some interesting iphone developements

Yeah... there are nmea multiplexers out there that will broadcast over Bluetooth. I've never had much luck with range on Bluetooth devices so I guess that's why I said wifi.

Here's one: http://www.navstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1265

I want more than the GPS data also... I want everything on the NMEA network (wind speed, depth, etc.)... I also would like to get engine data (getting Cummins engine data/Sea Ray systems monitor data is a whole different thread)... and a couple of video feeds (engine room, bridge, facing back, facing forward, cockpit).

The multiplexer listed above is a class 1 device so it "technically" will work to 100m but I seriously doubt any handheld can do that via bluetooth as they are usually class 2 devices (10m range). By the time you throw in some bulkheads, floors and other solid objects in the middle, 10m becomes 2m... I'm talking distances, and through walls/floors, of 40 feet is what I want. For those with bigger boats, like an 80 foot Lazarra, you'll need wifi for sure.

I should get that little Bluetooth multiplexer gizmo and give it a shot though before I start spouting off about it... I don't want to sound like Mr. Fig Newton. good idea. The multiplexer I have was by Brookhouse and it's been very reliable... also does auto GPS failover which is nice.

Bluetooth has other issues like pairing and such... I'm also not sure of the status of Apple's iTouch/iPhone Bluetooth support.
 
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Four Suns said:
Yeah... there are nmea multiplexers out there that will broadcast over Bluetooth. I've never had much luck with range on Bluetooth devices so I guess that's why I said wifi.

Here's one: http://www.navstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1265

I want more than the GPS data also... I want everything on the NMEA network (wind speed, depth, etc.)... I also would like to get engine data (getting Cummins engine data/Sea Ray systems monitor data is a whole different thread)... and a couple of video feeds (engine room, bridge, facing back, facing forward, cockpit).

The multiplexer listed above is a class 1 device so it "technically" will work to 100m but I seriously doubt any handheld can do that via bluetooth as they are usually class 2 devices (10m range). By the time you throw in some bulkheads, floors and other solid objects in the middle, 10m becomes 2m... I'm talking distances, and through walls/floors, of 40 feet is what I want. For those with bigger boats, like an 80 foot Lazarra, you'll need wifi for sure.

I should get that little Bluetooth multiplexer gizmo and give it a shot though before I start spouting off about it... I don't want to sound like Mr. Fig Newton. good idea. The multiplexer I have was by Brookhouse and it's been very reliable... also does auto GPS failover which is nice.

Bluetooth has other issues like pairing and such... I'm also not sure of the status of Apple's iTouch/iPhone Bluetooth support.
Click to expand...

You sound like Charlie Brown's teacher to me. So much of that is over my head. I'm listening though, instead of talking with Fig Newtons in my teeth..........
 
This looks interesting

P
R
O

Description
The CW85 combines GPS technology
with WiFi transport. Incorporating
Navsync's own CW25 module with
ultrasensitive GPS receiver, the CW85
provides an 802.11b transmission
Description
The CW85 combines GPS technology
with WiFi transport. Incorporating
Navsync's own CW25 module with
ultrasensitive GPS receiver, the CW85
provides an 802.11b transmission
containing NMEA streams giving device
location (longitude and latitude) and
UTC time. The 802.11b supports WEP
encryption and is fully configurable to a
specific network.
CW85 GPS Broadcaster
Features
•Sensitive GPS receiver with tracking as low as -185dBW
•802.11b compliant
•128 bit-WEP encryption
•WPA encryption (not available in ADHOC mode)
•Portable – may operate on 6 AA alkaline batteries
 
I hear you on the Bluetooth thing.

But shouldn't the iPhone have Bluetooth? I mean. . .wire is the way to go for earphones for music: but for a voice call, doesn't it have a wireless capability for an earbud? Of course, I am sure that voice and data over blue tooth are horses of different colors.

As for web browsing on a mobile device: It's not just the connectivity. . .its the screen size. Maybe when the device can project a LARGE image on a table or something. . but browsing on a 2" screen holds no appeal for me, except for dire emergencies.
 
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I don't know how crippled the Bluetooth really is, I know as it stands now it can only pair with a headset, can send contact info to a tom tom gps unit, and that's about it. The SDK may be able to unlock it, but I haven't got that far in the videos yet.

As far as the screen size, you can zoom in and out with two fingers. Or you can double tap with one finger to zoom into the place you tapped or tap with two fingers to zoom out.

I propose a new rule: in order to express an opinion on the iPhone, you actually have had to physically touch one.
 
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Yeah, my Razor's bluetooth seems similarly limited. It can pair to a palm and I can use the palm to dial the Razor. But I can't *simultaneously* pair the palm and a headset; which is annoying.

I have spent some time in the apple store playing the zoom features, but I wasn't overly impressed. Now that there is a 16gb model, I am a bit more interested, but won't seriously look again until the next version is out.

I am no apple fan boy. . .but not being a fan-boy won't stop me from buying a cool product if the features and price are right :wink:
 
The iphone SDK does not have support for Bluetooth. You can't get to the stack. It does, however, have support for wifi, so you can build IP aware applications. I have the SDK, but haven't done anything too interesting with it. Some decent ideas here, sounds like a good rainy day project.

Best regards,
Frank
 
I just checked the weather, It's supposed to rain on monday.
 
another cool thing I found for my laptop which doesn't have GPS is Loki.com

I installed the loki plugin on firefox and it places a little icon on the toolbar. click the icon and it locates you and drops a pin on google maps. then you can do all google map search stuff just like on the iphone in reference to your pin drop. you can also share your location with a group of friends.
 
Another interesting gadget

http://www.navigadget.com/index.php/2008/03/05/gps-for-iphone-via-wifi/

delivers the data through the built in safari browser. Unfortunately it will only be useful for this generation iphone if the next one comes out with GPS built in.

but since the maps are stored on a microSD card, I wonder if you can substitute charts instead?
 
Well I received an email response from Gomite saying that Nautical charts won't be part of the initial software offering but is "On the map" for future offerings.
 
wkearney99 said:
Trouble is AT&T's coverage on the water, at least on the Chesapeake, is not very good at all. I had one of their data cards, as well as an integrated one in a sony, and both failed to get signals in QUITE a few places. Near the cities (such as they are on the Bay) it was barely a bar or two, almost non-existent most of the time on the water. That's why I got a Verizon card and phone. Both have had total coverage everywhere the AT&T gear did not.

Then couple it with the iPhone's lack of local storage for user data, to say nothing of no on-board GPS. Frankly, nearly ever other vendor's phone does a much better job of custom applications. Much like the Newton, I'd venture the iPhone might have critical raves, but fail to gain much market. Apple's known for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory and screwing the customers in the process. No thanks, not again.
Click to expand...

Guess you were pretty wrong on this one! :grin:
 
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