Navionics on Android and iPad

[gdallas]

I am thinking of getting a tablet for various uses, among them to run Navionics as back up plotter on the boat. I have a cockpit mounted Standard Horizon plotter which is good, but it would be nice to have something portable for use below, at home etc.

Am I right to think that for this to work, the tablet will have to have 3G connectivity as well as the standard wi-fi? Or, once I have downloaded the software via the wifi connection, is the tablet's own GPS engine enough to drive it? Current use will be E Coast and maybe S Coast coastal, plus a little cross -channel. I am very wary of roaming charges . . . .

Thank you

Graham

[scottie]

For iPad if you choose 3G then you get built in stand alone
GPS which will work without and therefore out of phone range
To use 3G you need a sim cards(mini size) and service provider

There is a suggestion that the 3G triangulation speeds up gps initial fixing but that is only connection other than apples packaging

Wifi only iPad will run navionics if a gps ie "bad elf" is connected

Cost of bad elf is same as extra for 3G gps but no extra running costs

[Comrade Red]

You won't need 3g for the download if you use wi-fi, and in use you won't need 3g or wi-fi. The GPS built in is more than adequate.

Remove the SIM or switch to flight mode and live without roaming charges fear.

EDIT: Unless you like iGucci, go Android - much cheaper, almost disposable, hardware.

[gdallas]

yes I like the Android stuff for its price and I am sure it's quite good enough. Any special recommendations or horror stories? Samsung, Motorola etc ?

Thanks all

Graham

[Comrade Red]

yes I like the Android stuff for its price and I am sure it's quite good enough. Any special recommendations or horror stories? Samsung, Motorola etc ?

Thanks all

Graham

I've never had any problems with Samsung kit, nor have I heard of any. But I haven't used anything else either.

[Ex-SolentBoy]

If money is an issue, wait a few weeks until iPad 3 comes out. Loads of people ( like me ) will be ebaying their iPads to get the newer model.

Such a shame to buy an Android machine, when for a little more you can have the real thing!

P.S. Navionics on iPad is brilliant. I have an iPad 1 3g version and the gps is great. I even use it in the car. You do not need a sim card contract to make it work. I don't have one.

[rwakeham]

I use Navionics on my Android Motorola Xoom and Samsung Android phone - its perfect. By the way if you have an Android phone you can set up a wireless hotspot from your phone. I know you can do this on an iPhone but only in later versions.

The best thing about the Xoom is that you can put microSD cards in it - so you can have all you videos etc on it for those lovely wet summer days.

Android works well - and you can buy stuff from anywhere. But horses for courses I guess.