10" GPS/Tablet Project

[Mnichols4]

I recently had to replace my dead TOMTOM 720 GPS and wanted to look into a GPS with a large screen for easier reading. I don’t like to wear my glasses when driving but find it impossible to read a small screen GPS without them. I started out by looking for a GPS with software that takes into consideration the coach height, propane restrictions etc... What I found was for about $500 there were several units aimed at the trucking industry. These units were dash and windshield mounted and 7" was the max screen size. What really bugged me when all was said and done all you got was a GPS unit that had no other value, and I'm a guy who wants the most bang for my buck.

Now I was on a mission. Find a GPS with a 10" screen, mounts totally out of my line of sight, creates safe driving routes based on my coach size and provides a host of other functions for around $500.

The good news I did it and here's how:
1). I purchased and Acer Iconia A500 tablet at Best Buy. The table cost $449 has built in GPS, runs Android 3.0 apps and has HDMI out and fantastic screen resolution. The cool thing is it has built in WIFI so if you have a WIFI hub phone this table will do almost everything a lap top will do. There are hundreds of android apps for almost everything you can think of. The tablet is also 12vdc powered so a direct connection to you RV via hardwire or cigarette connector.

2). My next purchase was to down load Co-Pilot 8 GPS Android software app for $19.99 The app will download all the maps so it will run without an internet connection.FEATURES:

• Turn-by-turn voice directions
• Clear 3D and 2D driving views with speed-variable zoom
• Real signpost information and lane indicator arrows for clear guidance at exits and complex intersections
• Navigate to a house number, street, intersection or address book contact
• Millions of pre-loaded Points of Interest (POIs) to navigate to or call
• Choose from Auto, Walking, RV, Motorcycle or Bicycle to set your mode of travel

We drove to Cape Cod last week and the software worked flawlessly. I even tested in by setting my coach min height to 12’6” and then tried to route down a street that had an 11’9” overpass and it diverted me around the underpass.
3). Now I had to find a mount that would allow me to secure the tablet under the drivers side overhead cabinet. I found this location absolutely perfect. No interference with seeing the road or any mirrors yet the tablet is right at my finger tips. A company called “Mount Guys” sell tablet mounts with flexible mounting brackets for around $50 .
4). Modifications: First the tablet came with a AC power supply but did not include a car adapter so I purchased a separate connector ($1.49) and made my own plug that I wired directly to the coach. The next alteration was I found after mount the tablet to the underside of the overhead cabinet that the tablet needed additional support to limit bouncing. Not a real problem because any 12” to 14” piece of tubing around ½” to 5/8” in diameter with each end flattened and bent to fit did the trick (tube - $0 spent) . The last modification I made was to secure a piece of foam padding to the tablet mount to take up extra space that is built into the mounting plate to accompany various thickness tablets. (foam - $0 spent) Here’s some pictures of the project. Enjoy.!

[JohnRR]

Excellent idea, thank you for posting it.

[Sayonara]

Love it !! I have been thinking about doing the same thing. I was leaning towards the iPad but never thought to look at the other brands.

[LibbyLA]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing.

[GaryKD]

Very, Very nice. I think you are the first to "crack the code" on the GPS in a coach problem.

Can you set the tablet to never go to sleep?

[Mnichols4]

Yes you can set the tablet for no snooze.

[RickO]

Nice job!

Not only couldn't I read the numbers on my old Tom Tom 910... but I could no longer understand (hear?) what the spoken directions were telling me to do! This getting old thing is for the birds.

I did a similar thing using an HP Netbook mounted on the dash running Streets & Trips as well as VMSpc. Love it.

Thanks for sharing

Rick

[Mnichols4]

Thanks everyone!

I have to second Rick's statement getting old is for the birds.

This weeks project is to install a power strip for the patio lights that is wireless controlled. For some reason Winnie provides a 110vac outlet in the exterior cargo compartment to plug the patio lights into. You have to open the cargo door to plug in the lights and to turn them off before heading in for the evening. Can't comprehend why they wouldn't put at least 1 or both of the receptacles on a switch controlled from in the coach. I just purchased a real nice wireless controlled 3 receptacle powerstrip for $20. It can handle up to a15 amp load and the transmitter has has a 50 foot range which means it can be placed anywhere in the coach. I may take the guts out power strip and install them directly in the existing receptacle box. I just love doing stuff like this and solving these mini problems that get under my skin.

[fansill]

WOW...Thanks Mnichols,

I have been trying to convince myself that I needed an IPAD or similar tablet and also wanting to upgrade our GPS and now you have given me the perfect excuse....

How can I resist heading to Best Buy with this logic...

Faith

[RickO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mnichols4 Thanks everyone! I have to second Rick's statement getting old is for the birds. This weeks project is to install a power strip for the patio lights that is wireless controlled. For some reason Winnie provides a 110vac outlet in the exterior cargo compartment to plug the patio lights into. You have to open the cargo door to plug in the lights and to turn them off before heading in for the evening. Can't comprehend why they wouldn't put at least 1 or both of the receptacles on a switch controlled from in the coach. I just purchased a real nice wireless controlled 3 receptacle powerstrip for $20. It can handle up to a15 amp load and the transmitter has has a 50 foot range which means it can be placed anywhere in the coach. I may take the guts out power strip and install them directly in the existing receptacle box. I just love doing stuff like this and solving these mini problems that get under my skin.

Great minds (with similar coaches) must work alike.

Three years ago I installed a wireless accent light control system inside and out and really love it. I used (hidden) rope lights on the inside around each of the four slides mounted just above the slide seals. Added a couple of short sections of rope light above and below the bathroom sink cabinet... and a short section below the kitchen sink cabinet. On the outside, I hard mounted rope lights into the plastic tracks which they snap into. I mounted the tracks onto the slide topper housings for both patio slides... in addition to a strip which is mounted under the coach along the bottom of our large patio slide. All of this is tied together to a Home Settings master control unit mounted near my One Place control panel and all of the interior (hidden) rope lights are dimmer controlled via the control panel. We love it.

For the exterior rope lights, I haven't yet figured out how to hard wire AC to the slide topper areas, so it's part of our set up process to connect them via some outdoor extension cords I've cut to length. The cords are pretty well hidden connecting the front and rear slide topper lights to those mounted under the coach... and then up to the Home Settings adapter through a factory installed hatch for that purpose. It sounds a lot tougher than it is and we only connect them if we're staying somewhere for several days or more. If I'm getting the ladder out to put the windshield shades up... I'll usually connect the lights.

I've just purchased a three station $20 controller like you described for some similar things I'm doing in our new stick house and they work great. If I had it to do over again I might go that route since the Home Settings set up is more expensive and only provides the benefits of programability (I don't use it) and dimming... I do use it.

Best of luck and let me know if you have any questions on what I've done.

Rick

[Mnichols4]

You're right we are thinking alike. I am looking into flxible exterior blue LED strips to mount outside possibly as ground effect lighting under the main right side slide and then under each step. These I was planning on connecting to the wireless power strip and then trasformer down to power the LED's. Good thing I'm still working because if I had more free time who know what would be next.... Kind of scary !!!!!

[pdq_bc]

thanks Mnichols!
really appreciate the post & pics
pdq