MacGregorSailors.com

This is the definitive thread to answer this topic, which is the BOMB on a bunch of IT boards.

The answer is YES!

The third generation Ipad with wifi and cellular option DOES have a GPS that does not require cell coverage to work.

The cellular data switch in SETTINGS needs to be turned ON for this to work.

In Airplane mode, the GPS chip is turned off, ergo no position info available from GPS satellites.

Navionics app has been reported to work in this mode.

My research/view...

Until someone shows me a screenshot of an Ipad (3rd generation) showing GPS location, with both WIFI and Cell turned off, I believe the correct answer is there is no way to receive GPS satellite data on the Ipad without having either WIFI or cell data turned on.

Feel free to rebut......

I'm pretty sure it doesn't not have true GPS. Uses Assisted GPS which triangulates from cell towers and/or uses a database of WiFi AP when using WiFi only.

Hmm... I'll have to test this tonight.



--Russ

...the other argument is that if it did have a real GPS, someone would have written a chartplotter app by now....I surely cant find one in store..

(dont call me Shirley)

No idea but we have a Toshiba tablet that has everything - except cellular capability. It won hands down over the iPad because it has full size USB, HDMI and SD slots. Unlike Apple products it plays well with others. Both it and my phone are android which gives you access to a lot of amazing free apps. I have a few really good and free racing tactic apps as well.

I have charts for all of N.America, Caribbean and South America. We used it this spring int the British Virgin Islands with no internet. Before going you do have to use wifi to cache the charts for the area however. Software is Navionics. With that and a proper waterproof case I am not sure it would ever be worth it to buy a GPS for the boat unless you wanted to go whole hog with tying it into wind, depth and autopilot instruments. It does double duty and uses far less battery power.

Interestingly regarding the iPad, I found this. http://www.apple.com/ca/ipad/specs/ It seems it has GLONASS which according to Wikipedia is for Russian Satellites! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS

Catigale,

I use a bluetooth GPS receiver on my WIFI only IPad 3, works like a charm

Obelix

Obelix - is this with the Navionics IPad App??

Get one of these devices and pair it to your ipad. Works great. I have Navtronics and ISAILGPS apps on my ipad and with this device the apps work fine, no cell phone required and no subscriptions. Its a one time purchase.
http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Electronics- ... B004M3BICU

Catigale,

I use 3 chart-apps and the "Drag-Queen" anchor alarm on my IPad3. All store the charts off line and see the bluetooth GPS.
1. Charts & Tides by Navimatics, incl. “Activecaptain” data
2. Marine Charts by EarthNC
3. Marine&Lakes by Navionics

Catigale wrote:Obelix - is this with the Navionics IPad App??

Regards
Obelix

My samsung galaxy tab seems to have a gps built in....I think...shout me down if necessary...seems to approximate location when not in view of the sky but corrects once gps get a fix...just confirmed after trying and prompted me to change settings so it has a built in receiver...clever little android device.Also been playing with a Toshiba toughbook and a GPS receiver plug in...make for a great large screen GPS and with the right software usable in both our camper and Mac.The cost of these toughbooks were astronomical here in Australia ie $4000 plus but older versions now come on Ebay for $300 and are more than adequate for GPS function and with a swivel touch screen work very well

I have the new iPad and it definitely has inbuilt GPS. It works great and does not require cellular or wifi connection to work. I purchased the Navionics HD charting program. The reliability and accuracy of this combination is way better than my Raymarine A50D dedicated chart plotter. IPad is a lot easier to use with the touchscreen rather than stupid buttons and menus.

I also have dragqueen from Active Captain and highly recommend that also. https://activecaptain.com/index.php

I believe I have gps on my Iphone cause my navigation system sometimes tells me that there is no satellite reception. This is of course a simple empirical observation.
Q1

Lots of guesses posted here, but here are the facts. The 3G version of the iPad does come with an integral GPS receiver. You DO NOT need cel or wifi coverage to receive GPS signals. It is an independent satellite based system and it is free. You can receive it anywhere on the planet regardless of cel phone availability. What you do need to take advantage of the GPS is a memory-resident mapping app such as Navionics nautical charts. Without this you are dependent on an Internet based map service such as Google Maps and that is where the misunderstanding comes in about needing wifi or 3G. Google Maps downloads the maps from the Internet as needed, so no Internet- no map. Navionics stores the entire chart on your iPad so no Internet connection is required.
I took my IPad on a 6 day charter in the BVI and the Navionics charts were better than the on-board chart plotter that came with the boat. No cel service or wifi were available. Worked like a charm.
Navionics chart apps are about $25.
BTW. If your iPad is a not the 3G version, then it does not have built in GPS either. Dual makes a great bluetooth GPS receiver that works with the iPad.
Hope this helps.

Québec 1 wrote:I believe I have gps on my Iphone cause my navigation system sometimes tells me that there is no satellite reception. This is of course a simple empirical observation.
Q1

I'm pretty sure of this too. I have a ski tracking app that I use heli and cat skiing in Ak and it tracks no prob with no cell service, but have never tried using it as a stand alone gps or purchased an app. I will look tonight for an app, as I am leaving tomorrow to go hunting and will try out an app or two while away.

They triangulate off the cell phone towers so it can only work in cell phone areas - at least thats what I believed until this thread said different.