Best Map Tablet

mteolus

mteolus

New member
I'm looking for probably a 10" tablet (Android) with GPS only to run GAIA maps on. The plan is not to use cell service but to download the maps and use the tablet GPS rather than cellular GPS. I guess since that is all I plan on using the tablet for it doesn't have to be the best of the best. Any recommendations? I looked at this one. I'm not even sure I need to spend that much if I am just going to use it for GAIA maps.
 
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Any Android device will run Backcountry navigator, works awesome off-line. Only limited by map storage as far as downloads go and there are a ton of different free map formats to choose from.
 
Heres my setup. I havent tested it on a trail yet but it seems pretty strong.

my iPad mini 4 has cellular LTE so it has a GPS antenna too.

w6oWobp.jpg


War Eagle said:
IOS runs better. If you go that route, an old iPad and a Garmin GOLO is great.
Click to expand...

mteolus said:
I'm looking for probably a 10" tablet (Android) with GPS only to run GAIA maps on. The plan is not to use cell service but to download the maps and use the tablet GPS rather than cellular GPS. I guess since that is all I plan on using the tablet for it doesn't have to be the best of the best. Any recommendations? I looked at this one. I'm not even sure I need to spend that much if I am just going to use it for GAIA maps.
Click to expand...
 
Well...

I recommend the Galaxy Tab E running Viewranger. I can't not recommend it as I just won 1st place in Navigation at the Nevada Trophy 2019. Its not free or whatever, but its certainly a great option for off road navigation as it gives you real time vector based navigation instead of just directional.
 
I use a Lenovo Tab 8 that's a couple years old with no problem, although Gaia does suck up a good amount of memory if you download a lot of maps. I think I have 64G in there and it's almost all used up. I don't think Lenovo makes those anymore but if you're only using it for Gaia I'd just get a inexpensive Android tablet and go from there. FWIW as said above Gaia does run better and have better features in IOS.

As far as GPS in a phone or tablet goes I wouldn't rely on that. Phones and tablets use AGPS as opposed to GPS. You can research the differences but basically the phones and tablets are relying on additional location services being provided by other nearby devices in addition to any satellite it can find. If there is no signal you're screwed. I tried this for a while and had bad luck with loosing satellite signals. Also, with AGPS location is not very accurate. Maybe +- 10m. If you get an independent GPS receiver accuracy would be closer to +-1m. As well with an independent GPS receiver you can get multiple GPS satellites and GLONAS satellites (Russian GPS). I typically see signals from 6-12 satellites even in very remote areas. Three signals are required for accurate positioning including altitude. Also, with your tablet in a usable location in the rig the GPS receiver will have limited low angle view of the open sky making it difficult to get a good signal, let alone three. With an independent unit you can place it either on your dash or some can be mounted on your roof.

I have used one of these for a couple years with good luck. It will connect to iPhone, Android or a laptop/computer with the correct app installed. In order for it to work you shut off the location services on the device. It's also small, rechargeable and portable so can be used for back packing or transferred between vehicles

https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Electro...ocphy=9028767&hvtargid=pla-441061981403&psc=1
 
Galaxy Tab A 128GB is what I recently picked up for maps. I haven't got it set up in my 4r yet but the tablet itself is a solid tablet for the price. I have no doubts it will handle all my needs with ease. Costco had a killer deal during black friday.


*Edit* Looks like Costco still has the tablet for $200. The 128 gb has 3gb of ram opposed to the 2gb in the 16gb one.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1" Wi-Fi Tablet 128GB - Black $199.99
-
Slickdeals.net
 
Last edited:
comtn4x4 said:
I use a Lenovo Tab 8 that's a couple years old with no problem, although Gaia does suck up a good amount of memory if you download a lot of maps. I think I have 64G in there and it's almost all used up. I don't think Lenovo makes those anymore but if you're only using it for Gaia I'd just get a inexpensive Android tablet and go from there. FWIW as said above Gaia does run better and have better features in IOS.

As far as GPS in a phone or tablet goes I wouldn't rely on that. Phones and tablets use AGPS as opposed to GPS. You can research the differences but basically the phones and tablets are relying on additional location services being provided by other nearby devices in addition to any satellite it can find. If there is no signal you're screwed. I tried this for a while and had bad luck with loosing satellite signals. Also, with AGPS location is not very accurate. Maybe +- 10m. If you get an independent GPS receiver accuracy would be closer to +-1m. As well with an independent GPS receiver you can get multiple GPS satellites and GLONAS satellites (Russian GPS). I typically see signals from 6-12 satellites even in very remote areas. Three signals are required for accurate positioning including altitude. Also, with your tablet in a usable location in the rig the GPS receiver will have limited low angle view of the open sky making it difficult to get a good signal, let alone three. With an independent unit you can place it either on your dash or some can be mounted on your roof.

I have used one of these for a couple years with good luck. It will connect to iPhone, Android or a laptop/computer with the correct app installed. In order for it to work you shut off the location services on the device. It's also small, rechargeable and portable so can be used for back packing or transferred between vehicles

https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Electro...ocphy=9028767&hvtargid=pla-441061981403&psc=1
Click to expand...

Um...

Most of that is dead wrong unfortunately. Where EXACTLY did you hear that Samsung GPS is in any way inferior to the Lowrance, Garmin or any other type of commercial GPS? I would love to know where that info came from. If that info came from some Garmin salesperson, that is fantastically bad because I had to walk around holding the Samsung tablet to correct the wrong GPS locations of other competitors in the race last weekend who were using different hardware.
 

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duffdog said:
Um...

Most of that is dead wrong unfortunately. Where EXACTLY did you hear that Samsung GPS is in any way inferior to the Lowrance, Garmin or any other type of commercial GPS? I would love to know where that info came from. If that info came from some Garmin salesperson, that is fantastically bad because I had to walk around holding the Samsung tablet to correct the wrong GPS locations of other competitors in the race last weekend who were using different hardware.
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I can't agree with what you're saying unfortunately. The cut sheet you sent indicates that your device uses AGPS as I said, you can easily research the differences if you like. Both work well in certain situations. In my experience the positioning from a dedicated GPS receiver is far superior to that of the others in an off grid environment. If that's not consistent with your experience so be it.
 
comtn4x4 said:
I can't agree with what you're saying unfortunately. The cut sheet you sent indicates that your device uses AGPS as I said, you can easily research the differences if you like. Both work well in certain situations. In my experience the positioning from a dedicated GPS receiver is far superior to that of the others in an off grid environment. If that's not consistent with your experience so be it.
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It seems like you are getting your information from an outdated site like this:

GPS vs A-GPS | difference between GPS and GPS-A

AGPS does not mean "assisted gps" any longer, thats very 2012. It now means "augmented gps" which uses both the satellites AND the 3g/4g simultaneously to increase precision. when no 4g is available, the samsung switches to standalone gps using glonass satellites and any other non-lte available gps positioning. when it is in range of LTE, it uses both LTE and the satellite positioning. This is why my tablet was able to determine the elevation and vector of the checkpoints while the handheld garmin things simply said [x feet to the left], which is unbelievably unhelpful when you looking at a vertical cliff with the checkpoint on top of it.

There are lots of bad websites with wrong information from people who suck, I don't hold it against you in the slightest. I find it interesting that wikipedia has just updated their site recently on the subject:

Assisted GPS - Wikipedia
 
srsrogerissrs said:
Galaxy Tab A 128GB is what I recently picked up for maps. I haven't got it set up in my 4r yet but the tablet itself is a solid tablet for the price. I have no doubts it will handle all my needs with ease. Costco had a killer deal during black friday.


*Edit* Looks like Costco still has the tablet for $200. The 128 gb has 3gb of ram opposed to the 2gb in the 16gb one.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1" Wi-Fi Tablet 128GB - Black $199.99
-
Slickdeals.net
Click to expand...


One thing i learned the hard way is that tablets without cell chips will lose GPS signals and will no look for another after disconnecting from wifi.

This could have changed by now, i would just caution to test before you buy or read up on buying non-cellular tablets and expect gps signals to work in the middle of no where.

I am curious to see what has worked really well for others. This has been on my list of things to do.

On a similar note.. If you have a pioneer 8100 or 8200 nex with an HDMI out + Android phone.

You can purchase an app that mirrors your phone 100% and use the app off your phone and see it on the display.

I have used it and works well, for me there's an issue where the cables continue to lose contact.

But there is plenty of information about it

app info - AppRadio Unchained Rootless – Apps on Google Play

XDA Forum about this topic
[MOD] AppRadio Unchained - Full mirroring fo… | Android Development and Hacking
 
We used a CHUWI Hi9 Pro LTE Tablet when doing the KAT, running Gaia w/ downloaded maps. While it worked ~85% of the time, after 4-5 hours of tracking it would start lagging (position) and within the following 20-30 minutes would stop loading map squares and have to be restarted. After the 4th or 5th day of this in a row we started reverting to Gaia on my phone or the Garmin inReach's map screen.

Recently I got a new-to-me iPad Air (yes, the 2013 model), and when paired to the inReach (via Bluetooth) for GPS signal it is phenomenally better than the CHUWI tablet, not lagging or losing map squares even once over 5+ hours of tracking. This is also using Gaia GPS w/ offline maps. Having only 16gb of storage is a hindrance currently, but based on its performance, I'll be grabbing a 64 or 128gb iPad Air 2 off of eBay next year before our next big trip
 
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