How to use a tablet as a navigator. Making a PDA out of a GPS navigator - Notes from a programmer

The trend of the modern world is the widespread use of mobile devices. Tablets are conquering the market at tremendous speed. It is not surprising that this device began to combine functionality that had not previously been used in pocket computers. We will talk about a tablet navigator. Were needed before individual devices. And today this role is successfully fulfilled by the tablet.

Briefly described, the main part of the process is the GPS receiver. This is a small module inside the tablet that exchanges signals with satellites. The most common system is based on the use of a network of foreign satellites, the so-called GPS. To clearly determine the position on the ground with an accuracy of up to a meter, signals from several stations are processed at once.

In general, the process can be compared to radio direction finding. From one source you can determine the direction, from two - approximate coordinates. The method works on a plane, but has low accuracy when changing the height of the desired point. Three satellites already make it possible to carry out the clearest tracing possible. In reality GPS module works with at least four sources, since one is needed to correct time references, because the navigator is constantly moving in space.

• worldwide coverage;
• available at any time of the day or night;
• There are many more satellites over Western countries, which increases the accuracy of tracing;
• .has been released to work with this structure.

In general, the system is free. Software makers can charge money for their work, which mostly involves providing additional services. For example, the Navitel company sells detailed maps of the area. Other companies charge for convenient search services and restaurant selection services, for example.

Additional systems

Now let's talk about how the navigator on the tablet works. Searching for satellite signals takes quite a lot of time. Especially if the tablet user is surrounded by reinforced concrete high-rise buildings.

The process can take from ten seconds to several minutes. Therefore it was created A-GPS system, which is designed to speed up the start of navigator systems. In this case, the tablet does not take the first location references from satellites, but receives them, which tracks the location of the device using its towers.

A-GPS accuracy is poor, especially in rough terrain. On flat steppe, positioning is possible within 15 meters. However, such information is enough to carry out primary data processing and build a map.

It should be remembered that supporting A-GPS is quite a troublesome task, especially since it requires additional equipment. Therefore some operators mobile communications may provide such services for an additional fee.

Domestic positioning system

In order to prevent surveillance and provide its own secure structure for global positioning Russia and the CIS countries have created their own satellite system. It's called GLONASS.

This structure has undeniable merit. It operates in Russia and the north of the Eurasian continent much more accurately than the American GPS satellite system. In addition, searching for sources is faster, navigation starts and tracks the device's position in seconds.

But there is also a drawback. Outside of Russia, you can forget about using GLONASS. Negotiations on expanding the satellite system throughout globe did not give results. For the same reason GPS system over Russia has less accuracy - the number of American satellites was limited as a response measure.

Today, a tablet navigator that can work simultaneously in two positioning systems has become widespread. This is convenient, as it allows you to achieve maximum accuracy in any country and city. Most navigation programs can work with both GLONASS and GPS.

Other options

In addition to the convenience of determining your location and plotting a route to your destination, the GPS module also provides others:

1. Working as a lighthouse. The device can be tracked by knowing the identifier;
2. GPS is widely used in a complex of car alarm and security systems - to search for stolen cars;
3. You can track vehicles, analyze the routes of movement of personnel, for example, couriers;
4. After all, they can find out where their child is at any moment.

The navigator on the tablet has already given rise to many rather loud discussions about the ethics of employers’ demands to record employee location data, the admissibility of analyzing such information, interference with privacy, and similar critical issues. But technology is developing and improving. Sooner or later, this will change people's attitude towards such problems.

Video on how to use the navigator on Android:

The tablet navigator gave a person the opportunity to drive active life and do not carry around a suitcase of various devices with you. If earlier, navigator, phone, notebook, the voice recorder were separate devices, then the tablet successfully performs these functions. Moreover, it does it better, because it combines advantages, almost excluding disadvantages.

It is not surprising that the navigator in a tablet has become an almost integral program for those who often travel while driving. You don’t have to worry about charging, and information about your location, route, and traffic congestion is at your fingertips. A tablet with a navigator has really changed the life of a modern person.

Today, thanks to the development of operating systems and navigation technologies that are offered with them, the lines that were previously between navigators and tablet computers (or phones) have been erased. Today, every gadget can be called universal - one that solves several problems at once.

In this article we will talk about how to find and choose the right tablet with a navigator. We will also tell you whether there are differences between it and a simple tablet computer, as well as how to find affordable solution: save money and at the same time have a reliable assistant at hand who can show you the right way.

Tablets today

Let's start with the fact that previously a navigator was understood as a separate electronic gadget, responsible for tracking location and providing information about the further route of movement. Given this functionality, it is not surprising that navigators are most often used by drivers to know how to shorten the route, where traffic jams are currently occurring, how to get to the desired destination, and so on. They did not perform any other functions, except for those described above.

Today the situation has changed. Any smartphone or tablet running an operating system can perform this task just as effectively. Most importantly, you do not need to look for a tablet with a navigator separately, since any gadget is equipped with the latter by default. It turns out that you can only find the optimal one for yourself (in terms of cost and technical parameters) tablet computer in order to enjoy the delights of navigation without any special restrictions. Given the wide range of such devices in stores, this can be done very easily today.

Navigation Aids

The question arises about how a simple smartphone or tablet can replace a specialized navigator. After all, he doesn't have any special means for this. We answer: a tablet with a navigator is simply a mobile device that is equipped with a GPS module and software, allowing you to “synchronize” the readings of the first with data from terrain maps. Thus, on the preset Map, the user sees a “point” (himself) in real time. For more accurate verification, you only need to connect to the mobile Internet (for these purposes, to work far from civilization, we will need a tablet navigator with a SIM card). And that’s all - you have in your hands a full-fledged tool for determining your location and moving along the route you need.

Applications

If you bought a navigator and want to expand its “knowledge base” in order to be able to navigate a new area, you will need to download a package of specialized maps (after connecting the device to the PC and loading them onto its memory card). If you have a tablet with a navigator, things are simpler. It is enough to download the application you need (from a catalog like Google Play or AppStore), after which more opportunities will appear on your device: new maps, convenient tools position tracking and more. The list of various software solutions that facilitate interaction with the device is quite wide. Their advantage is that among them there are a lot free solutions, unlike maps for navigators.

We find the optimal solution

Since almost all modern tablets have GPS, find the best option ( best ratio cost/quality of work of such a gadget) is not difficult. You just have to think about what features (besides navigation) you need. Or do you want to work with such a computer as a full-fledged mobile device (and want this electronic assistant to be equipped with powerful processor, a high-quality camera, a battery with extra capacity, and so on?). By combining all these characteristics, we get a truly suitable option.

In this article we will focus on the “minimum”. Our tablet should be a navigator on the road and, in addition, it should be an inexpensive tablet navigator (after all, why, one might ask, pay more).

Inexpensive tablets

Of course, speaking of available devices, first of all, various Chinese gadgets come to mind. This could be a Haier Hit 3G computer (with 4 GB of memory, a 7-inch display and a 2-core processor) costing 3 thousand rubles. By purchasing such a device complete with starter pack any of the operators (with the connected function mobile internet), you will receive a ready-made navigator.

Another example is the Digma Optima tablet. The screen here has the same dimensions as that of the model described above, but the cost reaches 4,590 rubles due to the memory increased to 8 GB and a quad-core processor. Of course, in practice such a device will work more quickly and stably.

If you want something even more functional, we present to your attention the Lenovo Tab 2 A7-20. This device will cost 7,500 rubles, but in addition to navigation capabilities, it will come with a higher-quality screen and a processor with superior performance.

For those who would like to see the route more accurately, there is an option to order the same price, but somewhat worse in performance, computer Digma Plane 10.7. It can also become a full-fledged assistant on the road, but with a screen size of 10.1 inches, it will be even more convenient in everyday work. Remember, this is just another tablet with GPS.

“Specialized” devices

However, there are gadgets on the market that are positioned as computers for navigation. Thus, if you are specifically looking for a tablet with a navigator for a car, you will very quickly find products from Explay. These are inexpensive devices that are simply equipped with a software package for navigation and route planning. In particular, we are talking about the special application “Navitel Navigator”. It is designed specifically for motorists, since it takes into account such details as road junctions and information about certain features of the route. This means that working with them is no less convenient than with Google Maps or “Yandex.Maps”. But in the case of the latter, you can also get up-to-date traffic information. On the other hand, what’s stopping you from installing the Navitel package on a simple tablet by purchasing this application on Google Play?

0. Introduction

All of you have probably already encountered GPS navigators. So, before you dare to buy this device, remember: Not all GPS navigators are equally useful!

Somewhere abroad you can go to a store and buy good product. In our country, when going to the store you need to know What exactly you want to buy and how much it should cost. Otherwise they will fuck you like a sucker and rip you off like a stick.

Even now, with enviable consistency, there are people who come to Eldorado, call the seller, and say: “I need a GPS navigator.” And they leave this store with outright crap, bought for a lot of money.

For example, recently my comrades bought a sophisticated Pioneer Avic S2 for 10,000 rubles with functions:
. adapter speakerphone Bluetooth for cell phone
. MP3 player
. multimedia viewing photos

In short, all functions except one single one - navigation. Just think, what a little thing...

Because it didn’t occur to my comrades when buying a navigator to ask the seller one single question: “ Is there a map of our city there?"

Because it doesn't occur to the fucking company iGo that Russia is not only Moscow and St. Petersburg - but also a lot of different small cities, such as Lipetsk, Voronezh, Saratov, Orel and Uryupinsk, etc.

Because it doesn’t occur to the fuckers from Eldorado that there is no need to sell navigators on the Russian periphery, for which there are no maps of this very periphery, and there is no sign of it in the near future - due to the futility of this activity for a foreign developer.

1. Comparative analysis of navigation systems

Meanwhile, if my comrades were in the know, they would buy Garmin Nuvi 205 for 8,000 rub.- for which there are maps of 63 regions of Russia, all regional centers are marked with at least street names, and half with outlines and numbering of houses.

Becoming happy owner this device, people are disappointed to discover that their 500,000th city on the map is depicted as a single point at the intersection of federal highways. And more or less detailed maps there are only Moscow, St. Petersburg, and also in best case scenario ten large cities in Russia.

Here's a short one comparative analysis coverage of navigation maps as of 03/01/2009:

Currently, Garmin is undoubtedly in the lead in terms of map coverage, with Navitel in second place. Other navigation systems are perhaps suitable only for those who prefer not to drive their car outside the Moscow Ring Road.

3. Types of GPS navigators

If you got a Garmin navigator, rejoice: you can buy (or download;) fresh maps and drive on them.

If you have a PDA under Windows Mobile or Palm OS, or a smart phone running Symbian is also no problem: download Garmin Mobile XT, unlock, upload maps - and get a full-fledged Garmin.

But what to do if you already have a hardware navigator with software that is completely unsatisfactory for you?

4. What is PNA?

Globalization and the laziness of producers provide obvious advantages. Nowadays a huge number of devices have appeared on the market P.N.A.(Personal Navigation Assistant) - based on.. Windows CE! All Pioneers, MIOs, JJ-Connects are just such devices.

A brief theory so that you understand what we are talking about. In fact, such a device is a miniature computer, with miniature Windows, controlled by a touch screen instead of a mouse. True, the manufacturer has taken all measures so that you would never guess about it: instead of a Windows screensaver, there is usually a manufacturer’s screensaver, instead of a desktop - special program, which limits the user to the device’s operating menu with its own navigation and system settings functions.

PLUS - that by bypassing the manufacturer’s shell and gaining access to Windows, we can install a bunch of necessary and original things on the device software, and generally use it as a full-fledged PDA. Craftsmen report installations on car navigators various games, book readers, video players and even office applications.

MINUS - this is a PDA, and a PDA under Windows. A Windows, as you know, can glitch and sometimes even crash. Although WinCE is claimed to be an operating system with increased stability, careless user actions when communicating directly with Windows can turn your pna into an unresponsive, useless device.

5. Installation files

Some smart manufacturers (eg Pioneer) they put two flash drives on the PDA - a working one and a backup one - always read-only, and make it possible to produce the so-called " cold reset" - when the contents of the working flash card with installed Windows and is overwritten by the software with the contents of the backup flash drive. On the one hand, this is reliable - bringing such a PDA into a non-working state is quite problematic. On the other hand, it’s not very convenient: all the software you installed can be destroyed with one click of a pen and replaced with a standard factory system.

Getting out of this situation is quite simple: put it in the root of the external SD card standard file autorunce.exe, which starts automatically after a cold reset and card detection, and installs all the necessary software from the mnavdce.cab file.

You can download a set of the most commonly used WinCE utilities from here: utils.zip. I recommend downloading and unpacking them into a separate directory on the SD card - they will be useful to us later.

7. Let's get inside

So, in front of us lies a disabled pna with a standard menu. Usually there are commands for "Navigation", "Applications" and "Settings". When you click the Navigation button, some third-party software is launched, for example:

Autosatellite on JJ-Connect"e
. Navitel Navigator on Shivaki
. iGo on Pioneer.

Thus, on a standard pna there are two shells: the first shell shows the menu, and the second one performs navigation. In this case, the WinCE desktop and taskbar are hidden. " Unlock" devices can be done in several ways, depending on the device and what exactly you want to achieve.

Option 1: replacing the navigation program with another one
. Option 2: replacing the standard menu with your own custom one
. Option 3: cancel all software shells and launch the desktop

We will consider the first option as the safest. The second and third unlocking options should be performed extremely carefully - since some devices fail to start navigation menu disconnect from the outside world and stop responding to events.

If you still want to unlock your pna to the PDA level, read the relevant topics on the forum. And before you do this, pay special attention to the topic " How not to kill your own navigator ".

This is especially true for those who have a navigator with only one flash drive, and the “reset” hole on the side of the device does not perform a full recovery of the OS and all installed programs - but just a regular reboot. Please note that there are MOST such models of navigators.

An awkward movement in the registry, or accidentally starting to format the system flash card from the Control Panel will lead to large hemorrhoids in attempts to revive the device.

8. Start unlocking

Remember one axiom: despite the fact that all unlocking methods are similar, there are no universal methods that would fit any device without modification. Therefore, when performing each unlocking operation, you need to understand what exactly you are doing now and what consequences this will lead to.

The first and second unlocking options usually come down to replacing the exe navigation program or start menu on the right application(for dummies detailed explanation ).

First, you need to understand how the device connects to the computer. The external SD card of the device can always be inserted into the card reader, and the device itself is usually connected with a USB cord. There are two options here: either it is directly seen in the system as disk drive, or in order to exchange files with the device you will have to install Microsoft ActiveSync.

That is, we need to get access to file system the device itself, and its external SD card. Then we empirically find (guess) where the exe file of the navigation program is located. Depending on the device manufacturer, it may be located on the memory card, or perhaps on the internal flash card of the device.

For example:
. \SDMMC\Navitel\Navitel.exe
. \SDMMC\MobileNavigator\MobileNavigato r.exe

The first thing I usually do is rename the old exe file - for example, adding a "1" to the name: MobileNavigator1.exe. And in its place we put the already familiar one on cecmd.exe, called original name: MobileNavigator.exe.

Humanly, we disconnect the navigator from the computer, reboot it, wait for the menu to appear, and select the “Navigation” item. If everything is done correctly, a file manager will appear in front of you instead of a navigation program Total Commander for WinCE.

9. Examine the device

What does this give us? Firstly, you can search for information on the Internet not only by the name of the device, often unknown to Yandex and Google, but also by the code identifier of the system. It happens that devices sold under different trademarks, are completely identical inside.

Secondly, now we know what OS version, processor and screen resolution we should look for software for.

Do you want to get a full-fledged PDA from your navigator? Go to the \WINDOWS folder and run explorer.exe. Then use the TaskbarShow.exe utility from the Utils.zip kit. And here in front of you is a full-fledged PDA, with a Start menu and a taskbar.

10. Getting to know Garmin Mobile XT

The further plan of action is clear: instead of the Exe-shnik, we need to attach what we need. This may be one of several programs that implement an interactive user menu. You can build into it the launch of any navigation systems, toys, and just different programs.

In our simpler case, it should be navigation system based on the program Garmin Mobile XT- allows you to work with Garmin maps. The main problem is that official versions of this program are released for Windows Mobile, Symbian and Palm - but not for WinCE.

If a year ago this problem was unsolvable, now craftsmen have already released several Garmin Mobile XT packages for WinCE. This became possible due to the fact that the kernels of WinCE and Windows Mobile systems are largely identical.

Here are the links to these packages:
. GarminMobXTWinCE.zip
. GarminMobileXTforWindowsCE_50010w.rar
. GarminMobileXTforWindowsCE_50020w.7z

It's difficult to say which package will suit your system. If you have version WinCE 5.00.20, I recommend starting with GarminMobileXTforWindowsCE_50020w.7z, if lower - with GarminMobileXTforWindowsCE_50010w.rar You can also find many other assemblies on the Internet, including those for unlocking specific devices.

11. Script to launch Garmin

To launch Garmin Mobile XT on WinCE, it is not enough to call Que.exe. The good thing about the assemblies is that they already have a built-in script in MortScript to run the application. Typically this script is called Garmin.mscr and contains the following steps:

1) Check: if Garmin Mobile XT is already running, then just activate its window:
If(WndExists("Garmin Mobile XT")) Show("Garmin Mobile XT") Exit EndIf
. 2) Launch explorer.exe(if it is not already running). If your GMXT crashes with the error "Read access violation at data address 0xFFFFFFFC" - it means that most likely you do not have explorer.exe running, and Garmin needs it:
If(not ProcExists("explorer.exe")) Run("\windows\explorer.exe") Sleep(400) EndIf
. 3) Despite the fact that explorer.exe is needed for Garmin to work, taskbar will only get in the way and obscure his window. To get rid of it, use the TaskbarHide.exe utility from the same Utils.zip:
Run(SystemPath("ScriptPath")\"TaskbarHide.exe") Sleep(500) Run(SystemPath("ScriptPath")\"TaskbarHide.exe")
. 4) Copy settings GMXT from SD card to internal flash drive devices. If you do not save the settings on the SD card, the program will forget them every time, starting with the default settings.
XCopy(SystemPath("ScriptPath")\"Settings\*.*", "\Garmin", TRUE)
. 5) Launch Garmin Mobile XT and wait for its completion:
RunWait(SystemPath("ScriptPath")\"..\Apps\WM\que.exe")
. 6) After the application is completed, take it away settings back to SD card:
XCopy("\Garmin\*.*", SystemPath("ScriptPath")\"Settings", TRUE)
. 7) Return the taskbar to its place. Otherwise, the next time you launch explorer, it will not be visible:
Run(SystemPath("ScriptPath")\"TaskbarShow.exe")
. 8) Shoot explorer.exe- usually the navigator doesn’t need it:
If(ProcExists("explorer.exe")) Kill("explorer.exe") EndIf
This is how the script turned out. Let's launch and try. If at startup we receive the message ""ProcExist" requires toolhelp.dll" - add the library to the directory from the scripts toolhelp.dll from the Utils.zip package.

12. Unlock Garmin Mobile XT

Having heard that the program will not work without a Garmin GPS receiver, we select the language and get to the main menu of the program. If you see this picture, 3/4 of your hard journey has already been completed. Go to the "Settings" -> "About System" menu and copy the memory card ID (usually consisting of 10 digits) onto a piece of paper.

In line Unit ID enter the ID of the memory card. In the Software Product line, select Garmin Mobile XT. Click top button Generate. You will get a serial number for unlocking Garmin Mobile XT for third-party (non-Garmin) GPS receivers. On your mobile device, in the Garmin folder, create a text file sw.unl

We continue to work with the key generator. In line Map Product indicate. A dialog box will appear. For the set of maps "Russian Roads version 5.xx" enter FID=1280 and click OK. Click bottom button Generate. We receive the serial number for unlocking the "Roads of Russia" maps on this device. On your mobile device, in the Garmin folder, create a text file gmapsupp.unl We write a single line into it - with the resulting serial number- at least using the Notepad editor.

If everything is done correctly, the program is unlocked.

13. Installing cards

Installing a base map of the world for Garmin Mobile XT. To do this, download the file from the official Garmin website GarminMobileXTFreeBasemap_4xxxx.exe. We start the installation, the program finds the memory card in the card reader and offers to install it there.

If your build of GMXT for WinCE did not include Garmin Mobile XT voice files (you can check their availability in the Voice folder) - download from the official website GarminMobileXTSupportFiles_4xxxx.exe. We start the installation in the same way, the program finds the memory card of our mobile device and offers to install it there.

We get a map from the Internet " Roads of Russia 5.11"It should be an .img file about 490 MB in size. If you have nowhere to get it, we tear out map_updater_5_11.exe from the official distribution kit, which can still be downloaded from the Garmin website completely freely. During the installation process, the program unpacks the gmapsupp.img file into a temporary directory, which You can pick it up from there - as soon as the first dialog box appears asking you to connect the updated device to the computer, I’ll immediately make a reservation that for versions 5.12 and 5.13 this option no longer works.

Extracted file gmapsupp.img version 5.11 put it in a separate folder and run the package GMapTool which can be downloaded from here:
. We add our gmapsupp.img to the list of files.
. Go to the Write tab and check the box Insert unlock code
. and enter the code from the gmapsupp.unl file into the field.
. Click write all and check that there are no errors in the logs.
. Copy the corrected gmapsupp.img to the Garmin folder on the device’s memory card.

Let's launch map_updater_5_12.exe and update the maps to version 5.12, then map_updater_5_13.exe- up to version 5.13.

The card installation process is complete. As a human being, we remove the flash drive from the card reader, insert it into the device and launch Garmin.

14. If garmin does not see the GPS receiver

On many pna devices, a situation is possible when a correctly unlocked GMXT no longer offers to register - but still stubbornly does not see the GPS receiver. This is due to the fact that the virtual COM port through which the built-in GPS receiver is connected to WinCE is already occupied by some other standard application. To get out of this situation, a program has been created Port Splitter, which was mentioned earlier.

It is designed to “share” one COM port on which the GPS receiver operates between several applications - by broadcasting data from it to virtual COM ports: COM1..COM9. The Port Splitter.exe file must be placed in the same folder where the script for launching GMXT - garmin.mscr is located.

There are two options for the Port Splitter program:
. up to version 1.20 inclusive, the program stores its settings in the registry
. version 1.30 saves the settings in the settings.dat file (which for some reason is always dated 01/01/2007)

Add to the list of outgoing ports at least one port to which we will distribute signals from the device. Let's say it will be COM0. Be sure to check the "Autorun" checkbox. Click "Start", then "OK" in the window title. The window should disappear.

We launch GMXT and make sure that the GPS receiver is found. If you are indoors, do not expect satellites to be found. But the program must recognize the receiver and begin the process of searching for satellites.

Run Port Splitter.exe again. Click "Stop", then "Exit". We look carefully at the directory where the program was located - a file should appear there Settings.dat. Copy it under the name Settings.bak. This is done so that if for some reason the port splitter settings are lost, the next time you start it, you can restore them from the backup file.

In order to automate this process, add the following lines to garmin.mscr between 3) and 4) points:
Copy(SystemPath("ScriptPath")\"Settings.bak", SystemPath("ScriptPath")\"Settings.dat", TRUE) If(not ProcExists("Port Splitter.exe")) Run(SystemPath("ScriptPath" )\"Port Splitter.exe") Sleep(500) EndIf

15. Finishing touches

To do this, go to the “Where” menu -> “Address” -> Lipetsk (or any other regional center), Lenin St., 1. After the program has found our house, or at least suggested houses with similar numbers, we press the “On the map” button. We get as close as possible and make sure that the outlines of the houses are visible.

Now we need to make sure that the “Navigation” button launches not cecmd.exe but GMXT. Let's use the package runme.zip, consisting of three files:
. runme.mscr - a custom script in the MortScript language
. MortScript.exe - MortScript language interpreter
. runme.exe is a program whose only task is to run a script whose name matches the name of the .exe file.

We are looking for the name and location of the exe file that is responsible for the navigation system (we replaced it in section 8). For example, if it is called Navitel.exe and is located in the Navitel folder of the SD card, we rename runme.exe and runme.mscr to Navitel.exe and Navitel.mscr, respectively, and put them in the same folder on the card.

Editing Navitel.mscr:
Errorlevel("warn") RunWait(SystemPath("ScriptPath")\"..\Garmin\RunGMXT\Garmin.mscr")
We put the flash drive back into the device, reboot it, and try it: when you press the “Navigation” button, GMXT should start.

16. Conclusion

Didn't work out? We carefully carry out everything step by step from the beginning. We smoke the forum until we feel completely enlightened. The author has already installed GMXT on Pioneer, on Voxtel and on Shivaki - and declares with full responsibility: there are NO universal unlocking methods that would fit every device without a single change!

Did it work? We say Thank you to the author :)

As an example, a package for unlocking the Shivaki navigator (of course, without maps) can be downloaded (43 MB).

I'm looking forward to finally being able to put the Garmin Mobile XT on my vacuum cleaner and connect my microwave to the Live Journal...

Articles and Lifehacks

Unfamiliar terrain can confuse anyone. However, the problem is easily fixable, given that many people today have a tablet and know how to use a tablet as a navigator. There is no need for this at all - this function is independent of providers.
If we need to find the nearest cafe or hotel, we can easily configure our tablet computer accordingly. The main thing is to know how to do it.

How do you know if your tablet has a navigator? Features of its use

First, let's try to find out whether there is a corresponding function in our tablet. To do this, go to the applications and look for an item called “Settings”.

There should be a "Location" option there. We select the appropriate parameters and check whether the item “ GPS satellites" If there is one, mark it.

So, how to use a tablet as a navigator? You should know that this involves working with a special application that contains maps of the area.
If we use mobile device on Android based, we can use Google Maps, better known as Google Maps. They can be found through the main menu of the cellular device.

When we first launch maps, we select our location. To avoid excessive Internet costs, we can use Wi-Fi.
Particularly useful this application will be for all car owners. They will be able to plot the desired route by indicating the starting and ending points. The program will even offer to select the time in which we want to get to our destination.

After this, we find an icon with an image of an arrow pointing up. This will help us get into Google Navigator. After this, the program will prompt us to follow the route. There you can also find route details indicating all the turns and additional options on working with the navigator.

Installation GPS navigator on the tablet and its use

If our tablet does not have a navigator, we can try to install Google maps ourselves. So, if we are using an Android device, we go to Play Market and enter the phrase “ Google Maps" Download and install the application we need. You can also configure it on a different operating system.
Others are also provided alternative programs, which would allow us to use the GPS navigator on the tablet.

So, today Yandex Maps may well compete with Google maps. Even if our tablet does not have a navigator function, this is not a hindrance. Yandex can determine location by Wi-Fi networks and work using A-GPS.

An application called Navitel Navigator is quite powerful. It features excellent functionality and a convenient menu. The program is available for European countries, as well as for residents of the CIS.

An application such as Sygic GPS Navigator was developed specifically for working with a car. It is adjusted to the horizontal position of the device screen. Pre-loading of maps is allowed.

Maverick GPS Navigation is nothing like previous application. It is designed primarily for those who prefer to walk. However, this does not prevent car enthusiasts from using it. The program has an intuitive and simple interface.

When in an unfamiliar area, the user may need to find his way home, or to the nearest diner, or a place to stay for the night. His faithful companions can help him with this - a smartphone or tablet with a navigator. To use them correctly, you need to carry out a number of simple steps.

How to find out if your tablet has a navigator

To do this you need:

1. Find the “Settings” item in the application menu and go there.
2. In the device settings, go to the “Location” item. There you will be offered a number of options for determining your location. Check if there is a “GPS Satellites” item. If it is present, mark it.

• Using a tablet as a navigator means running on it special application with cards. Most Android devices come with various applications installed out of the box, one of which is the GoogleMaps navigator, called “Maps”. Find it in the main menu and launch it. When you first launch, you will be asked to allow the application to determine your location, as well as turn on Wi-Fi in order to avoid traffic costs.

1. Click on the pointer icon. In the window that appears, you will be asked to get directions from the place where you are.
2. As an example, let’s enter the Lukyanovskaya metro station in the “End point” line. Click on the “Get directions” button. The application will display an image of a map with a route on it, as well as the estimated time in which you can get to your destination.

• Click on the menu button. The drop-down list will offer additional options working with Navigator.

1. Entire route – allows you to see the entire path to be taken.
2. Route details – a detailed description of all turns and route.
3. Sound off/on – makes it possible to turn off sound notifications when working with the Navigator.
4. Layers – This option marks traffic jams, tourist spots, gas stations, ATMs, banks, restaurants, and satellite views on the map.

• To center the map on your location, just click on the icon with a blue arrow.

Tablet navigator: Video

How to install GPS on a tablet

There is a possibility that your tablet does not have Google Maps and Navigator pre-installed. In order to download them, you need to go to the applications menu and find PlayMarket. In the search bar you need to enter “Google Maps” and install the application.

There are also alternative programs for using GPS on a tablet, for example GLONASS. The rest are listed below:

If you are a competitor, then be in everything. Russian search engine Yandex could not ignore such a valuable modern world direction like GPS navigation. Just like most other map providers, we are given the option to download maps before use or download them on the fly via the Internet. Interesting feature Yandex Maps has so-called folk maps, which are edited according to the “traveler for the traveler” principle.
If your tablet is not equipped with a GPS receiver, this is not an obstacle for Yandex, which can work with A-GPS and determine the user's location by location cell towers and Wi-Fi.

Navitel Navigator

Navitel Navigator is a powerful navigator application that works in the CIS countries and Europe. Usage and functionality are performed at a high level.

Among the features of the program it is worth highlighting:

• 2D and 3D maps;
• convenient work with both a tablet and a smartphone;
• correct and detailed display of various objects on the map.

Unfortunately, this program is paid, but this is not the only drawback. The demands on the tablet's hardware resources also make themselves felt when you need a smooth and enjoyable experience with this application.