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Tablet strictly for GPS use

Discussion in 'Off-Roading & Trails' started by wolfgang123, Feb 19, 2018.

  1. Feb 19, 2018 at 10:06 AM
    #1
    wolfgang123

    wolfgang123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0752H47LF/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3RMKVRIA6Y6TG

    I am considering the tablet above to run GAIA GPS App. I don't plan on using it for anything else. I have been using it on my IPhone with great success but the screen is too small. And my phone heats up real quick with email (work) open, Spotify, and GAIA all running.

    I would like for it to have Wi-Fi capabilities so I can use my phone as a hot spot and get internet on the tablet to update the maps or something if i need too.

    Any other features on the tablet are just extra add-ons for me.

    Any Tech guys out there disagree with this tablet for my purposes? I can't justify an IPad as the constant updates make the dang things unusable. I really don't want to spend more than $200 as all I'm really looking for in a tablet with offline GPS capability's and Wi-Fi
     
  2. Feb 20, 2018 at 10:45 AM
    #2
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Never heard of the brand before... Will it work for what you need? Probably. But for the same price (or less), you can get a Galaxy Tab E lite 7". wifi, gps, all that stuff.

    7" screen should be more than big enough. I feel the 10's are a little too big, making placing them without obstructing your radio/hvac controls difficult.
     
  3. Feb 20, 2018 at 10:58 AM
    #3
    wolfgang123

    wolfgang123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I did look at this one:
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AZ8ERHI/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

    Pretty much the same thing as the Tab E. But i have read people are having issues updating to more recent version of the android OS. My concern is as GAIA contnuies to release updates they will be built around newer versions of the android and IOS operating systems. So i also wanted a tablet with the most up to date andriod OS
     
  4. Feb 20, 2018 at 11:17 AM
    #4
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    I guess that will always be a concern. But that's true even with $500 phones, where as they age, become less compatible with newer software, they run slower, etc...

    The solution for that really, is don't upgrade. If what you have currently works for you, don't bother upgrading. If there's a bug fix (a bug that bothers you, that is), certainly upgrade, but it's not always necessary.

    With devices that are constantly connected to a network, I can see a need for upgrading software for virus protection, etc... but with a tablet that is basically just a GPS nav system that reads gpx files and geoPDFs, IMO there isn't much of a need for the constant upgrades.

    It's not like GPS signals are constantly updating their OS, which requires all of us to upgrade as well just to communicate with the satellites. I have 15+ year old GPS survey gear that is just as accurate as anything from today.
     
    wolfgang123[OP] likes this.
  5. Feb 20, 2018 at 12:02 PM
    #5
    mrretep

    mrretep Well-Known Member

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    I've never heard of the brand either. And would definitely feel much more comfortable going with a well know brand like the Galaxy recommended above. You may even consider a used Google Nexus 7, built in GPS on all models and pretty darn cheap. Saw some on Amazon just now for $60-70.
     
  6. Feb 20, 2018 at 2:19 PM
    #6
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Yup...

    The requirements for a GPS nav device are pretty minimal, so IMO there's no reason to 1) get an expensive tablet with all the bells and whistles, but also 2) not to cheap out with a no-name brand knock-off just to save a few bucks. If it has gps, a decent sized screen, and enough internal memory (or external slot) to hold your maps, you'll be sound as a pound.

    Some of the more expensive tablets have "better" GPS location ability, but we're not landing on a flat-top here, we don't need any more accuracy than the 30 feet (usually less) we get from a cheep-o gps receiver, we don't really need glonass or waas.

    If you're a tech nerd and want the "best" of everything, by all means get the best, but glonass and waas don't generally mean the difference between not being able to find yourself on the map.
     
  7. Feb 20, 2018 at 6:14 PM
    #7
    Harvo

    Harvo Hanging On !!!

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    If you try to use your i phone in conjunction with the android tab.... it doesn't work as smoothly as you think it should. My experience went like this....

    Got free Gaia on the old (big) iPad. It was clunky. Got any offer to upgrade to the paid version for free for 3 months, so i loaded it onto my android. Problem was that it's a different app for Android. It didn't recognise the account i created on the i pad. Gaia offered to make it right after a few weeks, but it was too late. I found View Ranger and like it much better. Its pretty smooth on android.
    Just my 2 cents
     
  8. Feb 20, 2018 at 6:15 PM
    #8
    Harvo

    Harvo Hanging On !!!

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    Oh. I got a new Samsung tab 10 just for nav and browsing. It works fast and smoothly.
     
  9. Feb 21, 2018 at 6:00 AM
    #9
    wolfgang123

    wolfgang123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    thanks for all the feedback. I already purchased it. I will use it for a week or so. If it doesn't fit the bill ill send it back.
     
  10. Mar 4, 2018 at 11:52 AM
    #10
    reastiebeagle

    reastiebeagle Well-Known Member

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    Why not just look on Craigslist for a cheaper used IPad? To get the GPS it does have to have the ability to have cell service.
     
  11. Mar 4, 2018 at 11:59 AM
    #11
    koditten

    koditten Well-Known Member

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    About the only thing I would worry about would be how fast the battery goes flat.

    I don't think your truck charge port will charge it enough while in use. You might be able to use an inverter then use the wall wort charger. They seem to be a bit more powerful.

    As for a GPS, it will work fine. I use a cheap, 10" tablet running Back Country Navigatir app.
     
  12. Mar 4, 2018 at 1:18 PM
    #12
    wolfgang123

    wolfgang123 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I went with the china brand tablet in my first post. I have used it a lot already and im 100% satisfied with it.
     
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  13. Mar 8, 2018 at 10:59 AM
    #13
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    It seems what you are suggesting is to get a tablet that requires a monthly cell/data contract in order to get location information for off-road navigation. I don't know where you go wheeling, but 90% of the trails I drive have little to no cell coverage.

    Plus, if you need cell service to "get the gps", it's not GPS. GPS is satellite based (i.e. has world-wide coverage), and is free to use.
     
  14. Mar 8, 2018 at 12:44 PM
    #14
    reastiebeagle

    reastiebeagle Well-Known Member

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    It has nothing to do with the data itself, just the ability to have cell data. Ipads with cell capabilities have built in standalone GPS that can be used offline, much like an iphone. The ipads with wifi only do not have standalone gps

    Hope that makes sense...
     
  15. Mar 8, 2018 at 12:53 PM
    #15
    MedlinAround

    MedlinAround Failure is the result of letting setbacks stop you

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  16. Mar 8, 2018 at 2:07 PM
    #16
    reastiebeagle

    reastiebeagle Well-Known Member

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  17. Mar 8, 2018 at 2:13 PM
    #17
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    So you can't get an ipad that can use a stand alone GPS unless you get one with cell capabilities? I'm just going to assume you can get one without having to also pay for a data plan, but even still, you're paying for functionality (cell reception) that you typically won't use while off-road... That seems counterproductive for a dedicated off-road nav system.

    Most other non-Apple (wifi only) tablets don't need to have cell capabilities in order to access the stand alone GPS functionality. which is probably one reason they cost less than an ipad...
     
  18. Mar 8, 2018 at 2:17 PM
    #18
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    yep, that should work just fine. I've been eying this same one for the exact same reason. cheap, stand alone GPS, and a big enough memory to hold plenty of maps.
     
  19. Mar 8, 2018 at 2:20 PM
    #19
    reastiebeagle

    reastiebeagle Well-Known Member

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    I agree with all of that, some people just like apple products over Android; I Was just offering a quick suggestion.
     
  20. Mar 8, 2018 at 2:22 PM
    #20
    Gunshot-6A

    Gunshot-6A Prime Beef

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    Costco has a bunch of tablet deals going last I checked. Name brand Samsung tablets for damn near the same price as the one you posted.
     

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