My 2 girls got Toshiba Thrive tablets for Christmas, I refuse to get phone service on them. When they are in a wifi area, the GPS will show where you are on a google map, when out of wifi the GPS still works, but it just shows you as a dot on a blank screen.

Maybe you have to buy/download maps to the tablet?

I've got the Garmin 540s which has been replaced by the 541s. It's a good basic unit that has easy navigate through the pages and screens. I think they retail for @ $700-$750 with a transom mount transducer. I did just see a demo at the Grand Strand Boat Show on the Lowrance HD models with the structure scan and it was pretty amazing but it was a bit pricey. I think Lowrance, Northstar and another brand are all under one company.

I don't know about northstar but lowrance and eagle are the same company, LEI.

Mine's an IPHONE w/a Navionics download...we were WAY up the Tugaloo River yesterday and that's about as hillbilly country as it sounds!!...lol!!...it was showin' the chart and icon following the river along w/lat/long changes as running just like I was uptown or something...showing SOG matching the boat's GPS exactly the whole time...I'll let ya know if I find out different, but I no think this thing requires cell sig for GPS function...will find out fo sho next time offshore...:sun:

Very cool, I've found out with my research a lot of people have mixed reviews ( everybody is a critic these days). I think its an awesome app. And proved to be a valuble tool just in the couple days that have down loaded it. On the negative side it is a battery murderer! And does take up some storage on the phone. I'm gonna put through a good test the next time I'm on the water. Can't beat it for 10 bucks!!!!

try putting it in airplane mode or pulling the sim out

well the facts are in!!!! After having a 6 page long thread on The Hull Truth about the Navionics USA app, I have found out that yes it will work out of wifi and cell range. here are a few comments from some electronic geeks over there.

#1 The iPad 3G or iPhone 4/4S GPS receiver does not need a cell or WiFi service/subscription/connection to function. Apps such as iNavX and Navionics store the charts locally on the iDevice so they only need to be downloaded once.




#2 The HTC Evo has an internal GPS. I use it quite frequently while flying where there is no cell phone or wi-fi signal. The phone specs ( http://www.htc.com/us/products/evo-sprint#tech-specs) show it has GPS and aGPS. aGPS stands for Assisted GPS which means it can use a cell or wi-fi signal to lock faster on satellites.fshmn,



#3 I have an iPhone 4 with the Navionics app. The chart plotter works in the North East canyons 90-100 miles offshore.

I can't tell you how it works, just that it does.





Originally Posted by fshmn http://www.thehulltruth.com/cb/buttons/viewpost.gif
just so I "throughly" understand....

If I download the Navionics App to my Iphone 4S, then I will have a working marine gps even when I'm 20+ miles offshore?

Yes

Does the Navionics App connect to the Iphone internal GPS receiver? Yes
Again, assuming from your statement that the Iphone has a GPS receiver. Yes
Or will I have to integrate the Navionics maps into the Iphone GPS App? ?? Plug n play, download the app, use the app on a wifi connection to download section(s) of the chart(s) you require...

If so, $10 is a cheap backup GPS on my boat. - Yes!

Oh so NOW I see how it is... I'm just not cool enough with my old 3g

Yup!!...:sun:

I likin' this iphone thingy...as far as burning the battery, that's why I installed the 12 volt plug-in w/in easy car-charger reach of where the phone will be velcroed to the dash...