dwalt
Pre-takeoff checklist
I'm going to pick up an iPad mini tomorrow and am looking for a GPS receiver to use with it. If anyone has one they're looking to part with for a reasonable fee, you've got a buyer here.
Buy the ipad mini with cellular and it has a built in GPS. You do not need to activate cellular for it to work. I have a bad elf pro for backup but the internal GPS seems to work pretty good in the newer units. You get a external it's good backup. If you get the wifi only you are relying on the external only and have no backup. I would sell my bad elf pro for $130 if interested. It is the Bluetooth model.
I have not tried the mini. My ipad 1 lost GPS all the time. I went to the 2 and its real good. The guys at wing x told me the newer units are great. I will have a mini soon.
Also if you turn off wi-fi, Bluetooth and cellular the GPS has a better chance of working well. When the iPhone/ipad is trying to pick up wifi, Bluetooth, cellular and GPS all at the same time it tends to drop off. Everything is turned off on my ipad and it works wonderful. I first read this on sporty's ipad while flying faq's. Sporty's has done lots of testing.
The iPad 1 setup had the least amount of accuracy when compaired to the other 3. The iPad 2 w/gps when compaired to the iPad 2 w/Garmin GLO was not as accurate.
The iPad 4 w/Dual and the iPad 2 w/Garmin GLO was very close to each other in accuracy.
Our conclusion. If you want to fly as accurately as possible with an Apple product grab either the DUAL or the Garmin GLO.
When it comes down to the iPad 2 or iPad 4, it depends on what you are looking for. Are you looking for performance, or battery consumption? Honestly, go with performance and grab the fastest thing on the block! Just my opinion.