my ipad GPS solution

[Steele16]

I just sold my Lowrance which sparked my renewed interest in the I Pad for navigation. Might play with both an I pad and my Android tablet to see which co-driver prefers.

You can use the Lowrance for on road nav?

 

[Labraptor]

Lowrance is really just an off road specialist. Well that and fishing. Wish they made a version for off road now. Mainly I decided to switch to a tablet so it would be usable in more situations for me. Plus for me a tablet should get my co driver more involved. She never wanted to spend much time learning the ins and outs of the Lowrance.

 

[cbs001]

Just saying but iPads are more expensive than the lowrance unit I'm getting, it's not the top of the line unit but it's not the bottom of the line unit either, and you have to pay for a contract with the iPad to be able to use it

Not true.

 

[Cleave]

The cheapest full size iPad with just WiFi is $399, the cheapest fullsize iPad with WiFi and cellular is $529, the average cost of an iPad is around $550-$650, my GPS unit is $489, the most expensive iPad is $929 , the least expensive lowrance unit is $409 and the most expensive is $2,049 (available from outlaw) but it is a completely different level of GPS from what you or I are familiar with, one of my friends has a mid range lowrance unit for his boat and it's amazing, there is no general population GPS system (iPad, iPhone, android, internet GPS sites) that comes anywhere close

 

[SVTBuckeye]

The cheapest full size iPad with just WiFi is $399, the cheapest fullsize iPad with WiFi and cellular is $529, the average cost of an iPad is around $550-$650, my GPS unit is $489, the most expensive iPad is $929 , the least expensive lowrance unit is $409 and the most expensive is $2,049 (available from outlaw) but it is a completely different level of GPS from what you or I are familiar with, one of my friends has a mid range lowrance unit for his boat and it's amazing, there is no general population GPS system (iPad, iPhone, android, internet GPS sites) that comes anywhere close

If you're planning to use an iPad just as a GPS, then it doesn't make sense. If you already have an iPad, then using it also as a GPS can make a lot of sense. If you're looking to justify the cost of an iPad, then telling your spouse that you're saving $489 by not having to buy the Lowrance could help make your case (then spend the savings on other mods)! If you have high end requirements, like marking trails, you may need a dedicated device.

I use my iPad 0.6% of the time as a GPS and 99.4% of the time for other stuff (company and personal email, FRF, web surfing, 2nd screen for watching college football, etc.). For me, the difference in functionality between the iPad apps and the dedicated GPS wasn't enough to spend the extra $$ when I already had the iPad. And I've used the $489 in savings many times over on other mods!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[jackrook]

Ok fellas. Here's my thoughts from the toy run. The iPad GPS works. However it is just a BASIC option.

The up side of having a Lowrance, as I've found out, it that the hazards are clearly marked if you're using a Prerun route. If there's any kind of organized Event, it will be pre ran and that is HUGE. Little stuff with your buddies for 3 hours you can get by with a downloaded map or a paper map.

Any run where the people behind you keep a visual and it's a relatively big run, you need a dedicated GPS.

Time to call my buddy Raptor Addict and line one up.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

 

[Huck]

Lowrance is really just an off road specialist. Well that and fishing. Wish they made a version for off road now. Mainly I decided to switch to a tablet so it would be usable in more situations for me. Plus for me a tablet should get my co driver more involved. She never wanted to spend much time learning the ins and outs of the Lowrance.

Neither did you.


I use an iPad mini with cellular. I don't use the data just the integrated GPS receiver and I pre-cache the maps. Works flawlessly.

Only draw back is the maps the android offers are much better than the motionx maps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Labraptor]

Neither did you.


I use an iPad mini with cellular. I don't use the data just the integrated GPS receiver and I pre-cache the maps. Works flawlessly.

Only draw back is the maps the android offers are much better than the motionx maps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well thanks for pointing out another of my short comings buddy. The point was to get her more involved. She hated it because she wouldn't bother to look at it until we got to where we needed to use it and gave up before she even started.

Will definitely be trying the I pad next trip and possibly an Android tablet as well just for comparison sake.

 

[Sitdown]

Picked up a Samsung Note3 last week to compare to my iPad2/motionx. While I think the Samsung falls short of the ipad in terms of basic tablet function/quality, I find backcountry navigator to be an upgrade over motionX. I see there's also an option for upgraded premium mapping, anyone use these?

 

[Huck]

Picked up a Samsung Note3 last week to compare to my iPad2/motionx. While I think the Samsung falls short of the ipad in terms of basic tablet function/quality, I find backcountry navigator to be an upgrade over motionX. I see there's also an option for upgraded premium mapping, anyone use these?

Those would be the maps i was refering too. Couldnt think of the name. The upgrade maps show pretty much everything. On both snoball and SDBR Donk had that and it showed every trail, Yukon also used those maps, for the most part, they showed all the roads / trails that i was questioning with MotinX.

MotionX does however let you connect to a map source, and the USGS map source is available and they show pretty much everything.