External GPS Puck for iPad

[Jiggity]

RobRed's recent post got me to pull the trigger on MotionX's app. So far its pretty good and having fun playing with it. A question to all of you veteran GPS folks out there: Is there any benefit to adding an external GPS bluetooth puck for this or will the internal GPS of the ipad work fine?

Thanks!

Jiggity

 

[Vegasrandall]

Mine seems to work mighty fine with the internal one. It's a IPAD 1 and I like it a bunch compared to past laptops.

 

[Jiggity]

Thank you!

 

[off-roader]

I have an ipad 1 w/ a gps puck (dual xgps-150) and an ipad 2 w/ built in gps. If anything the internal gps is more reliable which really surprised me. Seems bluetooth is not very reliable. Not sure if that's an ipad or gps unit issue.

 

[targa88]

Ran both combinations as "off-roader". ^^^
Both were reliable within reason.
That being said, in cloud/fog cover = GPS is not worth anything.
Always good to have hard copy maps as a back up

 

[deserteagle56]

.
That being said, in cloud/fog cover = GPS is not worth anything.
Always good to have hard copy maps as a back up

??? Pardon me? On the contrary, I have found my GPS units priceless in thick fog. In an area with thick, swirling, disorienting fog, with no road signs to go by, just follow the route on the GPS. If need be, follow your recorded track to go back the way you came. Of course, I never travel without paper topo maps along - but in clouds, fog, or even darkness my GPS units have kept me from getting lost. Or are you saying that your GPS units lose satellite lock in fog?

 

[RobRed]

Have to agree that iPad gps hasn't let me down once. Certainly back up paper maps are prudent but it sounds a lot like ' you kids get off my lawn' when someone's says watch out for fog.


Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk

 

[targa88]

??? Pardon me? On the contrary, I have found my GPS units priceless in thick fog. In an area with thick, swirling, disorienting fog, with no road signs to go by, just follow the route on the GPS. If need be, follow your recorded track to go back the way you came. Of course, I never travel without paper topo maps along - but in clouds, fog, or even darkness my GPS units have kept me from getting lost. Or are you saying that your GPS units lose satellite lock in fog?

A couple of weeks ago, I was testing the efficiency of the ipad GPS (along with a SPOT 2). In heavy fog, over cast, cloudy, along the south east coast of Alaska the results were dismal. Fortunately I wasn't using it for survival. Just testing to see if it would track on the map

 

[deserteagle56]

A couple of weeks ago, I was testing the efficiency of the ipad GPS (along with a SPOT 2). In heavy fog, over cast, cloudy, along the south east coast of Alaska the results were dismal. Fortunately I wasn't using it for survival. Just testing to see if it would track on the map

If I understand you correctly, the heavy fog/clouds degrade the signal enough to make GPS navigation unreliable. Is there no way of adding a good, amplified external antenna to this setup? I know nothing about using the ipad as GPS, but I am interested because my ancient eyes would love to have a screen of that size and quality. But the Garmin GPS units i use in my vehicles are all connected to an external amplified antenna and never lose signal unless it's in a narrow, deep canyon. Since the Delorme unit I use has no port for an external antenna, its use is relegated to my dirt bike or quad because it cannot maintain constant and reliable satellite lock inside a vehicle.

 

[RobRed]

Look at my setup. I have yet to lose signal or position even in forested areas.


Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk

 

[targa88]

If I understand you correctly, the heavy fog/clouds degrade the signal enough to make GPS navigation unreliable. Is there no way of adding a good, amplified external antenna to this setup? I know nothing about using the ipad as GPS, but I am interested because my ancient eyes would love to have a screen of that size and quality. But the Garmin GPS units i use in my vehicles are all connected to an external amplified antenna and never lose signal unless it's in a narrow, deep canyon. Since the Delorme unit I use has no port for an external antenna, its use is relegated to my dirt bike or quad because it cannot maintain constant and reliable satellite lock inside a vehicle.

Deserteagle,
I got the iPad for the same reason.
Rattling around the desert in UT, NV, AZ is a non issue.
It has worked impeccably.
The experiment in AK, was rather disconcerting. That being said, this was extreme. Fog with visibility of less than 500 yds.