GNS 5870 MFI GPS Bt Receiver "WAAS" Enabled Review

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(More customer reviews)Like some, I bought the Wi-Fi only iPad because I specifically didn't want the 3G capability. But in hindsight, I did miss at least the GPS capability. So to make up for my "remorse", I ordered the external bluetooth GNS 5870. It pairs quickly with the iPad buetooth and locked on to 6 satellites (based on one app's notification) through a large upstairs window in about 2 or 3 minutes. It was a little faster I believe through my car windshield. And it stayed locked on even after walking briefly into a shopping mall with it in my shirt pocket. How accurate? Two iPad apps say accuracy is within 30 feet but this reading is through an apartment window. The accuracy of Wi-Fi only was reported as 213 feet. But the GNS 5870 works very well all by itself and thats why five stars. I would not rate it less just because the "touch and slide" on and off is slightly finicky and can be unexpectedly activated by certain movements within a coat pocket etc. Its very portable at 1 3/4 x 3 inches and has a nice rubberized body except for the 1/2 inch wide plastic touch strip. The total GNS 5870 cost at $160.00, means I'm paying about $30.00 more than the iPad 3G model would have cost.
None of my views would matter though, if the GNS 5870 cannot work with the few iPad mapping, navigation, and GPS apps that are compatible with the Wi-Fi only iPad. So I discuss these apps not as an endorsement, but just to show that the GNS 5870 does work well without Wi-Fi and with no extra expense of a 3G data plan. It should be noted however, that this does not replace the usefulness or maybe the overall accuracy of the iPad 3G, as the iPad 3G has three modes of triangulation: Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS, which provide navigation assistance when some of the modes like satellite are not available. My uses however, may be in areas of no Wi-Fi and no cell towers. In this case, my Wi-Fi only IPad with the GNS 5870 will probably be as useful as the 3G model.
That said, I have tried all the following apps riding in my car with the GNS 5870 resting on the dash. The device tracks fine with the following apps that store map data internally in the iPad: Topo Maps, MotionX GPS HD and the iPhone app Navigon MyRegion. It also works fine with the iPad Google Maps but only in "classic" and "terrain" views. This is because Google's map base is not stored internally in the iPad and must be first accessed on the fly through Wi-Fi. The "satellite" and "hybrid" views are too large I believe to be cached in the app itself. For the same reasons, the GNS 5870 does not play well with Google Earth because the app does not store large data fields internally. But smaller, less memory intensive map areas and routes in Google Maps ("classic" and "terrain") can be cached and used later using only the GNS 5870. These are erased from the cache however after any changes are made. The GNS 5870 works and tracks with the app Big World although this app also uses the Google Maps data base and I'm not sure how much of that map base is stored internally.
But if you are having Wi-Fi only iPad "buyers remorse", and you still want GPS, this is one excellent way to go. And if I get lost 30 feet from where I want to go then I'm in big trouble anyway.

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The GNS 5870 MFI GPS Bluetooth receiver has a stylish design is small and ultra flat (79.1 x 45.3 x 11.3) mm.The embedded Li-Ion battery allows operation time > 10 hrs and does not use the internal battery power of your Apple device Because of the Bluetooth connection the 30-pin dock connector is not blocked and free for usage with other accessories like audio player handsfree or FM Transmitter.Also the dock connector is not physically stressed. You can use your GPS Craddle or Car Kit without any restriction. The GNS 5870 MFI can also be used with PC, Net- Notebook and provide automatically also the NMEA protocol. The GNS 5870 MFI is delivered together with a cigarette lighter adaptor and a USB cable for charging, it is also possible to charge via any USB port.Thanks to the wireless connection the GNS 5870 MFI can be optimized placed in your car or aircraft. The GNS 5870 MFI is the most flexible GPS receiver you can buy. Because of Bluetooth you are well prepared for future products without any connector hazzle. "Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad" certified.Works perfectly with Navigation and Aviation apps like NAVIGON, TOMTOM, ALK, MotionX GPS, Fore Flight and many more.

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