Android + gps + OziExplorer

As far as I could find out the nature of the implementation of the USB drivers in the Android prevents usb devices like GPS's from working. These are USB devices the provide a stream of data rather than something that has a filesystem like a flash drive.

However, I have manged to get Ozi working on a 10" android tablet with a Bluetooth GPS. Only extra you need is the android app "Bluetooth GPS Provider" by mobile-j.de.

The combination works very well. The Tablet I am using (Lenovo Thinkpad) also support a 64GB SD card which provids heaps of room for maps as well.

For mounting in the vehicle I use a RAM mount.

John
I've been running Ozi on an Aldi 10" Android tablet successfully for some time now, it does have an internal GPS though which doesn't help you.
I know of someone using an Android tablet with a bluetooth GPS successfully but have no idea what brand or type it is. From memory the actual tablet didn't have bluetooth but he managed to get it working with a dongle.

GPS Enabled Android Tablets

Probably not what you had in mind, but I know a lot of people have been caught out buying tablets that did not come with GPS functionality. I use an Ipad 3G which off course comes with GPS and I use Memory Map although I am not a serious off roader so I know everybody prefers OZE. I bought the Ipad because it supported some neat marine chart applications along with other navigational aids. It has been a tool I couldn't live without. If you have to have an Android based device there are tablets that include GPS, perhaps you could on-sell your device and buy one of these.

Hi John
I have a Samsung Galaxy Tablet, Tel$tra tablet and two android phones...all with built in GPS. These all run OziExplorer without any issues. The combination of features on tablets can be frustrating but not as frustrating as owning an iPad.
I have a Bluetooth GPS which I use with my laptop...this may be the way to go. I am surprised the tablet does not have a built in GPS.

John the issue you are facing is that Android does not support USB host mode until version 3.1 ( google "android 3.1 USB host support").

This is what USB GPS devices are expecting to connect to, like a PC.

Depending on your Tablet you may be able to upgrade to 3.1, look at the manufacturers web site. Otherwise bluetooth?

John.

The Android version 4 update is here

But a word of WARNING before you start.

The instructions are all in chinese as far as I can see, and no English, and as John R mentions, Ozi may not even have the ability to access an external GPS even if you get one going. You could brick your Tablet with that upgrade unless you really know what you are doing, and for no reason if Ozi can't find it anyway.

I would discuss this the 3.1 USB host issue with Des of ozi and see what he says. Otherwise your options are to possibly use a bluetooth mouse or possibly Androzic instead of Oziexplorer. Though I have not checked if that has the same issue.

Good luck.

Hi John

I'll start a separate reply to continue the conversation.

There is a faint glimmer of hope. I see from your link that the tablet comes with an OTG port. That is a type of USB port that does have the host capabilities that you need. But:
It doesn't have much power output (only 8mA is the base spec), so you would probably need a self-powered gps mouse, eg it's own battery. Would be good to know how much power your tablet could put out through the OTG port;
The OTG port doesn't have good driver support, so unless the makers have thought about connecting to a gps mouse, then it probably still won't work.
However, if you do have a battery powered gps mouse, then there's probably no harm in plugging it into the OTG port (you should have an OTG to USB adaptor) and seeing if anything happens.

I think with the O/S, all they're really saying is that they have put in their own modified version of Android, now version 4.0, on your tablet.

I suspect that even if you did manage to get the mouse gps to talk to your tablet, you would still need software that can select a gps mouse as the input. Neither Ozi nor Androzic provide this option, as far as I can tell.

Cheers, John

Maybe of interest for some readers of this page.
I try to use Androzic on a cheap(€ 80,) tablet with Android 2.2 for my navigation on board of my sailboat. The tablet don't have a GPS. So I use my handheld GPS(old Magellan with serial port!) and a serial to USB cable. Until now I only tried the NMEA-simulation from the GPS. It is working, after starting the Androzic program, a satelite-icon came up and the simulation has created a track.
BUT.. on board i have a AIS-receiver, with a multiplexor: the GPS NMEA goes to the AIS box and then together with the AIS NMEA to the serial port. In this configuration (with the same serial to USB cable) I dont get the satelite-icon after starting the program. The reason I think is: in the first configuration the COM-port has a baudrate of 4800 and in the second situation of 38400. On my laptop with another navigation program anything is working OK.

On my problem: No GPS & AIS Nmea, the programmer told me Androzic is using the Android GPS API. To check my system, I installed an app: Serial Port API sample v1.1 and this app gives me the possibilty to see a device "/dev/ttyUSB5"; I have set the baudrate on 38400 and:.. Yes this app shows me the NMEA from my multiplexor: GPS+AIS. So the Android 2.2 and his USB API is not the problem. It should be nice if Androzic also gives the device that is used for GPS-NMEA communication, and a possibility to set the baudrate.
Maybe I will have a deeper look into the Android GPS API later on, to see if I can solve my problem.