Which tablet? 2024 edition

Hi all, looking at getting a tablet for navigation. I've had a read through some older threads but asking again as there's no doubt more options now. I'm sticking with Android with Sim and I'll use the tablet for general navigation in TAS but also daily for note taking for work (this will just be a simple diary app, and email). I'm a bit confused on the following:
Do all Sim ready tablets have the same kind of reception? Do they all have gps? I'm more interested in getting good gps outside of mobile coverage.


Any suggestions would be great.



.......from under the great down under.

I know the iPad needs the ability to have a sim for offline maps to work, just download them all.

Yeah iPad needs to be a Cellular capable, no Sim required, just capable. I believe the android have ability for GPS regardless and no sim required. I am on the same journey right now Lucas and have not made a final decision. Physical Size and capacity is also important. I'm thinking a 10" is about the right size and at least 256gb i reckon as some of the Map files can be gigantic. I will follow this thread for sure.

Regardless of the internal memory size, if the tablet has the possibility to use external memory cards is a plus IMO, this could mean one extra breath when it reaches its presumed end of life.

Muddy, where and how would you mount such screen? I can't read anything (AKA can't read and get pissed-off realizing I'm getting older) on my navigation SW on the mobile hanging on its screen suction-cup-holder when it wobbles due to pavement corrugations.

Id like to understand the basics of how they use GPS / satellite / cellular tower triangulation etc to find location. Ie; a car GPS has no Sim, uses no cell tower coverage but has an accurate location as long as it can see the satellites in the sky. A mobile phone has GPS but relies on cell tower to help find location with some seeming better than others at doing this when there's no cell coverage.

.......from under the great down under.

I bought the Samsung S7 from memory, cant find the box or get it out of the RAM tablet holder - one of modern lifes mysteries. It has the built in gps function, is a 8" x 6" screen from memory, beautiful screen and I bought the largest RAM capacity and HD they have, was around $700 I think

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Originally Posted by taslucas

Id like to understand the basics of how they use GPS / satellite / cellular tower triangulation etc to find location. Ie; a car GPS has no Sim, uses no cell tower coverage but has an accurate location as long as it can see the satellites in the sky. A mobile phone has GPS but relies on cell tower to help find location with some seeming better than others at doing this when there's no cell coverage.

.......from under the great down under.

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Cell towers are not used for location from a user viewpoint. Don't believe everything you see on TV shows, although a provider has the ability to do a very rough location by using the currently active cells and relative signal strengths. That function is not available to the user. GPS provides the location by locating from multiple satellites and some fancy maths on the very accurate relative times involved. The more satellites, the better the location accuracy. No SIM is required for GPS. Smart devices may use cell data to assist with things like maps (or maybe they are available off-line like in your GPS navigator, etc) so they can display your location on a pretty map rather than just a set of coordinates which is all the basic GPS unit provides by way of location.

Almost that Brissie.
GPS you nailed it. But cell towers broadcast their GPS exact location so a mobile can also do the math to calculate the position using multiple cell tower signals as a reference. This is usually less power consuming for the mobile and the operating system (android for one) likes it to keep the user experience of a longer life device. In a crowded city with lots of cell towers, this is quite efficient.

Out in the bush, with one very distant cell tower signal only, there is no way to do it, then GPS is the only tool at hand for the operating system.

So, in a nutshell, cell tower signal is not mandatory nor required, but the tabled/mobile operating system surely likes it.

I've got an old Samsung tablet no sim and the GPS is generally really good. All maps are offline so not a problem but can hotspot the phone to use Google maps in the city if I want. You can get an external WiFi GPS reciever too but never really had the need with mine. . It's a 10" unit and pretty happy with that size[emoji106]

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Originally Posted by BrazilianY60

Regardless of the internal memory size, if the tablet has the possibility to use external memory cards is a plus IMO, this could mean one extra breath when it reaches its presumed end of life.

Muddy, where and how would you mount such screen? I can't read anything (AKA can't read and get pissed-off realizing I'm getting older) on my navigation SW on the mobile hanging on its screen suction-cup-holder when it wobbles due to pavement corrugations.

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So I have a very early iPad with Cellular maybe 15 years old that I did a jail break on and loaded up hacked version of Hema that had been nearly faultless. I have bread crumbed most of my travels. It has been awesome but it's very old and screen quality has come a long way and I'd like to upgrade to an Android Tab now as I'm fully Android.

In the GUIV I had installed a RAM mount in the back of the little compartment where the factory GPS goes and the ipad sat really well there as it sat in the pen slot well.

In the GQ I have screwed a RAM Mount to the steel panel beside the glove box and it sits there perfectly and I xan see the map easily. The Y62 has been a little more challenging but I think I have solved that too, only this week gone. I found a thread in a u62 owners group on FB. A guy has used a CD Slot mount to mount an Ipad. He tried a heap of options including Suction cup to windscreen and magnet mounts and the CD slot was the winner with virtually no vibration. 8 have bought one last week and have not yet used it but I believe it will be a winner for sure.

Being a Tablet you can set the font size to whatever suits yoy so it should be a winner.

On a component level do some tablets have better gps ability or is it more a case of the relationship they have with the satellites?
As soon as my phone is away from cell reception the accuracy of the GPS diminishes substantially.



.......from under the great down under.

With smart phones now out to 6" I'm just going to use it.
I have the apps I want, and will be mounting an X lock from ram mount off the dash to hold it.
My s23 has great range, and satellite works without service..
So hema will work with good vission to sky..

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Originally Posted by BigRAWesty

With smart phones now out to 6" I'm just going to use it.
I have the apps I want, and will be mounting an X lock from ram mount off the dash to hold it.
My s23 has great range, and satellite works without service..
So hema will work with good vission to sky..

Sent from my SM-S916B using Tapatalk

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That’s alright for people with good eyesight. Me. I need an 80inch OLED mounted to the bull bar. Having bad eye sight sux.


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Originally Posted by mudski

mounted to the bull bar

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Hahaha. You too with the short arm syndrome mate?

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Originally Posted by BrazilianY60

Hahaha. You too with the short arm syndrome mate?

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Yep I try to look at my phone without glasses on and you would think Im playing the trombone. Lol