The marine navigation software developer, Nobeltec, just upped its game with the release of TZ Maps for the TimeZero v3 App for iPad and iPhone. For $20 a year, in the U.S. and Canada, users get access to a suite of new information and display options.
According to Daniel Joram, the key feature of the new app is the bathymetry. “That’s where I’d start,” says Joram. “For the U.S. we’re mostly using NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) multi-beam surveys, and we include some details from other types of not-for-navigation cartography that are useful for fishermen.”
The new bathymetric charts feature depth changes down to less than a foot depending on location. It can be viewed in 2D or 3D, and color shaded to further illustrate changes in depth.
In addition to the bathymetry chart the app also displays in Vector and Rastor charts, the latter being exact copies of existing paper charts, it also includes basic land maps.
For $20 dollars a year the app is loaded with useful features, including dynamic lights that flash on the chart, showing users what they will see on the buoy or lighthouse itself; tide and current information and illustration, and mre. For another $9 a month, users can add weather information to the app, which can receive information via a connection on Iridium Go and other satcom systems. “We can use any open internet V-Sat like Kvh, Fleet one or Sarlink,” says Joram. “Other small devices won’t work as they are a restricted connection.”
The app can also connect to external devices, including autopilot via a Wi-Fi NMEA Gateway, using a TCP connection. Although TZ iBoat only supports the NMEA0183 protocol, it can be translated to NMEA2000.
While the app platforms are limited to iOS devices at present, Joram notes that the app will be available for TZ professional in October. More information can be found on an informational YouTube.
