Newsletter #28
Newsletter #28 - February 23, 2010
ActiveCaptain "X" is now live...
In This Issue:
- ActiveCaptain "X" is now live...
- Extending WiFi range from your boat
ActiveCaptain "X" is now live...
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One year in development, over 200,000 lines of software, immeasurable input from our Captains, and the newest version of ActiveCaptain's interactive cruising guidebook interface is complete. As those of you who have tried the Beta X tab over the past couple of months already know, this is a major overhaul to the website - new user interface, new features, new markers. You told us what you wanted improved - easier updating and better satellite imagery. You told us what new functions where needed - NOAA charts and more search options. We listened.
Now when you select the Interactive Cruising Guidebook tab you will see the new interface with new features. What won't be different is the free access to over fifty thousand marinas, anchorages, local knowledge markers, hazards, and reviews. And the data continues to grow every day. We're averaging over 1,000 updates each day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Some of the new features include:
- New interface. We have redesigned the interface to make it easier and faster for you to find information and make updates. The interface is based on a deck of cards to allow for expansion of ActiveCaptain features.
- NOAA charts. The ActiveCaptain website can now display markers on NOAA US charts making it easier to evaluate that anchorage or judge an approach.
- Microsoft cartography. ActiveCaptain now uses Microsoft Virtual Earth for the map and satellite images. We find that these images load faster and are higher quality.
- Expanded location search. A dedicated card now lets you find rivers, harbors, canals, islands - anything with a location name.
- ICW interpolation. You're no longer limited to selecting ICW locations by NOAA's 5-mile increments. Selecting ICW interpolation will approximate the location of any mile marker (435.6, 1072, etc).
- In-place detail updates. When you update a detail item, the data is edited right in the detail window. Submitting updates shows them right in the edited section so you know they are pending. This makes it much easier and quicker to update the data.
- Marker filtering. There's now more control over which markers are displayed. Choose to limit your marina display to ones carrying gas, diesel, or pump out services. Turn on only certain types of local knowledge markers.
- Optional sorting. You can also choose to have fuel or slip pricing displayed with the marina list items and sort the markers based on pricing.
- Marker move/delete. Changing the location of a marker or deleting obsolete markers is now simpler. Select the More link in the marker balloon and a popup menu appears to guide you.
- Adding a new marker. It's faster and simpler. Press and hold the mouse at the position for the new marker, select the marker type, and fill in the form.
- Permanent link. Quickly create a direct link to a location or marker in ActiveCaptain. Select More in the marker balloon, or press and hold your mouse at a location, and select Permanent link from the popup menu. It's easy to include the link in blogs, emails, forums, or websites.
- Hazard markers. One of the most significant additions is the new hazard marker. You can easily find problems areas, find out what cruisers are experiencing, and let others know what you've found. This is especially nice for ICW migration in the Spring and Fall to alert you to the changing ICW conditions.
The best part is that our new architecture allows us to continue to expand and improve ActiveCaptain's capabilities for years to come. Some exciting new features are on the horizon! If you have trouble displaying the new interface, make sure to refresh the page or empty your browser cache. Contact us if it isn't working properly.
We want to thank all of our users who have provided feedback and compliments during our beta testing phase. It is your input that makes this site better. This new and improved interface makes ActiveCaptain the perfect companion to your navigation system for dreaming, planning, and living your next cruise.
Extending WiFi range from your boat
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Although we mainly rely on cellular communications for all of our internet activity onboard, there are times when WiFi is a better choice. Cruising outside the US especially creates situations where cellular access is very expensive. Or there are times when you're able to use available WiFi from a marina or "borrow" someone else's WiFi hotspot. WiFi can be much faster than cellular and there are no annoying 5 GB limits.
We use WiFi for video and Skype or when we have to download large files. Sharing test code with some of the manufacturers we work with includes loading some 500 MB files every now and then. WiFi is perfect for that.
We first installed a long range WiFi capability on our boat in 2004 - ancient times! Since then we've had two other systems and now have just installed a final new set of products. We couldn't be happier with them. One thing that had been missing was the ability to easily share the long range WiFi connection between multiple computers. Only one of us could be connected at a time. We either needed a marriage counselor or new WiFi products. Turns out, the new WiFi products were much less expensive.
We could go into the specifics of the different devices (Ubiquiti 2HP, 8.5 dB antenna, 12v POE insertion, 12v DC router). But instead, there's a wonderful company we found called IslandTime PC who sells all of the products together as a bundle at about the same cost as if you went around and bought them separately. Getting everything from IslandTime PC means you'll also get exceptional service and support in one place from a guy who really knows what he's doing.
Don't misunderstand this - we paid full price for our products. This isn't an advertisement for IslandTime PC and Bob will be surprised to see us writing about it. This is a testimonial. Just as all of you contribute your knowledge to our database, we want to contribute an excellent resource to all of you. In fact, we've added IslandTime to the Products and Tips We Love section of the website:
http://www.activecaptain.com/articles/misc/productsTips.php
If you want to expand the reach of your WiFi capabilities, my highest recommendation goes to:
Bob Stewart
IslandTime PC
Wewahitchka, FL, USA
850-890-2815
You can also get more technical and product information at:
http://islandtimepc.com/marine_wifi.html
We have made our way to the Keys and are enjoying the lively boating community in Marathon, catching up with some old friends and making new ones. It's what the cruising life is all about. Don't hesitate to hail us on the VHF or knock on the boat when you see our logo. We'd love to hear from you. To find out what Dyna and Dylan are up to check out our blog:
http://takingpaws.com
Wishing everyone calm seas!
==================================
Karen and Jeffrey Siegel
aCappella
Castine, Maine
www.activecaptain.com
The Interactive Cruising Guidebook
Newsletter Archive
| 2010-07-21 | #35 - My Card, messaging, and more... |
| 2010-06-29 | #34 - New ActiveCaptain award... |
| 2010-06-02 | #33 - MaxSea Time Zero v1.9 Released |
| 2010-05-18 | #32 - ActiveCaptain loves the iPhone/iPad |
| 2010-04-27 | #31 - Coastal Explorer Now Available |
| 2010-04-14 | #30 - ActiveCaptain Loves Coastal Explorer |
| 2010-03-16 | #29 - ActiveCaptain Co-Ops - This is big... |
| 2010-02-23 | #28 - ActiveCaptain "X" is now live |
| 2010-02-15 | #27 - ActiveCaptain Loves MaxSea/Furuno |
| 2010-01-19 | #26 - ActiveCaptain 2010 |
| 2009-12-10 | #25 - ActiveCaptain X goes beta |
| 2009-11-17 | #24 - Quick Lists |
| 2009-10-20 | #23 - A fresh look at the iPhone |
| 2009-09-22 | #22 - Are we the wave of the future? |
| 2009-08-19 | #21 - ActiveCaptain Sets Sail |
| 2009-07-21 | #20 - Rescue Tape for 150 Points |
| 2009-07-14 | #19 - ActiveCaptain Rocks! |
| 2009-07-01 | #18 - ActiveCaptain Gets a Facelift |
| 2009-06-02 | #17 - Another ActiveCaptain award! |
| 2009-05-19 | #16 - Hats off to you! |
| 2009-05-06 | #15 - Twitter, New PodCast, and more |
| 2009-03-17 | #14 - Using phones in the Bahamas |
| 2009-03-03 | #13 - The best fuel prices |
| 2009-01-28 | #12 - SAIL innovation award |
| 2009-01-05 | #11 - Power accessories article |
| 2008-12-02 | #10 - Bluetooth headsets article |
| 2008-10-28 | #9 - The next wave |
| 2008-09-13 | #8 - ActiveCaptain Mobile news |
| 2008-06-15 | #7 - Mad Mariner |
| 2008-03-12 | #6 - ActiveCaptain Mobile |
| 2008-01-21 | #5 - Inlets |
| 2007-09-19 | #4 - Boat ramps |
| 2007-07-09 | #3 - Local knowledge released |
| 2007-04-14 | #2 - Global support |
| 2007-02-11 | #1 - Anchorages released |
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