What is the actual battery life?

The question of the autonomy of our tablet is clearly crucial. We could communicate the autonomy data using the usual methods of tablet and smartphone manufacturers. Given the capacity of our batteries (9,800 mah for the SP08 and 10,000 mah for the SP10), these figures would obviously be very attractive. However, these measurements are generally made on the basis of a video broadcast on a screen set at 200 nits, which does not really correspond to standard use

There are more complex test procedures, involving web browsing, viewing and editing photos and videos, data manipulation, etc. In this case, the results are a bit more telling. If we test our tablets according to these criteria, they obtain the following results: 25 hours of autonomy for the SP08 and 20 hours for the SP10 (always measured at a brightness of 200 nits, like our competitors).

But we wanted to go one step further and establish metrics that our competitors would never report, based on our customers’ actual experience. So we tested our tablets using the most popular navigation application, Navionics Boating. Three types of tests were performed with mobile data disabled, recording a navigation trace:

1. at 100% brightness (1000 nits),
2. at 60% (or 600 nits, which is 25% higher than an iPad set to 100%)
3. finally, at what represents a typical navigation for many boaters: screen permanently on when entering / leaving port / arriving at anchorage, and consulted every 15 to 30 minutes the rest of the time, to make a point or recalculate a route.

SP08:

1. 7.50 hours
2. 20 hours
3. 120 hours

SP10*:

1. 4.50 hours
2. 12 hours
3. 72 hours

We are also starting to collect feedback from customers. For example, those who went on a transatlantic voyage last winter (equipped with an SP08, as the SP10 was not yet on the market), recharged their tablet on average every 3 days.

Lastly: we can’t stress enough that the screen is by far the biggest consumer of your tablet. This is even more pronounced on a tablet that can be read in full sunlight: you should understand that at 100% brightness, it is almost 90% of the overall consumption.

*You mightn’t think it, but going from 8 to 10 inches results in a more than 60% increase in the surface.

Do I need a mobile connection (or a SIM card) to navigate?

Customers often ask us whether they need to insert a SIM card into the tablet to navigate. No, it is not necessary at all.
It’s almost become an urban legend, which originated in the Apple world: on iPads, the cellular chip and the locator chip are on the same circuit board and so models without a cellular chip also don’t have GPS chip. As a result, many have concluded that a cellular network connection (and therefore a SIM card) is required to enable location.
This is absolutely false, localization works very well without a SIM card, it uses the various satellite networks accessible anywhere in the world. In the case of the SailProof tablet, the tracking chip will combine signals from the GPS (American), GLONASS (Russian) and GALILEO (European) networks, possibly corrected by the American (WAAS) and European (EGNOS) SBAS networks. You will therefore obtain a very precise position, even in the middle of the Atlantic, thousands of kilometers from any cellular network.
On the screenshot below (taken in real conditions, WIFI and 4G connection deactivated), you can see that the signal of 21 satellites is acquired (for 28 visible in total) which allows positioning with an error of only one meter.

GPS satellite cover SailProof tablet

How do I charge my tablet with a 12 volts source on the boat?

To get the best charge, we suggest using a 2.4A or 3.0A compatible USB cigarette lighter adapter (check our shop) or installing USB sockets of the same capacity.
In addition, we also advise you to use a good quality cable, preferably “fast charge”, and as short as possible.

What applications do you recommend for boat navigation?

The choice is huge, all the navigation apps available for Android 10 are usable. The most common are:
Navionics Boating, Aqua Map Marine (a special offer is available when purchasing the tablet), Savvy-navvy, C-Map, OpenCPN, Qvtlm.
You can also use routing applications like: Sailgrib WR, our favorite: don’t forget to test the 90 days free premium version when buying your tablet, or Avalon Offshore.
For the rest, there are quite a few interesting ones: Windy for wind forecasts, SailfreeGPS for displaying different data (and the anchorage alarm function). In terms of anchorage alarms, there is also My Anchor Watch or Sailgrib AA.

How to get help on Android OS?

Our support is limited to the tablet itself; we cannot ensure support on Android features. For this, we suggest you refer to the Android help offered by Google:
https://support.google.com/android/?hl=en
You will also find many other sources of information on the Internet.

Can I connect an AIS to my tablet?

Yes, it is completely possible. If you install an AIS transponder that transmits its data over WIFI (or through a WIFI multiplexer), you can easily retrieve this data and therefore display the AIS targets in a compatible application such as Navionics, SailGrib or AquaMap for example.
In general, configuration is quite simple. However, it differs from one device to another, and from one application to another. We therefore advise you to contact the provider of the AIS or the application to find out the procedure to follow.

How to install an SD memory card?

To be usable, an SD card must be formatted to FAT32. It is possible to reformat the card on the tablet. Important note: you will lose all the data on the card.
There are 2 ways to use the card, either as a tablet memory extension (internal storage) or as an external (portable) memory.
When you use the card as an extension of the internal memory, the tablet will automatically place the data on the card whenever possible:
– Go to Settings / Storage, choose SD card, then click on the top left 3 dots and then format as internal memory.
– Go back to “Storage”, click on “Internal shared storage” and activate the storage manager.
– Go back to “Storage”, click on “SD card” and then on the 3 dots in the top right: you can then click on “Transfer data” to transfer everything that can be on the card.

If you want to go back to external memory use, go back to Storage / SD Card, click on the 3 dots, and choose “Format as portable memory”.

How do I transfer files from a PC?

Google has deleted “USB mass storage” mode in Android 10.
To access the tablet from a PC, you must enable the developer options (go to “About phone” then tap 7 times on “Build number”).
You will have access to the “Developer options” under “System” / “Advanced”. You will then have to enable the “USB debugging” mode. Then you go down a little further, click on “Default USB Configuration” and in this menu you choose “File Transfer”.
Now you will have to reboot the tablet. Note that, on some PCs, to access the tablet, you must first connect the USB cable between the tablet and the PC and then restart the tablet.

How can I program the 2 configurable buttons available on my tablet?

Using an application such as BUTTON MAPPER. This will allow you to add accessible features (system features, launching an application, shortcut, etc.) without having to go through the touch screen, which can be very useful in difficult conditions.
It is common, for example, to set the increase and decrease in brightness. You can even set different functions on the same button depending on whether you perform a short press, a double-click or a long press.

How do I keep the screen on permanently?

In Android 10, it is no longer possible to set the screen to keep it permanently on. Therefore, this function has often been added to navigation applications. This is the case, for example, with:
– Navionics Boating (Menu/ Settings/ Screen on)
– AquaMap: in the settings, choose “disable screen timeout”
– OpenCPN: click on 3 dots at the top right, then OpenCPN settings, then “Display” / “Do not put in standby”
– Sailgrib WR (when Navigation mode is on)

You can also use an application like Keep Screen On 

How do I switch from smartphone type display to tablet type?

The “default” display behaves like a smartphone. If you go to Settings/Display/Advanced/Display Size, you will see that the display is set to “Default”: drag the cursor to the left or press “-“ and you will get the Tablet display (and the screen rotation).
Note that in Settings/Display you can also adjust the font size.

NB: You may need to restart the tablet.

How do I switch to full screen mode?

In Android 10 and 11, there is no full screen mode activation in the settings. You can nevertheless install an application that will offer it, like this one: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.full.imm

Is a screen protector required?

Your Tablet is equipped with a Gorilla Glass, so no additional protection is required.

Which 4G frequency is usable in the United States? Is my tablet compatible with the Verizon network?

Note: Even if the EMEI is not recognized by the Carrier*, which is not strange because we work with an industrial factory and they don’t have to publish the EMEI in the public domain, your tablet is usable with a large number of 3G/4G frequencies.

Here are the 4G frequency bands compatible with our tablet:
LTE-FDD: B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B7 B8 B20
LTE-TDD: B38 B39 B40 B41
You’ll find on this chart the bands used by the main US carriers:

US main broadbands

* We know that Verizon dealers usually say that our tablet is not compatible with their network, but we can assure you that many of our US clients are using the Verizon 4G network without problem. So please, don’t hesitate to insist 😉

I have trouble paying with my credit card on the online store. What can I do?

Some banks, especially in the US and Canada, are very suspicious and do not directly approve the transaction. It is best to contact them to confirm your agreement. Otherwise, you have the option to pay with PayPal.


Haven’t found the answer you needed? Please don’t hesitate to open a ticket on our support page