GPS co ordinates on phone ?

A

Andy Bav

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Was looking at handheld GPS's to track co-ordinates offshore (max 35 miles) to back up chartplotter failure but see there is an Android app that gives you co-ordinates, and its free.

Question is whether it gets its signal from the mobile network or it genuinely is from satellites.

The GPS icon suggets a satellite signal, but I wondered if it needs a network connection as well for it to work properly - especially as it seems heavily intertwined with Googles location service...
 
It depends on the phone handset.

Most modern sets have proper GPS (or S-GPS - Standalone GPS) which means they do not need a phone network to function correctly (but be aware that some mapping utilities download the map in real time so if you want plotting then you have to have the maps on your phone or a link available)

Some older phones have Assisted GPS (A-GPS). This comes in two forms. The basic form means the phone does not have a GPS chip at all and gets its location information from the cellular service, this means you have to have a cellular connection for it to work. The second form is where the phone does have a GPS chip but the phone works in hybrid mode and also gets information from the cellular service as well. The advantage of this is that the location information is available quickly, avoiding the startup delay whilst the GPS receiver is retrieving the Almanac from the satellites.

So you need to establish what capability your phone has.
 
mlines said:
It depends on the phone handset.

Most modern sets have proper GPS (or S-GPS - Standalone GPS) which means they do not need a phone network to function correctly (but be aware that some mapping utilities download the map in real time so if you want plotting then you have to have the maps on your phone or a link available)

Some older phones have Assisted GPS (A-GPS). This comes in two forms. The basic form means the phone does not have a GPS chip at all and gets its location information from the cellular service, this means you have to have a cellular connection for it to work. The second form is where the phone does have a GPS chip but the phone works in hybrid mode and also gets information from the cellular service as well. The advantage of this is that the location information is available quickly, avoiding the startup delay whilst the GPS receiver is retrieving the Almanac from the satellites.

So you need to establish what capability your phone has.
Click to expand...

Thanks. It has a A-GPS and GLONASS...the latter seems to be linked to a Rusian system ?@
 
As you mentioned android app I think its fair to assume it is a modern phone with GPS built in?

I use Sail Droid on a Samsung, I can read it without my glasses on, gives speed bearing and heading and it always seems to agree with my Garmin. (which is just as well as it don't have a swimming app!)
 
Just a thought Andy. To really make sure turn off mobile signal and data aspects, put into plane mode. The turn on gps.

If you can get a fix then you know you are OK.
 
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