Nav alternatives?

[blacknbean]

Originally Posted by fatoni

thomas guide. cheap, you can install them yourself, and there are no wires

Lol I have fond memories growing up looking thru that thing for my dad helping him find places. Ahh life before gps

[Want.FR-S]

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S

Thanks - l like the vent mount idea, I do not want my windshield blocked, and the only mounts I have seen so far are the windshield suction cups and the "bean-bag" style dashtop mounts.

As I posted in another thread, I think that vent hook mount is the best option, for me anyway. The suction cup may fall if the window is not flat or temperature drop. If you think you can remove it and reattach it, you will be surprised how quickly the device will fall. (had my device fell while I was driving. Not a fond memory. )

Edit: not sure how sticky it is for the bean bag option during spirited driving. I did not go that route so I donno.


You can get the generic gps vent mount in cdn tire for like 30 dollars. Might be cheaper in other places.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Want.FR-S

I wonder if the amazon kindle would be a cheaper option for the tablet.

The Fire would work (I've used it with mine) but there are cheaper Android tablets (some under $100) that would work as well. As long as it does BT you should be OK.

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

The Fire would work (I've used it with mine) but there are cheaper Android tablets (some under $100) that would work as well. As long as it does BT you should be OK.

While the tablet might be cheap, I thought from the earlier discussion you will need a data plan for GPS? If so leaving the thing running for a few hours every day could add big $ to your mobile bill - you would want to know the downstream kbit/sec while it's running to calculate your monthly costs.

BT can be mighty fussy, you would want to confirm that it connects properly with the car while you can still return the tablet.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S

While the tablet might be cheap, I thought from the earlier discussion you will need a data plan for GPS? If so leaving the thing running for a few hours every day could add big $ to your mobile bill - you would want to know the downstream kbit/sec while it's running to calculate your monthly costs.

BT can be mighty fussy, you would want to confirm that it connects properly with the car while you can still return the tablet.

Sorry, I took the question as asking whether or not the Fire would work for use with Torque (and by inference, an OBDII adapter) not as a GPS.

I agree with you, its just better to get a dedicated GPS, that's why I own 3 or 4 of them.

[smbrm]

Originally Posted by Ikaros

Mount it right in the middle of the steering wheel xD

I not sure I would want a GPS flying at me at the speed of an airbag blowing out!

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Sorry, I took the question as asking whether or not the Fire would work for use with Torque (and by inference, an OBDII adapter) not as a GPS.

OT a bit, but it sounds like a cheap Android tablet plus a usb/OBDII cable and an OBD reader app you could have the equivalent of a dedicated OBDII reader?
Any idea of what such an app would cost? Cable would probably be about $30 I'd guess.

[Want.FR-S]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

The Fire would work (I've used it with mine) but there are cheaper Android tablets (some under $100) that would work as well. As long as it does BT you should be OK.

Thanks for confirming that. I meant for the Kindle Fire, not the old Kindle. It is good to know that cheaper Android tablet with BT will work in this.

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S

While the tablet might be cheap, I thought from the earlier discussion you will need a data plan for GPS? If so leaving the thing running for a few hours every day could add big $ to your mobile bill - you would want to know the downstream kbit/sec while it's running to calculate your monthly costs.

Sorry, I did not realize we got things all mixed together. So just to be clear on this: if you are using the GPS function on your cell phone, you need data plan to download and update the maps through Carrier. For that, you will incur data plan charges. Most people buy a data plan starting from 500 MB to 2+ GB per month. This network traffic may not be huge, but it is still some data traffic.

If you buy a dedicated GPS, the device receives the signal from GPS satellites and compared that with its internal-stored map to pinpoint to your current location. You do not need connections from phone companies, so no data plan charges. For us Canadian, it is also good if you are traveling to US that no data plan charge when using the GPS.

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Sorry, I took the question as asking whether or not the Fire would work for use with Torque (and by inference, an OBDII adapter) not as a GPS.

I agree with you, its just better to get a dedicated GPS, that's why I own 3 or 4 of them.

I was looking for an option to setup a gauge to read more data from my car, including the CEL information and whatnot. Since I have a dedicated GPS for that already so I am looking for options only for that purpose.

[Want.FR-S]

Originally Posted by Future

I'm mostly gonna go with a Galaxy Tab (GPS built-in) + OBD2 bluetooth + Torque App + Tab stand (that bolts to the floor under the left passenger seat bolt)

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S

OT a bit, but it sounds like a cheap Android tablet plus a usb/OBDII cable and an OBD reader app you could have the equivalent of a dedicated OBDII reader?
Any idea of what such an app would cost? Cable would probably be about $30 I'd guess.

Actually, I was going to start a thread about this but may just piggy-back on this thread for possible configuration. (I am also interested on this as well.)

option 1: get a OBD II gauge ($150+) along with cable

• read CEL code and provide a description and clear it

Option 2: get a ScanGauge II ($150?) (http://www.scangauge.com/) that comes with a cable

• Read CEL (Only PCode) & can clear it for ya too
• Digital Gauges:
• Displays 4 of 12 built-in gauges in real time
• Fuel Economy/Rate
• Battery Voltage
• Coolant and Intake Temperature
• RPM
• MPH
• Manifold Pressure (depends on vehicle)
• Engine Load
• Throttle Position
• Timing

Option 3: For Apple devices. (http://gopointtech.com/products/) to get both the connector (BT or calbe) and the App that does pretty much the same thing as the ScanGauge II does.


There may be other options on this route. Still needs to be researched.



Option 4; for Android devices: An Android tablet, a OBD II bluetooth connector, and the Torque App from the Market (Play).


As this is still work-in-progress, I do not know how much it would be for these different options.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Scion FR-S

OT a bit, but it sounds like a cheap Android tablet plus a usb/OBDII cable and an OBD reader app you could have the equivalent of a dedicated OBDII reader?
Any idea of what such an app would cost? Cable would probably be about $30 I'd guess.

You can get a bluetooth OBDII reader for $20 from Amazon (no cable required), and you can get Torque for free or $5 depending on whether you want the additional "paid" feature. it then works with either an Android phone or tablet if you already have one. I believe there is also an iPstuff version of an app.

So for as little as $20 and existing equipment you have a functional OBDII reader that will display stuff real time on virtual gauges.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Want.FR-S

...
option 1: get a OBD II gauge ($150+) along with cable

• read CEL code and provide a description and clear it

Option 2: get a ScanGauge II ($150?) (http://www.scangauge.com/) that comes with a cable

• Read CEL (Only PCode) & can clear it for ya too
• Digital Gauges:
• Displays 4 of 12 built-in gauges in real time
• Fuel Economy/Rate
• Battery Voltage
• Coolant and Intake Temperature
• RPM
• MPH
• Manifold Pressure (depends on vehicle)
• Engine Load
• Throttle Position
• Timing

Option 3: For Apple devices. (http://gopointtech.com/products/) to get both the connector (BT or calbe) and the App that does pretty much the same thing as the ScanGauge II does.

There may be other options on this route. Still needs to be researched.

Option 4; for Android devices: An Android tablet, a OBD II bluetooth connector, and the Torque App from the Market (Play).

As this is still work-in-progress, I do not know how much it would be for these different options.

Option 3 and 4 will do everything in option 1 and 2 as far as I can tell, and allows you more flexibility in what you show. I've used Option 4, no complaints and cost me a total of $25, plus I can use it on my Droid X or on a larger gTablet. When at home I can use the gTablet in and around the car, plus use it to search for manuals/etc on the Internet.

[Spd229]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

Option 3 and 4 will do everything in option 1 and 2 as far as I can tell, and allows you more flexibility in what you show. I've used Option 4, no complaints and cost me a total of $25, plus I can use it on my Droid X or on a larger gTablet. When at home I can use the gTablet in and around the car, plus use it to search for manuals/etc on the Internet.

Nice, didn't even consider something like this as I've been fortunate enough to have access to one of the plug in devices.....just a pain having to get the snap-on keys for it.

Any cons to the BT device? Seems the $20 connector has a 50/50 fail rate, granted the $100 variants seem to be pretty solid. If they get updated for new vehicles without hassle or too much cost this would be an awesome option....though now we're just getting off topic, sorta. lol

[Sport-Tech]

^Very useful Dadhawk and Want.FR-S, thanks. So obviously any tablet bought to do this would have to be BT enabled. Have to research Android tablets a bit. Or maybe spring for that gorgeous Retina screen.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Spd229

Any cons to the BT device? Seems the $20 connector has a 50/50 fail rate, granted the $100 variants seem to be pretty solid. If they get updated for new vehicles without hassle or too much cost this would be an awesome option....though now we're just getting off topic, sorta. lol

I haven't run into any cons, but I should qualify it with I'm not a "power user" of the device. Mine plugged right in, worked right away. Since the BT device is really just sending data to the tablet/phone for manipulation, I would think most of the updates are done on the software side not on the device itself, but I could be wrong.