I am in the market and was wondering if anybody had any experiences that they care to share on bluetooth iPad GPS antennas?

If you mean Bluetooth GPS units, I'm using a DUAL unit and it seems to work as advertised. No complaints, but no experience with other brands.

MTV

mtv wrote:If you mean Bluetooth GPS units, I'm using a DUAL unit and it seems to work as advertised. No complaints, but no experience with other brands.

MTV

That's the unit that I am looking at. Garmin makes one as well.

Bad Elf just came out with its GPS Pro. It allows you to connect multiple bluetooth devices, has digital display with speed, altitude, heading, accuracy and battery life (good).

Amazon has the best price on it - $129.

I like the fact that you can connect both your ipad and your iphone (or other device with app that can connect). Run your preferred software on the iPad, with potentially weather or whatever on you other device. Probably few and far between that I would actually need that, but why not for $30 more.



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008VWNBBE/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I tried both the first generation Bad Elf and the GNS-5870. They both do the GPS part excellently. He was the rub, the GNS-5870 has a weird touch sensitive on/off feature, which seems to turn on if you looked at it and was nearly incomprehensible to get to turn off, no biggie for operation, the battery just tended to run down. The Bad Elf model required it be plugged into the 30 pin port. So no charging and running it simultaneously. The bluetooth doesn't always pair automatically. You may have issues of concurrent running of other Bluetooth enabled devices, like headsets or audio panels. I didn't have the P&S audio panel with bluetooth then, so I have no idea if it was an issue. If you get a 3/4 G (what's a 'G') enabled iPad, you do not need either one, unless it is the 1st generation.

I have the old Bad Elf 30-pin one too. It works well but is a pain. I'm going with the new Bad Elf Pro and my iPad mini - which is awesome by the way (size for cockpit)


It's for sale: http://emmetw.wix.com/n191ew-for-sale

I have the dual and it works well - but honestly don't use it much because the built-in gps on the ipad works so well. I keep thinking I will upgrade to the stratus to get adsb weather but that's a bit jump in price.

soyAnarchisto wrote:I have the dual and it works well - but honestly don't use it much because the built-in gps on the ipad works so well. I keep thinking I will upgrade to the stratus to get adsb weather but that's a bit jump in price.

I was an early Stratus adopter. It's indeed expensive, but I fly a fair bit of IFR so thought the price was justified for increased SA. There were reports of overheating in early models. Don't worry about that, a software patch fixed it ages ago.

If you want an external GPS, it's overkill.

If you want weather and, key to BCP, are in an ADS-B coverage area, it's the bomb. Check the coverage map before purchasing. It's updating rapidly and there are far fewer non-coverage areas now than there were when I got mine.

I have the dual because I was dumb enough, (not well informed) about the ipad 2 to get one with out the data? no gps!!
Anyway the mini seems to work great with out an external.
I would like to get one that works the adsb but am waiting for one that works with both foreflight and wingx
Is there one out there yet ?
GT

I will receive the Bad Elf GPS Pro bluetooth unit today (thanks Santa for the amazon gift cards) and will post a report. I like the the passenger or secondary device can also connect their phone/ipad (you can connect up to 5 devices.)

I will receive the Bad Elf GPS Pro bluetooth unit today (thanks Santa for the amazon gift cards) and will post a report. I like the the passenger or secondary device can also connect their phone/ipad (you can connect up to 5 devices.)

Hi everyone,
I too have gone with the Stratus, and as said earlier it is a large up front cost. However, also as said earlier you do get in the air weather (not on the ground). You also get Metars, tafs, winds aloft, fuel prices, sky coverage, etc. and the GPS is WAAS quality.
If you fly into Canada there is no weather or the other features, but you still have WAAS GPS.


Good flying,

180jocky

M6RV6 wrote:I would like to get one that works the adsb but am waiting for one that works with both foreflight and wingx
Is there one out there yet ?
GT

Not yet and not likely any time soon IMO. We are in the early stages of the beta max wars for iPhone apps. I'm just thankful I don't still have android products.

Ideally these receivers would integrate with each other but these 3 players are all clamoring for differentiation and each has their own minor advantages: foreflight, wingx, garmin.

I have used the Dual GPS antenna with the original iPad. Works great, and I like the rubber mount thingie that comes with it, just toss it on the glare shield and it stays where you put it. Have used it with my Android tablet as well.

Don't use it much anymore as the iPad is surprisingly accurate on it own. Not sure about the Android built in GPS, haven't used that one as much.

Have been using it with the Garmin Pilot ap on both tablets and Foreflight on the iPad.

One nice feature too is it has it's own ap you can use to see what's going on with the antenna itself.

Noticed a new blue tooth gps now that also resolves position using the Russian Glonass network.
Very fast updates and accurate. About $130...