iPad & external GPS

[dunny1]

Ok, this has been going around and around in my head and all the posts I have read have not answered my questions.

If I have a first gen wifi iPad and buy an external GPS will I be able to use motionx and down load maps, tracks etc.

[Red90]

Sure. Just make sure the external GPS is compatible with the iPad.

[OffTrack]

Yes. I have the Emprum Ultimate GPS and a wifi only iPad Gen 1. The combination works well.

Another iDevice gps dongle...

There is also the Bad Elf GPS: Products - Bad Elf

However I'd probably pick the Dual XGPS 150 bluetooth unit if I had to buy again.

Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver for Today

cheers
Paul

[mikehzz]

Motion X typically downloads the maps on the go via 3G just like Google maps. Unfortunately, you will have an Ipad with GPS but no maps unless you download them at home via your wifi and store them on the ipad. Not all external gps units work with the ipad.
The gps unit just lets the ipad know where it is, it doesn't give it maps. You will have to do that by installing them.

[dunny1]

Thanks guys, that's just the answers I was looking for. I have been checking out the dual XGPS and I downloading the maps at home works for me.

Looks like its time to order the GPS unit and start working on the iPad mount.

[Aussie]

When I had an Ipad 1 I used an external GPS with motion X and it was terrific, if I needed a map that I hadn't already downloaded I used my Iphone as a Hotspot then joined my ipad to it then I was able to get maps or updates in the field

[land864]

Just as small aside.

Is it possible to Bluetooth stream 2 devices simultaneously to the iPad.

That is 1. An external GPS and
2. A car radio linking to the iPad to play music at the same time?

Pete

[Aussie]

Bluetooth will not allow more than one connection at a time

[Epic pooh]

Another ext gps option is the gns5870 - have been using one for a year or so with wifi iPad. Very happy with it.

As you know you can cache maps to motionx - unfortunately with a recent upgrade the list of map types you can cache is now more limited. This caused me to finally crack and buy memory map topo raster which I use in the hema iPad app - quite happy with that combo but I far prefer the motionx interface and functionality. Shame you can't import your own maps into motionx.

[OffTrack]

Bluetooth will not allow more than one connection at a time

I've had connection sharing on my iPhone running via bluetooth to two iPads simultaneously.

This is what Apple's help page on iPad bluetooth says:

About pairing a Bluetooth accessory
Pairing configures iPad to work with a specific Bluetooth accessory. You can configure and use multiple Bluetooth accessories simultaneously, allowing you to use a Bluetooth keyboard while listening to music on your Bluetooth headphones.

So you should be able to use external GPS and bluetooth streaming, although I haven't tried this myself.

cheers
Paul