sperkinsCIO

Q: Anyone know if the GPS works in Flight Mode on the 4?

I am flying to Chicago in the morning and I'd love to be able to watch my track to match up what I see with what's on a map. I've always wanted to do this. Does it work on the 4?

Thanks.

clone, Windows 7, none

Posted on Jul 18, 2010 9:28 PM

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Q: Anyone know if the GPS works in Flight Mode on the 4?

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  • by StevenB4,

    StevenB4 StevenB4 Jul 18, 2010 9:31 PM in response to sperkinsCIO
    Level 2 (485 points)
    Jul 18, 2010 9:31 PM in response to sperkinsCIO
    It appears that it does work in flight mode.

    Message was edited by: StevenB4
  • by sperkinsCIO,

    sperkinsCIO sperkinsCIO Jul 18, 2010 9:31 PM in response to StevenB4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 18, 2010 9:31 PM in response to StevenB4
    thank you.
  • by StevenB4,

    StevenB4 StevenB4 Jul 18, 2010 9:34 PM in response to sperkinsCIO
    Level 2 (485 points)
    Jul 18, 2010 9:34 PM in response to sperkinsCIO
    Your welcome. If your using the maps app, you would have to be connected to wi-fi for the map data.
  • by Kwopau,

    Kwopau Kwopau Jul 18, 2010 9:36 PM in response to sperkinsCIO
    Level 4 (1,730 points)
    Jul 18, 2010 9:36 PM in response to sperkinsCIO
    And of course I doubt it will work inside the airplane after take off as you need wi-fi to track where it's going, and I don't think wi-fi is allowed inside.
  • by sperkinsCIO,

    sperkinsCIO sperkinsCIO Jul 18, 2010 9:36 PM in response to StevenB4
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 18, 2010 9:36 PM in response to StevenB4
    Hmmm in-flight wi-fi sounds expensive. It's not worth it. I have motion-x gps that can cache blocks of maps based on your flight path. It would be cool if it could get gps signals in flight. thanks.
  • by StevenB4,

    StevenB4 StevenB4 Jul 18, 2010 9:44 PM in response to sperkinsCIO
    Level 2 (485 points)
    Jul 18, 2010 9:44 PM in response to sperkinsCIO
    hmm According to this, GPS is disabled in airplane mode

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1355

    I switched on airplane mode on my phone and it appears gps is still working
  • by modular747,

    modular747 modular747 Jul 18, 2010 9:46 PM in response to Kwopau
    Level 6 (19,343 points)
    iPad
    Jul 18, 2010 9:46 PM in response to Kwopau
    I don't think wi-fi is allowed inside.

    Many planes allow WiFi, but in moving airplane it would be useless to aid in location.
  • by Kwopau,

    Kwopau Kwopau Jul 18, 2010 9:47 PM in response to StevenB4
    Level 4 (1,730 points)
    Jul 18, 2010 9:47 PM in response to StevenB4
    StevenB4 wrote:
    hmm According to this, GPS is disabled in airplane mode

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1355

    I switched on airplane mode on my phone and it appears gps is still working


    Well of course, when you switch to airplane mode, everything is disabled, wi-fi is turned off, bluetooth is off.

    But you can still turn on wi-fi even if it is in airplane mode.

    Also even if you are in an airplane mode, the app "Map" will still show pictures, you can still scroll around, zoom in and out, but what it will not do is, that it will not find locations if you don't have wi-fi on.
  • by Rick Wilson,

    Rick Wilson Rick Wilson Jul 19, 2010 5:17 AM in response to Kwopau
    Level 1 (70 points)
    Jul 19, 2010 5:17 AM in response to Kwopau
    Sitting at home with Airplane Mode on and Wi-Fi specifically turned on, the GPS does not work for me. The indicator spins and spins and then I get a message that tat says something to the effect that your location can't be found.

    I was hoping that the phone would/could use the GPS sats and wi-fi to provide location but it doesn't seem to work.
  • by Etek,

    Etek Etek Jul 19, 2010 5:29 AM in response to Rick Wilson
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 19, 2010 5:29 AM in response to Rick Wilson
    What the **** does wifi has to do with gps in the first place? You need the gps radio to work which requires CLEAR SKY above the phone, and I doubt you could take the phone out while flying, but you can try.

    Wifi is only required to maps to download pictures, but if you use TomTom's gps app or Igo you don't need wifi.
  • by Chuck Usher,

    Chuck Usher Chuck Usher Jul 19, 2010 6:11 AM in response to Etek
    Level 4 (1,649 points)
    Jul 19, 2010 6:11 AM in response to Etek
    Don't know about the Iphone, but I have been successful with a handheld gps unit
    on airplanes as long as I was next to a window.
  • by Rick Wilson,

    Rick Wilson Rick Wilson Jul 19, 2010 5:45 PM in response to Etek
    Level 1 (70 points)
    Jul 19, 2010 5:45 PM in response to Etek
    Well, wifi is how one gets the maps using the Maps app on the iphone. The iphone's location services gets it's location by using a combination of wifi locations, cell towers and GPS sats.

    One of the reasons I'd be interested in using Airplane mode and allow location services to work is so that when traveling outside the country, the phone could be used with all of its capabilities with the exception of cell data and calling (international calling and data roaming) which is expensive. Then it could also be used as a GPS and display one's location, etc. For calls, one could use Toktumi ($14.95 per month) and have a phone using wifi that would be free of extra charges when used to call the US.

    I wonder if Location Services works with the sim card removed? I haven't tried that.
  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Jul 19, 2010 5:54 PM in response to sperkinsCIO
    Level 8 (38,117 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 19, 2010 5:54 PM in response to sperkinsCIO
    sperkinsCIO wrote:
    I am flying to Chicago in the morning and I'd love to be able to watch my track to match up what I see with what's on a map. I've always wanted to do this. Does it work on the 4?

    The built-in GPS CANNOT work on a plane if you follow the rules and turn on Airplane mode, as the maps are downloaded over the air as needed. Which means you need a 3G signal (which is illegal on a plane) or WiFi, which will only work if the plane has a hotspot on board. Very few do, and those that do charge for it.
  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Jul 19, 2010 5:56 PM in response to Chuck Usher
    Level 8 (38,117 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 19, 2010 5:56 PM in response to Chuck Usher
    Correct - because the maps are stored permanently in a handheld GPS. the iPhone downloads the maps in real time from Google's servers, however. Which won't work in Airplane mode.
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