Using an Ipad for GPS,nav,audio ect?

[Valley Auto]

So sitting around shooting the shit bench racing with a few buddy's talking about my buggy build. Was planning to use a Lawrence GPS for navigation and an Ipod/phone for tunes through an amp, when one of my more computer savy friends throws out using an Ipad for all of it?

Obviously it would still require the amp for sound. Starting digging around looks like lifeproof makes/or will be making a case the would protect it and Im sure I can build a mount for it.

I don't need race quality GPS this is mainly a fun buggy/fast trail rig but would like to be able to track/record adventures. Follow a map with all the trail coordinates in johnson valley ect.The extra memory/storage would be great for music/videos/downloading the go pro footage at camp. And it gives me an excuse to buy an Ipad. Could also download Torque app.

What Im not sure of is which Ipad would work best and if it would still function as a GPS without signal, or could be made to? thanks Ryan

[kenny kustom]

There's a few guys using them as head units in their audio builds.
I'm sure there is an add on gps antenna for it. I would like to see it.

[David D]

There is some talk about this on race-dezert. May be worth reading. I skimmed it real quick, but didn't get too in depth.
http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/sho...d-in-your-ride

[Valley Auto]

Awesome there's a bunch of good info in there

[Valley Auto]

So I walked in and asked the genius's at the apple store how to make this all work and confused the shit out him. Sounds like a devise called the bad elf will help but not for sure.

[lilgreenjeepyj]

The glass on ours cracked falling off the couch, ~24". There is NO way I would mount it in my Jeep.

[Valley Auto]

I think this will pretty much take care of that http://www.lifeproof.com/shop/cases/ipad-2/ Its finding a way to load and use maps without internet/service thats posing the biggest problem

[89breaker]

Good concept but use a droid.

You can get an older one with plenty of options cheap and get apps over wifi.

[despain85]

I think I would use a droid based tablet as well. The iPad is nice, but to nice to get ruined by dust, water, mud, or whatever.. I have an iPad 2 but would rather sacrifice the droid tablet for an application like this.

[takotruckin]

Are the tablets gps systems any better than the Droid phones or iPhone? Both my Android and my wifes iPhone have horrible gps accuracy when we lose cell reception. Sometimes they can be over a mile off.

[WiCK3D_SiX]

Originally Posted by despain85

I think I would use a droid based tablet as well. The iPad is nice, but to nice to get ruined by dust, water, mud, or whatever.. I have an iPad 2 but would rather sacrifice the droid tablet for an application like this.

This, plus most Android products use gorilla glass and most Motorola stuff has an aluminium shell or chassis. From personal experience, my Motorola Android phones have loaded faster, and more accurately than any of the phones my friends have used( HTC, Samsung, LG etc). Early Samsung phones also had pin contact issues ( internally) that FUBAR'd the GPS.

Motorola Xoom: any

Asus Transformer (1st gen, 2nd gen has GPS problems)

Galaxy Tab: any

Would be good choices off the top of my head.


Sent from my DROIDX

[Valley Auto]

Okay so we switch to the DROID setup we still need to figure out operation without service.

[WiCK3D_SiX]

Google Maps offers a "pre-load" option to keep you on track when the signal is lost. They also have stand alone GPS. I believe I've also seen apps that could aid in what your looking to do. I used to have an app that I would follow and mark my route, and allow me to place markers and short notes on POI. Trail marker/ tracker, something along those lines.

Edit: this looks promising

http://www.backcountrynavigator.com/

Sent from my DROIDX

[Ben W]

Originally Posted by Valley Auto

I think this will pretty much take care of that http://www.lifeproof.com/shop/cases/ipad-2/ Its finding a way to load and use maps without internet/service thats posing the biggest problem

The Motion-X GPS app allows you to download and store maps to use when you are not online.

[Valley Auto]

So it sounds like as long a I did a little prep work by downloading all the maps I intend to use it would work well.

[despain85]

A friend of mine used his droid tab and mapped our trails in Moab last year. It worked great and never lost a signal. He also would stop take a pic and set the waypoint or obstacle. Pretty cool feature!

On edit, here is a link for the map used by google. It's from Pritchett Canyon. http://www.google.com/fusiontables/e...=15&t=1&l=col2

[Grumpy356]

A friend of mine just was telling about using a touch screen device on a sail boat in rough seas. The problem came down to being able to touch the right spot on the screen in heavy seas and under stress. After all was said and done he decided big clunky buttons were way better.

It really doesn't have a lot to do with using one in a vehicle, but it kinda tells you of some flaws / idiosyncrasies you don't think about at first.

[Valley Auto]

makes sense for sure! Im still kinda leaning towards it as its primary use would be providing music,Go pro footage and picture storage. The gps is more of a fun bonus feature to me as this isn't a competition rig.

[87manche]

http://www.amazon.com/BT-359C-Global.../dp/B000GWGHOK

plus a cheap bluetooth capable android tablet

http://www.buy.com/prod/2x-faster-w-...226973351.html

Get software for topo and street mapping, rock out.

or get an android tablet that has built in GPS:
Lenovo Ideapad A1 GPS Test - YouTube

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834246233

[supersize75k5]

Any updates on this for anyone? I am planning in incorporating a tablet with built in gps into my buggy I am finishing up. Would also consider having one with 3G. And just transfer it between my truck and buggy. Could also just use my phone as a wifi hotspot if needed.

The lenovo is attractive price wise but the reviews on the camera/video and the sd card being a pain to access are holding me back.


Anyone do something recent?

[supersize75k5]

Went ahead and pulled the trigger



It is the acer A200 with a 10 inch screen and built in gps. I may decide I want a 7 inch but will be trying this out in my pick up this week.


now how the hell do I mount this in a buggy

[Wilson]

Overland navigator seems to be the best ticket for mapping/ navigation. The one diwnside is, last time i checked, they did not have a northern ca map I started a thread on ih8mud a couple years back. I'm looking to go the same route on my new build.

[HummerNewbie]

For several years I have been using a netbook running TopoUSA mounted on a Ram mount in my truck and it's been great. On a recent trail scouting run I tried out a new bluetooth GPS antenna I got more my iPad and think I might be switching to this setup most of the time. If you have an iPad with 3G or a new iPad with 4G it does have built in GPS but I could never get a confirmed answer if the GPS would work if you didn't have an active 3G/4G plan so I went with a WiFi only. The antenna I got is from Dual, is bluetooth and from my experience the battery lasts a good 10 hours or full use though I don't think it's specked for that long. You can always run it while charging on a 12V source if need be. There are a number of map apps for the iPad but the one that I primarily used last time was Galileo. If I recall correctly the app is free but you can buy additional features which IIRC was something like $5 for all feature. I went this route which allows me to both import and export tracks and waypoints. The maps work both online and offline but you need to save them to the device to work offline. On their website they direct you to a free program Win/Mac which allows you to select grid sections of a map at different levels of detail/zoom as well as choosing the map source (topo, street maps, satellite images) to use. Once you have selected the area you want you save it then transfer to the iPad (a few options there). Once on the iPad and opened in Galileo you don't need a WiFi or cellular connection for the maps and the GPS coordinates are pulled from the external antenna. Still need to play around with it and test some more apps but so far I am very happy with it.

A bonus is that it also takes up significantly less room than the netbook on the Ram mount

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by supersize75k5

Went ahead and pulled the trigger



It is the acer A200 with a 10 inch screen and built in gps. I may decide I want a 7 inch but will be trying this out in my pick up this week.


now how the hell do I mount this in a buggy

Have you had it outside yet? How's the glare? My old (4 yrs) tablet pc cannot be seen outside due to the glare. My iPhone is better, but still requires shading from time to time. I'm curious how the new tablets stack up, especially after a day on the trail (dust).

[supersize75k5]

Originally Posted by Wilson

Have you had it outside yet? How's the glare? My old (4 yrs) tablet pc cannot be seen outside due to the glare. My iPhone is better, but still requires shading from time to time. I'm curious how the new tablets stack up, especially after a day on the trail (dust).

I decided to return the 10.2 inch acer and went with a 7 inch Samsung tablet instead. I did not look at the acer 7 inch but they have one as well btw. I did it in part for glare reasons and so I can explore the idea of mounting the tablet up like a rear view mirror. I figure my roof, tube work and light bar along with a high roof line I should be ok verses a dash mount.


What do the guys with Lawrence's do for glare btw? Or are the LCD and less of a issue?