On The Water Guide

Transcript

MARINE IPAD & IPHONE USE ON THE WATER GUIDE A RIVERISLE PUBLICATION 1 INTRODUCTION The cost and flexibility of Tablets and Smartphones has in recent years created areas where devices such as the iPad and iPhone are becoming increasingly popular with boat owners and casual sailors. Chart plotters remain the mainstay of any boat’s critical electronic systems and generally they are the focal point for most key navigation tasks. They are essential equipment and drawbacks of modern Chart Plotters are few but given the incredible range of other uses that an iPhone or iPad has (let’s not forget their core functions of communications, multi-media and simple office tasks) it’s not surprising that boat owners are investing more heavily in, and trusting the reliability and usefulness of these relatively cheap devices. Mobility has revolutionized many industries and activities. Tasks that were previously restricted to static user workstations have become liberated with the technologies of cellular data and Wi-Fi plus an exploding range of mobile devices. You no longer have to be chained to the Chart Table down below every time you need to perform a simple task at sea. Mobility in the Marine world is part of the revolution and in many cases consumer (and that means individual boaters and sailors) driven innovation is moving faster and is covering more areas for leisure and sports boating than merchant marine. Consumers like to experiment and the thirst for engagement with the boating experience, receiving information feeds and for sharing the experience has led to combinations of hardware, software and systems that boat owners and users cannot afford to ignore. 2 2 CHOOSING THE RIGHT DEVICE From Logbooks to complex Navigation tools and aids the Tablet and the Smartphone are changing boating and sailing. It’s easier, more fun and usually less costly to perform some tasks using Apps. This guide will focus on Apple’s iPhone and iPad products, both very mature devices now in their 5th and 4th generation and globally making up the largest population of users on a single operating system (iOS) with a highly standardized device. Android devices are more ubiquitous and are widely used on the water, but to some extent the Android market is fragmented with many device types and versions of the operating system. Standardization is a key factor in any device consideration and for App developers the simplicity of iOS gives them the assurance that whatever they build, it will work on all devices. It also gives the optimum user experience unaffected by any differences such as screen size, resolution, camera, GPS and other variations that inevitably occur when you have many manufacturers making a tidal wave of new products every year. 4 Phone or Tablet? It’s simple really as today it is quite unusual for a mobile phone not to be something all sailors and boaters carry. For safety alone, the Mobile Phone has proven to be a life saver in so many boating incidents . If your phone happens to be an iPhone then the world of Marine Apps is open to you immediately. models. In fact there are some strong arguments for using a Bluetooth GPS receiver when out on the water in any case and those are explained here also. The convenience of an iPhone cannot be under stated as its pocket-sized format makes it easy to tuck away safely and to protect it from the elements. The smaller screen however cannot deliver the viewing and interaction benefits that some Apps such as Navigation Maps, realise when viewed on an iPad. So, always take a Mobile phone. If it’s a Smartphone such as iPhone then most Apps you may need will work on an iPhone. The best user experience, especially when using large format Navigation or Mapping Apps, will probably come from using a Tablet such as the iPad Air or better still, the iPad mini. A further consideration is that of GPS functionality. All mapping and tracking Apps require a GPS signal feed and the iPhone has built-in GPS. The iPad only has GPS functionality in the slightly more expensive Cellular + Wi-Fi models. Wi-Fi only models will not allow most navigation and tracking Apps to function properly however for a small additional investment, a separate Bluetooth GPS receiver can connect to the Wi-Fi only On Board Systems The boat chart plotter will always play the central and primary role in most key tasks for the skipper on board. Its very presence ensures that the boat is wired and connected to many sensors and provides data streams for depth, speeds, course, wind, radar, weather, position and so on. In summary, the chart plotter is a main element in the system that comprises the hardware itself, software and maps and a range of sensors connected through industry standard NMEA 0183 and 2000 cabling schemes. 5 GALLERY 2.1 Examples of commonly used Apps Prime examples of these are navigation Apps such as Navionics and iNavX. Passage planning, navigation en-route can now be done from an iPad and journeys shared between the boat systems and the device itself. Simple Apps that help sailors with training, learning knots, navigation aids, flags and so on, abound in the App stores, all very useful and accessible. And now there are many specialist Apps for tasks such as weather forecasting, finding marinas, AIS, Racing and the recently launched WaveTrax App for making a comprehensive Marine Logbook for all boaters and sailor journeys out on the water. Sailors and Boaters are passionate about their sport. Few will ignore the benefits of using their tablet or phone devices now that so many Apps are available easily and cheaply. The question is not one of “should I use my iPad when I go sailing?” but is now, “How can I get the best use out of it?” Navionics Marine Maps compliment any chart plotter system Tablets and Smartphones deliver real value to boaters and sailors today through a growing range of applications, Apps, which are easy to use and relatively cheap. These Apps are increasingly taking advantage of not just their own built in technologies but in future they will integrate in a more connected way with the boats own systems thus enhancing their value and increasing the range of what you can do with an App whilst out on the water. 6 3 IPHONE AND IPAD USE AT SEA An iPhone or an iPad is a great tool to take out to sea but care with its use is essential in order to maximize the benefit and to ensure your valuable equipment is protected. The following information covers use at sea, especially relating to Safety, Cellular signals, Battery Life and GPS Reception. Personal Safety Do not allow the use of any mobile device to interfere with safety on board or proper team working. In heavy seas it is better not to be distracted by continually using your iPhone or iPad. If heading into rough weather then place your device in a safe and dry place where it can still receive a reasonable GPS signal and power (in the cabin if possible). Using a Bluetooth connected GPS receiver makes stowing your iPad of iPhone a simple choice as the receiver can stay on deck. Many Apps will continue to work perfectly well in the background while you do other tasks. Taking an expensive iPhone or iPad on the water is always a risk for damage or loss so consider appropriate insurance. In any event protect your device by use of a waterproof pouch. Cellular Service offshore Cellular coverage is a frequent source of user frustration even on land but at sea, eventually the cellular signal will weaken the further you are from land. It will fade faster in coastal areas 7 where there is poor coverage even on land. In most locations though you could expect to pick up a cellular signal offshore until about 5-10 kilometers out to sea. For Apps, which do not store Maps in the device memory, you will eventually loose map visibility unless you have previously made a cache (stored map) of the area you are planning to be in. This is typical of Google Maps because they are streamed as tiles to your device as needed over the cellular data connection and without that connection you will just have a grey screen. If your App syncs data back to a server then when outside of cellular coverage data will not sync back as to do so requires a reasonably good Internet connection. In this case data stays on the device and will only sync back when the device is receiving a 3G/ 4G signal or is connected to Wi-Fi and the Internet. Equip your boat with a VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) and global communications coverage for voice and data can take over from where your cellular service is left far behind you. Satellite Services are widely available and at increasingly affordable rates for metered use. Most services will now provide a reasonable broadband service and to make internet access possible for wireless devices more and more boats are being equipped with on board Wi-Fi. Most App will use only short data bursts for syncing and data access (Map downloads, information services such as AIS etc) so the metered costs of using Apps in a Marine VSAT-Wi-Fi system should be relatively light. GPS Reception On the water a good GPS signal is normally found when your device is receiving a good cellular signal from your network operator or roaming provider. When out of reach of a cellular signal the iPhone or iPad (Wi-Fi + Cellular models only) will eventually make a reasonable to good GPS fix. After considering Personal Safety ensure your device is always placed where it can receive a reasonable to good GPS signal. Radio waves from GPS satellites will struggle to penetrate metal and some dense materials but can easily pass through GRP without distortion. In rough weather place your device securely down below in the boat cabin. iPhone and iPad (all models) can also connect via Bluetooth to a Bluetooth GPS receiver such as the Dual XGPS150A. For minimal outlay this offers increased choice in how to obtain a good GPS signal and can even allow the use of Wi-Fi only iPad models when not connected to the Internet. 8 If using a Bluetooth GPS receiver then most of these will be more weather proof than your iPhone or iPad so in certain conditions that usage option is recommended if possible. Use of a Bluetooth connected GPS receiver will allow you to place your iPad or iPhone out of harm’s way so long as you keep them not more than 30’-40’ apart Battery Life The most common frustration with using an iPhone or iPad at sea may well be that your device runs out of battery power. All portable devices work only for as long as the battery lasts and Smartphones can consume their available battery resources within 3-8 hours following a full charge. This varies greatly depending on what you are using the device for and which App, or Apps, you have running. Navigation using GPS and cellular data is a drain on the iPhone and iPad battery reserves so you must take all necessary steps to conserve power at all times. However, in addition to accuracy and reliability, the use of an external GPS receiver such as the Dual XGPS150A is advantageous as it also saves battery life of your iPhone or iPad. You can achieve this in two ways: either put your iPhone or iPad into airplane mode or in the case where an app uses the direct connection link of the GPS receiver, then, (unless there are other apps running in the background that require GPS), the app will work with the external GPS and the built in GPS will not be active, conserving the device's battery. For most coastal trips and short passages a full charge will be enough for use of most Apps. Keep a regular eye on the charge level of your device at all times and take action to reduce battery drain through only using your App when you need to make a log entry or for starting and closing your journey. At all times in between, there is no real need to constantly view the open application as it will continue tracking your journey and making auto log entries along the way. If you plan to be on the water for long periods then adopt some or all of the following measures. • Only use your device when you have to. • Don’t keep the App on ‘display’ all the time. • Shut down all non-essential apps. • Dim your screen.Keep tasks to a minimum if possible. • Use a connected Bluetooth GPS receiver to reduce the power drain of the iPad or iPhone inbuilt GPS. • Connect your device to a suitable charger whenever you can for as long as you can (always carry a good selection of charging cables and units/converters). • Use Battery Life extender units that can plug into your device. • Use a good solar charger where possible and safe. 9 Summary Tablets and Smartphones are fast becoming a standard part of any sailor’s or boater’s toolkit. They are no longer just to assist in key tasks but can provide useful information and increasingly give users more from their boating experience. Apps now cover almost all the key functions that some of the most complex chart plotting and navigation systems perform and play a valuable part in keeping overall boat systems and information at an advanced level without major investment. They are however complementary in nature and must not be substitutes for the primary navigation, weather, radar and other communications systems on board. By virtue of their primary task of being a communications device however, they should always be present as safety coverage in the event primary boating systems become immobilized. In doing so, sailors and boaters should take advantage of the devices ‘undeniable benefits as a tool equipped with Apps that make boating and sailing easier, safer and more fun. 10 ON THE WATER GUIDE MARINE IPHONE AND IPAD USE © RiverIsle Limited. All rights reserved. iPhone and iPad are Trademarks of Apple Inc registered in the US and other countries. All other Trademarks, whether registered or claimed, are the exclusive property of other companies. WaveTrax™ is a product of RiverIsle Ltd a Company registered in the UK. The Dual® XGPS150A is a product of the Dual Electronics Corporation headquartered in Heathrow, Florida. xi