Does iPad gps work without 3G coverage, particularly with a nav app.

Question

Does iPad gps work without 3G coverage, particularly with a nav app.

I'm traveling to an area that does not have ATT coverage. I was hoping to download a navigation app like Navigon which stores the map data on the device and uses the gps chip to plot location. I'm getting very conflicting feedback regarding the functionality of the gps chip when it loses an assist from the 3G carrier, as well as speculation that the app doesn't store the maps on the device - potentially giving me a location (coordinates) without the visual overlay of the map itself. This question has been posed all over the place and there is no definitive answer. Does the gps chip function without 3g as well as a portable gps? And does the device store the map or rely on the 3G data feed to refresh the display?

iPad 2, iOS 4.3.2

Posted on Jul 12, 2011 11:45 AM

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Answer 1

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deggie

Level 10

167,333 points

Jul 12, 2011 12:07 PM in response to jennfromlafayette hill

If you have a WiFi+3G iPad the GPS chip will work even if there are no cell towers available if you are using a dedicated GPS app that downloads maps to your device. Your iPad may be slower in acquiring the necessary location information to start but after it does it will work fine.

Navigon, TomTom (which I use), etc. download the maps to your iPad which is why you want a fast Internet connection for your download (> 1gb for the TomTom app). Remember this is going to take up storage space on your iPad.

I found that my old Garmin Nuvi could acquire the 3 satellites necessary faster than my iPad, but the iPad still does it fast enough for use.

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Answer 2

Jul 12, 2011 12:10 PM in response to jennfromlafayette hill

As with the iPhone, the iPad 3G has a dedicated GPS receiver that makes use of A-GPS or assisted GPS. The assisted part speeds up the intitial GPS acquisition from a cold start only. Internet access is not required for GPS acquisition but initial GPS acquisition from a cold start will take much longer without internet access.

If a GPS navigation app includes maps data with the app, the maps data is stored locally on the device with the app. Internet access for maps data is not required for maps data stored locally on the device with the app.

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Answer 3

Jul 12, 2011 3:04 PM in response to deggie

Thanks, Deggie. This is what I believed to be true, but couldn't get confirmation elsewhere. I'm going to go the app route and take a printed map as back up (so old fashioned). I'll be sure to circle back and share the real world results.

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