Anyone Using Garmin Glo?

[Rich]

Don't most tablets have a built in GPS?

If so, why buy an external GPS, just use the internal GPS that is built into the Tablet / phone?

Or is this an area where Apple is lacking (I don't have an ipad so I'm not sure)?

[Kamper]

Ipads only have GPS if you have WiFi access. If it is a cell phone model then it can be its on hot-spot and the mapping, and GPS apps will work, or so I have been told.

[Rich]

Are you confusing having the ability to download map data vs having a GPS receiver?

The GPS will only provide your lat/long position. It shouldn't need WiFi or Cell access for that.

But if you try to display something like a google map, then you will need internet access of some sort (via WiFi or cell signal) to be able to download the map data itself.

However, if you purchase map data such as the Bizer or Navionics app, then you will have the map already on your system, and you won't need WiFi or a cell signal to use it. In this case the GPS provides your current position, direction of travel, speed, etc.

So unless I'm wrong, an external GPS device will only be an extra cost item that you may not need. Of course, I don't own an i-anything, so I could be wrong, but if they force you to have a WiFi or Cell signal to use the GPS, I just found another reason not to like an I-anything.

[Airedale1]

Originally Posted by Rich

Are you confusing having the ability to download map data vs having a GPS receiver?

The GPS will only provide your lat/long position. It shouldn't need WiFi or Cell access for that.

But if you try to display something like a google map, then you will need internet access of some sort (via WiFi or cell signal) to be able to download the map data itself.

However, if you purchase map data such as the Bizer or Navionics app, then you will have the map already on your system, and you won't need WiFi or a cell signal to use it. In this case the GPS provides your current position, direction of travel, speed, etc.

So unless I'm wrong, an external GPS device will only be an extra cost item that you may not need. Of course, I don't own an i-anything, so I could be wrong, but if they force you to have a WiFi or Cell signal to use the GPS, I just found another reason not to like an I-anything.

A Wifi only IPad does NOT have internal GPS. So, if you have a Wifi only IPad like I do, you add the Garmin Glo which gives you GPS capability, no maps just GPS capability. Then you download the Bizer Winnipesaukee map and now you have a fully functional chart plotter.

[Rich]

Thanks for clarifying this. I wasn't aware that Apple doesn't include a GPS in the WiFi only Ipads. It's too bad and someone limiting.

So my statements are meaningless to a WiFi only ipad.