iPad and navigation

richardbayle

richardbayle

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3 Aug 2006
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French Antilles
www.richardbayle.com
OK, given in and bought an iPad. Told salesperson I would be using it on my boat for back up navigation and he sold me an iPad 2. My fault should have done more research, as the smug ones amongst you are now saying.

So how do I get GPS on this piece of kit? Tried the Garmin website and as usual not very helpful as I can find nowhere to ask the question "what do I buy from you to do...."

So, I'm asking you guys and girls. How do I turn my iPad 2 sans GPS into one with GPS. Is it a dongle; whatever that is, or can I add something to the basic hardware? Probably not. Garmin imply it's an app, but how can that make a difference to the basic hardware?

Please remember I am not of the computer/smartphone generation and I don't have a 12 year old around to help me.

It was all so much simpler in the old days, a chart, mark one eyeball and a sextant. Silly having all this electronic kit on board as I always check it, drives SWMBO mad and she keeps reminding me of the cost and why not trust etc.

"Hey ho and lardie da." (Scarlett O'Hara-Gone with the wind) I like to kid myself I can keep up, getting tired of trying now tho'.
 
iPad 2 does have GPS built in, but only on the 3G model.

Are you saying yours is wifi only?

Take it back to the shop and swap it if it is.

The 3G model is a much better approach than a plug in GPS aerial.

P.s. anyone who thinks a sextant is simpler really shouldn't be allowed without a guardian.:)
 
duncan99210 said:
Put the iPad on ebay and buy one with 3G and GPS.........
Click to expand...

If you specified navigation and you were sold one without 3G, take it back and ask them for one with 3G. It will cost £100 more, but its what you need.

If they wont help, quote the Sale ofGoods Act, in writing if necessary, making it clear that you will go legal if necessary.

This is a lot of money to be given blatantly bad advice over!
 
Don't know what the griff is re sale of goods act in France, but if you can't swop it I've seen bad elf working and it looks pretty good.
 
Look up Digital Yacht, and other wifi iWhatever NMEA interfaces, these are easy to set up, and can turn your device into a much more complete plotter, if you have a fully networked instrument system. Allows you to get wind and depth info, a much more accurate GPS, as it uses the boats own info, AIS info, and if you do any racing, allows much better functionality with iRegatta, showing time to start, lay lines, polar creation and such like. But it will cost you a couple of hundred, and will only work on your own boat.

Or just get it swapped for a 3G version, if you just get a plug in GPS dongle, you will not be able to use it with a case or bag. Also, while you are at it, get a weatherproof 12v lighter socket in your cockpit, and your golden. If you bought it new, you have an apple 14 day no questions asked returns policy, but even after this, if you explain, they are always very helpful.

And have fun with your new toy, I haven't been near a chart table since I got mine:)
 
What makes you think it doesn't have a GPS? As others have said, if sold wrong model than take it back for exchange.

Then once you have one with GPS built in, you begin to discover what an amazing plotter it can be. Charts of UK and Fr/NL/B with free updates for life will cost you £30. Plus loads of other boaty stuff and internet, email, movies ....
 
Ex-SolentBoy said:
iPad 2 does have GPS built in, but only on the 3G model.

Are you saying yours is wifi only?

Take it back to the shop and swap it if it is.

The 3G model is a much better approach than a plug in GPS aerial.

P.s. anyone who thinks a sextant is simpler really shouldn't be allowed without a guardian.:)
Click to expand...

In many ways a sextant is simpler.
 
Thanks guys, I'll try for the swap, altho the Bad Elf solution looks pretty good.

Sale of goods act? In France? Yes I know it's an EU ruling but after sales service coupled with the word France actually doesn't compute. So I think I'll give this one to SWMBO; who doesn't yet know she needs one and buy another for me. She has a birthday soon, seems an ideal opportunity.

Next time I will be more careful, didn't think I needed a 3G connection to get GPS, after all my chart plotter doesn't have 3G!! In fairness the sales guy did try to flog me a 3G version but kept going on about another "abonnement" (on line contract) and I already give enough to Orange.

Thanks again for your help
 
You don't have to put a SIM card in the 3G version if you don't need it, so just say no the contract unless you need 3G.
 
You don't need 3G. But, on the iPad the GPS is combined with the 3G chip, so you need the 3G version of the iPad, but you do not need a sim card to go in it.
 
Yes the bluetooth does drain the iPad battery faster.

With the bad elf, you can charge at the same time from a USB fed power source but it might be more difficult to keep the whole thing dry. I've been looking at the GNS range of separate bluetooth GPS units.
 
NB Willawaw said:
Check out the Bluetooth GPS units carefully if you go that route.
Not all are compatible with iPad, especially the cheap ones.
Click to expand...

We came back across the Channel a few weeks ago, we used an iPad with a Garmin Bluetooth GPS receiver. Worked a treat with Navionics charts.
 
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