My On and Off Road, Online and Offline GPS Solution. (The ongoing saga)

[tjj]

I was curious if you explored or researched anything "Car PC" related, such as mp3car.com. Obviously the CarPC route is an invasive approach and requires installation in the dash and mounting of hardware. There do seem to be a lot of benefits though, like camera integration and a bunch of software solutions if you go with something like Centrafuse (Nav, media library, even Live TV).

It's going to be another few months before I have my truck but I've started the research now!

 

[matt33]

BigJ,
That looks great. I've been wanting to add a tablet to my Raptor for a while, but I know very little about tablets in general. Is it possible to have tthe audio play through your OEM speakers? Not just for GPS audio, but Mrs. matt33 might like to watch a movie on while we're on the road.

 

[BigJ]

To answer a few questions:

So question, why did you end up going the route of the set up you are running now, with the tablet vs. running this setup?

The Lowrance is a professional purpose build device that serves a very specific function extremely well. If I did more super high speed super long distance guiding in the dirt, this thing would be mine forever. In my opinion, of everything I've tried the Lowrance is by far the best at doing what it does. Nothing else comes close.

But the thing is, I don't really need it to do what it does best and I do want it to do things it doesn't do at all (say that fast 5 times )

Think about it like this: if the Lowrance is a McMillan M1A Tactical Rifle, this tablet solution is a Benelli Nova 12ga pump shotgun. Both get the job done, but both have their strengths and weaknesses given the situation. I find myself in situations more suited to a jack of all trades type tool, rather than a master of one type tool.

I was curious if you explored or researched anything "Car PC" related, such as mp3car.com. Obviously the CarPC route is an invasive approach and requires installation in the dash and mounting of hardware. There do seem to be a lot of benefits though, like camera integration and a bunch of software solutions if you go with something like Centrafuse (Nav, media library, even Live TV).

It's going to be another few months before I have my truck but I've started the research now!

Yeah I sure did, but backed off almost right away when I started to realize what was involved in the install. And actually, that led me down the 'laptop' path that it seems much of the 4x4 world is turning too these days. IMHO tablets are the 'next step' in that evolution.

BigJ,
That looks great. I've been wanting to add a tablet to my Raptor for a while, but I know very little about tablets in general. Is it possible to have tthe audio play through your OEM speakers? Not just for GPS audio, but Mrs. matt33 might like to watch a movie on while we're on the road.

Yes sir it sure is! I can't speak for your year or model, but in my case I have two options for playing audio; via headphone jack out of the tablet into the aux jack in my dash, or via bluetooth audio. Check your manual, but I'd bet you have both options open to you as well. I've used the BT method a dozen times and it works well, although the audio can sometimes end up a few seconds behind the action on the screen. I've also used the headphone/aux method a bunch, and it works well too if you don't mind dealing with a wire.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

So the Lowrance is more so for "Off-Road" use, so it doesn't perform well on-road? And your tablet does on and off road pretty well? So have you tested your tablet off-road yet? If so, how does it perform? Is it something you can use on a Raptor Expedition or would Outlaw still want you to have the Lowrance? Because one of these days I want to get out to an expedition, and i'd like to get out to the Reno area and play in the dirt, or go on one of your trips, but since i only have my android phone for GPS (On-Road), i have no off-road solution, which is all i really want/need. Sorry for all of the rapid fire questions.

 

[BigJ]

LOL no problem at all VG. Here we go...

So the Lowrance is more so for "Off-Road" use, so it doesn't perform well on-road?

It (the Lowrance unit) is NOT an on road navigator. You can't punch in an address, press go, and have it give you turn by turn directions. On road, at best it will draw a line from your current spot to where ever you previously marked on the map. If you've ever used a TomTom or something like it, you'll hate trying to use the Lowrance for the same purpose.

And your tablet does on and off road pretty well?

Yep. The thing about a tablet like this, be it an iPad Android or even Win8, is that the hardware becomes decoupled from the software. In other words, rather than having the software and hardware locked together like the Lowrance, you can put 10 different navigation programs on your tablet if you wanted to for some reason. You are free to choose from the dozens of software options open to you. To build off my gun analogy from earlier, think of the Lowrance like a Tazer... the "ammo" and "gun" are one, and neither functions without the other. On the other hand, think of these tablets as a pistol; you can run any ammo you want so long as its the right caliber (aka iOS, Android, Windows etc). You're not tied to Federal or Remington or Hornady brands of ammo ... you get to pick what ammo works best for you and your particular pistol, so long as its in the pistol's calibur. The two or three bits of software I've mentioned in this thread are examples of different ammo brands in the Android caliber that I've run thru my tablet gun that I like best. YMMV. (PS: How awesome would a real tablet gun be?? But I digress...)

So have you tested your tablet off-road yet? If so, how does it perform?

Keep in mind my previous answer... (1) no I have not tested this mount or hardware off road yet. However (2) yes I have tested the software(s) its running several times. They have got me from home to the trail head several hundred miles away, they have got me and my group over multi days of trail safely, and they have got me back home. I have 100% confidence in the software, and I'm about 80% confident in this particular hardware mount/tablet combo. If it fails on me, I'll have my phone running the exact same software, with the exact same maps to get me out and home (100% confidence in that). And if for some reason that fails, I'll have my paper map and compass. See what I'm kinda driving at here?

Is it something you can use on a Raptor Expedition

Absolutely, and I have (the software at least; again, this hardware is new to me)

or would Outlaw still want you to have the Lowrance? Because one of these days I want to get out to an expedition,

I can't say. Keep in mind though that they do rent those Lowrances. So if they demanded you have one, you can just rent it when you need it for a few bucks.

and i'd like to get out to the Reno area and play in the dirt, or go on one of your trips, but since i only have my android phone for GPS (On-Road), i have no off-road solution, which is all i really want/need.

Cool, you're already half way there! Remember this tablet is an Android device too...

I assume your phone has a built in GPS? Not one dependent on WiFi, but one that will work with all the other radios turned off? If so, go download one of the free versions of AlpineQuest and Backcountry Navigator, and try them out. You can do that right now... play with the different map sources they draw from and get a feel for what an "off road" GPS map looks like.

Then, download this and import it into either program: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15659016/DV3DayRev2.gpx Once you've done that, you now have exactly what I have when it comes to navigation in the Death Valley dirt (keep in mind though that you actually need to "download" the maps for off line use BEFORE heading out into the wild; that's where MOBAC comes in).

Hope that makes sense. If not, keep firing away.

 

[vanilla_gorilla]

BigJ, you are awesome, thank you so much for answering my questions, makes perfect sense.

Still waiting for BigJ's corner!

 

[GvegasRaptor]

Nice write up BigJ

 

[M1919A2]

Your set-up vs Ford's OEM Nav system

BIGJ, Very through and excellent presentation - [sidebar] are you a professional writer? [end sidebar]. Could you give some comments on your solution (I see you do not have the OEM nav in your Raptor) vs the current 2012 OEM Nav offered? Thanks in advance. Stephen

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Sorry in advance for asking what may be already provided info. (I am enjoying this thread a LOT J, thanks)

1. Regarding on-road GPS use - can't the tablet(s) use Google for that?

2. Does your tablet solution work out in the boonies (e.g. Death Valley) in places where there's no cell signal?

 

[BigJ]

BIGJ, Very through and excellent presentation - [sidebar] are you a professional writer? [end sidebar]. Could you give some comments on your solution (I see you do not have the OEM nav in your Raptor) vs the current 2012 OEM Nav offered? Thanks in advance. Stephen

Thanks M1. Nope, no professional writer here. I do enjoy it though

I'm sorry to say I haven't played with the OEM nav enough to feel comfortable commenting or comparing it.

Sorry in advance for asking what may be already provided info. (I am enjoying this thread a LOT J, thanks)

1. Regarding on-road GPS use - can't the tablet(s) use Google for that?

Sure, if its online (aka on the internet). This tablet is WiFI only, so when I'm not near a WiFi signal, its offline (aka there's no internet). You can get variations of these tablets that do have wireless data like your cell phone, but that requires an additional monthly fee and a contract. I don't see any need for the added expense.

Having said that, Google has started allowing "cached" maps, meaning it will save your most recently viewed maps for off line use. But there's no way to guarantee those saved maps are the maps you need. No way would I depend on that feature as its implemented today.

2. Does your tablet solution work out in the boonies (e.g. Death Valley) in places where there's no cell signal?

Yep. Hence the "Offline" part of the title of this thread