Using tablet as 2nd graph?

[DropShotHotShot]

I have a Helix 9 SI on dash now, networked to helix 7 at the bow

 

I am thinking about getting a lifeprrof case and mount to add my tablet to dash.  I am thinking with the navionics we app and Google earth it could give a lot extra situational awareness, and allow me to not have to split the screen of the helix as much to show map.

 

Anyone else do this? How accurate (in general) is navigation on the web app?  I don't expect it to be as good as having 2 graphs, but a more cost effective option 

[Russ E]

web navigation should have the same accuracy as a GPS unit. My concern would be the data plan for the tablet. 

if it is not unlimited you could rack up some data in a days use.

 

[DropShotHotShot]

Data is unlimited 

[Further North]

Wouldn't work here, too many lakes with no cell signal.

[Team9nine]

If you have the signal, and the weather protection, it works just fine. Back in the early days of mapping, a few guys pulled laptops into the boats and set them up this way, primarily for the larger screen, and it has also been used successfully at the pro level.

[Tennessee Boy]

I think a tablet would work well as a second graph.  You could use the FishSmart App by Humminbird that will allow you to download and use their LakeMaster maps.  You will have to pay for the maps.  It does normally validate your map purchases when the network is available so it's possible that under some situations it might not work without cell coverage.   I just put my iPad into airplane mode and opened the app.  It worked fine without cell coverage.  There might be a time limit on how long you can used the map without validating.  The GPS in most devices are not that great and will not give you an enhanced position fix but you should see 10 meter accuracy most of the time.  GPS will drain the battery on a tablet/cell phone very quickly so you might need to keep the tablet plugged in much of the time.  You might also want to avoid using the tablet in extreme temperatures.  The operating temperature of the iPad as specified by Apple is 32º to 95º F.

[J Francho]

Good call on Lifeproof.  They are the best in the biz when it comes to waterproof cases. 

[DINK WHISPERER]

There's a couple vids on YouTube about doing this. I like the idea but don't have unlimited on mine. 

[Tennessee Boy]

6 minutes ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

There's a couple vids on YouTube about doing this. I like the idea but don't have unlimited on mine. 

I don't think the amount of data would be that great.  If you were moving a lot and pulling satellite images it might add up but still not a huge amount.  Consider this,  back in the old days before Google maps you could buy Road Atlas software on a CD.  That's a CD not DVD which would hold 700 megabytes max.  These CD contained essentially all of the mapping data you see on Google maps for the entire US on a 700 megabytes CD.  To put this into prospective,  you could download this data 14 times in a month on a 10 Gig data plan.  Images (as in satellite images) require way more data than vector mapping data but I still don't think it would add up.  It's stuff like watching youtube videos that eat up your dataplan.

[Dirtyeggroll]

You can download maps while on an internet connection so you will not need to use data while you are on the water. I'm pretty sure the GPS does not use cellular data.

 

The only downside I can see would be the loss of waypoints added in real time based on what you saw on side or down imaging... I suppose you could always update your waypoints via your account/SD card after your day on the water so they would be present in the web app as well as on your dedicated devices.

[WRB]

If you tournament bass fish on several different lakes it maybe worthwhile to have 3 units. For me bass fishing isn't a video game and you should be more time concerned your environmemt and sonar unit to determine what is going on underwater IMO.

Tom