Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

[NetDoc]

Hey gang,

I an early adopter and love my new Samsung Galaxy Tablet. It's got a tremendous display (even outside) and its way portable. IOW, I can take it from boat to boat and even on long trips when I dive elsewhere or on a live-a-board. As a new boat owner, I am trying to figure out what electronics I want to put on my boat without breaking the bank. Living in Key Largo makes this ULTRA important as there is a huge fine for running into a reef or disturbing sea grasses. Hey, it's not good on the boat either!

So, yesterday I started looking for marine charts/GPS apps for my Galaxy and just didn't find much. Navionics says that they have an app, but I surely can't find it in the market place. Arghhhhhhhhhhh! I did find a "MarineNC" which has lots of charts, but I can't seem to find a way to input lat/lon so I can motor out to some cool sites.

Now mind you, getting it waterproof and still usable was my first obstacle. I found this: http://store.drycase.com/Waterproof-iPad-Case-Waterproof-Kindle-and-Tablet-p/dc-17.htm

Sure, nothing will replace a standalone chart/plotter for many people. What about the rest of us?

 

[Scorpion210]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

I use the Navionics app for iPad, for inland lakes in Canada. It is very good and resonable at a cost of about $50

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

There are a number of chart plotting apps out there for Android. Here are a few that I've looked at:

EarthNC: http://earthnc.com/

Simple Charts: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.fibercode.simplecharts&feature=search_result

Marine Charts HD: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.trailbehind.android.earthnc.pro&feature=also_installed

NautiCharts: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.nutiteq.app.activecaptain&feature=also_installed

And there are others.

The main caution points seem to be understanding how many charts the software can keep loaded at once and what happens if you get "off the grid" in terms of beyond the active data signal range of your mobile service provider (if you have one).

Grouse

 

[NetDoc]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

Yeah, downloadable charts are a must. That said, the GPS function is independent of a cell tower!

FWIW, EarthNC is the one currently installed on my Android. I can't seem to input or save lat/long unless I am on the spot.

 

[88wellcraft]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

I downloaded the navionics app for my android tab....seems to work pretty well although i haven't fully tested it yet....but it was only $15 for the west coast.

 

[NetDoc]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

I downloaded the navionics app for my android tab....seems to work pretty well although i haven't fully tested it yet....but it was only $15 for the west coast.

When I go to market place, I just can't find it. Its incredibly frustrating.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

That said, the GPS function is independent of a cell tower!

That is true, but the chart download function is not!

Where this issue has come up is that some of the packages only download charts for a specified area. If you travel off the chart that is downloaded to the phone AND the phone doesn't have a cell phone signal, it cannot download the adjacent chart.

This was brought up as an issue with some of the programs when they originally came out, but it may be fixed now. The problem was that smartphones and tablets have limited internal storage, so therefore a limit to how many charts they could store.

The key is to know what your program can and cannot do when it's not connected to the network. As always, just having the technology isn't enough, one still needs to know how to use it.

Grouse

 

[NetDoc]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

As always, just having the technology isn't enough, one still needs to know how to use it.

Forums like this provide a nice buffer for many of us, giving us insight on how to use technology as well as learning from the mistakes of others. As with any community, you only benefit as much as you are willing to give of yourself.

 

[duck9191]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

i work for a cell company and i was helping a customer who wanted to use his xoom to sail from Florida to Michigan and was looking for some nautical navigation apps. biggest thing i found wast that honeycomb (3.X) isnt supported by alot of the nav apps yet, so if you cant find some of the apps there is a good chance that's why. if you look the app up online and ask the developer if they plan to include 3.x support it may help you make a decision on what apps to use. i love using my phone on my boat, its my speedo and nav.

 

[ssobol]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

Now mind you, getting it waterproof and still usable was my first obstacle. I found this: http://store.drycase.com/Waterproof-iPad-Case-Waterproof-Kindle-and-Tablet-p/dc-17.htm

Seems to me that this is just a heavy duty zip-lock bag.

 

[NetDoc]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

Seems to me that this is just a heavy duty zip-lock bag.

The seal is more substantial, the vinyl is way thicker and it has audio out. I use one for my phone when I go out on a boat Scuba Diving. It's supposedly good down to 100 fsw or so, but I don't think I'll tempt it that far.

 

[88wellcraft]

Re: Navigation on a Galaxy Tab...

Have you checked Navionics' website?

www.navionics.com

maybe contact them and they can point you in the right direction (pun intended)