GNS2000 and IPAD WiFi Issues

[worldpilot]

I'm experiencing some issues with my GNS2000 and IPAD WiFi when flying, but not when on the ground.

SkyDemon and Jeppesen FliteDeck VFR are both installed on the IPAD and I used both interchangeably.

When on the ground, the location service works quite well. When in the air though, the location service stops working, even though the connection between the devices is active and the GPS reception is good.

I've reset the connection and restarted the Apps both that has proven not to be successful.

The IOS version 7.1 is installed on the IPAD.

Is anyone experiencing this situation??

WP

[GBEBZ]

The GNS2000 is the biggest block of crap ever!

However, I have had no problems using it with a very latest IPad while flying with SkyDemon of Aware or RunwayHD

Getting tracks off it, deleting tracks and remembering the double on trick to get it to start logging though are a different matter! I resorted to using the mac app "myTracks" to download/delete tracks from it as the GNS2000 is not officially supported on mac, while at the same time being promoted as being compatible with other apple products - seems strange.

From everyone I have spoken with, The GNS2000 is the biggest block of crap ever!

[dublinpilot]

When on the ground it's possible that your iPad is happy with the location because it's determined by wifi or mobile towers.

Try turning off wifi and removing any sim card from the iPad. That should put you in the same position as you are in when in the air.

It won't solve your problem but it might make it reproducible on the ground, where you can then try to troubleshoot without it costing £200 ph ;)

[Bigears]

I have a GNS2000, and thought it faulty and had negotiated a return with the retailer when I thought to uninstall Skydemon then reinstall. It worked for me, and I now have a workflow which I use (in combination with my iPhone for Wx/NOTAMS and iPad for Skydemon) and it hasn't let me down. It does sound like you haven't got a connection with the GNS2000 though, as dublinpilot says.
I would ensure that one of your apps isn't running in the background when you start the other.

[worldpilot]

Well, I had no problem using the same IPAD and same configuration setting with the GNS 5870 MFI version.

The IPAD is just the WiFi version (No 3G/4G Sim Card included) and there is no WiFi reception at the airport apron.

This is really strange behavior though. Anyway, I'll stick to the GNS 5870 for now until I find a workaround for this issue.

WP

[Rowls]

I have had continuous problems with my iPad 3 and GNS2000. There have been numerous drop outs, causing strange zig zag routes and 28 crashes between Leicester and Fairoaks the other day. I contacted SkyDemon but they had no useful suggestions. This has happened in the past but has been hopeless since the latest IOS update.

[worldpilot]

I've decided to get rid of the GNS2000 for good. The functionality is not stable enough and hence no need to continue wasting my time with it.

I've decided to go for the BAD ELF GPS PRO device instead.

Any experience with this device in terms of reliability?

WP

[thborchert]

Hmm. You mention WiFi. The connection to the GNS2000 is via Bluetooth. I'd recommend trying to put the iPad in flight mode, then only switch on BT. That way you can be sure that any GPS position info is indeed coming from the GNS2000.

Also, the first 50 or so GNS2000 units have an older firmware that won't play well with Mobile Flitedeck. GNS will update for free, but you'll have to send it in.

[worldpilot]

@thborchert

Right. The IPAD is a WiFi only version (no 3G/4G capability).

The connection between GNS2000 and WiFi IPAD is via Bluetooth. Actually, Bluetooth is the only possibility available to connect IPAD to the GNS2000.

WP

[timewhite]

This might be completely useless as a contribution to this discussion, but I freely admit my lack of expertise in this area. However, I had a similar problem using Skydemon with a GNS unit on my ipad, until is realised that it was pairing with my iPhone. I now always turn Bluetooth on my iPhone off before flying, and have had no problem since.

[Art E. Fischler-Reisen]

Looks like this problem is back, if you "upgrade" :ugh: to ios 8.3 on an Apple device.

[thing]

Just use it on your iPhone instead. I had no end of problems with my GNS 2000 and iPad mini. Sometimes it would work straight away, sometimes it would need an elaborate switching on procedure, sometimes it would drop out. I gave up in the end and use the iPhone. Never had a single problem with it.

[dublinpilot]

There is a problem affecting iOS devices running iOS 8.3. This version basically breaks the Bluetooth connection to a GPS.

So if you've a wifi only version and use a Bluetooth GPS, then I'd strongly suggest not updating until Apple bring out a fix.