Tablet strictly for GPS use

My coworker has 3 of these she said that she has hardly used from AT&T that they gave to her. Said for $40 I could have one.. It says they have GPS in them so I may give it a try.


https://www.google.com/search?sourc...64i46k1j46i131i20i264k1j0i10k1.73.1P4VuaeE0h8

 

Wolfgang, What was the tab you got? The Amazon link was dead. I use Gaia on my iPhone and want to use it as a hotspot to run a tab with Gaia instead. I don’t want to spend a bazillion dollars for an iPad mini.

Medlinaround, Did you try the Trek? I’m also looking at at Levono.

Thanks for your help guys!

 

you guys ever check out swappa.com for some decent used iPads/tablets? Ive bought used items through them with great results.

I also have a google Nexus tablet available if anyone wants it, i use my ipad.

 

Just FYI... Best Buy has a bunch of tablets on sale. I just picked up a Galaxy Tab A 10.1 for $160. The 7" version is $100.
I plan to use it only for offline navigation (LOCUS, offline google maps, OsmAnd+).

Cheers

 

Got a link for the 8”? I don’t see it at that price...

 

I apologize. The 8" is $120, the 7" is $99.
I will edit the post.
Thank you

Cheers


https://www.bestbuy.com/site/samsung-galaxy-tab-a-8-16gb-smoky-titanium/5000029.p?skuId=5000029

 

Thanks, no prob.

 

Where do you get your maps for the GPS? And what do you guys think is the best app to run for GPS?

 

I like Locus and Google maps myself.

You can download maps through the Locus and OsmAnd apps.

You can also use Google maps offline.
When connected to wifi, just bring down the menu on the left and select "offline maps". Then select the area(s) you want to download.
Then when using Google maps for that area you don't have to be connected to wifi or cellular data. It will use the maps you downloaded.

Hope this helps

Cheers

 

I'm new to the off roading world so this maybe a simple question, but what is the need for a tablet with GPS and maps with on board navigation?

Is it simply that the on board maps do not show desired routes/trails, and other maps cant be loaded on?

Thanks!

 

Pretty much your second sentence.
For example, GAIA maps will have all sorts of trails (e.g. hiking, 4x4) that will not be on the Entune unit. Also you can update the maps on your tablet/phone more frequently and, in most cases, free. It's also a more versatile tool than the stock head unit.
Plus, I also like the extra screen size of a tablet.

Cheers

 

Costco has a special on the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1. $100 off so a final price of $169. It's replacing my Fire 8 that I bought and then found out it doesn't have GPS

 

Check out the free app (android) called "HERE WeGo", it has free maps to download, and works really well as a GPS. In fact I like it much better than a standard GPS, since you can zoom-in or out and find alternate routes manually like you would on a computer.

 

Older Samsung Tab 4 with free GAIA app. Cost me total $40. It’s strictly my GPS for off road use and has yet to fail or lose connection. You don’t need anything fancy or cost a lot of money.

 

I mainly use Backcountry Navigator Pro. I have Avenza that I use if I need to reference a Forest Service MVUM, but I like BCN Pro better. BCN comes with a ton of maps, too.

Onboard nav simply is not designed for back country driving. It's meant to get you to a Starbucks. You don't have topo lines, you can't load your own waypoints and tracks unless it is a postal address.

The one time my onboard nav worked better than my phone was when I took the family to OR to see the total solar eclipse in 2017. Where we were camping had no cell service and I needed to find a place to see the 100% eclipse (we camped where it was only 98% - trust me, that 2% made all the difference!!). Well, without cell service, I used the nav in the 4Runner to find a "green square" (likely a park of some kind) in a town I knew we were going to. We got lucky and it was a public park in a small town (Vale OR).

In other words, the only reason the nav system worked better is because I didn't pre-load maps on my phone...

 

I'm trying to figure out Back Country XT. Same builders as BC pro, but with some subscription fees. I even donated to the start up, but am starting to think I'll just stick with BC pro.

 

I didn't know that was a thing. I tried the free version of BCN for a couple weeks. I think BCN Pro was like $25. Most expensive app I ever purchased, but easily worth it. No subscription fees, free maps, and easily imports and exports Google KMLs and GPX files.

I think so far my favorite map for BCN is the "USFS- Forest Service (newer)" one. That works really well, at least for where I've spent a good portion of my time (Sierras).