When I bought my ex-demo MK3 Octavia VRS it came with the Bolero unit. And even though I like to use real maps, I also like to have the convenience of a SatNav at times when you just need to find that place or get easy directions to somewhere.

 

I could use my phone but with my increasing decrepitude I need to use glasses just to see the screen and I find using it for navigation a bit of a pain. I already have a Garmin SatNav on my motorbikes but I don't want to have to keep transferring it between the bikes and car. Also I don't want to spend any money on a dedicated car SatNav even though they are great and not too expensive these days.

 

What to do? 

 

I dusted off my old Android tablet, a Nexus 7 that was new in 2012. This tablet is decidedly underpowered to run Lollipop 5.1 but unfortunately it got the update and I am now stuck with it. Would be a lot more useable on 4.4 KitKat but I don't want to mess around with the steps you need to take it back to an older version. I did find some detailed on-line help that got the performance of this old tablet up to a level that makes it quite usable. As well as getting rid of all the unwanted apps and bloat I also installed a free version of the Nova launcher that has a simpler UI and works better in the tablets new application as a dedicated SatNav. 

 

I could use the Google Maps navigation software on the tablet but this requires an on-line connection for downloading map content. And I could do this through the phone with a tethering link and the phones data connection. But instead I use the Open Street Map for Android app. This only costs a few quid (and there is a free version available also) but you download the maps you need - once on the device you don't need a data connection. This software is a bit different and takes a while to get used to. But the maps are very detailed and stuffed with useful info. Step-by-step navigation works OK if you turn up the sound to full volume. I also have another couple of free apps on the tablet that give a basic road atlas of the UK for browsing and planning routes. 

 

So now the tablet lives in the car and when I need the map or navigation I just plug it into the charging point and away we go. 

 

I could use the Google Maps navigation software on the tablet but this requires an on-line connection for downloading map content.

 

Wrong, you can pre-download maps for an area up to 120,000 square kilometers and navigate offline.

 

Google maps rocks

That would be for example a rectangle 500 km by 240 km. 

 

Maybe that's big enough for you  :p

That would be for example a rectangle 500 km by 240 km. 

 

Maybe that's big enough for you  :p

 

You can have multiple offline areas.

 

For instance, I have the all the roads from my Calais to the south of France currently stored offline from a trip I took recently

That would be for example a rectangle 500 km by 240 km. 

 

Maybe that's big enough for you  :p

In fact, it is. England can also fit into this rectangle, so unless you use your Octy like a truck driver, it should be enough for you too :p

 

J/k, do as langers2k says, it is very convenient. :sun:

Open Street Map for Android is also convenient

also Waze can be used in offline mode,

before start the trip enter destinations under WiFi coverage

then last points can be call again

but Online mode is much better than any Offline Nav

Thats a great idea and I haven't touched my nexus 7 for ages. Did you find some sort of holder for it?

No just the rubber cover. It is too big to install anywhere so it just floats, usually in the passenger seat. If I need to spoken directions I may wedge it under the arm rest or between the passenger seat and the arm rest.