Which tablet are you using with Silverleaf

Lipets wrote:
Fred, on your endeavor do you have a 6 or 9 pin connector?

I understand that oil pressure doesn't work correctly, true or false

6 Pin, but only 4 wires go into the plug. I helped a friend repair a broken front connector, and I remember he said there was 12 volt positive, 12 volt negative, and 2 wires carrying the data.

Regarding oil pressure, mine works properly (Cat Engine). At Camp Freightliner, we were told some Cummins engines will display 55 psi if any oil pressure is detected. I do not know which engine series this applies to.

Fred

Fred, on your endeavor do you have a 6 or 9 pin connector?

I understand that oil pressure doesn't work correctly, true or false

If you want to leave it in the coach all the time and don't need other functions, an inexpensive used windows based tablet will work. I've used a Fujitsu Lifebook Stylistic LT C-500 PC Tablet Computer running windows 2000 for many years. I've configured it to run VMSpc automatically after booting, and it runs anytime the coach is running.

It looks like this: Fujitsu Tablet

With the tablet docked into to the the small base, the base provides a serial port for the older version of VMSpc. It looks like this in the motorhome (not my latest screen design however):

VMSpc on Fujitsu tablet

The LT-C-500 is getting hard to find, but many manufacturers made tablets running windows. You just need to be sure it has the correct ports for your VMSpc interface.

You'll enjoy having the VMSpc display.

Fred

bobtucker wrote:
Talked to a Silverleaf Rep today and since I have a coach made before 2006 I need to stay with a Windows tablet. At least now I know which direction to go. I wanted to stay away from using my laptop, I don't like the vibration that shakes the screen while traveling..
I suggest that before you purchase a tablet, you call Silverleaf and see what will work for your coach.

Happy New Year

I thought that it was dependent more on whether you have a 6-pin or 9-pin connector from your engine.

From Silverleaf:

"If you have a J1939-equipped engine, you can now connect with Bluetooth or Wifi. You can recognize a J1939 engine by the fact that it will use the black 9-pin connector, and the engine is 2004 or newer. (A few older engines also use J1939. Call for more information.)"

My coach is a 2003, with the 9-pin connector. And even though I really want to be able to use an iPad, the app is not nearly as good as the PC app. So I'm looking into the possibility of just using the iPad as an external monitor from an Intel Mac Mini, Android Tablet, or from a mini/tablet PC.

Anyone have any experience with this?

Mine doesn't move or shake. I'm guessing if you're using a large one it might. I made my own support (welded 1/4" rod into a bracket that attaches at three points on the side of my dash where there were already screws.

Talked to a Silverleaf Rep today and since I have a coach made before 2006 I need to stay with a Windows tablet. At least now I know which direction to go. I wanted to stay away from using my laptop, I don't like the vibration that shakes the screen while traveling..
I suggest that before you purchase a tablet, you call Silverleaf and see what will work for your coach.

Happy New Year

I'm using a MS Surface Pro. A bit pricey but I still need to run Office programs. I connect with the USB Silverleaf box. Before this computer I was using an HP notebook with an external USB screen that worked pretty well.

Silverleaf now has a Bluetooth box and had I not had the USB set up I would have gone with the Bluetooth for one less wire hanging around.

This one will work.

I can't tell you what tablet to use, but I made sure the HP Notebook I use on mine had a 12 volt power supply available. I didn't want to have to run the inverter. The HP Notebook offered a ten foot 12 volt power cord as an option.

I think the tablet will look nicer, but I like having the keyboard separate of the screen when I'm making adjustments, such as fueling up and changing odometers.

I've been waiting for better tablet support so I could use one myself.

So far options are fairly limited, so in my opinion Silverleaf isn't quit ready for full tablet use at the present time. Only tablets running Windows OS are compatible which limits your choices.

Silverleaf Compatible Tablets

I've read where some have added monitors to their laptops, but you still need the laptop to configure and scroll through displays. Although it will work, it seems clumsy, leaving me to wait until tablet use is more robust.

I'm hoping my wait will result in a tablet with touchscreen options to operate all of the features.