Apple iPad

[stacy]

Hi all, just wanted to ask if anyone knows if the new Ipad will be GPS enabled and if there will be any nav programs for it and likewise what charting system it will have. thanks

[Abaco]

Stacy,

The version with the AT&T service option has a GPS. You do not have to pay for the AT&T service for the GPS to work. All of the current nav. apps will work on it, and I expect to see a lot of very cool navigation apps to be done specifically for the Ipad. I am concerned about how well the antenna will work. We will see. I envision the ipad as the perfect chart plotter.

[James S]

Seems we had a past thread about the I phones suitability for that environment and had several folks who weren't that keen on their tolerance.
Wonder if the I pad is cut from the same stock technically speaking?

[h20man]

Originally Posted by Abaco

Stacy,

The version with the AT&T service option has a GPS. You do not have to pay for the AT&T service for the GPS to work. All of the current nav. apps will work on it, and I expect to see a lot of very cool navigation apps to be done specifically for the Ipad. I am concerned about how well the antenna will work. We will see. I envision the ipad as the perfect chart plotter.

I believe that ALL versions have GPS.

From apple website: Apple - iPad - Technical specifications and accessories for iPad.

Location
Wi-Fi
Digital compass
Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
Cellular (Wi-Fi + 3G model)

[stacy]

h20man, Abaco, and James, thanks for the info. I was also thinking that the Ipad would make a great back up for our raymarine chartplotter. I have not been happy with our Mapquest computer program or their charts for that matter. Do you guys think that the explorer charts for the Bahamas will be available for the Ipad?

[GPSNavX]

Only the 3G models have a GPS receiver. iNavX will support iPad in addition to iPhone.

[s/v Jedi]

I don't understand why y'all want a GPS in the iPad... It much better to use the fixed GPS on the boat and stream it's data (plus all other NMEA) with a 100m range bluetooth link!

cheers,
Nick.

[CarlF]

If the gps in the Ipad is no better than the one in my Iphone, then it's not reliable enough for navigation.

Nick- I must have taken a technology nap. What magic combination of do-dads would get NMEA 0183 (or 2000) signals onto bluetooth? Does it work now with Iphone/Itouch apps?

Carl

[Inkwell]

GPSNavX is a great product. I have it on my laptop ( MacBook Pro). Always works. They are good about sending updates too.

David

[GPSNavX]

So far Apple has not opened the Bluetooth on iPhone or iPad to GPS receivers. The only external NMEA data is possible via WiFi. iNavX supports NMEA via WiFi (i.e. from a laptop).

I have found iPhone GPS to provide an accurate position. At speeds less than 4 knots it tends not to accurately report SOG.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

I don't understand why y'all want a GPS in the iPad... It much better to use the fixed GPS on the boat and stream it's data (plus all other NMEA) with a 100m range bluetooth link!

cheers,
Nick.

"Y'all"? Nick I thought you were Dutch. Are you from Heerlen or somewhere else in south Holland?

[CaptPatAg]

Garmin makes a very good GPS's. It's hard to answer a call on them though....

[SY Galadriel]

I've been using an iPhone quite successfully for nav purposes and I expect the iPad to be even better. I am using Navionics software (available from the iTunes store) and I cant complain at all. Especially the price. For AUD$14.95 I got all the maps from India to China plus the actual app itself. Each region, all of Australia for example is the same price.

And it makes calls and plays music.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by skipmac

"Y'all"? Nick I thought you were Dutch. Are you from Heerlen or somewhere else in south Holland?

Ha ha... I spend too much time around Texans and other southern scumbags ;-))
No, I'm from Rotterdam.

Bluetooth: the NMEA multiplexers from Shipmodul (another fine Dutch product ;-) can send NMEA over bluetooth.

I was under the impression that Bluetooth is standarized and that every bluetooth stack supports serial data ports. My Shipmodul mux uses that BT serial port service to send the NMEA output.

I did not mean using a bluetooth GPS like used in a car.

WiFi is even better. I see four ways to send NMEA data over WiFi:

1. A computer that received NMEA over serial and relaying it to Ethernet (like with GPSgate)

2. A Furuno 3D plotter doing the same (Furuno uses Ethernet)

3. A Garmin plotter doing the same (Garmin also jumped on the Ethernet wagon)

4. A serial RS-422 to Ethernet converter. A little hard to find but generally available (Google it).

In addition to the kit used in 1-4 above, you need a standard wifi router/bridge. I am going to test that setup with Furuno and MaxSea TimeZero software.

cheers,
Nick.

[JNoel]

Been away for awhile. Any questions on Navioncs with the IPhone will be happy to help. Can't wait to see the new iPad.