iPad with 4G/GPS or just wireless

[FlyDave]

I'm getting an iPad Mini and I need to decide which model I'm getting, 4G or wireless. For those of you that don't know, the 4G model (either Verizon or AT&T) also has an internal GPS. The wireless model does not have an internal GPS and requires an external GPS (bluetooth, wireless, fob, etc) for use in the airplane

My iPad 1 is is the 3G model and it has a GPS. In the airplane, I have a SkyRadar ADS-B receiver that includes a WAAS GPS. So I don't use the internal GPS - but it's nice to have as a backup.

So my question is which model did you get and why.

Thanks,

Dave

[Hector]

I have the iPad mini with WIFI only. My iPad 2 had GPS but there were times it was unreliable, specially if I switched apps in flight it would sometimes loose GPS lock. I eventually purchased a Bluetooth GPS and never had issues after that. When I decided to switch to the mini it was an easy choice for me given that my iPhone has personal hotspot and I can connect the mini to the Internet anywhere if need. I've been flying with the mini and bad elf GPS pro since it came out without any problems. In all fairness, there are folks here that fly with the iPad built-in GPS with no issues at all. Either will work fine, just needed to figure out what iPad version will work best for you when everything else is considered. To make the mini truly potable and be able to file flight plans, check on weather, etc,on the road without having to rely/hope for available WIFI, you will need the 3G/4G version or a WIFI version only with WIFI hotspot activated on your phone

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[N601RX]

For me the G4 is well worth the money. The GPS doesn't require a verizon contract to work. Also the wireless service doesn't require a contract. I just buy the 1G of data a month for $20 and that works out about right for me.

[Jerry 5TJ]

I bought the Verizon version early in 2012 to get the internal GPS, but I never have used the data service.

[PilotDerek]

I have wifi only. I have not regretted that decision yet.

[Oscar Avalle]

I have wifi only

[Freight Dog]

iPad 2 3G - works like a champ with Foreflight.

[Bennett]

iPad 3 with AT&T LTE. Works great for planning where there is no wi-fi available. LTE is faster than my hangar hot spot. Use Dual Bluetooth in aircraft.

[larryb]

4g, worth every penny. My main uses are:

1: Flight planning at airport with no wifi available.

2: Driving: Using Google maps and traffic display.

3: Driving: Passenger keeping entertained using internet.

My feeling is that a wifi-only ipad is only half as useful as a 4g enabled ipad.

Larry

[carusoam]

Ipad1 with 3G? Use the internal GPS for many other apps as well. Most city centers in my area are supplying wifi as well, wide broadcast.

SkyRadar supplies the waas for better GPS in my plane.

Real question to have is how much memory do you need?

Best regards,

-a-

[moodychief]

Ipad 2 3G 64G. Never have had a problem getting GPS signal in my C model. had one small lapse of signl in my friend's J model. I run georeferenced Wing X Pro on every flight.

[Jeff_S]

I agree that it's worth the extra money to have the wireless data capability, so I'd go for it. An added benefit of this I discovered on Friday when I had flown up to Anderson SC to visit my father in the hospital. I had programmed the route from the airport to the hospital into the Apple Maps app on my iPad 3. It would be my first chance to use the turn-by-turn directions in the new iOS 6. It worked just "okay" from the airport to the hospital, but wasn't giving me voice readouts or automatically switching to each next step in the route. When I was ready to head back the airport I switched to ForeFlight to get a briefing and realized I had left the wireless data "off," so I turned it back on. This time the turn-by-turn directions worked like I thought they should, with automatic voice read-outs, showing next legs, etc. Apparently when it can't get access to the network database the turn-by-turn doesn't work very well.

[Cris]

The cost to tether on a family plan with AT&T is $50/mo. which I find quite unreasonable. Therefore from a purely economic standpoint the WiFi with 3g/4g cellular not only gives one the GPS chip but is much less costly. The differance in purchase price on a mini is $130. The running cost on a modest data plan in my area is $15-20/mo. with no contract depending on the carrier. In my case with the Ipad 2 and WingX I have always had GPS signal. Then agin I have never had a shutdown in heat so I may just be fortunate. One point to consider is battery life. One should shut down unused apps in flight particulalry cellular to conserve the battery.

[N201MKTurbo]

I have the WIFI only. When i need data I just turn on the WIFI hotspot function of my phone. There are free apps for the Android that enable the hotspot function for no additional charge. I use a Dual GPS.

[FlyDave]

I ordered the 4G model so I'd have the internal GPS if needed.

As stated in another post, I should be posting pics and eval the middle of the week.

Thanks for everyone's input!

Dave