I'm getting an Apex!!! Need display suggestions

[Dj City]

Hello

I am getting my very first Neptune Apex Controller. I'm getting the 799.99 controller and i'm getting 2 Wav pumps.

I know I will be asking bunches of questions about it but for now the question I most need answers for is....

What can I use for a display?

I want something I can get on ebay or amazon.
I want something inexpensive.
I want something fully functional.

I've heard that I can use Kindle Fire 7
I've heard I can use old iPad
I've heard I can use any Android tablet

What are the pro's and cons of each?
For iPad, what is the oldest I can use?
For Android tablet, what's the oldest I can use?

Thanks for your help and info in advance.

 

[Fritzhamer]

The kindle doesn’t display correctly. Iirc They made some changes to the software that doesn’t display the pixel width that the apex would like to use. An old iPad is your best bet.

That being said I love having an apex display module. A few times I’ve needed it to send commands to the apex when it lost connection. It ended up being a bad Ethernet cable but it was nice to have something that could send commands. It’s also nice to have something that can shut stuff down if your hands are wet. Only the display can do that.

I have some old iPads laying around and I’ve thought of mounting one but ultimately I have my phone and would end up checking in on things that way rather than the iPad. I love my apex display.

 

[Dj City]

What is the oldest (cheapest) iPad I can use?
eBay has a ton of 1st gen for dirt cheap.

 

[Fritzhamer]

First gen works. For that price though you could get an apex display. I’d venture that if you are standing next to your 1st gen iPad display your phone isn’t far away offering the same functionality.

The apex display offers more functionality than either.

 

[ReefTeacher]

I decided to forego the display and just use my phone. There is a IOS and an Android app now that work very quickly. If the internet is down, I can still log into the local webpage as long as I am home and on my home network.

 

[Dj City]

The apex display is $99 where a used tablet is around $30 to $40 and is color and touchscreen.
What about the newvision tablet?

 

[shred5]

I use a android tablet or my phone.
Works great.
For my new system I will set my tablet so the screen stays on all the time.
It will be mounted outside the cabinet.

 

[HOOPDEEZ]

I use my phone, I thought about getting a tablet to use as a display, but after having the apex for a while, I realized it is unnecessary. The iOS app works great on my iPhone

 

[AshwinRavi]

Honestly, when I purchased my Apex 2016, about 6 months ago, one of the first thing on my list was to get a display. I had a fire tablet hooked up to my cabinet but seldom used it. I ended up taking it down and using my android phone.

 

[Dj City]

I have an android. Note 8 to be exact.
I have an old Note 7 in a drawer. Wonder if I could use that?

 

[Bayareareefer18]

Neptune has a video on this. Terrance talks about inexpensive tablets, a browser that does not show address bar and how to make the tablet not sleep while plugged in.

 

[Dj City]

I ordered a NuVision Solo tablet.

I hope it works the way I need it to.

 

[User1]

First gen works. For that price though you could get an apex display. I’d venture that if you are standing next to your 1st gen iPad display your phone isn’t far away offering the same functionality.

The apex display offers more functionality than either.

You have the first gen iPad working? Interesting - I have yet to be able to get the first gen to work with anything using the recent HTML standards.

 

[shred5]

I have an android. Note 8 to be exact.
I have an old Note 7 in a drawer. Wonder if I could use that?

I bet these would be fine. I am using a really old Samsung tablet sitting on a stand like this:

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

To be honest, I have had the 2016 since September 2016 and have never needed/wanted a display (even when Irma came through last year knocking out internet for a week). I use my phone (android) when ever I want to look at anything or put the tank in feed mode. When internet was out I just logged in via my local IP address (highly recommend setting a static IP through your router/modem and bookmark it).

 

[BedrockIOMC]

I just use my phone and when I am home I use my Ipad. Neptune is suggesting the nuvivion tablet on amazon. any will work as long as it has bluetooth. here is a link to the one on amazon. HERE

 

[BedrockIOMC]

To be honest, I have had the 2016 since September 2016 and have never needed/wanted a display (even when Irma came through last year knocking out internet for a week). I use my phone (android) when ever I want to look at anything or put the tank in feed mode. When internet was out I just logged in via my local IP address (highly recommend setting a static IP through your router/modem and bookmark it).

very true, the display is just a waste of money and can use the money for something else. you never need it with the app on your phone and a tablet around the house.

 

[Dj City]

I was able to pick up a NuVision Solo 16Gb 8" tablet for $20.
It will either work as I need it to or it won't.

It should arrive to me on Friday.

 

[Bob Lauson]

I simply have two Apex displays - one at the aquarium and one in the sump room. Full control from both, simple, small and effective.

 

[Sleepydoc]

First gen works. For that price though you could get an apex display. I’d venture that if you are standing next to your 1st gen iPad display your phone isn’t far away offering the same functionality.

The apex display offers more functionality than either.

I have an old gen 2 iPad that I'm using. HTML worked but was clunky. I currently have the Neptune app up on it. That is also a bit clunky, but I think it's just because the iPad is so old. The app requires iOS 9.2 so I don't think it will work with a 1st gen iPad.