Fuwagawi

[Lyndon670]

Being a fan of app based navigation systems, I have been running Nobletec Time Zero on my ipad on the bridge. Wanting something bigger as I'm adding a system of cameras (port, starboard, stern and 2 engine room cameras), I started looking at bigger tablets. I just purchased an 18.4 Samsung Galaxy View and added the Fuwagawi app. Very pleased with the app, tablet is amazing.

[bud37]

I like it, just the right size for an old guy like me to see easily LOL...is that all touch screen??...cool stuff,now I'm going to have to buy more boat stuff..... Beckwith and the tomb looks like.....

[Viper]

Lyndon, I'm assuming you mean Fugawi. I've been using it on my laptop since it first came out years ago. You don't hear much about it but I've always found it to be one of the easiest ones to use. Allows you to do so much more than a typical nav display. Time for me to upgrade the version and go to a tablet too though.

[Lyndon670]

Lol, ya thats the one - sometimes my typing fingers hit some speed bumps and you end up with something that is close but not quite right!

Ya, touchscreen - biggest one I could find. I have an articulating arm that I also ordered on Amazon that I am going to use as a mount. I'll keep my ipad on the bridge as it has a years of boating routes and anchorages loaded onto it and unfortunately the data can't be shared.

And 10 points for your location accuracy pal!

[tomschauer]

Hey guys, when you use a tablet and an app, do you lose connectivity and location if you lose cell /wifi signal? or is there some sort of satellite connection available?

[Lyndon670]

No loss of connectivity - if your tablet has a gps chipset. Keep in mind, some tablets have an "aGPS" chipset which uses 3G or 4G towers to calculate location - this set up will loose connectivity.

My ipad is a aGPS chipset model, so does not have a "real" GPS. I have a bluetooth connected GPS puck from Dual that feeds GPS data to my ipad which in turn displays it.

Almost all of the Android tablets have actual GPS chipsets so can be used "off-line" for navigation.

[feeez]

We bought bigger iPad as a back up for our chartplotter this year. I did not know about that Dual device.... cool.

Lyndon, when the iPad is running what is the battery life like? When I use the GPS on my phone in the car I usually have to have it plugged or the battery runs down pretty fast. I was thinking about installing another 12V outlet near the "admiral's" seat on the bridge for this purpose.

Cheers
Fraser

[Viper]

If you want to plug your unit in, whether it's a tablet or laptop, I recommend plugging it into an inverter to continue running on 120 volts AC, or a regulated DC power supply rather than a straight connection to the ship's 12 volt DC system. I use a small pure sign wave inverter plugged into a 12 volt outlet at the bridge. This way you're getting a regulated 120 volt supply like plugging it into a wall outlet. A good 12 volt DC regulator would be more efficient though. Hooking up directly to the ship's 12 volt system can push nearly 15 volts to your display from your alternators when underway or your charger at the dock. Unless you know your computer can handle the higher voltage for extended periods, I'd be careful with that. Look at the specs for max allowable DC input voltage. If you want to hook up directly to the ship's DC system, you'll need to ensure your display will work on 12 volts. Both laptops I have use 14 volt batteries so I would need a clean 14 volt DC supply.

[Hunt_trex]

Very Cool -- I had a productive work day planned ... now I will be researching Fuwagawi

[bud37]

There you see Lyndon, you are now responsible for us maybe spending boat bucks to keep up.......