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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> GPS on the Cheap -- NOT !!! /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1511812724 Message started by Oldfeller on 11/27/17 at 11:58:44 |
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Title: GPS on the Cheap -- NOT !!! Post by Oldfeller on 11/27/17 at 11:58:44 Hindsight is 20-20 ---- things struck through don't apply to the current generation Fire tablets http://https://target.scene7.com/is/image/Target/52495674?wid=520&hei=520&fmt=pjpeg https://www.target.com/p/amazon-fire-hd-8-with-alexa-8-hd-display-tablet/-/A-52573902?clkid=4734985bN16537e9fd303e340bb010114&lnm=81938&afid=Skimbit%20Ltd.&ref=tgt_adv_xasd0002#lnk=newtab&preselect=52495674 Hindsight is 20-20 ---- things struck through don't apply to the current generation Fire tablets Yes, this is a 8" Fire Tablet, current generation for $43 bought on line JUST FOR THE REMAINDER OF TODAY ONLY. It has a Google Maps means local loaded maps (downloaded and then saved on the limited amount of local memory). So, THEORETICALLY for $43 on sale This is the trick I use up in the mountains -- worst case seen so far is that I have to restart the thing if it loses its mind, but then I have to be at a greasy Mac's or somewhere else with some free WiFi during the change up period. To beat this, I carry two phones, both loaded with the same saved map stuff with the backup phone turned off in my saddle bag. Phone A loses its mind, pull out phone B, plug it into power then turn it on. Using a tablet to do this job is VERY THEORETICAL as I haven't actually done it. Next issue is the handlebar holders for an 8" tablet must be able to resist a lot of wind and impact shake --- they also get a little pricey for the better constructed ones and they take up a lot of handlebar space. Mounting the thing on a tank bag might be a smarter set up ..... ::) Theoretical --- so it sounds a bit like some "stinky brown vapor" jest a talking real real loud -- now don't it? You also gotta "house break it" to use the Google Play store and then you got to work around the various things about using a WiFi signal. These are skills that are taught on the web that you have to be able to follow along to do properly. NOTE HOWEVER. it is a pretty durn nice modern, current style Quad core 8" Android tablet with this year's built in "ask Alexis" functionality. Once the tablet is housebroken, you can go to the Google Playstore and download anything you need Hindsight is 20-20 ---- things struck through don't apply to the current generation Fire tablets |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by zipidachimp on 12/02/17 at 20:53:57 bought one last summer to replace a nook. no manual, so i didn't know about gps. thanks! 8-) |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/02/17 at 22:43:26 Last summer, huh -- you need to check because I was quoting specs off the brand new ones that just got put on super sale for $43 (normally $80). |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by zipidachimp on 12/02/17 at 23:18:15 paid $80 july! 8-) |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/03/17 at 02:14:00 Have you housebroken yours so you can get to the Google Play Store? |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/03/17 at 02:20:33 Have you housebroken yours so you can get to the Google App Store? Google Maps is required to do the saved maps trick using wifi while sitting at a McDonald's ...... |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by zipidachimp on 12/03/17 at 11:31:11 I need to head over to u-toob for info! 8-) |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/03/17 at 12:52:12 http://blog.the-ebook-reader.com/2017/06/09/how-to-install-google-play-on-2017-fire-tablets-in-5-minutes/ https://youtu.be/RZkVxvzRRdw And to make things easier ...... Amazon just partially fixed their "unknown sources" grey out bug. https://liliputing.com/2017/12/psa-amazon-releases-fire-os-5-6-update-fixes-install-unknown-sources-bug.html |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by mpescatori on 12/05/17 at 00:55:09 http://https://images.mobilefun.co.uk/graphics/productgalleries/10127/b.jpghttp://phonesdata.com/files/models/Mitac-MIO-A701-817.jpg MITAC MIOMAP M701 It's a cellphone that will take an ordinary SIM chip - not a mini, not a micro, the ordinary one. It runs WindowsCE which is very light and stable. Very good touch screen with built-in stylus. Charges off the ubiquitous mini-USB (the earlier kind) Replaceable battery (which is nice these days) Standard size SD-RAM card up to 8GB (which is plenty for a 15 y.o. phone) It has true GPS capability (not "A-GPS" which is wifi/data assisted) It has a jack to accommodate an external antenna (i.e. on your pickup or quad or trailbike... canoe? :D) It comes standard with MIOMAP GPS Navigator, but it will happily take TOMTOM Navigator 5 or 6. It will work without a SIM chip, BUT if you slip in an extinct (disconnected) SIM it will enable you to call 911 whereven, whenever, because it will lock onto any carrier signal it will find. Which is great because often you may get the "no signal" message on screen not because "no signal" but because you own carrier's signal is lost. Maybe there's somebody else but you? No signal. Not so with this baby. I have two with pouches, one with TOMTOM Navigator and a 10 y.o. map of the 48 lower US, the other with Europe. I highly recommend it - you can find accessories on AliExpress or AliBaba, and with some luch a complete system on eBay. http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/1IMAAOSwmphaJGN3/s-l300.jpg https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mitac-Mio-A701-DIgiwalker-batteries-memory-map-maps/182944070963?hash=item2a9850fd33:g:1IMAAOSwmphaJGN3 GB£40 (=~US$50) + s/h |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/05/17 at 04:55:06 MM is a believer in these commercial type GPS units. His GPS units have a little flaw though, when chaining little bits and pieces into a bigger trip, the changeover points MUST BE THE EXACT CENTER OF TOWN AND YOU MUST ACTUALLY TOUCH THE CENTER POINT TO GET THE NEXT CHUNK TO LOAD --- and that little quirk gets tiresome sorta quick. Google maps has no such quirk, and it updates EVERYTHING when you update the map (and you do that when you start a route). The updated map includes all active detours, and you can ask Google where the cheapest gas station is, or nearest pizza, etc. etc. etc. Plus, if you are killing time, you got your tablet with you. ;) |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/06/17 at 01:40:56 Warning, Will Robinson, Warning !!!! Relations between Google and Amazon historically tend to blow hot and cold, then warm up to normal ...... and are now blowing FREEZING COLD all over again .... Right now the two mega players are feuding over smart speakers and the ability to access all the smart devices that are sold in the marketplace. Amazon started it up again by cutting off Google Home's access to the stuff they sell as Amazon Exclusives. Then Amazon completely stopped selling Chromecasts when they came up with their own device just recently. Just now Amazon has just chopped off several other functionality sets that used to work between the two sets of devices. Google is playing tit for tat now, stopping access of Amazon's stuff to YouTube with the Google Android Play Store Access supposedly coming next (ie. all those "housebroken" Amazon devices just died because both sides have now put roadblocks in the way). This current feud totally disrupts the idea of using a Cheap Amazon 8" tablet to access Google Maps as a motorcycle GPS. Until they both start acting like responsible adults again, I wouldn't plan on doing the housebreaking trick to an Amazon Tablet any time soon as you might do it successfully at first, and then LOSE IT with the very next over the air update's changes ..... or worse yet it might happen while you were off on a trip, depending on the device to get you home. https://liliputing.com/2017/12/google-pulling-youtube-support-amazon-fire-tv-echo-show.html This is all getting a little bit extreme, removing Amazon's access to a WEBSITE ..... maybe a government FCC regulator needs to have a word with the boys. Hey, dropping NET NEUTRALITY mebbe wasn't such a good idea after all. =================================================== Something to also be aware of, there has been a generational change in Amazon Fire Tablets since early last year. Back then the traces to the GPS portion of the Mediatek SoC were connected and the Fire devices were equipped with a GPS pickup sensor. Now this is no longer true. This is a sea change that Amazon did as a cost reduction, part of the $100 cheaper price to buy a Fire tablet. Although the SoC still does have GPS direct sense capability the newest Fire Tablets lack the pickup sensor and the necessary wiring to do direct satellite sensing. They now depend on the much less costly to implement "wifi tracking" which only works well in WiFi rich city type environments. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Dave on 12/06/17 at 05:26:40 I use both a "somewhat" cheap GPS and my Iphone - they both have some merits and disadvantages. The Iphone does a good job and even can blue tooth with my helmet. The screen is a bit small, and impossible to program with gloves on. One huge problem for me is that the text naming the roads is very tiny, and nearly impossible to read on long trips after my eyes get tired.....and if you stop to enlarge the picture on the display - unfortunately the written text on the roads stays the same tiny size. It is not waterproof and has to be protected if any moisture shows up. If you don't have a service provider and enough data to keep you going....it can cost extra when you go over your limit. (Thankfully I still have a company business account with unlimited data). One big disadvantage, and the reason I also keep a dedicated GPS is that I have not downloaded the maps, and I allow the web access/map program to establish the route. A lot of the areas we like to ride in have weak or no cell service, and as long as you program the route while you have cell service you are fine and you will continue to get route instructions as long as you have satellite access - if you lose cell service you cannot access the map program to reroute and/or you cannot plot a new route unless you go find some WiFi access. (Evidently this is not an issue using Oldfellers plan and downloading maps). I bought a used Garmin Nuvi GPS to use on the motorcycle. It is waterproof and can stay on the bike all the time, it is a bit small and basic as it does not have bluetooth - but they can be purchased reasonably as a lot of riders have moved up to the fancier models. It can only hold maps for about 1/4th of the US at a time - if you are riding long distances there is the possibility that you would have to download a new set of maps along your way.....and it takes several hours. Most of the models came with lifetime updates to the original purchaser - so if you buy a used one see if you can get the seller to update the map and load the area you will be riding in (I believe it is around $128 to buy a lifetime subscription for map updates). I use the Garmin in my car and on my motorcycle regularly, it has a 5-6 hour battery life - I do have a power socket on the bikes to power it for long trips. I hope that this helps to "supplement" Oldfellers post, and does not derail the thread. You can buy really cheap GPS units on eBay - the one MMRanch is using he got for $5....it is not a waterpoof unit and should not get wet - although his has been wet and continues to work. I paid about $100 for my Garmin Nuvi (they were far more costly when new), and I did buy the $128 lifetime map update - it is still much cheaper than buying a new dedicated motorcycle(waterpoof) GPS. Those of you who have cell phone data contracts that allow you to use your phone for navigation without excessive data charges most likely don't have any issues - provided you keep your phone dry. And.....one thing that is also possible - is that you can use an old phone and may not need to buy a new one. I had a friend that downloaded the maps into his old phone before he took it out of service.....then when his account was switched over to a new phone - he was still able to use his old phone for navigation. I updated my phone when the battery life dropped down to 2 hours - but it would have worked fine for navigation as I could have used it with the power cord plugged in. If you have an old phone.....or a friend does....download the maps before taking it out of service. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by stewmills on 12/06/17 at 08:01:31 I use a Garmin Nuvi 1100LM that I got used of fleabay for $40 shipped. Near mint condition. Lifetime maps. Works well, small and compact on the Savage, and if it breaks or gets stolen, not a big investment lost. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/06/17 at 22:31:54 So, I think I see a consistent read coming from the guys that an 8" tablet is simply too big to deal with. Yes, I can copy that, unless you were using the tablet to build your custom route maps while at a WiFi spot and then using SIMM card memory to store them (in which case an 8" tablet would be a good working size IF you put it on top of a tank bag to read it). I also see both Dave, MM and I are keeping a backup device with us in case of "aw shite" happening on the trip ...... and I freely admit I have had to use mine several times when my main device got all mentally confused by zero cell towers up in the mountains. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by badwolf on 12/07/17 at 05:53:15 Try the free android app navmii usa. You can download maps state by state and use with no wifi or cell connection. All you need is gps on your device. I use it visually, and don't know if will work verbally, I don't like someone TELLING ME WHERE TO GO while I'm riding! Hey, it's free, what can you lose? |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/07/17 at 11:54:45 I'm Google spoiled. Google maps knows roads are shut down and detoured, figures it into the trip route comparisons and then gives you a turn by turn instruction if you want it to. If you are going to do it slow and casual sight seeing style, you tell Maps to avoid major highways, toll roads, etc and it will automatically do so -- you go around the elbow some on the local roads but you get to see a whole lot more neat stuff doing it that way. You just can't get this week's current road work changes from any other method I know of. And for sure you can't say "Google, where is the nearest pizza place?" or "Google, where is the nearest gas station?" or "Google, where is the nearest Walmart?" Yep, I'm Google spoiled. ================================================== Dave remembers back when this was all brand new tech --- I blew his mind by asking Google for the nearest Mexican place to the Waynesville Walmart, then again when we wanted the best rib place in Waynesville and the #1 place was booked up for 3 hours so we instantly rolled on turn by turn to the #2 choice (and in our opinion it was the best Rib place in Waynesville anyway). Dave then got him a new iPhone and he used it to find the ever so well hidden New Emergency Room in Bryson City on the trip where Jed tore his shoulder up on the Dragon. Turn by turn was needed because they had just moved the Emergency Room entrance to the back corner of the hospital and you could only get there by using some new ex-neighborhood roads from the backside of the Hospital complex. I tend to like connected driving, it saves time and hassles. My wife loves it ---- no more maps, ever. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by MMRanch on 12/07/17 at 14:27:41 Finally got around to reading this thread . 8-) One of our CMA guys bought him a house in a NEW Neighborhood in Murfreesboro this summer. Well he invited us all over for Gumbo. Garmin couldn't find the address .... Google Map on my phone did find it ! :) I have updated my Garmin fleet to "all lifetime updates" models , but the one that couldn't find the Gumbo had a less than 3-month old update ... ::) The Garmin now has a way-point to the next Gumbo trip ! ;) (it thinks it's in the middle of a field) ;D So , that was the first time ever I've used the GPS function on my phone ... The phone has voice command too , so all it took was to say the address at the right time , neet ! :) |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/07/17 at 14:56:15 Get used to talking to that Android phone, it will pay you dividends in ease of life. OK, we get split up somehow (goodness knows it has happened on every trip with more than 3 people every single time) But now we all have Life360 loaded and there is a little moving dot for each one of the participants showing up right there on the screen. Makes it real easy for that lost dot to go find the others ..... :) I ain't saying jack -- more'n half the time it is me who is off somewhere because I ran ahead WFO and missed a turn. It is Christmas time, time to ask Santa for your most favorite trip requests ...... |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by MMRanch on 12/07/17 at 15:56:00 It is Christmas time, time to ask Santa for your most favorite trip requests ...... I'm torn between putting the bike in the back of the truck or ridding to the Black hills ? Both ways has good points ... I have a 5x8 ramp trailer too but it cuts mpg noticeably . If I get 20 mpg from my truck its because I trying to stretch that gas gallon . ;D |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/08/17 at 01:06:19 Whole purpose is to take a nice long leisurely ride on some scenic roads. The Black Hills are an advanced type ride which will take 2+ weeks to do. This may be a bit too much to bite off right at first bite. Plus, I just looked at the distance involved and at the roads -- way way way too much 4 lane superhighway riding involved to be pleasurable on a motorcycle. Days and days and days of it no matter which way you go ...... :P You could spend a lot of money and several days hauling bikes behind a car over those long long four lane roads. Your pleasure factor would likely be lower than the stuff listed below. :P :P :P :P Hit you with a different thought, run down your Natchez Trace seeking warmer air, then dot the Gulf Coast on the way over to Florida. Lots of free camping at all the various parks around the Gulf according to the freecampsites.net tool. 50 mph speeds on the Trace means better gas mileage on your bike, lots of places to stop along the way, free campgrounds on the Trace itself and in the Gulf area as well according to the freecampsites.net tool. Daytona Bike week is one HUGE Gigantic Harley Zoo Event and it is really too early in the year for counting on any decent weather getting there or getting back. Bring your rain gear if you go because Hurley People during them mass spring Hurley migrations like to try to spit on Guzzi Guys and on old fat folks on Barcaloungers should they present themselves to be spat upon during stupid 'ol Flocking Hurley Season. We could ride through it headed down to somewhere else (not planning to stay there as even the water filled ditches around Daytona get all filled up with dead floating Hurleys during Bike week). What around Florida and the Gulf Coast have you never ever done? Have you been to Harry Potter World or Avatar or any of the other newer modern theme parks that have opened up in the last 20 years? I haven't. Ever visited Key West or seen the coconut lined beaches of the Florida Keys up close? Or Gulf Coast mangrove swamps where you can walk the root tops from tree to tree to tree and never get your feet wet? Watched them launch something from Kennedy Space Center? Drank an endless glass of fresh squeezed orange juice from a 20 mile long orange grove outlet store? On your way back home you got Savanna Georgia and Charleston SC if you like southern historical stuff. Going back by Atlanta you got the Confederate Stone Mountain carvings to go take a look at. Stop by Dekalb to get you some real authentic Indian curry for lunch and by Decatur to get you some real southern fried chicken and some really good gumbo for dinner. Get your prejudice dipstick level "reality checked" too all at the same time --- I need to do this every decade or so since we were all raised in the era of segregation and we tend to forget too easily when we get older. Segregation was real, but in Decatur it resulted in a normal American city with everything looking right and working properly -- just not a cracker in sight anywhere. I never realized I was prejudiced until Decatur Georgia rubbed my nose in it by putting me in the minority shoes and showing me a little bit of negative bias. :D You see, in the South we gots lots and lots of stuff to go do -- and we got the very very best mountain roads too. The road miles that would be needed just to get to the Black Hills one way could instead curl around to make a Southern States Extravaganza Tour with enough miles left over to see you all the way back home again (with a belly still full of good fried chicken, curry and gumbo to remind you of the trip) |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by MMRanch on 12/08/17 at 21:36:45 :) Part of the Black Hills thing was to find a middle place to meet Versey and Lancer at . The ride out to Lancer's last year was a GREAT WEEK ! If we went back to Lancer's this year or next , you should go too ! The day we went on their Sky-Way was a BIG surprise ... it is a really great ride. The rest of the days were nice too , the Sky-Way was the only "All Day" ride , and you know how I am about All Day Rides ... ;D I know your right about a 50 mph putt down the Natchez is better than a all day ride on the Suuper-Slab . Can I put ya up for a day or two then we move on to the Trace ? Perhaps we should start a 2018 trip thread ? |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/09/17 at 00:53:12 Yes, we need a 2018 tread up in the stickies -- folks won't buy into things unless they can see the entire plan laid out in front of them. I'd separate the Trace trip from the Black Hills trip, too much time is taken up if you try to do them both at the same time. Plus they go in different directions completely. So your Black Hills is a meet up with Lancer and Versy. That's nice and it sounds good. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by verslagen1 on 12/09/17 at 07:28:03 you winter guys dreaming of summer already. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by badwolf on 12/09/17 at 08:05:12 WINTER!!! I don't know how they do it? I went 40 miles to the range yesterday, and 80 miles home! With a smile on my face. I have put on about 1,500 miles in the last 3 weeks in south and central Fl. Not regretting moving away from Buffalo, NY. It is nice up there in July and August, but here I can ride year-around! This summer up there I found none of my old friends ride anymore, They have all hit deer, or have some other excuse. Maybe just a Sunday ride, IF the weather is nice! Now that I'm retired, 120 miles to watch a roller derby bout then home again,,,, yea sound about right!!! My current goal is 100k on the S-40, I'm more than halfway there in less than 3 years. Just have to build-up some callouses on my butt, and buy a lot of tires!!! I'm thinking Bonneville Speed week next year. Watching them go 300 mph thru binocs is no big deal,,, But walking thru the PITS has got to be cool! |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by MMRanch on 12/09/17 at 08:35:23 Yea Versey ... Ya'll got all those Fires to keep ya warm ... We're freezing our buns off over here ... it was 19 deg. when I got up this morning . But , I do have a Fire going in the wood heater . Really , how close is that Fire we've been seeing on TV. ? It don't take long to get tired of Winter for me . :( |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by raydawg on 12/09/17 at 10:35:56 I am not a egghead, and tech comes very slow to me, however, I bought a new to me 2011 Ford F-250 that I will use to pull my 5th wheel, yet to buy, in retirement next year. It did not come with the Ford navigation option screen, etc, just a 2 din radio/CD. I have voice and SYNC, however, and a iPhone. I looked at upgrading to a aftermarket system, but I would lose some of my command options unless I bought additional kits, etc. A unit that came with the truck, a plug and play application was like 1500.00 bucks, I am too cheap for that. I just bought a 10 dollar iPhone holder that fits into my CD slot and use the music and navigation already on my phone. Seems to work great with mapping and voice commands, and phone, etc. Not sure I even need anything else. Am I missing something other than a bigger screen? |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by verslagen1 on 12/09/17 at 10:43:36 http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/content/creativecontent/images/cms/2746664_800x450.jpg that little bump in the coastline to the rightmost fire plume with a island across from it is long beach, directly north of it at that dark ridge line is where I'm at. As long as the fires are west of me, I'm safe. Our hills burnt a last year, so we got a good fire break. They caught a transient lighting fires in anaheim yesterday and the hills are full of them. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/09/17 at 11:55:20 Nope, Ray, you are not missing anything. Android and iOS have got all the navigation stuff down pat right off the phone. I get frustrated with the in-dash stuff as it isn't ever really current and they want like $150 to refresh the data in it ..... (stealership rape at its worst) ..... You can buy cars now with Google in the dash, it acts just like a phone --- just talk to it ..... |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by MMRanch on 12/09/17 at 12:47:46 [highlight] They caught a transient lighting fires in anaheim yesterday and the hills are full of them [/highlight] Hanging is too good for em ... Burn em alive is more like it ! >:( .............................................................................................. Hope ya stay safe , we'll all be praying the wind stays from the west |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by raydawg on 12/09/17 at 16:46:40 4A6961636069696077050 wrote:
Thank you OT, I know you are very smart on technology, as I have viewed some of your post regarding this stuff.... Glad to know I can keep my 1500 dollars in the bank ;D It’s cool, I can set a route, and play my amazon music at the same time, when a navigation prompt is needed, the music stops and the chick in the phone tells me to turn ;D |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Dave on 12/09/17 at 17:14:39 The BMW R1200RT that I rented last week had an incredible GPS.....it appeared to be a Garmin unit made for BMW. I believe they are $1,000 or so to buy, and that is really expensive - but it worked great. One thing I found really helpful was the way the screen split when you got to a complicated intersection. The screen would split and the map would go to the left side - while the right side showed the lanes on the road...and it highlighted the ones you needed to be in to stay on the programmed route. This was incredibly helpful when riding a motorcycle in busy traffic in a strange city.....it helped me to ride like a local! My Iphone navigation recently added a similar feature not long ago - there is a set of arrows that show how many lanes are on the street, and the ones you should be in are highlighted....this only shows up when you are at major intersections or ramps. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by raydawg on 12/09/17 at 18:55:28 Dave, not sure why, but I live in a really rural area... The maps use to be sorta generic, etc, not anymore.,.. It shows every turn, twist, and curve, and when you approach a turn, it goes into a street view, as if it is looking out the windshield, then it goes back up into the overhead view, it’s really cool. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/11/17 at 12:31:53 Lots of people have been banging at Amazon for disconnecting the GPS services on their Fire tablets. Tech services has responded that it was a cost reduction and a battery life decision that was made in the course of business. But lookie what ability was pushed out to the tablets as an OS update just last night ..... Turn Location-Based Services On or Off Enable location-based services to allow apps and websites, such as social networks or maps, to estimate your current location. Help for 4th Generation, 5th Generation, 6th Generation, and 7th Generation Fire Tablets. Your location is determined by: The networks detected by your Fire tablet (like Wi-Fi routers and their signal strength) The cellular networks detected by your Fire tablet Latitude and longitude by the GPS feature Note: The accuracy of location-based services depends on a variety of connectivity and geographic factors that can impact on the accuracy of the results. Location-based services are not intended to be relied upon in situations where precise location information is needed. To turn Location-Based Services on or off: Swipe down from the top of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Wireless. Tap Location-Based Services. Tap the switch next to Location Based Services to turn location-based services on or off. When location-based services are enabled, a location location icon will appear in the top right corner whenever an app or a website is accessing your location information. This is only the "WiFi approximator" function being turned back on. It would require a model change to put the real GPS sensor back into the machine and hook it back up to the SoC leads. But in town it will kinda sorta work OK since apparently the Mediatek SoC itself can detect cell towers and WiFi sources on its own using the WiFi antenna. The networks detected by your Fire tablet (like Wi-Fi routers and their signal strength) The cellular networks detected by your Fire tablet Latitude and longitude by the GPS feature People are putting these tablets into dash holders on older simpler cars and using the navigation functions -- Amazon is becoming aware this is a product requirement for a tablet now-a-days ..... I would expect Amazon to ask their tablet vendor to supply a really really cheap, not super accurate GPS sensor for their next tablet generation. Face it, everybody wants GPS and "take me to" ability in all their digital products nowadays. Using a cheap, throw away tablet as a navigation aid in an older car is simply too sensible a thing to pass up. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by raydawg on 12/12/17 at 11:47:40 OT..... Since I have started using my iPhone and the navigation, etc.... When I start up my truck, it will come on and tell me travel time to work, etc, and I never even entered that information. How do they get this stuff? |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/12/17 at 12:08:59 All of your pertinent stuff is logged in as part of your account. It always knows its you, in other words. Since your location is part of "always on services" it already knows where you are and that you are moving along in space, so you must be in the car and moving --- so it gives you want you want before you even ask for it. It gives you time to work because that is the time you always go to work. Get in the car at lunchtime and it will give you time to your favorite feeding troughs. At quitting time, it gives you time to get home and will warn you about road work and car wrecks ...... |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Dave on 12/12/17 at 12:10:05 Dunno....but in the eve of my employment changes we are working out the little details - like my current office cell phone contract. We looked at last years data use for me...and most months I use 1.1 - 1.7 GB of data. In June I used 3.009 GB and in July I used 2.594 GB. At first I couldn't understand the huge difference - but then I remembered I traveled to TN/NC/GA and used the Iphone to navigate! It may well be that I use the Garmin GPS a lot more in the future! :o |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/12/17 at 12:17:28 I tell mine to only use the memorized map data, that way I don't get whacked quite as bad for my trip data charges. Still get hit some, can't be helped. But if you are constantly sucking down a brand new little map zone that changes constantly as you travel, it could be an ouchie and a half when the bill comes. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by raydawg on 12/12/17 at 12:51:02 7251595B585151584F3D0 wrote:
If the government gets total control of this stuff, holy moly, a police state, that is spooky stuff.... I don’t like the fact companies can track me. I am thinking about covering up that camera lens on my PC, I guess they could look at me, my room, and sale info to a barber or interior decorators, dang scary |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/12/17 at 14:15:49 People are afraid of Apple and Google, what they don't realize is Microsoft is as bad or worse than the others. At least Google is free to use and will tell you that it is doing it, while Apple slaps you silly when you buy the original Apple hardware and sells you on the sly thereafter. Microsoft always grossly overcharges you for the hardware, sets you up with your own private blood bowl account for their software and THEN sells your data stuff all over the place on the sly ---- and you actually have to pay MS an extra $$$ lump every few years for your major OS upgrades and for your software "maintenance charges" for the new stuff that now only works with that new OS system in order to get that "sell me, sell me and sell me again" MS privilege. Intel sells you using their hidden Management Engine, even when your machine is turned off. Synaptic brand touchpads and keyboards log every single keystroke you do (kudos to HP for turning that off on their machines early this week, BTW) FOSS Linux distros are free and generally don 't ever sell your data because they don't seek it or collect it or keep it. And they don't charge you for free software upgrades either. (some think Ubuntu has inadvertently done the sell you thing a time or two when close partnered with sell you people like MS and Intel for example) Your ISP sells you ..... Your charge card company sells you ..... Amazon sells you ..... Your phone company sells you ..... Your video streaming services sell you ..... You bring on average $0.0005 each time you are sold. They all sell you, just as many times as they possibly can. This includes .gov agencies of various stripes. Your data is not seen as private property, legally. Only your passwords and SSN are private --- and we know how often they get compromised and sold off in bulk, too. =================================================== So, jest get over it and get used to it and mebbe go with somebody like Google who is open about what they are doing and who does do neat things FOR YOU with your own information, things that actually make your life easier and better. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by stewmills on 12/15/17 at 13:25:31 35263E23263020470 wrote:
I put a piece of electrical tape over the camera lens and microphone port all of my laptops (work and home) unless I am using them, which is usually only my work laptop when I skype international customers. Otherwise I trust no one. ...and don't get me started on these DNA screening programs. I am convinced they are funded by the government and all of the data goes into one big database, and when your brother kills someone and they find his DNA and search the database to find you are a partial match to him, guess who will come knocking on your door wanting to know who and where the 'killer' is... |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/15/17 at 20:22:47 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J94TEAE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Back on topic, the Fire 8" tablet from Amazon went on "Refurbished, All-New" sale for $44.99 so I applied an old $25 credit and told them to send it to me. Arrives in two days and then the reality fiddling begins in serious. Either I can, or I can't ...... (in which case Amazon gets it back). Google and Amazon are making up again, both are beginning to go back to supporting the other's stuff again. Amazon is selling Chromecasts and Google Homes again now and Google is allowing YouTube and such to flow to the Amazon tablets again. Maps was never interrupted, so that should be good and should stay good once the tablet is properly housebroken. Knowing the Fire 8" could be salvaged with Cyanogen Mod and it is now as cheap as it will likely ever be, ever, I bought one. the developer of this mod left the group and went to work for Amazon =================================================== Amazon has realized they left an untapped navigation retrofit market laying there uncovered and neglected, so as we watch they are busy trying to fill that market niche with their own Amazon store products. How well that works out, we will see. It could be that housebreaking will not be required out in the future, that the native Amazon nav apps will actually do the trick. Right now, Google Maps is required to get best service and the existing "Amazon internal map" stuff in the Amazon store stuff lacks sufficient WiFi and Cell Tower "GPS" spotting capability to do a consistently good job. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/16/17 at 13:49:49 topic, the Fire 8" tablet from Amazon went on "Refurbished, All-New" sale for $44.99 so I applied an old $25 credit and told them to send it to me. Arrives in two days and then the reality fiddling begins in serious. The wife is happy with hers, but GPS isn't something she wants from it. That's a price that looks impossible. Man, that's Frikken Cheap!! |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/16/17 at 14:04:48 $43.99 at Target for 2 days only (selling out their store stocks) was the absolute cheapest I ever saw this year. This is the last year for this generation of machine, the next generation (based on a much better chipset) will go back over to $100 for an 8" and $150 for a 10" unit. Amazon has built a mort of these things for this Christmas --- I expect my Refurbished, All-New device is a new device with a damaged box, or a broken apart "set of 3" thing that didn't move at all as a set of 3. I see it as useful on the road on a mega trip, sitting in a McDonalds slurping a drink and plotting out the pathway with my finger for tomorrow's trip to the next free campground. ;D |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/17/17 at 15:39:52 https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01J94TEAE/ref=dp_olp_new_mbc?ie=UTF8&condition=new The $44.99 Fire HD 8" tablet has arrived and it and the packaging it was in was BRAND NEW and was still factory sealed with all seals & stickers unbroached. The owners manual is a small graphical fold out that shows you were the simm slot is, the location of the headphone jack and where the on - off and volume rockers are. The rest of the use instructions are all part of a set-up slide series that you have to go through to initialize the tablet. The stock screen savers show the display to its best advantage, and I think the display colors and blacks and pixel definition level is JUST FINE for looking at video stuff so far. How it performs in bright sunlight remains to be seen. So, the $44.99 price for a new unit is REAL. If Amazon is selling off a surplus of a soon to be replaced unit, this price may go down further. ================================================== Furthermore, you ARE getting an older, warehouse stocked unit that will take a while to charge for the very first time. And you may have initial trouble setting your WiFi password on the untit. This is due to Amazon running a 4 year old Android core version that they had spent way too much money chopping up and customizing to be wanting to upgrade it to a current Android version. Mine showed up acting like over 4 levels behind the times ..... Amazon has to push through several patches to the 4 year old Android core software to accommodate some of the current internet standard items, like complex alpha numeric passwords that are required on modern routers. Also, Amazon has a charge level safety installed so you cannot install any upgrades unless your battery is over 90% fully charged (this keeps you from running the battery down too low during the upgrade and bricking your Fire). Moral of the story -- CHARGE YOUR TABLET UP ALL THE WAY before trying to work on it. Get WiFi working first thing, then give it a Whole Day to repeatedly upgrade itself Over the Air to get as current as can be. You have GOT to get your tablet up to date on as many patches as you can ---- or else it simply won't work at all with a modern router. Example, my router only allows certain ID methods (ID and Password) and my Fire as received from Amazon doesn't even offer a correct set of slots to put these items into. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/18/17 at 09:14:00 Fire HD 8" can be updated off a download file that you download on your PC and then install through the charger cable that comes with the Fire charger. Put the .bin file in the right place and then just tell the tablet to go install all its pending updates ...... this takes a while since it is a total OS refresh. Once you are running the most current Fire OS, you now have the ability to connect through User Name/Password, or by WPS pin, or by secret code. Some routers do different things, I found my Century Link 8060 modem/router would connect to the Fire through the 10 digit secret code while my phones and all my other stuff used the user ID/password function just fine (which the Fire Tablet completely ignores BTW, still not even having the appropriate slots for putting ID and Password into the WiFi set up page). Everybody's got their own method I guess. Fire is just different from Android in this aspect (or else my phone based internet modem is just plain weird, something I already knew). :P I would also guess that by "using different methods than the ones commonly used hooking up wireless on stock Android Devices" that Amazon has at least quintupled the number of devices they get back as "broken". Most folks simply aren't going to do the extra steps to manually update all the OS software and to hunt and peck until they find a WiFi code that works. Next, since you cannot get to the built in tablet help function until you are hooked up on wireless, any form of "right off the bat" wireless issues automatically become "send it back type issues" since there are NO Printed Instructions provided with the machine to do any form of manual download, install, etc. You gotta do internet research or do the Fire Forums to get the sort of information needed to fix WiFi issues. This lack of ready information (ie no written instructions) leads to a 10 fold increase in potential returns, and explains why Amazon won't issue you a return shipper label for your Fire Tablet until you have talked to Tech Service to get some personal help with your setup issues. Tech Service has to sign off on your Service Request ticket for you to get the return shipping label sent for you to print on your printer. Next, my overall impression of the polish and quality of what shows up on the tablet screen is very positive. There is an Amazon default map app now showing on the main screen that does give you a GPS dot once you have done all the upgrades. This is a static system, operating off of manually logged in WiFi and Cell Tower triangulation and it will not work while rolling as there is no built in listing of cell tower locations and open WiFi access points for your device to use. Next Step, moving on to the steps of Google housebreaking ....... I need Google Maps stored on the device and I need Google Maps Turn by Turn Navigation up and running (I am quite spoiled by my Google Fi phones, I am). |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by justin_o_guy2 on 12/18/17 at 09:17:50 Wouldn't want to Brick it. My wife's Fire died. I tried everything. Even unplugging the battery did nothing. It's a brick in a drawer. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/18/17 at 15:14:52 Yes, Justin, we all agree -- leaving the wife's stuff ALONE is always the husband's best answer. There is nothing that I ever do to my wife's computer that does not get blamed later on for some future Micky frick up, simply because I was asked to go fix it and I did go fix it, but Mickey did something a bit differently now, so the old stuff that she likes to use has quit working all over again. Progress with the Fire 8" HD for today was good, my tablet is firmly on WiFi now and is updating itself as needed OTA style. All the Amazon software is working well, but the Android Google Maps was hitting an issue with the SD card not working like Google expects it to work (instead it is acting like 4 years back Amazon OS says it is supposed to act). Google Maps simply was not finding all its bits and pieces when split between internal and SD memory, so it wouldn't re-initialize properly when you bounce out of it and go back. To rectify this, I removed the SD card and brought the machine back to a completely virginal bone stock Amazon configuration again. This gave me the chance to get rid of the Amazon Ads off the lockscreen and to reconsider my somewhat clumsy first (multiple, multiple) attempts at getting Google Maps up and running. Tomorrow is another day --- and by only using my 16 gigs of internal memory I think I can avoid the Google Maps issues that messed me up today. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/19/17 at 03:03:00 Last night I intentionally paused for a bit to see if Google was going to recognize my Fire installation and recommend any updates. It did, and it asked for my Googly credentials this morning to make sure I was me (I provided them) so now we wait to see if we really get some real update actions. ----------------------- First wave of updates rolled in -- since I have my Google OTA communications all verified I was encouraged enough to go install Weatherbug, Google Chrome and Google Maps. The Google Apps loaded automatically using standard Fire Tablet defaults and I find much of what I really love about Chrome has to do with Chrome on a Google phone with all the various associated functions and modern app features all instantly available using voice commands. Remember, Fire OS is Chromium Open Source Project from 3-4 years ago -- so a lot of the things I love about Chrome "don't exist yet" in the Fire OS space-time world view. Google Maps is similarly handicapped, it isn't able to be the current Google Maps because Fire OS is simply too primitive to support all the advanced features. Still, Google Maps is better than the Amazon Fire map app. You can download local maps automatically at night and get turn by turn directions and road closings and such that are as current as of the latest OTA update you got from Google. I am getting ready to do a local saved map test to see how well it does functionally driving around in town using WiFi and Cell Tower triangulation. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Dave on 12/19/17 at 05:00:23 I just don't have the mental ability or mental stamina needed to go through all that "IT" and programming stuff for what is supposed to be "easy" navigation. I appreciate what you are trying to do - but my Garmin works pretty well for the reasonable price I paid for it. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/19/17 at 05:12:03 Dave, it gives me something to do. Last impossible project I had was that $29 Moto E that had free "forever' service, and guess what, I have had free "forever" service for completely working for about 1.5 years now. Issue with the moto E cell phone is the screens are jest too tiny to plot tomorrow's trip by pulling the pathway off the main drag superhighways so it runs the little roads that you would prefer to trek down. So, I gots me this new impossible project to occupy my mind. |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/19/17 at 18:46:46 Results from Day #3 I got everything installed and it acts like it is working OK. Issue remains that the Fire 8" HD tablet is a device that runs a cut down 3-4 year old version of Chromium Open Source Project OS that Amazon employees have spent a lot of time preventing users from rooting the device and installing a real, current, stock Android. Currently there is no full rooting software on-line anywhere that actually works for Fire OS version 5.4, 5.5, or 5.6. There are workarounds that use the Fire OS functionality though. I have successfully installed the "work around" versions of the Google support items that are 4 layers deep (mutually dependent) and supposedly work together to transfer all the Google functions that the Fire OS can reflect upon. I am able to install and run Play Store items at will. On the Fire Tablet, they do not do what you are used to seeing them do ..... Issue becomes that when you run the Play Store items Google can't reflect upon any modern sub-system that simply are not there in Fire OS as it is really that so so far back in "computer time". Stupid stuff like having to manually log in to the WiFi networks as you fly past them if you want to triangulate a location are the sorts of things stopping the promised functions from being of any real use on a motorcycle. So, you are left with the something akin to the stock Amazon Apps functionality even if you get Google Maps and other apps completely loaded. This is pitiful, jest pitiful. Abort, Will Robinson --- ABORT :P |
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Title: Re: GPS on the Cheap Post by Oldfeller on 12/20/17 at 04:07:51 DAY #4 So, now I got me an investigation all finished up, a spare 8" Fire Tablet left over and a decision to make. Keep it, or send it back. Net of an old store credit that I never would have chased down to use otherwise, the thing cost me a big $20 out of pocket. And it now works (as good as it can work) on Google Play Store items and Amazon items both. Amazon hired two of the ex-cyanogen mod crowd, the ones working on rooting the Fire Tablets to be specific. So Amazon shut down the rooting efforts and picked up some skilled programmers in the process. While at Amazon, they will pick up extra knowledge and if they get let go later, guess what they might decide to go finish up ...... I took my Fire 8" downstairs and put it on the side table next to my den chair to see if it had a home there. It has Chrome Browser and runs quickly relative to any of my wife's portable Apple devices. It has no keyboard, so I type any needed posts upstairs in my computer/gun room, but I can read posts and do net searches just fine sitting in my easy chair. So, no it doesn't live in the living room. I took out an old set of wired ear buds to keep by my bedside, to see it could be my late night Netflix in bed buddy. This works out fine. Plus, the third party programmers are currently building extensions for the thing (coming soon) and one of them is a moving location add-on based on custom "works better" WiFi and Cell Tower triangulation. We shall see when it comes out if it is worth anything ...... One of the Amazon Maps add-on deals out now actually has a real GPS inside a little flush mount mini-usb dongle, supposedly it can add real GPS to its version of Maps, but I don't think I would pay the $$$ that they are currently asking for that little trick right now. Plus, when used on the bike the charger cable needs to be plugged into the mini-usb all the time as the big display and the GPS drain on the unit's battery is "kill it quick" heavy, just like it is on a cell phone. Taking it to Grandma's for Christmas day might be nice, it could help me kill some of the couch dead time I currently use my cell phone to handle. =================================================== My wife has made the decision for me, my old iPad will roll over to her cousin who has no device and "she needs to be able to see Acorn TV from last season". Which is a good enough reason, as I don't really like the two year old iOS as it runs quite slowly on the very old iPad 2 and I like her cousin just fine. Next, she realized her iPad 2 was actually glacially slow, and my little 8" Fire now lives by her couch spot because she realized it already had all her stuff on it (she owns the Amazon Prime account, so it IS her world, automatically). It is much faster playing Words with Friends, and when she is doing 4 games at once that faster speed is important. So my left-over experiment now has a good home, and my wife has a surprise present -- good on top of good on top of good. |
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