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Apparently, you must buy the most expensive Ipad 3 with wi-fi AND 3G for in order to get the GPS chip included. They come in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models.

So, did anyone buy an Ipad with the GPS capability? Any comments?

Phil M

Catigale is your Mac man.

I have the original iPad & an iPad 2, both with 3G. No matter what "i " you get I'd recommend the 3 or 4G option for the GPS capability.
What's your question regarding them.

I don't know that the kindle or other mousetraps have 3/4G capability but you won't have the Nav apps you have available from Apple.

-.02

Once you find your "reason" [not that you necessarily need one, but they are ALOT of $$] you will wonder either how you did without it - or find excuses to use it. Or, like me, just use it.



eg: My recent road trip to Marathon. Aside from all the browsing and buying I did on my i2 before the trip. & how easy it is to use on the boat while shopping for mod parts or browsing mod ideas and seeing if they'd work for you. There was the browsing, music playing, picture/ movie taking - find the next place to eat [Cracker Barrel] gas station; blow up of the next three exits in map view or Tom Tom or whatever other navigator you buy as an App - which will also then appear on all of your other "i"Things [ I have 4]

I also took pictures of everything from my steering system that broke on the trip. To crying about it to you guys while zooming down the highway - while my buddy was driving - of course.
& lets not forget the water apps... WOW

It's a portable Chartplotter - Provided you have 3/4G.


I have: iNavX [which I use the most]. Navionics US East Coast [Also on my iPhones] & my new favorite Charts&Tides because it works with Active Capt and gave a lot of useful information while in unfamiliar waters

Re iPad - U Can't beat it. Insure it, be careful with it. If It broke today - I'd have another one by tomorrow. That useful to me...

It was my road atlas, water atlas, Radar for coming inclimate weather; picture taker, star gazer, chronicler, time waster web surfer, in short most useful tool & toy u can get

Get One - At least the iPad 2 [You'll use the camera] or the New iPad 3/4G. Min of 16GB but get the 32 if you can afford it. & if you don't like it you can always give it to someone who'll use it
P.S.

Both of mine are 64GB - No regrets. & when the smoke clears, they're $1300. Don't kid yourself. Between tax and insurance and a nice cover $1300 not $899. So put on ur Big Boy Pants...
& Embrace the terror

I really like my Android.

~Rich

I like both my android and my blackberry. If I put both of them behind my iPad, the viewing angle is perfect



Without the cell package (3G on the ipad2, LTE on the newest IPad) you get wifi triangulated GPS only... Not too useful on the water. With the cell option, you get GPS from the cell tower...no good offshore but will work for probably 98% of cruisers here

The newest IPad with the Verizon cell plan also let's you tether computers to the modem on a pay as you basis, so that's really useful for cruising

cmagnus

We have the iPad2 and connect to the internet with an iPhone hotspot. Haven't had a chance to use it much yet with nav apps but seems to work fine. We'r looking forward to our first Gulf Coast trip this season coming up soon to give all our Mac stuff a real workout.

Marc

Both of mine are 64GB - No regrets. & when the smoke clears, they're $1300. Don't kid yourself. Between tax and insurance and a nice cover $1300 not $899. So put on ur Big Boy Pants...
& Embrace the terror

Those are some big boy pants for sure, no room like that in my speedo I would have to take a summer job instead of 3 months off getting a tan!

The 7" chinese GPS android I picked up is $129 shipped to your door from pandawill. Does basically everything listed above and is under $200 with 32g memory, charting software, hard case 12v adapter and gps mount. No monthly fees either.

Posted some info on it last fall: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... ad#p230670

I take my iPad every trip out on the boat. It is our music server playing through our stereo, and at night my wife and I cosy up in the vberth and watch tv episodes or movies. I keep all the user guides and manuals for the boat, radio, chart plotter, outboard (etec60 and suzuki 6 for dinghy), fridge, etc on my iPad so they are always available and easy to access. I have a high def version of Navionics chart software which is a great backup to the Raymarine mounted at the helm but a lot easier to use and see. I use the dragqueen app (sounds alarm if anchor moves) every time I anchor for extra piece of mind. When I have 3G access I can keep an eye on the weather forecast and get excellent wind and wave data from Seabreeze.com.au. I have just installed the MarineTraffic app so I can keep track of commercial vessels operating near me. I can even take photos and videos of our exploits with the iPad and play them back that night over a few wines. I loaded up a whole bunch of games like monopoly, chess, checkers, etc. but find our time is so filled with other activities we have never played any. I also have nautical books loaded on topics like sailing, navigation, seamanship etc which I like to read when I am out in the boat.

Only downside is trying to keep my 14 yo daughter away from the damn thing long enough for me to use it

As Gazmn said, how did I manage without it? Wife said I didn't need it but guess who surfs with her morning coffee.
I have the iPad 2 and just purchased the Dual XGPS 150 off Craig's list for $57 with shipping brand new in the original box factory taped.
I too have two other GPS units that I have been using on the boat and right now I am making a mount the the iPad. If I make it so the unit is under the hatch for shade, I hope it will be viewable.

We are going to the Big Bay Sail this month in San Diego for 5 days and will get a chance to use it there.

It' a cool little toy!

Will the IPad 3 That comes with 4G and the GPS chip work with any of the sailing or chart apps if you do not have cell coverage in the area you are sailing in? I am assuming the gps satellite coverage in this scenario is sufficient.

Phil M wrote:Will the IPad 3 That comes with 4G and the GPS chip work with any of the sailing or chart apps if you do not have cell coverage in the area you are sailing in? I am assuming the gps satellite coverage in this scenario is sufficient.

Some apps download map data in real time as you move your view. This saves memory but requires a constant internet connection of some sort. This is how EarthNC Charts works and I believe how Navionics works as well.

You want iNavX. It allows you to pre-download whatever charts you want and store them permanently on the iPad. This does not require any kind of internet connection to operate.

Watch out for this in car navigation software as well--the last thing you want is roaming data charges in another country because you're downloading map data as you drive. Best auto navi for the iPad/iPhone is Navigon.

Also note that as of today, none of the chartplotter apps have been updated to take advantage of the higher screen resolution of the iPad 3. Charts are still displayed at the old resolution with anti-aliasing. It's okay, just not as fantastic as it could be.

I'm still waiting for the iPad 3. In the meantime, I bought "The New iPad".

mastreb wrote:Some apps download map data in real time as you move your view. This saves memory but requires a constant internet connection of some sort. This is how EarthNC Charts works and I believe how Navionics works as well.

I use Navionics on my Android phone and it stores charts on the SD card. When using the app, it will use Google Maps to download map data outside the chart area. You can stop this from happening by going to settings and unchecking the map overlay box.

~Rich

Just for the record, I have a Global Droid and used this before switching to the iPhone 4S. The nav charts I have on the droid are great, but I prefer the larger display of the iPad. And now buying an app in the Apple format will download it to all my Apple products. Now they have me in their power

Re:

Will the IPad 3 That comes with 4G and the GPS chip work with any of the sailing or chart apps if you do not have cell coverage in the area you are sailing in? I am assuming the gps satellite coverage in this scenario is sufficient.

Yeah, the gps 'll cover ya. All i's are backwards compatible and will work all apps up to their computing power &/or features. e.g. The Camera apps won't work on the 1 - as it doesn't have a camera.

I don't think it pays for me to upgrade to the New iPad from the i2...
I'll wait for the 3 and get rid of the 1...

I hope I don't sound like I'm knocking the other tablets;
I do think you get more bang for your big buck, tho re: apps, innovation and new products with the iPad / iPhones. Its a larger consumer base that, more merchants seem to groom their products for than the other smart products.