Sir:

I'm not certain how your specific device behaves, but be aware that many electronic devices that have a USB plug on them will behave differently depending on what signals are detected coming in from the wires on the USB plug.

For example, if you plug in a charger that has a USB connector on the end of it, the only signals coming into the device are 5 volts (+ and -) DC current. There are no data signals coming in. Hence, the device continues to operate normally, and the battery accepts the charge from the 5 volts offered.

If you use a USB cable to plug the same device into a computer, data signals will be sent down other wires of the USB cable, and the device will recognize that it is connected to a computer, and switch into 'computer' mode. In addition, if the computer supplies 5 volt power along the two power wires of the USB cable (most computers do), the battery in the device will also charge.

Try finding a USB charger with a plug that fits your device, taking care to ensure that it is nothing more than a power supply - a charger - and I bet your device will continue to work normally when you plug the charger in.

As for supplying your device with power on the motorcycle, there are many USB chargers out there that will convert 12 volt moto power to 5 volt USB power. Most of them have an end that plugs into a cigarette lighter socket. You can just cut that end off, install a fuse, and connect it directly to your motorcycle 12 volt wiring.

Michael

Load up a few more of the free ones and you can start testing and comparing them!
But, yes, you are heading in the direction of putting the dedicated navigator in the top/bottom drawer and using an app probably on the basis that "we all carry a mobile phone around nowadays" (just not a Blackberry!).

Just to emphasise that many motorcycles nowadays have a computer technology built in - classically the CANBUS of BMWs.
Hence my old Nuvi 205W behaves in different ways depending on which vehicle it is plugged into via a USB cable that is powered up via a 5 volt adaptor in the cigarette lighter socket (or a DIN socket, depending on the vehicle in use).
In any case it sorts itself out if it inadvertently goes into mass storage mode; on the odd occasion that it doesn't self-right itself (rather like those rather cleverly designed lifeboats) then switching it off and on again, while attached to the external power supply, seems to do the trick.

The Garmin Nuvis tend to fail on motorcycles because of vibration at the USB port. I've been through a couple of 265w. Just got a Zumo 350 cheap with different power set up on the bike. The dedicated GPS sure comes in handy getting across confusing Mexico, Central and South American cities.

I got a tablet to use as a satnav rather than replacing my satnav. what a disappointment, what a sack of sh1t. It is totally unreliable, the memory keeps filling up for some unknown reason and the apps as buggy as hell. It constantly crashes.

Both apps are paid for from 'reputable' suppliers. A total disappointment. I will be going back to a dedicated satnav/gps and don't see myself returning to a tablet for some considerable time to come.

Both my Garmins have failed at the micro USB connection in less than 2 years, mounted in a normal car under normal road conditions

Does this not make the case for fitting a bespoke reduced-vibrations powered mount?

If you mean with regards to the Garmins, my point above is I don't think it's related to vibration as both mine were just used in normal cars and my van on UK and European roads so very little vibration

I think it's just a problem with the quality of Garmins connectors, which is unfortunate as I do like their GPS, although I think these days they aren't really any different to any other. I still rate my old Garmin 2610 as one of the best. I particularly like the way you could view your route on the computer and set up a complex route with multiple stop overs.I can't find a way of doing that with any new satnav. Also I liked the way it was set on North up, which I prefer, but as you came up to a junction it switched to direction of travel automatically which made the junction much clearer.

It's just a shame I can't find a way of updating the maps on that old unit, and the fact it's built like a brick!

From what you say, it seems that the weight of the leads combined with motion, in time, wrecked your plugs and ....we are right back to the need to use a bespoke powered mount!!

I do not know your 2610 but I read that you can use a memory card up to 2GB. It should be straight forward to put maps onto those. OSM maps are surprisingly good and free. You may be able to 'enable/disable' maps within the 2610.

Basecamp does all you want as does the old Mapsource software.

You might even be able to have a rummage in the units own internal memory accessing it under good old 'dos'. There are sometimes solutions but all take time, effort, persistence and some know-how is needed.

Older/discontinued units can be really hard work/ nigh impossible with regards to mapping.
Their limited processing power and/or lack of memory are usually major stumbling blocks.

Modern units offer greater flexibility/ facilities & can do a great deal but all do so at a cost.
Maybe it is time to treat yourself to a new unit during the sales?
Or find a used Montana; it is an excellent unit.

Unfortunately I have very little knowhow!!


well, that was the plan with the tablet, that replaced the 2 nuivi garmins that had let me down over the last 3 years, both top of the range models, and a cheapo tomtom that outlived both those!

I thought the tablet might give me more flexibility with access to third party software etc for overlanding but it's just too unreliable.

The units are actually getting cheaper and cheaper all the time. The top of the range now are less than half the price of my first unit

I might try digging into the depths of the old 2610, does that mean it should be able to read any maps in OSM format?

Method 1 - fastest and safest
Remove the memory card from the 2610 and look at what is on the card. If it has an image file .. than you can replace that image file with a new image file from OSM .. for anywhere in the world. BEFORE you replace your original image file .. copy it .. so you can go back if you need to.

Method 2 -from your PC
If you can plan routes on your PC and transfer them to the 2610 then you should be able to transfer maps to it too? Get an OSM map on to you PC check your software can read it. Select the tiles you want to transfer to the 2610 and transfer them. Note this will over write the present map on the 2610 and you may not be able to get it back.

Navigation experience during a trip from the Netherlands to South Africa
 

In reaction to my post Open Street Map for Overlanders (please have a look) Walkabout pointed me to this post.

I shared my experience with navigation systems on our website Navigation - De Einder Voorbij. The text is below. For images and links to the mentioned apps and digital map sources please visit the site.

Summary
Navigation consists of four elements:

• Hardware and associated software platform
• Maps
• Applications and programs
• Waypoints, tracks and routes

In addition of course there are the traditional paper maps.

Hardware and associated software platform
For navigation route we bought an Android tablet (we are not fans of Apple censorship ) that can be inserted above the windshield on the rack in a holder so that it is clearly visible during the trip. An additional advantage is that the holder does not look like a frame for expensive electronics ; that reduces the risk of burglary . For planning we use a PC with Windows 8 and for hiking and cycling , we use a (simple) Garmin eTrex 20 .

Maps
While reviewing maps we looked at countries like Sudan and Ethiopia. In comparison with for example Open Street Map (OSM ) and Microsoft Maps we found the maps from Google Maps the best. We made off-line maps at zoom level 12 (1: 150,000) for the countries and 17 (1: 4000 ) for the cities. Once underway the Google maps prove to be fine for Europe, Turkey, Iran and the Arabian Peninsula, but not so well in East Africa; OSM is better there.

Android Apps
On the tablet we used so far seven programs: OruxMaps (free), MapsWithMe Pro (almost free), Navigator ("turn- by-turn " navigation based on Open Street Map, free), OsmAnd+, Locus Pro and BRouter. We also purchased Tracks for Africa ( T4A ) the most often used navigation software for Southern Africa.

OruxMaps
OruxMaps is an excellent program to display maps and to capture and create routes. It accepts both online maps including Google Maps and OSM ( with cache) as offline cards. OruxMaps works with bitmaps and vector charts.

MapsWithMe
MapsWithMe works with vector OSM. This means that an entire country is defined at street level in a relatively small file. MapsWithMe constantly shows the current position on the detailed map and can store and display waypoints . It is more limited than OruxMaps, for example because it does not store the distance traveled and shows no height and speed

Navigator
Our experience with Navigator varies. The quality stands or falls with the quality of the OSM maps and varies somewhat per country. During our preparation trips it was fine in the Baltic countries and Scandinavia (better than a two year old TomTom ) but moderate in Morocco. We used Navigator seldom during the overland trip. Navigator works offline.

OsmAnd+
OsmAnd+ works with OSM only. The user interface is not very intuitive and it has few options, but it has all functionality needed: display of maps, route calculation (both native and BRouter), storage of favorite locations and searching of points of interest. Furthermore it is faster than OruxMaps or Locus Pro and has large buttons, making it easier to operate the device while driving.

Locus Pro
Locus Pro is comparable with OruxMaps. It is well designed, can display bitmaps as well as vector maps and can store tracks and favorite locations. However, it needs BRouter for navigation, is slow and harder to operate while driving.

BRouter
BRouter calculates routes based on the OSM database. It can only generate a .gpx file with the route, so always an additional app is needed for display and destination entry. OruxMaps, Locus Pro and OsmAnd+ all support it. It uses its own database, so if you use it in combination with for example OruxMaps you need two map databases: one for map display by OruxMaps and one for route calculation.

T4A
T4A used to be the holy grail for travelers in Africa, but we felt that OSM is as least as complete and up-to-date. The philosophy of both is that travelers collect data that is consolidated by an organization. He had some experiences that T4A had a POI that no other source had, but also that the information of T4A was outdated. We use it for POI locations only, not for turn-by-turn navigation. As its road database is incomplete this gives potentially strange results. Furthermore the application is slow and the user interface not friendly.

Conclusion
In Africa the OSM vector maps are the best source. The main application we use is OsmAnd+ despite its poor user interface and limited options. In critical situations we use both Brouter and native route calculation with it. We check both routes and add extra waypoints as needed to get the right road as both sometimes give strange results. T4A is an extra resource to find POIs such as campings.

PC-software
For map preparation and for processing of recorded tracks PCsoftware is needed.

OKMap
Editing routes on the PC we do with OkMap (free). Editing on the tablet with OruxMaps. OKMaps can also create maps for Garmin. Mixing traveled routes (a.o. for this site) we also do with OkMap .

MOBAC
OruxMaps used to be able to create offline maps from Google Maps, but that is no longer possible for licensing reasons. For route planning it can be useful to have the maps on the PC. We use MOBAC (Mobile Atlas Creator, free). The standard version does not accept Google Maps as input, but a simple .xml file can be found on the Internet to enable it.

Paper Maps
For route planning we use the famous Michelin maps of Africa and Middle East. For most countries we have completed the map set with maps at country level, mostly maps of "Reise Know- how". Electronics are nice, but to be safe we bring paper maps in addition: the Michelin maps for the Middle East , East Africa and Southern Africa as well maps from different publishers of the countries we pass.

I use an IP67 dust/waterproof motorola defy as a dedicated GPS. It is always left in flight mode, and does nothing other than provide me with navigation. It also has an extended 4500mah battery (up from the original 1500mah) so lasts a long time. Not that the battery matters since it's always powered by the bike.

Hardware wise, it's let down by only polling the gps once per second. Top of the range sat navs, might do this more frequently (perhaps 5-10 per second). I never find that to be an issue.

Software wise. I use Sygic for road navigation. I much perfer this to Tom Tom and Garmin.

Off road navigation is where things get interesting, but OruxMaps and Locus seem to be the go to apps. Both have masses of features and can also use Garmin maps. Of course no-one buys a Garmin to use Garmin's own maps though.

My experience is that the app dictates the polling frequency. You could try the backcountry navigator free trial on that device to check I if you like.

Here's one (i.e. an app) that I have just found, and it reminded me of your earlier comments, as above.
I have been aware of amateur pilots using GPS for gliders and microlights in flight but I hadn't come across flight planning on Android, until today:-

QRouting

A bit :offtopic: but not totally disconnected from navigation!