Help Manual

~~~ General Information: ~~~

MX Mariner is a basic chart plotting program for Android.

MX Mariner has 3 map modes: Raster Charts, Roadmap, and Satellite

Raster Chart mode works 100% offline (after initial one time chart region download)

Roadmap mode requires an internet / data connection

Satellite mode requires an internet / data connection

The screen will stay on when you are in the main chart/map view and will not power off automatically.

~~~ Installing Chart Regions~~~

Android Menu Button --> Settings --> Install Charts

   

LINZ and Brazilian Navy raster charts are divided into 2 regions.

NOAA USA raster charts are divided into 20 regions

UKHO raster charts are divided into 4 regions.
**UKHO region note: Each UKHO region is available as an in-app purchase. Each region can be downloaded and/or updated for 1year after purchase.

Regions range in size from 80 to 468MB

The regions will be stored in the /sdcard/mxmariner directoryon your device. On most android devices, this directory is an SD Card while others it is built in storage. You will need adequate storage space to download the charts you want to use.

Simply tap on the region you would like to download to your device.

It's recommend to download regions when connected to wifi or 4g.

Pushing the back button during the download process will cancel the download.

The download can be resumed at a later time if you cancel.

Pushing the home button on your device allow you to do other task while the download continues.

~~~ Uninstalling chart regions ~~~

Android Menu Button --> Settings --> Install Charts

Long press on an installed or partially downloaded region and choose "OK" to delete it.

Deleted regions are completely removed from device SD Card.

~~~ Updating chart regions ~~~

Menu Button --> Settings --> Install Charts

When an updated region file is available for an an installed region, the region will be labeled with an "update available" tag in yellow.

Tap on the region in the menu to download the update.

~~~ Configuring Storage ~~~

Menu--> Settings --> Storage

This will configure which storage device (ex internal or external) MX Mariner stores data to.

Selecting a different storage device here will also move existing MX Mariner chart and GPX data to the new specified location.

~~~ Display Settings and Features: ~~~

The chart/map display settings can be quickly changed by pressing Menu --> Display

The Map Type (Raster Charts, Roadmap, Satellite) can be quickly changed using the Map Type drop down.

The Chart Region can be changed. This will select which raster chart region is to be shown on the chart/map when in Raster Charts mode.

Screen Brightness can be switched between "Auto", "Day", "Dusk", and "Night" modes. This controls the intensity of the backlight when viewing the chart.

"Auto" means that the brightness level is set automatically by the device

"Day", "Dusk", and "Night" modes have specific screen brightness levels that can be independantly set.

To adjust the intensity of the backlight for each mode, go to Menu --> Settings --> View.

Each of the "Day", "Dusk", and "Night" Backlight levels can be manually set. Change the mode intensity by dragging the slider and pushing "Set".

The base map can be toggled from "Road Map" to "Satellite" in Menu --> Settings --> View --> Base Map Style

Chart outlines can be toggled on/off in: Menu --> Settings --> View --> Chart Outlines

~~~ Sensor Options - Ship & Map Presentation:~~~

GPS Course Predictor - When checked a red predictor line extends out from ship on chart in the direction of the curent course over ground. The line length is relative to speed over ground.

Compass Heading Predictor - When checked an orange predicor line extends out from ship on the chart relative to your current azimuth.

Orientation Mode - This setting gives you two options, course or heading. The selected option will be the direction the ship will face on the chart and the direction the chart will be rotated when in head/course up mode.

GPS Power Save Mode - When checked, MX Mariner will stop listening to location updates from your GPS 30 seconds after leaving the view of the chart. This saves battery consumption at a trade off of requiring a longer time to establish a position lock when back in chart view.

Bluetooth GPS - Check this if you are using a bluetooth gps or other "mock location" provider.

~~~ Cart panning, zooming, measuring: ~~~

Zoom chart by using zoom buttons   or pinch to zoom with fingers

Zoom to location by double tapping on chart

Pan chart by dragging chart with fingers

When gps position is available a bearing, distance and position measure tool will appear automatically when touching and/or panning chart.

Zoom buttons can be turned on/off in: Menu --> Settings --> View --> Zoom Buttons

~~~ GPS follow: ~~~

Enable location on your device Settings --> Location & Security --> Use GPS satellites (checked)

Enable gps follow (north up) by pushing the follow button.

The follow button will turn red with the ship angled indicating follow mode is north up.

Enable gps follow (head/course up) by pushing the follow button a second time.

The follow button ship will angle straight up indicating follow mode is course or head up.

Disengage gps follow by panning the chart.

Follow button will switch back to grey when follow is disengaged.

When gps has speed and course, position is indicated by red ship oriented according to present course.**

When gps has no speed and course, position is indicated by red circle.**

When gps has not received a fix for 3 seconds position indicator becomes greyed

When gps accuracy is low, approximate error is indicated in chart view by semi-transparent grey circle around approximate position.

**Ship orientation will orientate towards heading if "Heading" is selected in the "Orientation Mode" under the sensor options.

~~~ Measure Tool ~~~

Push the extra tools button to show the extra tool buttons.

Pan/Zoom the chart to where you would like to start your measurement.

Next, push the measure button.

Pan/Zoom the chart to where you would like to measure to.

Finish measuring by pushing the return button

~~~Units of measure ~~~

Menu Button --> Settings --> Units

Position (latitude, longitude) can be displayed as Degrees, Degrees Minutes, Degrees Minutes seconds

Speed can be displayed as Knots, Mph, Kph

Distance can be displayed as Nautical, Statute, Metric

Bearing and Course can be displayed as True or Magnetic Magnetic bearings are calculated using the World Magnetic Model courtesy of the US National Geospacial Intelligence Agency

~~~ Adding Waypoints ~~~

Push the extra tools button to show the extra tool buttons.

Pan/Zoom the chart to where you would like to place your waypoint OR push the gps follow button to place a waypoint at your current position.

Next, push the add waypoint button.

You are then presented with a dialog where you can name your waypoint, add a description, change the icon, or change the latitude/longitude

Push Save and the map will be centered on the new waypoint.

~~~ Editing Waypoints ~~~

Tap on the waypoint icon on the map and an edit dialog will be presented.

You can choose to edit, hide or delete the selected waypoint.

Note: hidden waypoints can be unhidden using the "Marks Manager"

~~~ Recording A Track ~~~

Note: GPS must have a position lock for Track recording to start

Push the extra tools button to show the extra tool buttons.

Push the Track button and choose "Yes" when presented with "Start recording track?" dialog.

Track button will indicate tracking is in progress by turning red.

Stop tracking by pushing the Track button a second time. You will be presented with a dialog where you can add a name and description to your track or discard your track.

Note: tracks can be hidden, shown, edited or deleted using the "Marks Manager"

~~~ Adding Routes ~~~

Push the extra tools button to show the extra tool buttons.

Pan/Zoom the chart to where you would like to start your route.

Next, push the route button to start creating a new route.

Pan/zoom the chart and push the route button again for each point you want to place in the route.

Pan/zoom the chart to the last point in the route and finish the route by pushing the return button

A dialog will be presented where you add route details, save or discard route.

~~~ Editing / Activating Routes ~~~

Tap on the route icon at the start of the route on the map. An action dialog will be presented.

You can choose to activate/deactivate, edit, hide or delete the selected route.

Note: hidden routes can be unhidden using the "Marks Manager"

Once a route is activated bearing and range will be shown on the heads up display below speed and course:

A dashed blue course line will be drawn on the map to the next best point along the route given current course

Deactivate a route by tapping on route icon and choosing deactivate in the presented action dialog.

Routes can also be deactivated by pushing the button on the heads up display.

~~~ Marks Manager ~~~

Use the Marks Manager to manage marks: Waypoints, Tracks and GPX Backups

Menu Button --> Settings --> Marks Manager gets you to the Marks Manager

~Waypoints Tab~

The list of waypoints can be sorted by name or distance from your last gps position by pushing Menu Button-->Sort By Name or Menu Button-->Sort By Distance

Waypoints can be shown or hidden in map/chart view by tapping on the waypoint(s) you would like to show or hide so that a green check mark is next to them. Then pushing Menu Button-->Toggle Selected Visibility. The waypoint icon will indicate if it is hidden in the list with this icon:

Waypoints can be deleted by tapping on the waypoint(s) you would like to delete so that a green check mark is next to them. Then pushing Menu Button-->Delete Selected. Push the "Yes" or "No button to confirm or decline deleting the selected waypoints.

Individual waypoints can be viewed by long pressing on the desired waypoint icon until an action dialog is presented. Choose "Zoom To" to view the waypoint. You will be brought back to the map/chart view showing the waypoint. Of course now that waypoint can now be edited by tapping on it in map/chart view.

~Tracks Tab~

The list of tracks can be sorted by name or date by pushing Menu Button-->Sort By Name or Menu Button-->Sort By Date

Tracks can be shown or hidden in map/chart view by tapping on the tracks(s) you would like to show or hide so that a green check mark is next to them. Then pushing Menu Button-->Toggle Selected Visibility. The track icon will indicate if it is hidden in the list with this icon:

Tracks can be deleted by tapping on the tracks(s) you would like to delete so that a green check mark is next to them. Then pushing Menu Button-->Delete Selected. Push the "Yes" or "No button to confirm or decline deleting the selected tracks.

Individual tracks can be viewed by long pressing on the desired track icon until an action dialog is presented. Choose "Zoom To" to view the track. You will be brought back to the map/chart view showing the track start point.

Individual tracks can be edited by long pressing on the desired track icon untul an action dialog is presented. Choose "Edit" to edit the track. You will be presented with a dialog where you can edit the track name and description.

~Routes Tab~

Routes can be shown or hidden in map/chart view by tapping on the route(s) you would like to show or hide so that a green check mark is next to them. Then pushing Menu Button-->Toggle Selected Visibility. The route icon will indicate if it is hidden in the list with this icon:

Routes can be deleted by tapping on the route(s) you would like to delete so that a green check mark is next to them. Then pushing Menu Button-->Delete Selected. Push the "Yes" or "No button to confirm or decline deleting the selected routes.

Individual routes can be viewed by long pressing on the desired waypoint icon until an action dialog is presented. Choose "Zoom To" to view the waypoint. You will be brought back to the map/chart view showing the waypoint. Of course now that waypoint can now be edited by tapping on it in map/chart view.

~GPX Backups Tab~

All waypoints and tracks can be backed up to a GPX file by pushing Menu Button-->Create new GPX/Backup.

GPXs can be deleted by tapping on the GPX(s) you would like to delete so that a green check mark is next to them. Then pushing Menu Button-->Delete Selected. Push the "Yes" or "No button to confirm or decline deleting the selected GPXs.

Individual GPX Backups can be imported by long pressing on the desired GPX icon until an action dialog is presented. Choose "Import" and a second confirmation dialog will be presented showing the number of waypoints and tracks in the GPX file. Confirm or decline import by pushing "Yes" or "No". A progress dialog will be shown as the GPX is imported. NOTE: Duplicate waypoints and tracks will be skipped. After the import finishes a results dialog will indicate how many items were imported and how many were skipped because they already existed or were duplicates.

Individual GPX Backup files can be sent (via Email or Bluetooth for example) by long pressing on the desired GPX icon until an action dialog is presented. Choose "Send" and a menu will be presented with various "Send" options.

To bring GPX files in from external programs simply open the file from an external app (email client, file browser, etc) and choose MX Mariner in the presented menu to open the gpx file with. This will bring you straight to the "Marks Manager" with the new gpx file in the menu.