[iPad Mini] Maps/GPS on Mini with WiFi Only?

PTVMan · Nov 10, 2012, 04:48 PM

It feels like I should know the answer to this, but what is the difference between Maps/GPS on an iPad Mini with only wifi versus Maps/GPS on a Mini with cellular?

Awakener · Nov 10, 2012, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTVMan

It feels like I should know the answer to this, but what is the difference between Maps/GPS on an iPad Mini with only wifi versus Maps/GPS on a Mini with cellular?

Wifi Mini has no GPS chip whatsoever. Sad.

PTVMan · Nov 10, 2012, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awakener

Wifi Mini has no GPS chip whatsoever. Sad.

So, it can't be used no navigation?

dhy8386 · Nov 10, 2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PTVMan

So, it can't be used no navigation?

Not unless u tether.

HobeSoundDarryl · Nov 10, 2012, 05:02 PM

There are devices that broadcast GPS like: http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Bluetoo...h+gps+receiver

Or if you are using a mifi for GPS in motion, some mifi's have GPS in them.

xraydoc · Nov 11, 2012, 12:38 PM

iPad can use an iPhone's GPS if you wifi tether.

Crabnbass · 02:16 PM

Dual makes a Bluetooth Receiver that can be found on Amazon that will turn a Wifi only iPad or iPod into a navigational tool.

KatanaAzul · Nov 11, 2012, 05:25 PM

I personally use the Bad Elf Pro (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008VWNBBE/) and have been very impressed. Since it's WAAS enabled it's much more accurate than the GPS that's in the iPhone or that will be in the cellular version of the iPad mini.

I'm a pilot so the GPS is essential but I didn't see the point in spending $130 extra for a cellular iPad when I could get a much more accurate receiver for about the same price (that I can still use no matter what iPad or iPhone I end up upgrading to in the future).

FlashHead · Nov 12, 2012, 06:13 AM

If you have an iPhone, why would you need to use the iPad for navigation. I find the phone is preferable anyway while driving, particularly with turn by turn. Do miss google maps though. hope they come out with it soon.

VFC · 08:33 AM

The Nexus 7 has a built in GPS chip. My wife saw the commercial for a special at Olive Garden and wanted to go out for dinner. I picked up my N7, hit the Google button and said "nearest Olive Garden". It came up with one about 20 miles away and kicked off Google Maps. I set the N7 on my dash and the GPS lead us straight to the restaurant (including a road behind the shopping center that I didn't think was an official street). My iPad 3 sat at home powered off as usual.

MatthewStorm · Nov 12, 2012, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VFC

The Nexus 7 has a built in GPS chip. My wife saw the commercial for a special at Olive Garden and wanted to go out for dinner. I picked up my N7, hit the Google button and said "nearest Olive Garden". It came up with one about 20 miles away and kicked off Google Maps. I set the N7 on my dash and the GPS lead us straight to the restaurant (including a road behind the shopping center that I didn't think was an official street). My iPad 3 sat at home powered off as usual.

I hate navigating on my Mini tethered to my iPhone. It's pretty much unusable..it constantly loses the signal. I have to keep reselecting my device, them sometimes I have to reenter the password. The GPS icon is always off. Sometimes it locks up and won't move.

My N7 grabs the signal from my phone and never let's go. The N7 treats the phone like a wifi hotspot whereas my iPhone treats it as a device.

Why does Apple have such a difficult time with their WiFi? It's really disheartening and quite annoying. Is there an engineer around that can explain the epic fail on this one?

I love the form factor of the Mini and the pantheon of Apps but its performance can be downright crap.

dhy8386 · Nov 12, 2012, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewStorm

I hate navigating on my Mini tethered to my iPhone. It's pretty much unusable..it constantly loses the signal. I have to keep reselecting my device, them sometimes I have to reenter the password. The GPS icon is always off. Sometimes it locks up and won't move.

My N7 grabs the signal from my phone and never let's go. The N7 treats the phone like a wifi hotspot whereas my iPhone treats it as a device.

Why does Apple have such a difficult time with their WiFi? It's really disheartening and quite annoying. Is there an engineer around that can explain the epic fail on this one?

I love the form factor of the Mini and the pantheon of Apps but its performance can be downright crap.

Has to do with wifi sleep issues. Use Bluetooth instead. Uses less battery and stays connected even if phone goes to sleep. Throughput is not as good as wifi but still very high. Also connects instantly.

Nov 10, 2012, 04:48 PM	#1
PTVMan macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2012	Maps/GPS on Mini with WiFi Only? It feels like I should know the answer to this, but what is the difference between Maps/GPS on an iPad Mini with only wifi versus Maps/GPS on a Mini with cellular?
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Nov 11, 2012, 12:38 PM	#6
xraydoc macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: The first state	iPad can use an iPhone's GPS if you wifi tether. __________________ 2.93GHz i7 27" iMac • 1.8GHz i7 11" MacBook Air • 2.5GHz i5 Mac mini + 27" Thunderbolt display 2.66GHz quad-core Mac Pro + OS X 10.7 Server + 6TB RAID 5 • AirPort Extreme • iPad 3 & mini • iPhone 5
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Nov 11, 2012, 02:06 PM	#7
Crabnbass macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2012	Dual makes a Bluetooth Receiver that can be found on Amazon that will turn a Wifi only iPad or iPod into a navigational tool. Last edited by Crabnbass; Nov 11, 2012 at 02:16 PM. Reason: Spelling
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Nov 12, 2012, 08:04 AM	#10
VFC macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: SE PA.	The Nexus 7 has a built in GPS chip. My wife saw the commercial for a special at Olive Garden and wanted to go out for dinner. I picked up my N7, hit the Google button and said "nearest Olive Garden". It came up with one about 20 miles away and kicked off Google Maps. I set the N7 on my dash and the GPS lead us straight to the restaurant (including a road behind the shopping center that I didn't think was an official street). My iPad 3 sat at home powered off as usual. Last edited by VFC; Nov 12, 2012 at 08:33 AM.
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Nov 10, 2012, 05:02 PM	#5
HobeSoundDarryl macrumors 68030 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hobe Sound, FL (20 miles north of Palm Beach)	There are devices that broadcast GPS like: http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Bluetoo...h+gps+receiver Or if you are using a mifi for GPS in motion, some mifi's have GPS in them.
	0

Nov 11, 2012, 05:25 PM	#8
KatanaAzul macrumors member Join Date: May 2010	I personally use the Bad Elf Pro (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008VWNBBE/) and have been very impressed. Since it's WAAS enabled it's much more accurate than the GPS that's in the iPhone or that will be in the cellular version of the iPad mini. I'm a pilot so the GPS is essential but I didn't see the point in spending $130 extra for a cellular iPad when I could get a much more accurate receiver for about the same price (that I can still use no matter what iPad or iPhone I end up upgrading to in the future).
	0

Nov 12, 2012, 06:13 AM	#9
FlashHead macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2010	If you have an iPhone, why would you need to use the iPad for navigation. I find the phone is preferable anyway while driving, particularly with turn by turn. Do miss google maps though. hope they come out with it soon.
	0