Maptech iPlot vs AV Assistant

Maptech iPlot - Real Time Chart Plotting App The Maptech iPlot app is simple to use chart plotter app that utilizes many of the same routing functions that Maptech uses in their digital software. The iPlot uses the same NOAA nautical charts you are familiar with from Maptech chart plotting programs such as Offshore Navigator, Chart Navigator Pro, Sea Ray Navigator and i3 Navigator. Plan routes, place marks, and easily zoom and scale charts with your fingers. The iPlot features a smooth and fast chart quilting engine that makes going from one chart to the other seamless. Once the app and charts are downloaded no data connection is required for operating the iPlot app. The Maptech iPlot App purchase includes all US small scale planning charts which can be downloaded from the Chart Download page within the app. To accurately navigate with the Maptech iPlot App you will need to purchase a region of charts for your area of interest. These chart regions can be download from within the app itself from the Chart Download page at an additional cost of $9.99 each. All charts are updated every January and neither the app or the charts require a subscription fee nor will they ever expire. Features include: Uses NOAA Raster Charts (RNCs) Full US Chart Coverage available Lightning fast chart quilting engine Unlimited custom routes and marks creation Index of all routes and marks Place Mark at vessel function for MOB or an anchor alarm Instant waypoint with a touch of the finger Full route list of all waypoints showing instant DTW, BTW and ETA to each Full mark list showing instant DTW, BTW and ETA to each Reverse route function Easy method for inputting your already created routes Unique route steering by highway display page Adjustable waypoint arrival time Easy to read data windows for COG, SOG, HDG, BTW, RTW, XTE Easy locate vessel button Orientations include heads up, north up, look ahead Choose bearings True or Magnetic Import/Export from Offshore Navigator Maptech facilities WIFI AIS targets Chart Regions: Region 02 - Block Island, RI to the Canadian Border Region 03 - New York to Nantucket and Cape May, NJ Region 04 - Chesapeake and Delaware Bays Region 06 - Norfolk, VA to Florida including the ICW Region 07 - Florida East Coast and the Keys Region 08 - Florida West Coast and the Keys Region 10 - Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands Region 12 - Southern California: Point Arena to the Mexican Border Region 13 - Lake Michigan Region 14 - San Francisco to Cape Flattery Region 15 - Pacific Northwest: Puget Sound to the Canadian Border Region 17 - Mobile, AL to the Mexican Border Region 22 - Lake Superior and Lake Huron (U.S. Waters) Region 24 - Lake Erie (U.S. Waters) Region 26 - Lake Ontario (U.S. Waters) Region 30 - Southeast Alaska Region 32 - South Central Alaska: Yakutat to Kodiak Region 34 - Alaska: The Aleutians and Bristol Bay Region 36 - Alaska: Norton Sound to Beaufort Sea Region 40 - Hawaiian Islands and U.S. Territories If your iPad was purchased with the ability to subscribe to a data plan from your provider, it already has a built in GPS and does not require a Wi-Fi or external GPS to navigate with the iPlot app. You can tell this easily by looking at the top display bar to see if you have the indicator bars for cell strength, if you do then you have a GPS built in. If not, your iPad does not have a built in GPS and you will need to turn on location services and Wi-Fi capability to receive your location to navigate with the iPlot app. However, if you plan on using this outside of urban areas where there is no location services network, you will lose the ability to track your position. It is highly recommended that if you plan on using the Maptech iPlot for real time navigation and your unit is one without a GPS that you use it with an external plug in or bluetooth GPS. We recommend the Bad Elf GPSs. We also recommend Snow Lizard Products iPad cases which have optional Bad Elf GPS receivers built in.

AV Assistant is an informational aid for U.S. waters that shows your location and details on all surrounding aids to navigation (buoys, lights, etc) within your Area of Interest. The app downloads the weekly U.S. Coast Guard Light List for your district, and then shows the aids within your Area of Interest and their details. Any applicable Local Notice for Mariners information is also shown with the light data. For reference use, Nearest Light, also in the App Store, is the better choice. AV Assistant is capable of making reports to the U.S. Coast Guard regarding discrepancies in aids to navigation and is primarily intended for USCG and USCG Auxiliary use. Refer to the website (url in Settings|Reference) for additional information. Warning: AV Assistant, which provides Light List data, is not intended to be used in place of charts or Coast Pilots. Charts should be consulted for the location of all aids to navigation. It may be dangerous to use aids to navigation without reference to charts.