GPS and airplane mode

[jmmo20]

Hello,

Does anyone know for sure if airplane mode does disable the GPS chip?
I downloaded Pathtrack and thought it be great if you could use it on a plane, because it tracks you even if no internet (google maps) is available. When you get to destination and get online you can send the path back to their servers for you to keep.

thanks.

[Jeremy1026]

Hello,

Does anyone know for sure if airplane mode does disable the GPS chip?
I downloaded Pathtrack and thought it be great if you could use it on a plane, because it tracks you even if no internet (google maps) is available. When you get to destination and get online you can send the path back to their servers for you to keep.

thanks.

Airplane mode turns off all transmitters and receivers.

[greenmymac]

Airplane mode turns off all transmitters and receivers.

it would be pretty neat to have GPS on an Airplane and watch and see where your flying!

[dukebound85]

delta is offering wifi services

http://www.yenra.com/wiki/Gogo_Delta_WiFi_Internet

makes you wonder if you could uses your own internet from iphone as there are obvioulsy signals being transmitted by wifi. how they regulate those signals to be safe, i have no idea

[FarSeide]

tried the GPS on the plane to Japan and GPS does not work when in Airplane Mode.

[dukebound85]

tried the GPS on the plane to Japan and GPS does not work when in Airplane Mode.

ive heard that nuvie's work.....my dad tried it and i told him afterward you coulda gotten in decent trouble probably lol

[doobi18]

:eek: leave airplane mode and give it a go :eek:

[FarSeide]

:eek: leave airplane mode and give it a go :eek:

tried that as well. No Go. I had nothing else to do for 11.5 hours from LAX to NRT

[pj rage]

I've found from playing with it, that with airplane mode ON, my position in google maps DOES NOT update, indicating to me that the GPS chip is off. With airplane mode OFF, and NO SERVICE, I've found that my position in google maps DOES update, indicating that the GPS chip is on. So, to answer your question, yes airplane mode does disable the GPS chip.

You have an interesting idea there though, but unfortunately it would require that you leave your phone on, and hope that you could grab a GPS fix from the airplane while traveling at high speeds without service. Very unlikely, I would think? I know my friend has tried his portable tom tom on a plane and it couldn't grab a fix at all, he let it go for 15 minutes and it never locked.

[Linuss]

delta is offering wifi services

http://www.yenra.com/wiki/Gogo_Delta_WiFi_Internet

makes you wonder if you could uses your own internet from iphone as there are obvioulsy signals being transmitted by wifi. how they regulate those signals to be safe, i have no idea



Because contrary to popular belief, having cellphones on during flight isn't dangerous. It's more of a "better safe then sorry" policy.

My mom was a flight attendant.

[bluenoise]

I just read there are a couple of leading reasons why cellphones aren't yet allowed on flights:

1. The cell carriers didn't like the idea of hundreds of cell phones pinging hundreds of towers at once and causing excessive handoff traffic. A plane flying at 30,000 feet is nearly equidistant from dozens of cell towers, so there would be far more negotiation and handoff than for a phone near the ground.

2. Most people (more than 80%) surveyed said they'd rather not have to listen to a Chatty Cathy on her cell phone during their flight than have the ability to make their own calls. Once the number of people who want cell use outnumber the number of people who don't, the airlines will probably reconsider.

I have heard of people using GPS receivers on flights and they work, but someone told me the airlines were concerned about security as a GPS receiver could be used as a location-based triggering device, for example. Seems a little far-fetched to me, but I guess that comes down to the 'better safe than sorry' issue.

[Niiro13]

I just read there are a couple of leading reasons why cellphones aren't yet allowed on flights:

1. The cell carriers didn't like the idea of hundreds of cell phones pinging hundreds of towers at once and causing excessive handoff traffic. A plane flying at 30,000 feet is nearly equidistant from dozens of cell towers, so there would be far more negotiation and handoff than for a phone near the ground.

2. Most people (more than 80%) surveyed said they'd rather not have to listen to a Chatty Cathy on her cell phone during their flight than have the ability to make their own calls. Once the number of people who want cell use outnumber the number of people who don't, the airlines will probably reconsider.

I have heard of people using GPS receivers on flights and they work, but someone told me the airlines were concerned about security as a GPS receiver could be used as a location-based triggering device, for example. Seems a little far-fetched to me, but I guess that comes down to the 'better safe than sorry' issue.

I thought that cell phones would be useless in terms of signals on flight...While the towers are strong enough to transmit a signal, doesn't that mean that you can receive a call, but as soon as you answer, you drop it, because of the strength of the transmitter in the phone?

[Apple Ink]

Many country laws prohibit GPS on a plane! HUGE Security issue!

[NiroshanMan]

I was on several flights a day ago. (going from anchorage AK to Hartford CT via Seattle and Houston) i tried turning off airplane mode for a minute. It couldn't locate me, nor could it find cell towers, i think the airplane was too high to get any signal.

[Small White Car]

My cousin tried his iPhone on a plane last week and said it didn't give him anything.

Some GPS units do work, though. I used to have a GPS unit that plugged into my laptop.

I got it to work just fine! (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=5817044&postcount=15) :D

[lavrishevo]

I just tried the GPS on my flight and I could not pick up a signal. Had it on the ground but put it away during the last pre-flight inspection and it lost signal right around take off and never came back.

I was actually trying to use Speedometer to see the the speed it would read but a no go. :(

Edit: Just came across this posted "It can't locate you without cell service. Turn on airplane mode and open Google Maps. Try locating yourself. It doesn't work. It can't find the satellites on its own, it needs assistance from the cell towers."

[Sputnik 57]

Policy on GPS use in flight varies from airline to airline. Southwest has flip flopped but currently permits them. At last check, Delta allowed them, but some of their affiliated do not. Most GPS receivers won't get signal through the fuselage, but will if held next to a window. It is kind of cool to see your speed and altitude in real time, and have your path plotted on a map (I use a Garmin 60C).
As with almost every portable electronic device, use is prohibited below 10,000 feet. After that, check your in-flight magazine for a list of permitted devices. Most GPS units are receivers only, so the transmitter issue isn't a problem.
The iPhone turns off the GPS receiver when in airline mode.

[bluenoise]

I thought that cell phones would be useless in terms of signals on flight...While the towers are strong enough to transmit a signal, doesn't that mean that you can receive a call, but as soon as you answer, you drop it, because of the strength of the transmitter in the phone?

In order to receive a call, the tower has to have already established two-way communications with the handset. Even at 35000 feet, it's still less than seven miles and there are no obstructions, so your handset should be able to communicate just fine. I don't know, though, how much affect the plane's aluminum fuselage would attenuate the signals.

[pj rage]

FWIW I had tried my Verizon phone (which got great reception pretty much everywhere... I was the guy who always had cell service when no one else did) on a few flights and when at cruising altitude, it never could find a signal.

[The General]

FWIW I had tried my Verizon phone (which got great reception pretty much everywhere... I was the guy who always had cell service when no one else did) on a few flights and when at cruising altitude, it never could find a signal.

That's because you're at least 6 miles from the nearest transceiver, and they don't point up, and you're going 500 miles per hour.

No one gets cell service in airplanes at cruising altitude.

[Carl G35c]

my freind got 2 bars of service 25 mins after take off departing Vegas using a Verizon LG VX6000. this was almost 2 yrs ago

[Van Wildonher]

Edit: Just came across this posted "It can't locate you without cell service. Turn on airplane mode and open Google Maps. Try locating yourself. It doesn't work. It can't find the satellites on its own, it needs assistance from the cell towers."

Umm no it doesn't. FYI.

[Hustle]

Just leave your phone on. They overate the 'Phones interfere with the plane' so much. Saying that, you wont get any reception in a plane (to far from cell towers). GPS should work though.

[rayward]

The GPS may find your position, but without cell/wifi coverage you won't have any data for Google Maps, so it's pretty pointless.

And there's been a huge discussion here before as to whether or not it's ok for some people to take it upon themselves to turn on their phones during take off/flight, just because they don't see why they shouldn't.

[lavrishevo]

I would love to hear if anyone is successful in getting GPS on the iPhone while at cruising altitude. Please let me know.

[avaloncourt]

I would love to hear if anyone is successful in getting GPS on the iPhone while at cruising altitude. Please let me know.

Even if you were to manage to get a lock where would the map data come from? You need a data transfer for the maps and the updating would be constant at that speed. Without a data connection you'd be a dot flinging across a grid... not very interesting.

[pj rage]

Even if you were to manage to get a lock where would the map data come from? You need a data transfer for the maps and the updating would be constant at that speed. Without a data connection you'd be a dot flinging across a grid... not very interesting.Did you even read the first post?

[View]

tried that as well. No Go. I had nothing else to do for 11.5 hours from LAX to NRT

Damn, don't you hate that flight?? I sure hate it! It's so long and boring... But at lease I like Narita better than Taipei airport though.


As for wifi on the plane, I'm sure you can use your iphone to connect to the Wifi, as you can have the Wifi on when the airplane mode is activated.

[avaloncourt]

Did you even read the first post?

Did you bother reading that I wasn't replying to the original poster? I'm addressing that poster and several others ignoring the requirement that it be in airplane mode but they're turning on the radios anyhow and then speculating why they aren't getting anything.

[avaloncourt]

..

[Lightbrazer]

Did you bother reading that I wasn't replying to the original poster? I'm addressing that poster and several others ignoring the requirement that it be in airplane mode but they're turning on the radios anyhow and then speculating why they aren't getting anything.

Legal or not to use, many airplanes DO use cell phone jammers that flood the band and force you to zip signal. You can tell your on a "jammed" flight when you have a signal just fine but lose it before you're more than 15 feet off the ground or halfway down the runway.

[LtCarter47]

Even if you were to manage to get a lock where would the map data come from? You need a data transfer for the maps and the updating would be constant at that speed. Without a data connection you'd be a dot flinging across a grid... not very interesting.

It could be interesting. I'm going on a trip soon and I plan on using my iphone to take a photo each place I take a photo with my SLR. When I get home and sync, I'll be able to use iPhoto and see all these places in the maps section. Then I can use that location info and add it to the photos I'll be taking with my big camera.

As far as on the flight, I think if you put your phone against the window and let it search, it just might lock onto the GPS. A lot of people seem to forget it's line of sight, so point it out the window. I even experience this in my car now and then. The cell towers will give me an approx location, and when I put my phone near a window, it will get the exact lock and show me the blue dot. You're right though, with no data service you'll be looking at a grid. Had that happen in the middle of the nowhere once. (though I placed a bookmark and was able to find it later on google maps when I got home)

Anyway, I'm hoping it'll work through the window, because I'd like to take a picture every 30 minutes or so and check out the locations later in iPhoto when I get back home! :D

[djjclark]

It could be interesting. I'm going on a trip soon and I plan on using my iphone to take a photo each place I take a photo with my SLR. When I get home and sync, I'll be able to use iPhoto and see all these places in the maps section. Then I can use that location info and add it to the photos I'll be taking with my big camera.

As far as on the flight, I think if you put your phone against the window and let it search, it just might lock onto the GPS. A lot of people seem to forget it's line of sight, so point it out the window. I even experience this in my car now and then. The cell towers will give me an approx location, and when I put my phone near a window, it will get the exact lock and show me the blue dot. You're right though, with no data service you'll be looking at a grid. Had that happen in the middle of the nowhere once. (though I placed a bookmark and was able to find it later on google maps when I got home)

Anyway, I'm hoping it'll work through the window, because I'd like to take a picture every 30 minutes or so and check out the locations later in iPhoto when I get back home! :D

With out AGPS dont be surprised if it takes up to 4 mins for the gps to lock on to the needed sats.

[hawkdriver]

As a military and civilian pilot I regularly use GPS in flight and am aware of no such "security reasons" banning GPS use in flight. Using a cell phone will not interfere with flight instruments either. Or at least that has been the case every time I have made a call in flight. Mythbusters even did an episode on cell phone use and debunked the myth. Now maybe if everyone tried making a call simultaneously it might affect an instrument but I haven't tried that or have seen anything where it has been tested. Also, cell phone towers are designed to transmit and receive out and down but not up. I am told and have confirmed that around 2500 feet (Above Ground Level, not Mean Sea Level) cell phone service is typically lost. I have successfully sent and received text messages and phone calls below 2500 feet. The downside to having a cell phone turned on during flight is that every time it pings a tower or tries to ping a tower there is distortion in the headset of civilian aircraft. (military aircraft are shielded against interference)
I have an app on my phone that provides enroute charts (aeronautical maps) along with my current position through the GPS. The charts are cached on the phone which eliminates the need for a data connection. I would very much like to turn on airplane mode but retain the GPS capability in order to use the app while avoiding the radio interference. I know I can buy a GPS designed for flight but prefer spending a few dollars on an app instead of a couple thousand dollars when I am flying VFR (Visual Flight Rules).

[emuyshondt]

Hawkdriver: What app do you use for en-route charts? Does it provide sectionals as well as IFR charts? I've seen a few apps out there, but I don't know which are the better ones. I'm a private pilot and would like to purchase a good package for the iPhone.

I've used a Bluetooth GPS receivers with an AT&T 8525 on commercial flights and the only way I got them to work was by holding them right to the window. If the unit is small enough you can use the shade to hold it in place. There's not enough signal strength inside the aluminum tube that is a typical commercial cabin to get a satellite lock anywhere other than at a window. The GPS receiver in the iPhone is not particularly good so it probably needs all the help it can get to get a satellite lock. Maybe the TomTom dock could help since it is supposed to have a better GPS receiver.

[hawkdriver]

The app I use is Sky Charts and I mis-spoke, it has sectionals for the entire US plus approach plates, arrival and departure procedures, along with all freqs and airport information, I don't remember the cost, but it updates monthly when the charts expire.
If anyone knows of an app that has enroute low altitude charts I would like to try it.

Also, Aero Wx is a great free app that will give you METARs and TAFs. Air Nav Pro is a paid app that has an HSI with VORs and NDBs but it is more of a novelty than anything I would try to actually fly in the soup with.

[-aggie-]

As a military and civilian pilot I regularly use GPS in flight and am aware of no such "security reasons" banning GPS use in flight. Using a cell phone will not interfere with flight instruments either. Or at least that has been the case every time I have made a call in flight. Mythbusters even did an episode on cell phone use and debunked the myth. Now maybe if everyone tried making a call simultaneously it might affect an instrument but I haven't tried that or have seen anything where it has been tested. Also, cell phone towers are designed to transmit and receive out and down but not up. I am told and have confirmed that around 2500 feet (Above Ground Level, not Mean Sea Level) cell phone service is typically lost. I have successfully sent and received text messages and phone calls below 2500 feet. The downside to having a cell phone turned on during flight is that every time it pings a tower or tries to ping a tower there is distortion in the headset of civilian aircraft. (military aircraft are shielded against interference)
I have an app on my phone that provides enroute charts (aeronautical maps) along with my current position through the GPS. The charts are cached on the phone which eliminates the need for a data connection. I would very much like to turn on airplane mode but retain the GPS capability in order to use the app while avoiding the radio interference. I know I can buy a GPS designed for flight but prefer spending a few dollars on an app instead of a couple thousand dollars when I am flying VFR (Visual Flight Rules).

The reason GPS is definitely okay is because it's passive. It doesn't send out a signal and only detects the satellite signal.

[emuyshondt]

Foreflight just released Foreflight Mobile 3 (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/foreflight-mobile-3/id333252638?mt=8). It has weather (but doesn't seem to provide plain language translations), VFR charts, Low and High Altitude IFR charts, IFR Terminal Procedures, Airport Facility Directory and airport diagrams. You can also enter a route and request a weather briefing along it. I just got it yesterday and seems pretty cool. You can either download maps as you use them, or keep local copies for when you don't have internet access.

The app itself is free and you can use it for one month before deciding to subscribe. after that they offer a couple of different subscription plans ($70/year for the one with everything, on sale for $39.99 until the end of the year).

Skycharts is a one time $9.99, but the author says he may start charging for updates once it get to version 2 and includes many of the things Foreflight offers. I may give Skycharts a try too. I'm going to get the other apps mentioned.

[firewood]

Does anyone know if the iPhones's GPS chip is turned on in Airplane mode, but with wifi-only enabled but not connected? (Yes, I know it might take 10 minutes to lock and get coordinates, and no maps could be downloaded.)

[roncole]

The discussions here of passengers turning on prohibited devices in flight is disturbing. There are several good reasons for the rules but suffice to say that random signals could cause serious interference with navigation and/or flight control systems, (even if only for a moment). And intentional flaunting of Federal law is a serious offense.

It is also worth mentioning here that I have seen unexplained signal fluctuations on flight instruments at or near the same time the flight attendants later confirmed that passengers were using phones.



RC
Airline Transport Pilot
Aircraft Mechanic

[The Tuck]

Haha, that post was a total buzzkill.

-The Tuck
(Sorry to bring back an old thread, but I think this topic is fascinating.)

[LtCarter47]

lol

[BigBertha64]

I have tried this flying from Alaska to California and it works great!