Home > Expedition & Overland > Sat navs, best and most reliable for overland |
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Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4209 |
I use an Android tablet in a RAM mount works very well. Pretty much any tablet is fine, just make sure it has GPS and it is the size you want. I tether it to my phone for data so I can use it for internet and email and enable traffic updates in the sat nav app. You could get a tablet that takes its own sim if you don’t want to faff about tethering,
For on road navigation I use the TomTom app which is excellent. You have to pay a cheap annual subscription, but I think it is well worth it. The subscription gives you access to world wide maps, live traffic etc. For off road navigation I use Locus Maps Pro. It has a built in map store for pretty much all the maps you might ever want, or you can import your own. Off road routes can be got from Wikiloc and uploaded into locus maps. Google Maps is great for finding campsites, supermarkets and fuel stations as long as you have an internet connection. I also have an old school trip meter app on there, like what they used to have in rally cars, that way I can navigate purely using the tulip diagrams in the Vibraction road book which is really good fun. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS |
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15th Apr 2020 8:34am |
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Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4209 |
I should add, with the Vibraction books, it is mainly the tourist info that is in French. The routes are described by tulip diagrams, which are easy to understand after a bit of practise. I think they provide a .gpx route file anyway, so you only really need to use the diagrams if it is not clear from the gps which leg to take at a junction. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
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15th Apr 2020 8:45am |
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wyvern Member Since: 13 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2108 |
We have been using an android tablet too with co-pilot as our main sat nav and maps me, guru maps and view ranger (for uk)
The tablet we had for many years sadly got boiled sitting on the dash in Slovenia last summer, so have updated it to a telecast P80x which has been great value for money https://www.amazon.co.uk/TECLAST-Processor...88Y926J4M5 If you are buying a tablet just make sure that is has a sim card capability as this is likey to have a built in GPS Copilot has great maps for just about everywhere for on road driving for a one off subscription, Guru maps have a one off subscription for off line maps and maps me is free with off line maps too.. Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126 |
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15th Apr 2020 9:58am |
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bear100 Member Since: 22 Mar 2010 Location: South Wales Posts: 1917 |
Hi Bluest its your posts I've been reading through!
The problem i have is all my iPads are wifi versions except the pro but its way to big for the 110, so i will end up buying a new one at a cost of around £300 which is half way to the Garmin. I didn't realise you could get a TomTom app, i find that Maps on the iPhone works great with all the features for road use. todays aim is to look into Locus maps, Wikloc, maps me, guru maps and view ranger Ive not used tulip diagrams before so not familiar with them, the site looks great except in French, I've been looking for this type of site with tried and tested routes, its brilliant! Wyvern, that's cheap for a tablet, I've only ever had Apple stuff and most of my accessories fit with Apple but at that price you can't go wrong! 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8 2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI 2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone) 2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone) 1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone) 1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone) 1994 discovery 300tdi (gone) 90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone) Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone) |
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16th Apr 2020 7:27am |
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Timcat Member Since: 20 Jul 2016 Location: Rugby at the moment Posts: 1025 |
I use a Garmin Montana for off road ( we use them mainly for the dirt bikes) works really well & has been around the world ( Karta bg maps were excellent in Bulgaria for the logging routes) biggest draw back is its small.
Google it, I’m guessing the new Garmin your talking about is an updated larger version of this. |
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17th Apr 2020 6:00am |
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bear100 Member Since: 22 Mar 2010 Location: South Wales Posts: 1917 |
It looks really nice except price,
Click image to enlarge 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8 2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI 2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone) 2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone) 1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone) 1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone) 1994 discovery 300tdi (gone) 90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone) Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone) Last edited by bear100 on 4th Jul 2020 6:27am. Edited 1 time in total |
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17th Apr 2020 7:06am |
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wyvern Member Since: 13 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2108 |
Hi Bear I have only every paid for the world wide Co-Pilot app with off line maps, so the running cost is very low in that area - I may go to the Guru pro for offline world wide maps before any long trips in the future. I am an apple fan and use apple for my laptop, iPhone and my partner has just about every other apple device, but went this route as I found that the apple devices we have were hampered in remote areas with no built in GPS and had less of a selection of apps for navigation and engine management, I have collected several apps on the new tablet with blue tooth links to the OB2 device for reading codes etc.. again I may upgrade to a pro app for our longer trips. Price was not the main reason for buying the tablet as I read a few overland blogs and one of the travellers used this tablet and recommended it for its speed of picking up locations and memory size, and was looking to replace the previous Samsung tab that was boiled. As you say, for the price, it's a good buy and worth the risk. The mini-Ipad with sim was the next choice to keep us in the apple fold, but at the cost I could get 4 of these tablets, and even looked at the Garmin, but the loaded apps may not all work on an apple or on another device either so went the independent way. (.... What ever you buy, remember to mount it out of the direct sun ! ) Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126 |
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17th Apr 2020 7:14am |
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Bluest Member Since: 23 Apr 2016 Location: Lancashire Posts: 4209 |
Google Maps is excellent, but it relies on having an internet connection to work fully, so not that useful in remote areas. The tulip diagrams are just a bit of fun and help out at tricky junctions most of the times. It gives your passenger a good way to get involved in the trip. It’s a bit of an antiquated way to do a whole trip these days and you really don’t need to look at them most of the time. They are very easy to understand. When we did the Pyrenees traverse, the gpx file had one or two small mistakes or missing waypoints (out of about a thousand) and the tulips immediately clear up any confusion. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS |
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17th Apr 2020 7:51am |
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8619simon Member Since: 04 Nov 2016 Location: North Wales Posts: 247 |
I had the same dilemma, I now use a Samsung galaxy tablet (android) running Locus Maps Pro App. Cheap tablet but works well. I found Locus Maps Pro to be really easy to use, reliable and flexible as you can download lots of different Maps either FOC or very cheaply. Offline maps worked really well and the ability to extend storage via an SD card was really useful. I've used it in Europe and Morocco and been 100% reliable.
The built in GPS is ok but for piece of mind and accurate positioning I pair it with an external GPS too: https://www.flightstore.co.uk/pilot-suppli...iver-p3967 Having the external GPS means in the future I can use it with loads of different devices, all you need is bluetooth. I was also able to position the Tablet out of the sun and just have the GPS receiver on the Dash. |
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18th Apr 2020 2:27pm |
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Lodelaner Member Since: 04 Feb 2010 Location: Lambourn Posts: 632 |
I used the Garmin GPSMAP in Morocco - current model is the 66 I think. I got this because its something you can put in your pocket or man bag when parked up in Morocco, easily demountable, has good signal and vibration properties etc and doesn't cost a fortune (£290 I think). I found that key to Saharan navigation is not following a trail religiously (how dull) but knowing where you are (N&E) and navigating to waypoints using the tracks around you. I think it makes you more observant as a driver/navigator looking looking out of the windscreen to find the correct routes. It's also fun! You can download sections of google maps for remote tarmac areas. Phone signal is pretty good in Maroc until you get south of the Atlas. I used TomTom on an iPhone for road sections, however with Google maps/nav being so good now and downloadable I'd use that instead. Now you got me looking at photos - I recommend travelling with just 2 or 3 cars as well - a proper adventure! Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge JB @Lodelaner Instagram Youtube greenlaning and other LR related content |
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19th Apr 2020 11:21am |
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bear100 Member Since: 22 Mar 2010 Location: South Wales Posts: 1917 |
Wow those photos!! I'm so looking forward to going away now
It will be me and my sons (12) first time overland an have decided to go with Neil and the gang from Impala, lovely people, and they run the trips unlike anyone else. After your initial meet and the first day or 2 together you have a road book with all the info in and make your own way to the next camp site when ever you want no convoy no dust clouds from the cars in-front no rush etc and a support car will keep in touch and sweep anyone left behind at the end of the day, so its like a solo trip but with the backing and support plus the banter with the group. The more i read everyone's post (thanks) the more I'm inclined to go android for all the reasons mentioned, i wanted to go the Garmin overland route but looking at the reviews and when you weigh up the cost against the android and free maps etc it really isn't worth it. GPS device to pair to that's new to me i didn't know that was a thing, Simon the link didn't work for me is there a particular model you have used and can recommend? Bluest when you done your trip on the RB5 did you go from West to east or the other way? im looking at going from Bilbao to L'escala. 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8 2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI 2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone) 2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone) 1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone) 1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone) 1994 discovery 300tdi (gone) 90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone) Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone) |
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23rd Apr 2020 7:26am |
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8619simon Member Since: 04 Nov 2016 Location: North Wales Posts: 247 |
Oops sorry. The one I have is a “Dual XGPS150 Bluetooth GPS Receiver“
Costs about £120 and is easy to set up and has worked really well for me, very accurate. I have used it in Europe across the Pyrenees and in Morocco all the way down into Western Sahara. A quick google will bring up a few places to buy. |
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23rd Apr 2020 8:02am |
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bear100 Member Since: 22 Mar 2010 Location: South Wales Posts: 1917 |
Cheers Simon, the reviews look awesome on that one!
Thanks 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8 2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI 2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone) 2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone) 1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone) 1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone) 1994 discovery 300tdi (gone) 90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone) Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone) |
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27th Apr 2020 6:28am |
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Mo Murphy Member Since: 01 Jun 2008 Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts Posts: 2227 |
On foreign trips I've used Guru pro for tracks and co-pilot for the roads on my phone for several years with complete satisfaction.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen. 50 Shades of Pennine Grey |
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28th Apr 2020 9:54am |
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