Navionics Boating Lake Finder Phone App.

[olbaidhh]

Ok I have the Navionics Boat App for my Google phone I usually only use if for ice fishing.  I went in to scout a lake today and I received a message that my license was going to expire and I need to fork over money for the app.  Something about PLUS... Are they pulling the same stuff they did a few years ago when I had to re-buy the app I had already purchased because they messed up. .. .what gives can someone explain this one???

[KirtH]

Description from the help menu on Navionics+ subscription 

NAVIONICS+

Navionics+ is an all-in-one subscription package, for one year, providing advanced features including: Nautical Chart, SonarChart™, Community Edits, Chart Updates, Advanced Map Options and Navigation Module. Scroll-side to see the available areas (or click “See all” to see a list). Purchased charts will display a green flag. Before purchasing a chart, you will have the option to try just one Navionics+ region. The free trial will last one week and once it has expired you’ll be able to continue using Navionics+ only by purchasing it. Remaining trial days are visible in the Charts & Upgrades section.

Nautical Charts

Nautical Chart is the award-winning vector map including dynamic tides & currents, nav aids, the largest database of POIs and more.

SonarChart™is an HD bathymetry map, great for locating fishing areas and revealing more bottom contour detail. It reflects ever-changing conditions by integrating sonar logs from the Navionics Community with existing data. Chartplotter users can learn how to view SonarChart™ and how to record sonar logs using the major sonar brands (Humminbird, Lowrance, Raymarine, Simrad, B&G and Garmin) on navionics.com/sonarcharts. Garmin GPS chartplotter users can access SonarChart™ on our WebApp. SonarChart™ is viewable starting from a zoom level of 0.2 NM. You can enable/disable it by selecting "SonarCharts" on the Layer Selector on the lower left side of the screen.

SonarChart™ coverage continues to expand, please check frequently.

Community Edits are inputs made by users and shared for all to benefit.

Navigation Module

Once activated, Navigation Module will be available on all purchased charts. Navigation Module offers route planning and enhanced navigation features. You can create a route made of a single or of multiple waypoints. Place waypoints on the map (or edit them) and tap on "Go" to start navigating. Once you tap “Go” the route is automatically saved in your Route Archive. At the top of the screen you have: bearing (BRG), time and length to next waypoint, real time speed, COG (Course Over Ground), ETA and length to arrival. Tapping on each field, pop-ups provide details: you can customize and share displayed info, and access further route details (you can adjust cruising speed and average fuel consumption parameters and units). The console might be hidden for a better view of the map. Tapping on “Route” again you can:

- Stop your Route

- Reverse your route

- Edit your route: you can remove, move or add intermediate waypoints in the desired position. To delete a waypoint, tap on it, and then tap on "Delete Waypoint".

- Access further route details.

Tapping on "My Routes Archive" you can access all the routes you have created and activate the one you desire.

ADVANCED MAP OPTIONS

Advanced Map Options allows you to customize your map display and highlight the most important map features. First select desired units of measurement in Settings. Features include:

- Shallow Area: highlight shallow and potentially hazardous areas on the map in a red warning colour (red marks);

- Depth Shading: allow the shading display of depth areas corresponding to the desired contour (blue);

- Depth Contours: specify which bathymetric lines are shown on the map;

- Seabed Areas: reveals underlying seabed composition (only available for Portugal, France, North of Corsica and select US HD lakes);

- Fishing Mode: check the box to turn on the "Fishing Range" option;

- Fishing Range: select a particular depth range that is then highlighted on the map (white). Target the area where you want to focus fishing efforts.

Shallow Area, Depth Shading and Depth Contours are mutually related: the value you set on Shallow Area will be the minimum one for Depth Shading; the value you choose for Depth Shading will be automatically set as the lower limit for Depth Contours: this means that the map will show bathymetry up to and including the limit you set. Fishing Range is related to Shallow Area and Depth Contours according to the principles previously described. The Advanced Map Options features are visible under different zoom levels. Fishing Range and Seabed Area features are visible only if you zoom in to at least 4 NM. Shallow Area, Depth Contours, Water Level and Depth Shading are visible at any zoom level. When you set a value for Water Level greater then “0”, a red alert button and a warning will display on the screen reminding you of the value you have set. To make the message disappear, tap on the button. To remove both the button and the message from the screen, set Water Level back to “0”.

Tap on “Reset default values” to bring all values back to default.

Chart Updates

You can download updates for all previously downloaded maps or select a specific area by using the pins tool or zooming and panning on the area. You can download updates also:

- By selecting “Update All” at the bottom of the main Menu window.

- Through the notification that will show in the app every 30 days.

[KirtH]

And I believe its all of 4.99 so that should break the bank to renew

[papadarv]

The Navionics Boating App is a Smart Phone based App. It is offered with a 1 year renewable subscription. It runs on both Android or iPhone phones, tablets, etc. Almost every Smart Phone App. you buy is handled this way with a time base subscription.

To renew for an Android products, you go to Google Play. For iPhone (apple) product you use iTunes.

It comes as a Standard App. U.S. only for $9.99 U.S and Canada for $14.99

You can get an HD version, U.S. 49.99 - U.S. and Canada $54.99.

I have looked at both Standard and HD. Unless you have one of the iPhone 6 or Samsung 6 ($600.00) phones, the HD is not much of an improvement on screen resolution. My cheap LG39 shows no difference.

http://www.navionics.com/en/mobile-pc-app-1  - Navionics Site

Site states you can renew for 50% off, not sure how that works as I have not yet had to renew. I do plan to go the $9.99 to get all the features offered when I renew come next July.

If you have the Vexilar SonarPhone, you have the capability to contour map any lake with the Navionics Boating app. My next buy (Christmas) will be the FishPhone from Vexilar, also runs on WiFi. This technology is amazing.

 

Edited November 25, 2015 by papadarv

[Northlander]

Anyone else having issues with theirs not zooming in far enough?

[Jim Almquist]

I can zoom in to 138" for what its worth. My Navionics has expired as well. I don't have all the options right now.

 

Updated and it did not change

Edited January 1, 2016 by Jim Almquist
Updated subscription

[papadarv]

I use a 7" tablet, 1" on the screen represents about 44 feet of travel. Checked on a lake where the drop goes from 12' to 45' fow in about 40' of travel. All the contours from 12' to 45' are quite visible. Almost identical to my Garman Nuvi with a LakeMaster chip where contours not quite as visible. Not sure what your are comparing it to.

[Northlander]

It wont get me to my old holes. Not even close. My H2Oc was better.

[papadarv]

21 hours ago, Northlander said:

It wont get me to my old holes. Not even close. My H2Oc was better.

I guess I miss understood what you were looking for when you asked;

"Anyone else having issues with theirs not zooming in far enough? "

To find old holes, I find its best to Way Point old hole GPS location (Longitude/Latitude). Most GPS units will give you a numeric value of Deg./Min./Sec. Almost all GPS units provide a direct Route function, straight line, way the crow flies. Than it boils down to what GPS unit you like best to route you location to desired location.

The GPS refresh algorithm in the Boating App is indeed not the best. Navionics is well aware of this and are in the process to fix their refresh methods. I talk to them and or send a email every month or so looking at progress. As of mid December, they stated they are still testing a finite fix. In the meantime I use my Garmin GPS to Go To my favorite spots. The Boating App does have a fairly good GPS to Digital map as when I tap the "where am I" arrow at my home, it puts the X on top of my house while in satellite mode.

Edited January 6, 2016 by papadarv