GPS-Tablet set up fro 2104

[100inch]

Does any forum member run a newer GPS linked to a tablet. One of the main questions I have is if the smaller new GPS units have a similar reception as their bigger counterparts with separate antennas.
Thank you for any inputs.

[Kevin B]

Does any forum member run a newer GPS linked to a tablet. One of the main questions I have is if the smaller new GPS units have a similar reception as their bigger counterparts with separate antennas.
Thank you for any inputs.

Dont tablets come with inbuilt GPS?.... saying that I tried to bluetooth my sat reciever to my tablet but it failed Android could not recognize it and could not find drivers for it, the inbuilt GPS on mine works better anyway.

[100inch]

True, but as far as I know they are based on the phone network data. Or I am wrong?

[Kevin B]

True, but as far as I know they are based on the phone network data. Or I am wrong?

Thats incorrect they are stand alone gps, do you have a map app installed like ozi or hema

[OffTrack]

The GPS receiver is just hardware that feeds positioning data to an application that requests it.

It depends entirely on what software you use with it as to whether you need phone coverage. If you use something like Google maps, you'd need a phone network. On the other hand if you use off-line mapping apps like OziExplorer, Memory Map, or turn by turn apps which use local copies of the mapping like Sygic then you can run without a network connection.


cheers
Paul

[loanrangie]

Thats incorrect they are stand alone gps, do you have a map app installed like ozi or hema

Not all tablets have a proper GPS chipset and those with a 3/4G capability may only use the mobile network for triangulation.
There are tablets with a true gps chip built in .

[Kevin B]

i have 2 Tablets, an Aldi one and a Samsung one and they both have built in Chipsets, i was unaware there were tablets that didnt have this, thanks :)

[PTC]

Running a tablet as my mapping in the old car. I had a Bluetooth GPS mounted on the roofrack, hard wired into the car's power and then connected to my tablet. I found this the best as the gps in my tablet took awhile to boot up and refresh my position while moving.

[100inch]

That is the setup I am thinking of. A smaller GPS feeding into the tablet. What type of GPS and tablet do you use, PTC?

[PTC]

It was like the one that Rudi sells here. Though it had Bluetooth as well.

Navrun - The Ultimate 4WD Challenge (http://www.navrun.com.au/navshop.htm)

Sorry i don't know the brand anymore as i sold the unit when i smashed my tablet. I need to look into a new one myself. As i am hoping to set up a Ram Mount and Tablet again in the new car.

[Dorian]

I have a IPad that I run a GPS marine app (ISailor and Navonics) and a Street navigator (forget the application name) on. I link the IPad to a Bluetooth receiver. The Model is Dual XGPS150A, it cost me about $120 delivered from the UK when the dollar was a lot higher.I think I have had it for about 3 years.
Here's a link to it and a few others GPS iPad GPS - GPS - Avionics - Headsets - Mendelssohn Pilot Supplies Australia (http://www.ozpilot.com.au/GPS/iPad-GPS/c-1-94-314/?gclid=CKDxwK_y0bkCFYtgpQodpjAAnA)
But I bought mine off FleaBay.

I got the GPS receiver because of the marine application, the IPAd and most other tablet / phones have a GPS chipset that looks at two or three satellites and then uses some fancy stuff from several phone towers around you to get a good lock on your position.

Fine when you are in town, but when your on the water or somewhere you can only get 1 or none phone towers the resolution on your position can be quite a bit off with just 3 satellites. I have personally been at Cowan (Near Morten Island) and just the IPad without the GPS receiver put me almost a K south on dry land.
The unit I use can handle up to 32 satellites (apparently) but the app that monitors it has only shown 15 at the best of times and usually 6-8 (I am pretty sure it's because I live in Aust). This seems to be mostly better than 10m as I have been able to find spots/drop offs etc on the Navigator that have pretty well shown on the sounder at the same time.

Sometimes its a bit fiddly with the Bluetooth linking and to get the IPad to use it instead of it's own GPS. The Dual GPS has an internal battery but it only lasts about 2 hours, so mine stays plugged in to a USB charger.

Hope this gives you some background.

[Ferret]

... the IPAd and most other tablet / phones have a GPS chipset that looks at two or three satellites and then uses some fancy stuff from several phone towers around you to get a good lock on your position.

I bought a Nexus 7(2013) tablet the other day. Watching its GPS now as it locks on to 10 satellites.

[mikehzz]

There isn't a way to STOP a tablet from finding satellites if they are there. There is so much bunk around how 3G tablets need phone towers to operate. They don't, full stop.
AGPS is actually better, I can get a location fix in my loungeroom where my stand alone GPS can't. I also get an accurate fix on the phone and tablet in the middle of the Simpson Desert where there are no towers for 100's of kms.

[100inch]

Thank you very much for all the input so far! This brings me to question which tablet and what software are the best way to go?

[Kevin B]

There isn't a way to STOP a tablet from finding satellites if they are there. There is so much bunk around how 3G tablets need phone towers to operate. They don't, full stop.
AGPS is actually better, I can get a location fix in my loungeroom where my stand alone GPS can't. I also get an accurate fix on the phone and tablet in the middle of the Simpson Desert where there are no towers for 100's of kms.

Agreed, my samsung tablet give me a better position fix than my garmin xtrek, thats with 4g and wifi turned off.

[PTC]

Androzic was the Android program i used. As i found Oziexplorer a bit confusing to start with. And it uses all the same maps. So easy to find and load up the area i was in.

[Kevin B]

Androzic was the Android program i used. As i found Oziexplorer a bit confusing to start with. And it uses all the same maps. So easy to find and load up the area i was in.

And the maps are free... :D

I use adrozic in conjuction with Backcountry Navigator, which is also free

[Ferret]

I have used this for a few years. Initially under windowsCE and as from about 1 week ago on an android tablet.

NoniGPSPlot (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nonidev.gpsplot)

[100inch]

Is there a new tablet in the pipeline for Xmas? As said I need it for the xmas trip so I can hold back and see what is coming up....

[Hoges]

Depending what else you want the tablet to do, I doubt the GPS capabilities of the current crop of tablets will be much improved before / after Christmas.

[100inch]

Very true!
I guess looking at current GPS ranges like Garmin, the tablet set up must have taken a big slice of their market.......
Again, thank you for all the help and input.
m

[Hoges]

Is there a new tablet in the pipeline for Xmas? As said I need it for the xmas trip so I can hold back and see what is coming up....

Was browsing the usual tech ads for the major retailers and I see that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 is being offered for $449 "hot price"...this is about $200 less than the JBHiFi price in May ... I suspect your instincts are "good";) and that an update is on the way... but maybe not necessarily to the GPS capability..

given reports that Samsung completed a major contract a couple of months ago to supply Apple :eek: with high resolution screens, they will probably be the 'next -big-thing' for Samsung to compete with the ?Retina currently offered on Apple stuff...

[Fred Nerk]

There isn't a way to STOP a tablet from finding satellites if they are there. There is so much bunk around how 3G tablets need phone towers to operate. They don't, full stop.
AGPS is actually better, I can get a location fix in my loungeroom where my stand alone GPS can't. I also get an accurate fix on the phone and tablet in the middle of the Simpson Desert where there are no towers for 100's of kms.


You may be confusing the point for some users. There is a way to STOP a tablet finding satellites. In Settings you go to "location services" and uncheck "GPS Satellites". I expect that this turns off the GPS and extends battery life a little.

3G tablets need a network connection to load maps of your location unless you are using an app that accesses map files already stored on the tablet.