I-pad use

I've been watching the discussion and moving closer to joining the electronic world. Still have some questions.

As I read the info on Apple Store web site spec sheet, and when I've talked to sales men (walmart), they tell me there is no GPS chip in any of the IPADs. The machine uses cell towers to plot it's position, not satellites. That would be why Jay got errant reading in Alaska. He must have been on the edge of reception. It also explains the delay & errors some people have reported. If the boat is at speed, the location will always be a little slow.

I live in an area that just got cell service, and for four hours east and one hour west there is no cell reception, and when you do get it, it is Verizon only. My local use is all in areas without cell service. Last summer on our trip around the east coast there were a lot of places without cell service.

By my reading then, if you really want true GPS you need to use a laptop or a android tablet with a separate GPS antenna puck.

Am I missing something?

Chuck
 
I'm certainly not expert on this subject but I have a gen 1 3G I Pad with the Navionics app that I use off of the west coast of Vancouver Island and other isolated areas where there is no cell service of any kind and the GPS function works great. I think that the boys at Wal Mart are mistaken about needing cell towers for navigation.
I've been wrong on a lot of things and this may be one of those times but I don't think so. :wink:
 
Two Bears,

I can assure you that the WalMart flunkies are wrong about iPad GPS. The 3G and 4G models DO have internal GPS receivers, whereas the WiFi-only models do not. External GPS receivers (I have the Dual / Bluetooth version) offer superior performance and are a good idea for serious navigation. I come from the aviation world and many have found the internal GPS to occasionally lose position at high speeds - not usually a C-Dory issue, though.... :-)

The beauty of the iPad is that it's small, light, simple, and versatile. It would serve well for nautical charting / navigation. Personally, I plan to use the ships chartplotter, iPad charting for planning and redundancy, and also carry paper charts as well!

Happy navigating!

:)
 
Agree with the last couple of posters. I'm thinking of getting an iPad, so I've been reading up. Sounds like you were given inaccurate information. It's like the myth that wouldn't die! As the posters before me mentioned:


--- 3G/4G capable iPad = GPS, whether or not you are within reach of a cell phone tower or even have a "plan" or even ever had one. Still has a functioning GPS.

--- Wi-fi only iPad = no built in "real" GPS (you can connect a separate GPS puck).

Sunbeam
 
I have a WiFi only IPad2 and a Dual GPS puck. They work fine together and give me good location data. I got bad information from a salesman (not walmart) or would have bought the 3G. I was told one must activate a contract with a provider, i.e. AT&T for the gps to work (not true) and that the WiFi version has a built-in GPS, (also not true).
 
I would agree the 3 and 4g models have gps and it is listed in Apple specs. I don't think the antennas in the phones and pads are anywhere near the quality of the marine products. Love the IPad I have 3 right now I don't think they will ever become my primary device. Just bought a 128 Gig version so I have room to grow again.
 
Not just Wal-Mart, but the salespeople at the Apple stores often give wrong info regarding the GPS chip in the iPad. If the iPad you are looking at has 3G/4G capability (NOT wifi only) IT HAS AN INTERNAL GPS CHIP. Really.

http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2012/09/ip ... again.html

Some GPS apps (especially those for car navigation) do not have the charts/maps loaded on the iPad, unlike the Navionics or Garmin marine nav apps. Once those charts are loaded on your iPad, and you have the built-in GPS chip (3G/4G capable), you do NOT have to be connected to the internet for the GPS/nav app to be functional. We have been using it for several years now. The iPad acquires the satellites faster than my Raymarine E-series chartplotter and is just as accurate. The only time we have seen any inaccuracies with the iPad, it has been due to charting/survey issues, not the GPS function.

When returning in our canal, both the Raymarine and the Navionics app (same charting info) show us on land. No doubt, that canal has never been surveyed for chart mapping. Some charts have not had updated surveys in many years... that isn't a problem with the GPS. Use all the info at hand: what the chartplotter shows, what the radar shows, what the depth sounder shows, and what your eyes see.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Two Bears said this:

"The machine uses cell towers to plot it's position, not satellites. That would be why Jay got errant reading in Alaska. He must have been on the edge of reception. It also explains the delay & errors some people have reported."
Click to expand...


Jay will have to confirm this, but I doubt he was anywhere near where there was cell phone reception or cell towers for much of his trip. Most cell service up there is pretty limited to around and close to the towns, and he doesn't spend much time there. :wink:

I don't have IPad but my Android smart phone 4G on Verizon looses where I am on the mapping aps when I get out of cell service range :oops: and that does not make me very happy:evil: since I was assured that it did have an onboard GPS. I would be very careful about which IPAD I get and make sure there is a return agreement IF it does not have the function yhou are looking for. :roll:

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
Jim B said:

"When returning in our canal, both the Raymarine and the Navionics app (same charting info) show us on land. No doubt, that canal has never been surveyed for chart mapping. Some charts have not had updated surveys in many years... that isn't a problem with the GPS. Use all the info at hand: what the chartplotter shows, what the radar shows, what the depth sounder shows, and what your eyes see."
Click to expand...

Jim, that is the same with the Raymarine plotter coming into John Wayne Marina in Sequim Bay. To get into the marina there is this big hump of land we have to navigate OVER because there is a big rock burm/breakwater where the chart shows the opening at. :oops:

Agree, if the radar is on overlay and the chart doesn't match up, It is a good idea to look see, and then believe the radar and sounder, especially if you can't see (fog or dark). I don't think the chance of the radar lying to you is nearly as great as the chart plotter lying.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
This is on the edge of this discussion, but still 'related.

We have a Verizon version of the iPad3 with most of the bells and whistles and it works extremely well. (We recently spent several days in the Everglades backcountry [outside cell range] and the GPS seemed flawless).

Initially I signed-up for the Verizon 4GB data plan. It worked very well, but at the end of the month we'd used abt 50% of the monthly data allotment and had to pay another $40 for another month of data service. Hmmm.... Time to go data plan shopping.

Walmart sells something called Internet on the Go, which is very much liked the MyFi that has been out for several years. The device ($70) is roughly the size of a thick credit card and wirelessly serves up to five wifi devices. You can buy a 2GB($25) or 4GB($40) data card, and may arrange for the data plan to automatically renew when needed. The beauty of Internet on the Go is that the data plan DOES NOT EXPIRE like the Verizon/AT&T plans. I think Internet on the Go uses the Sprint system - but not sure.

With the proliferation of wireless commo I suspect whatever we do will be just an interim step, and be outdated before too long. At the rate things are going we'll probably see affordable satellite-based, or over the horizon VHF within a few years! Yahoo!

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Casey":3hs0fbrc said:
This is on the edge of this discussion, but still 'related.

We have a Verizon version of the iPad3 with most of the bells and whistles and it works extremely well. (We recently spent several days in the Everglades backcountry [outside cell range] and the GPS seemed flawless).

Initially I signed-up for the Verizon 4GB data plan. It worked very well, but at the end of the month we'd used abt 50% of the monthly data allotment and had to pay another $40 for another month of data service. Hmmm.... Time to go data plan shopping.

Walmart sells something called Internet on the Go, which is very much liked the MyFi that has been out for several years. The device ($70) is roughly the size of a thick credit card and wirelessly serves up to five wifi devices. You can buy a 2GB($25) or 4GB($40) data card, and may arrange for the data plan to automatically renew when needed. The beauty of Internet on the Go is that the data plan DOES NOT EXPIRE like the Verizon/AT&T plans. I think Internet on the Go uses the Sprint system - but not sure.

With the proliferation of wireless commo I suspect whatever we do will be just an interim step, and be outdated before too long. At the rate things are going we'll probably see affordable satellite-based, or over the horizon VHF within a few years! Yahoo!

Best,
Casey&Mary
Click to expand...

Agree totally Casey. It's important to keep an ear to the wind as data plans are always changing. It only gets better and better for the consumer. With so many companies out for you're business they offer more and more and at cheaper prices. It's a win win for all of us.
 
Brent,

Hmmm... I just rechecked the upload and down load speeds. The internet on the go Device IS really slow - but it beats smoke signals.

Using speedtest.net here's what I found.
Internet on the Go: Download 1.01Mbps / Upload .19Mbps
For comparison, Comcast: Download 22.14Mbps / Upload 3.68Mbps

That said - we're keeping our highspeed internet service at the house, and only use the Internet on the Go device when we're on the move and not w/in range of a better Wifi.

I don't recall ever checking Verizon's upload/download speeds.

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
One thing to mention is that a lot of the newer smart phones (especially ones on 4G LTE networks) have the capability and capacity to provide extremely high speed internet via tethering / portable hotspot functions. Just be sure to understand your data plan and download limits.

For example, my 4G LTE capable phone provides me with a mobile Wifi hotspot giving 20 Mbps download speeds. I work from my boat frequently so this LTE capable phone has been the best thing since sliced bread. I'm am lucky in that I'm grandfathered in on an unlimited data plan and live in an area with a strong LTE signal.

My point is that I used to use a dedicated mobile Wifi device, but with my new phone I no longer have to. No matter what phone or device, performance is only as good as the signal.
 
We eliminated cable modem and DSL 7 years ago, when we retired; we have connected via some mobile device since then. The up/download speeds vary greatly, depending on your location and the cell service. The upside: we have Verizon and have had some sort of signal almost everywhere we've traveled. Earlier this month at Lake Havasu City, was the first time in years that we haven't had a Verizon signal (the RV resort was out on the island across the London Bridge, away from the rest of the town).

Right now, west of Phoenix, we have a great 4G data signal, getting 13.8 mb download, 9.5 mb upload speed. I have been researching some things, so utilizing this faster speed available. When 4G is available, we always use more data... when 3G was the norm, it was rare that we used 5gb per month. With 4G available in more places, our use is closer to 10mb per month.

We used to use a Verizon data card; moved to the Mifi (3G) when it first came out; now we connect both computers, both iPads, and a couple other devices via my Droid Bionic phone (4G). We have been using the Droid as our hotspot for about a year and a half now, and have been very pleased with our connectivity, especially considering the traveling we do.

To bring this back to the original topic, both of our iPads are cell data capable... we have never connected either direct, always connect through our own hotspot. Like some others here, we are currently grandfathered in for unlimited data. I have not noticed any throttling of speed to this point.

For those who spend a lot of time traveling, the dependence on public wifi can be spotty at best. If free wifi is available at an RV park or marina, we always try it out - our own hotspot is almost always faster (and more secure).

Hope that helps.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Casey, that's interesting that there are plans where you just buy X amount of data and use it until it's gone - with no monthly boundaries. Would be very handy for folks who have variable use patterns (of which I'm one).

Another option, which I've been using, is to get cellular connectivity through a reseller. I use Millenicom, who have plans with both Sprint and Verizon. They've been around for years and have a good track record, from my research. They don't/can't tell you which of their plans are Verizon and which are Sprint, but it's easy enough to find out. I went with Verizon because of the coverage.

I have a USB/3G connector, and can use up to 20 GB per month for around $60. You can suspend it for some period of months, if you are not using it, but there are limits to that. This can be turned into a hotspot type signal with a router (although I just plug it into my laptop so far). There is also a 4G Mi-fi unit, for $10 more per month, but it sounds slightly less rock solid than the USB one (although it has gotten much better since they went to a new provider for the unit), so because of that, not really needing the Mi-fi, plus a friend giving me the USB dongle for free, I figured I'd save some pennies to start with. If I get an iPad, that might change. Anyway, it's an option for a better GB/$ ratio. Also, there is no contract. I use this in combination with a prepaid phone because the contracts annoy me (and often give you less data per $).

Sunbeam
 
I went with Verizon and the Jet Pac--the reason that we have found Verizon only many places where we cannot get Sprint and A T and T. Not cheap or really fast. We went with the $60 for 3 Gig and were very careful, and only a few mb left at the end of the month. This month I am going with the $90 10 Gig plan, and I don't think they are even measuring use... Most of the time we would go with the 3 gig, but I have a lot of data intense files I have to send/receive this month...

Speeds: download at 19.93 Mb/sec Upload at 10.8 Mb/sec.
 
I use my iPhone 5 (Verizon) as a hotspot regularly and it works well when connected to either my iPad or laptop. Speed depends on the quality of the connection. I've seen LTE speeds of over 20 mbps (down), but often it is much slower. In the Salt Lake City airport last night, for example, I only had 1 bar of LTE and download speed was only 1mbps. Still faster than the airport wifi, though, and more reliable and secure.

This summer I will get a Telus SIM card to put in the phone (Verizon iPhones come unlocked) along with some kind of cell phone booster (any recommendations??). I believe this will give me a pretty reliable and relatively inexpensive data connection as far north as the Broughtons.
 
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