Nexus 7 as a GPS

[B money Slaptop]

Whats the name of the apps that come with pre loaded maps ? That don't require a constant WIFI / 3G Connection ?

 

[anon(5719825)]

Whats the name of the apps that come with pre loaded maps ? That don't require a constant WIFI / 3G Connection ?

I bought TomTom a few weeks ago. It is a small download but then after installing, will download the 2GB map file to your tablet. I don't think this will work on the non 3G capable Nexus 7 though.

 

[Diknak]

Whats the name of the apps that come with pre loaded maps ? That don't require a constant WIFI / 3G Connection ?

I use Sygic, but CoPilot also does the same thing. You download the maps to the device and they are updated about twice a year (Sygic gets map updates for free) and you don't need any kind of connection after the maps are downloaded. Sygic also has some online features, like traffic and reporting police checkpoints and such, but it is designed to work offline.

 

[Bosk_77]

I have the TomTom app. purchased for the ~$28. One of the things you can also do with it if you want to use your phone as a hotspot is purchase the HD Traffic. It is available as an annual purchase or a monthly ($2.99 for a month). I just used it in Dallas and compared it to my 'real' TomTom with the HD traffic. They both did the trick just about the same. It makes the idea of traveling with one less device appealing. I will be sticking with the app. I only travel where the HD traffic would be a help a few times a year so the $2.99 a month is a good deal for how I operate. I know others it might not work as well for. I think the annual was about $20.

 

[wiseoldbird]

By truck are you talking pickup or semi? If you drive a semi there are garmins with special maps that have height, weight and road restrictions. The Google GPS will get you in heaps of trouble when you try to drive you semi down a bridge with a 3 ton restriction and 8' clearance.

 

[matydeli]

I know this problem. Just go to setting, apps, and force stop the program. Then restart the program and it will work, hopefully. The WiFi should be off.

 

[StillGridlocked]

That looks pretty solid (the Brodit). It screws into the Dash? I'm using an Akron and it's not stable enough for my taste.

Yup CoPilot user here too and the Brodit active cradle works perfectly with it.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g23/_BA_/Stuff/DSC07261.jpg

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[-BA-]

Nah I use one of the Brodit Pro-clips and the mount screws onto that. Loads of different clips for different models of car. Works perfectly and has never come loose.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

 

[Stu2009]

Hi...can anyone suggest a good "cigarette lighter plug to USB" 2 amp adapter in the UK?...Thanks

 

[ohmslaw]

Hi...can anyone suggest a good "cigarette lighter plug to USB" 2 amp adapter in the UK?...Thanks

Just bought one of these. Works well so far.
Amazon.com: PowerGen 3.1Amps / 15W Dual USB Car charger Designed for Apple and Android Devices - Black: Electronics
Don't know if it's in UK.
Edit, this may be it in UK
PowerGen Dual USB 3.6A 18w Car Charger for Apple iPad: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

 

[n 66]

My 2 pence...
I'm from the UK and just spent 5 wks driving around South Carolina and Ontario using firstly Google maps / Nav on my Nexus 7 (N7), and then a combination of that and a Tom Tom (TT). In the UK i have a factory fitted merc Satnav in my car.
On the N7 you can preload offline maps but I can?t start the Navigation without a wifi connection? So instead the following works :
While you have a wifi connection get the N7 navigation up and running, scroll through the route zooming in at any complex junctions or detours you?re going to take and then you?re good to go.
It would appear that all the info that you needed for that trip is buffered.
The Nexus has a fantastic screen and I could see every detail of the complex junctions of H401 going through Toronto (except when using Polarized lenses ? just turn screen round to fix) and what lane to be in etc, while the TT?s screen was tiny, graphics rubbish & was dishing out irritating commands like turn left, slightly right, left?!?
But for those times when I was going off-piste I needed the TT to get me out of trouble as the N7 lack of data is useless if you divert from original route to an area you haven?t buffered.
I?m keener on the N7 particularly as i like the idea of carrying 1 unit. And now that there are loads of Wifi hotspots (visitor centres / Mac D. etc), if they could sort it out so you can buffer large detailed maps and get the Nav to work / reroute without Wifi that would be perfect! In fact .. my next car will not have a factory fitted satnav!
Oh.. showing off this functionality to ipad users doesn't work... should have gone Android

 

[shane brandy]

What type of charger did you use?

 

[Lee_Bo]

My N7 is wifi only but I tether it to my Note II and use if for GPS (navigation, geocaching) and gaming (Ingress) and it really works great. I also use a mobile to USB adapter with a USB cable and it will charge the N7 as I'm using it. I know this isn't the optimal choice for some folks with spotty coverage or limited data plans. I just wanted to say that my N7 as a GPS really does work great in that capacity.

 

[mikeonthemarne]

My 2 penn'orth: having become rather fed up with Garmin, I bought the original nexus 7 at a "bargian price", as it was old stock, because it was supposed to have a better-than-average, separate GPS chip in it (I haven't opened it up to check yet!) and I downloaded CoPilot Live to it. I find this works very reliably and it has proved pretty accurate so far. I don't know that newer Nexus 7s have the same arrangement - I had heard not, but check it out. You certainly do not need a working WiFi connection with this first model of the Nexus 7 to get the GPS part working - launch your navigation app and, after a delay of a some seconds, the GPS chip soon gets a satellite fix and you're off. I've also used other offline maps on it, for city-walking and hiking and it performs well with those too. But, as I say, bear in mind this was the first version (2012) of the Nexus 7, not what you'll find on most shelves now, though still available from a certain online dealer (A-something...?). You really do not need to tether your smartphone to this - why continually give even more money to your cellphone provider when offline maps and your GPS chip will let you navigate better and for free? Of course, while quite good, free, community-sourced GPS maps exist, you have to buy good quality, offline mapping systems like CoPilot Live but they're not too expensive and the updates are free and regular - it's a one-time purchase. HTH

 

[bjrosen]

I was using my Nexus 7 as a GPS but now I use my Nexus 5. In both cases I use Sygic with a backup of Google Maps when I'm in an area with coverage. Sygic uses offline maps so it works everywhere, Google Maps are great when you have coverage but they don't work when you don't. I have my Nexus 5 in a QI mount on my air conditioning louver which I find a lot more convienient than my Nexus 7 in a window mount. The N5 is in easy reach whereas the N7 on the Window isn't. The smaller screen on the N5 isn't a problem because it's closer to me than the N7 on the window. Also because it's a QI mount there are no wire connected directly to the N5 so I can just pop it in and out.