Thought I'd solved it by removing the sim card (AT&T). And I did- but only at ground level (driving). Speed not a factor, ran it up to 90mph in the car which is the same speed I fly the SQ2. Was excited so put it in the airplane and took off. Just off the ground the GPS accuracy started to deteriorate. At 500 AGL+ the accuracy gets so bad (over 100 meters) that it quits displaying ownship.

I'm done with the iPad 5, going back to the 4 which has worked perfectly for four years.

I'll buy that piece of trash apple nonfunctioning fail-pad off you for $200. Can have money in your paypal whenever you'd like.

Thanks but I’ll return it to Apple and get my money back.


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asa wrote:I'll buy that piece of trash apple nonfunctioning fail-pad off you for $200. Can have money in your paypal whenever you'd like.

Always someone here just waiting to assist!

MTV

It’s another one of those Alaska things...probably geeks out N of 60 or something...like UPS does.

Have you checked the settings on your iPad for location services in general and app specific? Maybe resetting those settings will fix your issues.

Barnstormer wrote:Got the iPad Mini 5 yesterday. Loaded up the software including Garmin Pilot and Foreflight and took it flying today.

I've got good news and bad news to report.

First the bad news. The GPS only works when there is strong cell connection, and even then it doesn't always work and when it does it doesn't work correctly, altitude is incorrect as in way off, and location is wrong and jumps around. I tested Pilot, Foreflight, and Apple Maps and then all experienced the same kind of behavior. I checked the 5 against my iPhone X and the X worked fine. I'll be calling Apple asap about this and I'll report back.

Curious about what Apple had to say when you called support. If you're only getting position when cell connections exist, you're not getting GPS at all -- it's using cell tower reception to approximate your location. The onboard chipset is supposed to read both the GPS and GLONAS satellites and use those for positioning.

And based on what I'm reading elsewhere about the Mini 5, the GPS sounds like it's just fine on other people's Mini 5s... I suspect you've got a bad GPS chipset, and need to return the Mini 5 under warranty to have it replaced or repaired.

JP256 wrote:

Barnstormer wrote:Got the iPad Mini 5 yesterday. Loaded up the software including Garmin Pilot and Foreflight and took it flying today.

I've got good news and bad news to report.

First the bad news. The GPS only works when there is strong cell connection, and even then it doesn't always work and when it does it doesn't work correctly, altitude is incorrect as in way off, and location is wrong and jumps around. I tested Pilot, Foreflight, and Apple Maps and then all experienced the same kind of behavior. I checked the 5 against my iPhone X and the X worked fine. I'll be calling Apple asap about this and I'll report back.

Curious about what Apple had to say when you called support. If you're only getting position when cell connections exist, you're not getting GPS at all -- it's using cell tower reception to approximate your location. The onboard chipset is supposed to read both the GPS and GLONAS satellites and use those for positioning.

And based on what I'm reading elsewhere about the Mini 5, the GPS sounds like it's just fine on other people's Mini 5s... I suspect you've got a bad GPS chipset, and need to return the Mini 5 under warranty to have it replaced or repaired.

He already got a new one under warranty and the 2nd is going the same. Maybe Phil just took the 2 lemons out of the production ring. Seems unlikely, bit if his luck with apple is anything like mine then I'd believe it...

A1Skinner wrote:He already got a new one under warranty and the 2nd is going the same. Maybe Phil just took the 2 lemons out of the production ring. Seems unlikely, bit if his luck with apple is anything like mine then I'd believe it...

Yeah, it seems bizarre that he would have two lemons. But, OTOH, he did seem to be dealing with tier 2 or 3 support. So there is definitely something weird going on!

Thanks for the diagnostic ideas and links folks, but we are way past all that now. Apple Level 3 (engineers) are supposed to get back to me on Thursday.

Just got back from a 3 hour flight and was great to be using the Mini 4 again.

I appreciate the info on the external GPS units, of course everyone now knows I already have a GDL 39.

Like MTV (and actually for a longer period of time) I've used an iPad Mini with a cell connection and its internal GPS and never had any weird behavior. I've also never gotten lost flying anywhere amazingly enough. Unless I was flying IFR I have no need for a WAAS GPS. 10-30 meters is all the accuracy I need to stay out of trouble, and that's what I've always gotten from iPad's internal GPS until now.

And the weather radar resolution/display from a cell connection is far superior to any other weather radar source (ADS-B or XM), and why would I not want the best weather radar display. XM doesn't work up here in Alaska and ADS-B coverage is a joke. I was reminded of that when I flew over to Lake Hood with the GDL 39. On the Kenai Peninsula for a very short time I had coverage but by the time I neared the Turnagain Arm I no longer had Ground Antenna based ADS-B in (so no Wx display) even as I flew by Anchorage and into Hood.

But I did have a jillion (okay maybe that's an exaggeration) airplane targets including a pile of them on the ground at ANC that obscured the displayed airport overlays. As I flew in and then out I was reminded why I don't like ADS-B. I have no interest in knowing where any aircraft are that are not on a collision course with me. But I found myself looking for aircraft that ADS-B told me about rather than just looking out the window,

I suppose if I lived in the valley I might find it useful to be alerted to aircraft running up my tokhes. If you like ADS-B and think its the cat's meow I'm happy for you. It's not for me. Anyway that's all the news that fit to print for now. I'll post anything new I learn from Apple.

Barnstormer wrote:….Just got back from a 3 hour flight and was great to be using the Mini 4 again.
…. I've used an iPad Mini with a cell connection and its internal GPS and never had any weird behavior.....

I'm curious if there was any particular reason you "upgraded" to the new Mini 5-- new features, improved old features, ??
I use a Samsung tablet which is about 2 or 3 years old for my nav app--
it does everything I want it to, so no plans to change unless it goes gunnysack on me.
"If it's not broke, don't fix it" is an oldie but a goodie.

What program do you use on your android?

Barnstormer wrote:Thanks for the diagnostic ideas and links folks, but we are way past all that now. Apple Level 3 (engineers) are supposed to get back to me on Thursday.

Just got back from a 3 hour flight and was great to be using the Mini 4 again.

I appreciate the info on the external GPS units, of course everyone now knows I already have a GDL 39.

Like MTV (and actually for a longer period of time) I've used an iPad Mini with a cell connection and its internal GPS and never had any weird behavior. I've also never gotten lost flying anywhere amazingly enough. Unless I was flying IFR I have no need for a WAAS GPS. 10-30 meters is all the accuracy I need to stay out of trouble, and that's what I've always gotten from iPad's internal GPS until now.

And the weather radar resolution/display from a cell connection is far superior to any other weather radar source (ADS-B or XM), and why would I not want the best weather radar display. XM doesn't work up here in Alaska and ADS-B coverage is a joke. I was reminded of that when I flew over to Lake Hood with the GDL 39. On the Kenai Peninsula for a very short time I had coverage but by the time I neared the Turnagain Arm I no longer had Ground Antenna based ADS-B in (so no Wx display) even as I flew by Anchorage and into Hood.

But I did have a jillion (okay maybe that's an exaggeration) airplane targets including a pile of them on the ground at ANC that obscured the displayed airport overlays. As I flew in and then out I was reminded why I don't like ADS-B. I have no interest in knowing where any aircraft are that are not on a collision course with me. But I found myself looking for aircraft that ADS-B told me about rather than just looking out the window,

I suppose if I lived in the valley I might find it useful to be alerted to aircraft running up my tokhes. If you like ADS-B and think its the cat's meow I'm happy for you. It's not for me. Anyway that's all the news that fit to print for now. I'll post anything new I learn from Apple.

You can reduce the jillion airplane targets somewhat by adjusting the ForeFlight settings. Go to "settings", and scroll to "Traffic", and turn on "Hide Distant Traffic". It reduces the beehive effect by eliminating traffic higher or lower than 3500' from your altitude and farther than 15 nm.

On the GPS problem, you might consider contacting ForeFlight. Those guys and gals are pretty darned knowledgeable, and because they're wanting their app to work the way they've designed it to, they may be more aware of the Mini 5's potential issues running it (and other aviation apps) than the Apple engineers. It may be a simple setting item, in either ForeFlight or in the Apple settings.

Cary

Cary

hotrod180
More horse power, more storage, brighter screen.

Cary
Yea I've got Hide Distant Traffic set, besides I never that high (well almost never) and near Hood I'm at either 800 AGL (coming out) or 1500 AGL (going in).

Even though Apple Maps displays the same behavior giving Foreflight a call is a good idea, thanks, I'll do that.

I wonder if they moved the antenna/GPS chip location inside the mini5. Our iPad pro at work doesn't work for crap in its case. Take it out of the case and GPS own ship works great. In the case it works better with the home button on top facing the sky. FL400 and .85 mach. My mini 4 works fine. Weird none the less.

Jake

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soaringhiggy wrote:What program do you use on your android?

I use Avare with the additional add-on (Avare External os) to allow my Stratus Merlin to display the weather and other stuff. Avare is perfect for most of us that are typical cheap ass pilots....it's free! LOL

Apologies for getting off topic of the mini 5 back to the regularly scheduled programming.........

soaringhiggy wrote:What program do you use on your android?

Avare.

Is anybody else running Foreflight on a new (5th gen) iPad Mini using internal GPS??

As someone mentioned earlier, maybe this is an AK issue? Anybody in the lower 48 running into the same thing?

I'm following this thread closely for updates, as I was about to buy one last weekend when I noticed this thread. For clarification, I'm looking for specific feedback on the newest (5th gen) iPad Mini, cellular, using only the internal GPS for Foreflight.

Just got off the phone with Apple. They have confirmed what I reported and have begun working on a software update to fix the problem. No information on how long this will take.