Android tablet as a cockpit repeater ?

[affinite]

I use OpenCPN on a small laptop mounted at the chart table.
To replicate the setup I happily used on my previous boat I was going to buy a NASA GPS data repeater and mount it in the cockpit instrument cluster but nin addition to the useful SOG,CTS,XTE type data that the NASA unit shows me I've always fancied a chart display in the cockpit and that set me thinking ...

Has anyone tried using an Android tablet as a PC repeater via WiFi
ie using an APP like Splashtop to simply re-display whats going on on the host PC?

I dont want to run charts on the tablet as I'm happy with my PC plotter and would want to follow routes setup on the PC.

I know there would be concerns about daylight viewability and of course waterproofness but a small device (say 7" £50 ebay) in a suitable case or even fixed enclosure seems a nice way of getting the display in the cockpit.

Any thoughts ?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I've used VNC to control one computer from another with great success - I successfully installed software on computers in Buenos Aires while sitting at my desk in Cambridge, so I'm sure it will work fine from chart-table to tablet

You need to have VNC working on both devices, and of course they need to be networked together; an ad-hoc wireless network should work.

Try HERE for the Android version, and THIS is the version I've used on a PC.

 

[laika]

A little out of budget for most people but I think this is what you want if you're concerned about daylight readability and waterproofness. Unfortunately at about a grand nobody buying one is going to be able to engage in the traditional sneering at ipad fanboys for being spendthrifts

 

[npf1]

I've been using a rugged sunlight readable windows tablet on deck using a VNC to connect it to the PC at the nav station. Works well.

BTW - I'll be listing one for sale on here as soon as I get around to it as I've just upgraded.

 

[affinite]

I've been using a rugged sunlight readable windows tablet on deck using a VNC to connect it to the PC at the nav station. Works well.

BTW - I'll be listing one for sale on here as soon as I get around to it as I've just upgraded.

Thanks all
npf1 - When you do could you put a note on this thread or PM me - I might be interested, although Id also be interested to know why you've upgraded

Laika - Nice kit but I'm a Moody owner not a Princess owner

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Android or Windows would do this butthe trick will be to get a genuinely sunlight readable display. Can't speak for Windows but in Android the Asus tablets with Super IPS are definitely better than other tablets I've seen. At the moment I believe the Asus Prime (TF201) and Infinity (TF700) have this. Apart from that the Super Amoled screens are good. The iPad 4 is generally considered to have a slightly better screen than the Galaxy Nexus 10 despite the Nexus's higher resolution - this is because the Nexus apears overbright and saturated compared to the iPad, which does deep blacks and colour tones very well. In this case though that may mean the Nexus 10 is a good choice for you.