Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPad cellular for navigation
- Thread starter abba875
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It depends what app you use. If it's an offline app, no. Most apps, however, connect to the Internet real-time.
You can use it - I've found that the additional detail can be helpful at times, but most of the time a phone is sufficient.
Yes, you will be using data just like you would be if you use your phone.
More likely than not, navigation will use data but it'll be fairly minimal. We always use the iPad instead of our iPhones for GPS. Battery life is just so much better on the iPad (even against 6+/6s+) and we tend to conserve our iPhone batteries in case we need it for emergency communication.
Examples of apps that support download and local storage of full map sets such that no mobile data is needed for offline use are Sygic & maps.me. I've found both to work well on my (LTE) Air 2.
I've tried this on my Mini 2 and can not..
Very disappointed in this.
Maybe doing something wrong??
Everything I've read is that it's not an option on the Mini...
If you use apps like tomtom for road navigation, you download the maps you need when you have wifi. The only data you'll use is traffic information and that is really low (kb's perhaps some Mb's).
Google maps could perhaps work the same, I haven't tried that, but if you work with online satellite maps it will burn much more data.
Google maps could perhaps work the same, I haven't tried that, but if you work with online satellite maps it will burn much more data.
I've downloaded the maps, but they don't seem to come up..
Good God I sound like a Newbie...
This all works on my phone, but I've yet to make it happen on the Mini 2..
I can see they've been downloaded..
How the heck do you activate them?
Shouldn't that just happen??
What setting do I need to change??
Good God I sound like a Newbie...
This all works on my phone, but I've yet to make it happen on the Mini 2..
I can see they've been downloaded..
How the heck do you activate them?
Shouldn't that just happen??
What setting do I need to change??
I use google maps on my iPad mini. The larger screen makes it nicer for GPS. The data usage is modest.
On the other thread I've learned there's no GPS chip in the wireless only Mini.
I've looked up the spec's and believe the add-on by BadElf is better than Apple's for a few dollars less.
Anyone one here have experience with this unit?
http://bad-elf.com/pages/gis
I ended up purchasing it on Amazon along with an Lighting extension cord.
This way the Ipad can be in the shade and only the receiver exposed.
3 reviews convienced me due to they use the same apps I do: Active Captain (Marine Nav), Geochashe and Maps.me off-line.
All 3 of these I use on my phone now.
I'll be very happy if it works as stated. Bigger screen and more accurate..
I get it Sunday and will update when I have the chance to try it out.
I've looked up the spec's and believe the add-on by BadElf is better than Apple's for a few dollars less.
Anyone one here have experience with this unit?
http://bad-elf.com/pages/gis
I ended up purchasing it on Amazon along with an Lighting extension cord.
This way the Ipad can be in the shade and only the receiver exposed.
3 reviews convienced me due to they use the same apps I do: Active Captain (Marine Nav), Geochashe and Maps.me off-line.
All 3 of these I use on my phone now.
I'll be very happy if it works as stated. Bigger screen and more accurate..
I get it Sunday and will update when I have the chance to try it out.
Have it in hand now. Works great on maps.me! Voice Turn by Turn with off-line map.
Not getting Google maps work as well. Stays with me okay,directions don't update.
Shame Maps.me doesn't have satilite view.
About to load a map in my Geochashe program and give that a run.
That will be a real good test for accuracy.
The unit is small and connects nicely into the lighting port.
The charger cord is a mini usb type, shame they couldn't stay with Lighting. Now I'll have two charge cables to do deal with. The IPad will charge through the connection using their supplied cord, but since it won't always be used, ya the reason for traveling with two different cords. First minor Con I have on the unit.
Second minor Con would be battery draw. Much more than I thought.
Yet for what it's doing, What else should I have assumed
Didn't time it, probably should, but 30-40 minutes of use, lost about 10% battery.
In the Boat or car, I'll have it plugged in (as I do with the phone), in the field, well is what it is I guess.
Really don't recall the draw on the phone for period of time. Heck, could be about the same...
Not getting Google maps work as well. Stays with me okay,directions don't update.
Shame Maps.me doesn't have satilite view.
About to load a map in my Geochashe program and give that a run.
That will be a real good test for accuracy.
The unit is small and connects nicely into the lighting port.
The charger cord is a mini usb type, shame they couldn't stay with Lighting. Now I'll have two charge cables to do deal with. The IPad will charge through the connection using their supplied cord, but since it won't always be used, ya the reason for traveling with two different cords. First minor Con I have on the unit.
Second minor Con would be battery draw. Much more than I thought.
Yet for what it's doing, What else should I have assumed
Didn't time it, probably should, but 30-40 minutes of use, lost about 10% battery.
In the Boat or car, I'll have it plugged in (as I do with the phone), in the field, well is what it is I guess.
Really don't recall the draw on the phone for period of time. Heck, could be about the same...
Also the Here Maps app (used to be Nokia Here) works great without data, as long as you download the maps that you need beforehand & turn on offline use. I've used it several times when traveling with no issues.
