What tablet to run without signal?

[pkelly72]

I'm looking to get an inexpensive setup for navigation that does not rely on phone signal. I know there are some cocky puck GPS devices that can be plugged in. Ideally, I could run google earth on it as well which would show topography.

So, what are you using? What additional software do you recommend?

 

[Dharma Dude]

On trails, I use Avenza maps and downloaded USFS maps or USGS maps. I am not aware of navigation in Avenza.

While traveling outside of cell range, I use offline Google Maps navigation for regular highway and road travel. Go into Google Maps, touch the "Hamburger menu" (the three horizontal bars in the upper left) and touch "Offline Areas" and download the areas you care about. It will even download terrain info, but not satellite for obvious reasons. You get business listings too if you want to search offline for for a gas station or restaurant. I don't recall exactly but I had no trouble fitting huge chunks of california into my phone...took less than 1 gb I think.

I have used offline Google Maps on my tablet as well, which doesn't have a cellular connection.

 

[izzyandsue]

iPad. With downloaded Avenza NatGeo Trails Illustrated maps, GaiaGPS with the area downloaded, and Google maps when I remember to do it. ipad Air is always dead on accurate in the mountains here on the East coast.
The ipad can do a lot more of course.

 

[pkelly72]

Just so I'm clear, if your iPad doesn't have signal you can still get an accurate location? Does your iPad have to have an internal gps and how can you tell if it does? I have one but really just let the kids use it.

 

[FJ60Seth]

Inexpensive will require research. You'll want the oldest/cheapest GPS enabled tablet which will run the software of your choice. The biggest risk is that the hardware will quickly become obsolete and a new software version of your nav app won't run it.

I run GaiaGPS on an iPhone 6+ and the size of the screen is fine for me.

 

[izzyandsue]

The iPad I have works off grid perfectly as long as you have the maps downloaded

 

[george_tlc]

Just about ANY tablet (android or fruit based) these days will have built in GPS. GPS takes care of position fixes.

What you then need is software that supports OFFLINE maps. These you download via that software BEFORE you leave wifi/cell coverage.

Obviously your tablet requires sufficient storage (flash memory) to store whatever maps you decide to download.

Google earth (GE) doesn't support large downloads for offline use. You can download a small area of interest by 'panning' through that area and setting the GE cache to as large as it will allow. This is one wish, even if GE charged a subscription/fee I would happily pay it to allow large area downloads (at various zoom levels) prior to heading bush.

cheers,
george.

 

[pkelly72]

My iPad does have the built in gps. It was set up for 4g but I never used it that way. Only wifi. So what software do you recommend? Giai was mentioned. But I really like to see the 3D images of topography. I can read maps but I prefer to see it because I don't always have time to study maps. I know what your thinking but understand that I'm a firefighter and I need information quickly when dealing with developing situations.

 

[pkelly72]

Just about ANY tablet (android or fruit based) these days will have built in GPS. GPS takes care of position fixes.

What you then need is software that supports OFFLINE maps. These you download via that software BEFORE you leave wifi/cell coverage.

Obviously your tablet requires sufficient storage (flash memory) to store whatever maps you decide to download.

Google earth (GE) doesn't support large downloads for offline use. You can download a small area of interest by 'panning' through that area and setting the GE cache to as large as it will allow. This is one wish, even if GE charged a subscription/fee I would happily pay it to allow large area downloads (at various zoom levels) prior to heading bush.

cheers,
george.

Besides GE, is there another subscription based program you could recommend? I'd happily pay for it as well.

 

[FJ60Seth]

The paid version of Gaia supports multiple layers which include satellite.

 

[Josey1972]

Just so I'm clear, if your iPad doesn't have signal you can still get an accurate location? Does your iPad have to have an internal gps and how can you tell if it does? I have one but really just let the kids use it.

I'm pretty sure only downloaded maps will work unless your ipad is LTE. Then it has a GPS in it. I'm totally sure of that but I thik that's how it works.

 

[pkelly72]

My ipad is the 4th generation with LTE, cracked screen and all.

Here's what I've found in case others are interested.

Free GPS App Tools for Volunteer and Seasonal Firefighters - Wildfire Magazine

Where you go to help you know; wildland fire mobile apps cheat sheet