Android tablet

D

Donald Tyson

Member
I have never owned an Android product and My wife has never had an Apple product. I am considering getting her a lower cost version to use for paying bills and surfing. I would like it if to be capable of handling the Aquamap app as well, to be used as a backup to my iPad.


I'd like your suggestions but I'm not very familiar with the nomenclature Android products use.I saw this below: SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 10.5” 64GB. Is this close to where I want to be?


I could do the research, I could figure it out, but there is nothing like the clarity that come by chit chat with experience and helpful folks.
 
That should work as long as using Android v8 or later per Aquamaps Marine website...I’m sure any new device is. We upgraded to a S9/168G while Verizon was having a sale with a SD card slot; the maps are stored there. AM has a routing option, but we haven't used it.

Having a Mobile Hotspot option is nice if also using a laptop (for security) when banking etc vs marina public wi-fi (if she doesn’t already have that on her Android phone).

We regard the major advantages of AM is the zoom-dependent ability to show No Wake Zones (many hundreds of miles in FL), USACE color coded latest survey depths, and your Mile Marker on ACE waterways (choose Heading Up in Options, then Record Track and a dialog box by your boat will show your MM constantly at 0.1 mile accuracy).

You may have read about auto-routing issues re iPads requiring a GPS chip and running out of memory using Navionics (due to how IOS handles turns) but none of that applies to AquaMaps, so sleep well.

I’m amazed at how many loopers on slow trawlers are using tablets vs traditional larger displays from the Big Five. However, if you’re moving at 25-30 MPH rather than 7 MPH, the next hazard comes up a lot faster, and us old farts (not you) need a big bright screen plus four eyes out the window to see it and react in time to prevent an Incident.

Best in finding a C-Dory for you guys,

John
 
You might consider a used or refurbed iPad if you are familiar with them. Make sure you get a cellular capable one to get the GPS chip (don't need to use the cellular functions).

There are plenty of Android devices out there. Lots from brands you never heard of. Just make sure it meets the system requirements of whatever app you intend to use on it and that it can access Google Play.

Also, check that it has a GPS chip. In general, Android tablets tend to have GPS, but not all of them.
 
I use an inexpensive Android tablet with Aquamap on our C-Dory and it has been working great. My VHF radio has a built in AIS receiver and GPS, so I take the NMEA data from that and run it to an NMEA to WIFI converter. The tablet picks up the wifi and so I have all the data on Aquamap. There is even redundant GPS data that way.
 
Correct. However, Android tablets typically have GPS and it is great redundancy. With it in the tablet, you don't have to worry about setting up any external network connection if you don't want to. The price is cheap enough that I would highly recommend an internal GPS. If you want to do more integration, you can always add the WIFI option, but the integral GPS will be operational right out of the box.
 
gstraub":19dn9vza said:
Correct. However, Android tablets typically have GPS and it is great redundancy. With it in the tablet, you don't have to worry about setting up any external network connection if you don't want to. The price is cheap enough that I would highly recommend an internal GPS. If you want to do more integration, you can always add the WIFI option, but the integral GPS will be operational right out of the box.
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That give me more clarity, We really don't need to ever hook up the cellular part as we have other options for that.
Thanks. This gets me going, at least for the basics.
 
Android tablets can have GPS without a cellular chip. They can have both, or neither, or only one these features.

It is only Apple that combines the GPS receiver with the cellular chip. If you want GPS, you've got to have both, but you never have to setup the cellular part for the GPS to work.
 
Donald Tyson":3s6d4hpu said:
Thanks, I saw a whole bunch of 11" Androids that mentioned having GPS for about $200.
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Bit of advice for use on the boat - Check the screen brightness before purchasing. Buy the brightest screen rating (nits) you can afford.

Many of the extremely inexpensive tablets will not be bright enough for use in the cabin.

The one I use is rated at:
Maximum: 428 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 395.7 cd/m²

400 is what I would call the bare minimum.
 
One of the reasons I pads are so popular is that they are available in 600 to 1000+ maximum nits (good level of brightness).

Some of the I phone pro's have a value of 2000 nits. My I pad is 1000 nits, and I can read it in sunlight, I phone is 2000 nits and again it is easily read in bright sunlight. Watches are available up to 3000 ($$$$). most are at least 1000.

C Dory owners (for the most part) are in a cabin, and don't deal with direct sunlight. The 400 to 600 nits will be fine.
 
I'm Done, Got the 10.1" Samsung that nearly matches her phone and has 128gig.
Thanks everyone. We will have the funds to upgrade if we need to but I think this will be a speedy little machine.
 
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