by tstano

Just purchased iNavX last week and watched the tutorials for waypoints, routes, tracks, and set-up. Pretty simple once you get the lingo down. Tried it on the water and the heading is off 40 degrees and the icon turns as you turn the iPad. Crazy.


I didn't buy any extra maps, weather, or tide charts, waiting to see how well I like it.

The heading this drove me nutz for too long. It’s a real “DUH” moment once you get it. The heading comes from the iPhone sensor so if you lay the iPhone at 90° or athwart ships the heading will be off 90°. If you pick it up and twist it, it will squirrel around.

If you are just in the USA or anywhere that NOAA produces charts (PR and USVI) just download the appropriate set of charts, free.

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by AnglaisInHull

I noticed that last week for the first time - my understanding is that the heading is based on the iPad’s internal compass, so naturally the boat turns as you turn the device. As for it being off - I haven’t confirmed yet but suspect the iPad compass needs to be calibrated - go into the Compass app and do the figure eight rotation thing and I’m guessing it will fix the problem.

Sorry, didn’t see your excellent answer before posting my own.

The compass may also be off due to a magnetic field. Same as any compass.

[hpeer]

FWIW I have ZERO connection to Fugawi or iNavEx. NADA.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Acadia426

Mike, I haven't done this yet, but when charting a long distance voyage, with iNavX, can you scroll from one chart to another (when charting) or does one have to manually select the next chart?

No, it’s suppose to seamlessly transition to the next chart. At least it always has for me using Navionics, and before this Canadian chart sets. But it sounds like this may be another problem showing up for some of us (so far, not me).

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by hpeer

If we get to meet again, and I hope we do, I’d love to chat with you about your issues. FWIW I suspect you are spot on with your assessment. I can’t imagine the complexity of trying to coordinate an app platform using 8 or 12 vendors different data sets and formats.

I did have the same problem you did I think, but it was only one and related to a Navionics format change. I don’t coaim to understand this stuff, just spouting my gut understanding.

I’ve not seen any dangerous Navionics charting problems up here. I did find the Cmap charts more accurate and readable. I DO find the decluttering to be dangerous. There are isolated dangers (“sunkers” in the local dialect) that don’t show up well on my RayMarine Navionics. I do plot a course and “fly” it but if you make some mid-passage change it can be hard to assure you are adequately pre-surveying the route. I’ve had too many incidents where something important was just blanked out on the scale I was using.

On a related note, I’ve not found any big lag/long busts in the areas you are cruising including the Cote Nord above Herrington Harbor. Now on the South coast it is well know there are offsets of up to 1/2 mile. AND there are numerous isolated sunkers/rocks NE of Ramea IIRC.

Enjoy.

Thanks Howard, I’m sure we’ll meet again. I expect to be over your way in two to three years (see, we really do move slowly ).

Yes, I have no issues with Navionics charts. They seem just fine to me. My understanding is that they all use the same government-generated base charting anyway, so I don’t really understand how any of them can be much different. The difference is in the way they display the data.

I don’t use declutter. Seems dangerous to me. And to be honest, I don’t use routes either. I set up waypoints, but use it to gauge progress. For planning I prefer paper. My issues with iNavx are that I dislike the way it manages its chart licenses (via Fugawi I guess), but mainly that it has proven itself to be unreliable. Maybe I will learn to trust it again if I go problem-free for a long while (it’s been months now), but I’ve had one too many hiccup with it to be able to trust it. I find this unfortunate b/c I have really liked the tool in the past. Hopefully all the problems are behind us.

Fair winds. It was really great to meet up.

[Acadia426]

Hi Mike,

I, too, like to begin any passage with paper charts.

I'm curious about your thoughts on setting up waypoints and not going the next step to create a "route." Could you talk, a bit, more about your thinking on that? Thanks,

Jay

[Pendragon35]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

Here’s a screen shot of one of the INavx North American charts the last time I loaded it. It was just a photo of a paper chart which is basically useless. At least with a paper chart I can lay it down on the table with some scale and map out a route, I can’t do anything with this...

I'm not sure what the complaint here is. I have just started using iNavx and only have the free NOAA charts downloaded, so this looks familiar to me.
With this you can create ...
way points: note places you went, want to go, want to watch out for, went. That's simple to do.
routes...I'm used to iSailior which has to me a more intuitive system where you start a route then add waypoints as you go. But once I figured out the iNavx model (have the waypoints set then assemble them), I had no trouble. I actually like this model better because it works for my sailing. I always start from Anchorage Marina, Baltimore, motor out the channel to Fort McHenry, sail or motor to the Key Bridge. Then there is a destination. Often it goes past Bodkin Shoal buoy. In iSalor, every route has to be constructed individually. in iNavx, a route can reuse the waypoints for start/Fort McHenry/Key Bridge/Bodkin shoal.

So I'm trying to figure what added value would some other set of charts bring?

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by Acadia426

Hi Mike,



I, too, like to begin any passage with paper charts.



I'm curious about your thoughts on setting up waypoints and not going the next step to create a "route." Could you talk, a bit, more about your thinking on that? Thanks,



Jay

Hi Jay. Not sure there's much thinking on my part ;-) . I just haven't found much utility in assembling a whole route. My general practice is to roughly plan my route using paper chart or large scale display. Then I probably set a main waypoint, and perhaps a few interim or bailout points (depending on the passage). Then, along the way usually just use multiple "goto" interim waypoints along the way.

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Thanks Howard, I’m sure we’ll meet again. I expect to be over your way in two to three years (see, we really do move slowly ).

Yes, I have no issues with Navionics charts. They seem just fine to me. My understanding is that they all use the same government-generated base charting anyway, so I don’t really understand how any of them can be much different. The difference is in the way they display the data.

I don’t use declutter. Seems dangerous to me. And to be honest, I don’t use routes either. I set up waypoints, but use it to gauge progress. For planning I prefer paper. My issues with iNavx are that I dislike the way it manages its chart licenses (via Fugawi I guess), but mainly that it has proven itself to be unreliable. Maybe I will learn to trust it again if I go problem-free for a long while (it’s been months now), but I’ve had one too many hiccup with it to be able to trust it. I find this unfortunate b/c I have really liked the tool in the past. Hopefully all the problems are behind us.

Fair winds. It was really great to meet up.

Mike,

Some reasons why we have differing opinions.

My RM C80 will NOT not decluttering.

Uoutside USA/Canada Navionics uses a MIX of sources. My understanding is in the Bahamas they use Explorer data for some of the area but not all. I can attest to very large differences.

Different sailing areas, different experiences.

[Bleemus]

Being a bit older and having grown up on paper charts I actually prefer raster scanned charts. They just look "right" to me. Using OpenCPN on my Android tablet is a handy backup to a chart plotter and it is free for the USA.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Hi Jay. Not sure there's much thinking on my part ;-) . I just haven't found much utility in assembling a whole route. My general practice is to roughly plan my route using paper chart or large scale display. Then I probably set a main waypoint, and perhaps a few interim or bailout points (depending on the passage). Then, along the way usually just use multiple "goto" interim waypoints along the way.

Routes are really useful.



In case it could be interesting or useful for you, my work flow for planning a passage across complicated water is like this:


1. In OpenCPN, preferably using a raster chart, create a route by quickly clicking through the obvious headlands and turning points. If there are none, just set a route with only two waypoints, without regard to what hazards you know about.


2. Then go to the starting point, zoom in to get to the largest scale chart (raster) or far enough to get all the detail (vector), and fly along the route, inserting waypoints and pulling the route around to clear hazards. Sometimes there are maze-like problems which requiring zooming out and in again.


3. When all the waypoints are in, then fly through the whole route at max detail to double check for missed hazards.


4. Transfer route to USB stick and from there to the chart plotter.


Having a route in the plotter, rather than a bunch of waypoints, helps you to be better oriented, especially if you're sailing and need to deviate from plan and need to see the way to another waypoint in case you can't lay or need to skip the next one.






Another thing about routes: This is a trick I learned from Nick (Jedi) on here. When following a channel in pilotage waters, he wrote that he likes to set up a route and let the boat steer itself on nav mode -- so that he could concentrate more on looking out and verifying his navigation visually. That struck me as a bloody good idea, and I have been doing the same ever since.

[J Clark H356]

I use INAvX and really like it as a backup. My primary use is for AIS sinc my old Pathfinder Chartplotter won’t display AIS. I also like the route functions. It is simple to set up routes. YouTube has a relatively new tutorial section for INavX using JimSails. Try that. I’ve been using sine 2013 but the YouTube videos are excellent.

[Fred Taute]

A bit off topic here, but hopefully some will find this useful.
I have been using navionics on iPad as backup for my plotter which also runs Navionics charts. Then I installed a new AIS system that is capable of providing data over WiFi, and I wanted a way to view AIS targets on the iPad too, and had no luck with Navionics.
Finally found iNavX as a way to do that and have been quite happy with it. Having said that, it does take some technical finagling to get that all set up! Sometimes it will show targets at longer range than I can see on the plotter (Simrad NSS Evo2) which is still a mystery I need to unravel.

[nickseeger]

I use iNav as a backup to my regular nav system. It's good, the maps are accurate and other than one's choices in the settings, it's a thinned down version of what I used to use, Nobeltec, and also a thinned down version of OpenCPN. But for where I sail the raster maps make a good back up.