MilesBuzz! - Handheld GPS on board?

Just for interest sake, several times I've used a handheld mapping GPS at my window seat. (It works about 95% of the time) Air Canada crew & a few European (LH,KL) never question it, if anything they ask me if we're on time! (even a few pilots have wanted to see it) However, on several US airlines, I've been told to turn it off...it can't be used etc. I have heard conflicting stories: FAA says it's fine, does not transmit OR "no way" As it is a receiver, it doesn't appear to be a problem, but ???
Any thoughts?

What model GPS are you using, and have you successfully used it on UA? I was thinking of getting one and was just starting to research them.

I had one of these on board. The coolest thing was that the airplane would bob and weave when I'd turn it on. I just had to be careful to turn it off before the dive became too steep. Once we had regained normal flight posture, I'd turn it back on again for more fun. Half the excitement was the extreme passenger and FA reaction. What a blast!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by benoit:
I had one of these on board. The coolest thing was that the airplane would bob and weave when I'd turn it on. I just had to be careful to turn it off before the dive became too steep. Once we had regained normal flight posture, I'd turn it back on again for more fun. Half the excitement was the extreme passenger and FA reaction. What a blast!</font>

Same thing here, except only on certain aircraft types. Didn't work on the older ones.

Best to wait until everything is smooth and people are relaxing with their drinks sitting on the tray tables, then push the GPS On button. Loads of fun!!

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jral:
However, on several US airlines, I've been told to turn it off...it can't be used etc. I have heard conflicting stories: FAA says it's fine, does not transmit OR "no way" As it is a receiver, it doesn't appear to be a problem, but ???
Any thoughts? </font>

I use GPS all the time -- people look at me funny sometimes but I've never been told to turn it off. I find it fascinating to know the exact route and velocity and altitude all the time!

GPS recievers are exactly that -- recievers. So yes, it does give off interference by virtue of being turned on, but it is not radiating anything beyond the normal electromagnetic noise of any small electronic device like a CD player or video game.

In fact it should give off considerably LESS noise than a CD player since motors (like those in CD players for spinning the disc) are incredibly noisy. Heck, a laptop computer with CD drive, hard drive, and dozens of chips probably gives off a hundred times more EM noise than a handheld GPS.

If you really want to worry someone, be sure to tell them that the plane is being bombarded by the GPS radio signals from every angle during the entire flight! Those pesky satellites don't stop transmitting just because a plane is taking off or landing...

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