iPad 3G question

[azure]

Since reading about some folks' having a difficult time getting the iPad's internal GPS to work in the plane, I've been going back and forth between getting the 3G version vs Wi-Fi only plus external GPS. However on the principle that it would be nice to be able to brief somewhere that Wi-Fi isn't available (but cellular data is), I'm leaning toward getting a 3G anyway and trying it before springing for the external GPS. Of course then the pressing question becomes: which model to get, AT&T or Verizon? I'm leaning toward AT&T even though I'm a Verizon cellphone customer, because AT&T has the low-cost 750 MB plan and generally lower data package prices. But the main unknown in this is how much data I'll actually need. Besides briefing and filing, I'm also inclined to use it occasionally on the road for road maps and traffic info. So my question: how much data is transferred (order of magnitude, I don't expect nor need a precise answer) in a typical weather briefing plus filing, and how much is transferred say, per hour for traffic info? Verizon's data calculator isn't much help for either of these estimates, and I'm not sure I can assume that the data usage would be comparable between doing this in Firefox vs on the iPad.

 

[poadeleted21]

Get the 3G and don't wish you had bought it earlier, you can turn it on as needed with prepay or call up and get a monthly bill. If you're a little bit tech saavy you can tether the wifi to a smart phone. Verizon doesn't like it, it can be done.

 

[JOhnH]

I have had absolutely no problem with my 3G in my Cessna 172 (high wing).
Where did you hear about people having problems? The Ipad I perhaps?

Since reading about some folks' having a difficult time getting the iPad's internal GPS to work in the plane, I've been going back and forth between getting the 3G version vs Wi-Fi only plus external GPS. However on the principle that it would be nice to be able to brief somewhere that Wi-Fi isn't available (but cellular data is), I'm leaning toward getting a 3G anyway and trying it before springing for the external GPS. Of course then the pressing question becomes: which model to get, AT&T or Verizon? I'm leaning toward AT&T even though I'm a Verizon cellphone customer, because AT&T has the low-cost 750 MB plan and generally lower data package prices. But the main unknown in this is how much data I'll actually need. Besides briefing and filing, I'm also inclined to use it occasionally on the road for road maps and traffic info. So my question: how much data is transferred (order of magnitude, I don't expect nor need a precise answer) in a typical weather briefing plus filing, and how much is transferred say, per hour for traffic info? Verizon's data calculator isn't much help for either of these estimates, and I'm not sure I can assume that the data usage would be comparable between doing this in Firefox vs on the iPad.

 

[azure]

I have had absolutely no problem with my 3G in my Cessna 172 (high wing).
Where did you hear about people having problems? The Ipad I perhaps?

There is someone on the Red Board who hosts an "iPad guide for pilots" who says he could not get the internal GPS to work at all in the air and recommends an external. Foreflight also implies that it may not work and recommends an external GPS if you really want georeferencing.

It seems to work great for some people, so there's always the chance I could be one of them. But I won't be surprised if it doesn't.

 

[Mike5250]

Ipad gps does not lock on to gps from what ive read. An external gps does lock on.

I wouldnt worry about going over your monthly usage as long as you update charts and apps while you are on wifi.

The only time my ipad 2 3g didnt get consitent signal was on a commercial flight In an airbus.

 

[wabower]

GPS function of 3G iPad2 works fine in my Cessna 180 without any external assistance.

There is someone on the Red Board who hosts an "iPad guide for pilots" who says he could not get the internal GPS to work at all in the air and recommends an external. Foreflight also implies that it may not work and recommends an external GPS if you really want georeferencing.

It seems to work great for some people, so there's always the chance I could be one of them. But I won't be surprised if it doesn't.

 

[jason]

There is someone on the Red Board who hosts an "iPad guide for pilots" who says he could not get the internal GPS to work at all in the air and recommends an external. Foreflight also implies that it may not work and recommends an external GPS if you really want georeferencing.

It seems to work great for some people, so there's always the chance I could be one of them. But I won't be surprised if it doesn't.

One apple does not make a bushel. I was flying just the other day in OVC005 and it has 5-10 meter accuracy the entire flight.

 

[JGoodish]

Since reading about some folks' having a difficult time getting the iPad's internal GPS to work in the plane, I've been going back and forth between getting the 3G version vs Wi-Fi only plus external GPS. However on the principle that it would be nice to be able to brief somewhere that Wi-Fi isn't available (but cellular data is), I'm leaning toward getting a 3G anyway and trying it before springing for the external GPS. Of course then the pressing question becomes: which model to get, AT&T or Verizon? I'm leaning toward AT&T even though I'm a Verizon cellphone customer, because AT&T has the low-cost 750 MB plan and generally lower data package prices. But the main unknown in this is how much data I'll actually need. Besides briefing and filing, I'm also inclined to use it occasionally on the road for road maps and traffic info. So my question: how much data is transferred (order of magnitude, I don't expect nor need a precise answer) in a typical weather briefing plus filing, and how much is transferred say, per hour for traffic info? Verizon's data calculator isn't much help for either of these estimates, and I'm not sure I can assume that the data usage would be comparable between doing this in Firefox vs on the iPad.

I have an original iPad 3G (AT&T) and have never had an issue with reliable GPS reception in my Cherokee, or even inside my house.

That being said, as far as I am aware, the iPad GPS does not perform WAAS correction. There is also little to no information available on the quality of the GPS signal that the iPad is receiving. Even programs such as ForeFlight only provide a rather general distance-based accuracy reading. There is no satellite view, or per satellite signal strength indication, as is common with Garmin aviation handheld GPS units.

For me, an iPad without 3G data capability would kill 80-90% of its usefulness. I've found public Wi-Fi hotspots to be generally very poor, with unreliable connectivity and/or very slow backhaul. AT&T has a significantly faster 3G data network compared with Verizon, but any carrier's network is only as good as the coverage it provides in the areas where you need it.

The iPad is my primary mobile computing device, as I do not have a smartphone. For this reason, I rely on it for business e-mail, browsing, maps, etc., and use the 3G network quite a bit for these activities. My data use averages more than AT&T's entry-level 200MB data plan, but far less than the 2GB of the more expensive data plan. If your iPad data use is rather light, you could probably get by with the 200MB plan, but it appears that AT&T may be the only carrier offering a less expensive, entry-level data plan at the moment. Though I am on a post-paid plan, I believe that the pre-paid data plans are capped, and the iPad will alert you when you approach the cap (and allow you to purchase additional pre-paid data.) For post-paid plans, you will need to manage your own data use, but the iPad does provide a transmit/received data counter to help.


JKG

 

[jason]

I have an AT&T iPhone so I bought a Verizon iPad. That way I was likely to have data coverage on one or the other. It came in handy one day when we were stuck at KCEK waiting for a thunderstorm to pass. I didn't have squat for cell signal on my phone but my ipad worked fine. We watched the wx pass through and I filed a return flight plan from my iPad and we took off.

 

[PilotAlan]

I've used my 1st Gen IPad with Foreflight and Flightguide IEFB on a 23 hour cross country and had absolutely no problems.

I suspect some folks have RF leakage in their cockpit that is messing up the GPS. Or they put in airplane mode (which shuts off the GPS).

 

[azure]

The iPad is my primary mobile computing device, as I do not have a smartphone. For this reason, I rely on it for business e-mail, browsing, maps, etc., and use the 3G network quite a bit for these activities. My data use averages more than AT&T's entry-level 200MB data plan, but far less than the 2GB of the more expensive data plan. If your iPad data use is rather light, you could probably get by with the 200MB plan, but it appears that AT&T may be the only carrier offering a less expensive, entry-level data plan at the moment. Though I am on a post-paid plan, I believe that the pre-paid data plans are capped, and the iPad will alert you when you approach the cap (and allow you to purchase additional pre-paid data.) For post-paid plans, you will need to manage your own data use, but the iPad does provide a transmit/received data counter to help.

Thank you, that's exactly the kind of info I was asking for. It does seem that I could probably get by quite well with an entry-level AT&T plan. I don't see too much difference between AT&T and Verizon as far as coverage goes, not in MI anyway. So unless there is some reason I'm not aware of for going with the same carrier as I use for my voice service, I'll probably go with them.