Originally Posted by tigershel

Also check OsmAnd, seems to be one of the default app choices for OSM maps and is open source.

The free version allows you to download up to 10 regions, and it's quite user friendly.

Where I am now, the offline OSM vector map is a lot more accurate than Google maps, the only better map I have found is a country specific collaborative Garmin-compatible map.


I reckon the tablet could work fine in a 4-wheeler, I still prefer a GPS like the Garmin Montana (or the new Android one that uses the Montana hardware) for durability and ability to be used on the bike, hiking, and boating.

Another question: why a tablet? There are relatively cheap and powerful Android phones available with screens from 4.3" to 6.5" which are possibly more robust and flexible. There are probably more mounting options for the more standard sizes.
It could also provide a backup to your dedicated phone, assuming you take one. Most of the better Android chinaphones allow for 2 or more sim cards to be installed, quite useful if you are traveling in are where coverage varies by network, or where you may want one card with a data plan, and another with a call/SMS option.
You can also get apps that will allow the phone to serve as the GPS to a Bluetooth laptop or tablet.

Having said that, some of the phones I've tried have poor GPS reception, taking a long time to get a satellite lock, and also battling in mountains, forests and built up urban areas.

In that case I often use a bluetooth GPS tracker dongle/mouse instead of the onboard GPS. It seems as powerful as the dedicated GPS systems, and gets 25 to 40 hours on a charge.
It also works with my Android tablets (2.3 and 4.0) and my Windows laptop.

Another advantage with the bluetooth tracker is that it is small and easier to mount where it can pick up a good signal, letting you position the phone / tablet for optimal viewing and safety. It also helps keep the phone / tablet out of the sun, high temperature is a killer for many devices and batteries.

The tracker I am using is an older Qstarz BT1000Q , and I use Bluetooth GPS Tracker from Argotronic (IIRC) to connect it to my Android phone and tablet. That app seems the most reliable of the 3 or 4 I have tried.

Sent from my A898 Duo using Tapatalk 2

Originally Posted by moggy 1968

The apple IPAD mini seems ideal but not keen on going down the apple route due to the lack of third party apps, although some might see that as a bonus!

Originally Posted by Surfy

This works with any iPad with 3G and also with any iPhone.

Originally Posted by Walkabout

Personally, I keep the mobile phone strictly for making telephone calls and the occasional text - it's old fashioned, but I can't see me changing that for a long time, if ever.
My favourite nav device remains paper maps - again old fashioned - and I tend to prefer one device for each purpose, so I do have an old Garmin for navigation but I have become disenchanted with it I suppose; I do fully appreciate the value of waypoints and the associated accurate position fixes, but a lot of the time I don't need them - when I do, the Garmin is switched on, otherwise it tends to be off.

Originally Posted by moggy 1968

I've got an HTC phone at the moment, and I have to say, the mapping is utter rubbish and it takes far too long to sort itself out, it's a last resort. Also the screen is too small for me. Because of cataract surgery leaving my eyes no ability to accommodate for different distances the map has to be far enough away that I can see it with my distance glasses, over 60cm away, so a phone screen is just too small. A 7 inch screen is really the minimum but with a bit of experimentation I am thinking something larger may be nice to get more area on a page. The apple IPAD mini seems ideal but not keen on going down the apple route due to the lack of third party apps, although some might see that as a bonus!

Originally Posted by Badger74

So far I have downloaded a few offline maps from google maps and rode 200 miles today with the map displaying my area and whereabouts I was...this is basic stuff but it is the same as having a paper map in my tank pocket except I have the benefit of a little arrow telling me where I am

I think the possibilities with this are endless with the right software...looking forward to testing it further. ?.

Originally Posted by Walkabout

Nice! Hopefully it all stays dry in a deluge - my thoughts on that are simple. Pull over and let the downpour pass by; other than that (in normal rain), I would just put the tablet into a plastic bag inside the tank bag on the basis that the inside of any tank bag cannot be expected to remain free of moisture.

Which mapping have you tried so far?

Originally Posted by Badger74

I have a waterproof cover for the tank bag with a window, but for light rain I should be ok...I did notice that it does get abit warm though so will have to keep an eye on any moisture build up..

I've downloaded locus. There seems to be a huge wealth of options to go with it! For the trip I downloaded the area of Devon and Cornwall but this produced a file of 795mb (15 zoom)...on Google maps the same area was 160mb (2 seperate files but worked seamlessly crossing between the 2) so until I can get my head around locus I shall continue to use the basic Google maps and navigation app to move around as I'm getting the same level of detail but only using a small amount of memory space.

To be continued....

Originally Posted by Cody1771

.

The tablet fits perfectly into my tank bag and can be touched through the plastic. the only thing i can note is make sure you set it to prevent falling asleep and lock the orientation. i have power in my tank-bag to keep it topped up as the GPS just sucks back the battery.

Originally Posted by moggy 1968

well, took the plunge and bought a Fujitsu 10inch tablet.

Only used in the UK so far but seems a good solution.

Originally Posted by Badger74

I have a waterproof cover for the tank bag with a window, but for light rain I should be ok...I did notice that it does get abit warm though so will have to keep an eye on any moisture build up..

Originally Posted by Walkabout

In my short time playing around with the Android operating system Nexus it appears to do everything that the Apple products achieve, and, in general, the mapping is free. Nor do I need 3/4G network access, because there are loads of maps that work offline.