Tablets

Hi Wooly,

I was searching for info on tablets and seen you have the same model as I do.

Can I ask are you using an external GPS receiver? I'm assuming I need one to use maps 'live'. Hoping the S6 lite can fit the bill then I can purchase ExplorerOz Traveller to put on it.

Just trying to work out what will work.

Sorry for the hijack Silvereagle, I didn't want to start a new thread on the same sort of questions already being covered.

Cheers,
TonyT

Tony Tanz,
you don't need an external GPS with the S6 Lite. It has its own, built in.

Link

Hi Tony Tanz,

As Frank has said, the S6 Lite has its own GPS built in.

It must be a good one because my tab is on a floor mount and its a fair way away from the windscreen and down close to the console but always has hits on plenty of satelites.

The S6 Lite has also got plenty of RAM (4GB or 4MB, not sure which one) as well which I understand is important for things to operate smoothly.

Cheers

Hi Wooly, are you using the S6 Lite with the new vector maps ? Just checking that this model will perform OK with the last maps and app
thanks
Glenn

Hi Glenn,

I'm not sure what vector maps are to be honest.

I downloaded Ozi Explorer and have EO Toppo 2019, not the new one.

Also have all the Hema maps, Aust toppo 250k and most of the 100k available from Ozi Explorer website.

The tab works brilliantly with any of those maps.

I don't worry about using the Explore Oz Traveller thingo as all I want is a map screen, nothing else.

I have an older Tab S2. I cannot remember how old, but it's at least 5 years old. I have retired it because it can no longer run Traveller with the 2021 vector maps with any degree of usability. It will be my backup, running the 2019 raster maps, at which it was quite good.

thanks Frank, I see the S6 is about 10.5 " and the S6 Lite is about 10.1 ", do find this the right size for your car ? I have been using a 8" tablet mounted on the windscreen but I was thinking that any larger would be a bit big ?

Glenn,

I don't know exactly how you have mounted your tablet. I suspect if it is above the dash anything larger than 8 inch might compromise the driver's sightlines.

I mount my tablet below the top of the dash so sightlines are not compromised (well, not by the tablet - there's other stuff up there), and I can use a larger device.

This pic is of the S2, now replaced by the S6, in my car.




In the days before Traveller I was using Ozi Explorer on a Samsung 8 inch tablet. I found the mapping detail on that too small for my ageing eyes, prompting an upgrade to the S2 9.7 inch followed by the S6 at 10.5 inches.

The height of the S6 is a little less than the S2, but it is much wider. The S2 had an aspect ratio of 4:3, while the S6 is closer to 16:9.

To be honest, I preferred the S2's screen ratio, but Samsung have gone for the wide screen format in all their later tablets, I think.

I find the S6's size in the location where I have mounted it to be ideal.

I share you pain Glenn Y. Unfortunately on my Pajero the range selector is a conventional lever not a knob and it sits right below where a tablet fitted to a RAM floor mount is positioned. I might see if rebending the Al rod will help. Currently thinking of options, including shouting the wife a new iPad, stealing her iPad Mini and buying a bluetooth gps dongle. I tried the Lenovo over Easter running EOtopo 2019 and half way home it just lost the maps altogether and showed a blue screen with the speed panel showing the correct gps speed. David posted that the rendering engine for the raster maps didn't change with the new version of EO Traveller but the system does seem unstable, perhaps the tablet is on the way out anyway, but the problem still arises that there are no 7 or 8" Android tablets with more than 2Gb of RAM. All in all I can't see me fixing the issues with much change out of a $1000 if I stay with a tablet, so I'm also seriously considering using my new Nokia 8.3 phone which has a long 6.81" screen and 8GB RAM, 128GB storage (+µSD). The screen length should be make the device fine for navigation and my route planning is mainly done on my PC.

If you don't mind hotspotting to your phone to get the tracking component of Traveller, a Tab S6 Lite wifi, 64gB with 4gB RAM would probably suffice, though "probably" is the qualifier. I haven't tested a 4gB RAM device, but my 3gB Tab S2 was inadequate. $549 at JB HiFi

Or with cellular $602 from DSE Electronics (part of the Kogan empire). Same from Kogan.

Tab S6's (heavy, not lite) are now scarce as hen's teeth. They have 6gB or 8gB RAM depending on whether you buy a 128 or a 256 gB model. If hotspotting is ok and you can find a wifi model you can guarantee a good result but you're looking at $800-$900.

There are also some deals on eBay, especially for used models.

Here's a refurbished 128gB S6 (heavy, not lite) with cellular (LTE), 6gB RAM, $599. That would give you a great result.

Thanks Frank, I'm thinking I'll try a S6 Lite you can get one new for around $500, however there are a few used S6 heavies around for around $700, I'll sleep on it.

thanks Warren, I think I can use the RAM floor mount, once I get a 10" tablet I'll be able to get a better idea.

Hi all I have managed to pick up a Samsung Tab S6 256 Gb tablet in perfect condition for a very good price, thats the one with 8Gb of ram. Installing ExplorOz Traveller now. thanks for all your advice !
Any other tips ?
One question I have - the floor mount tablet holders, there is the Arkon brand for around $50 and the RAM one from around $130. Anything wrong with the cheaper Arkon one ?

You'll be pleased with that, Glenn.

I don't know anything about Arkon, but any of that type, including the RAM floor mount that I used, allows the tablet at the end of the long stalk to flop around like crazy. IMO you'll have to devise a couple of brackets to steady it.

I've posted this pic before, but here it is again. I found I needed two brackets to take the whip out of the aluminium rod. (That pointy bit on the bottom bracket is not a knife ! it's actually bent down.)

Also I had to devise a supplementary bracket at the bottom to move the whole thing forward. I used 6mm flat steel bar.

Thanks Frank for the quick response.

ExporOZ Traveller with EOTopo Maps 2021 on the S6 Tablet - WOW WOW WOW !
This combo is so awesome I love it ! You can zoom in and out and flip between maps pretty much instantaneously and the resolution is fantastic. Well done Exploroz !

Glenn,

I purchased an Arkon floor mount prior to a 10K km WA, SA & NT trip. A robust looking device, with a 2 piece leg, including an adjustable “knee” joint, that, I recall, didn’t move around quite as much as the RAM mount does. Have a RAM unit now & did the Canning in 2019. However..........

With the Arkon, one screw holds the tablet mount to the ball joint at the top of the leg. This screw kept loosening when travelling along the old Telegraph track down to Israelite Bay. Being resourceful but a senior citizen, I applied Loctite , either 222 or 243, to the screw and it stayed tight, but the plastic surround deteriorated, rending the mount useless. iPad spent next 7K kms sliding around on the passenger seat.

I’d go the RAM!

Bob.

RAM have another range of very sturdy floor or seat-based mounts but they are expensive.
https://www.ja-gps.com.au/RAM/ram-vbd-122/
plus
https://www.ja-gps.com.au/RAM/ram-vp-ttm8u/
plus
https://www.ja-gps.com.au/RAM/ram-vb-110-1u/
plus exactly what you choose to fix your tablet too

More here too: https://www.ja-gps.com.au/RAM-Mounts

I wonder how ExplorOz behaves if you mounted your tablet in portrait mode? That way we could see more of the track ahead. The trend to wide screens (LOW screens actually!) is very annoying! But turning 90 degrees might be a way of getting the most from them (any of them actually).

Cheers,
Jim
PS: I have bought and installed the post detailed above, but (also) have not yet chosen a tablet to suit it hence tuned in here with great interest - thanks all for the tablet info.

Jim,

"I wonder how ExplorOz behaves if you mounted your tablet in portrait mode? "

The good folk at ExplorOz are always well behaved. LOL

But you make a good point about wide screens and Traveller - my 10.5 inch Tab S6 with about a 16:9 aspect ratio is actually lower in screen height than my retired 9.7 inch Tab S2 with a 4:3 aspect ratio. I prefer the 4:3 display for the nav function, but the 16:9 is better for the other things I use the tablet for, IMO.

In Traveller's settings you can offset the moving map downwards if you choose "track up" in the display. This give you more of a look ahead.

Another also - all the labels in the EOTopo 2021 vector maps rotate as you rotate the map so they are always upright and readable. My preference has always been "north up" to keep the labels readable. With the new vector maps I think I will change to "track up".

As mentioned above it seems that my new Samsung Tab S6 tablet has the more modern 16:9 size ratio and that means its about as wide as my old Lenovo Yoga Tab3 8" tablet, in fact its only a tiny bit bigger than this tablet. I have an Isuzu MUX and it doesnt really have enough room for a floor mount tablet holder. So I am going to stay with a wind screen mount, I had a look with my old ebay tablet older and it doesn't obstruct my vision significantly as I can see over it. I will get a more robust mount though. Thanks all for your help !