Best android tablet to use for SkyDemon.
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I started out with a Tesco Hudl 2 which has performed faultlessly. Sadly it's a little slow now but It has built in accelerometers so the 'instrument apps' available on Google Play to replicate DG and AI and navaids are useful back ups in the event of everything failing in flight.
I went on to buy the Lenovo Tab 4 (8") which has been fine. Both tablets run SD faultlessly although the Lenovo seems to have an issue with Sky Echo's WiFi signal in that it tends to drop reception on warmer days. I'm not sure if that's the tablet or the SE though.
The Lenovo is still widely available and you can still pick up some sealed 'as new' Hudl's on Ebay for less than £100.
I went on to buy the Lenovo Tab 4 (8") which has been fine. Both tablets run SD faultlessly although the Lenovo seems to have an issue with Sky Echo's WiFi signal in that it tends to drop reception on warmer days. I'm not sure if that's the tablet or the SE though.
The Lenovo is still widely available and you can still pick up some sealed 'as new' Hudl's on Ebay for less than £100.
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If you're contemplating a cloud break you're in an IFR certified machine, aren't you, so for a "full instrument failure" you have to lose both vacuum and electrics at the same time? Does that ever happen?
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Its probably happened to someone and no doubt wasn’t their best day... personally if I lost either system in the a/c in IMC I’d be pretty glad of any backup, especially if it was a full electric failure.
Flew with the Mediapad M3 today. Was generally pretty happy seemed to keep GPS signal even with kneeboard cover over it. Something tells me it’s not quite as refined as iOS version (roads and railways disappeared and needed restarting) but otherwise so far so good.
Flew with the Mediapad M3 today. Was generally pretty happy seemed to keep GPS signal even with kneeboard cover over it. Something tells me it’s not quite as refined as iOS version (roads and railways disappeared and needed restarting) but otherwise so far so good.
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I’m still at the moment using my iPhone 8 to run SD as only just started out doing a few NAV trips. It’s great and use a holder on the dash.
Only annoying thing about using a phone for navigation is when your coming up to a crucial turning point near controlled airspace and your map disappears as the Mrs tries to call you!
My plan is to get a refurbed iPad mini 2 or 3 4G so it has GPS ( also think the 1st iPad mini doesn’t software update enough to run SD now) from sites such as musicmagpie, amazon or similar with a year warranty. Use the iPad mini on a knee pad for SD and my iPhone 8 as a Directional Indicator.
The only heading aid on my aircraft is a compass and despite UNOS and calculations my compass turns seem very inaccurate even when straight and level! I remember how annoying I found it to keep slaving the DI on a C150 but realise now how much I took it for granted compared to just having a compass.
Really I want another device to back up my iPhone as still backing up on the old maps.
Only annoying thing about using a phone for navigation is when your coming up to a crucial turning point near controlled airspace and your map disappears as the Mrs tries to call you!
My plan is to get a refurbed iPad mini 2 or 3 4G so it has GPS ( also think the 1st iPad mini doesn’t software update enough to run SD now) from sites such as musicmagpie, amazon or similar with a year warranty. Use the iPad mini on a knee pad for SD and my iPhone 8 as a Directional Indicator.
The only heading aid on my aircraft is a compass and despite UNOS and calculations my compass turns seem very inaccurate even when straight and level! I remember how annoying I found it to keep slaving the DI on a C150 but realise now how much I took it for granted compared to just having a compass.
Really I want another device to back up my iPhone as still backing up on the old maps.
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I guess none and none, thus it's just a speculation, isn't it?
I am pretty sure you will be able to find badly designed tablets that have all sorts of issues but you are extending your guess to ALL tablets just because they are non-Apple....
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Having now had a week few with an Android (Huawei M3 lite) device alongside iOS, I’d say for £140 it’s pretty good value.
There are definitely a few oddities compared to iOS, but overall it fits the brief of getting a small, new, light, dedicated device that can live in my flightbag.
SkyDemon’s definitely less refined on it - some (very few) menus don’t work ideally or block functionality. The graphics refresh is a bit slower. There’s a small learning curve to setting up and moving around it.
Apart from the menus, there are two things bothering me:
Without WiFi it’s not trivial to share routes between android and iOS.
I was really surprised that Android doesn’t update in the way iOS does. It seems you’re pretty much stuck with the os it came with. For me that means a brand new device with an outdated OS and security updates and no chance to update it. That is really disappointing - had I known that I would probably have stuck to the used iPad route.
There are definitely a few oddities compared to iOS, but overall it fits the brief of getting a small, new, light, dedicated device that can live in my flightbag.
SkyDemon’s definitely less refined on it - some (very few) menus don’t work ideally or block functionality. The graphics refresh is a bit slower. There’s a small learning curve to setting up and moving around it.
Apart from the menus, there are two things bothering me:
Without WiFi it’s not trivial to share routes between android and iOS.
I was really surprised that Android doesn’t update in the way iOS does. It seems you’re pretty much stuck with the os it came with. For me that means a brand new device with an outdated OS and security updates and no chance to update it. That is really disappointing - had I known that I would probably have stuck to the used iPad route.
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How many schematics of how many Android tablet models did you analize to know they lack thermal measurements and how many tests did you do to confirm the components temperature exceed the datasheet limits before any thermal protection intervenes?
I guess none and none, thus it's just a speculation, isn't it?
I am pretty sure you will be able to find badly designed tablets that have all sorts of issues but you are extending your guess to ALL tablets just because they are non-Apple....
I guess none and none, thus it's just a speculation, isn't it?
I am pretty sure you will be able to find badly designed tablets that have all sorts of issues but you are extending your guess to ALL tablets just because they are non-Apple....
No need to analise schematics, the available hooks in the respective OS's which point at the various thermocouples on the device in hand tell their own story.
Try reading Apple's hardware notes for more information on their devices.
Try getting the same info out of Samsung for one...
If you weren't quite so unpleasant I'd post some more info...
The Apple devices with GPS have a SIM card slot. This because they use AGPS for position initialisation, whereas many Android devices have regular GPS with processors that cope with initialisation without the use of cell-phone signals. I use an iPad at work which doesn't have a SIM card installed, as the company don't provide one. It takes forever to get a GPS lock, if it ever does. For private flying (running Sky Demon), sailing and hiking I use a Samsung Galaxy tab (no SIM) with both GPS and GLONASS. The Android device is far superior in every way, particularly at sea where you need a bright screen.
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Mooneyboy the iPad mini 1 still runs SD with no problems. My only problem is remembering to charge the GNS 1000 which provides it with the GPS signal.
As a bit of a Luddite myself, I still prefer to do things the old fashioned way - map, protractor, ruler etc. However, there is no doubt that SD is an impressive piece of kit which has a place in todays GA environment. All that being said, I see too many pilots spending too much time with 'heads in' rather than 'heads out'. The ideal solution I guess is for the occupant of the left hand or forward seat to fly the aeroplane whilst a colleague alongside or behind looks after SkyDemon - in my day they used to be called navigators !
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I had a ride in my chum's Mazda 6 over the weekend and I was most impressed with the HUD which shows the speed and current speed limits. It was very clear and unobtrusive. Is the technology sufficiently cheap to apply to GA? This might overcome the "looking-in" problem which I find very distracting with SD and Easy VFR.
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Just as an update, although the M3 lite 8 was good, it was a bit laggy in the display sense. Perfectly OK in flight but moving around the map planning was slightly sluggish compared to an iPad (which I do most planning on anyway). Huawei just released the M5 Lite 8 (2019 model) and I had the chance to return the other one and update. I have to say it’s significantly better and only £60 more at £199, and so I strongly recommend it. It’s small, light, fast, and latest Android. It’s so new I can’t get a screen protector or case yet so just Velcro’d It to my knee board and hope for the best.
If there was an iPad mini at this price new with GPS I’d much prefer that, but since they’re way more expensive I’m happy with the Android one - it can live in my flight bag and be mostly dedicated to flying.
I’m starting to get used to / live with most of the iOS / Android differences. Most annoying so far are printing (AirPrint is so much better and more widespread), backup (iCloud is so good for full iOS device backup) and sharing between devices.
For SkyDemon there’s practically no difference apart from an (arguably) less appealing aesthetic on menus etc. I jump between iOS and Android version most days and no problems.
If there was an iPad mini at this price new with GPS I’d much prefer that, but since they’re way more expensive I’m happy with the Android one - it can live in my flight bag and be mostly dedicated to flying.
I’m starting to get used to / live with most of the iOS / Android differences. Most annoying so far are printing (AirPrint is so much better and more widespread), backup (iCloud is so good for full iOS device backup) and sharing between devices.
For SkyDemon there’s practically no difference apart from an (arguably) less appealing aesthetic on menus etc. I jump between iOS and Android version most days and no problems.
