Only WiFi+Cellular models of iPad have GNSS/GPS capabilities with which to accurately determine location - GPS being a function of the iPad Cellular chipset. WiFi Only models of iPad have no GPS capabilities with which iPad Location Services can derive location. This fundamental difference may significantly impact your ability to accurately determine location - in particular if real-time positioning (e.g., a moving map) is required. If you are using a mobile phone’s hotspot to obtain an internet connection, the phone does not share GPS information derived from its own positioning capabilities.
WiFi Only iPad models can only “infer” their location from a database lookup of neighbouring WiFi networks for which the geographic location is known, or the geographic location of your public IP address. For static applications in urban locations, where the location of IP public IP addresses and WiFi networks are known, an “inferred” location can be relatively accurate. However, in rural locations, or when using a Cellular/Satellite/VPN connection, location accuracy of an inferred location [if it works at all] may be very inaccurate.
As is, if you require accurate location services, potential options are:
- Substitute your WiFi Only iPad for a WiFi+Cellular model; this does not commit you to provisioning Cellular service for your iPad, but does provide GNSS/GPS functionality for the iPad.
- Add an external GPS receiver to your WiFi Only iPad. These are often used in marine, aviation and vehicular applications - and can be either directly connected via Lightning or via Bluetooth. Their are various third-party manufacturers, of which two are BadElf and Garmin GLO.