I have been using a 10" Acer tablet as my primary GPS (hardwired to power) with a custom built holder and sunshade for 3 years now with no problems. A dry bag is used when its wet out. Seeing the screen in the daylight is not difficult (using the colored night settings) and having the directions read to me (for heads up riding) via speakers in my helmet.
The app to get is CoPilot ($10) plus a voice ($2) and another feature I can't remember right now ($5)...for a total of less than $20. The North America map is a onetime download and lives on the tablet. No cell/wifi signal needed while riding!
With the CoPilot app, I can plan/change a route on the fly or upload a route created in S&T. POI's are stored and can be added to at home. IF I happen to be "stuck" looking for something, I can pull over and search via the phone hotspot (or free wifi) for what I need, import the address as a waypoint and off I go.
While I regularly ride into Chicago's Loop, unless I am in-between very tall buildings stuck at a light I have a GPS signal.
Add to the mix the Bubbler GPS app (for Android) for tracking and I'm all set.
the "backup(s)" are a 7" Acer tablet and my Samsung fone. with the same setups.
Pics of the mount and tablet can be had via a PM.
join us in the 21st century...don't be afraid of the technology, the aliens figured it all out out before us.
It seems to work very well at first blush. I haven't yet tried to import custom routes, but supposedly it can do that.
Any update on the custom routes? And do you have an idea of what the in-app purchased maps go for? I can't find that in the docs on the Play store.
Thanks.
It seems to work very well at first blush. I haven't yet tried to import custom routes, but supposedly it can do that.
Any update on the custom routes? And do you have an idea of what the in-app purchased maps go for? I can't find that in the docs on the Play store.
Thanks.
The maps were on sale for $10 for all of North America.
As to the custom routes, I still haven't taken the time to figure that out, but simply emailing them to my phone didn't do the trick.
It seems to work very well at first blush. I haven't yet tried to import custom routes, but supposedly it can do that.
Any update on the custom routes? And do you have an idea of what the in-app purchased maps go for? I can't find that in the docs on the Play store.
Thanks.
The maps were on sale for $10 for all of North America.
As to the custom routes, I still haven't taken the time to figure that out, but simply emailing them to my phone didn't do the trick.
Cool. Thanks for the updates. I wish the app page was more fleshed out. Much appreciate the response.
So, unless somebody figures out another way to do it, the only way to generate custom routes for Viago is to do them in-application. It appears that routes generated in Basecamp can't be easily imported into Viago.
My next test is to see if I can make routes on my iPad and then transfer them over to the iPhone.
So, unless somebody figures out another way to do it, the only way to generate custom routes for Viago is to do them in-application. It appears that routes generated in Basecamp can't be easily imported into Viago.
My next test is to see if I can make routes on my iPad and then transfer them over to the iPhone.
I'll be surprised... that's the same as Navigon, which at one time was kind of the king of the hill of mobile GPS apps. (sigh)
Advrider has a really long thread on this topic that I've been reading.
The contract is up on my Galaxy S3 in a few weeks. I'm strongly considering going for one of the new water-resistant phones - either the s5 or maybe wait for the Note 4 and see how it looks.
I love the idea of being able to mount my phone in place of the nuvi 500 I've been running for the last few years. I've been bluetoothing my current phone from the tankbag/topcase to get phone and mp3 to my Sena SMH10 headset. I'd love to have the phone running the route as well. My nuvi has no audio out, so it'll be nice to hear the "recalculating" again.
I really want it waterproof though - I've heard about too many overheating issues when phones/tablets are inside waterproof cases.
It sounds like Copilot is the app to get. Also, there is some kind of goo (not the actual name) available via Amazon that allows any glove to work with modern touchscreens.
I still prefer my Garmin Zumo. It's so easy to add waypoints and change destinations. The thing I miss is the ability to drag a route like on Google or the huge hi-def screen like on my PC. I still use my phone to google & yelp destinations.
Seems like I have no or slow service on most of my rides.
Rue got an Aqua Box for her iPhone the other day and has it set up on her F700GS with a power cord.
I use my phone (an S5) on the bike just for small rides around. For longer trips I stick my old nuvi 550 on. It works where there is no signal and it is much easier to interact with with gloves on. Another thing to consider is the routing algorithm for the devices. I don't know if it is because I have had Garmin receivers forever and I'm just used to them but I find that they route a little better than google or waze. Even waze, which I use everyday on my commute, is different from google. I think because I kind of know how Garmin routes directions I feel better with it. I also use my phone for music and I think it just bogs down with all this stuff running at once. I have used the NavFee app and found it a little clunky. Since I have stopped using paper maps except for those I pick up on the road, I also like the idea of two devices in case one takes a dump someplace.
I have been using my iPhone 5 as a GPS for a while. I use Garmin USA and Sygic North America. Both are complex full featured programs with offline maps.
The Garmin USA app works really well as a point to point GPS ($49 with downloaded maps). You can also do custom routes in the application and except for the screen size it works better than BaseCamp or MapSource. Routes can't be exported or imported. The Garmin app works a lot like a Garmin car GPS.
I recently purchased Sygic North America app (I think it is on sale for around $20 with downloaded maps for North America) It is also a good point to point GPS. You can do custom routes in the app and except for screen size it works better than BaseCamp or MapSource. The Sygic program has lots of features and a takes time to learn, I think it is worth the effort.
The Advrider thread
Sygic on iPad and iPhone http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=996772&page=2 gives a good description of how to import, export and sync custom routes. I have an iPhone and iPad with Sygic installed and can develop a route on the iPad and it will automatically sync with the iPhone. I have also developed routes on Google Maps and Microsoft Streets and Trips and imported these to Sygic. The import/export conversion procedure is about as easy as importing a map from another source into BaseCamp or MapSource.
I use an external USB power source and a waterproof LifeProof case. I use the iPhone and my Scala Bluetooth headset for GPS, music, weather radar, and bike to bike communication.
In bright direct sun the screen can be hard to read, the touch screen is sometimes a problem but I can work around this. The two GPS programs have some quirks and issues but nothing worse than a typical Garmin unit. I have 2 Garmin motorcycle units that get left at home on most trips.
My 276c has a much better screen and big buttons. Unfortunately the USB port died last month so I can't load custom routes. I will use the iPhone for a GPS instead of spending the bucks it will take to buy a GPS that matches the phone.
I used my iPhone 5 last year and an old Garmain Nuvi. I liked the bluetooth through my speakers, so I ended up using my iPhone more. I used the Nuvi for speedometer and also for trip calc. For the iPhone, just point to point, using navfree, google maps, and even apple maps. They all worked getting me to destinations in places that were new to me. I did not do big routes. I am not an Android guy but bought a 80 dollar Acer 7" and tried to get it to work with my iPhone on the same Bluetooth headset, and just could not. I put it in the bag and just used it in the hotel room. I went online this spring with the purpose of buying a Zumo, but could not pull the trigger when I saw the final dollar amount. My finger hovered over the BUY NOW button for about 5 minutes, but could not so it. I opted to go for a Chinese quad core, waterproof and rustproof 5.5" android cell phone. This means I can travel with one phone, and keep the iPhone 6 128GB at home, and leave the tablet at home. It has dual Sim, and will hold a 32GB SD card, so I can put my Canadian and my Roaming SIM cards in and use whatever plan I want. I have no idea if the screen will show up in the sunlight, we shall see when it gets here. I am still a little scared of the Android world, but will see if it works. It was under 200 bucks US so if it totally is a failure, I will sell it on EBay to some adventure type person.
