Rugged, waterproof, bright light readable tablet to run Navionics for Android - options?

eddystone said:
I've come to the conclusion that the ideal solution for me would be the Sailproof 8" although there is a wait for an updated version. This is based on screen brightness, battery life, waterproofing and impact resistance. However they are located in EU and the prices quoted are net of VAT which means when it arrives the courier will charge both an unknown amount of import duty and VAT on value of item and all shipping charges.
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Doubt there will be duty and the shipping charges will not be high in relation to the value of the tablet. Would guess around 5-7% of the catalogue price - so £25-35 for shipping and handling. VAT you would have to pay in the UK anyway.
 
eddystone said:
I've come to the conclusion that the ideal solution for me would be the Sailproof 8" although there is a wait for an updated version. This is based on screen brightness, battery life, waterproofing and impact resistance. However they are located in EU and the prices quoted are net of VAT which means when it arrives the courier will charge both an unknown amount of import duty and VAT on value of item and all shipping charges.
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The Oukitel is also waterproof and impact resistant, is only two thirds of the price and is available now.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BJJW445T/r

- W
 
I've found that even with my Panasonic ToughPad, which is supposedly 1000nits IPS display, it isn't always great.

It seems that bright direct sunlight isn't actually the most challenging environment: I have had more difficult in bright hazy conditions.

I think that while a really good bright tablet might work well in 95% of the situations you might encounter, you just need to be careful that the 5% where it doesn't work well isn't also a really critical navigation situation.

I mostly use my tablets for displaying tactical info while racing, not for navigation in challenging situations.
 
Although focussed on hardware issues like screen brightness, battery life and weatherproofing, yesterday was a reminder that implementation of Android/software issues also pretty important. I had wrapped my Samsung in clingfilm to do the rather tricky bi-annual trip down the River Lynher from Treluggan Boatyard to the Tamar. Not being very good at memorising all the landmarks on the bits without markers I tend to rely on my saved Navionics route. At the most critical time I lost Navionics because a) Garmin wanted to connect to the server and b) reminders that my Norton subscription had expired! Somehow I managed to avoid running aground whilst turning off the tablet and restarting the Boating app to get all the crap to go away. I seem to remember criticism of Samsung for it's pre-installed bloatware but maybe others are just as bad?
 
Norton ??? Do people still use that ***** ??

Anything computer today has its moments ... seems the more they evolve - the worse they get.

I have read this before about Navionics wanting to connect to server ... but so far I haven't seen that on my Android. I'm sure iPad will do same as its not system dependent - it will be Navionics.
 
Lots of replies about brightness and readability of tablet type units, Has anyone got first hand comparisons with a dedicated marine screen.
David MH
 
In normal light conditions by plotter will be about the same brightness at 50% to my iPad around 80% as soon as the sun comes out especially from overhead to stern IPad at 100% starts to get hard to see contrast, chartplotter at 75% perfect clear. The real issue I’ve seen is tablets getting hot from sun and also battery hungry at full brightnes.
 
davidmh said:
Lots of replies about brightness and readability of tablet type units, Has anyone got first hand comparisons with a dedicated marine screen.
David MH
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I compared my Samsung Galaxy S5e against my B&G Vulcan in post #15. I could add that this was in bright August or early September daylight, probably lunchtime or mid-afternoon. I was probably wearing sunglasses. I might as well say it again for completeness - the Vulcan was very slightly brighter, but there wasn't much in it.
 
eddystone said:
. I seem to remember criticism of Samsung for it's pre-installed bloatware but maybe others are just as bad?
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I use a Samsung S2 and an A7 tablets and do not have a problem with them for navigation. I use the Marine Navigator app with Admiralty raster charts. They perform very well, the screens are bright enough and they have never let me down. Excellent tablets.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I was thinking of getting a waterproof case for my tablet and had a thought. Would a ziplock bag work i.e. the bags for sealing food. I gave it a try and it works a treat. I can read the display ok and can still use the tap and swipe functions. 100% rain and splash proof. Maybe waterproof but have not tried it underwater!!!
 
asteven221 said:
I was thinking of getting a waterproof case for my tablet and had a thought. Would a ziplock bag work i.e. the bags for sealing food. I gave it a try and it works a treat. I can read the display ok and can still use the tap and swipe functions. 100% rain and splash proof. Maybe waterproof but have not tried it underwater!!!
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I regularly use Clingfilm on cameras etc on my models ... had Waterplanes turn turtle and submerge camera ... clingfilm did its job.
 
My experience has been that screen protectors fitted to waterproof housings make the screen harder to read over time and when wet make the touch screen less effective. The last one I used was a not inexpensive Gerutek. Clingfilm in my experience works once and then throw away. It's probably paranoia but when I lost Navionics the other day I felt the clingfilm was interfering with something and I ripped it off.
 
Touchscreens are fine in warm weather ... but as temps and humidty change - they can become intermittent and eventually stop until warmed up again.

Its a common problem we have with our Camera Drones. Once cold weather hits - the touchscreen can play up. Its not faulty - its just the cold.

I have a good reputable quality NEXUS for my main drone ... it suffers near as same as my cheaper tablets.
 
Bit of a long post, but here are some of my personal experiences

Re Orca tablet

@eddystone Having just taken a punt myself on the new Orca Display2 (launched yesterday), I wanted to check you are up to date on your pricing just in case you were ruling it out based on the previous pricing of the Orca Display 1.

The new Orca Display2 retails at £899 all in, with a wireless charging mount for £249 I believe. You could save money on a mount by using one of the Rokk tablet mounts that Sailproof sell for less than £100, and just accept that you have to charge the Display2 via USB-C.

Although designed to be part of the Orca ecosystem, I have asked many questions of them and have been assured that it is a fully functioning Android tablet, and in no way restricted in use - this was important for me in case I don't get on with the Orca ecosystem and choose to revert to Navionics and the like.

I did a comparison with the closest competitor Sailproof SP10 tablet, and the pricing was basically identical if you assume that you will get stung for 20% VAT on import, it totals £900. I previously might have taken the risk on this, but recently have been chased by DHL to recoup import charges they paid on my behalf for a non-electrical item that I honestly thought they wouldn't be interested in. The SP10 does have some nice features - the removable batteries and the dedicated docking / charging station are really good. The Orca Display2 has fast wireless charging and 4 assignable hardware buttons. If you do want the Orca ecosystem functionality, you pay the extra £399 for the Orca Core - but that's separate and not comparable with the Sailproof offering.

Re using cheaper / less targeted devices

I am completely understanding of the many arguments for getting something cheaper, and do support that being a good option for people - so I'm certainly not making an argument that the *right* choice is an expensive one. I started with the same perspective.... and benefits / performance is so massively contextual based on your activity, tolerance, and priorities!

However... just thought I'd share some personal experiences from last year using my iPad Pro and Galaxy Tab with Navionics. + and - listed below for both.

+ I already had it, screen is beautifully sharp and clear, and it's powerful as heck. Loads of storage, Good connectivity.
- I put it in a waterproof case - it was simply horrid to use. The case screen didn't provide a good touch interface with the iPad. I had to give up on that.
- I tried it in an Aquapac type waterproof bag - that was also unusable.
- I suffered from sunlight readability issues during the height of summer. It was almost impossible to see without getting right up close. Anything that can provide an edge on that situation is useful in my view.
- During daylight it tends to run on full brightness - it is power hungry and only by using a high output USB-C battery pack can I keep up charging with battery drain.
- I had it shut down from overheat twice. It was located under the sprayhood at all times.
- I found the internal GPS with Navionics to be unreliable for some reason. It's a bit better taking a feed via the wifi NMEA network.
- It did end up getting rained on, of course not in a case because of issue 1.

So I decided I needed to try something a little more suitable for environment. Cue refurbed £80 Galaxy Active 2 purchase from Ebay. Bargain.

+ Rugged, so I don't worry about that aspect now.
+ Inexpensive so ditto.

- Performance is v slow, likely to do with being old hardware now.
- It struggles with memory and storage capacity - which actually means I can't even have my full set of nav applications installed on it. It is now simply a Navionics device.
- I have had more incidents of Navionics randomly hanging or crashing on it than I had with the iPad.
- Screen is low res - it's kind of ok for most things, but you do notice it
- Battery life is ok - power consumption is better than iPad.
- OS support is gone, so it's not being updated now.

So although the Galaxy is still the device I use by default because i don't have to worry about it - going cheap didn't really give me the result I wanted either,.

But for this season, where I'm planning the biggest cruise I've done on my boat so far, I actually just want to have something decent to work with. Lots of unfamiliar water and harbours. Do no want to be worrying about losing my charts at the wrong moment. Boat is just that bit too small to install full on chart plotters in bulkheads etc. and I like the flexibility of a tablet that I can easily move, stick inside, use down below, take home to update etc.

And that's why I am where I am with an Orca Display2 this year!

If you made it reading this far without falling asleep, bl**dy well done to you...
 
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MattS said:
.And that's why I am where I am with an Orca Display2 this year!

If you made it reading this far without falling asleep, bl**dy well done to you...
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I look forward to (hopefully) a review of the Orca display Matt, not sure there has been one on forum yet. If you do, maybe start a new thread for review so it doesn’t get lost within this thread.
 
Sailproof
I have used a Sailproof for 1900nm.
The first impression was very good.
But it is very slow. GPS signal is not stable.
It needs permanent charging with Navionics.
And the worst it is not waterproof while charging.
It is not sailproof in real weather.
Mine got damaged and repair on warranty was refused.
The service ist very bad.
I will return to an iPad with a waterproof case.
 
I love my Samsung activ2 latest version from London Chartplotters. Can see in sunlight. Made a holder with fabric and plastic window stuff, can move the screen and do everything through it. Fantastic service from Steve there. I p' exed my old one. About 165.00 if I remember right. With charts and other apps , chargers and mount for bulkheads
 
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