Tablet for GPS

[RichW]

Well, I am trying out using a Nexus 7 and GAIA GPS software. I have mounted it to my Goldwing with a Ram mount and will have it on the ride next week. My four wheeling club has been using these for a while and they have been pretty happy. I do like the large screen and the ability to see better with my marginal vision. We are going out wheeling this weekend and hopefully with a little more education, I can fully appreciate the new toy.

See ya all next week.

[BigMac (SoCal)]

That might be interesting?   

[Magellon]

I also have the Nexus 7 and have used it for GPS. I used Google maps and the Copilot app. Both did well and got me to were i needed to go. Your right the big screen sure helps. I bought a Slip Grip custom mount to use with the Ram base for the Nexus 7 and one for my smart phone. It fits tight and secure, no fear of it bouncing out. I can blue tooth it to my helmet Scala set up or plug in a cord to my sound system in my Woodys fairing and play tunes while i ride. It can get a little clustered when both the phone and tablet are there but I only use the tablet on longer trips, my phone gets used just about every ride. Looks like the GAIA is for off road only? Looked at the  web site but did not see street maps. Have a good trip.

[RichW]

GAIA actually has the following maps as selectable:

USGS Topo
Aerials for the US (CalTopo)
Open Street Map (MapQuest OSM)
Open Cycle Map (Thunder Forest OSM)
USFS (Nat'l Forests) (CalTopo)

So far I have only used the Topo and Street Map and have not looked at the others.

[RichW]

Now, the one thing I learned from my 300 mile ride on Tuesday was that with the tablet brightness on full it is a real power hog. I left the computer on during my lunch break and its battery was pretty dead when I went back to the bike. I had it connected to the power plug with a USB adapter, but of course there is no power there with the ignition off. I have ordered a special Anker 24 watt charger to hopefully be able to keep the power up. The charger has two ports, so I can hook up my MP3 also.

Fun with technology.

[Gary]

I like the screen size. I've held off on gps units due to their size and my inability to read them.

So does it easily flip up, out of the way for fuel fill ups?

[RichW]

I like the screen size. I've held off on gps units due to their size and my inability to read them.

So does it easily flip up, out of the way for fuel fill ups?

I don't have any pictures, but I mounted mine on the handlebar on the left. This is a Goldwing, not my Valk. The GW has a flat top on the handlebar and some wires underneath. I used the RAM mount, some long screws and a flat plate to hold it in place. It does block my tach a bit, but that is ok. The speedo is fully visible. Does not interefere with fueling. Could do the same with the Valk, except use a RAM handle bar mount, which I have mounted and use for my Garmin GPS 76.