Using a tablet as a sat nav!

[Leakylunar]

Anyone using or tried a tablet as a sat nav. Only asking as my iPhone is just to small and have 10'' Samsung tablet .
Otherwise suggestions for sat nav

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Anyone using or tried a tablet as a sat nav. Only asking as my iPhone is just to small and have 10'' Samsung tablet .
Otherwise suggestions for sat nav

Yep. I got an office mount for the iPad (generic), 3m VHB tape and secured to the top of the dash on the cubby space (2014 Sprinter though similar solution for Ducato) and held by two strips of Velcro to stop slippage. Bluetoothed into the radio and voilà….. big satnav. Ping me if you are interested in a photo as we will be using it tomorrow en route to Lincoln

 

[DuxDeluxe]

thats really confusing, why didn't you simply pull up the centre dash bit and clip the tablet in that?

A lot of Ducatos do not have that option - I think it is the ones with passenger airbag, or something like that

 

[acropolis22]

A lot of Ducatos do not have that option - I think it is the ones with passenger airbag, or something like that

Yeah, but his did. Look at the picture.

 

[GoldenVision]

We use 2 magnetic mounts stuck to the dash, and 2 metal disks on the back of the tablet, this holds the tablet in place perfectly, we also added a strip of nonslip tape for the tablet to rest on. Very easy to put in place and remove.

We did try one mount but it is a large tablet and fell off. One concern was whether the magnets would affect the GPS or WiFi etc.. but not an issue. Been using this way for a couple of years and not had a problem.

View attachment 667491

View attachment 667492

Thanks for that - looks a really good solution and just what we need. Do you remember where you sourced the parts from?

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[Crazylegs]

A lot of Ducatos do not have that option - I think it is the ones with passenger airbag, or something like that

I think it’s a date thing, the tablet holder was introduced around 2015.

 

[Bertilak]

We use a tablet for satnav, using the Fiat tablet holder.
I also a) put it in offset to the right, with the control buttons on the bottom for easier reach, and b) bought a magnetic power cable from ebay, so there's next to no fiddling to get it plugged in, nor risk of damage if the cable would otherwise get ripped out.
the only downside is that if it's working hard (satelite, poss blue tooth, satnav app and a couple of others), the charger doesn't keep up, and it's battery is flat at the end of a day.

 

[the1andonly]

I've used a Samsung 10inch tablet in split screen mode to display both speed apps and maps. Me. But end up using phone on rhs as I find it easier.

 

[Chrissey]

Anyone using or tried a tablet as a sat nav. Only asking as my iPhone is just to small and have 10'' Samsung tablet .
Otherwise suggestions for sat nav

You can use a tablet, I also have a 10in Samsung but it must have ability to have a sim card and your away, hope this helps. Chris

 

[pagey]

You can use a tablet, I also have a 10in Samsung but it must have ability to have a sim card and your away, hope this helps. Chris

I just tether mine to my phone

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[Neilfg]

Thanks for that - looks a really good solution and just what we need. Do you remember where you sourced the parts from?

Amazon, the actual part we ordered is now not available. The one listed below is similar it has 2 joints to rotate very useful. We did find that some have stronger magnets than others which is why Amazon was good as just sent them back and order different ones

Amazon product ASIN B0B5HKKGFP

 

[acropolis22]

I just tether mine to my phone

Yep. No SIM needed. Just tether to phone or connect to mobile router.

 

[Landy Andy]

With an iPad you need the SIM card TYPE for it to have a gps chip in it. You don’t need a sim init, to work. I have mine tethered to the van’s WiFi anyway.

 

[Minxy]

You can use a tablet, I also have a 10in Samsung but it must have ability to have a sim card and your away, hope this helps. Chris

Are you sure as android based tablets don't need them normally.

 

[Minxy]

With an iPad you need the SIM card TYPE for it to have a gps chip in it. You don’t need a sim init, to work. I have mine tethered to the van’s WiFi anyway.

Oh dear ... even crappy Android ones have a GPS chip normally ... not saying they're always that quick though!

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[Minxy]

Just checked and our tablets are both Huawei MediaPad T5 ones which are 10.1" and have very good GPS chips in, something that hubby did a lot of research on before buying, they're not new but factory refurbished and only cost £70 each (the other might have been a bit cheaper, can't remember), not had any issues with them at all compared to newer but less well spec'd products.

I'm sure you can get ones with GPS chips which are as good, or better, than ours but there are still a lot of new ones that are cr@p.

 

[the1andonly]

Winch are the good and crap

 

[Dorwyn]

Some of the Aguri range of Sat Navs are effectively Android tablets, some with built in dash cam. If you don't have a tablet, they work well, since they are set up as sat Navs with tablet capabilities. If you already have a super duper tablet, take another route.

 

[nicholsong]

We have an App (Polish Automappa, but maybe a clone of something else) It works well on a smartphone screen of 16 x 6.5cm, mounted quite close to both of us.

Consequently we do not feel the need for a separate stand-alone Satnav.

The smartphone is our phone(contract covers all calls within EU, plus 3Gb pcm inside Poland and the same outside Poland, calls in EU to anywhere else in EU, mobile and land), also is the satnav as above and tether for our laptop. Does all we need.

 

[Neilfg]

thats really confusing, why didn't you simply pull up the centre dash bit and clip the tablet in that?

Completely missed this comment off the top of my head, I think..
- the tablet comes down too far when on the clip
- this is so much easier to use, honestly it really is
- the tablet is quite large and it is hard to get in the clip, I think this one fits just but our previous tablet did not
- do not have to worry about trapping buttons on the side of the tablet
- we often rest a battery solar pack on the dash behind the tablet, this just charges till we next need it

The magnet holders are positioned so that the tablet clip etc.. can still be used if necessary.
We use these holders in the van and the car and all our devices have a metal disk so that they can held in place with no fuss.

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[rob1234]

i use a s7 se that is 12" and fits in the same holder as the one in the photo ,,they must have some size of tablet ,,?

 

[pagey]

My samsung 10 fits in the holder.ok

 

[bigwood]

I have been thinking of using my I Pad to replace my aged Garmin. I have found an app for maps that links to search for sites but I have some basic questions for the more tech users of the forum.
The Garmin screen dims at night but is this the same with the I Pad. Also I assume it will need connection to the internet. At the moment we use a Huawei E5577C linked to 3 for WiFi when we are away.
As for mounting to the dash on our Mk 6 Transit that will take a bit of thinking about. Not meany people seem to have Transits of our age.

 

[ChrisL]

I just have a suction cup mount for mine but it's not a big tablet, it's connected to a mifi device to get traffic updates and i'm using copilot gps app caravan version so can put my dimensions in, luckily I bought a lifetime license before they became subscription only.

 

[bigwood]

I have bough a cheap holder as a try and see. My biggest concern is how ridged the I Pad will be. Our Transit is a fairly firm ride.
Before we leave for our next trip on Friday I will try it when I go to get diesel.

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[JaG]

View attachment 667039
We have stored the Sat nav in the glove box and have been using Waze for several years. It’s more up to date with road works, accidents etc than gps, I also find it easier to get the correct exit off roundabouts.
Having been caught several times by expensive waterproof motorbike Sat nav’s that were not waterproof, plus other devices with free lifetime updates that didn’t turn out that way, it will be cold day in hell before I buy another Sat nav.
The iPad is tethered to a phone and uses little data, and Waze/ Google maps are free.

I use Waze, and love it but.....it is a shame it does not have any settings for width/height as our Autotrail is just over 3m so have to double check bridges, etc.

 

[VandM]

Anyone using or tried a tablet as a sat nav. Only asking as my iPhone is just to small and have 10'' Samsung tablet .
Otherwise suggestions for sat nav

We've used a Samsung tablet as it gives a large, clear display. Only downsides are it needs a USB power supply to prevent the battery draining too rapidly and protection from the sun to prevent overheating.

 

[Midnightflyer]

Anyone using or tried a tablet as a sat nav. Only asking as my iPhone is just to small and have 10'' Samsung tablet .
Otherwise suggestions for sat nav

I wouldn't advise using a tablet as the map info is generic and not specific to Motorhomes, as the German found out 18 months ago that got stuck in a road too narrow for his unit.
I always use a TomTom programmed with my vehicle details, worth the money in many ways. I have tried Avtex, Garmin and other cheaper units but they don't compare, for your own sake spend the money and get the correct one, remember you pay the money and take what you get. Best advice I can give you.

 

[NorwayNeil]

Don't understand the need to tether the tablet to a phone. In Spain/Portugal in June we used an old Samsung tablet (2015) held in the tablet holder on the newer Ducato cabs (2018 onwards). No sim card and Google maps worked fine. You do have to download the maps first to get them offline, but quickly done before leaving home. All worked perfectly.

I've downloaded maps onto my 8 year old iPad Air2 and tried it untethered. It'll show the route but won't update my position when I start driving; do I need a basic GPS receiver attached to it or a newer iPad?
PS - I have a truck Tom Tom anyway, just wanted to try the iPad route.

 

[ChrisL]

I wouldn't advise using a tablet as the map info is generic and not specific to Motorhomes, as the German found out 18 months ago that got stuck in a road too narrow for his unit.
I always use a TomTom programmed with my vehicle details, worth the money in many ways. I have tried Avtex, Garmin and other cheaper units but they don't compare, for your own sake spend the money and get the correct one, remember you pay the money and take what you get. Best advice I can give you.

Tablets can run many different navigation apps including ones that allow the input of dimensions, they also can play your choice of music allow you to interface easily with site finding apps, surf the internet to find interesting information about places, book into sites in advance etc. I can't think of a good reason to buy a stand alone Sat nav.

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[ChrisL]

I've downloaded maps onto my 8 year old iPad Air2 and tried it untethered. It'll show the route but won't update my position when I start driving; do I need a basic GPS receiver attached to it or a newer iPad?
PS - I have a truck Tom Tom anyway, just wanted to try the iPad route.

I'm not an iPad man but some, those without sim cards do not support GPS, maybe someone who knows definetivly can confirm or deny.