Does iPad 2 WiFi Really Have No GPS???

debbiefrommartinez wrote:

This interesting thread has run 13 pages. (No I did not read them all.) All theoretical, all about Apple support says this, Apple docs say that, NASA says another thing, etc., etc., etc.

If you'd read the thread, you'd understand, perhaps, that the WiFi only version uses a database of WiFi networks to provide location information. Yes, the WiFi only version has some location finding capabilities. No, it doesn't have a GPS transceiver.

"Tracked my route around the neighborhood just fine, within the limits of gps."

You mean within the limits of the wifi routers around your neighborhood.

"Small dark circle shows where the GPS thinks you are"

You mean where location services using the wifi routers in your neighborhood thinks you are.

"Larger pale blue circle varies in diameter to give indications of uncertainty. (If the larger circle is to be believed,the uncertainty is around 75 meters -- not really very good in comparison to my EIGHT YEAR OLD MAGELLAN, which routinely runs less than 15 meters, often less than 5.)"

But your Magellen GPS is using GPS satellite data and your iPad is using wifi router location (not GPS data) in your neighborhood.

Like many posters around here and various other sites it seems that it is a common problem that iPads are bought thinking that GPS is included in the WiFi version.

I made the same mistake and would swear that when I checked the site it said GPS was included, but like other posters trying to find it again is not possible. Sounds very fishy to me!!

Anyway this iPad thing is not as good as people make out with too many gotchas for me. The GPS was the final straw but I found this GPS bluetooth addon called the GNS 5870 which I hope will fix it for me.

What possible use is any sort of location finder without GPS. Apple must be daft or think we are. Judging by some of the comments on here some people think anything Apple makes is fantastic.

Well the iPad is OKish and my first Apple product. Lets hope Bluetooth really works as it wouldn't pair with my other phone. Another partial 'feature' from Apple sadly.

I absolutely agree that buying a Wifi-only iPad thinking it has GPS would be a problem, but don't agree that this is an Apple problem. While you might indeed " .... swear ... I checked the site .... said GPS was included ..." you either didn't check an Apple site or just assumed that what you wanted to see there was actually there. It's a claim that Apple has never made, anywhere. It should only sound "fishy" to you if you think yourself incapable of any error or incorrect assumptions. If that's the case, good on you and you needn't read further.

As for what sort of use a 'location finder' is without GPS, well ..... of limited to no value, clearly, if you need precise location data. If you don't, if you just need to be located to a very rough neighborhood then the capabilities that do exist in the Wifi-only version will serve you fairly adequately and reliable most (but certainly not all) of the time.

Some people do think anything Apple makes is fantastic. Others take special glee in making fun of them, despite the fact that they proselytize just as passionately for their own platform of choice. The main difference between them that I can see is that the Apple 'fanboys', to use just one of the perjorative terms so popular to the anti-crowd, spend absolutely no time in Android forums bad-mouthing others or their choices. I'm not necessarily including you in that group, but can't help noticing that you only found the, for lack of a better term, pro-Apple posters deserving of comment. If this forum was limited only to the grousers and complainers then precious little in the way of actual assistance, in the form of technical support questions being asked and answered, would ever take place here.

In closing, I notice you're also complaining about Bluetooth and the fact that you can't " .... pair it with your other phone ...", whatever that might actually mean. If you're thinking that that's exactly what BT actually means and does, and think that your iPad is therefore supposed to do that, then it's sadly liable to prove just another bad assumption or misunderstanding

Unfortunately there is no ideal tablet. The more varied one's uses are, the more it this is obvious. I am fortunate and have both an iPad and an Andriod tablet. I find that they each come into service for certain things. After being burned by learning about the lack of GPS on the wifi only iPad but only after downloading marine navigation charts and hitting the water I learned to be more careful in specing my next device. Those who say a wifi tablet is only for connected use need to expand their horizons. My Acer Honeycomb is a wonderful chart and map plotter. Having the GPS is very important to me. However, when I am working I tend to grab the iPad. They both have a place in my bag.

Will someone PLEASE settle this discussion ONCE and FOR ALL, take your WIFI Router / Modem and plug it in at least 100 KMs away, connect your iPad to it and see where location services tells you, you are. Also, make sure there are no other WIFI hotspots available at either end.

If the iPad picks up your new location, then there must be more to it than just the WiFi, if it still says you are at your original location then its solved, it only uses WiFi locations, which is pretty useless, and I think Apple should make a point of advertising the fact that the iPad WiFi Only does NOT have GPS, only Location Services assisted by WiFi points.

TheToid wrote:

Will someone PLEASE settle this discussion ONCE and FOR ALL, take your WIFI Router / Modem and plug it in ..........

Oh please! Why would any sentient being take this on? This is not an issue which needs settling, this is one with is already settled: The wifi-only iPad does not have GPS.

Not might not have. Not doesn't appear to have. Doesn't have. Not there. Period. End of discussion.

Compare the physical appearance of the two models. One has an all aluminum back cover, the other has a dark plastic antenna cover along the top edge.Imagine what antennas are under that cover. Ponder where the antenna for the wifi-only model is, how it could work, why they would put it somewhere different ... I mean, come on.

TheToid wrote:

-----------, it only uses WiFi locations, which is pretty useless, and I think Apple should make a point of advertising the fact that the iPad WiFi Only does NOT have GPS, only Location Services assisted by WiFi points.

I'd say useless only if you require more accurate location data a lot of the time which, frankly, some wouldn't. You're presenting your opinions as facts, always a danger when they aren't supported by any evidence.

As for they, meaning Apple, should advertise no GPS? What? How? Have you actually done the obvious, as in, for example, looking at the tech specs? Notice one glaring difference between the iPad and the iPad+3G models? Oh, right, one is listed as having Assisted GPS, or A-GPS, and the other is not. Reasonable minds would assume from that data selection that one has GPS, the other doesn't. Most could look at that page and figure out which one did have it.

Or you could simply have tried something likethis .....

Ok im going to answer the only thing which you made sense at, yes the specs to specify that no ACTUAL GPS is on the WiFi only version, however, and correct me if im wrong, Apple aims its devices at the non-tech savvy people then expects them to look at specifications (most of which those people would not have any idea what they mean) to determine which one they want? No, they should definitely advertise it specifically as not having GPS.

Well, the one thing you got pretty close to right was your choice of a screen name. Couldn't quite follow the rest of what I wrote? Why am I not surprised?

You're talking as though you were out buying a toaster and there, well, you're right. There really isn't much need for users to delve too deeply into the toaster tech specs to see what it is they're buying. Of course,with a toaster you can just sort of look at it and figure out what it will and won't do, and you're pretty sure that it will at least toast bread.

Problem is .... it ain't toasters were talking about, as much as you'd like them to be. It turns out that Life with the capital L actually IS a lot like school — if you don't do your homework, bad things happen.

Apple does not advertise about GPS. Apple does not make a big deal out of the fact that the 3G iPads have GPS, Apple does not advertise that, why, for heaven's name, would Apple be required to advertise that the Wi-Fi version of the iPads do not have GPS?

<Edited by Host>

TheToid wrote:

Ok im going to answer the only thing which you made sense at, yes the specs to specify that no ACTUAL GPS is on the WiFi only version, however, and correct me if im wrong, Apple aims its devices at the non-tech savvy people then expects them to look at specifications (most of which those people would not have any idea what they mean) to determine which one they want? No, they should definitely advertise it specifically as not having GPS.

Anyone who buys a computer or other technical device WITHOUT checking the specs and ensuring that it is capable of doing what they want or need done is a foolish and careless person. Do you also buy cameras that way? What about televisions, stereos, washing machines, automobiles? Do you buy them based on pure speculation and hope they have the features you want, or do you check that they actually do have them?

The responsibility is ALWAYS on the consumer to check that what they are buying is what they want and does what they need or expect. If you don't know, you need to research the device(s) before actually purchasing them. To complain something is not there just because you assumed it was and never checked is no one's fault but your own.

You will note that the iPad does not include a firewire port either. Must Apple store employees also explicitly tell you that it cannot be connected via firewire? How many things that a device does NOT have must a retailer inform the consumer about to satisfy you?

TheToid wrote:

Will someone PLEASE settle this discussion ONCE and FOR ALL, take your WIFI Router / Modem and plug it in at least 100 KMs away, connect your iPad to it and see where location services tells you, you are. Also, make sure there are no other WIFI hotspots available at either end.

If the iPad picks up your new location, then there must be more to it than just the WiFi, if it still says you are at your original location then its solved, it only uses WiFi locations, which is pretty useless, and I think Apple should make a point of advertising the fact that the iPad WiFi Only does NOT have GPS, only Location Services assisted by WiFi points.

No need to bother doing your test, as I'm sure I am not the only one who effectively has done it. When I moved from VA to NC, yes, upon first connecting my old Linksys Wifi router at my new home, my iPad and iPod Touch did indeed think I was still in VA. Once I turned off my router, they tried to connect to weaker nearby wifi signals, which they could not do as they were all secured networks, but my google map location was updated to the correct location then.

The company Skyhook,which operates one such wifi hotspot location based service even has a web page for submitting your personal wifi router(s) location information. Apple may very well update their in-house database by purchasing content from companies like Skyhook (as part of the business model of Skyhook is to sell their content to other companies running their own in house location based services).

TheToid wrote:

Will someone PLEASE settle this discussion ONCE and FOR ALL, take your WIFI Router / Modem and plug it in at least 100 KMs away, connect your iPad to it and see where location services tells you, you are. Also, make sure there are no other WIFI hotspots available at either end.

Do it yourself, 1000 KM would be a better test.

Funny how a thread entitled "Does an iPad2 Wifi really have no GPS?", which has a simple Yes/No answer, currently has 213 posts. Seems like many have a difficult time reading/understanding device specifications.

paulcb wrote:

Funny how a thread entitled "Does an iPad2 Wifi really have no GPS?", which has a simple Yes/No answer, currently has 213 posts. Seems like many have a difficult time reading/understanding device specifications.

Exactly what is a GPS, and do I need one? 😉