Bad Elf Dongle Adds GPS to Your Wi-Fi iOS Device

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Posted November 30, 2013 at 8:31pm by iClarified

Bad Elf is offering a 'Bad Elf GPS for Lightning Connector' dongle that adds GPS functionality to Wi-Fi iOS devices. While all Apple's cellular devices offer GPS built-in, the Wi-Fi models do not. Instead they rely on crowd-sourced Wi-Fi to triangulate your position, which is much less accurate.

The Bad Elf GPS dongle connects to the iPad, iPod, or iPhone via the Lightning port and provides a micro-USB passthrough port for charging.

Bad Elf Dongle Adds GPS to Your Wi-Fi iOS Device

Features
● Instantly add GPS & GLONASS location support to your iPad Wi-Fi or iPod touch device with Lightning Connector.
● High performance 66-channel WAAS enables GPS provides latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, and GPS track.
● Accurate to 2.5m (9ft) up to 60,000ft and 1,000mph.
● Quickly acquire satellite lock without cell tower assistance. Hot start time in as little as 2 seconds.
● Sleek design, great fit, and an internal LED that does not protrude from the case.
● Plugs into the iPad/iPod touch either way. And because the passthrough charging cable socket is on the side, you can direct the charge cable to either side of the iPad/iPod touch.
● Built-in micro-USB port allows for pass through charging while in use.
● No internet connection or monthly subscription required.
● Download the free Bad Elf app from the App Store for firmware updates and device configuration.
● Includes free upgrade to CoPilot Premium app for voice-guided turn-by-turn vehicle navigation support (USA purchases only).

You can purchase the Bad Elf GPS dongle at the link below for $129.99. There is also a dock connector version available for $119.99.

Read More [via CultofMac]

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JimGramze - December 1, 2013 at 6:08am

My iPhone 5 gets GPS info even when I don't have phone service, and it guides me without a data plan so long as I set my route at home with WiFi. Cell towers don't seem to be the issue. It even works with the phone turned off and wakes about every ten miles or when a turn is coming up which uses precious little power on a multi-hour drive. I know of no other phone that can do that.

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Big jiba - December 1, 2013 at 4:57am

I'm pretty sure iPad iPhone GPS doesn't work in the airplane. Too fast and high. This is for a specific use. Maybe even works better in a city.

kindofblack46 - December 1, 2013 at 6:40am

You're wrong, I used it. A GPS chip is a GPS chip...

Ed - December 1, 2013 at 1:02pm

I am not a technical expert in the field but I doubt a GPS chip is a GPS chip any more than a CPU chip is a CPU chip. In fact, I am sure it is not. If you read up on GPS you will learn that newer models have more accurate spatial resolution in 3D. In theory you can get precision measured in a few feet now. I experimented with my iPad's built in GPS on a flight to LAX last week (I was a passenger not the pilot!). The altitude of LAX reported by my iPad was off by several hundred feet at the time we landed. Over the next few minutes, while taxiing, it gradually settled down to the value listed by the FAA /- a tolerance (say, 50 feet, I don't recall precisely). While no one should be using an iPad as the primary navigation device for an airplane (it is not certified), still, off by a couple hundred feet is not useful in aviation. I also understand these newer GPS devices are used by golfers and others (I don't play myself). I suppose you can measure the distance of your shot more accurately. There are several competing products out there. I have no idea if Bad Elf is one of the best ones or not. I am just sharing information to let folks know that these do have a purpose (for some applications) that adds value above and beyond the built in GPS on the iPad. Best wishes.

latetodinner - December 1, 2013 at 2:30pm

The issue is not accuracy. The issue is lock times and consistency of lock. Phones and GSM devices use cell tower assisted GPS to speed the "lock" . In reality they are triangulating your position using cell towers until they are able to get a true satellite lock. It is very effective for land based activities like driving. Devices like the Bad Elf GPS units are designed to add GPS to Wi-Fi only devices like the iPod touch, the iPad wi-fi or the iPad mini wi-fi. They also add a level of piece of mind to people who iPhones or GSM iPads with built in GPS chips who do not want cell tower assisted GPS but instead want "true" GPS. Pilots in particular, Boaters who travel more than 10 miles offshore (out of the reach of cell towers) and people who are traveling in mountains or areas where cell towers are scarce may find the GPS from an external receiver like the Bad Elf more reliable. I have an iPhone and I find the GPS for driving to be fine. However I also have a boat and I use a Bad Elf GPS Pro (the bluetooth one) to give GPS to my wi-fi only iPad and to my iPhone at the same time. Its all in how you use it.

Ed - December 1, 2013 at 2:52pm

latetodinner: thanks. I learned something from your post. I appreciate it. I did not know about that the phones were triangulating based on cell towers to get a quick lock. I did do some reading on Wikipedia about WAAS, which Bad Elf Pro supports (I have that model also, but just got it a week ago). WAAS does improve accuracy. However, it is also possible that the Apple products' GPS supports WAAS (I don't know).

Ed - December 1, 2013 at 3:05am

The purpose of this is for more accurate GPS. I am learning to fly and the built-in iPad GPS is not as reliable nor as accurate as the Bad Elf product line. So, for certain applications such as flying, this is worth having. The iPads with data capability do have GPS built in, but as mentioned, they are not as accurate or reliable. However, if you purchase one of those, and never activate the data plan, the GPS will function. This is my understanding from reading some reviews from Sporty's (a pilot shop).

Raul - December 1, 2013 at 1:44am

Could get a cellular ipad for this much additional money rather....

twib - November 30, 2013 at 10:39pm

I am wonder how long the battery will last with this add on .

latetodinner - December 1, 2013 at 3:55pm

twib, I ran into the Bad Elf guys at the Miami Boat Show last year and they told me that battery drain with an external GPS plug in receiver like the Bad Elf GPS for Lightning Connector was about the same as it would be using an internal GPS receiver. It makes sense when you think about it. All they are doing is receiving GPS signals and then transferring very small packets of data to core location services which is all the internal GPS receiver is doing. The Bad Elf guys then convinced me to get the Bad Elf GPS Pro because of the multiple device sharing GPS data functionality, the stand alone data logging feature, the wicked long battery life and the fact that it has a really large antenna which easily gets locks even below deck. I have been looking at the Bad Elf GP for Lightning Connector to get my son (23) who likes to hunt. He could use it with his wi-fi iPad Mini and then have bigger maps available to him...but more importantly he would not be burning the battery of his phone while he is out in the woods...so if there was an emergency then his mother and I would have more peace of mind. The holidays fast approach so who knows what Santa will bring :-)

Sillydrew - November 30, 2013 at 9:59pm

Thats retarded to ask for that price since the person didn't want to pay that exact amound for that feature to begin with. This price will drop for sure if the creator intends on selling them.

Peter - November 30, 2013 at 10:03pm

100% agree!!!

latetodinner - December 1, 2013 at 12:57am

The price quoted is the MSRP available on Bad Elf's Webstore. If you do a quick google search you will find different (lower Prices) on Amazon and at other retailers.

Jeff - November 30, 2013 at 9:17pm

You can add data for the same price and you get gps...

m_thoroughbred - December 1, 2013 at 12:45am

If you're referring to the iPad no matter which model you get you still don't get GPS. There's no GPS chipset on the iPad so you can't have gps what you will have is wi-fi triangulation

latetodinner - December 1, 2013 at 1:03am

What's great about the Bad Elf is you get GPS without the monthly data charge. You could get the 3g/4g/Lte + GPS enabled iPad for the extra $129 but then you still will most likely be paying an extra $25 a month in data. Its a much better deal in the long run unless you need mobile internet.

Jeff - December 1, 2013 at 4:26am

You get GPS with data-enabled iPads.