If you have a 3G version and do not pay the $30 one month, so the 3G is disabled, will you still be able to use the GPS? I know some navigation apps need a data connection (TomTom I think), but I also thought some don't (Navigon possibly?).
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Will GPS work without 3G?
- Thread starter mkw5053
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wackymacky
macrumors 68000
absolutly I've used my iphone 3gs's gps on places that are not covered by any network so don't worry
Thanks!
Awesome, thank's for the quick and simple responses. I don't have an iPhone so I wasn't sure.
Awesome, thank's for the quick and simple responses. I don't have an iPhone so I wasn't sure.
The WiFi-only version of the iPad will pretty much be worthless for any sort of route navigation. The WiFi-only version of the iPad does NOT have a GPS. If you were out in the middle of nowhere, far from any WiFi signal, the WiFi-only version of the iPad couldn't remotely find your location or direct you to the nearest whatever.
Mark
Tom G.
macrumors 68020
Mark is correct, the only thing you can do is preload the map while you are in a wifi hot spot then you can have the map available to use like a regular road map, but it will not show you your position on the map. A bit better than a paper road map but certainly not GPS.
This is one of the main reasons that I'm going with the 3G model.
This is one of the main reasons that I'm going with the 3G model.
NO!
An iPhone 3GS itself can find your location out in the middle of nowhere because it has a GPS. But even if you could tether the iPhone's 3G signal to the iPad, the iPad wouldn't know to use that 3G signal for triangulation.
Again, the WiFi-only model does not have a GPS. The ONLY way for a WiFi-only iPad to be able to show your location is if it is connected to a WiFi hotspot that has been mapped by the companies that map WiFi hotspots. Driving down the freeway, there are far too few WiFi hotspots (within range) to allow accurate location services. On a densely populated city street, there would be some hope of finding your location. But without an active WiFi connection while you are traveling, the Maps app would not be able to continue to load the map updates as you move about.
Even walking on foot with a known WiFi signal in every home, while the WiFi-only iPad could locate your spot, you would need access to all of those WiFi hotspots in order to load the map pages. You need a constant data connection while you are moving.
This is why many of us are waiting for the 3G version. You aren't just getting 3G capability for the extra $130, you are also getting a real GPS.
Mark
If it's like the GPS on the iPhone, you may have to wait 5 to 20 minutes for the GPS chip to get an initial fix without 3G coverage. The A in AGPS uses 3G data to get a much quicker fix (in a few seconds) on which satellites are where.
slffl
macrumors 65816
When I tried this with my 3GS to test it out (airplane mode, wifi on), it could not locate me anywhere near to where it does when 3G is turned on. It was hundreds of feet off, where it gets down to under 10ft when 3G is enabled.