Does my IPad Pro have GPS

I recently purchased a new I Pad pro and one of the intentions for use was to be able to use the Navionics Charts at sea. Unfortunately it seems that unless the I pad is connected to wireless internet the position of where I am is not updated or shown on the downloaded chart. This leads me to believe that the I pad pro does not have GPS.

Could somebody help me with this?

iPad Pro, iPadOS 14

Posted on Aug 5, 2021 2:46 PM

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2 replies

Aug 5, 2021 3:17 PM in response to ChrisWoodbridge

Mapping Apps, such as Navionics, are critically dependent upon Location Services.


Unlike your iPhone and WiFi & Cellular models of iPad, WiFi Only iPads do not have any GPS location capability with which to directly determine their location - and as such are completely reliant upon their network connection to infer an approximate location. This limitation has further implications in that mapping Apps installed on your iPad cannot estimate your location without a WiFi network connection; no “moving maps” when away from home!


For WiFi Only models of iPad, your approximate geographic location is estimated from a “database lookup” of (a) your WiFi Network Name (SSID) or detected neighbouring WiFi networks - and (b) the “public” IP Address provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). 


If the mapped WiFi network name or IP Address are not available within the applicable databases, or if this information substantially differs between sources, then your approximate location may not be computed. This situation often occurs if you are in a remote/rural location where neighbouring WiFi networks are scarce - or if connecting over satellite or VPN connections.


Network IP Addresses and WiFi networks are frequently mapped in urban and cosmopolitan areas (including “crowd source” techniques) and as such approximation of your location from lookup against these databases can be provide relatively high accuracy. As population and network density diminishes, this mechanism becomes progressively less reliable.


If purchased as a Navigation device, I regret that your chosen model of iPad is unsuitable. You need a WiFi+Cellular model.


However, a WiFi Only iPad can be augmented with an external dedicated GPS Receiver (e.g. BadElf) - connected via Bluetooth or direct via USB.



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Does my IPad Pro have GPS

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