Thread: iPad for offroad nav

Also try Bit Map if you already have maps.

One interesting disappointing issue with the iPad2 - with polarised sunnies portrait mode (or maybe landscape, can't remember) you can't see the screen at all.

Had one for 10 days and that issue, along with poor screen resolution, and it being too big for my liking in a Defender, saw me return it for a refund. Apple have a 14 day notices questions asked return policy, so no harm in grabbing one for testing.

Personally, I think the 7" form factor is best for in-car navigation. I tried the original Samsung Galaxy Tab 7", and it was good except the GPS was too fickle. Hence it got moved on also. As you may have gathered, I'm pretty picky!

BTW, Android tablets are rapidly advancing - both hardware and software. Don't be scared to give them a try. A couple of mates are very happy with their aging Optus tabs for navigation. You can pick these up for about $100 second hand.

Sent from the dodgy keyboard on my phone via Tapatalk

Hi all, found this on the LR UK site the other day.
Looks like a good mounting solution. DISCO4.COM - View topic - Mounting an iPad 2 in D4

Cheers, Craig

I have the exact same proclip mount in the same spot for my iPhone. I can guarantee that mount alone isn't holding that iPad.

Evening all - first post.

I have been looking around for a while for something to replace my PDA (with built-in GPS) running Tom Tom & Oziexplorer. I already own an Ipad2 and an Iphone, so just before Christmas bit the bullet and invested in Memory Map.

I looked at other options, including VMS, Hema HN5i and cheap Chinese, but finally decided to utilise the hardware I already had. I then experimented with the Bitmap, Mudmap/VMS and Memory Maps apps. I settled on Memory Map because, although I like Bitmap, the graphics aren't as good and the uploading process is painful. I didn't go with VMS because you can't get Hema maps on it and I don't like Smart topo. I like to use copies of the paper maps I'm using as I really just use the gps to locate myself on the paper map.

I tried it down in the Snowy Mountains over Christmas both 4wding and bushwalking (using iphone) and am happy with it. Off-road, in the Disco 3 I sit the ipad on the door of the top glovebox - sits in front of the passenger. I put the iphone in the hole where the touch screen would go. On-road I just use the iphone and also run Tom Tom on it.

Memory Map is a good, simple system - I particularly like the seamless topos, and its good to have it on both ipad and iphone and already having the hardware this was a good option. However, I still prefer Ozi and it was annoying having to buy copies of maps I already have.


Cheers,
Jon

Hi Preacher

I use the IPAD2 (3G + Wi Fi). You need the 3G version. It has the GPS chip which does not need cellular network connection.

I use the Hema Memory Maps (memory-map.com.au) - bit pricey but works well

check out Ram Mount (ram-mount.com) give them a ring and they will advise you on the model required. I used their 3 suction cap model. Very secure, very little or no vibration over corrugations.

On a recent long Birdsville trip, the system worked very well. The large screen is brilliant even in bright sunlight. no need for sunshade over the ipad in the car. My wife who was navigating was most impressed, so were the other drivers.

The large size does block a little of the windscreen, but not enough to matter.

Buy a cig charger. I got one from Jaycar, you will need the 2.1 amp version to charge and run the IPAD

hope helps

GD-4

I meant to say

"Hope This Helps"

GD-4

Preacher; I use VMS on my iphone4, with the 250K topo maps (same as the paper version) for anything fine scale; Hema paper maps for the big picture stuff, but VMS is everything I could imagine at fine scale. We plotted our tracks/position within a few metres freecamping across cooper creek area, roxby, andamooka stations in August. Yes - screen size is small, but can zoom to a few metres. I havent used VMS on iPad, but I imagine it would do same job, on the bigger screen. Good reception in my D4 with the iphone loose on pass dash. Big advantage for me is one less coms gizmo to charge, carry, mount etc. iphone + satphone + UHF is all I carry these days. Latest VMS update has bunch of new bells and whistles, but for me the core business is 250K topo. My expl geologist mates are locked into the paper versions and when we travel together, its my iphone that gives them the metres-level location verification.
Hope this is a help.