Aldi 10" Tablet for Navigation and Comms

[TimE]

Bought myself a 10" Bauhn (Aldi on sale for $229 last month, same as this one (http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/463033/aldi_selling_quad-core_3g_android_tablet_249/)). http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2013/12/62.jpg

The good things so far:

Cheap, $229
Oziexplorer App, $25 well spent for the Beta version it works a treat
3G mobile connection via Aldi Mobile (https://www.aldimobile.com.au/plans) who use Telstra, I can now keep in touch way out west
Internet and Email work well
Ereader connection to my local library is great, uses OverDrive App, (free book, audio book and magazine downloads), Kindle App also available for Amazon products
Good (enough) camera
Big screen so my poor old eyes don't have to strain as they currently do on my double din unit

Following on from Megatexture's Ram Mount ideas (http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?24711-that-useless-centre-panel-with-flip-up-cover&p=449270&viewfull=1#post449270) I have ordered the following bits

RAM-101U arm

RAM-HOL-TAB-LGU tablet holder http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/
Ram Mount bits $98 from Southern Insight (http://www.ram-mount.com.au/authentication.php?back=my-account.php)

I will use RamNut R466372 anchors to attach the the arm to the centre panel flip up cubby hole.http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/images/imported/2013/12/63.jpg

Pictures of Ram Mount install to follow.

[threedogs]

After something similar and was going to mount it where passenger air bag should be.
Only wanted nav so co-pilot can direct traffic for a change.
Change your interior lights to red, great for tired old eyes, lol

[TimE]

Bits ordered yesterday lunch time turned up this 'arvo, that has got to be good. Paul at Southern Insight was great to deal with, answered all my emails promptly and had a number of suggestions for alternate instals. The only issue is their website purchasing system doesn't work, email them or give them a call. (No affiliation, just happy customer).

Here are some pics.

It is a real pain trying to get the ball socket installed into the little cubby hole, you need girlie hands and a bit of patience. WARNING, there are bits of "car" immediately behind the cubby hole, drill carefully and shallow, I used a drill bit with a lot of tape a few mil from the tip to avoid going too deep. I drilled one hole at a time, using the base plate as a template for the next hole.

The Holder with ball socket attached

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/timber93au/RamMount2_zps158df093.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/timber93au/media/RamMount2_zps158df093.jpg.html)

The "Arm" with socket that goes into the cubby hole attached

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/timber93au/RamMount4_zps9b698f5b.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/timber93au/media/RamMount4_zps9b698f5b.jpg.html)

Arm attached to holder

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/timber93au/RamMount6_zps9158fa6f.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/timber93au/media/RamMount6_zps9158fa6f.jpg.html)

The fiddly bit, getting the ball into the cubby (see warning above)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/timber93au/RamMount13_zps6294d975.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/timber93au/media/RamMount13_zps6294d975.jpg.html)

Arm attached to mounted ball

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/timber93au/RamMount11_zps1382d95b.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/timber93au/media/RamMount11_zps1382d95b.jpg.html)

Tablet and holder attached

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/timber93au/RamMount17_zpscec7ea89.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/timber93au/media/RamMount17_zpscec7ea89.jpg.html)

Looking good

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a44/timber93au/RamMount10_zps1b6b3444.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/user/timber93au/media/RamMount10_zps1b6b3444.jpg.html)

A quick trip to the shops and all was good, no vibration and the Tablet screen was easily read. It is a bright sunny day here today so I was a little surprised about how well the screen display read.

I have both street and Ozi Android navigation Apps installed.

[megatexture]

If when you tighten the arm you put the knob down it can rest on the front of the dash and it takes out any minor vibrations also,

What size ball and legenth arm did you go ? Looks like the next size up that I did I think I went a 1" ball? Can't remember it was a while ago lol

They are the fasteners I was trying to find a pic of

Looks good mate:smiley_thumbs_up:

[TimE]

If when you tighten the arm you put the knob down it can rest on the front of the dash and it takes out any minor vibrations also,

What size ball and legenth arm did you go ? Looks like the next size up that I did I think I went a 1" ball? Can't remember it was a while ago lol

They are the fasteners I was trying to find a pic of

Looks good mate:smiley_thumbs_up:

Yep, the next size up, 1.5" ball, and a bit longer, the base is still the same size so it fits in the cubby hole. The extra length helps with getting the Tablet holder (RAM-HOL-TAG=LGU) a just past the edge of the dash panel.

[megatexture]

Is that the longest arm available? I swear mines out further

[megatexture]

I found a previous post on what parts i used http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/showthread.php?15896-Which-Mount-for-an-IPad2/page2

[GQ TANK]

Im using a ram mount for my 7 inch Samsung Tab 2.

Also use them at work for use with our industrial standard tablets.

On my GQ I just used a right angle bracklet to mouth the ram mount. I could no find a easy place to mount the Arm.

[TimE]

OK, after a few trips into the bush and the internal GPS signal gets lost way too often. So what to do.

First get a USB to OTG cable (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171138707255?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649)

Second get a GPS mushroom (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/221057093602?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649)

Third, get appropriate Android software, use this post (http://www.usglobalsat.com/forum/index.php?topic=3408.0) to work out how to get your GPS talking to your software. Check this site (http://ourhouzz.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/installing-g-star-iv-bu-353-s4-usb-gps.html) also.

Fourth, got one of these (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/261403596057?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649)to keep the power up to the tablet now that the OTG slot is being used for the external GPS.

After a lot of frustration I got it all to work by turning on the GPS software straight after boot up, then the mapping software. If at any stage you loose the GPS link the best fix I found is to reboot and start again. Having said that if I get it going and don't fart arse about with the GPS then it wont fall over. Much more reliable now and no more GPS signal drop outs.

[GQ TANK]

I have had no issues with the samsung tab7 , play music, run ozi and sygic.

[catchinjack]

I also use a samsung tab and never lose gps signal, could the aldi tab use different hardware/software that isn't as strong?

[GQ TANK]

I have had my Samsung tab get gps lock while inside my house, and sitting in the box between the seats.