Help with Basic Tablet for Use in Car Only

Lrtnicho on 25/08/2024 - 17:34
Last edited 25/08/2024 - 18:30 by 1 other user

I do a lot of long distance touring and use Waze a lot on my dash mounted phone.

This is a bit hard to see with my elderly eyes when I'm using distance driving glasses. I've tried multi-focals and don't like them. Therefore, I'm after a fairly basic tablet to use Waze on (and perhaps other apps). I had in mind mirroring the tablet off my (android) phone using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or perhaps even wired. I don't particularly want to use a sim card in the tablet. I wouldn't mind loading Waze onto a GPS enabled tablet but think that it would be preferable to mirror my phone.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Automotive Tablet

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 25/08/2024 - 17:40

    No car play?

  • boomramada on 25/08/2024 - 17:42
    +2

    Why not update your head unit?

    • rtnicho on 25/08/2024 - 17:52

      I could but not worth the cost.

      • boomramada on 25/08/2024 - 18:00

        Check on fb market place, their are cheaper installation options. If you using it all the time, its worth considering.

      • HeWhoKnows on 26/08/2024 - 18:57
        -1

        Right here is your super cheap ($53 delivered), super easy "carplay" answer
        https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/386996224499

  • rtnicho on 25/08/2024 - 17:42

    I could but not worth the cost.

  • scrimshaw on 25/08/2024 - 17:56

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/861228

    https://www.harveynorman.com.au/lenovo-tab-m8-4th-gen-32gb-8…

    Very slow tablet though and might not even run Waze smoothly.

  • CheapandUsed on 25/08/2024 - 18:28
    +1

    Would one of these dash mounted ATOTO P8 Portable Wireless Android Auto 7inch Car Stereo do the job?

    • woodg on 25/08/2024 - 21:34
      +2

      Or a similar one from BigW https://www.bigw.com.au/product/laser-7-inch-wireless-carpla…

      Currently $99 without reversing camera. Camera is an extra $15.

      • BronzingStubble on 26/08/2024 - 09:51

        How's the FM transmitter?

        I bought a cheapy FM transmitter from Kmart, and it's absolute junk. You can't hear anything. You have to turn the volume on the radio right up, and then it's very staticy as well. I don't want this one if it's the same.

        • ultracheapweeabookun on 30/10/2024 - 15:34

          Atoto p8 has the option of fm or aux. both work well but would prefer using aux so I don't accidentally use another's person frequency

  • mitt on 25/08/2024 - 19:24

    Do NOT get an aldocube. I got one because it was cheap for exactly this purpose.

    Its GPS drivers are absolute garbage & waze/the tablet need to be restarted to get GPS working.

  • CyberMurning on 25/08/2024 - 19:27

    Check posts by @Clear

  • roguescholar on 25/08/2024 - 19:46

    Some considerations are:
    - size of tablet
    - how to mount
    - does it cover any controls

    • fantombloo on 25/08/2024 - 23:23
      +1

      Some more considerations are:
      - does it suit the interior
      - how to route cable
      - is there something better next year

      • Ozbar Gain on 25/08/2024 - 23:37
        +8

        Some more considerations:
        - Is a tablet a break in risk
        - Can the tablet handle the heat/sun exposure
        - is the tablet a fire risk
        - will mounting be sturdy over obstacles
        - is the car a potato
        - Cashback
        - why is it called mileage if we drive kilometres

    • Euphemistic on 26/08/2024 - 07:58

      how to mount

      This is important. Might be too big a block your view if windscreen mounted - thats illegal. Might be too heavy and not have a decent mount system unlike a dedicated car version. Mounting low means you need to take your eyes further away from where you really need to look (out the front). Where will you power it from and will the cables be put of the way.

  • bargaino on 25/08/2024 - 21:52
    +2

    Cheap tablet, plus Headunit Reloaded works.
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gb.xxy.hr&hl=e…

    AA does not need much computing pwer, as all the hard work is done on your phone.
    Much better than running waze on a tablet.

    Though simpler to buy one of the above linked AA ready-built systems.

    • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 27/08/2024 - 15:31

      Couldn't get it working on my Samsung tab a7lite

      • bargaino on 27/08/2024 - 15:35

        Mine was a bit fiddly. Got it working with Wifi-direct, which should work with phones and tablet running recent Android.

  • numloxx on 26/08/2024 - 08:06
    +4

    Buy a Tesla it comes with a free tablet.

  • BronzingStubble on 26/08/2024 - 09:39
    +1

    Similar problem for me. What I did is order a special pair of bifocals to use as driving glasses. $300 from Costco.

    The upper lens is set to infinity, the standard distance lens. The lower lens is set, not to reading distance, but to roughly arm's length distance, the distance to where your phone is mounted. The split line is moved up quite substantially to the point where I'm only getting the infinity lens if I'm looking straight ahead. If I move my eyes down at all, I look through the lower lens.

    This works very well, I'm happy with it. Even the small street name letters on waze are easily discernible.

    You need to work with your optometrist to get this set up so that you're happy with it. I rejected the first set of glasses they gave me because they hadn't done it to my instructions. But the second set were great, we were on the same page.

    • rtnicho on 26/08/2024 - 18:31

      Could be a goer.

  • Presence on 26/08/2024 - 11:05

    I think some cheaper tablets don't have GPS, so check that

    • rtnicho on 26/08/2024 - 18:32

      I thought I wouldn't need it to have a GPS if I'm just mirroring.

      • Presence on 26/08/2024 - 20:46

        Probably not but i think its worth getting GPS in case mirroring doesnt work as well as you'd hoped.

  • saltypete on 26/08/2024 - 11:18

    Secondhand cellular iPad mini or Samsung equivalent.?

  • jattsta on 26/08/2024 - 11:22

    i got this one, ATOTO P8 RM portable stereo. Search it up on aliexp. Does amazing job on android auto and carplay.

  • jugsy on 26/08/2024 - 11:25

    Buying a head unit once is cheaper than replacing a cheap tablet thats succumbed to sun damage or battery wear every 6 months

  • pencilhead on 26/08/2024 - 11:44

    You can get lower end head units from aliexpress for around $200, Higher end around 500+. What sort of car is it?
    I got multifocal sunglasses set for driving ( reading section is about distance to radio/ instrument cluster instead of a book). You get used to multifocals….

    • rtnicho on 26/08/2024 - 18:34

      Mazda BT50. I've tried 2 lots of multifocals now. They're ok for some things just not driving. Car is used for 2 month tours twice a year.

  • Triceratops on 26/08/2024 - 17:35

    I don't like multi-focals either but drive in bi-focal sunglasses so I can read my infotainment screen in my car. You can get the line between the long and short distance at any place in the glasses to suit your personal height and driving position in the car.

    • rtnicho on 26/08/2024 - 18:35

      Could be a goer.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join