Charts and Sim card for Android

[Jcorstorphine]

I am thinking of buying an Android pad thingy. Amongst one of my justifications for buying myself this “toy” is that I may be able to use it as a Chart Plotter with its built in GPS.

The actual one I was looking at is the Viewpad which has the additional benefit that it may be able to accept my phone Sim card. My contract with “O2” has a web download allowance built into the price.

However I have a few questions.

How do I find out what charts I can buy which can be used with the appropriate App for an Android?

Second question is, will my 2G phone Sim card work on a 3G android?

Thanks

 

[NormanS]

I have a Sony Tablet (Android), and through "Memory Map" for IIRC £20 can download any or all 800 BA UK charts. I haven't downloaded them all, just the areas that I require. I also have all the Antares Charts, (£10 form Antares, and another £15? for operating software from Memory Map).

Works well, but I wouldn't use it as my main navigation system.

 

[markdj]

I would get the Nexus7, a far superior tablet and then see about getting Navionics or some of the other chart plotting apps, all of which download the charts for offline use. The nexus7 doesn't have 3g, but you can tether wirelessly to your phone for data.

 

[DaveRo]

Second question is, will my 2G phone Sim card work on a 3G android

Yes - if the device takes the same size of SIM. Some have micro-SIMs - you can ask your operator for one, or cut yours down with a sharp knife. Nano-SIMs also exist but I don't think any Android device uses it yet.

 

[Jcorstorphine]

Thanks

Thanks for the replies, bit more research required to avoid some of the pitfalls.

JC

 

[JackFrobisher]

Google

Check that the device you're going to buy is on the Google approved list. If it's not you won't be able to buy anything from the Android Market. You'll have to rely on non-Goggle approved sources, some of which are pirates.

 

[Searush]

Why would you want to use a 2G sim? Won't your operator offer you a free or cheap 3G upgrade? What is the benefit of keeping an old 2G one? Surely downloading charts would take all day!

 

[Jcorstorphine]

Why would you want to use a 2G sim? Won't your operator offer you a free or cheap 3G upgrade? What is the benefit of keeping an old 2G one? Surely downloading charts would take all day!

My phone is only 2G and dont want to change it. Not sure if O2 will give me a 3G card, but I will ask.

Thanks

 

[ghostlymoron]

Why would you want to use a 2G sim? Won't your operator offer you a free or cheap 3G upgrade? What is the benefit of keeping an old 2G one? Surely downloading charts would take all day!

Best bet is to download when you are in range of free wifi which you can get at Costa, Little Chef, Berry's et al. Have a cup of coffee while you download. I have a 3G phone but never use it as such.

 

[DaveRo]

Why would you want to use a 2G sim? Won't your operator offer you a free or cheap 3G upgrade? What is the benefit of keeping an old 2G one? Surely downloading charts would take all day!

'2G SIM' and '3G SIM' are misnomers.

A recent SIM (i.e. anything made in the last 10years - which covers all O2 SIMs) will work with both 2G and 3G. I use a Virgin Mobile SIM I was given in about 2003. When, years later, I got a 3G phone it worked. When I got a dongle it worked in that too. If I cut it down (tricky, because it has a big contact area) it would work in an iPad.

Edited to add:

If you tether your tablet to your 2G phone then it will, of course, only transfer data at 2G speeds; exactly what speed will depend on the phone and the operator.