GPS-Tablet set up fro 2104

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
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.

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Originally Posted by Dorian

... 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.

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

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.

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?

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Originally Posted by 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.

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

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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And the maps are free... :D

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

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

NoniGPSPlot

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....

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.