Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-06-2012, 09:27 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
geoffff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,061
Re: HOW TO MOUNT A TABLET with KEYBOARD THAT IS USED AS A GP

Quote:
Originally Posted by jage
If it's a touchscreen why do you even need the keyboard mounted?
A keyboard can sometimes be easier to use (by feel) while driving, because my eyes don't need to leave the road -- when tapping zoom in/out with page up/down, for instance.

-- Geoff

__________________
2004 Ford, SMB 4x4, RB-50
https://octopup.org/sportsmobile
geoffff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2012, 04:05 AM   #12
Senior Member
 
Angel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Posts: 482
Re: HOW TO MOUNT A TABLET with KEYBOARD THAT IS USED AS A GP

jage, It is not a nice big monitor and keyboard like you have. I will have to squint to see the 10 in screen but that is better than the 5 inch Garmin Nuvi.

The keyboard attaches to and supports the monitor plus. The ASUS Transformer 101 plus the keyboard purchased separately costs approx $500 plus a map program so I do not want it bouncing around even though it is a solid state drive. I have a computer, but it is too big and does not have a built in GPS. Also it is 6 years old and has a magnetic hard drive which does not do well when it is moved while running.

Nothing is simple. I might Velcro it down at first and Velcro the back to the dash.

Angel
__________________
2008 SMB E350 EB V10 White with Cruiser Top; EB-17 modified floor plan; Salem Kroger 4X4;
285/75/17E tires; Named: "The Lighthouse"
2000 Isuzu Rodeo V6 4WD
2006 Chalet LTW 15ft. Folding Travel Trailer 14 in. tires
Angel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-07-2012, 08:30 AM   #13
NRL
Senior Member
 
NRL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 477
Send a message via Yahoo to NRL
Re: HOW TO MOUNT A TABLET with KEYBOARD THAT IS USED AS A GP

Quote:
Originally Posted by geoffff
I have a little Asus tablet (though I use it as a notebook - with keyboard always exposed) mounted in my van for use with my GPS and various maps.

I rigged up my own custom computer holder, and attached it to the van's doghouse with a PanaVise security camera ceiling mount.


http://octopup.org/sportsmobile/computer-gps


Very similar. Used a plastic kitechen cutting board and screw mounted the replicator on it and then used ram mounts behind it and then bolted the tube (home depot) to the lower seat frame.
I did this a few years back with my medical grade tablets before IPads and androids were around in force..

__________________
96 RB E-350 460v8 4x4 Custom RestoMod
Warn12kWinch,FFloater,LSlip,Pwtrx Locker 4.10 305x70x16 ToyoMTs,Eagle Alloys,Stove,4CF Ppane Fridge, Air CompTank,Supersprings, Bilstein Shocks,Deavers,CastIron Diff Case, Bullet Proof ReBuilt Transmission, Tubulator DeRale Trans Pan Cover, SSExhaust, KyoceraSolar, Tripplite UPS, 8D AGM, TivoHD, 24in HDLED
95 FJ80 ARB/Kaymar/Emu
2005 AMG CL65 691hp 875tq
NRL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2016, 08:57 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
geoffff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,061
Mounting a Surface Pro 3

I updated my dashboard computer mount for a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet. Boy is this machine speedy compared to the old touchscreen notebooks I've been using! (Asus EEEPC, Fujitsu P1120, Toshiba Libretto) The main reason I had for upgrading is screen brightness -- I found simply couldn't see my old notebooks' screens in bright sunlight. The Microsoft Surface tablet is 4x brighter.

I started with an Arkon Tablet Mount for large tablets, and extended its length with some PVC pipe to get my tablet positioned four inches higher up on the Ford van's large dash. It's tricky to find a spot to mount 12" screen tablet without blocking too much of the dash. I also trimmed the little "fingers" that hold the laptop to half-size -- that's all the length they need for my tablet, and they are less likely to be bumped by my hands when shifting the transmission.







The mount rests on the doghouse, and I added an additional connection to the dash halfway up (using pipe clamp) to help prevent rocking/shaking.



Here it is in action.





This time I'm not installing a full keyboard. Windows 8 has an onscreen keyboard I can use if I really need to pull over and type. Otherwise, I'm mounting a little USB numeric keypad down low on the driver seat for common typing tasks: arrow keys, zoom in/out, and app switching. This little keypad turned out to be tricky to get working (software-wise), and is a story for another day.

I tucked a Microsoft Surface dock in under the dash, to provide the tablet power, USB (GPS & remote keypad), and an audio out (music) connection all in one magnetically attached cable. I had to upgrade my trusty old GlobalSat BU-353 puck GPS to the newer BU-353-S4 to support this new system.

I've installed topo maps of all of the USA & Baja California, as well as satellite imagery of all of Baja California at 1 to 2 mpp.

-- Geoff
__________________
2004 Ford, SMB 4x4, RB-50
https://octopup.org/sportsmobile
geoffff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-15-2016, 10:10 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 432
Nice work Geoff


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
2002 LX470 expo ready
2008 Ford E350 EB V10 4x4 Sportsmobile PH top
Custom off road trailer
Tienckb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-29-2016, 09:36 AM   #16
Senior Member
 
geoffff's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 1,061
Here is the repurposed USB numeric keypad I mounted on the driver seat to control basic panning & zooming:





-- Geoff
__________________
2004 Ford, SMB 4x4, RB-50
https://octopup.org/sportsmobile
geoffff is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:02 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.