Bought a wifi iPad mini for the express purpose of running ForeFlight for aircraft navigation. Bought it 16 days ago and finally had a chance to go flying with it. Couldn't get a GPS fix. I thought it was some setting (I'm new to iOS) or perhaps defective item. Nope, the wifi version doesn't have GPS. Of course I'm now 2 days past the 14 day return policy. I go back to the Apple web site to see if they tell have this information. It was hard to find but finally found it on the page comparing models. Sure enough the cellular equipped model has GPS and GLASNOS but not the wifi model. Never even occurred to me that Apple would make a mobile device without GPS. Now I'm stuck with an appliance that has very little value to me.
The additional cost of the "cellular model" includes the wireless telecom components via a chip on the board(gps/radio transceiver). It's not a total loss for you, for a few bux you can cover this GPS cost yourself. Here is an example, although I'm sure there are cheaper ways I'm not an ipad geek to know....http://bad-elf.com/products/be-gps-1000
What makes me crazy is no one told me about Beartooth Pass, and I haven't stumbled upon it during any of my North American journeys.Bucket List!
another thing drives me crazy is visiting Miami, dropping by Homestead-Miami International Speedway, and NOT having the proper bike with me for the track
You could always bomb on down to Marathon for a Lobster Reuben.
You can get an after market GPS (Bad Elf) for your Ipad. I hear they are better than the internal GPS in the cellular enabled Ipads. I use a cellular enabled Ipad 4 with Foreflight, but no data plan.(Edit: Nevermind, you know about them.)
...Lobster Reuben...
Are you using a Bad Elf Bluetooth model or lightning connector?
No, but the "Other Guy" (my airplane partner) uses one and has no issues with it. Only real deal is you have to keep two devices charged instead of just one, but dual USB port 12V charger will solve that.
Mmmmmmmm... Why have I never heard of this before?Jamie
Yup, now I need 2 devices that have to be charged and 2 cables, its why I'm not happy with the fruit company right now. But which one does your partner use? Bluetooth or directly connected?
His is directly mounted. He uses a full size Ipad 2.FYI I'm using a full size Ipad 4. Screen resolution is great but it seems to be more sensitive to heat than the 2. I have to be really careful to keep it out of the direct sun or it will shut down. That aside it's great. I don't have a panel mount GPS in my plane. For VFR nav, the Ipad with Foreflight has more functionality than a Garmin 430 except it can't drive an autopilot. For IFR nav, I can't file as a /G anyway, but for a backup device the situation awareness is great.
Excellent! I'v VFR only and ForeFlight looks fantastic for easy planning and navigation. If only I had an iPad with GPS. Do you know how your friend connects his Bad Elf? Is it direct through the lighting connector or wireless through Bluetooth?
I suggest bad elf direct... the folks i know have great luck with it with all kinds of gps required apps
Direct through the connector.It is a great planning tool. I wish it could account for climbout speeds and fuel burns, but even without that it's still fairly accurate.Also, if you get one of those third party AHRS units that mount on your dash, Foreflight can actually display attitude information as well - handy if your AI craps out.
They have a unit that plugs directly into the lightning connector. But I was worried about how to power the iPad with the lightning connector in use. Don't want to be limited by the iPad battery. But just read on Bad-Elf website that it comes with "3 ft (1m) micro-USB cable for pass through charging". I think that's the way for me to go. Now I just need to verify they have updated their software for iOS 8.