Author Topic: Ipad navigation apps  (Read 5781 times)

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Offline McAbouts

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Ipad navigation apps
« on: February 23, 2012, 10:05:56 AM »
Hi all,

Wondering what people think or have purchased? Either Hema, VMS or Mudmaps.
Looking at an App for the Ipad and as they are expensive thought I would get some advice here first.
Looking forward to your responses.

Cheers
Louise :D
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Offline bundyfamily

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2012, 10:37:40 AM »
Hi macabouts,
I am also an iPad user, I checked out the Hema maps app for iPad, looked pretty good but then I saw the price, not for me. If I am going to spend this sort of money on a navigation app I want to be able to use it out the bush most places I go don't have any phone reception. This is one of the beauties of camping no phones television computer games. My concern with the Hema app is that it can give you directions via tracks, so it needs to know your location for it to be accurate, but what if you have no 3-G reception? I don't know exactly how the app works but for myself I am looking at a Polaris in dash system or a Garman, or Magellan system, these use satellite so should be a lot more accurate. I will do some more research on the iPad navigation apps and post my findings, if anyone out there has had experience with these types of iPad navigation apps I would also be very interested in your thoughts and opinions
Cheers"..........  :cheers:
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Offline Trackaprado

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2012, 11:15:31 AM »
You don't need 3G for the GPS to work on an ipad, iphone or ianything

Offline ozbogwam

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Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2012, 11:47:22 AM »
The iPad utilises GPS to locate you and the maps are in the Hema app no phone reception is required

Offline Patr80l

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2012, 12:33:40 PM »
Be aware that the iPad 2 comes with GPS & 3G capability together or not at all.   You need the one with 3G to get the GPS, even if you don't put a SIM in it and use the 3G.
BTW, if you have a smart mobile with Bluetooth and a data plan you can use that as a modem for the iPad to access the WWW away from your home WiFi, without needing 3G and a data plan for the iPad itself.
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Offline schmik

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2012, 01:05:42 PM »
And that it is 'assisted GPS'. That is a software GPS not a purpose built chip.
A coworker here has one with 3G + GPS and has stated that the GPS performance (outside of phone network coverage) is very slow.
His words "don't move... don't even turn around".

I would BET the iPad 3 will have a real GPS in it.

mike

Offline Trackaprado

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2012, 02:45:18 PM »
All assisted GPS does is speed up aquisition time at start up (via wifi or 3G) otherwise it is no different to "real" GPS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS
« Last Edit: February 23, 2012, 03:10:30 PM by Trackaprado »

Offline ozbogwam

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Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2012, 05:13:43 PM »
Never had any dramas getting a gps fix on my iPhone when out of phone reception

Offline schmik

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2012, 06:20:12 PM »
In that case... I stand corrected. Never tried either.
My iPad does not have 3G or Wifi and I'm still an iPhone newbie.

Offline TOPNDR

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2012, 06:37:49 PM »
ONLY iPads with 3G + WiFi have inbuilt GPS.  While the GPS uses info from 3G phone towers to assist locate itself, I can vouch that with no 3G coverage it works beaut for either Hema or VMS, I know because I've got both and have used both out bush with not a 3G signal for miles (and WITHOUT the dongle).

IMHO, I like the display of HEMA better, but VMS will calculate a route for you, and I haven't found this function yet on HEMA but I haven't looked too hard either.

If you have a WiFi only iPad, one can buy GPS dongles (BadElf) for $100.  They do work on a 3G +WiFi iPad and I use one because the machine I drive has electrically heated wind screens, which interfere with the iPad's native GPS reception, whereas the dongle doesn't have any issues.  I don't know if the dongle works on WiFi only models.
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Offline TOPNDR

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2012, 06:41:49 PM »
In that case... I stand corrected. Never tried either.
My iPad does not have 3G or Wifi and I'm still an iPhone newbie.

schmik, your iPad MUST have at least WiFi because they only make two types, be it iPad 1 or iPad 2.  They're either WiFi only, or, 3G + WiFi.
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Offline bundyfamily

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2012, 08:00:48 PM »
Great posts!!!

I am tapping on an iPad 2 wifi and 3-G, so if I understand correctly, it will see satellites same as a Magellan or Garmin GPS and have the ability to find a latitude and longitude and guide you to that location via Hema or some other type of nav app regardless of wether there is 3-g reception of not? :cheers:
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Offline Estelle

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Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2012, 08:21:57 PM »
Great posts!!!

I am tapping on an iPad 2 wifi and 3-G, so if I understand correctly, it will see satellites same as a Magellan or Garmin GPS and have the ability to find a latitude and longitude and guide you to that location via Hema or some other type of nav app regardless of wether there is 3-g reception of not? :cheers:

There are other apps available such as Motion X GPS HD (free) which will give you Co-ordinates etc., you just need to download the maps you need before going 'off line' (no 3G signal). Probably not as good as VMS or HEMA and the like, but works well and the price is pretty good.

There is quite a bit of info on this in the Navigation and Communications section.


Ed: Oops, Motion X GPS is $1.99
« Last Edit: February 24, 2012, 01:30:39 PM by Estelle »
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Offline SUPA105

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2012, 08:27:42 PM »
GPS utility is another useful app......

Found GPS in IPad & iPhone when used on VMS as accurate as my handheld Garmin.....

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Offline Tweekin

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Re: Ipad navigation apps
« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2012, 08:43:13 PM »
Bitmap is quite good and cheap if you have existing maps ... Or know where to find them, I have the hema maps and nsw1.25k loaded on my iPad and it works great