IPAD 2 GPS

[Larco]

I am confused. Apple says that even though the 3G network is not activated, triangulation between cell towers is used for what I thought was an actual GPS signal. They say that the Ipad 2 does not really have a GPS chip in it and strictly relies on cell towers for the location services. My IPAD 2 seems to always be on track when flying regardless where I am. How can that be?
Larry

[humptybump]

There is a real GPS in the iPad 3G models (both iPad 1 and 2)

[chrisbryanolsen]

Larry,
It does have a real GPS receiver but the A part of the AGPS is for assisted.
What happens is the cell towers are used for a rough initial location to tell the GPS where it is so it knows which satellites to look for. This decreases the amount of time it takes for the GPS to lock on by a large margin.
If the device has been moved from its last know position and there are no cell towers it will take a lot longer to lock on (Like any GPS receiver)

Hope this helps
Chris Olsen
N2XK - RV4

[Mile High Relic]

They who?

The documentation I have seen on the Apple site clearly indicates that the 3G version has a built in GPS The tech specs at this link say "Assisted GPS" in the 3G column.

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

[Larco]

Thanks everyone! I actually talked to 3 different people at
apple and one from Verizon and they all said it did not. Wow! I thought when I purchased one some time ago it was said to have a chip. Larry

[RV6_flyer]

Sounds like the people you talked to do not know what they are talking about.

Here is a link to the specs on the Apple website:
http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/

1/2 way down the above page under LOCATION, it says that the 3G version has:

• Assisted GPS

From over 7 months of using an iPad2 in flight, I can tell you that the Assisted part does not matter. The GPS works well in flight out of range of cell towers.

[Buggsy2]

Originally Posted by RV6_flyer

From over 7 months of using an iPad2 in flight, I can tell you that the Assisted part does not matter. The GPS works well in flight out of range of cell towers.

Do you bother with an external GPS attached to the iPad through its charge/data port? I see this adverted and wonder why they are necessary. I know the iPad GPS doesn't implement WAAS, but for VFR, who cares...

[RV6_flyer]

Originally Posted by Buggsy2

Do you bother with an external GPS attached to the iPad through its charge/data port? I see this adverted and wonder why they are necessary. I know the iPad GPS doesn't implement WAAS, but for VFR, who cares...

I am too CHEAP to buy an external GPS that will break off. The built in one works fine in all my flying. I used the iPad in place of all the paper on a 30-hour flying trip from the Left Coast, to Pennsylvania, Oshkosh, and back to the Left Coast this summer. Always got a GPS fix in short order on the one built into the iPad. Yes I would shut the iPad off for up to 30-minutes at at time and still got a GPS fix in short order. Also have used the iPad up down and around the Left coast.

Keep in mind that the iPad GPS is a supplement to my IFR approach certified panel mount GPS and backup 396 unit.

I have seen web sites say that all the external GPS units for the iPad are more accurate. I do not have one so cannot say if that is true or not but the built in one is close enough to my IFR approach certified panel mount GPS, I see no reason to spend money on something that will break off, get lost, or be forgotten behind.

[mill2978]

Originally Posted by Buggsy2

Do you bother with an external GPS attached to the iPad through its charge/data port? I see this adverted and wonder why they are necessary. I know the iPad GPS doesn't implement WAAS, but for VFR, who cares...

The external GPS is for the non 3G models, they do not have a GPS.

[DonFromTX]

The reason for that is the 3G and GPS is ONE chipset! So if you have a 3g, you have gps. And as was said, the GPS finds sats just fine and quite fast in fact, far faster than my old garmin ever did.