I am using my RTK Torch with an iPhone, and it’s working but frustrating. Many recommend ANDROID tablets and phones since the communication appears to be better, and there are more and better applications on Android compatible with the TORCH. I would still use my iPhone as the hotspot for the tablet, as I am not interested in paying a monthly fee for the tablet to have a direct cellular connection. I am primarily using SW MAPS on iPhone, but might upgrade to use APGLOS or others and even pay a one-time license fee for an APP. I am primarily marking rough property boundaries for fire breaks, logging paths for forestry maintenance, springs and their paths.
What tablet are you using in this scenario?
Brand, size screen, memory recommendations etc?
I would only be using it for the Torch, and I am a farmer not a surveyor so I am not going to be using this everyday. The tablet I might use for Kindle when not using with Torch to justify the spend.
What tablet to you like, or hate?
I see a low cost Levano 9" Tab M8 Gen4 Wi-Fi only for $89 (US) at TLC 10.1" Tab 10 5G for $99
Thanks SparkFun Community and all the help the members have been giving me!!!
Walmart says $218, that’s double the cost is it worth it? What makes it that much better? I don’t know anything about Android, I’ve always been an iPhone, iPad, DELL PC guy
There’s no such thing as an Android tablet that requires data service. Even a phone without SIM or eSIM will function as an Android device with all regular capabilities except for connecting to the network via a cell service provider. WiFi tethering will still work just fine.
I’m guessing the confusion comes from the fact that some devices are sold with a cell service contract, but that’s a different story, and it has everything to do with sales conditions, not technical functionality.
So, you can buy anything that fits your budget, desired size, and has fairly recent Android version so you wouldn’t have issues with updates. Having a warranty makes some sense.
Yes, good point. I am leaning towards the TLC for $99 because it has the option of enabling cellular later if I want to vs the Levano for $10 less is Wi-Fi only.
What tablet are you using and what software?
I’m ok so far with SW Maps (although I’d like 2 decimal places on STAKE Out Function) and APGLOS.
I use my Android phone (Pixel 7a) with SW Maps. It works fine with a USB connection and over Bluetooth (I added it to my receiver to try various apps that can’t use USB).
SW Maps is okay, but I’m actively searching for a better (not necessarily free) option that is at least a little more CRS-aware, so I don’t need to mess with redefining the coordinate system for collected data (my correction service reports locations in NAD83) before using it. It’s not terrible, just a little annoying.