SkyDemon malfunction with iPad iOS 8.3 and external GPS
 

At least it proved I haven’t lost the ability to read a chart !


SkyDemon on my iPad, with a Garmin Glo external GPS was unable to find location data after installing the Apple iOS 8.3 update on my mini iPad.

Apple seem to be aware of the problem but said when speaking to them today that they didn’t know how to fix this or when they would issue a new update.


So I re-set iPad back to factory settings after backing up to Laptop. Then downloaded Download iOS 8.2 IPSW for iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch [Direct DL]Jaxov
(Download iOS 8.2 IPSW With Apple Watch Support, Improvements & Bug Fixes [Direct DL] ) which I found on the internet.


That took ages to download but quick to install it.


I then re-downloaded SD. But had forgotten to pair the GPS back to the iPad which is why initially it didn’t work.

Seemed to do the trick so took it for test it by taking it for a drive…… ok should fly but hey ho !!!


Whilst “go flying” the compass followed car directions and location data didn’t disappear. So looks like sorted.
Don’t think I will be updating the iPad again, lol.

Phew, I've just installed the latest update on my iPhone on which I run SD. A quick try in the house and it seems to be OK.

Flying with charts, how romantic!

IMHO one should have at least 2 GPSs on board (I usually have 4 including the phone) as well as a map, ruler and protractor.

I only have three, I like to live dangerously...:)

This was posted on the SkyDemon Facebook page:

We have heard that a bug in iOS 8.3 is causing problems with some external Bluetooth GPS receivers. This affects all apps which use GPS data including SkyDemon. For the time being we would recommend anybody using an external GPS receiver with their iOS device does not upgrade. If you've already upgraded and you have the cellular model you should still be able to use the internal GPS receiver.

iphone & skydemon
 

Do any of you use your iPhone with skydemon? If so, how reliable is it? I'm not too savy with the inner workings of this magic. Can you use it when not connected to the WWW?

C.A

I have an iPhone 5S with Sky Demon and it's my primary go to GPS so yes it's brilliant. Unobtrusive and faultless in operation. Never had any problems with it at all. You don't need to be on www. for it to operate, it works off the inbuilt GPS. I don't bother turning the GRPS off on mine as it will live update winds etc. I reckon it's good for about two hours min on the internal battery. I've never had it run out but on a recent 1.50 flight it had got down to around 45% on the battery. Of course you can plug into the a/c fag lighter if you have one.

I also have an iPad mini running SD but TBH it's much less hassle just to sucker the iPhone onto the sidewindow and of course the phone is a lot smaller. At the end of the flight you just shove it in your pocket and it's your phone again.

Excellent, many thanks!

C.A

Just checked SD on my Mini 3 with my Bad Elf Pro+ and there are no issues with iOS 8.3 using that combo. Checked with both internal GPS off and then with both internal and external operating.

Bad Elf accuracy is 5m or better which is why I tend to prefer using this over the internal one and it prevents the occasional drop-out with the internal GPS, although never experienced it on my Mini but have on my full-size iPad 3.

I love SD as a tool in flight and can't imagine flying without it these days, but all those that know more than me say that I should still be flying with a chart as it will let me down one day. The thing is I carry an iPad and a phone so have backup.

If I fly with someone else I always pull out the paper chart to try and keep myself sharp, but there is no way on this earth that I can be as certain of my position though as I am with GPS and SD.

If it's not a local flight I always mark the map up and have a plog (Skydemon plog that is) stuck to my knee board. Once I have SD running and I'm flying I don't want to be faffing around trying to get the right page up on SD, I like it printed out. I find marking the map up helps get the route and various features in my mind, whereas plotting a flight on SD doesn't. But you're right, SD or whatever other system you use is the Bee's knees. Keep cross checking though...:)

The problem is with IOS 8.3 communicating with an external Bluetooth GPS. Everything works fine with an i-pad or i-phone with internal GPS.
I use Runway HD on an i-pad and had problems after installing IOS 8.3. I am using a Garmin GLO GPS and solved the problems by downloading the latest Garmin software through Garmin's WebUpdater.

If you are trying to downgrade from ios8.3 to ios8.2 as the OP has suggested using the 8.2 IPSW file, you may find that you will need to keep trying. It took me about 90 attempts. The first 89 r sp failed with '3014' 'unknown' errors. After a bit of research (and not a little panic), I found some answers on the apple forums. There seems to be a consensus building that the Apple verification servers are really busy and it therefore takes a fair few attempts before you can get a hit. After all that my iPad 3 and GNS 5870 are now happily remarried and talking to each other once again.

A possible fix
 

I found this ?fix related to the same issue albeit not associated to Sky Demon

One would assume the same fix would work if you simply alter the privacy settings for SD

See

WingX Pro7 - Fixing iOS 8.3 and XGPS150

Worked for me too (running SD on an ipad mini ).

I have a crappy crappy crappy GNS2000 GPS Dongle (dont buy it! dont get me started) and it doesnt work with ios 8.3 either... you are not alone here... I only found out at the hold :) but I had maps, eyes, watch, and iPhone just in case :)

Went flying yesterday evening and SD with the downdated iOS 8.2 on iPad worked as normal with Garmin GLO...... yippeeee!!!!

Same here. Downgraded to IOS 8.2 and Duel XGPS150 now works fine with SD.

PS Using Ipad mini 2

For those of you that have not seen it yet, SkyDemon has now put up a webpage with more details on the issue.

iOS 8.3 and External GPS Receivers

It seems that there are two protocol formats that an external GPS device can use to communicate with iOS, and the older of the two has now been disabled, or broken, or something.

So with certain newer devices you will have no issue whatsoever, and some older devices can be updated with new firmware so that they support the new protocol. If you can't upgrade your device to use the new protocol, you have a problem. Putting pressure on Apple and/or your device manufacturer may help.

Well I'm glad it's not just me. Ipad 2 with 8.3, SD, XGPS 150. Initially found me on the airfield but at the hold it disappeared. This was my first FIR crossing to an unknown airport so caused a bit of panic, but as one of the other posters said, I had printed the plog and routed it on my chart. I also had an iphone with SD and an off-duty instructor in the a/c who had done the route before. Used Navaids, charts etc and found my location without any trouble. Good to know I still can!

I found a web page (after many hours of searching) which gave a suggested fix of turning off all of the location services under settings --> privacy --> location services --> system services, then doing a soft reboot (home and lock until apple icon shows). It also worked for me in the car, but have yet to get back in the air to test it there.

I too got the Garmin Glo update and everything works again. I had to wait a bit until my PC recognised the Glo, and found the driver, before installing the update. I also needed a couple of goes at getting the Bluetooth connection.

I use an iPad mini and Dual XGPS150E with Skydemon. I have been on the phone to Apple Support this afternoon. They tell me that is it a Skydemon and Dual issue as they should update their products to work with iOS 8.3.

It seems this issue should be fixed in iOS 8.4: Apple Seeds Second iOS 8.4 Beta With Revamped Music App to Developers and Public Beta Testers - Mac Rumors

I find it interesting that Apple should release a fix for something which is not a bug, and is supposedly the responsibility of app/hardware makers to resolve.

There's a video on how you can get iOS 8.4 beta on your iDevice, even if you're not an official beta tester. Haven't tested it myself but might be a temporary solution for some that can't wait until the official 8.4 release.

Garmin Glo Firmware upgrade
 

I wouldn't even know how to downgrade to an earlier version of iOS (after a newer version has been installed). Neither would I recommend to become a beta tester for iOS 8.4 on the same iPad that I rely on for my flight safety. Who knows what new problems I will encounter...

Although not widely published, the firmware upgrade of the external GPS receiver should fix the problem. I am using the Garmin Glo on a non-cellular iPad (that is, an iPad without inbuilt GPS receiver). The firmware upgrade works as advertised and described by Coger below, and fixed the problem for me.

This doesn't help users of older devices for which there isn't a firmware fix.

As things stand, for a large number of people, installing the iOS 8.4 beta is the only solution apart from buying a new GPS receiver.

I'm normally an enthusiastic supporter of Apple, but the way they have handled this issue has been shocking. Why on earth they couldn't provide a small 8.3.1 update to get everyone back up and running weeks ago is beyond me.

stevelup wrote: Yes, 100% agree with you. Apple won't release 8.4 until June 30th :ugh:

Can someone please confirm the method of installing the 8.4b works and brings back the Dual External GPS signal to the wifi-only iPad and thus makes Skydemon in flight navigation work again?

Can't check myself as the Dual happens to be on my airplane, which happens to be in another country...

Thanks in advance!

The 8.4 beta definitely resolves the issue. I have helped several people install it successfully.

Thanks stevelup, installed!