Q: Does iPad 2 WiFi Really Have No GPS???

Hi,

unfortunately it seems to be fact that wi-fi only Ipad 2 does not have GPS capabilities.

I don't see any technical reason for this and it is pretty dissapointing if one needs to sign up for a mobile phone contract just to get GPS. Especially as the iPad is usually not primarily used as mobile phone (haven't seen to many people recently holding an iPad to their ear).

Even cameras have GPS built in today which work fine without a phone line. Assist-GPS (a.k.a. A-GPS) is simply a method to speed up locating GPS sattelites by pre-loading sattelite position data. This is optional and can also be achieved by using a wi-fi link to the web. Usually you update the A-GPS data every 2-7 days. Or not at all.

As far as maps go: there is no contineous data link required either. One can download map data through wi-fi and us it offline for navigation.

Well, if the device has GPS, of course. Which gets me to my first sentence.

I like my iPhone 3GS, and I will eventually get an iPad 2. Most likely the wi-fi only model. But it leaves a bit of an 'its not as complete as it could be'- feeling.

Sorry, Apple. This is a decision I don't understand. But why would you care ?

Cheers

Reinhard

Reinhard:

You need to become more familiar with GPS and with the iPad.

The wifi only iPad does not have any GPS hardware in it. This is the reason GPS does not work on the wifi only iPad. Hence the technical reason.

The 3G iPad has GPS hardware built in. You do not need 3G service or contract to use the iPad GPS. GPS uses satelites to detect and track location, not 3G services. The A-GPS works to provide a faster initial location than using GPS alone. But the GPS works fine without A-GPS.

With respect to maps, there is no need to be online or connected using 3G to use GPS and maps. You can download and install any number of maps (topo, turn-by-turn navigation, nautical, GIS, etc.). There is no "connection" required.

Think ofthe GPS in your car or your handheld GPS used for trekking. These work the same way as the 3G iPad's GPS. They don't use 3G and neither does the 3G iPad GPS unless you want want a faster initial fix using A-GPS.

Maflagulator wrote: if you are expecting it to be able to track your EXACT location, and small movements in small detail, (such as through a parking lot, or open feild), then you will definitely want the 3G model.  What this also means is that turn-by-turn Navigation applications are rendered completely useless.

Not true! I have a iPad 2 Wi-Fi only and it DOES track small movements and it also DOES have turn-by-turn. I use it with the Dual GPS antenna and Navigon software and it works every bit as good (and in some respects, better) as my friends 3G version with the same software. The only exception is that the Dual GPS does not (at this time) have A-GPS, so it takes around a minute or two to initially get your present location, but once it gets going it works fine. Dual is currently working on adding this feature (A-GPS) but I really don't miss it. The nice thing about the Dual VS. the other GPS add-on units is that the Dual can also be used with smartphones and other electronics and it has a special switch for that setting.

MyMac8MyPC wrote:

 

Maflagulator wrote: if you are expecting it to be able to track your EXACT location, and small movements in small detail, (such as through a parking lot, or open feild), then you will definitely want the 3G model.  What this also means is that turn-by-turn Navigation applications are rendered completely useless.

Not true! I have a iPad 2 Wi-Fi only and it DOES track small movements and it also DOES have turn-by-turn. I use it with the Dual GPS antenna and Navigon software and it works every bit as good (and in some respects, better) as my friends 3G version with the same software

Yes true!

The Dual GPS is a GPS receiver and antenna.

MyMac8MyPC was talking about an iPhone connected to an iPad.

As long as everyone understands that it is the iPhone / iPad combination that has that deficiency then that's fine.

The Wi-Fi iPad with other add-on GPS devices works great.

Hi Bob,

isn't this pretty much exactly what I said?

I am using GPS devices in various forms since several years. So I am pretty familiar with the way it works.

My 'question' was simply why Apple decided to put GPS hardware only in the 3G model as there is no technical reason which would stop them to put it into all models.

I agree that I have to become more familiar with the Ipad, hence the fact I am going to buy my first one.

And I will go for the WiFi only model.

I understood from MyMac8MyPc and Chris CA 's post that it can connect to external GPS antennas (which I own a few). I guess the connection is done via BlueTooth - and with a navigation app it can be used just fine for navigation. Just the way I used my mobile phones before they came with built-in GPS hardware.

Cheers

Reinhard

"I understood from MyMac8MyPc and Chris CA 's post that it can connect to external GPS antennas"

It can't.

You need to connect it to an external GPS, not a GPS antenna

" (which I own a few). I guess the connection is done via BlueTooth"

The iPad will not simply connect to all GPS devices. You need to find out which are compatible.

reinhard wrote:

 

My 'question' was simply why Apple decided to put GPS hardware only in the 3G model as there is no technical reason which would stop them to put it into all models.

 

Cheers

Reinhard

At an educated guess, I would say cost was the reason "why".  If they included a full blown GPS chip set (and in the absence of a real-time network connection, an aGPS would be somewhat pointless) in the wifi only model, that likely would have pushed the cost factor so close to that of the 3G model, it would have been pointless to even produce two separate models.  They must have wanted some minimum price separation between the wifi-only and the 3g model in order to make each marketable to different market segments, as well as some compelling feature-based reason to offer two distinct models.

No point manufacturing and offering two models with highly overlapping feature sets and only a few dollars price separation.

reinhard wrote:

I understood from MyMac8MyPc and Chris CA 's post that it can connect to external GPS antennas (which I own a few).

If all it needed was an 'antenna' - then that would imply that the GPS receiver was built-in to the iPad - which it is not.

You need to connect to a full GPS receiver, like the Dual XGPS150.

One other thing to consider... when I use my Dual GPS XGPS150 in my car it disconnects my phone from the Ford Sync system. If you're connecting your phone via Bluetooth in your car, and it's important to you, then know that while the GPS is working the phone will not connect. Other than that it's golden.

first off guys GPS is independent it DOESNT require a 3G Radio... I don't see why you guys keep stressing that.... most GPS device doesn't have a 3G Radio they use satellite to triangulate its position.... 3g radio is for data.... i have a motorola xoom wifi and it has GPS Radio Hardware and is works fine data or not, the data is just used to download the maps pic while u move and the GPS shows the location on that map based on the Longitude and Latitude of it location on that same map.... the data is also used for google maps buzz services... i just got an ipad 2 wifi not sure of the GPS but i cant see why apply couldn't include a GPS hardware... its a cheap add-on, if its not really there apple is truly being cheap in the ipad development.... i can say when i open maps on my xoom is says searching for gps then is locks in i have apps on my xoom that talks directly with gps hardware that displays satellite, coordinates, and speeds status etc.... i will have to test that on my ipad 2 wifi to see if it has hardware or not....

XOOM WIFI Screen Shot!!

antiguangenius wrote:

 

first off guys GPS is independent it DOESNT require a 3G Radio... I don't see why you guys keep stressing that.

No one has written that.

i just got an ipad 2 wifi not sure of the GPS but i cant see why apply couldn't include a GPS hardware

Most likely to differentiate the iPad models.

i will have to test that on my ipad 2 wifi to see if it has hardware or not....

If it is a wifi only iPad, it does not have GPS.

If it is a 3G iPad, it has GPS.

GPS does not require 3G but only the 3G iPad has a GPS chip.

really i dont think any apple device has gps chip I believe they use the the cell towers...i just enable airplane mode on my iphone 4 and the maps wont work, I did the same on my xoom and the maps still works..... so much for apple fooling people... and they right because the never really said TRUE GPS they said ASSISTED GPS which means is depends on something to artificial to create location on the go.....

It's not that GPS requires cellular, it's that the chip they are using does both, I believe. The cost would be about the same to add just a GPS chip. You could buy a 3G iPad, never register a data plan and have use of the GPS. if the models were priced the same I would have bought the 3G possibly never using the data plan, just in case I changed my mind.

no its like this whether or not a sim is in the gsm radio the radio can still talk to the cell tower its just not carrier specific so it uses that to make location just like if u make call to 911 from a phone it does require sim or service..... so apple is cheating and not using real GPS chip.... and depending on cell towers in a cause where towers are not available the the A-GPS is useless......

antiguangenius wrote:

 

really i dont think any apple device has gps chip

The iPhone and 3G iPad do have a GPS chip which is why you can get a GPS fix with no cell or wifi signal.

and they right because the never really said TRUE GPS they said ASSISTED GPS which means is depends on something to artificial to create location on the go.....

No it doesn't. Please reread the entire thread as it dexcribes how A-GPS works.

A-GPS is true GPS.

The A means it can use cell tower data to get a quicker fix while waiting to acquire GPS satellite data.

If there is no cell signal then it will take a little longer to get a fix as it needs to acquire the data from the satellites.

so apple is cheating and not using real GPS chip.... and depending on cell towers in a cause where towers are not available the the A-GPS is useless......

The  Broadcom A-GPS BCM47501UBG chip used in the iPad 2 is a real GPS chip.

GPS works fine with no cell (or wifi) signal.

just like if u make call to 911 from a phone it does require sim or service

To make a 911 call, you do need to have a cell signal, but you do not need a SIM.