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-   -   Ipad mini - wifi only or 4g? (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=100498)

emuyshondt 06-06-2013 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpinelakespilot2000 (Post 776750)
The alternative would have been one of the 4g plans, but I'm too attached to my $8.00/month pay-as-you-go cell phone to convert to an expensive cell plan.

Getting a cellular iPad has no effect on your cell phone plan. It is totally independent. Even if you want to activate a data plan on the iPad, it is not linked to whatever carrier or plan you use for your phone.

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.)]

David-aviator 06-06-2013 08:32 AM

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. :)

uk_figs 06-06-2013 03:32 PM

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.

vfr800 10-23-2013 08:35 PM

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.

Bavafa 10-23-2013 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vfr800 (Post 819316)
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.

Wow, this is a great news and thanks for sharing it. We are just about to buy a new IPAD air, waiting for it to start shipping and had been debating to get it with the 4G or just buy an external GPS. I think this makes my decision making a bit easier.

uk_figs 10-24-2013 07:10 AM

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

Bavafa 10-24-2013 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uk_figs (Post 819377)
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

Does foreflight work with GDL39? My understanding was that Stratus is the only ADS-B that works with foreflight

Flying B 10-24-2013 10:48 AM

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?

Bavafa 10-24-2013 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying B (Post 819446)
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?

16G is plenty space if it is being used mainly for avaition. With my last IPAD, I had all the maps for the US downloaded and still had plenty of space for some music, etc.

grubbat 10-24-2013 11:35 AM

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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