VIDEO ON HOW TO DOWNLOAD TRACKs for Apple Devices
There are many devices used for
navigation on the water, such as Apple’s iPads, Samsung’s tablets, and the
traditional chartplotters from Garmin, Raymarine, and others. The Bob423 Tracks
and Routes are in GPX format which is a universal file type accepted by all
marine navigation devices. The problem is in knowing the exact steps required
to get the GPX file into your particular device. Apart from having many
different devices, each device may also have several ways of doing a download.
For Apple products, you may use Apple’s Safari browser or Google’s Chrome
browser – or some other browser. For Android products, there’s Chrome and other
choices. For chartplotters, you have to deal with each manufacturer’s propriety
software to get a GPX file loaded on your chartplotter, ready for use on the
water.
The purpose of this article is to
provide a step by step guide on how to download and use the Bob423 Tracks and
Routes across many devices and browsers. The basis for which devices to cover
was a survey in the ICW Cruising Guide Facebook page which highlighted which
devices and browsers were the most popular, so I will cover them first. Instructions
for various combinations of devices and apps are given. Select the section
applying to your use and follow the step by step directions to download tracks
and routes.
Part 1: Before
You Begin
First, you need to know which track or route you want to
download so the first step is to go to http://bobicw.blogspot.com/. Under the
title, you will see categories for additional information:
Home: (to return to
the first page of the webpage from tabs below). This page gives access to the
daily tracks, both current and historical.
Bob423
Long Tracks: If all you want
are the most recent tracks, go no further and tap or click on this tab. The
entire trip from Norfolk, VA to Ft Lauderdale, FL is contained in only four GPX
tracks. Each of the four tracks can be downloaded individually or as part of a
GPX package file, “B423
Norfolk to Ft Lauderdale” that contains all four, see downloading instructions starting
in Part 2 below for details. They will appear as a blue dotted line in Aqua Map
or a yellow line in Navionics.
How
to Download Tracks: This page of instructions resides here.
Waterway
Guide Alerts: A list of Waterway Guide Alerts ordered from north to
south. Just click through the list to see all the alerts for the mile markers
you plan to cover in one day’s run.
GPX
Routes: A list of GPX routes for the shallow spots with a direct link for
download. Each one has a time stamp in the name, be sure you have the latest
one.
2020
Cruising Guide Links: All hyperlinks in the 2020 ICW Cruising Guide are active here.
They are order in the sequence they appear in the Guide.
How to Record and Share Tracks: Be a contributor and record a track and share with your friends or on the ICW Facebook Page.
If you’re concerned about having too many tracks visible,
Aqua Map lets you hide tracks until you want to use them. You can put a search
term in the spyglass icon such as “Bob423” to bring up all the Bob423 Tracks
all at once – and nothing else. You can then make them all not visible or
delete them all in one step. The delete step is handy when I issue a new Bob423
Long Track GPX file update to reflect new shoaling. Get rid of the old and load
the new.
If you’re interested in downloading routes, then click on “GPX Routes” which
describes each route available with a page number reference in the 2020 ICW Cruising
Guide paperback for further details, the paperback can be purchased from
Amazon.com at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08D4F8NT3. An eBook
version is also available at the same link.
Look in the title for each section to find the combination
of the device (Apple, Android, Chartplotter) that you use along with the
browser you favor – each browser is somewhat different in the details of the
download. In the description of the steps, I use the word, “Tapping” to
indicate a finger tap as used on Apple and Android devices. For PCs, the action
word, “Clicking” is more appropriate as with a mouse. Both actions are
equivalent for the device they are used on, they are interchangeable.
Part 2:
For Apple iPad Users with a Safari Browser
Step 1:
Go to http://bobicw.blogspot.com/
Step 2: Tap on Bob423
Long Tracks
Step 3: Tap once on the track you want to download. You will see a text
box appear with the question, “Do you want to download xxx track”? Tap on
“Download” which will then disappear.
Step 4: Look for a down-arrow in
a circle at the upper right part of the screen. Tap on the down arrow. A text
box will appear with a list of downloads available. Tap on the download you
want.
Step 5: The next screen shows a page of text, ignore it and tap on the
square with an up arrow in the upper right corner which brings up a menu with a
list of apps that will accept the track. Look for the app you want to use and
tap on it.
If you don’t see your app listed (and
you know it’s on your device), then use your finger to scroll the choices to
the left and tap on “More” for additional choices. In rare cases, you may still
not see your app which means it’s being blocked by a misbehaving app. If so,
delete the offending app, usually navigation apps other than Aqua Map,
Navionics, or Garmin Active Captain (they all behave well) – other apps may
not. One app that has a history of blocking navigation apps in the past was
Dropbox.
For Aqua Map Users
Step 6: Tap on the Aqua Map icon and Aqua Map will be started with a
text box, “Found: 1 track. Do you want to import them in your archive”? Tap on
“Import”.
Step 7: Aqua Map will then display the new track on its chart, ready for
navigation. It will also appear in a list when the Spyglass (upper right
corner) is tapped and “User Data” is selected along with “Tracks”.
For Navionics Users
Step 6: Tap on the Navionics icon. Navionics will be started and a text
box will appear, “You’re Importing 1 Track, Go to Menu > Tracks”. Tap on
“Import”. Nothing happens on the screen; you’re not automatically taken to the
track like in Aqua Map. Be patient, Navionics, for some reason, may take
several minutes to import a GPX file.
Step 7: Tap on “Menu” at the bottom of the screen.
Step 8: Tap on “Tracks” and find the track you just downloaded, there’s
a search box to help at the top.
Step 9: Tap on the track you want to activate and it is displayed on the
chart. Tap on “Close” to start navigation.
Navionics does not automatically show all tracks at once. Each track has to be
activated (selected as in Step 9) for it to appear on a chart. In Aqua Map, all
tracks are automatically visible when loaded. Each track or all tracks can be
made not visible if desired in Aqua Map in the Spyglass menu. If you download
the GPX file containing all the tracks (2020FtLaudtoHampton.gpx), then in Aqua
Map they will all be loaded as separate tracks and the text box asking if you
want to import them will tell you how many tracks in are in the download. Navionics will also import the same file
(2020FtLaudtoHampton.gpx) but it takes a full two minutes to complete compared
to Aqua Map in 10 seconds, be patient – it’s working in the background.
Finally, a text box will appear as in Step 7 with how many tracks are to be
downloaded, tap on “Import”. Just like in Aqua Map, all the tracks are imported
as separate tracks but for Navionics, each one has to be individually activated
as in Step 9.
For Garmin Active Captain Users
Step 6: Tap on the Garmin Active Captain icon (this
sometimes requires two taps for some reason) and the app will be started with
the text box, “Importing User Data, Import the user data from the GPX file”?
Tap on “Import”. You will get another text box, “Imported User Data, Waypoints:
Complete, Routes: Complete, Tracks: Complete”. There are only tracks in the
track file, no waypoints, and no routes. Tap, “Ok”.
Step 7: Tap on the hamburger icon at upper right (three horizontal
lines) and tap on,” User Data”.
Step 8: Tap on “Tracks” and find the track you want to follow and tap on
it.
Step 9: Tap on “View on Chart” and it’s ready for navigation.
After a second try, I was able to import the GPX file with all the tracks in
one download. If your Garmin chartplotter has WiFi integration with their
Active Captain app, then you will be able to send routes and waypoints from
your Active Captain app directly to your Garmin Chartplotter. According to
their webpage, the Garmin app will not transfer tracks but I would give it a
try first. The Garmin Active Captain app did not used to support the import of
GPX tracks and now it does – they may have changed their software. Each track
has to be activated one at a time to see it on the charts. When one track is
activated, the others are not visible.
Part 3:
For Apple iPad Users with a Chrome Browser
The Google Chrome browser is the most
popular browser in the world with versions for all platforms (Apple, Android,
and PC). The download procedure is well thought out with the result that the
steps required are fewer than with Apple’s Safari browser. First, complete the
“Before You Begin” section so you know which tracks you want to download.
Step 1:
Go to http://bobicw.blogspot.com/
Step 2: Tap on Bob423
Long Tracks
Step 3: Tap once on the track you want to download. You will see a text
box appear at the bottom of the page with the name of the track. Tap on “Download”
and then “Open In”.
Step 4: Choose the app you want to download to from the list with one
tap.
For Aqua Map Users
Step 5: After tapping the Aqua Map icon, Aqua
Map will open with a text box saying, “Found: 1 Track. Do you want to import them
in your archive?”. Tap on “Import”. The track will then be shown on a chart
ready for navigation.
All of your tracks are accessible by tapping on the spyglass icon in the upper
right corner and then tapping on “User data” and then “Tracks”.
For Navionics Users
Step 5: After tapping on the Navionics icon,
Navionics will open with the text box, “You’re importing 1 Track, Go to Menu
> Tracks.” Tap on “Import”.
Step 6: Tap on “Menu” at the bottom of the screen and then tap on
“Tracks”.
Step 7: Find your track in the list and tap on it to activate it, A
chart will be displayed with the track visible. Tap on “Close” to start
navigating to the track. To change to a different track, tap on “Menu” and then
“Tracks” to bring up a list of all stored tracks.
For Garmin Active Captain Users
Step 5: After tapping on the Garmin Active Captain icon (sometimes
requires two taps), the app opens with a text box, “Importing User Data, Import
the user data from the GPX file?” Tap on “Import”. Another text box appears, “Importing
User Data, Waypoints: Complete, Routes: Complete, Tracks: Complete”. No
waypoints or routes are being imported but I guess Garmin is saving programming
effort here with a universal text message.
Step 6: Tap on the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines in the upper
right) and then tap on, “User Data”.
Step 7: List of Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks are shown, tap on “Tracks”
if it is not already displayed, and choose the track you just downloaded with
one tap.
Step 8: Tap on “View on Chart” to see your route display on a chart
ready for navigation.
Part 4:
For Chartplotter Users with a Chrome Browser on a PC (Win10)
The procedure will depend on the
manufacturer but first, you must download the track you want.
Step 1: On your PC (laptop), go to http://bobicw.blogspot.com/
with your Chrome browser.
Step 2: Tap on Bob423
Long Tracks
Step 3: Click once on the track you want to download. It will
automatically download to your “Download” folder. Remember that folder, you
will need to access it when you want to load the file into your PC navigation
program.
All the manufacturers support importing of GPX files but the details are
different between manufacturers. However, they all accept the loading of GPX
files from your PC into their proprietary programs and from there into their
chartplotters via some medium like an SD card or a USB connection. Some can use
WiFi for the transfer like Garmin for some products.
Part 5:
For Android Users with a Chrome Browser
Android devices are coming on strong for marine navigation.
For these instructions, I used a Samsung Tab A 10.1 (2019) with 32 GB of memory
and a Chrome browser.
Step 1: Go to http://bobicw.blogspot.com/
Step 2: Tap on Bob423
Long Tracks
Step 3: Tap once on the track you want to download
Step 4: A text box appears at the bottom of the page asking if you want
to download the file, tap on “Download” and then “Open”
Step 5: A text box pops up showing a list of apps that accept GPX files.
Choose one.
For Aqua Map Users
Step 6: Aqua Map will open with the text box, “Data Import, Found 1
Track. Do you want to import them in your archive”? Two choices are given,
“Cancel” or “Import”. Tap on “Import”. Sometimes you may also get a text box
with the question on whether to allow the download, tap on “Allow”.
Step 7: The track is shown on a chart, ready for navigation. To find
other tracks, tap on the spyglass icon in the upper right corner and tap on,
“Userdata” and “Tracks”.
The same steps work in downloading the GPX file containing all the tracks at
once. Once downloaded, Aqua Map shows all the tracks as visible so as you
proceed down the ICW. You don’t have to “Activate” each track individually to
see them on your charts. They can individually or in mass be set to not visible
as desired in the spyglass icon at upper right. The same steps work for
importing GPX routes from the “GPX Routes” tab in
http://bobicw.blogspot.com/.
The routes can be imported individually or all at once by tapping on “2020
Spring Routes”.
For Navionics Users
Step 6: Navionics will open with the text box
question, “You’re importing 1 Track, Go to Menu > Tracks”. Tap on “Import”. Be
patient, Navionics takes up to a minute for the file to be downloaded.
Step 7: Tap on “Menu” at the bottom of the screen and then “Tracks”.
Find the track you just downloaded and tap on it.
Step 8: Tap on “Close” and the track is ready for navigation.
The same steps work for downloading routes from the “GPX Routes” tab at http://bobicw.blogspot.com/.
For Garmin Active Captain Users
Step 6: The Garmin Active Captain app will open with the text box,
“Import user data? Import the user data from the GPX file”? Tap on “Import”.
You’ll get a brief message that the import was successful.
Step 7: Tap the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines at upper right)
and then tap “User Data” and then “Tracks”.
Step 8: The track is displayed in a small window. Tap “View on Chart”
for a full display and it’s ready for navigation. The Garmin Active Captain app
can also download all the track at once from the 2020FtLaudtoHampton.gpx
file.
Downloading of GPX routes follows the same steps except the starting point is
the GPX Routes tab of http://bobicw.blogspot.com/.
You can also download all the GPX routes at once by tapping on the “2020 Spring
Routes” GPX file.
Part 6:
Comments on Downloading Routes
Routes are found under the GPX
Routes tab on http://bobicw.blogspot.com/.
The dialog with the various combinations of apps and
browsers are identical once you get to the app interface. Just tap on the
download link for each route and follow the same instructions as for tracks.
There is also one GPX file containing all the spring 2020 routes, “2020 Spring
Routes”.
A reminder, when tracks are loaded into
Aqua Map, the default is that all are visible. This is handy for following a
series of tracks since you don’t have to keep “activating” tracks from day to
day, likewise for following a series of short routes for shallow areas. For
Navionics and Garmin Active Captain, each track and route have to be
“activated” (selected) before it will be visible on the chart. If you load the
four Bob423 Long Tracks, then activating each track is easier in Navionics
since each track covers more than just a day’s run.
Closing Comments
If the instructions are not clear or
need improvement, please let me know so everyone that uses the instructions can
benefit from your experience and subsequent revisions. Just post your comments
on the ICW Cruising Guide Facebook page.
Bob,
ReplyDeleteSorry to bother you with trivial questions but... You said we get 25% discount at Aquamaps if we have bought your book. We got a kindle version online how what do we present to Aquamaps? And also how do I download the USACE charts from Aquamaps?
Look for the coupon on page 31 of the 2020 ICW Cruising Guide and follow the directions. For downloading USACE survey charts, you need a subscription to the Master version of Aqua Map for $10/year. The option is in Setting (bottom, right gear icon). The Master option is shown in the Setting list. Once, subscribed, you turn on USACE surveys in Settings and download the charts.
ReplyDeleteBob my husband and I are going to Key West and then to Punta Gorda. We have been studying your book. Our starting point is Southport, NC. We will be using an iPad for navigation. I see tge download instructions. I am somewhat confused on which to download tracks our routes. Thank you, Marcia Lee
ReplyDeleteBob I can’t figure out how to copy your tracks from your Aquamaps GEC master account to my account. I exported your tracks and imported
ReplyDeleteThem to Navionics but not to Aquamaos what am I doing wrong ?
I tried to import into Garmin HomePort but get an "unknown read error". DO you know if they should be able to import into HomePort? They import and display in Google Earth so I don't think the files are corrupted.
ReplyDeleteAquamaps iPhone/iPad. Had to zoom in until I saw map details, to get the “1 Track Found/Import” button.
ReplyDeleteWhat’s The. Operational difference between a track and a route. .
ReplyDeleteHello Bob. I recently purchased a Samsung A7 tablet to use on our sailboat. How do I download your tacks on Aquamaps AND Navionics on the same device ? Thanks for your help
ReplyDeleteAll of your tracks are accessible by tapping on the spyglass icon in the upper right corner and then tapping on “User data” and then “Tracks”..............Instagram Bellen
ReplyDelete