Offline maps apps on iPad mini 4

I have two offline maps apps installed but I’m having trouble using them.  They can't find my location. The apps are OS Maps and Maps.me.  I need to use them offline as I don’t have a mobile contract.


In the Privacy setting, the Location services are set to ‘on’ and tracking is also ‘on’.


In the Maps setting, Location is set to ‘while using apps or widgets’ and Precise Location is set to ‘on’


What else can I try?


Thanks for reading


Helen

Posted on May 31, 2023 5:09 AM

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Posted on May 31, 2023 5:52 AM

You perhaps also need to understand that only WiFi+Cellular models of iPad have GNSS/GPS capabilities - this being a function of the iPad Cellular chipset. WiFi Only models of iPad have no GPS capabilities with which iPad Location Services can derive location. This fundamental difference may significantly impact your ability to use mapping Apps - in particular if real-time positioning (e.g., a moving map) is required.


WiFi Only iPad models can only “infer” their location from a database lookup of neighbouring WiFi networks for which the geographic location is known, or the geographic location of your public IP address. For static applications in urban locations, where the location of IP public IP addresses and WiFi networks are known, an “inferred” location can be relatively accurate. However, in rural locations, or when using a Cellular/Satellite/VPN connection, location accuracy of an inferred location [if it works at all] may be very inaccurate.  Without an active network connection, a WiFi Only iPad will not be able to derive its location at all.


All this has significant implications for non-static mapping applications. If you need to have moving maps, or have future flexibility to do so, you may need to consider a WiFi+Cellular model of iPad. Choosing a cellular model does not commit you to adding a cellular service plan for the iPad, but ensures that you have immediate access to GPS/GNSS positioning services.


As is, your available options are:

  • Substitute your WiFi Only iPad for a WiFi+Cellular model; this does not commit you to provisioning Cellular service for your iPad, but does provide the needed GPS functionality for the iPad.
  • Add an external GPS receiver to your WiFi Only iPad. These are often used in marine, aviation and vehicular applications - and can be either directly connected via Lightning or via Bluetooth. Their are various third-party manufacturers, of which two are BadElf and Garmin Glo.


5 replies
Question marked as Best reply

May 31, 2023 5:52 AM in response to HelenH99

You perhaps also need to understand that only WiFi+Cellular models of iPad have GNSS/GPS capabilities - this being a function of the iPad Cellular chipset. WiFi Only models of iPad have no GPS capabilities with which iPad Location Services can derive location. This fundamental difference may significantly impact your ability to use mapping Apps - in particular if real-time positioning (e.g., a moving map) is required.


WiFi Only iPad models can only “infer” their location from a database lookup of neighbouring WiFi networks for which the geographic location is known, or the geographic location of your public IP address. For static applications in urban locations, where the location of IP public IP addresses and WiFi networks are known, an “inferred” location can be relatively accurate. However, in rural locations, or when using a Cellular/Satellite/VPN connection, location accuracy of an inferred location [if it works at all] may be very inaccurate.  Without an active network connection, a WiFi Only iPad will not be able to derive its location at all.


All this has significant implications for non-static mapping applications. If you need to have moving maps, or have future flexibility to do so, you may need to consider a WiFi+Cellular model of iPad. Choosing a cellular model does not commit you to adding a cellular service plan for the iPad, but ensures that you have immediate access to GPS/GNSS positioning services.


As is, your available options are:

  • Substitute your WiFi Only iPad for a WiFi+Cellular model; this does not commit you to provisioning Cellular service for your iPad, but does provide the needed GPS functionality for the iPad.
  • Add an external GPS receiver to your WiFi Only iPad. These are often used in marine, aviation and vehicular applications - and can be either directly connected via Lightning or via Bluetooth. Their are various third-party manufacturers, of which two are BadElf and Garmin Glo.


May 31, 2023 6:05 AM in response to HelenH99

You have an iPad mini4, WiFi Only, Space Grey. WiFi Only models of iPad have no GNSS/GPS capabilities.


As outlined above, your available options are:

  • Substitute your WiFi Only iPad for a WiFi+Cellular model; this does not commit you to provisioning Cellular service for your iPad, but does provide the needed GPS functionality for the iPad.
  • Add an external GPS receiver to your WiFi Only iPad. These are often used in marine, aviation and vehicular applications - and can be either directly connected via Lightning or via Bluetooth. Their are various third-party manufacturers, of which two are BadElf and Garmin Glo.


May 31, 2023 5:35 AM in response to HelenH99

what type of ipad mini 4 is it? because only the cellular model have gps build in, so if it's the wifi model only then the only way it can get a position is to ask the wifi router it has an active connection to if any, if the wifi router it is connected to does not have a position itself it will ask the router it in term is connected to and so forth, not a very precise way to use maps

Offline maps apps on iPad mini 4

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