Nexus 7 / 2013 model 32G

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Nexus 7 / 2013 model 32G ? Navigation

any comment on if the nexus 7 tablet which is android based would make a good navigation device off-road running something like backcountry navigator?
 
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It is a hot little machine and seems pretty popular. I wanted a larger screen and extra 64GB removable storage for offline nav and to carry a few movies along so I got a Sony Xperia Tablet Z. The XTZ is also dust and water proof which is something I expect to enjoy now I've gotten out of the old Win XP Tablet edition tablets (even the milspec Itronix tablet leaked dust) and into the modern era.

The new 7 has the same RAM and processor setup and it is zippy on the XTZ, plus the 7 has the shiniest OS version out which supposedly is further optimized for performance. I don't think you can go wrong with the new 7.

Gaia is what I've been using for software. They have a lot of different map sets available and it isn't too painful to download areas for offline use. The new beta they have is REALLY sweet (but no offline mode to play with yet).
 
Searching on nexus 7 2013 brings up quite a lot of hits from reviews and folk having issues with the touch display and the GPS. I'd be wary of getting one until the consensus shows the problems have been resolved/fixed.

I run an Acer 7" (older A100) and it's an excellent size for navigation. It's an 8g unit and I have a 32g microsd to hold maps and other data. The display works well if not directly hit by sunlight. In fact, your choice of tablet should be based on reasonable outdoor/sunlight performance if you want to use it for in-vehicle navigation. It would be worth visiting some stores and ask to take the unit outside to 'see' how it performs with high background lighting.

Here's the A100 in my patrol in oz:

mqdash.jpg


cheers,
george.
 
I agree with the sun's impact to vision of the device....the sun plays hell with my GPS in my car....its a tom-tom and I bought a little chessey sun visor for it that may last a year or so. I don't plan to mount the nexus up on the dash pad area but if I do get one...probably will get a ram mount or other type hard mount for the dash area or that comes off a fixed point.
 
One tool that has been useful for dialing in the GPS on Android OS is called "GPS Status". It brings up a pretty busy looking status display, but it runs along with any app using the tablet/phone GPS to pull in and keep birds. Once I started using it, I noticed better signal retention. I do not know what kind of voodoo they use to make it happen, and you have to watch battery use.

For screen reflection, there are matte films you can get. I have RAM bar mounts on bent up sch40 pipe across the width of both my 62 and 40. This lets me move and organize various tools any way I like, and the RAMs let you adjust to cut outside glare. Every little bit helps.

George- glad someone else has a busy dash. I feel a little embarrassed posting mine from time to time.
 
Yeah, GPS Status works fine. I use it just to see what's happening, but don't bother with it in the background. I run ozi and it retains lock just fine - it can also display the satellite constellation and what is locked. Used it for nearly 2 weeks straight last trip back to oz and since the A100 was running off vehicle power it ran 24/7 the whole time. Never lost lock or had any issues and I ended up with a complete trip tracklog.

Yep, I run a matte film on the A100 - definitely the best way to go to reduce glare/reflections. I have a matte film on my Samsung S4 as well (run ozi on it too) and it makes it a LOT more readable than a gloss finish.

Yep, I've got a few toys on the dash of my old Patrol :) Helps to have an old school relatively 'flat' dash that makes it easier to stick stuff all over it...

Last year in oz:

navig.jpg


cheers,
george.
 
The answer to the question is yes...from post #1
 
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