requirements for tablet navigation

[Jeep or Tacoma]

I am seeing a lot of tablets on sale and very reasonable prices. My questions are
1. Is there a tablet that has a superior gps built in to it.? By superior I mean better than most of the market tablets. Or is it better to by an after market gps receiver and attach it to the tablet?
2. How much memory is needed to cover large areas with topomaps...eg southern cal with good detail.?
3.Do any of the tablets work with google earth to track your position? Can you do a split screen on any of the tablets? say google earth and a topo map application using the same gps locator?
4.platforms i see apple, android and windows. Which has the most topo maps availability?
5 Durability? is there a particular tablet that is more durable than than the others?

as you can see with regard to tablets I am novice. so I need some input. all of your thoughts and opinions are appreciated. Thanks

 

[jimi breeze]

I'm running a 16 gig iPad mini with a Garman Glo GPS. Running a remote GPS receiver via Bluetooth means no dependency on cell coverage. Works for me.

 

[Comanche Scott]

Try it before you buy it.

knowing what I know now, I'd down load either Back Country Navigator ( for Android), or Gaia (for Apple) on your smart phone, and give it a shot first.
This will give you hands on experience to make a better decision for your own personal needs.
If you are running Android, there is a version of Back Country Navigator that is a free download. Works very well to start with.

I'm running a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 through Verizon, with Back Country Navigator Pro. The Note 4 is slightly larger than a standard smart phone, so the view-able screen is very easy to see.
This works really well, with or without cell coverage (gps does not rely on cell).
I have either a fiberglass top, no top, or a cloth top. Not sure how GPS reception would be with a steel roof.

I've downloaded the entire area encompassing the Mojave Road with Cal Topo, and loaded the track from Mojave Road dot com. It was only about 115MB total if I remember right.
Just uploaded 350MB USFS map that covered pretty much an entire National Forest.

I prefer Android, because it is clean, and doesn't require anything special be done to work. I think the difference in the three platforms is more personal choice though.
Lots of people prefer Apple, and some diehards even like the Windows tablets (although I think they all own Microsoft stock... lol)

I was thinking of a larger tablet, but that would require a larger mount, and take up real esate that doesn't exist in a Wrangler.

Good luck with your choice. :beer:

 

[ZMagic97]

I'm running a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, 7". It had a GPS built in and works well. Also, I use FoxFi on my phone to make a hotspot for updates and live feed. (My phone carrier is Straight Talk, unlimited everything for $50/month no contract)

Using no data maps has done fine. Google also released an update today to save map areas with direction, businesses...etc.

 

[kojackJKU]

I am running a Lepan mini. 59 bucks from bestbuy Canada now. I am using a Bluetooth usb receiver from ebay 20 bucks. Works great and accurate. The lepan mini is pretty well an ipad mini with a better operating system and priced like an pad mini should be.

 

[AFBronco235]

For those running Windows, MapsPro is an excellent mapping software using the most popular maps, including topographical and USGS maps. You can also save maps at various magnifications. It also runs its own road navigation function, though I admit there are still some bugs in that. I like to use it to map out and track trails I've been on.

I myself use a Surface 2 tablet mounted on a swing arm of my own design and run a Bluetooth GPS dongle. The memory isn't really a problem, since most tablets have either a USB port or a memory stick port for boosting memory. The larger screen allows for greater detail on terrain maps that allow you to map out trails.

 

[20DYNAMITE07]

This is great information, guys. Thank you all for sharing!

On the software side... what sort of features should one look for? I presume the ability to upload a GPX file, but is there anything else a total noob like me should be looking for?

Thanks again-

 

[Rattler]

For those running Windows, MapsPro is an excellent mapping software using the most popular maps, including topographical and USGS maps. You can also save maps at various magnifications. It also runs its own road navigation function, though I admit there are still some bugs in that. I like to use it to map out and track trails I've been on.

I myself use a Surface 2 tablet mounted on a swing arm of my own design and run a Bluetooth GPS dongle. The memory isn't really a problem, since most tablets have either a USB port or a memory stick port for boosting memory. The larger screen allows for greater detail on terrain maps that allow you to map out trails.

OK. I'm a tablet newb. I just picked up a Insignia "8 tablet running Windows 10 for $30 that is pretty much brand new. I downloaded MapsPro. I do not plan on connecting this via cell service. The main reason for picking it up was to maybe convert it to a GPS to replace my aging Garmin. A couple questions about it:

How do you load the topo maps like you did?
Where did you get the maps?

1. How do I get

 

[Joe917]

I am using a Samsung 4 with inbuilt GPS, Maps.me software. AWESOME!

 

[silvElise]

I switched away from tablets along time ago and went to a built in kenwood unit that supports garmin.. The great thing is I can load all kinds of maps and plot out trip before hand with many different map types like topo maps and jeep maps. Even have multiple different memory cards pre-loaded and swap them out.

If you are going android (still keep this app on my phone as back up and for hiking) I STRONGLY suggest "backcountry navigator" it is well worth the 12 dollars and you can cache the areas you will be in. A true GPS chip in the unit is a must!

 

[Rattler]

Does the Kenwood unit keep a track log?

 

[Comanche Scott]

ease of use

This is great information, guys. Thank you all for sharing!

On the software side... what sort of features should one look for? I presume the ability to upload a GPX file, but is there anything else a total noob like me should be looking for?

Thanks again-

This is a great question! :beer:
There is a subforum here that has lots of great info on the software side.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/forums/46-Mapping-Navigation-GIS-%28Software%29
My personal thing is, it has to be simple and intuitive to use. I don't go to new areas every weekend, and if I'm not consistently using a program, I forget how to use it well.

Highly recommend grabbing something, and giving it a go. Maybe over a weekend in an area you know well, or is easy to navigate. That will be a huge help to figure out what you want, and what you think is most important.