ianhogg
Race Dog
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2010
- Messages
- 1,506
- Reaction score
- 23
- Location
- 34 Stanbury Street, Proserpine, QLD
- Bike
- Kawasaki Versys
The Dilemma: Big visible screen or GPS location that works
We all have garmin units that can get a GPS lock in a blizzard in Lesotho with screens the size of postage stamps and we also have smartphones and dirty great big android tablets that have a beautiful big screen but couldn’t find a satellite without network coverage if their life depended on it - and it may!
It is possible to have the best of both. By using USB OTG (see https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=114222.0 ) and changing a setting in the android developers menu you can get your android device, even those without a GPS receiver, to get their fix from any of your old garmin devices. Make sure that your smart phone or tablet will support host USB or USB OTG before you go too far down this road.
A clever dick called Michal Bures from the Czech republic https://bures.io/ has written 3 handy apps which are on Google Play Store. The first one lets you find out if your garmin device will work as advertised. The other two, for the princely sum of R28.43 each, will get the unit to send its GPS location to the android device and the other will transfer and receive tracks, routes and waypoints to your device.
This means that you can use the (free) HERE or Google maps (you can download a certain area before hand) without network support. Garmin is selling HERE maps on the Nuvi and Zumo devices anyway as map NT2016.10.
I can see the ability to transfer files from your cell phone could be handy too. If your mate turns up and wants the route on his GPS in case he gets parted from the group or if you want to have some tracks handy for another day, it can be easily done. Now all we need is a basecamp or Mapsource in android.
Problems: You have two devices and a pile of cables. The host has to run on its own batteries as the USB port is in use. This can be overcome. See https://shop.valarm.net/products/micro-usb-host-otg-y-cable-with-micro-usb-power-for-samsung You could also get your soldering iron out, there are wiring diagrams on the web.
PICTURES
Garmin with HERE maps and OTG connector
Gamin with google maps
Garmin with GPS status (handy app and free on Google play store, helps with google sky)
We all have garmin units that can get a GPS lock in a blizzard in Lesotho with screens the size of postage stamps and we also have smartphones and dirty great big android tablets that have a beautiful big screen but couldn’t find a satellite without network coverage if their life depended on it - and it may!
It is possible to have the best of both. By using USB OTG (see https://wilddog.net.za/forum/index.php?topic=114222.0 ) and changing a setting in the android developers menu you can get your android device, even those without a GPS receiver, to get their fix from any of your old garmin devices. Make sure that your smart phone or tablet will support host USB or USB OTG before you go too far down this road.
A clever dick called Michal Bures from the Czech republic https://bures.io/ has written 3 handy apps which are on Google Play Store. The first one lets you find out if your garmin device will work as advertised. The other two, for the princely sum of R28.43 each, will get the unit to send its GPS location to the android device and the other will transfer and receive tracks, routes and waypoints to your device.
This means that you can use the (free) HERE or Google maps (you can download a certain area before hand) without network support. Garmin is selling HERE maps on the Nuvi and Zumo devices anyway as map NT2016.10.
I can see the ability to transfer files from your cell phone could be handy too. If your mate turns up and wants the route on his GPS in case he gets parted from the group or if you want to have some tracks handy for another day, it can be easily done. Now all we need is a basecamp or Mapsource in android.
Problems: You have two devices and a pile of cables. The host has to run on its own batteries as the USB port is in use. This can be overcome. See https://shop.valarm.net/products/micro-usb-host-otg-y-cable-with-micro-usb-power-for-samsung You could also get your soldering iron out, there are wiring diagrams on the web.
PICTURES
Garmin with HERE maps and OTG connector
Gamin with google maps
Garmin with GPS status (handy app and free on Google play store, helps with google sky)
