Apple → iPad Air theory question -- GPS?

Well, I am looking to replace my older iPad with an iPad Air. My iPad is WiFi only. After I bought it I discovered to my dismay, that it was not GPS enabled, that the only iPads with GPS capabilities were the ones with cellular. So, I had to purchase this add-on GPS unit from Dual, it connects via bluetooth. Looking at the new iPad Air's specs, the same situation holds, only cellular enabled models have what Apple calls "Assisted GPS".

Can I upgrade to a cellular enabled model, not activate the cellular (I don't need cellular, have WiFi everywhere) and have a functioning GPS? Do these units have a GPS receiver? Or do they somehow depend on cellular connections to provide GPS? Why no GPS receiver in WiFi only iPads?

AGPS is embedded in the cellular chip -- no cell no assisted GPS.

Scroll to the bottom of the specs page: »www.apple.com/ipad-air/specs/ under Location.

My understanding is that WiFi + Cellular models have GPS but typically the GPS apps require data for on the fly map downloads. Apparently there are some GPS apps with maps that don't need to be downloaded as you navigate though.

My question to you, I thought you needed to jailbreak an iOS device to have it work with a Bluetooth GPS like the one you have. So did you jailbreak your iPad for this?

No jailbreak. It pairs like any other bluetooth device, and just works. I use it with MotionX GPS, which has it's own map set. As long as you have the maps downloaded while you have a connection (WiFi in my case), you don't need any data connection. Same with iTopoMaps. Pre-load the maps and data is not needed.

EDIT: P.S. The unit has a neat suction device you can attach to the windshield of a car, so apps like MotionX GPS Drive works. You can also power it from a cigaret lighter plug which comes with the unit.

Outstanding! Sounds like you have a fairly good working solution then.

Yes, it works well. I also have this XTG Technologies Solar-USB charger, which makes the entire setup very mobile. The problem which I want to alleviate is having to cary extra gear.

I want to get the iPad Air (or more probably the new iPad Mini) advantages-- longer battery life , lighter, and does not require an external GPS receiver. I just don't know if not activating the cellular portion will disable the GPS. I'll have to call Apple, but I don't know if their sales people will have an accurate answer to my concerns. The 128GB cellular-enabled unit is over 1K-Bucks after tax. I have to be sure the GPS is fully functional.

I've had GPS on both of my iPads and GPS runs independently of cellular. Turn off cellular and it still works. However, if you put the iPad in airplane mode that does disable GPS.

You don't need cellular for gps. But unless you have an app with preloaded maps you also need internet access to load them.

Yes, I know. I have access to WiFi everywhere. Between my home WiFi, and CableWiFi which is ubiquitous here in the city, as well as many commercial and public establishments providing free WiFi, I can connect to the Net everywhere. I really don't understand why Apple has not included GPS hardware in their WiFi only iPads.

GPS is the sort of thing which is most useful in places where there is neither Cell service, nor WiFi service, like mountain and bike trails and out in a boat. If you are not forced to get a data plan to activate GPS on these devices, it makes no sense to cripple them that way.

Because the GPS "hardware" is not separate from the cellular chip.

I suppose that makes reasonable sense.

In the iPad and other iOS devices there is an endless quest to make them smaller and lighter. Therefore the convergence of components taking on double or triple duty just makes sense in such an SoC based device.

Thanks! Makes sense. Apple should make this clear on their site. I bought a WiFi Retina iPad, and was shocked that GPS was not available. It was very clear Cellular was not, but no mention that GPS was also not included in the WiFi only device.

I know better now.

I posted this earlier, you must have missed it:Under Location it's pretty clear -- there's no mention of GPS under the wifi only model(s).

It has always been clear since the original iPad in the specs for the device. I have never understood since the beginning why everyone only discussed whether they needed cellular when discussing the $130 difference in price. That was one reason my first (original) iPad was 3G. Turns out that I have really used the cellular but I knew from the beginning that even without it being enabled the GPS was still worth spending the extra for.