Tablet for navigation: what works?

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alanwilson

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Looking to use a 10" or thereabouts tablet with the Navionics app for navigation: it must
- have a decent screen
- use GPS, aGPS & GLONASS
- have WiFi
- possibly have 3G (useful but not essential)
- have an OTG socket, for an OTG-USB cable
- be able to run the PrinterShare app
- and of course run the Navionics app.
The printing is for printing charts: I have an A3 printer on board and print paper charts as I go, so I always have backup paper charts in whatever scale I want for whatever places I want. This has served very well for recent cruising round Britain & to Europe, Baltic, Norway, Iceland & Greenland, but the software has been discontinued & I don't want to pay silly prices for a large-screen chart plotter.

Any recommendations gratefully received!
 
I use Google Nexus 10 with 2 chart systems, Navionics plus VMH raster charts with superimposed Antares charts for Scottish rock dodging. I also have a SH plotter and laptop backup, plus paper charts. I use them all some of the time! I have printed a few favourite Antares charts from my home PC.
My wife has a Galaxy 10.5, I think the screen is even better than the Nexus, but doesn't have a pogo style connector for a power lead. I dunno about aGPS and Glasnost, too tech for me!
 
OR4751 said:
Very pleased with our Sony Xperia Z. Seems to tick most of your boxes (not sure about GLONASS)
And, it's water/splash proof to boot.
Click to expand...

+1 for the Xperia Z

I pickup all my data - gps, wind, depth, heading via its wifi from a Shipmodul multiplexer, but the built in gps does the job if you don't need the other data.
 
Lenovo have recently announced a new 10" tablet, although I don't know how well it meets all your criteria (OTG, printing).

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 Tab 2 A10. They appear to be discounting the old/current model at present. If in doubt, check the resolution in the specs.
 
petehitch said:
+ 1 for Sony Xperia Z2 very impressive tablet and waterproof/shower proof
Click to expand...
Looks like they've just announced the Z4:

Higher-resolution screen and, I think, a higher "grade" of waterproofing:

pYmHhOe.jpg


End-of-stock deals on the Z2 might be just around the corner.
 
petehitch said:
+ 1 for Sony Xperia Z2 very impressive tablet and waterproof/shower proof
Click to expand...

My first tablet was a Android 2.2 clone and put me off tablets. It was everything you don't want - poor battery life, unreliable slow wifi, gps that needed an external antenna etc.
So I was dubious as well as surprised to win the Xperia for £225 with a case and 32GB extra storage. But its been a revelation as well as a joy to use. The long battery life, superb display, excellent multi touch screen, waterproof (splashproof really) and much improved Android makes it everything you do want in a tablet.

The fact that its working reliably with the low cost (£50) diy wifi nmea interface described on my other thread* so I have access to all my nmea data including AIS means the days of conventional chart plotter or mfd are numbered especially if you are on a tight budget.

* http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?417332-Cheap-diy-nmea-to-wifi-adaptor-tested-and-working
 
Last edited:
Had a Nexus 10 for some time now and yes it seems to be as good a tablet as any. Has gps, decent screen, runs navionics, runs printer sharing app, doesnt have 3g, does have wifi. The wifi connects quite happily to the wifi from my B&G set up.

As to navigating, well it depends on how much you are willing to compromise / how cost co0nscious you are. As a plotter, the tabley doesnt work halfmas well as a real plotter. The software doesnt have the same functionality ( I use navionics) , the screen isnt as good in daylight, it isnt as robust. Its OK for, for example, following an inside route through the manacles ie minute by minute course tracking but otherwise, when my last plotter gave up I reached for the paper not the tablet or the lappy I had on board.

For your use travelling as far as you mention I wouldnt even consider a tablet as primary nav gear.
 
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