I've done some searching and am struggling to find the right answer... Or maybe just the answer I want. Lol

I recently bought a 32gb iPad wifi model and am hoping to use this in the car as I travel for work.

I want to be able to stream Sirius satellite radio and run gps for 2-3 hours a day. Is my only option to get a mobile hotspot device and plan? It looks like the largest data plan I can get is from Verizon with 10gb/mo.

I'm guessing I also need to get a gps app from tom-tom, motionX, etc.

Is there any other way to run gps without a mobile hotpot?

If you have good Sprint signal coverage in your area take a look at Virgin Mobile for data. You can use their MiFi ($149) for 2.5gb for $40 a month. After 2.5gb the speed gets throttled but does keep going.

An even better choice, and the one I made, is to get an Optimus V Android phone that works with Virgin Mobile. It happens to be on sale this week at Best Buy for $129. The Optimus V can be used as a mobile hotspot without being rooted. Virgin Mobile's "Beyond Talk" plans include voice minutes and UNLIMITED data. (Well, you do get throttled after 10gb but few people can download that much per month) 300 minutes and unlimited data for $25 a month. If you need more minutes there are $40 and $60 plans that also have unlimited data.

Virgin Mobile data comes via Sprint towers, so be sure you get good Sprint coverage in the areas where you need access. If Sprint is good there, I don't see any way to beat this deal.

The Optimus V has a GPS. There are many Android apps that will access the GPS and guide you.

Cell Phone Plans - Pay As You Go and Prepaid | Virgin Mobile Virgin Mobile plans

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Virgin+M...&skuId=1879739 Optimus V at Best Buy (check the user reviews there)

Virgin Mobile USA Virgin Mobile discussions at Howard Forums (should answer any questions you have)

Cheaper and better would be a Garmin GPS....

Agreed.. the cheaper way would be to continue to use the Garmin GPS that is built into my Kenwood in dash unit... but I don't agree that it's "better".

The purpose of me buying the iPad was so that I could use this to replace my Kenwood unit and reinstall the stock stereo. (company vehicle)

Thanks for the info Bob... the Virgin Mobile $25 plan with unlimited data sounds like the ticket.... sure beats $80/mo at Verizon for 10gb.

I live in the Washington DC area and as far as I know Sprint is pretty good out here.

Just to confirm though... the unlimited data includes their hotspot usage?... it's not just for data used by the smartphone?

Originally Posted by danrivito

Agreed.. the cheaper way would be to continue to use the Garmin GPS that is built into my Kenwood in dash unit... but I don't agree that it's "better".

The purpose of me buying the iPad was so that I could use this to replace my Kenwood unit and reinstall the stock stereo. (company vehicle)

Thanks for the info Bob... the Virgin Mobile $25 plan with unlimited data sounds like the ticket.... sure beats $80/mo at Verizon for 10gb.

I live in the Washington DC area and as far as I know Sprint is pretty good out here.

Just to confirm though... the unlimited data includes their hotspot usage?... it's not just for data used by the smartphone?

If you search on here someone awhile back posted a link to a bluetooth GPS that claims to be iPad compatible - look for that. Mobile hotspot is probably not going to be very good for a driving GPS, accuracy-wise.
The motionX software is nice, but if all you need is a map showing where you are, the map prog in iOS is adequate.

Originally Posted by danrivito

Agreed.. the cheaper way would be to continue to use the Garmin GPS that is built into my Kenwood in dash unit... but I don't agree that it's "better".

The purpose of me buying the iPad was so that I could use this to replace my Kenwood unit and reinstall the stock stereo. (company vehicle)

Thanks for the info Bob... the Virgin Mobile $25 plan with unlimited data sounds like the ticket.... sure beats $80/mo at Verizon for 10gb.

I live in the Washington DC area and as far as I know Sprint is pretty good out here.

Just to confirm though... the unlimited data includes their hotspot usage?... it's not just for data used by the smartphone?

Correct. It's unlimited data, no matter whether on the phone, USB tethered or as a WiFi hotspot.

However, if I read your wants correctly, this setup will not transform your iPad into a GPS device. The Optimus phone has a built-in GPS, and there are GPS Android apps, so you can use the phone itself in place of the Garmin. But, the phone will not feed GPS data to the iPad. It can only act as a WiFi source.

See if this thread helps out

Gns 5870 mfi bt gps?

Originally Posted by Bob Coxner

Originally Posted by danrivito

Agreed.. the cheaper way would be to continue to use the Garmin GPS that is built into my Kenwood in dash unit... but I don't agree that it's "better".

The purpose of me buying the iPad was so that I could use this to replace my Kenwood unit and reinstall the stock stereo. (company vehicle)

Thanks for the info Bob... the Virgin Mobile $25 plan with unlimited data sounds like the ticket.... sure beats $80/mo at Verizon for 10gb.

I live in the Washington DC area and as far as I know Sprint is pretty good out here.

Just to confirm though... the unlimited data includes their hotspot usage?... it's not just for data used by the smartphone?

Correct. It's unlimited data, no matter whether on the phone, USB tethered or as a WiFi hotspot.

However, if I read your wants correctly, this setup will not transform your iPad into a GPS device. The Optimus phone has a built-in GPS, and there are GPS Android apps, so you can use the phone itself in place of the Garmin. But, the phone will not feed GPS data to the iPad. It can only act as a WiFi source.

Gotcha... you're right... looks like I'm going to need a GPS device

Originally Posted by accordlayingkit

See if this thread helps out

Gns 5870 mfi bt gps?

The 737A+ GPS Receiver in this thread may be what I need.

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/iBlue737A-i-Blue-737A-Bluetooth-Receiver/dp/B000KH7MZ4/[/ame]

So if I pair my iPad to the 737A+ receiver and I install a GPS driving app from the App Store, I'm assuming this will allow me to use my iPad as a GPS device... and it won't require a data plan? Can anyone confirm?

I guess I'm confused on whether or not the GPS device will still require a 3G data plan.

Originally Posted by danrivito

Gotcha... you're right... looks like I'm going to need a GPS device

The 737A+ GPS Receiver in this thread may be what I need.

Video Link: http://www.amazon.com/iBlue737A-i-Blue-737A-Bluetooth-Receiver/dp/B000KH7MZ4/

So if I pair my iPad to the 737A+ receiver and I install a GPS driving app from the App Store, I'm assuming this will allow me to use my iPad as a GPS device... and it won't require a data plan? Can anyone confirm?

I guess I'm confused on whether or not the GPS device will still require a 3G data plan.

Well I never bout anything yet but it wouldn't even let me download motion x drive hd app guess cause I have wifi only

I couldn't d/l Motion X either... I wonder if it would let me if I had a GPS device connected?