Does the iPad 2 3g have GPS standalone. YES or NO?

[TonyBuckley]

My GPS chip in my iPad 2 3g had to be enabled by the 'secret' code that Snowden leaked. This is an automatic enablement if the ipad is left under the bed overnight switched OFF.

OK - I do actually have a SIM card in my iPad but it is not currently enabled. The iPad 2 3g is fully enabled as a GPS and gives me better accuracy then a very old Garmin GPS I have.

You do not need to speak with Apple.

You do not need to speak with Broadcom.

You do not need to speak with anyone.

There is so much information on the internet about this it is amazing and extraordinarily clear and concise.

 

[noelex]

Ok here you go as of 2 mins ago
No SIM card in the iPad.

 

[lw395]

Along with a lot of other posters, mine works, very accurately, in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no chance of a cellular signal. Is that clear enough? :encouragement:

Maybe.
It doesn't prove it's not the sort of GPS which acquires a whole lot quicker when it's got a phone network, or that it didn't use the phone network to get first lock, it also doesn't pay to assume that every unit will be the same, what's sold as an XYZ model 3 one year in one country can be quite different from the XYZ model 3 sold next year elsewhere.

Also, to answer another point, not having a SIM card in does not necessarily mean there is zero communication with the networks.

 

[ghostlymoron]

So is that YES or NO?

 

[lw395]

So is that YES or NO?

I think we can assume Cantata's works as he says, but unless Apple specifiy the product to work as a stand alone GPS, then you have no comeback if it doesn't.

 

[Colvic Watson]

My GPS chip in my iPad 2 3g had to be enabled by the 'secret' code that Snowden leaked. This is an automatic enablement if the ipad is left under the bed overnight switched OFF.

That's a good point, I leant my iPad to a bloke from GCHQ who apparently needed to send an email really urgently. Ever since then it's been able to find my position even with wifi and cellular off. I thought it was because Apple had built it with a GPS chip inside but maybe the bloke on the train did something to it?

Someone should let the OP know, if he's bought a standard model without either the secret Snowden software upgrade or the we're-watching-you GCHQ hack then he's going to get mid Atlantic and have no idea where he is. Who's going to volunteer to tell him?

 

[RichardS]

A bit of a digression (although I think the OP is now happy) but I've just bought an AIS transponder with wifi. I've had it set up in the house over the bank holiday weekend, connected by wifi to my home LAN/wifi network. What this means is that every device in the house, PCs, tablets (android and mac) now has true GPS/Glonass available instantly. No time to fix posiition required.

It's odd starting OpenCPN or NavMon and instantly having position, speed, heading etc on the screen. It will be great on the boat as the whole family will be able to use their own tablet or PC to monitor our progress. OK, they're not that excited - it's just me really!

I'll keep my GPS dongle as an emergency backup but I have seen the future and I like it!

Richard

 

[Colvic Watson]

What is the make of the unit - sounds funky.

 

[RichardS]

What is the make of the unit - sounds funky.

Vesper Marine XB-8000.

I first saw the company mentioned by Old Varnish (Paul) and I'm very impressed so far. The unit can be configured over wifi or USB cable (cable supplied but a standard USB cable anyway). The VM software provides, over wifi, an antenna checking meter plus all the usual GPS signal options and options to turn transmit on or off and set up all the boat details.

When I get it on the boat I will use it as our wifi hub so we can all connect to it. At the moment, I set up an ad hoc network with my PC (I have the 3G dongle) but SWMBO's tablet can only connect in infrastructure mode. The XB-8000 solves this problem as well.

It's clever stuff and the wifi transmitter seems to be very powerful. If they knew the password, all my neighbours could have free GPS data as well!

Richard

 

[stuartwineberg]

100% yes. I have this ipad and use navionics HD on it as my main chartplotter (the Raymarine unit on my old boat is in a stupidly invisible position). You do NOT need a SIM card. the only reason you have to have the 3G version is that the chip thingy that does 3G is the same chip thingy that does GPS. It gives a rapid and accurate fix all over the Channel at least (I just tracked us coming back from Cherbourg on the Brittany Ferries fastcat)

Yes or no?

We are talking mid Atlantic using alongside Raymarine/Furuno equipment with Navionics.

Provide evidence of your YES answer if possible.

Im saying NO

A mobile (CellPhone/SmartPhone) device featured with "A-GPS" only (no additional "S-GPS"/Standalone-GPS feature to be selected as alternative, or there's no "Hybrid GPS" as a complete A-GPS/S-GPS hybrid features in one device) can work ONLY when there's internet link/connection to ISP/CNP - it is USELESS on areas with no coverage of internet link (or no BTS towers nearby, in the case on CNP service coverage area) to connect to those A-GPS servers (that usually provided by CNPs);

 

[KevB]

The ipad 2 has full independent GPS and can use cell location (AGPS) to help with fixes and satellite information.

The internal ipad navigation app requires 3g for additional information. A third party navigation app does not need 3g and uses the GPS function.

"The iPad 2's GPS consists of a built-in GPS chip and assisted GPS (AGPS) capability. There is considerable confusion about AGPS, so here is the background: AGPS helps the iPad 2 obtain a faster "time to first fix" (TTFF). AGPS acquires and stores information about the location of satellites via the cellular network (see GPS almanac) so the information does not need to be downloaded via satellite. AGPS also helps position the iPad 2 when GPS signals are weak or not available. GPS satellite signals may be impeded by tall buildings, and do not penetrate building interiors well. AGPS uses proximity to cellular towers to calculate position when GPS signals are not available."

http://gps.about.com/od/newproducts/a/Ipad-2-GPS.htm

 

[Thedreamoneday]

How long does the battery last whilst using the iPad for navigation an having the gps running?

 

[TonyBuckley]

How long does the battery last whilst using the iPad for navigation an having the gps running?

Hard to say, but the battery in the ipad is quite amazing - I can go couple weeks without recharging for general and quite significant usage.

I have written a couple of apps for my own benefit which use the GPS and I always include a frequency update parameter to help the battery last.

With navionics, I have the ipad velcro'd to the chart table with as little brightness as poss (brightness kills it) and with the latest IOS you can control (sort of) if you want background updates to take place. But its in terms of couple days rather than few hours - no point having it running if not looking at it. And even without wifi/3g it is quick to re-establish the fix.

I keep meaning to look at apps that can reduce the brightness further as even the min is too bright for some evening reading for me, but not got around to that yet.

But as it is a good battery recharging takes longer than the iphone.

I treat it much like charts, get a fix when required rather than on all the time. The fixed GPS (in the VHF and other wired chart plotter) gives me a constant lat/long and its only when going through the shallows will I have it on constantly and that is mainly for comparison belts and braces type stuff.

It is a neat bit of low cost kit, but I'd always want a back up if going afar.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

depends on your screen brightness but I was getting 6-8 hours consistently over a 12 day period.

 

[Thedreamoneday]

I have an iPad (1) and iPhone 5, I'm really impressed with the battery life on the iPad for general use but it doesn't have GPS only wifi so not sure of battery life whilst using GPS, the iPhone eats the battery whilst using gps so wouldn't really be a great tool.

So 6-8 hours whilst using gps is pretty impressive, think I may need to upgrade my iPad

 

[TonyBuckley]

I have an iPad (1) and iPhone 5, I'm really impressed with the battery life on the iPad for general use but it doesn't have GPS only wifi so not sure of battery life whilst using GPS, the iPhone eats the battery whilst using gps so wouldn't really be a great tool.

So 6-8 hours whilst using gps is pretty impressive, think I may need to upgrade my iPad

The v2 is vastly superior from the v1. The v3 from the v2 much much less so. I have not been able to find a reason to go for a v3 except weight improvement. If my v2 died, I would replace with a v2.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

This thread is hilarious.
Does no one actually believe people when they give simple answers?
How can I put this plainly?

My iPad is the 3G version.
It has no SIM in it.
It has never had a SIM in it.
If I turn off wifi it still knows where it is.
If I am in the middle of nowhere it still knows where it is.

Do not get hung up on this "does it have a GPS chip" question. People will give you misleading answers because they do not understand the question.

Buy one.
You will not get lost.

 

[TonyBuckley]

This thread is hilarious.
Does no one actually believe people when they give simple answers?
How can I put this plainly?

My iPad is the 3G version.
It has no SIM in it.
It has never had a SIM in it.
If I turn off wifi it still knows where it is.
If I am in the middle of nowhere it still knows where it is.

Do not get hung up on this "does it have a GPS chip" question. People will give you misleading answers because they do not understand the question.

Buy one.
You will not get lost.

I think this now an accepted fact by all. But it would have helped if you just put YES in shouty caps lol

 

[Andrew G]

Bit late in but YES! My question is why go for an iPad 2 and not a more recent version? Andrew

 

[Jamesuk]

Bit late in but YES! My question is why go for an iPad 2 and not a more recent version? Andrew

Why buy an older iPad? Better value.