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Gaia Tablet Options

Downs

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

I'm using a Samsung Galaxy Tab A (has GPS) with a RAM mount designed for that tablet. Has proven to be rock solid so far across all kinds of terrain. The tablet was ~$100 on eBay.

The only gripe I have is that Gaia doesn't recenter your location on the map like a regular GPS would, so I need to keep manually moving the map as I drive.

Note also that if you use iOS you can run Gaia via CarPlay on your truck's screen now - so no need for a separate tablet/phone. Google won't let you do that as they refuse to support any mapping software other than Google Maps in Android Auto ;(
When you scroll away it won't recenter sometimes, just hit the "Crosshair" button at the top again (circle with 4 small lines coming off of it) and it'll recenter. If you push it again it will orient the map to the direction of travel while tracking.
 

Downs

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

Thanks - the trick seems to be to toggle that icon to put it into 'Course' navigation mode. It needs to be put back into that mode every time you restart.
I've never had that issue. Everytime the app starts either on my tablet and my phone I always have that button at the top.
 

wahoowad

Rank III

Enthusiast III

Where is this option? I've looked for it several tes.on trips and I don't see it anywhere.
touch the CarPlay screen and you will see controls appear. There should be a location type icon that will recenter and stay centered if you tap it once.
 

Maverick9110E

Rank V
Launch Member

Influencer II

im in the market myself. Looking at a Samsung Tab A10.1 2nd gen. Looked at the Lenovo but it looks like GPS is only over wifi and not a dedicated onbaord GPS chip. Samsung just announced their S7 tab so maybe the S5 and S6 will drop a bit in price. One thing ive noticed in regards to the charging issue some mentioned on my Google Pixel phone is you need a dedicated S-connector to S-connectoer to take advantage of the fast charge feature. Not sure if other devices are similiar.
 

Downs

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

im in the market myself. Looking at a Samsung Tab A10.1 2nd gen. Looked at the Lenovo but it looks like GPS is only over wifi and not a dedicated onbaord GPS chip. Samsung just announced their S7 tab so maybe the S5 and S6 will drop a bit in price. One thing ive noticed in regards to the charging issue some mentioned on my Google Pixel phone is you need a dedicated S-connector to S-connectoer to take advantage of the fast charge feature. Not sure if other devices are similiar.
Which Lenovo did you look at?
 

Yaniv05

Rank V
Launch Member

Steward I

I found this Android tablet. They claim it has GPS. I haven't decided yet if I am going to get it or not. But it looks like a good option for using Gaia.

It's an 8inch table for less than $100


 

LostInThought

Rank VI
Member

Influencer I

I'm using a Samsung Galaxy Tab A (has GPS) with a RAM mount designed for that tablet. Has proven to be rock solid so far across all kinds of terrain. The tablet was ~$100 on eBay.

The only gripe I have is that Gaia doesn't recenter your location on the map like a regular GPS would, so I need to keep manually moving the map as I drive.

Note also that if you use iOS you can run Gaia via CarPlay on your truck's screen now - so no need for a separate tablet/phone. Google won't let you do that as they refuse to support any mapping software other than Google Maps in Android Auto ;(

GaiaGPS does have three different "follow" modes, controlled by an icon at the top of the screen which takes on different appearances depending on the selected mode. Going from memory, a red circle with compass points freezes the map with North at the top of the screen and you'll need to move the map manually; a green circle with compass points keeps North at the top of the screen, but keeps the map centered on the vehicle; lastly, a green triangle pointing up and "projecting" another triangle out of it, keeps the map centered on the vehicle with the top of the screen indicating the direction of travel.
 

Downs

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

I found this Android tablet. They claim it has GPS. I haven't decided yet if I am going to get it or not. But it looks like a good option for using Gaia.

It's an 8inch table for less than $100


Don't do it. I got their S7 tablet Within a month the bottom half inch of the screen stopped working and the GPS chip took about 2 hours to lock into a signal. When I emailed the seller they claimed it didn't have a GPS chip even though their description said it did. Spring a little extra money on something like a Lenovo or anothern name brand. Their customer service took care of me but just seems like poor quality to me.
 
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Downs

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

Lenovo Tab M10 FHD Plus 2nd Gen
I've got their M8 in my Jeep now. It most certainly has a GPS chip in it. When I chatted with their customer service they claimed the only M series tablet that didn't have one is their M7 tablet.
 

Yaniv05

Rank V
Launch Member

Steward I

I found this Android tablet. They claim it has GPS. I haven't decided yet if I am going to get it or not. But it looks like a good option for using Gaia.

It's an 8inch table for less than $100


Don't do it. I got their S7 tablet Within a month the bottom half inch of the screen stopped working and the GPS chip took about 2 hours to lock into a signal. When I emailed the seller they claimed it didn't have a GPS chip even though their description said it did. Spring a little extra money on something like a Lenovo or anothern name brand. Their customer service took care of me but just seems like poor quality to me.
Thanks for the advice. Will consider a different option.
 

Enthusiast III

Thanks for the advice. Will consider a different option.
If you are just wanting to try out tablet based navigation. I have an 8 inch lepan mini tablet with gps and compass sensor for sale for 90 bucks plus shipping. It's an awesome tablet, it is running older version of Android but all apps still work on it. It does not have lte which is why I moved to the Samsung. The lepan was still rocking it better than my Samsung in every other way.
 

JL Lou

Rank IV
Member
Investor

Member III

Where is this option? I've looked for it several tes.on trips and I don't see it anywhere.
Look at the previous post (post #39), Chris included a thumbnail with a picture of the icon. Push once and the map keeps you in the middle. Push twice and the map auto rotates to the direction you are moving up.

If you scroll around the map, you have to touch the icon again to recenter.
 

Maverick9110E

Rank V
Launch Member

Influencer II

I've got their M8 in my Jeep now. It most certainly has a GPS chip in it. When I chatted with their customer service they claimed the only M series tablet that didn't have one is their M7 tablet.
This is odd, as i chatted with their customer service as well, and when i asked if the M8 tablet had an onboard GPS chip they said yes it has GPS. But when i asked if the GPS would work without a Wifi Signal they said i would need a tablet with WWAN capability which currently none of their tablets have.
 

Thomas B

Rank III
Launch Member

Enthusiast III

I currently use an iPad Mini paired with a Garmin Glo for GPS connectivity. I’ve been very happy with this setup. I have the Glo mounted at the top of my windshield right behind the rearview mirror using Velcro tape and the Garmin belt clip holder. The Glo has worked flawlessly so far. It’s never lost a signal even in dense forests with heavy tree cover. It connects via Bluetooth to the iPad.34BB32EF-7CDC-4F4A-89B1-A8E00F18F4A7.jpeg41FDF475-16D2-43CE-9ADB-E596A67285D6.jpeg
 

Downs

Rank V
Launch Member

Member III

This is odd, as i chatted with their customer service as well, and when i asked if the M8 tablet had an onboard GPS chip they said yes it has GPS. But when i asked if the GPS would work without a Wifi Signal they said i would need a tablet with WWAN capability which currently none of their tablets have.
They never mentioned that to me. This was recorded on my M8 today with no wifi. Just using the GPS chip

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