iPad/Weather

[JJET44]

The MiFi is only cell service right, no GPS capabilities? How will you use that in the cockpit?

You are correct, MyFi is cell phone service as is 3g. You can't use it in flight but most use it on the gound during preflight to file/update flight plans, check WX, download charts, etc, while remaining in the cockpit.

 

[svcta]

The only problem i see with that solution is that the 3G ipad has GPS, even if you don't buy a 3G plan. The wifi only ipads lack the GPS which is already very important to me, and in the cockpit will become more and more valuable as the industry adopts the ipad. I utilize the GPS function of the ipad daily.

 

[JJET44]

Whoa, I that's true, I need to return this thing. I haven't tried the GPS function yet but if I can't recieve it, I can't use verizon.

TO BE CONTINUED..................

 

[Bleeds On]

Whoa, I that's true, I need to return this thing. I haven't tried the GPS function yet but if I can't recieve it, I can't use verizon....

Why can't you use Verizon? Some say the 3G iPad's gps works, others say it's useless with heated windshields. Foreflight states that the built-in receiver isn't reliable enough and suggests using a BT, external GPS such as Bad Elf. Going with ATT would leave you one less box to carry, but don't be surprised to see the soon-to-be-released iPad 2 with CDMA built in. I'm holding out for that model as it should have twice the memory at the same price point.

 

[JJET44]

Why can't you use Verizon? Some say the 3G iPad's gps works, others say it's useless with heated windshields. Foreflight states that the built-in receiver isn't reliable enough and suggests using a BT, external GPS such as Bad Elf. Going with ATT would leave you one less box to carry, but don't be surprised to see the soon-to-be-released iPad 2 with CDMA built in. I'm holding out for that model as it should have twice the memory at the same price point.

Hey Bleeds....
What is CDMA? is that the built in 3g like AT&T"s units? Also what is the release date for the ipad 2?

 

[Bleeds On]

]

Hey Bleeds....
What is CDMA? is that the built in 3g like AT&T"s units? Also what is the release date for the ipad 2?

It's the format a cellular carrier uses. ATT is GSM and Verizon is CDMA, thus why you can't use a Verizon phone on an ATT network. The 3G models have only GSM.

The rumor on ipad2 is announcement Feb 1 with deliveries a few weeks after that. They generally never come down in base model price and the competing tablets are proving to be little threat so I doubt that pattern will change.

Ipad2 rumor

 

[JJET44]

I may now wait to see. Also maybe the best bet is to find an external GPS unit. The only thing is that I fly a Challenger with electriclly heated windscreens. I need to find one that is strong enough to work. Someone mentioned the
sirf III.
Anyone with any other suggestions?

 

[Bleeds On]

I may now wait to see. Also maybe the best bet is to find an external GPS unit. The only thing is that I fly a Challenger with electriclly heated windscreens. I need to find one that is strong enough to work. Someone mentioned the
sirf III.
Anyone with any other suggestions?

external gps units recommended by Foreflight

 

[JJET44]

Thanks.

 

[JJET44]

Any feedback on WingX? Looks like they have the ability to Geo-reference on appoach charts.

 

[svcta]

My limited experience was that the GPS worked well enough in our cockpit in flight andon the ground. Now, I haven't tested it too extensively, to be fair, and our windscreens are not normally heated except for the side ones.

If youre going to spend another 100 bucks on this device you're right in the range of an ipad with an actual gps that will work on its own all of the times you're not in the airplane. I am assuming (at my own peril) that someone will make a bluetooth gps antenna in the nar future that will also give me XM weather. Our planes do not have internet, so having a redundant in-flight gps in a glass cockpit is a waste of time with no extra information associated with it. Cool? Of course. Worth the trouble? No.

I can get charts and iaps with no gps through jepp or foreflight, which is the meat and potatos. My point is this: spending the extra $ just to get better gps in flight ONLY seems a waste if you still lack a data connection. And at that point you're invested to the tune of an actual 3g device, which frees you of external devices and works for all the other time when you're not in the airplane....which is most of the time. (sidebar- how long do you think that bad elf thing will last hanging outnof the bottom of your ipad in the cockpit? I see that getting broken in a hurry). With no data connection you can't even get weather when sitting, say, on the ramp @ TEB waiting for clearance to start. What good is the gps at that point? Now, if your airplans have internet on board then you were born under a better sign than me and you are good to go with the wifi only. But I dare say that most of us aren't in that boat.

Just my opinion. Carry on. Typing this on my ipad, btw. I love this dam thing.

 

[JJET44]

Been waiting for this ever since the iphone was released. Maybe they"ll be the launch customer of the ipad 2?


http://money.cnn.com/2011/01/07/technology/verizon_iphone/index.htm

 

[svcta]

I think this is the best thread for this...

The other day I had the chance to again use my 3g (built in gps) ipad enroute. It worked flawlessly. Passing it around the cockpit and using it to show us on an en route chart, vfr charts, etc. Also as an accukwik, using it to get FBO frequencies, locations, etc. Now, without a data connection, or being above about 8000' there is no weather, but there is no solution for that to my knowledge yet at altitude.

This was in a g200 with the windscreens off, but having them on didn't appear to kill the gps. My opinion of the ipad in this environment as of right now is this (with foreflight installed):

It will save a Jepp subscription for each of our airplanes. We can still have one for print stations in the hangar, but NOS charts will do fine for unplanned stops/alternates.

We will no longer have to waste time and money on accukwiks or uvplanner. They become needless clutter.

I HAVE NOT actually tried it, but I can imagine that with a duats acct and the proper profiles, we could even save major $$ on services like arinc for flight planning/filing/weather packages. This idea does need some fleshing out, but it seems plausible.

The ipad (3g) would replace the blackberry (barf) based navigator that the company pays $10/month for each pilot.



There may be other things that I haven't come up with yet, but after one or two trips with a 3g ipad (16gig) these are savings that I believe would directly result from the investment.

 

[BoilerUP]

I can't say I'd consider replacing ARINC or Universal with a DUATS account and an iPad, especially considering you can already do that now with Fltplan.com or DUATS with a smartphone or laptop.

Also, each Jepp "subscription" gives you 4 Jeppview keys that you can use on PCs or iPads; if you have a Jeppview subscription in your office you can equip 3 iPads with Jepp Mobile TC.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I agree with BU....

an ipad is a convenient way to view/update Jepps...but thats about it.

You can always file flight plans on 1800wxbrief I suppose...and use skype and hold the ipad up to your head?