Navionics charts issue on tablets

[slowgoesit]

Issues I have with Navionics:
I'm using Navionics on my RayMarine Chartplotter, as well as on my Samsung tablets, and phones.

1) The first problem I am having is that since I didn't delete maps before my subscription expired, I can't delete the maps unless you buy a new subscription. For example, I have the maps for the last part of our trip in Panama, on the Pacific side, through the Panama Canal, SW Caribbean, and up around Cuba to Florida uploaded in both my Samsung, tablets, and 2 I-phones. These maps were part of the "Mexico, Caribbean to Brazil" charts ($149.00/year), which lapsed in July of 2024, 3 months after we completed our latest cruise. Since we weren't going to be cruising those waters, at least for some time, I let the Mexico, Caribbean to Brazil subscription lapse.

Now, and for the near future, I only need the "North American & Canada" charts, which includes Florida, and the Bahamas ($49.00/year)
The problem lies, that when I attempt to delete the Pacific, and Caribbean charts from the tablet database to free up memory, it says I cannot delete maps for which I don't have a current subscription! So I would have to pay $149.00 for an annual "Mexico, Caribbean to Brazil" charts, just so I can delete them from my tablet memory. Spoke to Garmin customer support who verified that's what I would have to do. . . . Absolutely Asinine!

The only option I can think of now is to totally delete the Navionics app from all my devices, reinstall, and download only the charts I still need. . . . Anyone see a downside of that? Beyond the hours each device will take to download/install/update all the maps?

2) Problem # 2, is one that has been discussed at length already, that you can no longer do trip planning from the convenience of your full up computer or laptop, much less sync it with your other devices. Garmin did away with that really, REALLY useful feature some months ago.

So, I, as many others appear to be doing, am searching for a replacement to Navionics, since Garmin took an absolutely wonderful navigation platform, waved their Garmin wand over it, and rendered it substandard, and in many cases useless.

Looking into Active CPN, Aquamaps, and others . . . .

 

[ranger58sb]

Looking into Active CPN, Aquamaps, and others . . . .

After years in IT management... and seeing thread titles in their helpdesk area on cruiserforum... OpenCPN has always seemed like too much of a science project to me (from the outside).

AquaMap has been a useful app for us, especially with the USACE survey data... and I think I've read there's a way to do route planning. Haven't been interested in trying that for our own purposes, though.

TZ Navigator (Windows application) will do route planning. Tried it once, just to see what that was all about. Works. I found the whole idea underwhelming, though.. Presumably their TZ iBoat app, for iThings, has the same capability. Could do planning on one of these, transfer results to tablet... (or to either of our installed MFDs)...

-Chris

 

[tpbrady]

I have used Coastal Explorer for almost 20 years and only bought it once. NOAA and Corp of Engineers chart updates are free. I have used it in boats as small as a 22’ C-Dory on up for one reason, it’s easy to use to build routes using a trackball. I have an IPad with AquaMaps that I use mainly for information on places we are heading towards or passing and scouting areas to fish. I have never been a fan of using a tablet for primary navigation. My laptop is fully integrated into the network on the boat as is my IPad so I can see all N2K data, Victron Data, as well as current weather (Starlink) and control my autopilot. I have a small Raymarine MFD used to update the autopilot using NOAA charts and two Garmin MFDs, a really old 4212 for radar primarily, and new 943xsv mainly used with the Livescope transducer.

Yes I am electronics heavy, but all I really need is a laptop with Coastal Explorer and a sounder. Everything else makes operating the boat 4 months a year easier and fishing more productive. There is a Coastal Explorer App for IOS, but I have never used it.

 

[SteveK]

I have the Raymarine Axiom chartplotter, it has an SD card. It appears to be full and I keep forgetting to get a new one. I always thought the maps were on the SD card and not in memory.
A thought, if you have an SD card get a new one and load the one you are subscribed to on a blank card.
I cannot see a tablet being restricted like the SD card for space

 

[RedRascal]

For trip planning I tried Argo Desktop Web App - Argo which has a desktop web interface. Fewer features than Navionics for sure but will give you basic trip planning like an A to B route but not A to B To C etc. The downfall for me is they only have true charts with navigation aids and hazards via NOAA ENC charts. Once you get beyond NOAA they just have a "Map" with depth but no navigational aids. I was trying to find something for route planning in Canada so I was bummed they didn't have Canadian charts. I'd call it "okay" for high level planning in Canada for basic stuff like figuring out time and distance between two points. It's $20 for a year, I bailed out during the trial period and got my money back. If they can expand beyond NOAA and add multiple waypoints to a route they could be a contender.

 

[mvweebles]

Much said about dissolution of Navionics web interface (Best substitute for Navionics route planning tool Garmin discontinued?). I think it's helpful to recall the foundation: a PC-accessible version of what is overwhelmingly a device-resident mobile App with limitations on data input capabilities (touchscreen mostly).

Why not get a legit PC based software package such as Coastal Explorer? Establishing and grooming a route is easy and exporting it to an MFD simple. Building a lengthy or complex route is so much simpler and more accurate on a PC than on an MFD or tsblet. And it's faster. Route can be shared with other Apps such as PredictWind. And you can use other chart packages (for a fee of course).

But to answer the question, I don't see a downside to uninstalling Navionics and starting from scratch. Not sure what would happen to the routes and waypoints you've saved, and you may continue to get popups asking to renew subscription. Does Navionics have tech support?

Personally I use Navionics on my phone. Also resident on my Simrad system. I suspect I'll have some subscription issues when I eventually get back to Weebles. I'm fine with charts that are a year or two without an update so hopefully I can just use what I purchased last year.

In US waters, I'll use Aquamaps and Navionics on my phone/tablet plus CE for route planning.

I have used OpenCPN because they support some chart/satellite formats that no one else does. But otherwise agree with @Ranger58 that it's a bit of a science project. Very robust but to me a steep learning curve.

Peter

 

[slowgoesit]

Peter, I'll look into Coastal Explorer. I did look at Argo yesterday, since today is the last day you can purchase the $99.00 lifetime package . . . . but I was underwhelmed. Maps didn't have the information I'm used to on Navionics. I'm going to take a pass on Argo.
Still looking . . .

 

[mvweebles]

I don't know how CE makes money. Someone up thread here said they've had it for 20 years and only paid for it once. When CE first came to market, I was active with TrawlerFest and they gave me a Beta version when in met them at the Poulsbo TF (WA) circa 1998. Somewhere along the line I paid $100 for an upgrade and that's it. Version sat dormant for close to 10 years and I just loaded and was back in business. Point being the purchase price was irrelevant given their overall upgrade policy. Of course I'm older now so don't have another 25-years of use to spread the cost. It's been years since I used Nobeltec, precursor to TomeZero, but my hunch its a suitable swap for CE especially for folks running Furuno.

Except in US waters, charts cost money. I think you want to head to the Bahamas so you'll likely end up paying for two sets of charts - Navionics' subscription and whatever works in the Bahamas on CE. For our run down the Pacific with you and Laura, I ran CMAP on CE and Blue Charts off OCPN (vetted waypoints and routes) plus Navionics for Simrad MFD. Each had their place. All on I probably spent $500 on charts which bugged me at first but it didn't take long before I realized the value of good data. Same reason I coughed up money for premium subscription to PredictWind.

For CE, I use a small USB adapter for the same chip my Simrad MFD takes to save the route into a GPX file. I then put the chip into my MFD and download it to memory. Recall, I transferred several routes to your Raymarine MFD in Barra de Navidad. There is not much of a learning curve (I'll have to relearn when I get back to Weebles).

While I obviously am enthusiastic about a PC based charting package, I do realize part of my enthusiasm is I view phone/tablet packages as good info but not really suitable for full-time navigation. There is simply no way I'd use it as a primary navigation package. I realize many do with no problems, I just want a system of record that whoever is at the helm will know how to use and is a consistent interface. Walking around with a handheld is invariably personal and in my opinion can easily disenfranchise crew. Just how I prefer to make decisions for our boat.

Peter

 

[ranger58sb]

It's been years since I used Nobeltec, precursor to TomeZero, but my hunch its a suitable swap for CE especially for folks running Furuno.

Near as I've been able to tell from reading, TimeZero and Coastal Explorer are similar in nav capabilities. TZ supports integration with all other instruments (AFAIK), so if CE does that too I'd say they're about equal. If we bothered to integrate our own instruments, it'd be like our TZT3 MFD on our laptop.

IOW, a TZ system with integrated instruments would simply be like having MFDs instead be a laptop... or a built-in.

The only tablet TZ supports is an iThing, though (TZ iBoat). Not obvious to me why they've chosen to eschew Android tablets... which I suspect is the larger market.

-Chris

 

[mvweebles]

CE has an App. I've only used android on both phone and tablet. I find them horribly glitchy and so not use them. I just opened on my new Samsung Tablet (a fairly expensive tablet, not s cheapo). Appears a $50/yr subscription is now required for offline tides, currents, AxriveCaptain interface, and routing. Might be worth it if the App worked well which it does not, at least for me. Crashes easily, I frequently open to a blank screen and need to reopen, etc. Not exactly desirable features.

I'll check on PC if there's any requirement for subscription for some capabilities (auto-routing was not available on CE).

Peter.

 

[ranger58sb]

I'll check on PC if there's any requirement for subscription for some capabilities (auto-routing was not available on CE).

Auto-routing is available in TZ. I haven't figured out why I would want to use something like that, though. Perhaps because our typical navigation requirements are usually so simple.

-Chris

 

[tpbrady]

Peter,

A possible reason CE makes money is their electronic charting system called Rosepoint ECS. CE is used as the development platform for their commercial product, which generates a large part of their income. ECS has a lot more capability than CE but you can see in its presentation that CE is a critical building block.

Tom