Tablets

The most common Expedition configuration on a race boat is a dedicated computer in the nav station and a roaming tablet.

While it is possible to run Expedition on a tablet, there are several advantages to having a fixed computer in the navstation, with everything displayed on the main computer being reflected on the on-deck display, including:

  • A physical connection to the instruments, so lessens the risk of lost connections
  • There is no chance of dropping it over-board or otherwise damaging it
  • A permanent power supply

Note that a good, fast wireless connection is essential.

Tablets

Various options (FGebruary 2023), in no particular order:

Rugged

Dell Latitude Rugged
Getac
Juniper Mesa and Pro
Panasonic

Non-rugged

Microsoft Surface
Apple iPad - use with remote desktop.

Software

There are several solutions to use a remote tablet with the navigation computer.

Microsoft Remote Desktop

Included with Windows and also freely available for Android and iPad.

See the Windows help.

Remote desktop is generally faster than VNC. This is because the remote desktop system sends instructions on how to draw the screen, whereas VNC systems generally send a picture of the desktop from the server.

VNC

VNC tends to be slower and less secure than remote desktop, but can be used by more users.

There are several options.

RealVNC Android, Apple and Windows Client Software are free, but server software is not.

Splashtop

Splashtop. Easy to use interface, but less popular than it once was.

IP Code

The IP code rates the degree of protection against dust, water etc.

The first digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against access to hazardous parts (e.g. electrical conductors and moving parts) and the ingress of solid foreign objects.

5 - Dust protected, mostly dust protected
6 - Dust tight, no ingress of dust

The second digit indicates the level of protection that the enclosure provides against harmful ingress of water.

4 - Splashing of water
5 - Water jets
6 - Powerful water jets
7 - Immersion up to 1m for 30 minutes
8 - Immersion below 1m for indefinite period