What's Your Tools and Methods for Navigation?

[roaniecowpony]

It’s the other way around. GAIA is great GPS navigation app. When you find a trail in ToR you have an option to se the track to GAIA for navigation. For me the convenience is great. You can research at home, and send the track to gaia that you can pick up in the car. Gaia then gives you navigation within 7 sec (long/lat) accuracy.

here is a video of the steps (all from the car display): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/y082...7454.MOV?rlkey=k3e32cb50ouis0ysx57n8kjto&dl=0

Got it. Nav with TOR is a dot on a line. GAIA is a real topo nav app. I read the TOR site's announcement of pushing their files to GAIA. New Feature: Push GPX Files Directly to GAIA GPS - Trails Offroad

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[4x4Punk]

I use an 8" Android tablet that I hook onto the dash using a Proclip mount (so it's easily removable when not in use). I use an app called Locus Maps. The main reason for choosing that app is that it's compatible with a map provider called 'California Trail Maps'. They have complete, detailed maps of all trails in California and southern Nevada. I research my trail rides using Trails Offroad (and sometimes Alltrails), and download the GPX files to the tablet, and overlay them on the trail maps. I can even view all the waypoints, and draw in additional routes to connect between trails. Then all I have to do is follow the blue line once I'm in the Jeep. I have the same app, map, and tracks downloaded on my phone as a backup.

There's an iPhone app that's compatible with California Trail Maps as well. I haven't tried Gaia, but I found OnX too awkward to be useful. Locus, California Trail Maps, and downloaded Trails Offroad GPX files is the best combination I've found. Of course, if you're wheeling outside of CA and NV, you would find the usefulness limited.

 

[zouch]

i usually have at least a Delorme Gazetteer (needs no batteries), and frequently USGS topos, but mosly use the Maps.me app on my phone plugged in to the J**p on the display on the dash.

on pavement, it's usually Waze off the phone shown on the dash.

i usually also have a Garmin inReach Mini and an HT that does APRS with me as well, but don't really use either for Nav.

 

[Mx5red]

I picked good one on second try. It is carlinkit tbox which was the only Android 12 device at the time, and now it looks like uses 13.

After setup you go to its factory settings pass code: 4545 and turn on ‘use car gps’ option in more settings menu, that did it for me. I then downloaded a bunch of apps I use and they all work fine.

One finer point on ToR:
The way I use it is basically to do research on a pc/tablet before a trip. Then when I find something, I go down to navigation section and send it to GAIA. This is a premium feature, well worth it. Then when I get in the Jeep, the GAIA apps that is running on the head-unit has the track i sent it.

Be mindful, tinkering with apps on the head-unit is not recommended while driving. These are tablet app versions after all, not optimized for distracted driving.

But the gaia app will navigate you as you move, and you can pre-download sections of maps and overlays you want ahead of time.

To have internet to the carlinkit thing, you can either put an active sim inside it, or tether it you your phone. I did both, but then chose a 3rd option - activating jeep hotspot with AT&T data plan as that is using its own cellular antenna in the car and worked far better in more remote places. I say this to add this; do not fall for the gimmicky ‘cell signal boosters’, those don't work, they just add to the clutter.

Also, there is a video of a guy who shows how to tap into the media plug with the carlinkit-like device, so you can hide it behind the dash. I did that as well as I wanted the device to be hidden, and not take up the space inside the center console storage (there is a media usb plug in there as well).
Took me some time to find the clip, here it is:

Look at the video desc for parts list

Thanks for posting. You obviously have a good understanding of some of this electronic stuff. I’ve read these forums daily for years and haven’t seen this, so you posting how-to information is very helpful?

 

[ecoBLVE]

Thanks for posting. You obviously have a good understanding of some of this electronic stuff

Thank you, i do. Car digital technology is what I do for living, after developing apps for years.

 

[roaniecowpony]

Thank you, i do. Car digital technology is what I do for living, after developing apps for years.

Thank you, from a mostly inept electronics user that struggles to keep from being left too far back in the 20th century.

I'm still considering your approach to not go down the "tactical" rabbit hole. I like it. But, I'm not sure I can completely avoid it. I have been keeping the engine gauges up on the 8" Unconnect to monitor while wheeling. More decisions, more dilemmas.

 

[jcruse64]

The device I have plugged into media port is called CarLinkIt which is essentially a rooted Android OS device that allows me to run it on the HMI (head unit) using CarPlay protocol, which also picks up GPS coordinates from the car (CAN). I use this to have apps on the head unit otherwise not available for things I run in the car. Like ARB Pressure Control, EcoFlow battery, Dometic Fridge, etc. In addition I use GAIA app on the head unit, which works amazingly well. As it gets the GPS long/lat from the car, it is very accurate, otherwise it will default to cell tower triangulation, which would be useless when there isn't any.

When I use iPad (for bigger screen convenience), I am solely dependent on it doing all the work itself, which also works accurately as the iPad too has its own GPS antenna.

Can the iPad make use of the CarLinkIt's ability to have the Jeep's GPS antenna, if you were running the tablet for your map (a wifi-only iPad, so no GPS of its own)?

As mentioned on a thread I started here today, I'm about to replace an old Samsung tablet, and am looking at the iPad. Over $100 difference between wifi-only and wifi/Cellular. The CarLinkIt is a little above that cost difference, so it would be nice to buy the wifi-only tablet and the CLI and have GPS pickup for maps on the tablet.

BTW, really appreciate your input in this thread!

Joe

 

[roaniecowpony]

One of my devices is a dual use GPS that I bought primarily for bird hunting with my dogs. It's a Garmin Alpha 200i which has not only GPS dog tracking, but also has full GPS navigation like some of their other similar handheld GPS units. It also has a built-in full inReach 2 way satellite comm system that can be used for text messaging or emergency rescue summons. But navigating on the small screen is clumsy. Nevertheless, I bring it along for that time nobody wants to experience.

 

[RedRaven]

I like the Anvil Overland a bit more than the Vector or others.
Anvil Overland

I just installed an Anvil Overland bar. Super easy.

 

[Deleted member 59498]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stars_for_navigation#Star_charts


?

 

[roaniecowpony]

L etc us kn

I just installed an Anvil Overland bar. Super easy.

Let us know what you think. I figured I would be $500 into a complete system. But if it's as good as the pictures appear, it's worth it. Reminds me of the camera mount company, Really Right Stuff.

 

[RedRaven]

I spent $350. Got two cell phone mounts, and s mic mount. It’s very stable. The center piece really allows for it to have a solid feel. I think the red matches quite well. I posted photos in my thread.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I spent $350. Got two cell phone mounts, and s mic mount. It’s very stable. The center piece really allows for it to have a solid feel. I think the red matches quite well. I posted photos in my thread.

Starting to worry about my 260lb ape of a friend, with back and neck problems, using the bar as a grab bar to hoist himself up into my lifted jeep.

 

[filippa0831]

Considering your need for reliable and precise navigation even in remote areas, you might find the Carlinkit Tbox Plus to be a suitable solution.
With its independent Android 13 system, it allows you to access various navigation apps like Gaia, On-X, and Trails Offroad from the Google Play Store.
It's equipped with GPS, Glonass, and BeiDou positioning systems, ensuring accurate navigation even in challenging terrains.
Plus, you can preload offline maps with its ample memory.
Here's a code "LE18" for anyone in need.
https://autokitcarplay.com/collecti...et-ai-box-wireless-apple-carplay-android-auto

 

[roaniecowpony]

Did the GPS constellation seriously act up? I've written code for massive radar systems that rely on it being there and being an accurate time source. Fortunately I'm not in that industry any more, but I assume I would have heard something about an issue like that.

https://www.gpsworld.com/when-gnss-does-not-work/

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