Standalone GPS (Garmin inReach) vs. iPad w/GPS

Sort of new to this, but I have seen a lot of iPad apps that allow GPS with dongles or standalone units. I am wondering if its worth it to invest in one of those like the Garmin inReach or Bad Elf and use it with a wi-fi only iPad. OR get an iPad with cellular/GPS and not have to use a dongle at all.

What kind of setup are you running with your iPads? And more importantly, which apps?

 

I have been looking into Gaia GPS. Seems simple, effective, and exactly what You’d want for a fraction of the cost of some stand alone gps units.

 

A cheap wifi Ipad and a Garmin Inreach gives a lot more functionality over just an Ipad.

 

This is what I'm thinking as well. And that means that I can move to a newer iPad once mine shits the bed. My GPS device will keep on ticking, hopefully. The Bad Elf premium unit is $250, I don't know if I can justify the cost of a $450 Garmin unit.

 

I see the Garmin Inreach, really, as primarily for back country 2-way satellite communication, not off-road navigation. I mean, they have mapping on them (most of them), but my phone with GPS has a better map interface than the garmins, do.

"A cheap ipad", lol... You can get a Galaxy Tab for like $100 with integrated GPS. That will run pretty much any off-grid mapping software you want, and you don't have to futz with (or buy) external gps antennas.

If you're going off grid, there's no reason to get anything with any sort of cell service, you're not likely to have good coverage anyway. You already have a phone for that...

If you need to download a map and you're not at your home wifi, turn your phone into a hotspot and use that, don't waste your money on a tablet with cell service for that.

 

I read this a couple times now... What exactly is the recommendation here? I already own an iPad Pro that I like. A standalone GPS on the side will run me $150-$250 and will be useful in the future. The Garmin is the expensive option at $450.

 

I wasn't suggesting getting the Garmin. I was saying that the only reason (IMO) to get the garmin intouch is if you want the 2-way satellite comm ability. Everything else it (and most other stand alone gps units) can do, my phone or a GPS enabled tablet can do, too. If I ever got an Intouch, it would probably stay in my glove box unless I needed to send/receive a message.

If you already have an ipad that you're willing to use, great, use that.

I have an ipad too, but I looked into it and a whole new Galaxy Tab with GPS was still cheaper than a decent external GPS device to connect to the ipad. Plus, I don't really like the idea of taking my expensive ipad into the wilderness.

Currently, I've just been using my old phone (gps still works) with BCNavigator, and it works great. Simple, cheap, and doesn't clutter up my dash.

 

With the Inreach linked via bluetooth to a non-gps capable Ipad it functions as a gps receiver for the ipad. I use mine for that since I already had the ipad when I bought the Inreach. I don’t use the Inreach intself for mapping or navigation if I’m in my truck.