WiFi Vs Cellular Tablets for EFB

[Lax291]

Curious of the split between WiFi only vs Cellular enabled tablets. I currently have WiFi only (CB) but the more I think about a possible failure of my GPS I’m liking the idea of having the cell chip in the iPad as a backup. Let me know your thoughts!

[MikeOH]

While I'm not sure if it is still the case, when I purchased my iPad 10.5" Pro many years back, I had to buy it with cellular capability or I did NOT get GPS! I've never activated cellular service. And, oddly, it had some kind of built in eSIM which is now disabled after one of the iOS updates!  Now I would need to purchase a SIM card if I want to have cellular.

[Lax291]

That's my understanding of it now. If you want GPS capability you need to purchase the cellular enabled tablet. However, you don't need an active cellular plan to use the GPS chip. 

5 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

While I'm not sure if it is still the case, when I purchased my iPad 10.5" Pro many years back, I had to buy it with cellular capability or I did NOT get GPS! I've never activated cellular service. And, oddly, it had some kind of built in eSIM which is now disabled after one of the iOS updates!  Now I would need to purchase a SIM card if I want to have cellular.

 

[EricJ]

Android tablets and EFBs don't have any restrictions on using the GPS with a WiFi-only device, so that's how I've always operated.    That said, my Stratux has a GPS receiver, too, so even if the tablets didn't have native GPS reception they'll get everything they need from the Stratux. 

[201Steve]

Pack and flight plan wherever you are. Even at the run up pad if missing a chart. Cellular-Worth it. 

[toto]

23 minutes ago, EricJ said:

Android tablets and EFBs don't have any restrictions on using the GPS with a WiFi-only device, so that's how I've always operated.    That said, my Stratux has a GPS receiver, too, so even if the tablets didn't have native GPS reception they'll get everything they need from the Stratux. 

Yeah, this has always seemed absurd to me. Apple packages a $5 GPS chip with a cellular receiver, when every other manufacturer gives you the GPS chip for free - and essentially holds GPS hostage unless you spend hundreds of extra dollars to get a cellular receiver you don’t need or want. 

I have an iPad with a cellular receiver, and I almost never turn it on. It runs the battery down much faster than with it off, and I’m the Boy Scout who won’t turn on a cellular device in the air because it’s prohibited by the FCC. So I get almost no use out of the cellular, but I pay for it because I want the GPS chip. 

[Hank]

I fly with my Samsung tablet, less pricey than apple wifi but GPS is included; it was also included in my previous $105 Samsung tablet.

Just refresh the data in the EFB at home or hotel; I usually enter flight info in the hangar / FBO, sometimes in my cockpit after engine start while waiting for the Garmin to work through its startup.

The only thing the EFB needs the internet for is to update data every four weeks. You only need a cellular tablet if you are an apple fan, but then you also need a subscription to the EFB, too (be sure to set airplane mode before takeoff, or the battery will die looking for towers!). Avare is free, includes all charts and plates, uses rubber banding and switches automatically to airport diagram on rollout before I am able to look down at it. Foreflight is iOS only, so you need the expensive tablet; Avare is android only, and will run on any android tablet of any price.

[201er]

3 hours ago, Lax291 said:

Curious of the split between WiFi only vs Cellular enabled tablets. I currently have WiFi only (CB) but the more I think about a possible failure of my GPS I’m liking the idea of having the cell chip in the iPad as a backup. Let me know your thoughts!

That’s what the phone is for. Nah, WiFi only tablet is plenty. If the Stratus fails, there’s still the panel GPS. If both fail, it’s probably a GPS problem and won’t even come to the phone.

Seems like the most common point of failure is overheated iPad. Otherwise this stuff just works.

[ArtVandelay]

You can use your iPhone as a hotspot if you need WiFi.

In flight I’m connected to the panel so I don’t need GPS and have never missed it.

[McMooney]

apple, get cellular, only way to get the built in gps.   you don't have to enable the cell service.

    I tend to use my mini as the cell connection makes it ultra  convenient.  My Air has a gps connection but the lack of cell plan means it really just stays in the bag.

 

 

 

[midlifeflyer]

When I made my first iPad purchase after seeing ForeFlight demoed, I decided I wanted to rely on an external GPS puck and went WiFi only. That was 14 years and 5 iPads ago. Every time I upgrade, I think, “should I get the cellular this time?”  The answer has been “no.” 

I use my iPad for more than aviation. It’s become my travel “laptop” and, before retirement, I even used it in business meetings. It contains music, videos, even full movies. So far I haven’t missed cellular capability. WiFi availability has become more widespread. When I teach in owner airplanes, their avionics have some sort of position sharing capability, and I still carry a portable ADS-B device in my flight bag for those which don’t. 

[GeeBee]

As far as data connectivity goes, like ArtVandely I use my phone as a hotspot if I need data.

As far as GPS goes I connect to my Garmin 345r via bluetooth. 

Reality is I have an iPhone 15Max and if I needed to navigate, it is more than sufficient screen to get me there very accurately.

Finally, if you lose your panel you're not going to shoot approaches with an iPad (ahem!). Even if you are on top, dead reckoning will get you to where you need to go. I learned the power of dead reckoning when I used to ferry airplanes to PHNL from the west coast at a time before Loran C or GPS. I had a Loran A receiver which was a giant PIA to use. Reality is a good heading is you best friend. If you are off by a few degrees over a 1000 miles you will  arrive within visual site of your destination. If you have not flown dead reckoning lately, I highly recommend you practice it. With practice you don't even need an E6b, you can WAG the winds close enough.

[Pinecone]

I bought my Mini 6 with cellular to have GPS chip.  Did not get a SIM.   After a while, I found I was using it enough that it made sense to add it to my cell plan.

I like getting the latest iteration of my flight plan from FF or Flight Aware without having to pull out my phone to enable hot spot.  For security, I do not leave hot spot on.

I have a power cord in the plane, so even without putting it in Airplane Mode, it charges during the flight.

[toto]

2 hours ago, Pinecone said:

I bought my Mini 6 with cellular to have GPS chip.  Did not get a SIM.   After a while, I found I was using it enough that it made sense to add it to my cell plan.

I like getting the latest iteration of my flight plan from FF or Flight Aware without having to pull out my phone to enable hot spot.  For security, I do not leave hot spot on.

I have a power cord in the plane, so even without putting it in Airplane Mode, it charges during the flight.

One of the things I love about Google Fi is that you can get data SIMs for free with a phone plan. So the data SIM in my iPad costs nothing at all, and the data itself comes out of my regular phone plan data. 

[PeteMc]

I still have my external DUAL GPS/ADS-B device from before I upgraded my panel.  So that's my backup if I loose everything.  So I don't have any need to have GPS in my iPad, but if you want it as just GPS backup, it is a consideration. 

As for updates, etc., I'm already paying for Internet in my phone, so no need to have it in my iPad that I might use once or twice a year.  Not a lot of money, but I just don't see the need. I haven't had a Cellular GPS since they first came out, and it was only for that one iPad as I always had Internet and GPS from other sources. 

 

[Pinecone]

I use cell on the iPad a good bit.  I sometimes use it to file.  And I like a TFR updates before I take off.  My home field had a small cutout for whenever Biden went home, so nice to know up to date.

[jlunseth]

Cellular all the way. As mentioned, it is the only way to get GPS. I have generally traveled a lot, at least until the end of last year when I retired. I land and takeoff from many small rural airports flying for Angel Flight. Some still do not have WiFi, never know until you get there. So I just switch the cellular on and get my briefing, file my flight plan. As for the GPS, among other things that adds a little blue airplane to all my EFB charts including the approach I am flying. Great for situational awareness. Then when I land I get Maps to drive wherever I want to go. Text clearances from ATC. What’s not to like. Couldn’t imagine being without cellular and GPS. I have a “max data” plan though, so I have to switch cellular off and on in order not to blow the data limit. Does not affect the GPS.

[Fly Boomer]

1 hour ago, Pinecone said:

I use cell on the iPad a good bit.  I sometimes use it to file.  And I like a TFR updates before I take off.  My home field had a small cutout for whenever Biden went home, so nice to know up to date.

I use mine constantly.  When I go into a restaurant, I carry the Mini.  I have grown to hate the tiny screen and tiny keyboard on my phone.  VOIP turns the iPad into a phone.  No WiFi or hotspot required.

[wombat]

As many have said, if you are using an iPad, if you want the GPS chip you have to get the cellular version.  

But that doesn't mean you have to get cellular service.   I don't have cell service on my cell-enabled iPad mini.   I'm glad to have the GPS in it for when my Stratux has been forgotten. 

When I need to update I connect to WiFi.  From my phone, or home, or hangar, or whatever.

[dkkim73]

I am currently using the iPad Mini (cellular-enabled) Wi-Fi only. Occasionally I do tether to my phone's hotspot. Have gone back and forth on adding cellular service. I can add it as an extra device on one of my lines (Patriot Mobile, a multi-network MVNO), but then have to be very careful with data usage. 

Do any of you have any pro tips on cellular service? I seem to remember buying simple low-cost tablet lines, or pre-pay cards, but it seems harder to do in a simple way when I looked a few months ago. Used to use Project Fi, but found the service and value/money went down a lot once they became regular Google Fi. At least outside areas of very heavy continual WiFi coverage. T-Mobile? It seemed one of the better choices last time I looked. 

Thx for any tips,
D

[Hank]

@dkkim73, it depends on where you are. Around here, people call them "T-Maybe" due to variable service (i.e., I could call from here yesterday, but not today.)

I can add a tablet (if I had one that wasn't wifi only) for $10/month to my unlimited data plan. Check with your provider, plans and options change all the time.

[LANCECASPER]

The cellular version iPad is $150 more - when you sell it after a four years you can get at least $50 more for it. $100 over 4 years is $25/year (roughly $2/mo) for a ton of convenience in flying and in day-to-day life. I add it for $5 per month to my Go5Next plan. So $7 per month. Not a huge decision. 

[Hank]

51 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

The cellular version iPad is $150 more - when you sell it after a four years you can get at least $50 more for it. $100 over 4 years is $25/year (roughly $2/mo) for a ton of convenience in flying and in day-to-day life. I add it for $5 per month to my Go5Next plan. So $7 per month. Not a huge decision. 

Wow, it's come down. My first iPad mini (and my only iPad ever( was $300-$350 more than the wifi version. 

But for that $150 difference, you can get a Samsung wifi tablet with GPS . . . . And still have whatever the apple costs still in your pocket.

[LANCECASPER]

Wow, it's come down. My first iPad mini (and my only iPad ever( was $300-$350 more than the wifi version. 
But for that $150 difference, you can get a Samsung wifi tablet with GPS . . . . And still have whatever the apple costs still in your pocket.

And not be able to use Foreflight


This goes round and round every few months on Mooneyspace


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hank]

1 minute ago, LANCECASPER said:

And not be able to use Foreflight

This goes round and round every few months on Mooneyspace

Yep. I suffer with Samsung tablets and Avare, spend the savings on burger flights. I get 2-3 extra each year that way.