iPad Mapping setup

[Nissan Kid]

I recently picked an iPad, 32 Gb 3G and i thought i would share a little bit about how it can be used for 4 wheel driving.

One of the apps that i have bought is the Memory Map app, Although it was $39 i think it was well worth it. After buying this app i was then able to add all the maps that already had.....

Memory Map Topo which Covers Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, New Zealand in 1:25000 or 1:50000
Memory Map Tour is used to cover all states in 1:250000 as well as all Hema's Digital Maps
Memory Map Rooftop is used to cover Victoria and New South Wales as an alternative to the other maps (Very Useful Off Road)

So i installed all this to my iPad and invested in some velcrow and came out with this

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt170/nissankid_308/Ipad/DSC_0017-3.jpg

250k Maps
http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt170/nissankid_308/Ipad/DSC_0026-2.jpg

50k Maps
http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt170/nissankid_308/Ipad/DSC_0018-1.jpg

Maps in the same area
http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt170/nissankid_308/Ipad/DSC_0021.jpg

All maps on device
http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt170/nissankid_308/Ipad/DSC_0028.jpg

Stats screen
http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt170/nissankid_308/Ipad/DSC_0029-1.jpg

Routes, tracks and points
http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt170/nissankid_308/Ipad/DSC_0031.jpg

I got hard case off ebay for $11 to put the velcrow on so i did not have to stick it to the ipad.
http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt170/nissankid_308/Ipad/DSC_0033.jpg

http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt170/nissankid_308/Ipad/DSC_0035.jpg

Any questions just ask.

[locks]

Thats great because of the big screen. I have a quick questions if you dont mind.

Ive read a lot of your posts and you have a lot of great gizmos in your cabin. Are you concerned about people breaking in or do you simply just don't leave it on the street?

[AB]

I have a quick question mate.

Not sure if you mentioned this in another thread but where does that cord go to.

have you got it wired up to feed power from the car battery or an inverter?

How long would the battery last for anyway?

[Maxhead]

Looks good. I was mucking around with my mates iPad and we loaded memory map onto it but couldn't get the split screen on it. I have it loaded on my laptop and the split screen feature is great.
Do you know if the iPad version has the split screen or it it only on the windows version? I can't find any info
Also, do you know if there is a converter to convert oziexplorer map(.map or. oz2f) to memory map? I have heaps of topo maps for oziexplorer
Which maps are you running?

Thanks in advance
Cheers

[Nissan Kid]

Thats great because of the big screen. I have a quick questions if you dont mind.

Ive read a lot of your posts and you have a lot of great gizmos in your cabin. Are you concerned about people breaking in or do you simply just don't leave it on the street?
Yeap you got it, its rarley park in shady type areas and when i do i take every thing out of veiw and i also have a killer alarm system!

[Nissan Kid]

I have a quick question mate.

Not sure if you mentioned this in another thread but where does that cord go to.

have you got it wired up to feed power from the car battery or an inverter?

How long would the battery last for anyway?

Yeah that cord is just an audio cord to the sound system.

Yeah i also have a power feed just not plugged in, Its a 12v power supply from an ipod or iphone.

They reckon it will last ten hours, not bad?

[cyanobacteria]

Hope that velcro can stand up to a few vibrations :x

[Pete's GU3]

Hey Nissan Kid ...where do you live again ?????????????...

.just gagging !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[arinol]

now that there are gps antenas would it be possible to conect one to the ipad and have a gps app to work with it like you can do on laptops?

[Timbo]

Digging this thread up again..

I think I'll buy an iPad 3 this week and I'm going to look at using it for 4WD GPS (and ordinary gps). Might check out the HEMA maps as from what I've seen on you tube, they are great.
The only thing that I haven't figured out yet is how to mount it. There's a bunch of mounts out now of different types so I guess I'll just have to buy the iPad then try and figure out the best place to mount it where I can easily take it out of the car for normal use.

Anyone else using an iPad for 4WD'ing lately?

[rusty_nail]

Digging this thread up again..

I think I'll buy an iPad 3 this week and I'm going to look at using it for 4WD GPS (and ordinary gps). Might check out the HEMA maps as from what I've seen on you tube, they are great.
The only thing that I haven't figured out yet is how to mount it. There's a bunch of mounts out now of different types so I guess I'll just have to buy the iPad then try and figure out the best place to mount it where I can easily take it out of the car for normal use.

Anyone else using an iPad for 4WD'ing lately?

just be careful when buying an ipad mate, they are what you could call a TRUE GPS system, as they use a thing called AGPS.. this means that it uses network signal to kinda determine where you are and lets the GPS do the rest. this is a pain because if there is no signal/reception you wont be able to use the GPS feature. even if the maps are preloaded into your ipad it still wont work. i love some of the apple products, but to be honest the GPS system sucks, its designed for people in cities wanting to get to the next suburb, not people wanting to cross the simpson desert if you get what i mean?

[Timbo]

just be careful when buying an ipad mate, they are what you could call a TRUE GPS system, as they use a thing called AGPS..?

Assisted GPS Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS)

"A-GPS is a system which can, under certain conditions, improve the startup performance, or time-to-first-fix (TTFF) of a GPS satellite-based positioning system. It is used extensively with GPS-capable cellular phones as its development was accelerated by the U.S. FCC's 911 mandate making the location of a cell phone available to emergency call dispatchers."

As I understand it, the iPad/iPhone doesn't need to be in range of phone towers to use the GPS feature as long as you get the 3g/4g version. It will work without the towers. GPS uses radio waves to satellites for location, but in the city these radio waves can get broken up with all the buildings and what-not going on. A-GPS uses phone towers in these situations to help keep the signal alive and act as a back up so that you don't lose connection.

Been doing my research and have read many posts of people using the iPad without any problems. HEMA wouldn't supply Australia wide maps for the iPad if it wasn't going to work, I wouldn't think.

Regardless, the 4WD'ing I do at the moment, the iPad will be golden. I couldn't say whether it would work right in the middle of Australia but then again, people who are doing those trips probably wouldn't be buying iPads, heh.

[Parra]

Definitely keeping my eye on this thread too. Very interested in other peoples iPad experience for gps related goodness

[Bigrig]

Definitely keeping my eye on this thread too. Very interested in other peoples iPad experience for gps related goodness

X2 ... just have to extract the finger and do something with it - seems others are having good experiences now and the software has 'caught up' somewhat.

Great to hear!

[BearGUST]

I have been playing around with the VMS app on my iPad2, so far I love it! It takes a little bit of getting used to but its worth it.
My iPad was a gift from the girlfriend, she bought me the non-3G one which meant no built-in GPS as they are part of the same chip. I think this is what rusty_nail was referring to???
It uses wi-fi locations as its GPS which isn't all that handy. So if you're going to buy one, buy the 3G one. From what I've read you don't need to have a sim card installed to get it to work.
However, if you have a non-3G one you can buy a bluetooth GPS receiver. I have this one and it works fine with all mapping/location apps I have tried:
http://xgps150.dualav.com/
I have just received a telescopic mount and will be giving it a whirl on the weekend, I'll post some pics on this thread.

[Parra]

thanks Bear,

looking forward to seeing how you go.

ive got a 3g iPad 2 - but your experience should give me an indication anyway.

cheers.

[Winnie]

I've been looking at some sort of offroad GPS. I've got a TomTom for on road so maybe a tablet is the way to go.

[Timbo]

Well Kristoffa, you can just buy & download the TomTom app for iPad if you still want street GPS. Or, if you're not always in the mood to buy things, Jailbreak the iPad and download it for free... but I digress. :P

Going to buy a couple iPad3's on the weekend. Buying one for the missus too because I won't be able to share it, lol. Can't afford it at all, but meh.

I'm also hunting around for a mounting solution. At this stage, it'll be a good quality window suction cup job, but I have my concerns as I've never had great success with suction cup mounts. However, they've all been cheap so maybe the expensive ones, like the RAM mounts (http://www.ram-mount.com/Products/AppleMounts/tabid/1647/Default.aspx#/), are good.

The alternative that I'm thinking about is mounting a bracket to the dashboard. You can buy aluminium brackets that the iPad slides into. Major downsides for me include, drilling holes in dash, not easily removable. Up side being I'd feel better knowing it was a solid mount.

Still though, iPad seems like the way to go for me. Much more functionality than a GPS. Apart from GPS, being able to hold music, photos, movies, games, email, calender etc etc is gold!

[Winnie]

Can't jailbreak my iPhone because the top button doesn't work!

[Timbo]

Oh LOL! That sucks man.. geez.

Take it to one of those "Apple Genius" bars. They could prolly fix it.

[Winnie]

And those "geniuses" will want to charge me 20 trillion dollars! Had a friend took their iPhone there to get a replacement screen and charged them something like $200... I supplied and fitted my own for under $10.
It's an old 3GS so it's time for an upgrade soon... upgrade to Android, that is.

[Silver]

there's a thing called Mudmaps advertised on the back of a recent shooting mag - I think more for the Iphone.

As I am an Apple free person, I didn't follow it up, but I did recommend it to someone looking for a gift for her partner.

I'll pass this info on as well, thanks Nissan Kid!

[oncedisturbed]

I have vms on both the phone and ipad, they both work a treat with street and offroad mapping and loading 3rd party gpx files for track logs etc

[BearGUST]

From what I understand the VMS App is mudmaps but costs more because you get all the maps included.

[oncedisturbed]

Yup it has the whole lot included and will actually work out cheaper because MupMAP app now has paid subscription and have to purchase maps where as VMS does not.
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/b0f7fd20.jpghttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/fd6d0955.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/57496f53.jpghttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/2b6db839.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/bce60681.jpghttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/e216ccb1.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/22769804.jpghttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/93d30fa9.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/14c1dbcd.jpghttp://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/3ff408b2.jpg
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/oncedisturbed/47f2a18b.jpg

[Superoo]

Hi, great pics and the vms on the iPad looks great. Do u know much about the hema app in comparison?
Cheers.

[threedogs]

Found this on Ebay ,sellers name is K2motors, in the states.
looks better than others I've seen

[oncedisturbed]

Hi, great pics and the vms on the iPad looks great. Do u know much about the hema app in comparison?
Cheers.

As yet, the HEMA app is not yet fully IOS6 ready as it is very jumpy.

I have the app ad not very user friendly, memory map is very similar but allows 3rd party maps to be loaded


Tap, Tap Taparoo

[Timbo]

Just thought I'd bump this thread up.

I recently lashed out and bought the Mud Maps HD app for the iPad & iPhone 4. I needed a GPS unit as my old tom tom is dead. I was considering the VMS in-car GPS units or a TV stereo with windows and running Ozi Explorer. At the end of the day, Mud Maps on the iPad was the best solution for me. It's portable, easy to use and is constantly updated by a dedicated team.

The app is $149.00 on the itunes app store. This is for the HD version which allows you to use it on the iPad and iPhone and also comes bundled with quite a few maps. In all honesty, the bundled maps are not going to be for everyone. I doubt I will ever use 99% of them and they are all mostly outback maps or they are 1:250k maps which I wouldn't really use at this stage.

However, the map store has many maps on it that I will use. Especially the 1:25k Victorian maps. They range from about $4 to $10 each or I think you can buy the whole lot (around 850 maps) for about $150. Great value there. When I get spare $150, I'll probably buy them honestly. Maybe in the new year, though.

I went for a day trip on the weekend to Lake Eildon here in Victoria. Took the missus and Mud Maps. Downloaded a 1:25k map of Eildon and hit some tracks. Using the GPS alone of the iPad was absolutely fine. I don't have mobile internet on my iPad so it was purely GPS. It worked a treat. It says inside the app that it was accurate to within about 10-30m which was good. The dot shows up on the map which represents you and you can literally follow it along the track your on and get a gauge of where you are in comparison. This is pretty simple stuff, I know, but I'm telling you all about it anyway since there might be some people here not really well versed in GPS stuff. I'm certainly still learning the in's and out's.

To anyone trying to decide whether or not to buy the app, don't think about it any longer. If you have the money to spare and you want a versatile, portable GPS device then the Mud Maps app is the way to go.

The ONLY gripe I have with it, which is petty, is that there doesn't seem to be a turn by turn feature for the road maps. I understand that it's a 4x4 map application but it would have be really nice to have turn by turn navigation for the road maps. This can always be solved by buying another "street" navigation app.. but it's just more money. An all-in-one app would have been awesome.

I'll try and take some screen shots for everyone tonight and post them up.

Happy to answer any questions.

Also, a big thanks to 'OnceDisturbed' for giving me some advice and tips via emails. He was very helpful and honest. He knows a lot about MudMaps and I'm sure he'd be happy to give advice to anyone with any related queries.

Cheers.

[megatexture]

My ipad came with street nav app from new granted its not an offline one though

[Lonicus]

I have an iPad, without 3G. If I ever need to access the 'net away from home I just set up my iPhone as a wifi hotspot & connect the iPad through it.

Would that work with the maps or is it best to have a 3G iPad?

[stevogq]

hehe i use mine in my boat for gps marks in PPB best thing ever!! i use navionics its got marine maps for the whole aus want to dl a gps for 4wd but you really need to use telstra because they got better 3g reception

[AB]

I have an iPad, without 3G. If I ever need to access the 'net away from home I just set up my iPhone as a wifi hotspot & connect the iPad through it.

Would that work with the maps or is it best to have a 3G iPad?

I think you can buy a GPS receiver for them mate.

[Lonicus]

Thanks AB. The navionics sounds good too Stevo.

[oncedisturbed]

For the Ipad's without GPS / 3G ability, there is a GPS receiver that plugs into the charging port on the Ipad. It is made by Bad Elf and can be purchased at their website. From all reports I have read they are supposed to be very good little receivers.

It also does not run off any PHONE COVERAGE, none of the mapping apps run off phone service unless you are accessing "Online Maps".

[stevogq]

yeah lonicus its great if your a fisherman got all my snapper holes tagged

[Honky]

I've been onto this for a while, ever since i bought one for the mrs for xmas and she let me "play" with it. Half hour later, it's jailbroken, loaded with 4 GPS apps and there's a windscreen mount bracket coming in the mail. What people have said before is right though. Only cellular capable Ipads have the GPS chip. If yours is a WIFI only then it will need an add on.

To be honest, i never go 4wding without this thing now. It's way too handy not to have on board, even if the little girl in the back is watching movies on it most of the time.

For my 2 cents, these are my choice for best mapping apps that i use all the time.
Motion X GPS HD
Good because you can cache google / bing satellite maps and track your position on them. This is really handy for those little tracks that show up on the satellite image but don't show up on any other map. Plus it gives you a better idea of terrain, creek lines etc. I have found some really good camping spots just following tracks with this thing.
Hema 4WD Maps
Definitely one of the best out there for standard paper map type tracking. There's enough detail between the different maps on offer that if a track isn't shown on one, it's shown on the other as you go through the layers and zoom in. If you get lost out bush with this one, then you should stay at home and watch 4wding on tv. Pricey app though, but worth it
Tom Tom Aus
Great street map app that's exactly like using a navigator in your car, just this one has a much bigger screen. Pricey too, but cheaper than buying a second unit if you have to nav out of the city to get to that camping spot out bush.
Navionics Gold
For 49 bucks this is one of the best nav apps for boaties. I have a split screen in my boat, and with this mounted on my dash it gives me a full marine chart, and i can use my sounder as a proper sounder. Really good too, it's exactly the same as the map my plotter uses but heaps cheaper.

Also the mount i use is this one:
http://www.arkon.com/tablet-accessories/universal-tablet-windshield-mount.html
Gives plenty of length and i just secure it to the front window and strap it onto the dash with a bit of velcro tape. Gives me plenty of stability and the mrs can swivel it around to change maps etc so i don't have to do it. Got mine for 49 bucks off ebay i think. Well worth it.

[Stropp]

thanks for the link Honky, just bought the tab178, plan is to mount it inside the flip up centre cavity on the gu and just use it when i need it or fold the door down when im not using, will see how it works out when i get it, ebay $33 au delivered. cheers Stropp

[megatexture]

heres my set up theres no movement in it at all and ive got a twin usb plug in the compartment also works a treat and when closed you can see the plugs or mounting location and theres no permanant floor mounting to get in the way

[Stropp]

looks good mate thats exactly what i want to do. cheers

[megatexture]

put the nut so it rest on the base of the compartment and it wont move at all

[Drewboyaus]

Blokes,
If you're looking for good iPad/phone holders, google either click-on or the online store : hold my phone.
Great phone and tablet cradles that fit into the dash (without screws) and give a strong mounting point. I have been using their kit for a while and it's good. Their service is great too and based in Melbourne.
Just about to place an order with them for an iPad mount in the GQ.
Cheers,
Drew


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[oncedisturbed]

Similar set up to mine MT


Tap, Tap Taparoo

[megatexture]

The only way to fit it properly imo is screw I don't trust suction one bit , those mounts are more expensive than ram mounts and look plastic have you tried them yet drew?

[oncedisturbed]

same as MM, go a screw in set up. suction / tape just doesn't hold stable enough offroad

[Drewboyaus]

I have, I have used them in various road cars and have fitted one in my company Territory.
They are very good. I'm yet to fit one to the Q (on order) but very confident about the strength.
They are certainly expensive bits of plastic but as so often in this game you get what you pay for.....
Cheers,
Drew


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MudRunnerTD]

adding here for future searches

Saw this link elsewhere and thought it would be helpful here

hema-4wd-maps-app---what-ipad-models-does-the-hema-4wd-australia-app-run-on (http://hema.helpserve.com/Knowledgebase/Article/View/61/0/hema-4wd-maps-app---what-ipad-models-does-the-hema-4wd-australia-app-run-on)

[FNQGU]

Can anyone tell me how to upload a digital map to the Hema Maps App on an iPad?

Is this done via iTunes somehow?

Also, has anyone had any experience using the EOTopo 200K map series? Starting to see a bit being written about them now.

Sorry, I should explain that a bit further - if I have a compatible map on my laptop, how do I get it onto the iPad.

[Drewboyaus]

Yes, use iTunes to import the file.
Have a search for my tutorial because I think I cover it in the thread, or at least have a link to the instructions on how to do it.