I've been running a Lowrance GPS unit since 2017. It's been great, and has served me well. It is accurate, bright, permanently installed, rugged, and theft proof. The sonar features let me see the rocks very clearly. Did I mention rugged? Here it is:
What I like about this unit is that it is absolutely bullet proof. I don't worry about weather or theft. It never overheats, and has been 100% reliable. It is permanently mounted to the dash bar, and stays in the rig. I have built many of my own maps on the parks I frequent, as well as Moab and Colorado. There is a lot of wheelin' history in this thing.
But, it has become a bit of a dinosaur (a bit like me, I guess). The Lowrance uses a proprietary map format, and requires a translation to upload or download .GPX files. It works, but has always been a bit of a pain. Also, I used to be able to create and upload satellite imagery, but the proprietary (again...) programs to do so are no longer supported by Lowrance.
So I'm reluctantly considering going to a tablet based system on which I can run something like OnX or Giaa. I have a subscription to OnX and have been playing around with it a good bit. It is much, much more flexible than the Lowrance, with many more modern features. In the Jeep I am able to access it from my iphone via Car Play on my head unit, but I prefer having a dedicated GPS that is always there (including when the rig is off). Further, in my brief experience with OnX you cannot access all of the features via Car Play, and still have to access the iphone to do many of the key functions.
So I'm looking at tablets. But I'm not looking for something like an iPad mini or other consumer-grade (for lack of a better term) tablet. I want something that will be durable, reliable, will handle heat, water, and vibration. I also want something that I can permanently install in the same location as the current Lowance - and not have to worry at all about theft. I need to be able to bang on the thing without worrying about breakage - in other words, I'm looking for something like this Lowrance unit which will run Android...
I do need something that is tough, but will also have a bunch of on-board storage to load off-line maps. routes, etc. - something like a terabyte if I can find it. I know I could get that in an iPad, but I've not yet found a rugged unit which approaches that. I'd prefer internal storage, but external disks would also be fine, as that is how the Lowrance works.
I've looked at things like the ToughPad, and other units made for field work like construction, mining, and similar uses.
I did come across this unit which is designed for a SxS. It looks interesting, but low on storage, and only supports smaller external disks. I do seem to be having more success when I look for units which are designed to work in SxS's. This unit looks to have a mount which I could modify to meet my install needs.
https://sxsruggedtablets.com/produc...04542&pr_ref_pid=6717402906782&pr_seq=uniform
So now I'm looking for some guidance from my forum buddies. Any recommendations on a tablet that will fit my needs? Anything else I should consider?
Thanks in advance,
Ol' Nashville TJ
What I like about this unit is that it is absolutely bullet proof. I don't worry about weather or theft. It never overheats, and has been 100% reliable. It is permanently mounted to the dash bar, and stays in the rig. I have built many of my own maps on the parks I frequent, as well as Moab and Colorado. There is a lot of wheelin' history in this thing.
But, it has become a bit of a dinosaur (a bit like me, I guess). The Lowrance uses a proprietary map format, and requires a translation to upload or download .GPX files. It works, but has always been a bit of a pain. Also, I used to be able to create and upload satellite imagery, but the proprietary (again...) programs to do so are no longer supported by Lowrance.
So I'm reluctantly considering going to a tablet based system on which I can run something like OnX or Giaa. I have a subscription to OnX and have been playing around with it a good bit. It is much, much more flexible than the Lowrance, with many more modern features. In the Jeep I am able to access it from my iphone via Car Play on my head unit, but I prefer having a dedicated GPS that is always there (including when the rig is off). Further, in my brief experience with OnX you cannot access all of the features via Car Play, and still have to access the iphone to do many of the key functions.
So I'm looking at tablets. But I'm not looking for something like an iPad mini or other consumer-grade (for lack of a better term) tablet. I want something that will be durable, reliable, will handle heat, water, and vibration. I also want something that I can permanently install in the same location as the current Lowance - and not have to worry at all about theft. I need to be able to bang on the thing without worrying about breakage - in other words, I'm looking for something like this Lowrance unit which will run Android...
I do need something that is tough, but will also have a bunch of on-board storage to load off-line maps. routes, etc. - something like a terabyte if I can find it. I know I could get that in an iPad, but I've not yet found a rugged unit which approaches that. I'd prefer internal storage, but external disks would also be fine, as that is how the Lowrance works.
I've looked at things like the ToughPad, and other units made for field work like construction, mining, and similar uses.
I did come across this unit which is designed for a SxS. It looks interesting, but low on storage, and only supports smaller external disks. I do seem to be having more success when I look for units which are designed to work in SxS's. This unit looks to have a mount which I could modify to meet my install needs.
https://sxsruggedtablets.com/produc...04542&pr_ref_pid=6717402906782&pr_seq=uniform
So now I'm looking for some guidance from my forum buddies. Any recommendations on a tablet that will fit my needs? Anything else I should consider?
Thanks in advance,
Ol' Nashville TJ
