tophatyachts.com

After pondering a new gps for the boat, I recently had a friend recommend this software for the iphone.
http://www.inavx.com/

has anybody had any experience of using this or know of any one that has.

Just thinking whether it would be just as good as perhaps having the Garmin GPSMAP 60 csx.
The software is about $60 as opposed to a$400 for a handheld gps.

Will the iphone cut it as a hand held GPS?

Hi Dean,

I don't know anything about that program BUT, I do know that mobile phones make separate calls all the time to get the updated GPS positions!

Suggest you look into your phone fees before committing. I have heard of $3000 monthly bills

Oh, and remember when out of phone contact range will it work

Phillip
SEAKA

Hi Phillip

Well, thanks for the info and I guess that answers that question.

I wasn't sure whether the iphone calls in for it's GPS positioning, so I guess the fact it does renders it pretty crap for a marine GPS.

I think I should just take the plunge rather than try to utilise the iphone.

Thanks for the heads up

Cheers
Dean

just check with the provider as I have a mate who uses his Iphone with navionics and it has a separate GPS within the iphone - also a compass tides etc which is not dependant on mobile coverage. (Or that is what he thinks it is) so just check that - I use Quick Charts on my lap top and that works well. Cheers Peter

Hi Dean

I've tinkered with phone GPSs now for several years using Nokia 6110 and 6710 navigators. They can be used as stand-alone GPS devices and not rely on the actual phone connection by turning off the feature called "GPS assist" or similar. I still use the old Garmin map76 on the boat, but for in-car use the maps on the Nokias are good, with voice guidance. I've yet to come across a good and inexpensive marine map for the Nokia phone (use Bluechart for the Garmin) and cannot make it show speed/heading in a font I can read. Google maps eats up a lot of phone data which makes it too expensive. The iPhone app may be worth a try if you can turn off the phone's GPS assist feature...good luck!

Rob
Isabella II
Salt Pan Cove Pittwater

Hi Dean,

I have an iphone 3GS (the latest model) and it has a true GPS built in. I use a variety of mapping software on the phone and they all seem to work fairly well. For sailing I use the Navionics app, which costs $15 for the australian coastal maps and seems to work very well. The main problem is battery life and i have to keep the iphone connected to the 12v charger whilst sailing to record the trip. I also have a dedicated handheld Garmin marine GPS which is about the same accuracy and uses much less power. in fact the 2 AA batteries will last for a number of days.

Apart from the juice issue, the iphone has so many useful applications (weather, nearby restaurants, phone, compass, skype, internet, public transport, camera, video camera)and mobile connectivity that I reckon it is a good tool for the boat. I used to have a Blackberry, but since I got the Iphone my bills have halved and i use it a lot more!!

I love the iphone after spending the last couple of years refusing to get one! If you have an iphone 3GS I would recommend downloading the navionics software.

Regards

Ian
Sea Monkey