Dual Electronics XGPS150A Multipurpose Portable Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver | Wide Area Augmentation System, Black

After doing a lot of research I previously had used a Bad Elf GPS dongle for my flying needs. When I upgraded to an iPhone 5 and iPad Mini, my old 30 pin Bad Elf became an expensive and obsolete key chain. I tried using the 30pin-Lightning adapter, but found it awkward on the yoke and decided it was time for an upgrade. I don't fly enough to justify an expensive ADS-B receiver, and I didn't want to make the mistake of a plug-in unit again, so I set out to do some research.Having been happy with Bad Elf, I considered the Bad Elf Pro because one feature I thought I needed was tracking, something the Dual 150 doesn't have. What changed my mind was the price. Even though the 150 is an "older" model, I was able to pick it up for almost half the price of the Bad Elf Pro and it seems like it's made for flying. The rubber dash grip and small size are great on the glare shield of the plane. I was very impressed with how fast it got a cold signal and the accuracy was also great. The battery life is excellent for even long cross country flights or drives. I love how there's nothing to it, and the free iPad/iPhone application made it fun to see how well it was working.If you're not flying with Foreflight, you're missing out. I'm sure that Wing-X and Garmin Pilot are great too, but I've been using Foreflight for years and have nothing but praise for the application. There was no work to get this working with Foreflight. I use a wireless only iPad mini, so I otherwise didn't have airspeed, altitude etc. All of that shows up the instant you start up Foreflight with the GPS connected. No set up required. The GPS works great on sunny days and in clouds, It also doesn't seem to mind getting hot on the dash.The only big difference between this model and the newer one is the 150 can only connect with one device at a time. For me, this wasn't a deal breaker and it still isn't. For the simple VFR flier like me, I only use the GPS as a back up and wouldn't see a need for more than one device to be connected.Bottom line: If you want to get GPS function on your iPad for a low price, this is the unit for you. If I had the spare $700 laying around, I'd probably go buy a Stratus, but this will do just fine for me in the mean time.

This XGPS150A works well, it allows my non cell enabled iPad Pro to work as a mapping device, such as with Google Maps. I still need to tether the iPad to my cell phone to get the maps. Apple does not allow its phone to send GPS information to a tethered iPad. If an iPad doesn't have the cellular hardware, it lacks the tiny inexpensive chip that would enable GPS reception. There used to be an app that would allow the phone to send GPS location data to an iPad but that app has been removed, rendering non cell enabled devices pretty much useless for GPS. Not only does the XGPS150A restore GPS function, it seems much more accurate than cell phone GPS. There is a disk displayed around the mapped location indicating the uncertainty of the mapped location. That disk is much smaller with this XGPS150A than it is with the iPhone location mapping. This 150A not only places me on the correct side of a divided highway, it follows as we move into an exit lane. I believe location accuracy is claimed within 10 feet and it seems well within that. We used it on a 6 hour trip so I can tell you battery life is longer than that. When I ordered it I had the idea it was much larger than it really is. The unit is small, it weighs 48g and measures 2.2" square and 3/4" thick. It has a molded in loop on the back for a strap and that adds a bit to the thickness, otherwise it would be thinner. It comes with a Velcro type strap and a handy rubbery molded pad so it stays put on top of the dash. Others have noted that the charging cord can't be used while it is in the rubbery pad. That isn't really right because you can put it into the molded pad tilted with one edge up. It is still held well enough that it stays put on the dash but can still be charged.My previous iPad mini was cell enabled and I didn't realize when I bought my current iPad Pro that the non cell enabled iPads were so GPS crippled. It makes little sense to me that a tethered iPhone can't send GPS location to an iPad. Anyway, this XGPS150A restores the GPS function and it seems to markedly improve on the iPhone's location accuracy in the process. The difference on this 150A model and the next higher one is this will connect to just one device at a time.There are just 4 status LEDs on GPS antenna. There is a downloadable app that gives information about which satellites are being used and an indication about position and accuracy, but that accuracy is indicated with a nonspecific word such as "good" but not in the much better way such as an estimate in feet or meters.It comes with a charging cord but no wall charger. It does have a cigarette lighter type plug for 12V charging.I'm happy with this GPS receiver and would purchase it again.