Does cell capable ipad require a cell plan to be activated

[axismoto]

I am currently starting a CTE (shop class) program at our school. I would like the mavic mini to be a part of the Engineering class curriculum. I have one and love it. Especially now that there may be more capabilities from third party apps soon! My school currently does not have a cellular plan. My question is, if I want to utilize cell capable Ipads to run the mini's, do they require that I have the cell plan actuated to that device?
Anybody got recommendations on a better more cost effective way to go other than the mini? Remember, kids destroy things...

 

[iaincaradoc]

No.You do not have to activate the cellular plan in order to use it.

I've been using an iPad mini 5 that is cellular-capable without activating the plan. It's nice having the GPS on-board to the controller, as compared to the other iPad I had been using without cellular and without GPS, and hot-spotting it to my phone for both cases.

 

[axismoto]

No.You do not have to activate the cellular plan in order to use it.

I've been using an iPad mini 5 that is cellular-capable without activating the plan. It's nice having the GPS on-board to the controller, as compared to the other iPad I had been using without cellular and without GPS, and hot-spotting it to my phone for both cases.

So, as far as flying and gps goes, I should get everything I want without activation?

 

[iaincaradoc]

So, as far as flying and gps goes, I should get everything I want without activation?

Correct. And as long as you have wifi (whether hardwired or via a hot-spotted cellular device nearby) you can even use an app on the iPad to do your LAANC auth, if needed.

 

[axismoto]

Correct. And as long as you have wifi (whether hardwired or via a hot-spotted cellular device nearby) you can even use an app on the iPad to do your LAANC auth, if needed.

What about third party apps if I don't have a hot spot or wifi? like litchi

 

[iaincaradoc]

What about third party apps if I don't have a hot spot or wifi? like litchi

Dunno. I've never used Litchi, and it would be very dependent on whether the app in question requires a live data connection.