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As others have said, you don't even need to activate ANY cellular plan just because you get a cellular iPad. I got my initial iPad strictly for the GPS function. I didn't activate a data plan for several months. I then decided to try out the cellular connection. I haven't turned it off since I did. I really like having the internet available wherever I am. I use my iPad for much more than flying, so the internet connection gets used a lot. If I were going to get a tablet to leave in the plane and not use it for anything else, I might consider a WiFi only model that I'd update with new charts at home once a month or so. If you are going to get an ADS-B box for weather anyway, you have an external GPS, and no need for the internal one. However, if all you want is a moving map, I find the internal GPS much more convenient that any external puck and will gladly pay the extra $40 to not have another device to charge and carry around, with attendant charger and cables. [$40 = $139 extra for cellular iPad vs. WiFi only - $99 for external GPS-only device (Bad Elf, Dual, etc.)] |
After 6 months with the cell option, I activated it this week to have it for a flight from Dallas to St Louis with friend in his RV-7. The reason being having access to weather before take off wher there was no wifi. It was worth it as the forecast was totally worthless.
The cost - $36 activation plus $14.95 a month when needed. Beyond that, the mini was totally cool in that I knew the SWA crew was cruising @ 41000' with a ground speed of 485 knots flying from STL - DAL. :) |
GDL39 also
As mentioned earlier in the thread, the ADS-B systems such as stratus and garmin GDL 39 all work as a GPS for the iOS devices and connect automatically via bluetooth so if you have one of those you do not need the internal GPS. IF you want to use the iPad for other GPS related uses then the internal capability probably makes sense.
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Free 200MB data via T-Mobile!
http://www.tmonews.com/2013/10/t-mob...-more-tablets/
Reviving this thread -- The above info makes me rethink my approach to wifi-only vs 4G/LTE iPads. Getting a free 200mb per month sounds perfect for our typical use flying (for sporadic weather updates, flight plan filing, etc.), and not having to fiddle with a separate GPS antenna won't hurt either. :D In the past I was happy to save $130 with each iPad purchase and bought a BT GPS antenna once that worked good enough over the years. However, free data for the life of the device will have me changing my ways (whenever I get CFO permission for an upgrade). Plus the data plans beyond the free level seem reasonable. Figured this might be helpful for others looking at iPad options in the coming months. |
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Dont forget the hotspot approach
Did not realize until recently when I was at the badlands fly-in that when a wifi ipad is hooked to the iphone via the hotspot the iphone gps data is passed to the ipad. Net result is that foreflight etc worked fine. So now I get the benefits of the 4G ipad on the ground and the ipad connects to the GDL39 in the air with a straight wifi ipad.:D
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I too have been waiting for the new iPads and thought I had made the decision on iPad vs iPad mini. My question as a budget minded person, is can I get by with a 16G vs. 32G?
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wifi IPad
I got the cheapest, wifi only Ipad with 16gb of memory. Its gets waas gps from skyradar d2, in addition to weather and traffic. Taxi up to most FBO's and you can get wifi without getting out of plane. No monthly charge. Granted the skyradar is an investment, but it works for me.
I had garmin, foreflight, and wingx installed on my Iphone. I had to drop down to 3500 to 5000 or so feet to get a refresh on the weather. At 8500ft, i never could get reception. Maybe an external antenna would have solved the problem. With skyradar, i can get weather at any altitude, and sometimes traffic. |
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