iPad Navigation
 

Hi peeps,

Looking to upgrade the ol GPSMAP196 for something a little newer, coal as a power source is getting hard to get!

Am looking into the iPad option, would be handy having everything in one unit! Does anyone use the iPad for navigation and general flying duties ??

I'm particulary interested in the navigation software.. I see OzRunways are now incorporating mapping in their app package.

Does the iPad have stand alone GPS or, does it require mobile phone reception to find a position?

Any other comments would be appreciated!

Safe Flying

I would recommend an Ipad to anyone who is starting to do multi IFR charter... It is great for weather, documents and charts and booking last minute accommodation without making the cockpit look like a scene out of the movie "the hangover" I fly with one and a set of paper jepps neatly tucked away just in case. 1 inch folder with the charts in it. From someone that used to have terrible cockpit organisation I now run a ship like it was an operating theatre. I don't even take a laptop on some trips now.

Following aviation apps installed

-Jeppesen TC
-Naips
-Oz runways
-Dialawiz
-Pilot E6B
-CoPilot (not really used much except looking at sector lengths ect on the run)
-BOM radar
-Pilot Time

I Have found the GPS pretty good but the issue will be the amount of data required to be installed on the machine as you wont be able to download them on the run well at least not everywhere

What he said.....

and the iPad 3G has built in GPS, the wifi only version doesn't. If you had the wifi version there are external GPS options available. You do not need mobile reception for the GPS to function.

Hey IK798,

Does the JeppTC have maps? I carry mine and download the Airservices Approach plates.

Love my iPad.

DB

Thanks for the reply guys, appreciated!

Well I was looking at the Wifi only version, assuming I can just teether it to my iPhone 4.

How does the stand alone GPS work? Will it get GPS info from the iPhone or am I best just to go for the 3G version and get another data plan ?

Also, Jepp TC.. can't find that one in the iTunes store?

cheers

Spend the extra ~$100 and get the 3G version. No stuffing about trying to tether your iPhone and you won't have the battery draining from tethering. You don't have to buy a data plan but it's there if you need it. The money is well spent to get the GPS. :ok:

I'm not even sure if you can use you iPhone for GPS when tethering....?

I use the iPad at home on WIFI and on GPS when flying, but away at flying trips and holidays where I don't want to take the laptop, I top up my 3G monthly pre-paid plan. Works well for me.

PS FYI: teEthering is something that you used to do on your mother...

No maps on the Jeppesen TC... but a far nicer product to use than the airservices charts, I will qualify that by saying there is nothing wrong with the airservices charts I am just used to Jepps and would give my personal advise to convert sooner rather than later.

I still like the paper maps in the cockpit though but I am doing relatively long sectors so I need something to block the sun out :ok:

Airnav Pro - has digitized VTCs & WACs making it a complete moving map solution for the 3G/GPS equipped ipad.

(I have no affiliation to the company apart from being a satisfied user...)

Ozrunways 2 is out and it has everything ersa all maps daps AIP etc for $75 per year private use.

The maps automatically tell you when they are out of date. You then just need to find a good wifi connection to upgrade them which takes about Fifteen to twenty minutes.

It is awesome!

Yep, I upgraded last night. It's great! Nice layout. My only complaint is not being able to bilk download the maps at once. No really a huge issue tho.

JAD79,

Just to be clear you need the 3G version of the Ipad but you DO NOT need another data plan as your Ipad will use the Personal Hotspot from your Iphone when required. In flight you do not need the Hotspot facility or 3G for the GPS to work. I tried mine recently at FL270 and the Ground speed readout was identical to the FMS. Note that the altitude readout is true altitude so there is a large difference to standard FL altitude at 1013.2 MB. This however is a good feature when close to the ground in my opinion.

Groggy

Apple don't disclose any specs on the GPS in the IPad. On some of the computer tech forums there is a lot of discussion about them using mobile phone tower triangulation rather than full GPS. There is also an issue about potential antennae screening from the cockpit. My Garmin 495 gets dodgy reception if its on the seat beside me rather than the glareshield. The iPad (I believe) will take a gps signal from a bluetooth gps engine. You might consider this.

One of the reasons I bought the 495 was for the synthetic instrument panel. I've just had my third vac pump failure. Only one was in IMC (just exiting cloud), but I like the idea of the backup.

Yeah you can - it's in the Settings page -> Downloads.

Thanks shagpile, but I can't download more than 4 simultaneously?

What I was meaning was a "download all" button.

Nice app btw. Well done. :ok:

In some version soon we'll have a download scheduler; you select which ones you want and it will downloads them 4 at a time automatically. Once the next cycle is out, it's just one button to get all the same ones you had last time.

We're working on it!

It is called "assisted GPS" Assisted GPS - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In my experience (on the ground in a 3G blackspot), the iPhone and iPad can lock on the satellites on their own, it just takes longer.

That said: so far I have not been without NextG while flying, ever. But if I were to go into the centre or from here to Perth, I wouldn't rely on it working on its own.

I'd invest in a bluetooth "real" GPS designed for the iPad.

G'day Baswell,
Must say, brilliant update to OzRunways. The maps feature is worth its weight in gold. No more pulling out the WAC's and plotting your position on them just to find out "what's that strip down there?".

One question. In a future update, would it be possible to enable hiding of the menu's down the bottom? Or even full screen? I use it on an iPhone 4 (can't justify an iPad) and with the menu's there and the GPS display, it leaves little room for the map itself, :bored:.

Otherwise great work.

morno

morno

Until morno flies the Retard Vehicle next time and he sees the ipad... :}

morno can't fly Jabba's RV until Jabba comes for a fly up here, :E.

That said, might possibly be down that way around early July. I reckon I could drag myself to YCAB if there's an RV going anywhere.

The more I'm reading about these iPad's and OzRunway's, the more I want one! But I think the Manager of Finances (better half) might have something to say about that, :(.

morno

if mornon can make YLRE on the 25/6........ :ok:

Besides tell Mrs mornon it will help her navigation in the mighty Nissan :ok: sure to get approval then :}