Technology today is like hanging out in the Lost “n” Found – we get lost in the dizzying pace of development of electronic devices and software, but then we get found again by advances in user simplicity that these technological developments make possible. The new Fugawi X-Traverse software from Canadian-based Northport Systems Inc. is just such a development.
We are going in two different directions at once but what we care about, as boating consumers, is just the end benefit. In this case that benefit is simple: easy navigation using your cell phone. Well for now, it’s an Apple iPhone.
BlackBerry is probably coming soon. RIM just acquired Dash Navigation Inc., a GPS car-navigation firm based in California – further evidence that more mobile manufacturers are looking to improve their GPS and mapping technologies.
For boaters of all types, the new Fugawi X-Traverse website (www.x-traverse.com) enables users of mobile software to exchange data with PC- or Mac-based software using X-Traverse as the hub for the data.
X-Traverse is a website which lets you save, retrieve and move data across iPhone or other mobile or desktop applications. The key functions are:
• Download maps and charts for use in Fugawi Marine ENC, iNavX, MacENC software.
• Transfer waypoints between iNavX, Fugawi Marine ENC and MacENC software.
• Backup or Export your iNavX waypoints for use in Google Earth or other popular software.
• Request GRIB file weather data for use in iNavX for iPhone.
With X-Traverse, users go to the web and just like making a phone call, download data without wires to their mobile device (currently an iPhone). Initially, X-Traverse opened up the direct download of Fugawi’s own topographic maps (Touratel Maps) to Fugawi PC-based software, but the service is attracting more and more data suppliers to the X-Traverse system.
Early this spring, Fugawi announced that Hilton’s Realtime-Navigator has been added to the online Fugawi X-Traverse collection providing boaters with unlimited access to the latest sea surface temperature, altimetry, water colour and surface currents, while allowing anglers to pin-point favourable conditions for targeting desired species.
Fugawi X-Traverse’s support for the innovative Realtime-Navigator information allows users to see their GPS position on saltwater maps using the popular iNavX software.
So, Fugawi X-Traverse system users can now download up-to-date maps directly from the Internet to their navigation software. It is an amazing planning tool where Fugawi X-Traverse users can access Realtime-Navigator information before a fishing expedition to determine ocean current, colour, temperature and altimetry tendencies that often affect baitfish location. In addition, the Fugawi X-Traverse data plan allows users to plot waypoints and save tracks in Fugawi Marine ENC and transfer them to iNavX software on the iPhone, or vice versa.
But then, that’s saltwater fishing…not the interest of every Canadian Yachting reader. A short time later, Northport Systems Inc., announced the addition of Canadian Trak Maps to its online Fugawi X-Traverse Map collection. Trak Maps cartography currently includes over 40 lakes in Ontario and 130 lakes in Quebec; a welcome addition to freshwater fishing and boating enthusiasts.
Expanding things dramatically, Northport Systems announced the addition of the award-winning Navionics marine and outdoor charts. Adding to iNavX’s support of raster maps including NOAA RNC, Swedish Marine Charts, and TRAK Maps, users now have subscription-based, fingertip access to worldwide Navionics Gold+ international marine, HotMaps Premium North American fishing and European Discovery outdoor charts from www.X-Traverse.com.
Like the other products, Navionics charts are downloaded directly into iNavX software through the iPhone’s Internet connection (Edge, 3G or WiFi) and are saved locally on the phone for use when outside of cell phone or WiFi internet coverage. With an enabled X-Traverse.com account and a subscription to one or more Navionics regions, iNavX users may view their location on Navionics charts using the iPhone’s integral GPS receiver. They can seamlessly pan and zoom the charts, query objects, plot and navigate waypoints and receive and view GRIB file weather data. Users can also transfer waypoints and saved routes through X-Traverse to PC- or Mac-based navigation software such as Fugawi Marine ENC or MacENC. iNavX will also plot AIS vessel traffic when connected by WiFi to a suitable AIS receiver or NMEA data stream.
The biggest news is that just recently, Northport Systems announced a license agreement with Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) for CHS’ Digital Charts to be added to the X-Traverse online map collection. The Canadian Hydrographic Service Digital Charts are raster charts produced by the CHS and are available from X-Traverse in a proprietary format for use with X-Traverse compatible software.
“The Canadian Hydrographic Service Digital Charts are an exceptional addition to the Fugawi X-Traverse online mapping collection,” Robin Martel, president of Northport Systems said in a recent press release. “Our inclusion of Canadian charts illustrates our commitment to ensuring X-Traverse customers have easy access to an extensive library of up-to-date and inexpensive charting data for their mobile phones and desktops – anywhere and anytime.”
Here's wishing that companies like Navimatics, Rosepoint, Jeppesen and NavSim will at least consider becoming X-Traverse allies. Having key chunks of navigation data that you regularly use on your PC, also available in your pocket is amazing.
In my interview with Robin Martel, he got out his own Apple iPhone. I asked him to download the Lake Ontario chart data and to zoom in on Toronto Harbor. The data was not already on his iPhone, but within perhaps 90 seconds, it was downloaded and ready to use.
The X-Traverse contract allows a main data installation and a “back up”. This could be a download to your cell phone and a backup to your PC or MAC that has Fugawi Marine ENC software installed on it. Costs might be $49.95 for a complete set of CHS Lake Ontario charts including harbour data or as little as $9.95 for some Navionics US chart packages.
Your computer’s “big screen” is easiest for route planning and the mobile device is super handy for actual navigation, especially in a small boat. Pull out your iPhone and with your fingers, zoom in, set waypoints and chart your route with ease in daylight and in a format that is easy to save. Martel reports that many sailors and cruisers are attracted to the iPhone navigation as a backup to their traditional dash-mounted plotter. For example, while overnighting at anchor, you can simply pull your iPhone out of your packet and check that your boat hasn’t drifted, all from the comfort of your bed.
If you travel out of range of the charts you have downloaded, just download the next set and keep going. From the demonstrations we have seen and the jaw-dropping simplicity that this new software delivers, you can safely expect that more and more cartography and perhaps other useful tools too, will continue to migrate to the X-Traverse platform and onto your cell phone.
Especially for those with smaller boats, this is big league data in a pocket format!