Blind guys GPS; Samsung Galaxy Tab 2

[wnyfjr]

What happens when it rains?

That's what I was wondering. I like the display size though.

 

[Fred W]

Also pretty cool to have the big speedo display on the phone so you can raise the displays up high enough to be useful, but block the stock clocks. However if you have to stash all the goodness every time it sprinkles, that could be kind of a PITA

 

[gixxerjasen]

Yea, this is NOT a good setup for the NW USA guys.

 

[Top_Speed1]

What happens when it rains?

The Droid gaydardetector is waterproof to 4ft of H2o pressure, tested that on accident several times on the jetskiis this past summer. The downfall is now the battery is sealed and you can't pull it like on the previous older (non waterproof) droids. I guess a fair trade especially in this instance.

So on to the Tab2... They make several diff waterproof covers (bags). That's the easy part but if you want your juice cable going to it you have to pie hole into it. The Tab2 runs 4-8 hrs running the app at full brightness, another advantage a Tab has is the bigger/better battery. You can also (in Co-Pilot) have it trigger to "on" within xx of an upcoming turn, off after xx of the turn. So several solutions could be had. The waterproof bag as mentioned will fit the cradle as the one I purchased is for the Tab2 with gel case and there's plenty of room for a miniscule 4mil film of polysheeting (incl the gel surround).

Now for a sun cover, that may be interesting. I think a poly tinted "hood" could be mounted quite easily to my stem-mount alum frame that I made. Small hurdles for most of you big tacklers/hackers like here on this forum

 

[Enn]

What about operating the Tab screen with the gloves?

 

[gixxerjasen]

Some conductive thread sewn into the finger tips has worked for some folks out there.

 

[Top_Speed1]

What about operating the Tab screen with the gloves?

Could be a problem maybe?, so far on 2 trips with it (in my truck), never touched it after I configured where I wanted to go. The Droid phone was on the bike last year and if I pressed hard enough (with my glove fingertip) it took the press, not perfectly every time, sometimes I had to double n even triple tap it. So I'm thinking the tab will be about the same. Time will tell.

I will say one thing, the clarity/resolution and SIZE of this Tab/GPS combo over a crappy lil 3.5" screen is night and day.

 

[Chuck35]

The Droid gaydardetector is waterproof to 4ft of H2o pressure, tested that on accident several times on the jetskiis this past summer.

What apps / hardware are you using for radar detection with Droid?

 

[Tango Sierra]

I installed Co-Pilot Live on my Nexus 7 last week and have used it a few times in my wife's Honda Civic. I love the large screen and the graphics are so much better than my Garmin Zumo 665 but Co-Pilot lacks some of the data info the Garmin gives you.

For motorcycle use it was mentioned above if you are going to ride more than two hours you will want USB connections. Since I can't for the life of me figure out why I would need a GPS if I'm only going to ride no more than a hour away from home it would seem USB connections would be a no brainer requirement for whenever GPS use was needed.

Co-Pilot Live does not auto zoom when coming into town like the Garmin. Also I can't figure out how you can use the menu or zoom the map if it is enclosed in a waterproof case. Sometimes the screen blacks out and I can't get Co-Pilot Live to display itself again unless I go into the Nexus 7 Settings/Apps/Co-Pilot Live and press the Force Stop button and then restart the program.

But I do like using Co-Pilot Live in the car.

While riding my M/C I can only see using Co-Pilot Live on the Nexus 7 only when stopped by the side of the road. When moving I will only use the Garmin.

 

[Top_Speed1]

The Droid gaydardetector is waterproof to 4ft of H2o pressure, tested that on accident several times on the jetskiis this past summer.

What apps / hardware are you using for radar detection with Droid?

I got a couple apps that work (just OK) but not as good as the iSmart one I have from Escort. I mounted the sensor (pretty small) box just under the headlights, back in a bit and you never notice it (hidden?). Kinda nice as it works wireless (BT) to your iPhone or Droid. Downfall? Pricey like all Escort prods.

I installed Co-Pilot Live on my Nexus 7 last week and have used it a few times in my wife's Honda Civic. I love the large screen and the graphics are so much better than my Garmin Zumo 665 but Co-Pilot lacks some of the data info the Garmin gives you.
For motorcycle use it was mentioned above if you are going to ride more than two hours you will want USB connections. Since I can't for the life of me figure out why I would need a GPS if I'm only going to ride no more than a hour away from home it would seem USB connections would be a no brainer requirement for whenever GPS use was needed.

Co-Pilot Live does not auto zoom when coming into town like the Garmin. Also I can't figure out how you can use the menu or zoom the map if it is enclosed in a waterproof case. Sometimes the screen blacks out and I can't get Co-Pilot Live to display itself again unless I go into the Nexus 7 Settings/Apps/Co-Pilot Live and press the Force Stop button and then restart the program.

But I do like using Co-Pilot Live in the car.

While riding my M/C I can only see using Co-Pilot Live on the Nexus 7 only when stopped by the side of the road. When moving I will only use the Garmin.

Good input and thanks ...I agree with your assessment.

Not sure about the zoom that you want at the intersections however?. It's so big and visible already and the arrows overlayed at the intersections are like clear as day (selectable timing, instances and audio alerts are all in config as well). You can even 'toggle on' stack-able arrows if a double (quick) turn is detected.

So far for me the CP is way more customizable than any Garminator but there are a few things that the G does better and are nice. Yes, like any GPS I've had/tested ALL have flaws. I could go on and on about Garmin's "re-routing" (totally blows!) or some of their preferred routes (crazy!). I ran 4 different GPS's going down to Baltimore last fall on a cager trip, all were let's say "different". If I could only take some things from TT, Magellan and Garmie (and Co-Pilot) has... I would have my ultimate GPS!

But for under $200 including software, it's hard to beat the BIG screen GPS experience that the Tab2 and Co-Pilot give you. Nice part is, you don't like the Maps/features in one app, go load another. Can't do that with any standalone Gips. Oh I guess the pluses and minus' will continue...

My favorite so far (especially visually) is the Google powered android GPS app. Problem is, Googy hasn't made the b/g maps (tiles) 100% offline ....yet. So you need a cell signal in combination with the 22,300 mile Geo-synchronous birds. Won't be useful up in the Mountains

 

[GalaxyBlue]

I am LOVING this idea!

I thought of buying a Tab for this also, And using my Sprint Galaxy S2 Wifi Tether for mobile connectivity. I have been a mobile internet user for almost 10 years with my laptop off the cellular towers, And the tech in the new Tabs make it even better. :good:

More info on that mount would be all i need to start my own project.

Thanks for the great topic!

 

[Tango Sierra]

Top_Speed1,

The auto zooming feature I want from the Garmin to be in Co-Pilot Live is the following; While traveling on rural numbered highways or Interstates, I set the Garmin scale for 2 or 3 miles which will show me only the main roads. I wish it showed me secondary rural roads at that scale, unfortunately it doesn't. At least the Garmin will auto zoom in to local street level when I enter a town, Co-Pilot Live on the Nexus doesn't do this.

As you said, the Garmin can give strange directions but so does Co-Pilot Live or Google. Yesterday I went to my son's house to celebrate my grandson's second birthday. To test Co-Pilot Live I asked for directions to my son's house.

My own route to my son's house is 38 miles long, takes 40 minutes, spends 33 of those miles on one road,and passes through no towns until it reaches his subdivision.

Co-Pilot Live gave me a route that is 40 miles long, takes well over an hour and travels through seven towns before it reaches my son's home. The alternative route Co-Pilot gave me was 70 miles long and the second alternative route was 50 miles long.

Even though Garmin or Google have given less than ideal directions I've never received directions as bad as those given me by Co-Pilot Live.

As said before, the detail display of Co-Pilot Live on a tablet is superior than a Garmin but I'm not trusting Co-Pilot Live for advice nor do I find it as convenient to use while moving on a motorcycle as the Zumo is. On the other hand, I will be keeping the tablet in my tank bag to use, while parked, with Google (when I have a signal) or Co-Pilot Live (when I don't have a signal).

 

[Chuck35]

This is just the excuse I need to buy a Tablet

 

[Blind Squirrel]

*BUMP*

Any news on how things are going?

 

[Top_Speed1]

First off @ Tango... Totally hear ya and agree, I guess the zoom to see secondary stuff as you mentioned was not needed as much by me in my travels (so far). Direction wise, I've found the same (different) results within all my GPS's. I guess in another 10 years we will laugh at these inaccuracy's.

I am LOVING this idea!
I thought of buying a Tab for this also, And using my Sprint Galaxy S2 Wifi Tether for mobile connectivity. I have been a mobile internet user for almost 10 years with my laptop off the cellular towers, And the tech in the new Tabs make it even better.

More info on that mount would be all i need to start my own project.

Thanks for the great topic!

You won't need the Sprint (3G or 4G) connectivity (tether) of course as maps are pre-downloaded, and more info on the mount I made is yours, what ya need? The Tab2 with the dual processor handles the Co-Pilot fast & flawlessly. It acquires the birds (satellites) faster than any stand alone GPS currently out there. As said there are some big pluses, maybe I/we can tweak n fine tune it enough to bring it to our sport.

This is just the excuse I need to buy a Tablet

Well hang on to your cash, we're still in master-beta mode on this

Check out all the new garb....

*BUMP*
Any news on how things are going?

As said, there is waterproof covers and bags for the Tab2, multiple listings on fleabay. Being cheap frugal (and as said this is in Master-Beta mode) I tried a perfect fit Zip-Lock bag on my Tab2 (you can kinda pull the plastic tight when inserting in the cradle, stays flat and transparent!) with the opening towards the left side where my power cable enters. I zipped it up to the cable in the bottom corner of the bag. Looks like this is a good water resistant method for maybe partial rain days. Full rain days u may want the real deal. I'm a big 6ft-4in ***** and I try to avoid those days so this may be my (rightnow) rainy day solution.

Sun lid/hood has not been drempt-up (yet). I did have the sun beaming on me in some testing. Pretty good at full bore (screen brightness up) BUT if the sun is coming in from the sides just perfectly, I can see an almost complete screen wipe-out forthcoming. Sun shining from the back (the way mine is mounted, low n close to the tank), I was easily shadowing it with my back and shoulders. Overhead sun was okay sometimes, lot's of glare others. They do make an anti-glare screen (polyfilm adhesive) that you can apply to the Tab2 (just like for smartphones). The Tab2 has such great contrasts with awesome saturated blacks. Problem is, this glossy/glassy screen unfortunately makes for more glare. I probably definitely see an antiglare screen 'film' in this project soon which should take care of the glossy-glare/reflection I was getting. Not all the time, just some, and easily corrected I believe. A shade/lid like some Feejer peeps have for their GPS would be ideal of course. The BMW K1600 has a built-in GPS, molded in the dash (w indentation) and an OEM molded hood. When the windshield lowers, it locks the GPS in too! Oh those freeq'n smart azz Germans. I need to start thinking like them! Oh wait, I'm just a lil' ole pee-on... forgot for a moment

So that about gets you up to current "speed", anybody else experimenting with this?... please chime-in. Maybe we can all iron things out together cuz BIG SCREEN GPS' sure do rule!

 

[Blind Squirrel]

and more info on the mount I made is yours, what ya need?

How about a link to where you bought the cradles for each device?

 

[ULEWZ]

Would this sun shade be any use for the glare?

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Arkon-SGT-7SS-Sun-Shade-for-Samsung-Galaxy-Tab/16480596

 

[Top_Speed1]

and more info on the mount I made is yours, what ya need?

How about a link to where you bought the cradles for each device?

SlipGrip Mounts. They have all cradles for every make and model you may have. They're are on fleabay as well, easy search there with your make/model with the added "ram mount" should do the trick. The rails that hold the 2 mounts to the stem mount was homemade as in orig postings.

Would this sun shade be any use for the glare?https://www.walmart.com/ip/Arkon-SGT-7SS-Sun-Shade-for-Samsung-Galaxy-Tab/16480596

I saw those, they're on fleabay as well for 14.99 shipped and excellent find, Thank you!. Your Wally link is a lil cheaper, not sure on ship + tax. It looks like the hanger-clips will go right over the unit and the cradle. I just may have to add this to my project

 

[Top_Speed1]

and more info on the mount I made is yours, what ya need?

How about a link to where you bought the cradles for each device?

Also to the ^above^ comment on this...

I added the gel surround protector to my Tab2 (and Droid). I think it helps nullify any vibration or rattling that may occur. So, if you go this route? make sure you purchase a mount that is defined as such (made for use with gel case etc).

Like here is one on ebay one that will fit the Tab2 with gel case

I didn't use the ball part of course, you may in your setup?. I went the (stainless) screw to the homemade rails (pictured earlier).

 

[BLS]

For those of you considering this as an option for your GPS but are concerned with not having wifi access on your tablet, I suggest you look into FOXFI for android.

It's looking more and more like my plan will be to run music and possibly Escort Live on my Galaxy S3 phone, while I run GPS on my Nexus 7.

But with FOXFI I'll be able to make my S3 a hotspot and connect my tablet to it, so I'll have map updates as I drive.

My data usage is gonna get nuts, but I expect this is going to be the ticket. I was about to splurge on a GPS and now I don't think I need it.