Thread: GPS on iPad or Android type tablets

Hi Fred,
I've certainly found my Android phone (Samsung Galaxy II) to be as accurate as my GPS (Aldi). Not sure if Tasmania qualifies as 'off the beaten track' though.
I think it comes down to the quality of the maps, find the best/affordable maps and see what they run on.
There is some advantage of having a separate antenna for the GPS but there's also the argument of only having to carry a single, multi purpose device.

G'day Fred, there's an iPad ap called Mud Map - Outdoor Off Road GPS. You'll find it in the iTunes store. Maps are stored so if you don't have a connection via WiFi it doesn't matter.

Copying what's written up about it, " Simply brilliant! Smart Topo (whatever the heck that is) is highly detailed" - Australian Geographic Outdoor. "Besy GPS app" - Australian Hunter.

Thanks Geoff, one of the reasons I am investigating another GPS is that not only can't the Hema off-road maps be used on my Aldi GPS, the Aldi has actually stopped working!

Although I have the warranty I can't locate the original receipt.

The Hema maps are somewhat different from the turn by turn type of GPS navigation, such as on our Aldi units, you actually get a normal map on the screen and it shows your location on it. They show 4wd only tracks as well as heaps of points of interest.

You can also get the complete Camps Australia 6 book of free camping spots to load on our GPS.

I could buy a generic Chinese 7" GPS off Ebay that runs WinCE and use that, and I still may. Some of these units have Bluetooth, reversing camera input and a heap of other functions as well and most can actually run the Hema maps etc. Most sell for around the $100 mark.

The idea of using an iPad or similar came about as these could be used to replace my notebook whilst travelling and they offer a biger screen.

Originally Posted by Waldo

G'day Fred, there's an iPad ap called Mud Map - Outdoor Off Road GPS. You'll find it in the iTunes store. Maps are stored so if you don't have a connection via WiFi it doesn't matter.

Copying what's written up about it, " Simply brilliant! Smart Topo (whatever the heck that is) is highly detailed" - Australian Geographic Outdoor. "Besy GPS app" - Australian Hunter.

Thanks Chris, my biggest problem is that I don't understand the Apple world, or indeed the Android world, don't know anything about iTunes either!

So I am trying to gather as much info as possible to make an informed decision.

I'll have a look at Mud Maps, thanks.

Found a link to make it easier Buy Elevation Topographical Maps of Australia, 4x4 Off Road GPS Maps & National Park Trail Maps - MUD MAP

Originally Posted by Waldo

G'day Fred, there's an iPad ap called Mud Map - Outdoor Off Road GPS. You'll find it in the iTunes store. Maps are stored so if you don't have a connection via WiFi it doesn't matter.

Copying what's written up about it, " Simply brilliant! Smart Topo (whatever the heck that is) is highly detailed" - Australian Geographic Outdoor. "Besy GPS app" - Australian Hunter.

I don't understand how can it work out where it is using wifi. My understanding is these systems cannot work out position unless they triangulate with telephone towers. With phone based GPS I always worry about the cost of running something like this. The sorts of users who make the most of this are unlimited data users but they never know how much data they use.

Originally Posted by BobL

I don't understand how can it work out where it is using wifi. My understanding is these systems cannot work out position unless they triangulate with telephone towers. With phone based GPS I always worry about the cost of running something like this. The sorts of users who make the most of this are unlimited data users but they never know how much data they use.

Bob, that was my first reaction too! Hoewver the iPhone, iPad and Android tablets have a GPS receiver chip bult in and work with internaly stored maps, eg those you get from Hema, Mud Map, VMS ad a host of other providers. They don't use 3G or WiFi, it is just that the GPS receiver chip is only on those models that have 3G and WiFi, which is where the confusion arises

I am just starting out on this journey of discovery so that is about the extent of my knowledge.

Have a read of the MudMap info in Waldo's link above.

iPads etc. including the phones have in built GPS tracking via satelite etc. A normal phone doesn't need WiFi (such as mine) and it triangulates with phone towers to know what location I'm in.

Originally Posted by Waldo

Found a link to make it easier Buy Elevation Topographical Maps of Australia, 4x4 Off Road GPS Maps & National Park Trail Maps - MUD MAP

Their blurb sounds very good, but their feedback in iTunes is not so good

It's what I could find in about 5 mins. There are lots out there, the fun is finding them - reviews count too.

OK thanks for the update.

I have a question for all you GPS gurus. I have a 3GS iphone and Garmin Nuvi 3750 and am heading to Europe twice this year. What would you recommend, Garmin for iPhone, or buy the Europe maps for my 3750 ? if I could reduce the amount of gadgets I have to carry I would be prepared to tolerate a reduced nav performance

Originally Posted by BobL

OK thanks for the update.

I have a question for all you GPS gurus. I have a 3GS iphone and Garmin Nuvi 3750 and am heading to Europe twice this year. What would you recommend, Garmin for iPhone, or buy the Europe maps for my 3750 ?

Whilst I don't have Garmin on my iPhone, I do have Tom Tom on both my iPhone 4 and iPad 2 and they work brilliantly. Would have no hesitation in recommending if for iPhone 4 and upwards as I have heard that the 3GS has problems and shuts down constantly.

So it may pay for you to do a bit more research in regards to compatibility with the 3GS iPhone.

Hi Fred, I'm probably a bit late on this however for Apple I'd recommend Mud Map or VMS 4x4. You can find them on iTunes app store, just click the following link which will take you there:

iTunes Off Road GPS Apps.

Hope this helps

Phone based GPS units have 'regular' GPS functions that use satelites only, and 'A-GPS' or Assisted GPS, which uses phone towers and the data capacity of your phone. You can turn A-GPS off on all phones I have looked at, so you don't end up with horrendous data charges on your phone bill, and the regular GPS features still work fine.

The 'advantage' of A-GPS is that it can usually give you a fix in densly built up areas like major CBD's where the GPS chip cannot find more than 2 satellites due to high buildings or other interference - regular GPS needs 3-5 or more satellites 'visible' to the reciever.

As for the tablet (I Pad and Android) versions, you will probably find that the 'free' versions ( such as Google Earth) all need a data connection to down load detailed maps which they then don't save (at least for the ones I have looked at), where the more expensive GPS programs allow you to download and save maps.

A free Android app. that is lots of fun is Google Sky - a star map application that shows where the stars & planets would be if you could see them thru the ground, walls or ceiling. No use for ground navigation but fun to whip out at parties.