iPad GPS question

[NeilW]

Hi,

Does the GPS functionality of an iPad work if you're out of 3G range, eg. if you have an astronomy app that is GPS location dependent will it work when you're way out in the bush somewhere?

Thanks,

[Omaroo]

Neil - in a word, yes. Absolutely.

iPad and iPhone GPS is assisted by 3G when in range, to quickly determine the where you generally are - but the GPS does NOT require its presence. It may take a little longer to acquire a new position if you've moved more than a couple of hundred kilometres, but it will still operate just like any other mainstream dedicated GPS (and I'm not referring to street finders). People assume that because their standard map app doesn't get to download visual map data when out of 3G comms range that the GPS itself doesn't work. I does - it just needs the maps pre-loaded. Your astro app is only interested in positional data - not map data.

I'm a 4WD tourer, and use the VMS app which includes topo maps from all over Australia (well over a gigabyte-worth) - and it works brilliantly in the middle of absolutely nowhere.

[NeilW]

Excellent, thanks Chris. That alone pretty much justifies going down the iPad path, but I just checked out the VMS gear on their website, and now I'm convinced. I'd also been looking at other tabs such as the Samsung Galaxy 10.1, but the iPad seems to kill the Android alternatives when it comes to availabilty of software.