Recommend a rugged tablet for GPS navigation ?

[bowber]

I'd never thought about a rugged version of a tablet, I use a tablet and my phone with Viewranger but not attached to the bars, it just lives in my pocket etc, taking the tablet as our main navigation device in the car later this month (with the relevant area maps) on our tour of the Pyrenees.

Steve

[WesleyDRZ400]

Gotcha. I think you're asking an awful of of one device really. It's subject to continuous vibration and elements, if it goes wrong and you're reliant on it for so many things, what then? I know that's a personal POV though.

Yes i agree i am asking for alot and if it all goes wrong then there will be a plan B but if all goes right then it is a great tool which is a game changer for what it can do.

The trail tech voyager which is replacing the standard speedo could be a back up if this fails

This year i am busy with work so only a 2 to 3 week trip will be on the cards and i really want to maximize the most i can get out of it with riding good off road routes and sight seeing as my wife is coming so that means good planning which i think i will get out of this with the app options regarding sight seeing and night time planning for the next day.


So far it has been tested by that Spanish guy and charging pins on his other devices failed but the pins on the bracket for this mentioned were fine and he was riding offroad with continuous vibrations and as i have been on the same routes he did in Georgia i have a idea of the guy on trails he went on so that's good

Spec for this rugged tablet is
IP67 certification for water and dust ingress can withstand extremely high temperatures, and drop tested to 1.2 metres

Full spec
http://www.samsung.com/uk/business/busi ... 360NNGABTU

Also thanks for the info on that facet pump as i brought it along with some plumbing in fittings on that site link (thumbs)

[Mike54]

Have you looked up the type of gps receiver in it? and how robust it is etc? Its certainly an interesting idea

what about the brightness of the screen in relation to sun strength? i find this an issue with a garmin if I am wearing my nexx lid with jet visor down, or if wearing sunglasses.

[WesleyDRZ400]

Have you looked up the type of gps receiver in it? and how robust it is etc? Its certainly an interesting idea

what about the brightness of the screen in relation to sun strength? i find this an issue with a garmin if I am wearing my nexx lid with jet visor down, or if wearing sunglasses.

Yes all it states is that it has a built in GPS? maybe some tech experts here can explain more?
Connectivity
ANT+
Yes
USB Version
USB 2.0
Location Technology
GPS, Glonass
Earjack
3.5mm Stereo
MHL
No
Wi-Fi
802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz
Wi-Fi Direct
Yes
DLNA Support
No
Bluetooth Version
Bluetooth v4.0
NFC
Yes
Bluetooth Profiles
A2DP, AVRCP, DI, HID, HOGP, HSP, OPP, PAN
PC Sync.
KIES

Regarding brightness of the screen maybe Daniel can update if he can compare it to his old GPS? Worse case maybe just fab up a little peak visor and place it well on the bike. The good thing about the navigation tower is it is fully adjustable so this will help greatly.

Again maybe some tech experts here can explain more?

Display
Size (Main Display)
8.0" (203.1 mm)
Resolution (Main Display)
1280 x 800 (WXGA)
Technology (Main Display)
TFT
Color Depth (Main Display)
16M
Size (Sub Display)
N/A
S Pen Support
No

I will also fit rubber silencer block washers to help with vibrations between the Tablet cradle and navigation bracket

This article sums up kind of what i was getting out

http://mashtips.com/tablets-replace-gps/

Why do you want to spend money for a GPS device and pay extra for map updates in every year? You can buy a nice android tablet with builtin GPS for the same price of vehicle GPS. You can use this tablet as same as vehicle GPS with some additional bonus.

The bonus you get when you choose GPS tablet is a large screen display for your map, can watch movie, browse internet with WiFi or 3G/4G, keep sync with your business or trip calendar and todo list, check emails and even you can make phone calls with your tablet, read here to make phone calls without spending a penny.

There are couple of other advantages for using tablets as GPS devices. You can get high featured up to date good MAP apps for Android Tablets like Google Map, Waze if you are depending on online map with 3G/ 4G connection or you can download offline maps and store in your tablets prior to your trip if you have WiFi tablets.

Most of these offline maps are offering free upgrade for the entire lifetime. The next hidden benefit is that most of these tablets are offering couple of hours battery back up time compare to less battery backup time of GPS devices and this help you to keep on your GPS tablets for long time.

[WesleyDRZ400]

It states it has both the GPS & Glonass system = Seems good (thumbs)



en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS

GLONASS (Russian: ГЛОНАСС, IPA: [ɡlɐˈnas]; Глобальная навигационная спутниковая система; transliteration Globalnaya navigatsionnaya sputnikovaya sistema), or "GLObal NAvigation Satellite System", is a space-based satellite navigation system operating in the radionavigation-satellite service and used by the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces. It provides an alternative to GPS and is the second alternative navigational system in operation with global coverage and of comparable precision.

Manufacturers of GPS devices say that adding GLONASS made more satellites available to them, meaning positions can be fixed more quickly and accurately, especially in built-up areas where the view to some GPS satellites is obscured by buildings. Smartphones generally tend to use the same chipsets and since the versions used since 2015 receive GLONASS signals, smartphones using such chips receive GLONASS positioning information along with GPS. Since 2012, GLONASS was the second most used positioning system in mobile phones after GPS. The system has the advantage that smartphone users receive a more accurate reception of up to 2 meters.[1]

Development of GLONASS began in the Soviet Union in 1976. Beginning on 12 October 1982, numerous rocket launches added satellites to the system until the constellation was completed in 1995. After a decline in capacity during the late 1990s, in 2001, under Vladimir Putin's presidency, the restoration of the system was made a top government priority and funding was substantially increased. GLONASS is the most expensive program of the Russian Federal Space Agency, consuming a third of its budget in 2010.

By 2010, GLONASS had achieved 100% coverage of Russia's territory and in October 2011, the full orbital constellation of 24 satellites was restored, enabling full global coverage. The GLONASS satellites' designs have undergone several upgrades, with the latest version being GLONASS-K.

[DanielS]

Regarding brightness of the screen maybe Daniel can update if he can compare it to his old GPS? Worse case maybe just fab up a little peak visor and place it well on the bike. The good thing about the navigation tower is it is fully adjustable so this will help greatly.

Hi Wes. I've never had it mounted to the bike, but regarding brightness and glare. Brightness wise it's perfect, I think it may also have that light sensor so it goes dimmer when it's darker etc.

I've just taken it outside and taken photos of it and my Zumo 660 with direct sunlight at varying angles. Here you go:











As you can see it looks fine (Ignore the funny lines on the screen, that's just the camera playing tricks) Personally I'm going to buy some matt screen protectors like these:

Matt and Anti-glare screen protectors

[WesleyDRZ400]

Hi Daniel did you get a 2 pin molex cig plug adapter which connects to the 12v-24v adapter box ?

I dont have one so i take it you just connect it direct to a cigarette lighter socket adapter from your tablet and leave the adapter box out?

[DanielS]

Sorry for the delayed response, I've been away with work. The GPS cradle from Brodit goes to a little box (you can unplug it) and out of the other side of the box is a two wire cable (red and white) that goes to wherever, I'll wire mine into my relay. It's labelled as 12-24v DC input. I can take a photo later if you need.

[WesleyDRZ400]

Just a update on the Samsung tablet i brought to use as a GPS.

Well so far it is great and i use it daily for all general apps so its alot more than just a GPS

It is as tough as they say as i have dropped it by accident at height and also it has been fully submerged and all works well.

Well i just fitted it to the nav bracket and think tablets will be the way forward and are much better than just standard GPS's as with apps getting better daily and more options regarding mapping

IMAG0192.jpg (36.97 KiB) Viewed 3022 times

[DanielS]

Nice work Wesley. Have you got a preferred app that you use? I'm still torn between Locus, OSMAND+ (All purpose) and even Maps.ME and Waze (Data needed for Waze)for the onroad stuff.