Jsilva3071
New member
Cool, so it sounds like a GPS receiver will be needed for sure when out of cell range... Thanks for the info...
Google Nexus 7 tablet
- Thread starter haven
- Start date
jarmentrout
Observer
The nexus 7 GPS is good and works without cell reception. I use back country navigator up north. Needs some ui tweaks to be better but it works.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
The Nexus 7 seems like an ideal size for a nav unit, just big enough to be useful, but not too big to be cumbersome, as well as reasonably priced for the size. However, I recently upgraded my phone to a Samsung Galaxy Note II, which has a nice big (for a phone) bright 5.5" screen, with 1280x720 resolution. So, while interested in the nexus 7, I didn't feel the additional 1.5" of diagonal screen was worth it, and jumped straight to the Nexus 10, which has an awesome 10.1" 2560 x 1600 (300 ppi) screen. While the N10 might be a bit too cumbersome for in-vehicle nav, it suits my everyday use better as I find a 10" hi-res screen much more suitable for web surfing, Netfllix etc. As far as internet connectivity, my Samsung Galaxy Note II has AT&T LTE, as well as mobile hotspot & tethering w/ 4GB data plan, and I also have a Verizon Jetpack 4620L LTE dedicated mobile hotspot w/ 10GB data plan, that has built-in GPS hardware (GPS position can be shared via WiFi), and a provision for an external antenna using a mini port on the side. So I can use either my Samsung Galaxy Note II or N10 on either AT&T LTE or Verizon LTE.
I already had my Galaxy Note II & Verizon Jetpack 4620L mobile hotspot for work anyway (I work at client premises, and like private internet access without having to rely on client guest WiFi), so the only additional outlay was for the N10, which I have got a ton of use out of already for general web surfing, Facebook, Netflix etc., so has already proven its worth for me, even before exploring using it for nav. I already have a double-Din head unit with XM radio & GPS on 6.1" display (and ability to input GPS co-ordinates in 1 format), so I don't really need additional nav capabilities for on-road use, but am interested in using my Android devices for offroad use. I have downloaded BackCountry Nav Pro to both my SGNII & N10, and have played around with it on both, but have yet to use it in actual use. MY SGNII has a microSD card slot, to which I added a 64GB microSD card, so no storage issues there. And, even if I wanted to store a bunch of music & movies, I could always purchase a second microSD card for those, so I have one dedicated to storing topo map tiles. I bought the 32GB N10, which is the maxed out version, but doesn't have a microSD card slot (unfortunate, but I think Google & others trying to push all data storage into the cloud are the reason for this). However, soon pogo chargers will be available for the pogo charging port, and then I'll be able to use the microUSB port on the N10 as a USB host port (using USB On-The-Go, USB-OTG), combined with a microUSB to USB dongle, and then I can connect as much data as I can fit on a USB thumb drive(s) to the microUSB to USB dongle, at which point my storage options are pretty much limitless. It's not quite as elegant as having built-in storage, or a microSD card slot that can take high-capacity microSD cards, but with a suitable microUSB to USB dongle (or perhaps even a 90 degree right angle microUSB adapter, if such a thing exists), it could probably be made to look pretty neat. The only question I have at the moment is whether to try mounting my N10 on my custom angled mid console between my armrest center console & dash (I think I'll just have enough space for it with some finagling & rearranging of switched on my custom mid console. The advantages are it wouldn't block the windscreen at all, wires would be neater & easier to hide, and it would be out of sight, so less of a potential target for thieves (though normally I'd be using it in the house, so would only be in the truck for offroad trips & easily removable anyway if parking in dodgy areas); the disadvantage is that it would require me to look down (momentarily taking my eyes off the road to view it). However, given that I already have built-in GPS in my double-DIN head unit, in my case I don't think that's much of a disadvantage, as offroad speeds are likely to be much lower & would mostly be used for trail breadcrumbing & occasional use when stopped to verify position and check surrounding terrain & route. The fun part is that events like the Baja 500 & 1000, and King of the Hammers (KoH) etc., which are relatively near me, have started to post Google Earth *.kml files of their routes (with checkpoints etc.) in recent years, so combining e.g. an Android tablet + BC Nav Pro + KML files + offline topo maps + built-in GPS provides for some exciting possibilities.
I already had my Galaxy Note II & Verizon Jetpack 4620L mobile hotspot for work anyway (I work at client premises, and like private internet access without having to rely on client guest WiFi), so the only additional outlay was for the N10, which I have got a ton of use out of already for general web surfing, Facebook, Netflix etc., so has already proven its worth for me, even before exploring using it for nav. I already have a double-Din head unit with XM radio & GPS on 6.1" display (and ability to input GPS co-ordinates in 1 format), so I don't really need additional nav capabilities for on-road use, but am interested in using my Android devices for offroad use. I have downloaded BackCountry Nav Pro to both my SGNII & N10, and have played around with it on both, but have yet to use it in actual use. MY SGNII has a microSD card slot, to which I added a 64GB microSD card, so no storage issues there. And, even if I wanted to store a bunch of music & movies, I could always purchase a second microSD card for those, so I have one dedicated to storing topo map tiles. I bought the 32GB N10, which is the maxed out version, but doesn't have a microSD card slot (unfortunate, but I think Google & others trying to push all data storage into the cloud are the reason for this). However, soon pogo chargers will be available for the pogo charging port, and then I'll be able to use the microUSB port on the N10 as a USB host port (using USB On-The-Go, USB-OTG), combined with a microUSB to USB dongle, and then I can connect as much data as I can fit on a USB thumb drive(s) to the microUSB to USB dongle, at which point my storage options are pretty much limitless. It's not quite as elegant as having built-in storage, or a microSD card slot that can take high-capacity microSD cards, but with a suitable microUSB to USB dongle (or perhaps even a 90 degree right angle microUSB adapter, if such a thing exists), it could probably be made to look pretty neat. The only question I have at the moment is whether to try mounting my N10 on my custom angled mid console between my armrest center console & dash (I think I'll just have enough space for it with some finagling & rearranging of switched on my custom mid console. The advantages are it wouldn't block the windscreen at all, wires would be neater & easier to hide, and it would be out of sight, so less of a potential target for thieves (though normally I'd be using it in the house, so would only be in the truck for offroad trips & easily removable anyway if parking in dodgy areas); the disadvantage is that it would require me to look down (momentarily taking my eyes off the road to view it). However, given that I already have built-in GPS in my double-DIN head unit, in my case I don't think that's much of a disadvantage, as offroad speeds are likely to be much lower & would mostly be used for trail breadcrumbing & occasional use when stopped to verify position and check surrounding terrain & route. The fun part is that events like the Baja 500 & 1000, and King of the Hammers (KoH) etc., which are relatively near me, have started to post Google Earth *.kml files of their routes (with checkpoints etc.) in recent years, so combining e.g. an Android tablet + BC Nav Pro + KML files + offline topo maps + built-in GPS provides for some exciting possibilities.
Last edited:
Jsilva3071
New member
Nice write-up... I'm leaning toward an Android Tablet with a GPS reciver, seems the most economical. I have the N7, but I may go up to the N10 for more memory.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk
Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk
spikemd
Explorer
I currently have a galaxy s3 and am looking at getting a note2. I would like to use it as an offline gps unit since I dont have an unlimited data plan nor is there cell coverage on the trails.I think the screen size would be great for a multi-use device. I was going to get a nexus7 but with the note2 it almost seems redundant.
I use Backcountry Navigator on my Galaxy Nexus, its so crisp with a 720p screen. I imagine that a Galaxy Note device is well suited for this application. I find my Galaxy Nexus to be well suited for it, definitely a lot of info that fits on the screen. Way better than my old Garmin. But, let me also point out that all these devices don't have things like WAAS built in, so if you have to cold start in dense forest, it will take a lot more effort. Their accuracy isn't as great, but definitely more than adequate.
RubiconGeoff
Adventurer
I'm looking forward to playing with my Nexus 7 in "real life" out on the trail with Backcountry Navigator and Google Earth, but so far just playing around with it at home I like it so much more than my Garmin Oregon and Apple iPhone. It's a much more usable screen size, its much more powerful, and it's a heck of a great buy.