Navigation options

New Navigation Configuration

Zofia has standard navigation equipment.  Raymarine C80 Chart Plotter, SeaTalk devices, auto pilot and radar, as well as a Simrad AIS transponder. The AIS information is shared with the Raymarine equipment via the NMEA input to the C80 Chart Plotter.

This system has three drawbacks. Firstly, there is no backup to navigation within the system. Secondly, the system is not portable. Finally, creating way-points is cumbersome.

To overcome the first drawback an iMux-ST multiplexer was added to the boat. This device integrates the Raymarine SeaTalk information with the AIS data.  The integrated information is then transferred to the chart plotter via the iMux RS232 output, and to the iNavX software on the iPad via a wireless connection. This provides a backup to the navigation system because all the information displayed on the Chart Plotter is also now on the iPad.

The new arrangement is portable. The iPad can be used anywhere on the boat and a crew member can be following and/or directing the helmsman with the information on the iPad if necessary, thus overcoming the second drawback of the standard navigation system.

Finally, the new arrangement provides an easier way to create way-points. We are no longer committed to using the Chart Plotter for this purpose and can instead use the iNavX software on the iPad to create way-points. These way-points can be transferred from the iPad to the Chart Plotter by connecting the RS422 NMEA output of the iMux to any available NMEA input port on the iMux. This combines the way-point information to other navigation data which is then all transmitted, on the RS232 port of the iMux, to the Chart Plotter. To transfer way-points you select the Data/Receive NMEA Data option on the Chart Plotter and in the TCP/IP box of the iNavX software, select Transfer way-points. The way-points are then sent to the iMux from the iPad via the RS422 port, into the NMEA input channel and finally via the RS232 port of the iMux to the Chart Plotter.

To complete the system, we added a PredictWind satellite communicator and upgraded our PredictWind software to the professional version. Weather-based routing information can thus be obtained at anywhere and at anytime. The information is emailed to us in several file formats. The GPX file is in turn emailed to the iPad and opened with iNavX software. Once the way-points are loaded they are imported to the Chart Plotter with the method described above.

In summary, to achieve easy integration of all relevant navigation information you can;

1. Connect SeaTalk data to iMux
2. Connect AIS to iMux
3. Connect iMux output RS422 channel to any free iMux NMEA input channel
4. Connect iMux output RS232 channel to the Chart Plotter NMEA input

To add automatic course information

5. Add PredictWind satellite communicator
6. Add PredictWind professional software version to your computer
7. Email PredictWind GPX files to the iPad and open with iNavX
8. Transfer way-points to chart plotter from withing the iNavX software

The equipment and software required to achieve this is;

1. iMux-ST multiplexer
2. iPad with iNavX software
3. PredictWind satellite communicator
4. PredictWind professional software.