OT: using tablet as a Sat nav

not much needed now with advent of smart phones.

Satnavs require GPS receivers which are inbuilt to a lot of smart phones. You need to check if the tablet has a GPS receiver.

TomTom do a Satnav App where the maps can be downloaded to your own device so you don't necessarily need a cellular phone or wi-fi to operate while on the move. You would need one of these functions (or a connection to a PC) to get the App and map on the device in the first place. You may need a cellular network connection if you want real time traffic updates that can automatically alter your routing to avoid traffic jams or accident road closures.

(Other SatNav Apps are available which may operate in the same/similar way)

Many cars now come with their own build in Satnavs with the full maps installed in the cars memory.

Better eyes are needed for Smart phones, which is why I am more interested in the Tablet route.

Have used a tablet (wifi,not cellular) in the past, there are apps that let you download the maps. TBH these days I use Google Maps on the phone, the voice commands are usually all you need. Plus you get real time updates on traffic conditions, although not always reliable. I was incorrectly detoured off M5 the other day, from their misreading of either an M50 or an M4 closure.

Andrew wrote

Yes, some do.

Yes. Including with the Tom Tom app for phones and tablets.

No, but you can obviously only download when wifi is available. And the best of them like google maps gets live traffic info all the time so it isnt ideal to now have the cellular option.

Yes, but it makes no sense to buy them anymore.

Can you not *listen* to the route ?

yup

really?

tell me more :-)

you download offline maps for the areas that you visit

I just use Google maps. Which will likely be pre-installed on the device

But some of the functionally doesn't work in offline mode, so you may prefer an alternative

one tip - if running from the internal battery, if you put it into screen saver mode you will still get the announcements, and the battery lasts longer

tim

I use a 10 inch tablet as sat nav, co-pilot has downloadable maps and works well (free limited time trial available) I use a 4g tablet with a sim card, then you get re-routing etc. It is now only 5 pounds a month for enough data for my needs plus unlimited calls and texts. The tablet was only 42 quid from china on ebay. add on a obd2 reader and you can have all the fun of using torque to analyse you car as well.

Or if you have a data plan on your phone, use it as a hotspot etc.

I love the heads up display. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

Depends on the sat nav.

The better ones have features which the general map apps lack, eg junction view etc, which is extremely useful- especially when driving overseas where they seem to take delight in having junctions which resemble plates of spaghetti.

Some also allow to but in vehicle details so you can avoid low bridges, weight limits etc.

Conversely, Google is good for homing in on places without a detailed address etc or viewing the approach so you can preplan the final details.

Mostly works. And the built in system on my car includes the option of having an arrow and hour glass display at the bottom of the rev counter (where you can also get all the other OBC type things). As you approach a turn off etc, not only do you get a verbal warning, but the hour glass starts filling, and you take the turn when it's full. Hardly ever have to shift your view to the sat nav display.

There are plenty of navigation apps - even Google Maps, that work without the need for data access. You simply download the maps to the device in advance of your travel.

You will though access to services such as up-to-date traffic information (accidents, traffic jams, etc) that allows the app(s) to change your route accordingly. All should still work just fine without it, and if you have a smartphone with you you can still use its data access and hotspot it to the tablet.

Make sure that the tablet has a GPS receiver. Most do, but some of the very cheap ones may not.

If you live or drive in relatively heavily populated areas then you may want to consider Waze. Owned by Google and uses its maps and search engine it is basically a much superior navigation app to Maps whilst enjoying all the benefits.

In general all SatNavs use the same 2 or 3 sources of Maps and the better map may depend on which country you are navigating through or even which part of the country.

The biggest difference I've found is the user interface and most annoying is some of the commercialisation of the "freebee" App that now have sponsored "Points of Interest" such as the nearest McDonald.

alan_m wrote

Its more complicated than that. Google maps very quickly applys user supplied map error reports. Apple doesn?t.

Not IME

I usually got "you haven't supplier enough proof, go away"

Not helped by them removing the possibility of entering the problem immediately you found it if you weren't online at that time (obviously to be sent to them when you were next online).

so I gave up

tim

I don't think that most do - iPads only get GPS if you buy a cellular version, and it looks like a lot of the Amazon range don't either.

A definitive list of those that definately do/not would be useful