iPad Air 2

[Randyonr3]

So I just ordered a new iPad Air 2 with a mas amount of storage but concerning the GPS, It is a celular unit and I was told is has the GPS within but uses the towers to triangulate for position.
and further, that I would lose positioning offshore once I got out of Celular range..
I dont understand this as what does celular have to do with satellite GPS..
seems tech support knows nothing about Marine Navigation......
Can someone with an ipad shead some light on the subject..

Also, If this is the case, can I add an aftermarket GPS (Garmin) to the mix..

[Finnsail]

They are giving you bad advise. The GPS should work fine without cell coverage.

[CSY Man]

Yes, but not as accurate:
Been using an iPad 5 for nav with the Garmin Blue Water app.
Works better on iPhone will cell reception.
Not sure why.
GPS adapters are available and should cure the problem.

[robbo312]

The iPad/iPhone have assisted GPS, these use cell towers to assist the GPS in gaining a location quicker by giving the GPS a head start if where it is. Normal GPS doesn't have this so is slower in getting a fix.

Basically it means that the iPad GPS is better but only if your in reception of the cell towers. If your not it's just the same.

[monte]

You got the right one. iPad Air works great offshore with navionics so likely any nav app is the same. The non cellular ones don't have a built in gps, or they didn't before, that may have changed recently

[DotDun]

Don't worry, the iPad Air 2 will work fine offshore.

[Kenomac]

Cellular capable will work just fine. We use an Ipad air with nobeltec and INavx. Both work great offshore.

[endoftheroad]

Robbo said it best.

Basically you have a great gps for use inland or offshore. It's just that when your cellular plan is activated and your within cellular reception the cellular will assist the gps on a quicker fix.
You bought a great device that contains a reliable, fast and accurate gps regardless of the cellular assistance.
Enjoy!

I'm still using my original iPad 1 with Navionics and it works great.
My wife has an iPad 3 or something.
My iPad 1 is 32 gb of storge which has proven to be less than I need.
I need to buy another, probably iPad 2 air with larger storage.

[northwestsailor]

I have used the Ipad 1 and Ipad 2 in Med, Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean offshore with no cell service at all and they worked fine.

In fact they usually work better than Garmin 496 which complains immediately if they GPS signal is less than it wants.

Would leave shore without them.

The only problem we ever had was during an electrical storm off the coast of Venezuela when all GPS units on the boat stopped but that is another storyfor another time.