I have a 2022 12.9” iPad Pro. For offshore boating I have a Bad Elf GPS device that has a male lightning connector. Does anyone know of an adapter or cable or ?? which will allow the Bad Elf device to send its GPS data via its male lightning part to a female lightning port and thence into the iPad Pro via a male USB-C?
Thanks for your thoughts.
-Paul
I heard from Bad Elf directly with similar news. They wrote to me:
”Unfortunately there is no adapter to provide the needed functionality for the Direct Connect Lightning Elf (BE-GPS-1008) to work with the USB-C socket. To be clear you may be able to find an adapter that appears to have the right connectors, but these adapters will in fact only provide power.”
So I’m out of luck unless I buy a Bluetooth version from them.
Thanks for your help!
I heard from Bad Elf directly with similar news. They wrote to me:
”Unfortunately there is no adapter to provide the needed functionality for the Direct Connect Lightning Elf (BE-GPS-1008) to work with the USB-C socket. To be clear you may be able to find an adapter that appears to have the right connectors, but these adapters will in fact only provide power.”
So I’m out of luck unless I buy a Bluetooth version from them.
Thanks for your help!
While BadElf do produce external GPS Receivers that are compatible with your USB-C equipped iPad, the one that you have that incorporates a male Lightning connector cannot be used with your new iPad.
The BadElf GPS Rx lightning interface will only work when connected to an iOS/iPadOS Lightning port. Lightning and USB-C are entirely different electrical interfaces - and are not directly inter-workable. A simple cable will not provide the necessary interface converter.
Perhaps the upside is that you have essentially received the same (or similar) information from two independent sources - of which one has no interest in persuading you to purchase a replacement device.
Accessories that incorporate Apple’s proprietary interface (this being licensed to third-party manufacturer’s on a royalty basis) cannot be readily used with other open/industry standard interfaces such as USB. Contrary to seemingly popular understanding, Lightning is not just a proprietary connector with which an appropriate cable can “adapt” the connection - but is entirely different in both electrical and signalling standards.
As for your external GPS receiver, while BadElf market solid and well respected GPS hardware solutions, there are many others from which to choose that offer USB or Bluetooth connection options.
Wired solutions are in some circumstances a better option - as Bluetooth, being reliant upon an RF-link, is susceptible to interference from adjacent devices; in some RF-cluttered environments, BT and BTLE radios may not even be useable.
Bluetooth does have some advantages - in particular where GPS signals are either shaded or blocked from the host device (GPS signals being primarily being line-of-sight). As examples, typical applications are marine and aviation environments, such as yours.
Lightning to USB-C
