Location on Maps

If you have the WiFi-only iPad (which does not have GPS) your location is determined by the mapped location of nearby WiFi routers. A WiFi+Cellular iPad or an iPhone has GPS and can locate itself.

Without GPS iPad location-finding is done by using a Apple location database which contains the MAC addresses of routers and their physical location. A MAC address is a unique number which is built-in to all network devices when manufactured. No two routers have the same MAC address.

The Apple database is built and updated by Apple GPS-enabled devices (primarily iPhones) actually seeing routers and then adding/updating the router's locations into the database. There is no manual way to request an update to the Apple location database.

Note, to be used for location determination, a device does not need to actually be connected to a router, it just has to see the router and its MAC address. More precise location determination can be done if several nearby routers can be seen.

If your home router's location has never been added to Apple's location database your location may not be available to your device. When a router is moved from one location to another erroneous locations can sometimes be reported until the router's location is corrected in Apple's database.

WiFi routers are added to Apple's database by being seen and reported by iPhones.

Your iPad just needs to see a router it does not need a password.

The iPhone sees the MAC address of your router, it knows its own location from its GPS hardware and it then sends this data to Apple for incorporation into their Loaction Database.

Yes, that's correct.

You're welcome.

No.