Yet another GPS thread

[sixstringsteve]

So while I was checking out Rock Taco's tacoma I noticed his lowrance GPS in his truck. It was huge and looked like a serious unit. It even has its own antenna/receiver.

I've been using my phone and android tablet for GPS lately, and while I like them, the GPS radio (or whatever the thing is called that pics up the signal) is a little slow when you're traveling 30+ mph. Those who have travelled with me know that I usually miss turns by about 100 feet then I realize I'm off.

I've done a little bit of research about the handhelds like the garmins, but the screen is too small to glance at while driving (or stopping). Does anyone out there have a GPS they use that's big? Like ipad mini big or bigger? How about these lowrance once? They're expensive, that's about all I know about them.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I wish there were a way to add an external GPS antenna to my tablet, that'd be awesome.

 

[DOSS]

Your delay may actually be in a software lag in your phone, The Lowrance units ect are only running the GPS software and nothing else. Have you looked into ways of making your phone faster IE Root and move apps from your phone to your SD card, Removing bloatware etc. (can also overclock if you so choose) My phone used to delay like that until I gave it a little help and it got faster.. Also didn't you say you have been using Gaia? Try backcountry Nav it is a little faster program as well.

You could also pick up a 7+ inch android tablet (cheap for $100), put a custom rom on it with nothing but the basics and a external USB GPS receiver for pretty cheap..

 

[pELYgroso]

somebody needs to invent a GPS unit w/ no screen but instead a way to plug it into a tablet or ipad to view and control it. That would eliminate the cost of the large screen, and since most people already have a tablet, it would be convenient.

 

[DOSS]

I wish there were a way to add an external GPS antenna to my tablet, that'd be awesome.

There are a couple out there (depending on your tablet)... No time to search again right now though

 

[sixstringsteve]

Good feedback Doss, I need to try that.

I found this article as well: http://www.gps2003.com/android-tablet--enternal-gps-receiver.html

 

[Kevin B.]

somebody needs to invent a GPS unit w/ no screen but instead a way to plug it into a tablet or ipad to view and control it. That would eliminate the cost of the large screen, and since most people already have a tablet, it would be convenient.

Amazon has magmount GPS antennas with USB ports. I've always wanted to mount a small netbook to my dash and run one of those, but then I got an android phone and lost motivation.

 

[gijohn40]

Delorme has one as well that hooks to a net book or laptop and you can get the receiver and topo software on sale right now/.. I can't remember how much cause I just looked at the email real quick and deleted it...

 

[sixstringsteve]

This is so cool.

[youtube]Ogq70nL0ipM[/youtube]

And for those who say "I camp to get away from texting", me too. I'd just like to be able to send a message out if I'm in trouble. Like a spot on steroids. i'll need to do some more research to see if there are monthly fees.

 

[Unimog]

Starts at $10 per month for unlimited SOS and 10 messages.

 

[SpeedyVic]

I run Copilot Live on bot my Android phone and tablet. Both are rooted and de-bloated. I have no gps lag. Copilot also gives you the maps to preload in the event that you wander out of data coverage. It does not need to have a data connection to run.

Since I got it, my Garmin gps just sits in the closet until I travel to Mexico for business.

 

[DevinB]

You can get bluetooth gps pucks, you know.

When I went camping with you guys in the swell last spring, I used my iPad and MotionX. I preloaded the area with Bing topo maps and it worked awesome.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

You can get bluetooth gps pucks, you know...

x2, I started with a USB GPS receiver 5-6 years ago and then quickly moved to a bluetooth GPS receiver, running AllTopo on a laptop for the mapping. I pretty much abandoned the whole practice after a few years, too clunky for my needs, too distracting and there are few places in Utah you can't find with a small handheld GPS and a Benchmark atlas imo. I can understand the sentiment to have a mapping software running but I've seen few that keep using it after the initial wow factor wears off.

As for Lowrence, fabulous units if your fishing or racing but they seem to have the least benefit for the everyday outdoor user imo

Pics of my old bluetooth setup here:
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?43158-My-new-GPS-setup

 

[sixstringsteve]

Hm... ill have to test a bluetooth puck with a tablet, that might work nicely.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Hm... ill have to test a bluetooth puck with a tablet, that might work nicely.

They are really cheap too, $20-30 for a receiver that kicks out a NMEA signal. Then you need a software to process the signal.

 

[Tacoma]

. Then you need a software .

Just one?

I'll myself. Don't get up.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Just one?

I'll myself. Don't get up.

Beat it gypsy!

 

[Tacoma]

FWIW, Spence and I have been having pretty good luck preloading Google maps and just using Android phones. It's not like, super snazzy ultra GPS but it's pretty decent for functional use. We're only roaming like 5mi squares on the map though-- the file gets kinda large.

 

[Kevin B.]

FWIW, Spence and I have been having pretty good luck preloading Google maps and just using Android phones. It's not like, super snazzy ultra GPS but it's pretty decent for functional use. We're only roaming like 5mi squares on the map though-- the file gets kinda large.

I'm using Backwoods Navigator Pro to precache road and elevation maps, what are you using?

 

[Hickey]

I've downloaded some maps to my Garmin from www.gpsfiledepot.com

Lots of good maps there.