Running Garmin Pilot on Android tablet

andy anderson

Filing Flight Plan
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Oct 31, 2022
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Andy a
I need to replace my older Ipad mini4 as charts are really slow to load just when I need them. Sometimes they are quick, but there are too many occasions twhen they are very slow (sometimes impossible to load) in the cockpit. I am considering a Samsung tablet but from what I was reading ( Up to Oct 2021) the Android version of Garmin pilot is far behind the Apple software and not worth running on an adroid. Does anyone have recent experience with the current version of Garmin pilot android?
 
I run it on this, my 10" Samsung, for planning. They've improved it greatly over the last year or so. Downloading updates still sucks, but other than that I don't miss any features or have any problems compared to the ipad mini 6 i run in the plane. I bought the mini because a year ago the android tablets (I used to use an 8" lenovo which is now my backup) were crashing...a lot. The iPad has been rock solid, so I can't say if the android still crashes in flight. I think maybe the $100 tablets just couldn't keep up with the amount of data coming at them in flight.
 
@Jim K has droid GP finally added the ability to load an IAP in the flight plan? It’s been two years since I tried the app and found that a show stopper, otherwise I liked it.

ETA: I’m running both iFlyGPS and Avare along with your old stratux on a 2019 era $139 Costco Samsung 8” Tab A just fine and completely crash free since day 1.
 
@Jim K has droid GP finally added the ability to load an IAP in the flight plan? It’s been two years since I tried the app and found that a show stopper, otherwise I liked it.

ETA: I’m running both iFlyGPS and Avare along with your old stratux on a 2019 era $139 Costco Samsung 8” Tab A just fine and completely crash free since day 1.
Well, I thought so, but I tried it and sure enough, it either doesn't or I'm not smart enough to do it. That does seem like a glaring omission, but apparently I don't miss it. I guess with the 750 I'm mainly just using the tablet for the plate.

ifly is great, but with a Garmin panel, I'd have to give up too much to go back. I'm glad the stratux is still trucking along for you.
 
As in slow? Or something else?
In short, yes. I think it's because my internet is really, really bad. Very high latency, lots of dropouts, and not very fast when it is working. It's the price i pay for being able to pee off my front porch.

The iPad manages to do it in a couple hours, but the androids take a day or so and a lot of babysitting. Each individual file seems to have a 40% chance of failing, and then it won't try to get it again until I clear the failure. It will only try to download 4 files at a time, including the failed ones, so it spends a lot of time waiting to be cleared. I set the tablet on a charger near the door and clear it every time I walk by. Ifly had a hard time with it too.

They have improved it over the last year. It used to be even worse; it wouldn't acknowledge that files were outdated, or it would try to download the same files 3-4x.

The iPad, as long as it's powered on and connected to the internet, will update itself automatically. The Androids won't, so I set a calendar reminder and start them manually every cycle.
 
I have a Galaxy S5e. I'm seriously considering switching to an iPad. GP locks up or crashes a little too much for me.
 
In short, yes. I think it's because my internet is really, really bad. Very high latency, lots of dropouts, and not very fast when it is working.
The Aera is also pretty bad and I'm certain it's not the internet connection. The DB is supposedly only 1.9GB and my connection 300Mbps, so theoretically it should only take a couple minutes and not the hours that actually transpire. It must be doing something stupid like download a chunk, ACK the chunk, download another chunk, ACK the chunk, etc. Downloading to PC is much faster at ~10 minutes, but then something seems to be failing over USB as the DB never shows up on the unit. :(

The iPad manages to do it in a couple hours, but the androids take a day or so and a lot of babysitting. Each individual file seems to have a 40% chance of failing, and then it won't try to get it again until I clear the failure. It will only try to download 4 files at a time, including the failed ones, so it spends a lot of time waiting to be cleared. I set the tablet on a charger near the door and clear it every time I walk by.
Ouch! I thought mine was bad...
 
Since I dissed it earlier, I cleared my application cache and GP is running much better.
 
I'm running iFly GPS with my daughter's 7" Samsung tablet that must be 6-7 yrs old and a Stratux. Runs great.

Garmin Pilot just didn't look appealing. I toyed with Foreflight for a bit, because Foreflight, but I prefer the interface and simplicity of iFly.
 
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