Will this tablet and GPS antenna be okay for Oziexplorer

Submitted: Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 08:59
ThreadID: 132945 Views:5062 Replies:4 FollowUps:15
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Firstly it is not for us an I know zip about tablets.

Question from a relative new to travelling Australia. She wants some navigation for remote no mobile phone areas. I gather that a dongle would be required for the GPS signal reception. I was thinking of an external one on the roof.

Will the tablet and GPS antenna at the links below be okay for Ozi navigation?

Phil

Pro Tab 7" 8GB Quad Core Tablet - Pink

GlobalSat BR-355-S4 Serial GPS Receiver
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Reply By: TomH - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 09:26

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 09:26
Well the GPS wont plug into the tablet as it has a serial connector and I havent seen a tablet with one of them.
A Bluetooth GPS like this should work with it.
Globalsat BT335
Ive got the 338 and it works pretty good.
The problem with Android tablets is that very few of them allow you to plug much into them. No USB or anything especially in the cheap ones.

I would be spending a bit more and getting a name brand one even if its second hand.

A lot of the better ones have inbuilt GPS and probably wont cost much more than that tablet plus the GPS and you only will have one article to carry and charge up.
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 09:58

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 09:58
Thanks Tom. Like I said - I know little about them, as you so graciously showed.

2nd hand is not a worry provided that it isn't that old that it has "pedal powered" batteries!!!

I believe that if it's cheap then there has to be issues or something missing. I don't like it but we need other opinions and options.

Personally, I am pushing for an in-dash unit and no wires or crap hanging around. We shall see. I won't even mention the one the rest of the family uses.

Phil
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Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:02

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:02
Q would the 8 GB be on the small side storage ?
I.E EO travellers app with offline maps .
Cheers Nick b

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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:13

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:13
I agree Nick. We have more than 16Gb of maps in ours. It also has to be Ozi and not rely at all on the internet.

What's this "I.E EO travellers app with offline maps ".

Are you saying this instead of Ozi. We don't have any "smart" mobile phone or device so I am not sure about and App when no internet. My apologies for appearing ignorant but we really are not tech savvy these days despite me working with computers since 1970. Gave them up when I left work years ago.

As Pauline would beautifully put it "Please explain"

Thanks

Phil
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Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:25

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:25
I'm a real amateur too but I would be looking at it 16 GB or greater with a built-in GPS.

I'm not sure what the ozi explorer cost but i think travellers app has good potential as I see with the back up to the website I can see this being a winner with all it's features .
Cost about $ 100 with the topographical maps
.cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:30

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:30
Note ..exploroz traveller app .
Cheers Nick b

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Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 11:08

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 11:08
Another P.S if you go with the exploroz app make sure you get androids version 5 have track loading to server issues.
I think i'v said that correctly.....lol
Cheers Nick b

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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:30

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:30
Thanks Nick. We all prefer the Oziexplorer program. You can get heaps of actual track files from other sites and forums. And we can share files and knowledge across the family. No need for any internet or mobile stuff.

Thanks Anyway mate

Phil
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 09:37

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 09:37
Hi Phil,
The tablet itself having an Android Operating System would be capable of running the Android version of OziExplorer.
However, the GPS receiver uses a serial port connection and I can't see one listed for the tablet.
The best solution of course is to purchase a tablet with a built-in GPS receiver and then you don't need to worry about syncing it and keeping it charged.
Perhaps you could consider investing a little more money in a better tablet.
I would consider something like this Samsung Galaxy Tab Lite to be an entry level tablet.
As well as an inbuilt GPS, it has Wi-Fi capability which you will find very useful as you become more familiar with the product. At $180 it is still affordable.
Bill


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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:02

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:02
Excellent Bill I will pass it on. I should get her to join Oziexplore herself.

New, a novice and not "out there" with the social media.

I disagree with buying cheap as a principle but we need comments like yours and Toms to back us up.

Thanks mate

Phil

PS We have a box in the dash mate. It really isn't for us.
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Follow Up By: Member - Rob69 - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:10

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:10
Hi Phil

Beware of the storage capacity of the tablets too. The Samsung that Bill is talking about has only an 8gb internal storage and whilst you can add micro SD card for extra storage, some apps can only use the internal storage.

Many tablets have inbuilt GPS (we have Samsung Galaxy Tab A) and the GPS works fine.

Cheers Rob
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:20

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 10:20
Thanks Rob Luckily Ozi can use an external sd card, But I don't know if an android version can configure the file system. I would prefer everything to be internal but the tablet will most likely be stored in the drivers door pocket and an antenna on the roof may be best. We shall see. It's a new motorhome and she does not want holes etc.

Re the SD card; That's a question for members who run an android version of Ozi. maybe someone is reading this and can answer.

Phil
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Follow Up By: TomH - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 11:42

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 11:42
I doubt you will get an Android or in fact any tablet that allows an external aerial.
If it is a new motor home the cost of a built in GPS would be a small part of the cost
There are Android car units for about $500 that would run Oziexplorer but you need to be very careful as to which one you buy as there a a lot of rubbish Chinese units being sold.
Have seen some horror stories on VW forums about them as the GPS for a VW is over $1500. Some have tried Eonan units which arent good and VMS are expensive and not as good as they think.
Pioneer make a good one but dont know if it would run Ozie
Advantage of a Tablet is if you go walking you can take it wih you. You can buy brackets to fix them to the dash or the screen on a truck so maybe that would be worth pursuing.
Here is a link to all of the Samsung Tablets which are generally considered the best of the type
http://www.samsung.com/au/consumer/mobile-phone/tablets/
If you change the filters on the left to WIFI and 8 and 16gb memory you will get all the cheaper ones that dont have cellular connectivity
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:41

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:41
Thanks Tom. We happily stopped her buying the ones we asked about. All comments good.

Some friends are advising her, maybe not with her aims in mind. Even that the motorhome was the right one for her. It isn't. She can't even take it to the Bungles. I wish that I had got involved earlier. But . . . . .

Tnx mate

Phil
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Reply By: vk1dx - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:56

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 12:56
Thanks all. Success. Not buying. Now looking at something to install in the dash.

Safe travels

Phil
AnswerID: 602207

Follow Up By: TomH - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 13:48

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 13:48
Why not just get a Hema. Is this the lady you were asking about a m/home for some months ago travelling with the dogs.
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Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 14:24

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 14:24
Mate! I wont even start with the questions about a generator!!! Hasn't even slept in it yet. Can't turn the gas on Arrrgggghhh

At least she knows how to find where she is with Ozi and display maps and follow roads on the map. One thing at a time. Okay.

Phil
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Reply By: Mikee5 - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 14:40

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 14:40
I bought a 7 inch GPS running Windows CE. I then bought Ozi Explorer for Win CE and loaded my own digital maps. GPS was under $100. It came with IGO street maps. By changing the navigation path I can use either navigation system.
AnswerID: 602210

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 15:28

Friday, Jul 08, 2016 at 15:28
Thanks Mike. I think she will go for the dash mounted device with Ozi.

The tablet and GPS antenna was NOT purchased - Luckily. Thanks to the responses above which were passed on to her.

Time will tell mate.

Phil
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