Samsung Tablet Tab 4 - any good as a chartplotter?

Sorry, I haven't a clue. I wouldn't dream of using a tablet as a chartplotter. Give me a proper, dedicated, waterproof chartplotter any day. When you really need it, you need to know it'll work.
 
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC said:
There are two versions, the one with WiFi and the other with 4G. Do both work as a chartplotter? I presume the 4G version takes Sim card for data; do I need a data?, perhaps not
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You don't need a data sim provided that you either have occasional access to wifi on the boat or can download the correct charts over wifi before you sail away.

Most Android tablets have built-in GPS but it's easy to check the specs online of the one you are interested in.

Richard
 
The Navionics is stand alone and does not need a data connection. Simply download the charts when at home or somewhere with wifi and off you go. I have used the Navionics on various Android phones and tablets and its great. For a tablet rather than a phone buy the Navionics HD. Once you have paid for the app you can download charts onto any device registered to your google account

If you are sailing away from the UK, it is still nice to have the 4G version. It has wi-fi and then you can buy a local sim and use the tablet for Internet weather and mail without paying a fortune.

If you want to hold the tablet at the helm, then invest in a RAM mount. Buy an external battery such as this one so that the tablet is not flat at a key moment

TudorSailor
 
I notice the tab 4 is available at 189 pounds on the Samsung website and has gps and glonass listed in the spec.

I've been using a tab 2 for a couple of years using marine navigator and the vmh charts and have been very pleased.
 
Copy-paste from another post a week or two ago:

Lenovo have recently announced a new 10" tablet.

I'm interested in it myself because it has a 1920×1200 resolution, latest Android 5.0 (as a promised upgrade) and an announced price of $199.

This new model was announced just over a month ago, and doesn't seem to be in the shops yet. As far as I can see it's not the same as the Lenovo Tab A10 model that's on Amazon at the moment, the new one is the Lenovo Tab 2 A10. They appear to be discounting the old/current model at present. If in doubt, check the resolution in the specs.

The Samsung Tab 4 appears relatively poor resolution compared to this Lenovo.
 
I have been using Navionics on various Samsung devices, including 10.1 inch tab 1 and 2, and up to tab 3 with smaller screens, as a chartplotter - both for planning and navigation. Works very well and more accurate than my Garmin handheld.

The benefit of Samsung is that Navionics is better tested on it, as opposed to less common makes and models. That means you are less likely to get an upgrade rendering the software unuseable when you least expect it.
 
I bought the Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 today, I also looked at the Tab pro which is more expensive, however, the Tab 4 is newer and the screen quality is very good, very little difference to the quality of the TabS. The Navionics app has been downloaded and it appears to work. Thanks all for the replies.
 
I use the Navionics App on my phone, a Sony Xperia SP,
my old 10" Tablet, a Samsung Tab 3,
and also on my new 7" Samsung Tab 4.
It runs great on all of them, and for one off cost when I paid for the app originally.
I also have a dedicated Advansea Chart Plotter at the helm, but the App is brilliant, and a must buy for anyone out there to be honest.
 
pvb said:
Sorry, I haven't a clue. I wouldn't dream of using a tablet as a chartplotter. Give me a proper, dedicated, waterproof chartplotter any day. When you really need it, you need to know it'll work.
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to a point. But with all of the redundancy with something like navionics on a phone, and pad all on the same boat and the (limited) independence from the boats power supply, then arguably it could be considered a very viable alternative - albeit with the addition of a few mounts (to find a shady spot) and some waterproof covers.
 
In the med one rarely needs a waterproof cover! Navionics on a tablet has charts that are free to update - not like on a chartplotter. I use a portable Anker battery with mine and it lasts the day. I do have a shiny new plotter but know that plotters are not 100% reliable. This new one has already been exchanged when the in-built GPS failed. The plotter will not work should the electrics fail or after a lightening strike. I always put tablet and phones in the oven at the first hint of lightening in the hope that they will work if the plotter gets blown up. So have it all, plotter, tablet and phones + paper charts of course.

TudorSailor
 
tudorsailor said:
So have it all, plotter, tablet and phones + paper charts of course.

TudorSailor
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Even that is an interesting point to consider. TODAY's PC attitude is, (of course!), that only a fool goes to sea without paper charts as ultimate backup.

It's not that many years since pyrotechnics commanded the same lofty untouchable position. Today, the MCA appears almost ambivalent; with even the RYA sitting-on-the-fence.

(Let's just hope we continue to be able to make OUR OWN decisions in all such matters).
 
Just to add to the options under consideration, the Sony Xperia is waterproof and has good GPS. I picked one up from eBay for about £120 last Autumn and it's been really great, though I usually use the raster charts from visitmyharbour.co.uk rather than the vector charts that run in Navionics.

The point made above about the external battery pack is a good one though. Was reduced to getting home using paper charts this last weekend when the battery ran out. Sailing with dad, he'd said he'd bring his battery pack, so I didn't think twice about it. Unfortunately, he has an iPhone, and obviously the USB plug for an iPhone doesn't fit a normal USB socket and I hadn't brought my cable....
 
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