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6th February 2012, 01:46 PM #1
GPS on iPad or Android type tablets
Have been investigating using an iPad2 or an Android type tablet as a GPS when we go camping.
Whilst a "normal" turn by turn GPS works very well in cities and on higways and rural roads, once you get off the beaten track such as in the Vic High Country they are not really very useful.
Have looked at the Hema Navigator HN5i and similar units but they are all quite pricy for basically a single function unit.
Have seen people using iPads and Android type tablets, such as the Samsung ones, but don't really know much about these.
I know the iPad with WiFi and 3G has a GPS chip on board and they can use the Hema maps as well as the OziEplorer maps.
Does anyone here use these type of devices as a GPS and could they tell me more about them and/or point met to more information?
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6th February 2012 01:46 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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6th February 2012, 02:37 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
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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.Geoff
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6th February 2012, 02:41 PM #3
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.
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6th February 2012, 02:45 PM #4
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.
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6th February 2012, 02:49 PM #5
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6th February 2012, 02:50 PM #6
Found a link to make it easier Buy Elevation Topographical Maps of Australia, 4x4 Off Road GPS Maps & National Park Trail Maps - MUD MAP
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6th February 2012, 02:57 PM #7.
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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.
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6th February 2012, 03:09 PM #8
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.
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6th February 2012, 03:12 PM #9
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.
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6th February 2012, 03:17 PM #10
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6th February 2012, 03:20 PM #11
It's what I could find in about 5 mins. There are lots out there, the fun is finding them - reviews count too.
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6th February 2012, 03:33 PM #12.
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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
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6th February 2012, 03:57 PM #13
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.
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6th February 2012, 09:07 PM #14GOLD MEMBER
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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-Scott
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8th February 2012, 01:23 AM #15GOLD MEMBER
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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.
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