iPad as chartplotter again...

Using the iPad as a chartplotter is a hotly debated topic on the various forums I read.  On one side are the people who actually USE it and know the 3G/4G iPads DO have a completely functional GPS chip built in.  On the other side are those who don't know have a clue... never used one, but continue to spread mis-information.

Here are the facts:

Any of the 3G/4G iPads DO have a built-in GPS chip and work great as a chartplotter with an appropriate app (we use Navionics, but there are others).

The WIFI ONLY iPads do NOT have a built-in GPS chip and will NOT work as a chartplotter unless you add an external GPS unit.

The cost of a bluetooth GPS or a GPS unit made to plug into an iPad is about the same as the cost difference between a wifi only model and the same model WITH 3G/4G.  It only make sense to buy a 3G/4G iPad right from the start, if you plan to use it as a chartplotter.

Once you have charts loaded on your iPad, you do NOT have to be connected to the internet or have a cell signal for the iPad to function as a chartplotter.

It works.  Yes, it really works.  We've been using it for over 2 years.

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Yesterday, I got a message from a friend on my favorite sailing site.  He was given an iPad as a gift, but it is a wifi only model.  He went to the Apple Store to exchange it, and one of the sales people in the Apple Store told him, "No iPad has a built-in GPS."

Here is my response to him...

SO, THE 'GENIUSES' AT THE APPLE STORE DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING??

I love Apple Stores. The epitome of "cool." Pretty sure there isn't one of 'em in those stores using the iPad as a chartplotter. Trust, but verify. Check out the specs for yourself.

This "debate" goes on and on... on every boat forum I read. Those who HAVE AND USE iPads know that there IS a GPS chip in the models with 3G/4G. NOT in the wifi only models.

We've been using it with an old original iPad with 3G/wifi. For two years now. Every vendor who sells chartplotter apps KNOWS that there is a GPS built into the 3G/4G model iPads. That is how they are able to sell their product.

Here is a link to the specs...

http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/
 
Read down and you will see "Assisted GPS"... FORGET that phrase. The "assisted" part only means that with wifi or some means of determining position from cell towers, the iPad will acquire position faster than off the GPS chip alone. FORGET that part. Really. With NO WIFI CONNECTION WHATSOEVER, the 3G/4G iPads will acquire the satellites and provide you with GPS position... 'cause there's a GPS chip inside. Really.

And that's all I got to say about that.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

PS - Here's a post from our blog, from almost two years ago...

http://captnjim.blogspot.com/2010/11/ipad-as-chartplotter.html
 
It is STILL one of the most read posts on the blog (from people doing a Google search on "iPad as chartplotter"). And interestingly enough, everyone with a 3G/4G iPad agrees.

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It's easy to understand the confusion.  A week hasn't gone by since I made that original post where someone doesn't contact me about this topic, because someone has told them, "You have to be in cell or data connection for an iPad to work as a chartplotter."  That is incorrect, yet it goes on and on.  Spread around by people who DON'T own an iPad and have NEVER used one as a chartplotter.

It is too bad that Apple uses the word "assisted" in their specs (Assisted GPS), because it makes people think it isn't a "real" GPS chip.  If your iPad is cellular capable, it DOES have real GPS capability.  Without using the cell/data connection.  I'm not guessing on this, we've been using it for a couple years now.  Just like thousands of other boat folks.  Who KNOW it works.

Now, for full disclosure, we use the iPad and/or our smartphones (iPhone and Droid Bionic) as a back-up GPS chartplotter, since our boat has a fully-integrated (GPS/chartplotter/depth/autopilot/DCS VHF/flux-gate compass) Raymarine E-80 system.  The Raymarine (as with any of the other dedicated chartplotter makes) is made for the marine environment; it is designed to work with all the other peripherals.  The iPad does not integrate with all that other stuff - it is strictly a chartplotter when used with the Navionics app.  But, if we turn on our wifi on the boat (don't get confused here), we can also use the iPad to check out Google Earth... or do a search for the nearest Italian restaurant... or check e-mail... or read "Cat On A Leash" (a delightful story of a boat cat and the couple who adopted her - highly recommended by the author!!) or any other eBook or ePublication... or check weather... or download and view photos... or play solitaire or a gazillion other games... or make a Skype phone call... or watch a movie (or just a YouTube clip)... or any of the other countless uses people have found for their iPads.

If you are going to use your iPad outside in a boat (our boat has an inside helm), you will want a waterproof case for it.  I have used a one gallon plastic bag, and it works fine for the occasional "splash" - but, it is NOT waterproof.  No, you can't buy an app that makes your iPad waterproof.

We are a "mixed marriage"... Joan uses and iPhone4, I use a Droid Bionic.  Both of these also have built-in GPS chips, and we have the Navionics apps on those, too.  And, we carry DVDs that have every marine chart for the US and Canada, that could be put into the MacBook Pro that we also have onboard.  Yes, we even have paper charts.  But, I digress... we use my Droid as our wifi hotspot.  We've had a data card long enough that we are currently grandfathered in with unlimited data (we generally use about 5 to 8 gigs per month between all our devices).  We use the Droid instead of the iPhone (or our previous Mifi card, or before that, a couple wireless data cards) because it can receive 4G when in that service area.

Today is September 12, 2012.  Apple will be hosting a media event today, where they are expected to announce... the iPhone5, which everyone is anticipating will have 4G capability.  Just putting that out for those who don't use a smartphone.  We have both used our phones as chartplotters (on other boats), and they work fine, too.

If you made it this far: happy navigating!

PS  Wifi-only model iPads are made for people who don't boat. ;-)