How to us a Tablet as a GPS
Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 06, 2016 at 15:51
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Member - Ralph & Anne C (NSW)
I am looking to up grade my GPS by using a Samsung Galaxy Tablet Active 8 with 16GB WiFi to load EOTopo200K on and using a Qstarz BT-Q818XT as the GPS reciever to give me my exact positioning on the
EOTopo maps as I travel.
My question is will the two talk to each other and is there something that I have missed as I am having trouble understanding exactly how it all works. (does
EOTopo come on a SD card that I load into the Tablet then turn both on and away we go)
Any help will be greatly apreciated
Ralph
Reply By: Member - nick b - Wednesday, Jul 06, 2016 at 16:43
Wednesday, Jul 06, 2016 at 16:43
Ralph : have you had a look at the travellers app here , its got a lot going for it ...
does your tablet have gps i thought most did ....
AnswerID:
602150
Follow Up By: Member - Ralph & Anne C (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 16:49
Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 16:49
Nick : I have not purchased it yet am still trying to find what it does and does not have. Plenty of
places want to sell them but most have know idea when you ask them if it has a built in GPS.
I have looked at the travellers app but cannot work out what is different between it and EOTopo200k, may be you can explain.
Thanks for replying to my questions
Regards Ralph
FollowupID:
871778
Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 21:23
Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 21:23
Ralph : I think you'll find that most of the modern day tablets would have a built-in GPS .
The traveller's app has a few good features like what's on the website
places tracks that sort of thing including tracking .
The traveller's app works best on the late model Android versions 5 <
Do plenty of research ask on the
forum plenty of questions before you jump in .
Cheers
FollowupID:
871791
Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 21:49
Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 21:49
P.S what sort of things were you wanting to do in regards to navigating ???
turn ~ turn , find locations , upload track etc
Because you can do it quite cheap . I also use viewranger free & easy to use but its from overseas and are very limited in maps , like OSM / topo maps
on my wish list is window pc/tablet ,a much greater range of programs ....
I guess it comes down to your budget ....
This might be something to ask on
forum ...
cheers
FollowupID:
871793
Follow Up By: Member - Ralph & Anne C (NSW) - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:07
Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:07
Thanks Nick I want to be able have real time tracking that will show me exactly where I am on the maps as I like to travel down dirt tracks that are of the normal beaten track just to see what is there so need to know exactly where I am as I travel along also leaving a snsil trail.
Have been using Memory Maps on my VMS GPS unit but want to up grade maps and unit
FollowupID:
871812
Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:52
Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:52
Traveller app , viewranger & others will do all this WITH OUT internet,phone coverage !!
The beauty of the traveller's app is that it has all the topo tracks as
well as information that other members have loaded into the website
places of interest
treks pictures .
The likes of ozi explorer and twonav etc programs like that are quite complex to use for the Average Joe . I like the kiss Theory . Lol
FollowupID:
871818
Reply By: Member - Rod N (QLD) - Wednesday, Jul 06, 2016 at 16:44
Wednesday, Jul 06, 2016 at 16:44
I think you will need a mapping software such as the Android version of OziExplorer to run the
EOTopo maps.
See this previous thread for some ideas
OziExplorer on Android Samsung Galaxy
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Ralph & Anne C (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 16:51
Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 16:51
Thanks Rod, will have a look
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Gary T7 - Wednesday, Jul 06, 2016 at 16:53
Wednesday, Jul 06, 2016 at 16:53
Just done a search for Samsung Galaxy Tablet Active 8 with 16GB WiFi and it shows it is gps enabled so you would not need Qstarz BT-Q818XT
check your handbook.
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201603/20160314113340736/SM-T360_UM_EU_Lollipop_Eng_Rev.1.0_160128.pdf
Page 8 and 20 show gps or is this incorrect . please correct me if i am wrong .
AnswerID:
602152
Follow Up By: Member - Ralph & Anne C (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 16:55
Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 16:55
Thanks Garry, I have not yet purchased the Tablet yet as need to be sure it will do all that I want it to do (getting closer) will
check the site you have given me.
Regards Ralph
FollowupID:
871780
Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 18:09
Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 18:09
Ralph, to double
check, go to the store and get the device
Settings>Privacy>LOCATION ON>Locating method.
Check that one option is GPS, WiFi and mobile networks.
Some devices may have a slightly different menu but it will look something like that.
Look for GPS in the option.
I am pretty sure all Samsung Tablets have GPS.
FollowupID:
871788
Follow Up By: Tony F8 - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 21:53
Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 21:53
Just look at the specs, can Google them, it needs to read AGPS/GLONASS enabled, if it says that you have a stand alone unit without the need for any additional GPS ad ons
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Rob69 - Wednesday, Jul 06, 2016 at 18:26
Wednesday, Jul 06, 2016 at 18:26
Hi Ralph
We have just purchased the
Exploroz Traveller App and downloaded it onto the Samsung Galaxy Tablet A 8 inch. Do not need extra GPS as it is inbuilt in the Tablet and whilst we haven't had it for long it seems to be sufficiently accurate.
The app is relatively new and David and Michelle are working hard to fix any problems that arise with it but so far we have found it to be able to achieve what we wanted it to do. The maps are detailed and as you have a 16GB tablet should be able to download the offline maps for increased zoom when out of wifi range.
Check out the review pages on the website for more detailed info on what the app can provide.
Cheers Rob
AnswerID:
602156
Follow Up By: Member - Ralph & Anne C (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 17:03
Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 17:03
Thanks Rob, do you mind if I ask how you have mounted the Samsung Galaxy Tablet Active 8 in your vehicle and also why you purchased the Expolreoz Traveller App and not
EOTopo 200k as I am unable to workout what the difference in them is.
Thanks Rob for your imput into my question it is most helpfull
Regards Ralph
FollowupID:
871782
Follow Up By: Member - Ralph & Anne C (NSW) - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:28
Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:28
Thanks Nick, your right they look great but yes a high Dollar tag
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Paul B (WA) - Saturday, Jul 30, 2016 at 11:26
Saturday, Jul 30, 2016 at 11:26
Wow Nick, they are very pricey aren't they. I have both the cheap windscreen mount from Dick Smiths for under $40, but it disconcerts my lifelong passenger by obscuring too much of her vision toward my side of the road, so I mainly use a floor mounted ram mount that I bought for something else a long time ago. Just googled them for a price and was pleasantly surprised they are still in the $130-odd range. See
Link
Cheers, Paul
FollowupID:
872570
Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Sunday, Jul 31, 2016 at 20:40
Sunday, Jul 31, 2016 at 20:40
Thats where your tax dollars are going ~ used by
police etc .....
I think there better quality than the ram but as mentioned very pricey ......
We're touring at the moment & wish i had something.
FollowupID:
872640
Reply By: Member - Rob69 - Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 18:10
Thursday, Jul 07, 2016 at 18:10
Samsung Galaxy Tab A
We just have it mounted to windscreen with cheap eBay suction cap. Really just a
test without spending too much money, seems to work ok so far. Re app vs maps, to be honest, no particular reason, probably comfortable with apps and how they work.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Ralph & Anne C (NSW) - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:35
Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:35
Thanks again Rob will contact ExploreOz and ask the same question.
FollowupID:
871815
Reply By: eaglefree - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 01:28
Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 01:28
For those reading here and are on a really tight budget my wife and I 6 months ago both purchased a Telstra 'buzz' telephone at a
post office for $59 each on sale $99 normally.
They have GPS. Almost finished our round oz trip and used it everywhere without issues.
Hyundai i30 diesel manual
11ft homemade van tare 450kg
9l/100km 5.5 when not towing.
AnswerID:
602196