Cybernav GPS Navigator with Android
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 0
From: 54° 4.5' N 123° 7' W
Cybernav GPS Navigator with Android
This is a write-up for the Cybernav GPS Navigator with Android 2.2. I do not sell this product, but was seriously curious about its capabilities before I bought it, and could not find any good reviews other than the manufacturer's information and one other review online.
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The tablet itself is a 7" resistive touchscreen, and has on board an actual SIRF IV GPS chip, which supposedly is better than the GPS-A chips onboard most tablets. I'm not an expert on these things so I take their word for it. It comes pre-loaded with Android 2.2, along with iGo, a GPS street navigation system. The main reason I bought this tablet, though, was to see if I could make it work offroad without any cell or wifi signal. The unit has wifi but no cell service (ie. no monthly fees!).
The iGo system itself functions well. I live in Prince George and was mildly surprised to see good and accurate street coverage here. I would assume that bigger centres would be covered as well. The GPS is very accurate on the road, tracking to the intersections correctly. There is voice navigation and also the ability to store favourite locations. You can also search for addresses. This is the first car nav GPS that I have owned, but I found entering data quite easy on the big 7" screen. It comes with a suction cup windshield mount, which I used for a few days, but got tired of the lower part of the windshield being blocked.
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The other cool thing is the variety of vehicles you can choose from to show on the screen. Look at what the "offroad" machine is!
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Being an Android 2.2 tablet, the Android Market functions just fine. I found a program called Maverick that allows you to download maps onto the tablet's memory. You can use a microSD card with the tablet and expand the memory by up to 32 gig. With Maverick, downloading map tiles is as simple as panning through the area of interest. The map tiles are automatically saved. Then, when you are offroad in the area of interest, the map is automatically retrieved based on your location.
The example below is still in town, but you can see the blue track which is tracking the vehicle as you drive. It is accurate enough to tell which side of the road you are on.
Attachment 287164
Attachment 287156
The tablet itself is a 7" resistive touchscreen, and has on board an actual SIRF IV GPS chip, which supposedly is better than the GPS-A chips onboard most tablets. I'm not an expert on these things so I take their word for it. It comes pre-loaded with Android 2.2, along with iGo, a GPS street navigation system. The main reason I bought this tablet, though, was to see if I could make it work offroad without any cell or wifi signal. The unit has wifi but no cell service (ie. no monthly fees!).
The iGo system itself functions well. I live in Prince George and was mildly surprised to see good and accurate street coverage here. I would assume that bigger centres would be covered as well. The GPS is very accurate on the road, tracking to the intersections correctly. There is voice navigation and also the ability to store favourite locations. You can also search for addresses. This is the first car nav GPS that I have owned, but I found entering data quite easy on the big 7" screen. It comes with a suction cup windshield mount, which I used for a few days, but got tired of the lower part of the windshield being blocked.
Attachment 287161
Attachment 287162
The other cool thing is the variety of vehicles you can choose from to show on the screen. Look at what the "offroad" machine is!
Attachment 287163
Being an Android 2.2 tablet, the Android Market functions just fine. I found a program called Maverick that allows you to download maps onto the tablet's memory. You can use a microSD card with the tablet and expand the memory by up to 32 gig. With Maverick, downloading map tiles is as simple as panning through the area of interest. The map tiles are automatically saved. Then, when you are offroad in the area of interest, the map is automatically retrieved based on your location.
The example below is still in town, but you can see the blue track which is tracking the vehicle as you drive. It is accurate enough to tell which side of the road you are on.
Attachment 287164
Last edited by PG-JKU; Mar 9, 2012 at 09:25 PM.
Thread Starter
JK Super Freak
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,605
Likes: 0
From: 54° 4.5' N 123° 7' W
Another app that I found was the inclinometer. Also shows a JK, by the way. Side to side and forward and back tilt is recorded. However the device lacks a compass. Camera and bluetooth are also not available.
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And of course the JK-Forum Android App!
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As I had said previously, mounting the device on the windshield was a bit of a pain, and was also very obvious. I like my gadgets more stealthy and easy to hide from prying eyes, so I looked for a different location. (After I wrote this I notice my VHF radio sitting on top of the dash in plain view. Oh well.) Using the bracket that came with the device, I screwed it to the back of my visor and ran the power cable up the windshield post.
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And flips easily out of the way when you park or don't need it.
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It comes with a built-in FM transmitter for sending the GPS voice to your radio, or audio from mp3s or videos. (Yes, it will play videos too).
I have run into a few Android programs that will not function on it, but most of what I need works. I am trying another mapping program called MyTrail which is promising also. It allows you to designate an area and zoom level for downloading map tiles for offline use.
Overall I am really happy with this. Build quality is not the same as mainstream tablets, but the cost was amazing - $139 delivered.
I thought I would do this write up due to my own frustration of not having any information about this device before I bought it - I hope it helps someone to see that there are options to more expensive gear out there.
There is also a 5" version called the Cybernav mini.
Attachment 287165
And of course the JK-Forum Android App!
Attachment 287166
As I had said previously, mounting the device on the windshield was a bit of a pain, and was also very obvious. I like my gadgets more stealthy and easy to hide from prying eyes, so I looked for a different location. (After I wrote this I notice my VHF radio sitting on top of the dash in plain view. Oh well.) Using the bracket that came with the device, I screwed it to the back of my visor and ran the power cable up the windshield post.
Attachment 287167
Attachment 287168
And flips easily out of the way when you park or don't need it.
Attachment 287169
It comes with a built-in FM transmitter for sending the GPS voice to your radio, or audio from mp3s or videos. (Yes, it will play videos too).
I have run into a few Android programs that will not function on it, but most of what I need works. I am trying another mapping program called MyTrail which is promising also. It allows you to designate an area and zoom level for downloading map tiles for offline use.
Overall I am really happy with this. Build quality is not the same as mainstream tablets, but the cost was amazing - $139 delivered.
I thought I would do this write up due to my own frustration of not having any information about this device before I bought it - I hope it helps someone to see that there are options to more expensive gear out there.
There is also a 5" version called the Cybernav mini.
Last edited by PG-JKU; Mar 9, 2012 at 10:03 PM.