[aprssig] APRS for IPad

Les Niles w6vn at 2pi.org
Mon Jun 17 22:14:56 EDT 2013


Even the ones with GPS and cellular use wifi to help determine position.  In some cases, the wifi method is more accurate than GPS, and works in indoor locations where GPS is unavailable.  

And note that public hotspots are not necessary for determining position by wifi triangulation.  All that's necessary is for the wifi radio to be receiving one or more wifi routers/access points that have been mapped, which at this point is probably of them in the world. 

-Les W6VN


On 17 Jun 2013, at 8:02, Gregory A. Carter <gcarter at openaprs.net> wrote:

> iPads that have cellular actually do have a GPS. It's the WiFi only ones that do the WiFi crowd-sourcing method.
> 
> I'll be releasing a new OpenAPRS app for both iPhone and iPad when iOS7 comes out in August. The app was designed to be an Internet app not a packet radio app since you need a cellular version of the device to get the real GPS chip it's assumed you also will end up having Internet with the cell service.
> 
> I will probably be splitting off APRS Messaging into its own app with the focus on solely doing messaging instead of splitting focus in one app as it is now. I'll also be adding support for using OpenStreetMaps and possibly allowing for offline download.
> 
> Had a few major life changes that pulled me away from active development but I'm back at it and should be keeping it updated from here on out.
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Greg
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jun 12, 2013 at 8:21 PM, Stephen H. Smith <wa8lmf2 at aol.com> wrote:
> On 6/12/2013 9:42 PM, John Willis wrote:
> OpenAPRS - Yes
> IBCNU - Nope
> 
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:11:06 -0400
> From: mattwillis at gmail.com
> To: aprssig at tapr.org
> Subject: Re: [aprssig] APRS for IPad
> 
> Search the App Store for OpenAPRS
> 
> \
> 
> 1)   Note that all the iOS APRS apps are totally dependent on being tethered to the Internet (either by WiFi or cell data), since they all ultimately depend on Google Maps for their display.  Thus they are not very useful for autonomous use in the field
> 
> 2)   Further, only one iOS APRS app (PocketPacket) has any provision at all to be used with a radio/TNC.    This one uses the mic-in/headphones-out jack with a software TNC apparently similar to AGWpe or the UZ7HO sound modem. Unfortunately, the user feedback on this software TNC has not been very positive.
> 
> 3)   Note that OpenAPRS hasn't been updated for over three years, according to the App Store description.  Doesn't look like it's under very active development.
> 
> 4)   The WiFi-only iPads lack a fully-functional GPS (according to Apple and discussions on numerous Apple fan blogs), but instead depend on triangulating crowd-sourced data on the location of known WiFi hotspots to determine location.
> 
> However, I am somewhat puzzled about Apple's statement on this.  A friend of mine just went to Hong Kong with a basic WiFi-only iPad Mini.   The EXIF metadata in the photos she emailed me from H.K. included GPS coordinates that were dead-on when plotted on Google Maps, even when she was miles from any WiFi hotspot.   Could be that some of the later iterations of the WiFi-only iPads DO have an actual GPS in them?
> 
> _______________________________________________________________
> 
> 
> --
> 
> Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
> Skype:        WA8LMF
> EchoLink:   14400  [Think bottom of the 2-meter band]
> Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.net
> 
> 
>  Long-Range APRS on 30 Meters HF
>     http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/HF_APRS_Notes.htm
> 
> High Performance Sound Systems for Soundcard Apps
>    http://wa8lmf.net/ham/imic.htm
>    http://wa8lmf.net/ham/uca202.htm
> 
> "APRS 101"  Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating
>   http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> NV6G
> OpenAPRS.Net
> OpenAPRS iPhone Edition
> Find RC sites and weather in your area on iPhone/iPad with WhereBRC
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