The Offshore App is designed to save PredictWind weather information in an offline mode, great for boats heading offshore with a need to download forecast GRIB files on an Iridium GO!, GO exec, Satellite connection or coastal cruising where a cellular network is intermittent. Once the files are downloaded, they are stored locally on the device for you to review at any time offline.
TIP: It is important you practice on a high-speed internet connection using the WEB tab (home Wi-Fi, marina Wi-Fi or cellular connection) before using a Satellite device. Always do your first download via the WEB and get use to the output.
The PredictWind Offshore App for Android is downloaded from the Google Play Store.
Open the Offshore App.
At the top left, you can drop down the menu. At the bottom select ‘Preferences’. Enter your PredictWind Account details user email address and password (this is the email and password you use for your PredictWind forecast subscription.
Tap the back arrow top left to exit back to the main menu.
On the Main menu select, GRIB , then on the map move your Start and Finish Way-points to your desired location, resize the white GRIB box area if you wish.
Then on the top right tap the GREEN download arrow, this will open up the Download Preferences page.You choose what you want to download.
Download Preferences
Choose the Download Method , WEB, Iridium GO!, GO exec etc
Use the WEB option for Starlink.
Enable weather routing = ON
Standard Weather Routing
Go into Weather Routing Settings and select your preferences and then use the back arrow to go to the Download Settings page again.
GMDSS = ON
Satellite imagery = OFF
AIS = OFF
At the bottom of the screen you will see your estimated file size, ideally under 150kB, if it is over 200kB go back and adjust your GRIB area or select fewer parameters, or reduce the days and or models selected.
It is important at this stage to check that you are connected to your chosen Wi-Fi connection in the main Settings on our device.
Once you have selected your connection type, continue to 'Download ALL'.
Once all of the files are downloaded and they have a tick next to them, tap 'close' on the top right. (note the downloads page must be kept open for the entire download).
We are then taken to the weather routing tables that have detailed data for our weather route in graphs, wind, summary, route, swell and current. This is also where the Export function is for the weather route.
Next tap on Map, here we can see our weather routes and GRIBs together.
Tap the Play button to animate the routes and the GRIBs. The boats and GRIBs will move in time. The colour of the route is related to the weather model.
To change between models tap on forecast model, and select from the bottom menus.
Tap the menu button top left to show the other forecast formats. Tapping the back arrow on top of the menu will show the full screen.
Highest resolution available. This requires the Professional subscription.
Only areas that have been downloaded are available to view. If the ‘show route’ button is selected, the high resolution areas will be automatically displayed as the boat passes through these areas. If you turn off the “show route” button you can manually select the high resolution areas.
Tap the menu button, select GMDSS forecasts, then click on the link in the middle of the GMDSS area. GMDSS forecasts are safety warnings that are created by Meteorologists from the responsible regional Meteorological office. Press the x button top right to close. (e.g. the link will display 'XIV 0 hours ago' in blue, if it is black with only the roman numeral then you have not downloaded the data).
To view Satellite images that you have downloaded select Satellite Imagery from the menu bar.