Need: Cheap, Daylight-Viewable Monitor

[sailorcherry]

Currently upgrading to Open CPN (Raymarine radar, no fixed plotter aboard). May I please have some recs on 10" and 12" tablets?

Inland/Coastal waterways. Also, cheaper vs moderate - expensive (as it will get use off the boat too and I excel at loosing or breaking phones!).

Muchos Gracias,
SC

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by sailorcherry

Currently upgrading to Open CPN (Raymarine radar, no fixed plotter aboard). May I please have some recs on 10" and 12" tablets?

Inland/Coastal waterways. Also, cheaper vs moderate - expensive (as it will get use off the boat too and I excel at loosing or breaking phones!).

Muchos Gracias,
SC

I don't know of any tablets that are daylight viewable unless Panasonic makes a tablet version of their very expensive, heavy duty, mil-spec laptop.

If you don't need to use nav in the cockpit then it seems iPads and Samsungs are the tablets most commonly used.

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by skipmac

I don't know of any tablets that are daylight viewable unless Panasonic makes a tablet version of their very expensive, heavy duty, mil-spec laptop.



If you don't need to use nav in the cockpit then it seems iPads and Samsungs are the tablets most commonly used.

Surface works well in daylight. I'd agree that the iPad is not sunlight viewable (at least in the tropics), and was one of the reasons I ended up ditching the iPad as a navigational backup/aid. Under a bimini it's ok-ish.. otherwise not.

[sailorcherry]

Thanks Spipmac and Cavalier. Definitely would not go with an Ipad (for the reason you mention and more).

Anyone else have a recommendation? Outside the typical big brands (Apple, Samsung)?

[rgleason]

I like the SurfacePro, we use it under the dodger and can see it from the helm. In heavy seas and rain, it goes below!

This is very workable but I'd prefer a brighter screen and a waterproof device for outside. Since we got b&g 4g radar and chartplotter, we run the surfacepro inside with opencpn, as I use it for travel too and would not like to damage it.

[sailorcherry]

Thanks! What model do you have? You haven't found any waterproof cases?

Originally Posted by rgleason

I like the SurfacePro, we use it under the dodger and can see it from the helm. In heavy seas and rain, it goes below!

This is very workable but I'd prefer a brighter screen and a waterproof device for outside. Since we got b&g 4g radar and chartplotter, we run the surfacepro inside with opencpn, as I use it for travel too and would not like to damage it.

[rgleason]

Originally Posted by sailorcherry

Thanks! What model do you have? You haven't found any waterproof cases?

SurfacePro3 with keyboard and I use an Inatek 3 usb + gig ethernet hub and label all devices location (gps, dAISy ais, ST Tiny Link for Raymarine Seatalk Instruments)

I set the display on bright and have a button in the taskbar for "Presentation Mode"

I have not looked for a wp cover.
Not so sure this fits "cheap"

[travellerw]

Careful with the MS Surface in a tropical environment. Ours corroded so bad that the back looked like sand paper after a year. The only button that still worked was the power button (probably cause its pressed regularily).

I used to recommend them heavily.. Now I no longer recommend them.

[Tupaia]

Any one out there using a CrystalSky monitor with their drone. At 2000cmd it should be daylight viewable.

Not sure it will run OCPN ????

Peter

[Pizzazz]

Check out avionicslcd.com. Top quality LCDs at reasonable prices but you may need to do some weather proofing yourself.

[rgleason]

http://avionicslcd.com/

[Tupaia]

Thought I would report back.

I just added a Eyoyo / Lilliput A7S 7" monitor to use in the cockpit.

This is a field monitor used by photographers.

Size: 7 inch
Resolution: 1920x1200
Connection: HDMI
Power: 7-24 volt
Consumption <11W
Brightness: 500 cd/m2
Contrast: 1000:1

Comes with a removable rubber surround for protection and a sun hood.

I am very pleased with the results and it was reasonably priced at US$150

No commercial interest in the company.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

Thought I would report back.

I just added a Eyoyo / Lilliput A7S 7" monitor to use in the cockpit.

This is a field monitor used by photographers.

Size: 7 inch
Resolution: 1920x1200
Connection: HDMI
Power: 7-24 volt
Consumption <11W
Brightness: 500 cd/m2
Contrast: 1000:1

Comes with a removable rubber surround for protection and a sun hood.

I am very pleased with the results and it was reasonably priced at US$150

No commercial interest in the company.

$150 is the best price I've seen. How visible is the monitor in direct sunlight?

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by skipmac

$150 is the best price I've seen. How visible is the monitor in direct sunlight?

It is not quite as bright as Nexus 7, first choice for drones, but the 500 cd/m and the contrast ratio makes it is one of the brightest I could find, especially for the price and it is pretty good. The screen is gloss so there are some reflections in certain conditions although the hood that comes with it works well in these circumstances.

Because it is a camera monitor it has lots of functions that aren't relevant but there is a thumb wheel "brightness" adjust and you can set one of the 2 function buttons to "Scan" that effectively zooms the central section of the screen very useful on a 7" screen.

[skkeith]

I successfully weatherproofed one, sealing every vent hole and crack with silicon. Runs a bit hot but seems OK for about a week straight now. You can operate all buttons thru silicon. The wheel comes off without damage so you can put it back if you ever need to re-program the buttons...