I-Pad for GPS

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Hap-E-Cruzer

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I have read posts about this but for the life of me can't figure out how to do a search on this forum.
The Admiral would like to know what is needed to use an I-Pad for a backup GPS.
Which program is the best to buy for the I-Pad? What other hardware is needed? How well does this work?
Any comments are appreciated .......
Thanks..
 
I use Navionics. For Lake Lanier in Ga. Used it for the first time today, a little hard to seek sunlight on the bridge but doable, very accurate .. every bit as accurate as my Garmin and a much better chart view!
 
Thanks Getakey...
I guess I stopped looking when I got to the advertisements, much like tuning out the commercials on TV....
 
I "searched for Search" all over when I first joined
 
There has been a number of thread in this

I have 3 nav apps on my iPhone...

InavX: uses Raster charts which i prefer. Works fine but charts selection is a pita. No tides function either

Charts n Tides: use vector charts (yuck...) but the big plus is full Active Captain function including uodates. Very convenient tides function.

eSeaChart: raster charts with automatic quilting. No tides, no tracks, but does have Active captain data (can't submit updates though)

eSeaChart is pretty new so additional functions are probably coming

These days i don't use inavx much, I use eSeaChart the most and charts n tides to submit update to active captain or get tides
 
So, can anyone answer for sure, based on first hand knowledge, that an Ipad can and will give you GPS coordinates even when it is not on a cellular or wifi network? I have an Ipad that is 3G compatible, but I don't have a subscription for it. If I spend the money to get a GPS app, will it work? Not trying to hijack the thread, but I think Hap-E-Cruzer is really asking the same question in a different way.
 
navionics is the best ...... I use it with 3GS and wifi

Don't waste your money on charts n tides, total crap unless ur into active capt. NavX is a waste of money too... I have all 3 and navionics blows the others away and is very easy to use
 
I am a real dummy when it comes to using these other devices (other than a real GPS) for GPS work. Do they make the phones with a builtin GPS antanae. Does it get it's coordinates from triangulation from cell phone towers. When I have heard of people using a computer I have always assumed that there was some portable antanae also associated.

Somebody please educate me.

George
 
Most smartphones have a built in GPS chip which gets sat signal just like a regular GPS.

Computers do not have a built in GPS chip so you need either a USB or a BT external GPS

Phones also uses triangulation from tower, fir instance with the iPhone you first get an inaccurate position from triangulation then a few seconds later an exact position after the GPS signals are received

It s easy to check if you need cel service to get a position, just check with google maps

I never get a good fix In the areas of the Bahamas with no cel reception
 
There seems to be a lot of negative feedback by iPad Navionics apps reviewers saying the system crashes or won't synch. Has anyone else had these problems? Before I spend the 35 bux I'd like to hear from you guys.
 
I have an IPad 2 and and IPhone 4, I boat in the St. Lawrence River and have loaded Navionics charts on both, the IPad has Navionics HD. Both work extremely well for me, the charts are identicaal to the ones I use on my Raymarine chartplotter, the GPS is just as accurate as well which really surprised me. I use them for backup and route planning. My understanding about the GPS is that they use both triangulation from cell towers if available and satellite signals all the time, when you have both it is very accurate. My IPad has 3G and shares the dataplan with my phone for $10.00 a month.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Volffas

So, can anyone answer for sure, based on first hand knowledge, that an Ipad can and will give you GPS coordinates even when it is not on a cellular or wifi network? I have an Ipad that is 3G compatible, but I don't have a subscription for it. If I spend the money to get a GPS app, will it work? Not trying to hijack the thread, but I think Hap-E-Cruzer is really asking the same question in a different way.

Click to expand...


For accurate location YOU NEED the 3G or 3g/WIFI ipad and to have a ACTIVE 3G plan.
 
I had the opportunity to try the Navionics app on ipad and found it poor as a plotter. The usual plotter functions for routing, feature id, etc are either missing or very hard to find. I didnt get chance to try it as a gps but since the charts were readable it should work ok as a position finder. The terrible visibility in sunlight is a huge turn off. IMO ipad is another very cool Apple toy that follows Apple’s policy of not adding common features until they roll them out late with great fanfare, and expense, as new stuff.
 
My understanding is that triangulation off cell towers is not very accurate and it is really not triangulation. The phone connects to a tower. Tower position is known, thereby giving phone gps "headstart" on satellite fix. This improves the "Time to First Fix" off satellites.
 
quote:
Originally posted by floydsfloat

quote:
Originally posted by Volffas

So, can anyone answer for sure, based on first hand knowledge, that an Ipad can and will give you GPS coordinates even when it is not on a cellular or wifi network? I have an Ipad that is 3G compatible, but I don't have a subscription for it. If I spend the money to get a GPS app, will it work? Not trying to hijack the thread, but I think Hap-E-Cruzer is really asking the same question in a different way.

Click to expand...


For accurate location YOU NEED the 3G or 3g/WIFI ipad and to have a ACTIVE 3G plan.

Click to expand...


Thank you very much! No one else has been able to answer that question for me.
 
We were still confused so the Admiral called her Apple hot line and they said none of the I-Pads have true GPS and only the 3G version has A-GPS or Assisted GPS. The I-Phone, however, does have GPS using satellites. That's their story and their sticking to it......If anyone gets a different story let us know...
Thanks...
 
We were still confused so the Admiral called her Apple hot line and they said none of the I-Pads have true GPS and only the 3G version has A-GPS or Assisted GPS. The I-Phone, however, does have GPS using satellites. That's their story and their sticking to it......If anyone gets a different story let us know...
Thanks...
 
There was a recent thread where someone used a BT gps ($50) with an iPad.

Best option as the accuracy is probably better anyway
 
there's lots of confusion about Assisted gps. I don't believe the Apple people gave you the correct answer. Assisted GPS should have a real gps chip/receiver, but I don't believe the iPad does.
There are blue tooth gps receivers or usb receivers that can be used
 
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