USB GPS on tablet ???

[henris]

Hello,

Just bought an Android tablet and see it has no built in GPS.
I want to use Navionics on the tablet.
I have a USB GPS .
Question:
How to connect the GPS to the Navionics Boating App,so that it will work ?

Henri

[rbk]

Well none of the links I put in seem to work. Just google external usb gps antenna and it will come up with a variety of external antenna options.

[henris]

Yes I have one like that, but am missing the pilot or some other App to have Navionics recognise the USB GPS -

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by henris

Hello,

Just bought an Android tablet and see it has no built in GPS.
I want to use Navionics on the tablet.
I have a USB GPS .
Question:
How to connect the GPS to the Navionics Boating App,so that it will work ?

Henri

Why not return it and get one WITH a built-in GPS?

[henris]

Because the shop refused to change the item as the box has been opened (unsealed)

[rbk]

Try this.

https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-su...hone-or-tablet

[thudbranch]

Originally Posted by henris

Because the shop refused to change the item as the box has been opened (unsealed)

Even if you had a GPS built into your tablet, you may find that it is not satisfactory. My Samsung tablet has a GPS built in. However Navionics does not work at all inside the cabin of my fiberglass power boat due to lack of GPS signal. Even on the flybridge under a canvas enclosure, it does not work well enough to use on a cloudy day or when the canvas is wet. At best on the flybridge under canvas, is is barely usable on a sunny day. If I take the tablet out from under the canvas enclosure and wait long enough, Navionics finds it locations after a minute or so and then works OK under canvas on a dry day. I am about to add an external antenna for it, or possibly buy a chart plotter with an external antenna for those reasons. So I am interested in how you come out with an external antenna.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by henris

Just bought an Android tablet and see it has no built in GPS.

Didn't know there were ANY Android tablets without GPS.

What brand/model?

-Chris

[henris]

It-s a new fashion
Mine is a Xiaomi Pad 5- but some of the Samsung A6 in Lite Version lack also the GPS. I got smarter with these incident. Tought also that all Android tablets got GPS.

[davenrino]

I don't have a Samsung or USB GPS but I do have 2 ipads without GPS that I bluetooth to either my Garmin InReach or Bad Elf Pro. These GPS sources both are way more accurate than the cheap GPS chip that comes on cellular ipads. I also believe the ipad battery life is better using bluetooth rather than an onboard GPS. I have 2 ipads in waterproof cases so one is always charged. Navionics and all the other nav apps I have tried all work well with this setup as a backup to my Garmin chart plotter. BTW the Bad Elf usually gets 12-14 sattelites from down in the cabin.

[CarinaPDX]

Agreed that a Bluetooth GPS might be a better solution but since the USB GPS is available then give it a try. The instructions linked above look promising.

Tablets are getting cheap, in both senses of the word. They are not just leaving out GPS modules, they are leaving out magnetic heading sensors as well. The sensors are one of the distinguishing features of "premium", and hence expensive, tablets. Check the specs carefully before buying. Annoying...

Greg

[davenrino]

Originally Posted by CarinaPDX

Agreed that a Bluetooth GPS might be a better solution but since the USB GPS is available then give it a try. The instructions linked above look promising.

Tablets are getting cheap, in both senses of the word. They are not just leaving out GPS modules, they are leaving out magnetic heading sensors as well. The sensors are one of the distinguishing features of "premium", and hence expensive, tablets. Check the specs carefully before buying. Annoying...

Greg

Ha….my iPads are old- Air 2 and 6th gen. Might as well try it. My cases would no longer be waterproof with a cord and I know it would get broken off eventually. I always have my InReach on anyway.

[bailsout]

I use navionics on my smart phone.

[Hans Klardie]

I use a cheap no name tablet and put the GPS dongle on with a extension ubs cable so I can leave it outside the cabin Works great, however is often hard to read in the sun light Also my smartphone works great with a few different programs I have been using. I now got myself a old Tough book from Panasonic so I can read it in the sun it is rain proof and can be ruff handled I use Tides and Currents, Sail Free GPS, Weather network, Wind finder, Current atlas and for main navigation Open CPN. This free program does everything I can think of. I also have a GPS viewer and Sea clear II on it. If on anchor I can play cards on it or look at my photo's and Email or Whats up. That is a lot more as a dedicated and expensive Navigation program will do for me.

[henris]

Finally what I did is to follow the instruction on
https://gpswebshop.com/blogs/tech-su...hone-or-tablet

It works like a charm. Many thanks to all of you.
Henris