GPS without data?
Sep 23, 2015 | 5:26 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
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Posts: 4,863
GPS without data?
Has anyone actually tried using their phone's GPS without having data or wifi turned on? I know many phones have an actual GPS receiver, but they also use AGPS as their primary source to get an accurate fix. Has anyone tried downloading a map, then taking the phone offline completely and just activating the GPS? How did that work in a city - is it fairly accurate?
Sep 23, 2015 | 5:29 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
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Posts: 18,137
Has anyone actually tried using their phone's GPS without having data or wifi turned on? I know many phones have an actual GPS receiver, but they also use AGPS as their primary source to get an accurate fix. Has anyone tried downloading a map, then taking the phone offline completely and just activating the GPS? How did that work in a city - is it fairly accurate?
Sep 23, 2015 | 6:25 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Mass
Programs: Independent
Posts: 4,863
Worked fine on my iphone in Hawaii, had data turned off as I'm Canadian, downloaded the route I had to drive via wifi in the hotel, then as we were driving my SO was looking at the GPS tracker signal in google maps and told me where to turn. It lags a bit, bit not more than like 100m at most. Worked fine. Accurate in a city as long as you're not speeding, we also used it in San Francisco as we were walking/biking.
Sep 23, 2015 | 6:42 pm
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,550
The GPS on my Android or iOS device is usually enough if buildings aren't too dense and high. Android can also use an external bluetooth logger
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...id.btgps&hl=en
I have a Holux unit for geotagging photos and it does maintain signal in dense urban pedestrian situations decently.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...id.btgps&hl=en
I have a Holux unit for geotagging photos and it does maintain signal in dense urban pedestrian situations decently.
Sep 23, 2015 | 6:56 pm
#5
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like I said, walking in San Francisco it was fine. Though to be fair, San Francisco isn't the densest city, so it's no NYC or anything, but I had no troubles.
Sep 23, 2015 | 7:12 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LGA - JFK
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Had offline city maps downloaded on iPhone 5s and LG's Nexus 5, used them both in Taiwan and in South Korea (Incheon & Seoul) with good results in driving (well, backseat passenger) mode - didn't try walking around holding it up, LOL. It was pretty accurate, AFAIK - without turning on cellular data, free roaming or otherwise.
Sep 23, 2015 | 7:24 pm
#7
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Location: DEN
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The GPS on my Note 2 works in airplane mode in flight (no WiFi on the plane either), so I would assume that it also would work on the ground.
Love knowing exactly where we are in flight, and watching the blue dot motor along on the map.
Love knowing exactly where we are in flight, and watching the blue dot motor along on the map.
Sep 26, 2015 | 7:09 pm
#9
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: BNA
Posts: 71
Has anyone actually tried using their phone's GPS without having data or wifi turned on? I know many phones have an actual GPS receiver, but they also use AGPS as their primary source to get an accurate fix. Has anyone tried downloading a map, then taking the phone offline completely and just activating the GPS? How did that work in a city - is it fairly accurate?