Cake and eat it too, GPS tablets

[catsman]

Hi all, I know a number of you have fitted tablets for GPS and reversing camera and was hoping someone has possibly solved this issue already.

I'm after an android tablet that can link to a reversing camera, bluetooth connect to phone or OBD reader, and can run 4wd maps, preferably hema.

Thing is none of the ebay cheapies have bluetooth, and none of the proper tablets have av-in. Closest I got was an old $30 tablet running windows CE which had av-in and bluetooth but can't run hema maps and is really out of date anyways.:confused:

As work arounds, does anyone know if I could add bluetooth to one of these android cheapies via the microUSB? Or alternatively, getting a powered av adapter to convert camera RCA to miniHDMI for a samsung tablet (i'm under the impression the miniHDMI is output only). If this works would tablet automatically switch to camera when put into reverse? Any help appreciated.

[AndyG]

I tried to work this out and came to a dead end. Tyre monitoring was on my wish list too. One challenge, and please correct me, is Blue tooth only supports one channel or connection at a time.

[TeamFA]

One challenge, and please correct me, is Blue tooth only supports one channel or connection at a time.

I don't think this bit is correct. I link to my external Bluetooth GPS unit and my Bluetooth stereo unit at the same time - receive the GPS signal as well as send music to the head unit.

I have a Galaxy Note 10.1 for this (not the 2014 version, unfortunately). I must investigate camera-in for a reversing camera...

[catsman]

The other thing is wireless reversing cameras do not use wifi but generic 2.4ghz, so again can't link those to a tablet

[catsman]

One challenge, and please correct me, is Blue tooth only supports one channel or connection at a time.

That wouldn't bother me if I cant run Torque app and phone call at same time

[jonesy63]

From what I understand, a bluetooth smartphone/tablet/PC can pair with up to 7 devices at once - but only have one connection per purpose at a time. So one bluetooth phone connection, one bluetooth audio (A2DP) connection, etc.

[BSM]

I'm after an android tablet that can link to a reversing camera, bluetooth connect to phone or OBD reader, and can run 4wd maps, preferably hema.

I've thought about this too, and I believe the problem can only be solved with a specially developed app.

You see. For the reversing display to be useful, it must display only when reversing, and then switch back to whatever was showing beforehand. This requires a signal from the car, either a reversing signal from the Canbus, a signal from the reverse light, or worse case, the rear cameras transmitter powered by the reverse light. It requires a special app that displays the video image when the signal is present and then goes to sleep handing back the tablet display to whatever was showing before when the signal is absent. If you don't have this, then you don't have a practical reversing camera system. As far as I know, no app developer has gone to the trouble of developing this.

The closest thing I've seen to this is the dedicated Parrot Asteroid Smart (http://www.parrot.com/au/products/asteroid-range/parrot-asteroid-smart/) tablet which is a combination Nav, reversing camera, Sound System, and is Android app friendly and therefore supports a range of mapping apps, but not Hema, I believe.

[Ferret]

I'm after an android tablet that can link to a reversing camera, bluetooth connect to phone or OBD reader, and can run 4wd maps, preferably hema.

Thing is none of the ebay cheapies have bluetooth, and none of the proper tablets have av-in.

Saw this a while ago. Maybe gives you some ideas about the need to have AV in on a high quality tablet. Whether it is really a viable solution is something I can't say but it is interesting.

Nexus 7 Backup Camera - UVC Video grabber - YouTube

[catsman]

Think I'm going to get asus fonepad, different to tablets as it can make phone calls. Bluetooth to obd with torque app, this for a handsfree mic and sound into aux jack, and maybe this for reversing camera. Possibly even this for the steering wheel...

[TeamFA]

I've thought about this too, and I believe the problem can only be solved with a specially developed app.

You see. For the reversing display to be useful, it must display only when reversing, and then switch back to whatever was showing beforehand.

I would be very happy to have a solution that didn't require a signal for the engagement of reverse gear to activate - a manual activation would be sufficient (ie. a swype of a finger in a particular direction on the tablet screen is possible with software already on there).

I could imagine a number of situations where it would be convenient to be able to see via the camera when stationary, rolling forwards slowly, or even normal driving - given the limited visibility of the centre rear-vision mirror. We have a 35" spare on the tyre carrier at the rear, so rearward view is obscured more than normal for us, making the centre rear-vision mirror nearly useless.

With everything else so manual in the Defender, adding another process would be nothing new! :)

[TeamFA]

...and maybe this (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-WIFI-in-Car-360-Eyeball-Rear-View-Camera-CMOS-Cam-For-iPhone-iPad-Andriod-/161312779436?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item258efdacac) for reversing camera.

That's starting to look like the business.

[sagrudd]

I occasionally require a reversing camera (when hitching boat or camper trailer) (our drive is on a wicked slope) and the kids are still surprisingly unreliable in marshaling!

I looked at a number of wired solutions to installing an (ugly) camera and was reluctant to install anything that might use more Defender screen space. My epiphany was to use an "action cam" - I am using a Garmin Virb that we use for the sailing action - this mounts onto the roof-rack and provides a wifi video stream to either iPad or iPhone for the few seconds required.

The solution doesn't engage automatically (a few seconds of planning are needed before and after to connect camera to the roof, start up the software) but the video is sufficient and I required no additional hardware. It has also been fun to capture a few action shots on the truck in motion on the muddier trails. Both the Garmin and GoPro alternatives provide the wifi connection to iOS and android devices.