GPS vs A-GPS IPad Mini

Lee Jordan · #1 11-22-2012, 08:53 AM

I'm looking for some clarification regarding GPS. Most people will agree that a GPS signal originates from a GPS satellite. It is my understanding that most cell phones and Ipads do not use a true GPS chip. (a true GPS chip does not require a cellular network) From what I've read, an Ipad uses the A-GPS chip which in some cases might require a cellular network.

My question .... Does the IPad mini with 4G, need cellular reception to process the GPS accurately? Is the performance of the GPS in the mini effected by cellular strength? If I'm standing in the middle of Big Bend, Texas at least 80 miles from the nearest cell tower, will an IPad mini still provide GPS functionality?

-Lee

Av8torTom · #2 11-22-2012, 09:05 AM

Lee,

I'm not an expert in this but my understanding is that for adequate GPS accuracy with something like an iPad an external GPS module is required. I've seen some modules that combine GPS with ADS-B and should be very useful

Brantel · #3 11-22-2012, 09:06 AM

Most of the confusion comes about in the I-Devices because the ones with no cellular data capability do not have a built in GPS. Those that do, do have a built in GPS.

An I-Device with the cellular data capability does not need any cell coverage for it's built in GPS to work.

The ones with WIFI only (the less expensive models) doe not have a real GPS inside.

I have been using mine for over a year with the cell network features disabled. GPS works fine without it. If you have accuracy issues, it is because you don't have a clear line of sight to enough satellites.

This may or may not be true on other brands of phones and tablets.

n5lp · #4 11-22-2012, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Jordan

..If I'm standing in the middle of Big Bend, Texas at least 80 miles from the nearest cell tower, will an IPad mini still provide GPS functionality?

-Lee

Absolutely. In my experience with three different iPads with GPS they work as well as dedicated GPS units anywhere in the world and at any altitude and any distance from a cell tower. The cellular assist is intended to help provide a quicker lock.

The newer Apple products also include the Russian GLONASS system which in theory should make them even better for location functions, although it is unclear to me how Apple may be using this.

Brantel · #5 11-22-2012, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Jordan

My question .... Does the IPad mini with 4G, need cellular reception to process the GPS accurately? Is the performance of the GPS in the mini effected by cellular strength? If I'm standing in the middle of Big Bend, Texas at least 80 miles from the nearest cell tower, will an IPad mini still provide GPS functionality?

-Lee

I have no direct experience with the mini but here is the answer for the original Ipad with 3G. I doubt seriously that the mini with 4G is any different...

Nope
Nope
Yep

SmilingJack · #6 11-22-2012, 09:18 AM

Me too!

My iPad with cell disabled has always received a signal in my RV.

Other airplanes with heated windshields or foil laminated in them have difficulty and need a bad elf, Garmin or Dual to get a good signal.

But, the thin canopy of the RV don't pose that problem.

sailvi767 · #7 11-22-2012, 01:17 PM

The GPS receiver is contained in the cellphone chip. If you have any version of a iPad with 3G, LTE ect.. You have GPS. The confusion comes from the term assisted GPS. That simply means the iPad will use cellular singles to give the GPS a approximate position. This speeds the satellite acquisition process. It is a fully functional gps.

George

ron sterba · #8 11-22-2012, 08:59 PM

Why waste the time on a I Pad Mini. Took my IFLY720 into a big box store and compared the two in screen brightness and the Ipad mini is disappointing to say the least.A clear winner is the IFLY720! A decicated aviation GPS is the 720. Don't leave home without it!

Ron in Oregon

tmendy · #9 11-22-2012, 10:17 PM

Lee,

I have had an iPad 1 3G for a year and a half. There is no such thing as a "true" or "untrue?" gps. As Brantel said, if you bought the iPad without cellular capability "3G-4g" it had no gps at all and you had to buy an external unit to use it with foreflight or wingx.

I have used the iPad 1 3G for ifr regularly for enroute ifr maps and approach plates in several piston planes as well as in a citation. It's fantastic. You'll never need to use a paper chart again. If all I was flying was vfr I would never need anything more than an iPhone which I didn't know until I got one loads up foreflight at no extra charge with your annual subscription.

I have no trouble flying ifr with just a regular steam six pack, a vor/glidesope and an iPad.

You definitely want cellular capability (3g or 4g) for getting weather, notams, etc. In a timely matter.

I would agree with Ron regarding forget the mini.

Best regards

Tom M

RV6_flyer · #10 11-23-2012, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron sterba

Why waste the time on a I Pad Mini. Took my IFLY720 into a big box store and compared the two in screen brightness and the Ipad mini is disappointing to say the least.A clear winner is the IFLY720! A decicated aviation GPS is the 720. Don't leave home without it!

Ron in Oregon

It may all be true but an iPad is an Internet Device that will do a lot of things like check email, update records, and act as a eReader. The iPad is one device that does everything I need away from home. To my knowledge, the IFLY720 is only a GPS and maps requiring that I carry another device on a trip to do the other internet based tasks that I have.