Anybody use a GPS unit on an IPAD?

cptkrf · cptkrf #1 (**permalink**)

05-01-2011, 11:33 AM

I am looking for opinions on which hardware and software solution to use as a traveling GPS for the Ipad. Currently I am using a MBP with a Street Atlas in bootcamp, but trying to set up a laptop to where it can be seen by the driver is a problem. An Ipad would be the perfect size.

Lots of solutions on Google, but I am looking for real world experience. Good or bad, don't buy this piece of junk, etc.

Thanks all.

DB2k · DB2k #2 (**permalink**)

05-01-2011, 05:03 PM

well iPad uses the iPhone GPS.. so.. got an iPhone?

RavingMac · RavingMac #3 (**permalink**)

05-01-2011, 05:48 PM

Actually the iPad seems to be a better GPS than the iPhone (probably due to larger antenna).
Lots of different APPs available. I've been using the Tom Tom APP which seems to work well. Main advice I would offer is to be sure the APP downloads the maps to your iPad otherwise it won't work when you are in a no cell phone service area.

cptkrf · cptkrf #4 (**permalink**)

05-01-2011, 08:41 PM

No good. My IPad is a wifi only and useless when driving. I want a good standalone, hardware connected external GPS unit with good maps. I have found several that connect to the big connector at the bottom of the IPAD, just not a lot of info on them besides the sales blah-blah.

RavingMac · RavingMac #5 (**permalink**)

05-03-2011, 08:33 AM

Honestly your most elegant and I think best soloution would be to sell or swap your wifi iPad and get a 3G model. You don't have to pay for a data plan but then you would have built in GPS that works fairly well and the price difference between the wifi and 3G models isn't that much more than the hardware module you would have to buy to make the wifi model GPS enabled.

MinaMACMan · MinaMACMan #6 (**permalink**)

05-03-2011, 08:49 AM

I agree with Razormac. I have the 3G model and downloaded the Navigon navigation app. It's great. Works like a charm and very well featured, even more than my standalone gps from garmin.

Deckyon · Deckyon #7 (**permalink**)

05-03-2011, 09:00 AM

I have the 3G model and use something called MotionX GPS Drive. It works great and it will let you download your maps ahead of time so you don't have to download on the fly (requiring 3G to stay on and data to be sucked down.) I have run this side-by-side with my dedicated Magellan Maestro Car GPS and it was spot on.

However, since you don't have the 3G model, you will find the BT GPS pucks that are known to work with the iPad BT (non-jailbroken) to be only a few dollars LESS than upgrading to the 3G model. And no, there are no GPS units that I know of that will plug into the iPad, only a couple BT Pucks.

http://www.gns-gmbh.com/index.php?id=194&L=1 is the only one I know of that is Apple Approved.

RavingMac · RavingMac #8 (**permalink**)

05-03-2011, 09:01 AM

Just saw this:

New Sky Products Bluetooth receiver brings GPS navigation to Wi-Fi iPad and iPod touch

May be worth keeping an eye on, and they plan on posting a review.

RavingMac #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 07, 2008 Location: In Denial Posts: 6,847 Mac Specs: 4GB Mac Mini 2012, 13" MBA, 15" MacBook Pro OSX 10.7, 32 GB iPhone 3GS, iPad2 64gb 3G	05-03-2011, 08:33 AM Honestly your most elegant and I think best soloution would be to sell or swap your wifi iPad and get a 3G model. You don't have to pay for a data plan but then you would have built in GPS that works fairly well and the price difference between the wifi and 3G models isn't that much more than the hardware module you would have to buy to make the wifi model GPS enabled. Of course, I know everything . . . I just can't remember it all at once.
	QUOTE Thanks

Deckyon #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 06, 2011 Location: Louisville, KY - USA Posts: 1,252 Mac Specs: MBP 17" 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM, MacMini 2011, 2.7GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, 8GB RAM	05-03-2011, 09:00 AM I have the 3G model and use something called MotionX GPS Drive. It works great and it will let you download your maps ahead of time so you don't have to download on the fly (requiring 3G to stay on and data to be sucked down.) I have run this side-by-side with my dedicated Magellan Maestro Car GPS and it was spot on. However, since you don't have the 3G model, you will find the BT GPS pucks that are known to work with the iPad BT (non-jailbroken) to be only a few dollars LESS than upgrading to the 3G model. And no, there are no GPS units that I know of that will plug into the iPad, only a couple BT Pucks. http://www.gns-gmbh.com/index.php?id=194&L=1 is the only one I know of that is Apple Approved. MBP 17" 2011, 2.3GHz Intel Quad-Core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6750M 1GB RAM MacMini 2011, 2.7GHz Intel Dual-Core i7, 8GB RAM, AMD Radeon HD 6630M 256MB RAM iPhone 4S 64GB, iPad Gen3 32GB WiFi, iPod Nano Gen6 8GB, Apple TV 3 & 2
	QUOTE Thanks

RavingMac #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 07, 2008 Location: In Denial Posts: 6,847 Mac Specs: 4GB Mac Mini 2012, 13" MBA, 15" MacBook Pro OSX 10.7, 32 GB iPhone 3GS, iPad2 64gb 3G	05-03-2011, 09:01 AM Just saw this: New Sky Products Bluetooth receiver brings GPS navigation to Wi-Fi iPad and iPod touch May be worth keeping an eye on, and they plan on posting a review. Of course, I know everything . . . I just can't remember it all at once.
	QUOTE Thanks

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cptkrf #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 08, 2009 Location: The same as Sheldon Cooper - East Texas Posts: 297 Mac Specs: MacBook Air,2013, Intel Core i5, 27" Thunderbolt display (Highly recommended!)	05-01-2011, 11:33 AM I am looking for opinions on which hardware and software solution to use as a traveling GPS for the Ipad. Currently I am using a MBP with a Street Atlas in bootcamp, but trying to set up a laptop to where it can be seen by the driver is a problem. An Ipad would be the perfect size. Lots of solutions on Google, but I am looking for real world experience. Good or bad, don't buy this piece of junk, etc. Thanks all.
	QUOTE Thanks

DB2k #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 08, 2007 Location: Berkshire, England Posts: 140	05-01-2011, 05:03 PM well iPad uses the iPhone GPS.. so.. got an iPhone?
	QUOTE Thanks

cptkrf #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 08, 2009 Location: The same as Sheldon Cooper - East Texas Posts: 297 Mac Specs: MacBook Air,2013, Intel Core i5, 27" Thunderbolt display (Highly recommended!)	05-01-2011, 08:41 PM No good. My IPad is a wifi only and useless when driving. I want a good standalone, hardware connected external GPS unit with good maps. I have found several that connect to the big connector at the bottom of the IPAD, just not a lot of info on them besides the sales blah-blah.
	QUOTE Thanks

MinaMACMan #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 16, 2007 Location: Redwood City, CA / Stanford, CA Posts: 1,792 Mac Specs: MacBook, Black, 2.0GHz C2D, 2GB RAMs, 160GB HD	05-03-2011, 08:49 AM I agree with Razormac. I have the 3G model and downloaded the Navigon navigation app. It's great. Works like a charm and very well featured, even more than my standalone gps from garmin.
	QUOTE Thanks

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