Navionics and Samsung tablets

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davidej

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Forgive me if this subject has been covered before.

My Nexus 7 has given me several years of good service but is due to be pensioned off. I have decided to stay with Android (despite using my wife's Ipad which works beautifully) as I can download again, without charge, the Navionics apps I have already purchased. I incline towards Samsung as the most popular make despite several cheaper alternatives i have seen recommended here.

I called into my local Currys and was told categorically by a so-called expert that none of their models had GPS and I had to have a SIM card model. I queeried this - I believe it to be true for Ipads but not for Samsung - and then telephoned Currys HQ who also said that it is is right.

I have googled the specs of several Samsung models and the all show GPS and Glonass. Can I safely ignore Currys advice?

If so, the choice of Samsung tablets seems endless. But the obvious ones seem to be a Tab A 10.1in 16 gb at about £210 or a Tab S2 9.7in 32gb at about £100 more. Given that ,other than navigation, I only use it for a bit of web-browsing, no movie watching or extensive photography, Is the more expensive model worth it?

Can someone more expert than me give some advice.
 
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I have bought the Samsung Tab S2 and Navionics went on no problem and works well. Mine does come with a 20GB p/m SIM from EE but I preload my Navionics maps so use the data card mostly to share out wifi so the kids can watch netflix and other mindless activities that keep them happy and me stress free when on the boat. Having said all this I think the TAB A will be just fine however for me the difference in price as it came with a mobile phone contract bundle was minimal
 
I have a Tab A and last year I tried Navionics on it for a fortnight's free trial. I'm no expert on these things but it seemed to work fine.

It seemed to significantly shorten the battery life.
 
I run Navionics on an 8 inch Samsung Wifi Tab and it's all fine, GPS included. I'd go for it. Worst case take it back and say you were told it had GPS if it turns out it hasn't! The more expensive models will most likely have a faster processor and higher resolution. Which isn't really necessary for Navionics, not even the HD version.
 
I'v just bought a TabA 10.1 (£159 Black friday deal, so maybe wait till Jan sales). It has GPS but not a compass so you can't use any compass apps. I have Marine Navigator and VMH charts which work well and you do get direction bearings from the GPS.
 
davidej said:
Forgive me if this subject has been covered before.

My Nexus 7 has given me several years of good service but is due to be pensioned off. I have decided to stay with Android (despite using my wife's Ipad which works beautifully) as I can download again, without charge, the Navionics apps I have already purchased. I incline towards Samsung as the most popular make despite several cheaper alternatives i have seen recommended here.

I called into my local Currys and was told categorically by a so-called expert that none of their models had GPS and I had to have a SIM card model. I queeried this - I believe it to be true for Ipads but not for Samsung - and then telephoned Currys HQ who also said that it is is right.

I have googled the specs of several Samsung models and the all show GPS and Glonass. Can I safely ignore Currys advice?

If so, the choice of Samsung tablets seems endless. But the obvious ones seem to be a Tab A 10.1in 16 gb at about £210 or a Tab S2 9.7in 32gb at about £100 more. Given that ,other than navigation, I only use it for a bit of web-browsing, no movie watching or extensive photography, Is the more expensive model worth it?

Can someone more expert than me give some advice.
Click to expand...
Both my Samsung Tabs have GPS in!
Stu
 
Just to let you know I moved from Samsung to Lenovo last year and was able to automaticly down load my apps including my Navionics Europe HD and it works fine.
Apps load once loged on to Playstore.
 
I've used a 10" Samsung (can't remember the model) successfully for 2 years, until I drowned it! Never had any problems with it. Got a 12" Note Pro now, which seems like a giant in comparison! Yet to use that one much on the boat, though seems to run everything fine.
 
Never ever rely on a retailer to give you the spec, always the manufacturer, and then only on the UK website since specs may vary country to country, and if you want to be absolutely certain give the manufacturer support people a ring to get the EXACT model number that meets your needs. As PaulRainbow says, Currys are sh1te
 
I got a Samsung tab A (or was it E) last year. WiFi only model runs GPS and Navionics fine. It's only Apple that don't have it built in. It compares favourably with iPad although slightly smaller but has slot for micro SD so can store massive amounts of stuff.
PC world staff seem more knowledgeable about their products but would always check what they say.
 
Yellow Ballad said:
I'v just bought a TabA 10.1 (£159 Black friday deal, so maybe wait till Jan sales). It has GPS but not a compass so you can't use any compass apps. I have Marine Navigator and VMH charts which work well and you do get direction bearings from the GPS.
Click to expand...

Compass apps work off the GPS.

It isn't a seperate compass chip / widget
 
Comrade Red said:
Compass apps work off the GPS.

It isn't a seperate compass chip / widget
Click to expand...

That's not right. My phone has a compass in it, my tablet doesn't. I have a compass app on the phone, it will install but not work on the tablet. If i lay my phone on the table and rotate it, the compass works and agrees with my handheld compass. The GPS compass functions that you may be thinking off will give you heading data if you are moving, but do not work if you are stationary.
 
PaulRainbow said:
That's not right. My phone has a compass in it, my tablet doesn't. I have a compass app on the phone, it will install but not work on the tablet. If i lay my phone on the table and rotate it, the compass works and agrees with my handheld compass. The GPS compass functions that you may be thinking off will give you heading data if you are moving, but do not work if you are stationary.
Click to expand...

Correct, the device will specifically need a magnetic sensor. Most recent tablets will but not all.
 
Well that caused me to do some googling - apparently some have a magnetometer, so not strictly a compass but compass apps use it, when available, to give more accuracy.
 
When my Nexus died, I bought a Sony Xperia as it is water resistant and so comes to no harm at the helm in the bracket. I have Navionics on it but it can also repeat the plotter display as the plotter has wi-fi

TudorSailor
 
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