Garmin GPS Interface

[Colorado Cowboy]

Need a little advice from some of you computer experts. I have a Garmin 650 Oregon with a Colorado chip. Out in the field I sometimes have a problem with the small screen...too much sun, no reading glasses, etc. At home I interface it with my home computer. I have downloaded Garmin's Base Camp software and can see the image from the GPS on the large screen. I am looking for a small tablet type computer with around 6"x8" screen that I can connect the gps to in the field. I am sure I'll need to download the Base Camp program into the tablet. I am assuming that the gps lock on the garmin will have the data that I can transfer/view on the tablet.

Am I on the right track...if so what tablet would work best.

If not what else can I do.

Thanks.....

 

[hoshour]

I would call onXmaps at 406-540-1602 and see what they say but I suspect just about any tablet will do. Best Buy has tablets with GPS and wifi as low as $50 to well over $1,000.

It depends on what else you want to use it for - reading, surfing the net, games, videos, phone service, controlling your TV or stereo, house lights and thermostat, word processing, Excel or running Windows computer programs.

Also, how good a display you want, how light, how much memory, whether you want a keyboard (yes). My kids have iPads and love them but I would take my time to research it and talk to as many nerds as you need to.

 

[hoshour]

I talked to onXmaps. Their mobile device software runs $100/year and will work on any mobile device and sync across devices, so you can view it on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet, either Apple or Android as long as the Android software is at least 4.40. Right now, all new ones seem to be at least 5.1 or 6.0. That $100 covers info and layers for every state.

One good tablet option is the Samsung Galaxy 8" with 32gb of memory, 8 core processor, GPS, great display, comes with Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Battery life is 14 hours of continuous use, though in the field you would put it on airplane mode so it takes very little juice and the GPS will continue to work offline. That runs $300 and I would get a super slim keyboard and case. The tablet itself weights 9 oz.

They have a lesser version without the software that has a 7" screen for $129 if you truly only want to use it for downloaded maps in the field.

For myself, I have an Apple 6+ phone with a 6.5" screen and that would work fine for what you're talking about, without buying a tablet, though I am likely to get an iPad this year just so I can quit carrying around my laptop with a big battery and heavy power cord.

 

[bghunter]

Are you sure the GPS will work in airplane mode and in remote out of service areas? Does onxmas mobile device software have land owners info?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

What I'm wanting to do is receive the gps signal on my Garmin 650 and transfer the image to a tablet so it's easier to see.

 

[WapitiBob]

That's not gonna work.
Just add the app of your choice to the tablet.

 

[JimP]

If the tablet will store and run Base Camp it will work.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

That's not gonna work.
Just add the app of your choice to the tablet.

How is that going to work where you can access the internet?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

If the tablet will store and run Base Camp it will work.

That's what I want to do.

 

[hoshour]

The GPS will work whether there is internet or not. Just download base camp when you do have a signal before you go, save the maps to the tablet and you can see your location on whichever map you pull up. OnXmaps suggested airplane mode to save battery life because you don't need internet for the GPS to work or to view downloaded files.

 

[WapitiBob]

Going back and re reading your 1st post, the image you see on the computer is the map from the gps chip being loaded into Basecamp when you plug in that gps.

The only way you're going to duplicate that is to get a windows tablet that will let you install basecamp, and you'll probably need Windows and not "Windows Mobile" on the tablet. Essentially a mini laptop. Garmin dropped their Basecamp Mobile so that's not an option for a tablet running a mobile OS.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I really appreciate everyone giving me their ideas and experience. I really learned a lot. My next thing to do is visit my closest computer "big box" store tablet shopping. I'll be taking my gps with me and a list of questions I have.

I'll let everyone know how this ends up.

 

[hoshour]

OK. I talked to onXmaps again. Basecamp is for use with the GPS chip for GPS units like the Oregon and can also be viewed on the desktop or laptop.

The Hunt app from onXmaps is what they have for phones and tablets. It actually has more information than Basecamp and can be viewed on phone, tablet or computer. The $100 annual membership includes all states so you don't have to buy or update individual chips and of course you get to view it on larger screens.

When you save and download maps on your device with their app, whatever layers you have turned on when you save the map will be usable when you are out of cell and wifi range. According to them, any tablet or phone will do. They guy I spoke to uses an iPad but Android tablets or Windows tablets also work fine.

So, whatever tablet you buy you should buy more with other uses in mind. It need not be anything special, though if you're going to carry it around in the field, you might want to choose one of the lighter ones. I've also noticed that some tablets have both GPS and GLONASS chip which may give better accuracy.

You may not even need to buy a tablet if your phone screen is a good size. I have an iPhone 6+ with a 7" screen and that is a big improvement over the tiny screen on my Garmin Oregon.

 

[JimP]

I was looking at some tablets on Amazon and noticed that they only come with a mini-USB hub, so if you plan on plugging your GPS into one make sure that you get a adapter.

 

[go_deep]

If you have the land ownership chip in mini sd, you can install it in any device that has GPS, with a mini sd port. A smart phone, many tablets have mini sd ports. Then you wouldn't have to tether your GPS to another device. Like was mentioned above a good used smart phone with a oversized screen would be a great option, the phone wouldn't have to have an active service number on it either, just have GPS.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

If you have the land ownership chip in mini sd, you can install it in any device that has GPS, with a mini sd port. A smart phone, many tablets have mini sd ports. Then you wouldn't have to tether your GPS to another device. Like was mentioned above a good used smart phone with a oversized screen would be a great option, the phone wouldn't have to have an active service number on it either, just have GPS.

I do have 2 chips (Wy & Co), this is good to know. Thanks for the info. It will be several weeks before I can get down to Farmington to see what works.

 

[WapitiBob]

It doesn't work that way CC. You're not going to read that sd card without Basecamp.

 

[JimP]

Also the GPS in a tablet works differently than a Garmin does. A tablet uses triangulation off of cell towers to figure out where you are located and not satelights. So if there is no cell coverage then the GPS inside of it won't work.

From what I have been reading you should be able to download Base Camp onto a tablet and then go from there for the maps but it won't tell you exactly where you are located at like a GPS will.

If you go onto Amazon and find one that you like you can ask questions and real time owners will usually respond to you with a answer instead of asking a sales person that has no idea of what you really want to do.

 

[hoshour]

From the HUNT app description - "Cellular network coverage is NOT necessary to use this app and the GPS functionality." (Emphasis in the original)

 

[go_deep]

You can download base camp apps, and triangulation apps, if your device doesn't have those currently loaded on them. You can download them for free on Google play.