Samsung Tab Active 3 MRA setup with remote control.

Bob Jeffries

Bob Jeffries

It's good to be back ..
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Just trying out my new MRA setup.

Its based on a Samsung Tab Active 3 in a powered Brodit mount. I've then fitted it to a mount via a 3D printed adapter to raise it above the TFT . The final piece is a modified DIY BarButtons remote control to allow me to pan, zoom in & out and center my position.

I'm still looking at "shrinking" the BarButtons unit and mounting it closer to my left hand - a work in progress.




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What is the advantage of a tablet over a dedicated GPS device or a phone?

PS In no way is that to denigrate the ingenuity shown to mount and control it, which is quite interesting :beerjug:

PPS I’ll think about a tidy-up of the GPS section to give bods, with a strong interest in this topic, a ready place to go.
 
Hi Richard, to a degree it's ease of viewing, I need reading glasses (I'm almost 71!) and the bigger screen helps. But I also have a Zumo XT that I probably use more often.
 
Have you looked at the Carpe Iter device ?? thats very slick and works well with Android

They have a BMW specific one that fits on the space by the throttle but that also uses the wonderwheel

Their generic one I beleive can be fitted on either side
 
I have looked at it but it's a lot of money for what it is.

The DIY BarButtons unit cost me about £15 in bits plus the 3D printed case and a few bits, about another £10. If you can solder small wires and program an Arduino module it's quite easy to build. It will also work with DMD2 and many other navigation apps.

I'm looking at means of shrinking it and possibly using a small joystick if I can find a reasonably low cost waterproof one. I can also possibly lose one, or even two of the buttons.
 
Good on you that looks an interesting project (y)
 
Jimbo : Like most of these Controllers, by Bluetooth. It emulates a Bluetooth keypad. The Arduino Bluetooth module (ESP32-C3) is less than £3 and the code is freely available on the Internet.
 
Bob Jeffries said:
Just trying out my new MRA setup.

Its based on a Samsung Tab Active 3 in a powered Brodit mount. I've then fitted it to a mount via a 3D printed adapter to raise it above the TFT . The final piece is a modified DIY BarButtons remote control to allow me to pan, zoom in & out and center my position.

I'm still looking at "shrinking" the BarButtons unit and mounting it closer to my left hand - a work in progress.




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hi Bob , can you shed some more light on how the tablet mount is powered - do you run it to the bmw cradle connection near front fork or is it usb.., also can this brodit mount be lockable..i'm pondering to do the same thanks
 
I've taken a 12v feed to power the Brodit mount from the back of the existing auxiliary socket on the right hand side. The Brodit mount has a 12v to 5v converter in its supply cable. The Tab Acive is then powered/charged via a set of pogo pins in the Brodit mount.

There are quite a few variations of the Brodit mount for the Tab Active. Mine also has a USB power outlet, and you can get lockable ones as well.
 
Bob Jeffries said:
Jimbo : Like most of these Controllers, by Bluetooth. It emulates a Bluetooth keypad. The Arduino Bluetooth module (ESP32-C3) is less than £3 and the code is freely available on the Internet.
Click to expand...
This is awesome Bob, I have a Samsung active tab 3 for Rallymoto (roadbook navigation) but also use it for OS maps when using byways. Would you mind sharing a link to the module and the controller details (did you 3D Print this?) I dont have a separate controller yet so would love to emulate this.
 
Bob Jeffries said:
I've taken a 12v feed to power the Brodit mount from the back of the existing auxiliary socket on the right hand side. The Brodit mount has a 12v to 5v converter in its supply cable. The Tab Acive is then powered/charged via a set of pogo pins in the Brodit mount.

There are quite a few variations of the Brodit mount for the Tab Active. Mine also has a USB power outlet, and you can get lockable ones as well.
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Penny is now dropping...thanks
 
The BarButtons controller is detailed at https://jaxeadv.com/barbuttons/ but I have never been able to contact the guy who originally developed it.

I took the DIY option and built it myself, all the bits are readily available apart from the 3D printed case, you need a 3D printer for that.

I designed and 3D printed my own case, it's a little smaller than the one on the BarButtons site.

I'm currently redesigning the case to take a small "joystick" and 3 buttons (plus a small LED) with the electronic/Bluetooth module in a seperate small remote mounted box. The joystick/button case will be about 80mm x 24mm x 20mm and the electronics box about 40mm x 24mm x 20mm.
 
Wapping said:
What is the advantage of a tablet over a dedicated GPS device or a phone?

PS In no way is that to denigrate the ingenuity shown to mount and control it, which is quite interesting :beerjug:

PPS I’ll think about a tidy-up of the GPS section to give bods, with a strong interest in this topic, a ready place to go.
Click to expand...
What advantage Active tab 3 it’s robust more reliable than most sat navs, you can use multiple sat nav applications Waze Google Maps Tom Tom Copilot cali moto my route app osmand all of them installed on mine. Its waterproof works when it rains it vibration proof, it's a mobile phone it has every advantage that you get with your mobile phone and has a far more superior performance than any sat nav and is much easier to use .
 
I've registered and got access to the Kit but your evolution of it sounds intriguing, will you be providing the build file :).

Also, what do you think of your current 3D printer, would you buy it again ? (and what is it).
 
Hi Bob

Good to see another Tabnav user!

How do you get on with the Brodie mount in the rain/offroad?

Mine was bouncing around and getting water in under the pins, so I binned it.
 
Nin said:
Hi Bob

Good to see another Tabnav user!

How do you get on with the Brodie mount in the rain/offroad?

Mine was bouncing around and getting water in under the pins, so I binned it.
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Hello Nin, was about to order a brodin active mount but you've put the brakes on that regarding water ingress,where you able to flip the mount so the power and pins are at the top . I've seen video of ram mounts in this orientation , could you also tell me which bar mount you used..thanks
 
Eastmidsbiker: I can certainly send you the build details when I got it finished and working.

I have a Creality CR-6 SE that I'm very pleased with, it was £250 when I bought it about 2 years ago (don't think it's available now), I'm always finding things to print. If I was buying a replacement now I'd probably go for a Bambu Lab P1P, more expensive at about £550 but the technology has moved on. It's also much faster than my Creality.

Nin: I don't use it offroad, after 50 years of organising/riding enduros my offroad riding is a thing of the past :) I've never had a problem with it bouncing around, or water getting under the pins (so far) but I'll keep a look out for it.
 
Ive got a brodit non powered mount. so i feed power via the USB C no problems in the rain.

I hear you can get waterproof USB C power leads might be worth a look
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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