Cheap android tablet

TSB240 said:
I have been using one of these dual boot hybrid mini pc/tablet things for a number of years.
http://vi.raptor.ebaydesc.com/ws/eB...522&category=171485&pm=1&ds=0&t=1572347627595
This gives you the option of using either Navionics or Open CPN. I have tended to default to OPEN CPN for more serious stuff as the AIS screen presentation is far better than the mickey mouse offering that Navionics have introduced. IMHO their current AIS display is pretty meaningless for even basic collision avoidance. Navionics should as a minimum introduce a basic radar display for it to be of any use.
Click to expand...
Or if you have the bulkhead space a Cello smart TV - Plug in a USB GPS dongle, load OpenCPN and away you go :)
 
Seajet said:
I know you mention Android but as a tip for others - don't get a s/h MS Surface tablet as I did; it needs a special power lead with 230volts or an inverter, so is useless on a 12v socket...:rolleyes:
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Through my work I have evaluated many variations of the MS Surface - and they all perform very badly. So much so that they are no longer offered as an option for replacing more conventional laptops.
 
Baggywrinkle said:
If you use WiFi / 3g then the possibility exists that the tablet will use ONLY WiFi to locate you. Obviously WiFi names can change and location of equipment can move - which when entering a harbour could result in a false position.
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By WiFi, do you mean a mobile hot-spot working off a mobile phone next to the tablet?

Surely nobody navigates by floating along hoping to come within range of a fixed WiFi signal?

I have close to zero understanding of touch-screen navigation, so don't waste too many words explaining! :encouragement:
 
Ok so I am going to get a mid range android tablet such as Huawei. I’m a bit concerned that battery life on the cheapest ones may be poor. And I’m going to experiment by using OpenCPN The idea is to have two separate independent units/Systems/platforms, partly out of interest and partly for resilience. The iPad/Navionics I’ve been using for a few years now will replace my poor dead SH plotter, in a decent waterproof case in the cockpit, and the new tablet will live below. I’ve also got a GPS enabled phone, a VHF with onboardGPS, AIS, paper charts and a fabulous sense of direction. Should be ok
 
dancrane said:
By WiFi, do you mean a mobile hot-spot working off a mobile phone next to the tablet?

Surely nobody navigates by floating along hoping to come within range of a fixed WiFi signal?

I have close to zero understanding of touch-screen navigation, so don't waste too many words explaining! :encouragement:
Click to expand...

When an android device has no GPS reception, or very poor reception, it uses an online database of known WiFi hotspots and access points to try and guess where it is. Do you remember the story of Google Maps cars collecting WiFi info as they drove along?

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2010/may/15/google-admits-storing-private-data

As these Android devices are usually phones or tablets, they need to be able to use location based services indoors where there is no GPS reception, so their positioning algorithms use all sorts of data sources to try and figure out where they are.

On a boat, close to a populated area or a shore, they will do the same unless you switch the device to GPS only. The standard form of positioning may deliver unwanted results - good enough for an online location based service, but not good enough for reliable pilotage.
 
Baggywrinkle said:
On a boat, close to a populated area or a shore, they will do the same unless you switch the device to GPS only. The standard form of positioning may deliver unwanted results - good enough for an online location based service, but not good enough for reliable pilotage.
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I see, (or I think I do!), thanks.
 
dancrane said:
I see, (or I think I do!), thanks.
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... This means Android devices will report your position wrong when they see your boat WiFi or the WiFi of another boat they will put you in the position where Google last observed the boat. That can be months out of date.
WiFi networks which move around such as on boats should always have "_nomap" at the end of the network name. This will force Google to ignore them when calculating the position.
 
gdallas said:
Ok so I am going to get a mid range android tablet such as Huawei. I’m a bit concerned that battery life on the cheapest ones may be poor. And I’m going to experiment by using OpenCPN
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Grrrrr just had a thought. Weren’t Huawei banned from using Android OS? I seem to remember this means they have to use their own proprietary software. So will OpenCPN work? Does anyone here know?
 
Baggywrinkle said:
I would say it is better to set the tablet positioning to GPS Only. If you use WiFi / 3g then the possibility exists that the tablet will use ONLY WiFi to locate you. Obviously WiFi names can change and location of equipment can move - which when entering a harbour could result in a false position. If you use GPS only then you at least know how good your fix is and can act accordingly.
Click to expand...

I am a dunce in these matters so can you tell me how to to ensure that the tablet positioning is set to GPS Only?

I have a Samsung Galaxy tablet similar to yours, with the Navionics app on it.

That's a very neat installation you have made, by the way.
 
Poignard said:
I am a dunce in these matters so can you tell me how to to ensure that the tablet positioning is set to GPS Only?
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Turn the WiFi off, or put it in aeroplane mode. It'll save the battery as well.

If you're using WiFi for AIS or some such then go to the location settings. Swipe down, press the cog thingy and type location into the search bar. Switch the mode to device only.

The usual caveats apply, never plan to use only one source of position information, open your eyes as well.
 
If you are using OpenCPN, when you fire the App up it does a GPS device check. If your tablet/phone internal GPS is turned off, it gives you a warning that the device has been detected but is off so goto settings and turn it on. If you continue with it off OpenCPN goes into N up mode and the Sat indicator is a red circle. With GPS on, when position is established the Sat indicator shows green vertical bars, so you can be sure that your position is coming from GPS.
For me, compared to OpenCPN, nearly all the other Nav Apps are somewhat lacking.
I always have the Google location service turned off (I don't like being snooped on :) ).
 
Poignard said:
I am a dunce in these matters so can you tell me how to to ensure that the tablet positioning is set to GPS Only?

I have a Samsung Galaxy tablet similar to yours, with the Navionics app on it.

That's a very neat installation you have made, by the way.
Click to expand...

Thank-you ....

On my mobile phone (Galaxy S8 running Android 9) ... it's here.

Settings > Biometrics and security > Location > Improve accuracy

Turn WiFi scanning and Bluetooth scanning off.

... or on my Tablet (Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 running Android 7) it's here ...

Settings > Connections > Location > Locating Method

Select Tablet only.

Hope this helps. Don't have my actual boat Tablet with me at the moment. Will update post if it is different.
 
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Plum said:
Nice to know. Which model of Huawei do you have and how does the screen in sunlight compare with the Galaxy?

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
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It's a Mediapad T3 10. To be honest, I can't remember what the Galaxy looked like in sun, but the Huawei is very clear, although obviously reflection can be an issue. The battery life is much better, though.
 
PlanB said:
It's a Mediapad T3 10. To be honest, I can't remember what the Galaxy looked like in sun, but the Huawei is very clear, although obviously reflection can be an issue. The battery life is much better, though.
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Apparently the more modern amoled screens aren't as good in sunlight as the older ips lcd screens. Although I can't say personally.
 
I've used "matt" finish screen protectors to reduce glare/reflection, the trade-off is you lose a little in definition. FWIW I'm still using an old Nexus tablet for navigation, god knows what version of Android it's got but it's only used for navigation & works fine so doesn't really matter...
 
V1701 said:
FWIW I'm still using an old Nexus tablet for navigation, god knows what version of Android it's got but it's only used for navigation & works fine so doesn't really matter...
Click to expand...

I am too, the only problem is that the battery runs down faster than it charges on full brightness.
 
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