Helm Aware 1.0
Support
Help with GPS, trips, course, history, Cockpit Mode, Live Activity, alarms and Man Overboard.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the app show 0.0 or a dash?
The app needs location permission and a current GPS measurement. Move outdoors with a clear view of the sky, wait briefly and check GPS status. Invalid or stale measurements are not used as current speed.
Why is GPS weak or unavailable?
Buildings, roofs, mountains, dense vegetation and indoor environments can reduce reception. Verify that Location Services and Precise Location are enabled for Helm Aware.
How do I enable Precise Location?
Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services → Helm Aware and enable Precise Location.
Which units are supported?
Helm Aware supports knots, kilometres per hour (km/h), metres per second (m/s) and miles per hour (mph).
How do I configure the main screen?
Open Settings in the app. You can choose whether course, the history graph and the unit panel appear on the main screen. When the graph is hidden, open it with the chart button at the top.
How does the 60-minute graph work?
The graph displays speed measurements from the latest 60 minutes and a line for average speed. History is stored locally, continuously limited to the latest hour and can be cleared after confirmation.
How do I start a trip?
Wait until the app has a current, usable GPS measurement and tap Start Trip. Active time and calculated distance are shown during the trip. An active trip can be restored locally after an app restart.
How does course over ground work?
Course over ground, COG, describes the direction in which the device is actually moving. It may be unavailable while stationary, moving very slowly or when GPS accuracy is insufficient.
What do Direct, Balanced and Stable mean?
They are GPS smoothing levels. Direct responds fastest, Balanced reduces some variation, and Stable produces calmer readings with slightly slower response.
How does the speed alert work?
Enable it and choose a threshold in Settings. When speed crosses the threshold upward, the app can provide sound and haptic feedback while the app is active. The alert rearms only after speed falls below a margin, reducing repeated alerts near the threshold.
How does the course alarm work?
In Settings, choose a target course and allowed deviation. You can use the current GPS course as the target. When course over ground moves outside the tolerance, the app can sound and vibrate while it is active.
How does the anchor alarm work?
Choose Drop anchor here to store the current GPS position and set a radius. Safety status shows distance from the anchor. If the position crosses the radius, the app can sound and vibrate while it is active. Clear the anchor when the watch is no longer needed.
How does Man Overboard work?
Use the Man Overboard control to mark the current GPS position. If a fresh position is unavailable, the app waits for the next usable GPS position. The guidance view shows the saved position, distance, bearing back, current course and the bearing to steer. Choose Rescued or clear the marker when the event is over.
What does the Safety panel show?
The main-screen Safety panel shows status for the course alarm, anchor alarm and Man Overboard, including target/tolerance, distance from the anchor or distance from the Man Overboard marker when available.
Do the alarms work in the background?
No for the actual sound and haptic alert. The speed, course and anchor alarms are intended to alert while the app is active. Live Activity may keep GPS speed updated in the background, but it should not be treated as a background alarm.
How do I open Cockpit Mode?
Use the cockpit button for a distraction-reduced full-screen display. It works in portrait and landscape and supports Day, Night and High Contrast appearances.
How do I enable Live Activity?
Open Settings in Helm Aware and enable Live Activity. It shows only current speed and the selected unit on the Lock Screen and, on compatible iPhone models, Dynamic Island.
Why is Live Activity not updating?
Verify that Live Activities are allowed for the app, that Helm Aware has location permission and that GPS reception is usable. If the app is force-quit, updates may stop until it is opened again.
Does the app measure in the background?
When Live Activity is enabled, Helm Aware may continue receiving location updates in the background to keep current speed updated. If a trip is active, active time and accepted distance may continue as well. Background updates end when Live Activity is disabled or ended.
Does the app work on iPad?
No. Helm Aware 1.0 supports iPhone with iOS 17 or later.
Does the app show the number of satellites?
No. iOS does not expose a public satellite count to ordinary apps. GPS status is instead based on permission, accuracy and measurement freshness.
Safe use
Helm Aware is an informational aid, not a certified navigation or safety instrument. Do not rely on it as your only aid for emergencies, collision risk or anchor watch. The Man Overboard feature does not replace established emergency procedures, emergency services or approved safety equipment.
Before contacting support
- Restart the app.
- Verify Location Services and Precise Location.
- Test outdoors with a clear view of the sky.
- Review GPS smoothing, alarm, anchor/MOB status and Live Activity settings.
- Note the app version, iOS version and iPhone model.
- You may include a screenshot, but remove any information you do not want to share.
Privacy
Helm Aware does not send location, speed, course, trip, alarm, anchor or Man Overboard data off your device. Learn more in the privacy policy.