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GPS only Maps?

R

relgeiz

Lurker
Hello - first off - a big THANK YOU to all the developers, there are some amazing apps out!

I'm going on a flight soon and am looking for an app that can tell me roughly where I am in the USA in-flight using GPS only. I will have to use Airplane mode, so the map would have to reside on my Droid vs. pulled in like Google Maps.

It doesn't have to be super-accurate, just roughly which part of a state I'm above and so on.

I haven't had any luck finding an app like this... does something like this exist?

Thanks!
 
I just downloaded MapDroyd (note the "y") today because I read on a different thread that it works with GPS but without the need for a data connection. You have to download each state's map individually and they're not small, but it sounds like that would work for you. I personally haven't tested it yet.
 
relgeiz said:
Hello - first off - a big THANK YOU to all the developers, there are some amazing apps out!

I'm going on a flight soon and am looking for an app that can tell me roughly where I am in the USA in-flight using GPS only. I will have to use Airplane mode, so the map would have to reside on my Droid vs. pulled in like Google Maps.

It doesn't have to be super-accurate, just roughly which part of a state I'm above and so on.

I haven't had any luck finding an app like this... does something like this exist?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

You do realize that using a GPS while in flight can be a federal offense right? Some airlines allow it but most do not. Especially if it's a cell phone. You cant turn off the cell radio and have the gps on.
 
relgeiz said:
That's too bad, I figured since GPS is read only it wouldn't matter. Guess I won't be doing that.
Click to expand...

You can, jmcgee_jr is talking rubbish. GPS will work while aeroplane mode is on (try it now). As you say the GPS system in the phone only listens to the signals put out by the satellites and can in no way effect the instruments in the aircraft as it does not put out any radio waves. In Aeroplane mode all radiowave services are disabled, not the GPS receiver.

That doesn't mean though that another mis-informed person won't ask you to turn your phone off.
 
bluenova said:
You can, jmcgee_jr is talking rubbish. GPS will work while aeroplane mode is on (try it now).
Click to expand...

It seems to me that he didn't say anything about it "working" while plane mode was on, he said it was illegal.

Check your flight to see if you have WIFI for free, some airline companies are offering this now. Obviously, then you could just access that.
 
bluenova said:
You can, jmcgee_jr is talking rubbish. GPS will work while aeroplane mode is on (try it now). As you say the GPS system in the phone only listens to the signals put out by the satellites and can in no way effect the instruments in the aircraft as it does not put out any radio waves. In Aeroplane mode all radiowave services are disabled, not the GPS receiver.

That doesn't mean though that another mis-informed person won't ask you to turn your phone off.
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Rubbish that hurts :) I am merely going by what I read about airplane mode for cell phones. That it turns off ALL COMMUNICATION DEVICES (that goes for BT,CELL,WIFI, AND GPS. However if I am wrong, my feelings are not hurt at all.
 
jmcgee_jr said:
Rubbish that hurts :) I am merely going by what I read about airplane mode for cell phones. That it turns off ALL COMMUNICATION DEVICES (that goes for BT,CELL,WIFI, AND GPS. However if I am wrong, my feelings are not hurt at all.
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Sorry jmcgee_jr, didn't mean to hurt, it just bugs me when people post factually incorrect info without saying 'I believe' or 'don't quote me'. It's just the way you said it made it sound like fact. GPS is not a communication device thus it doesn't get switched off in aeroplane mode. All it does it listen for the radiowaves that are already present in the cosmos, in a similar way to your FM radio. It doesn't emit anything.
 
Really you think a lil cell phone is going to reek havoc with aircraft avionics. Hell planes flies all around cell signals and radio waves forever and not one plane has been affected. I think they prohibit electronic devices on flights as so people are not annoyed by the noise of so many devices. Plus if its so bad for planes then why do they offer phones to make calls at outragious prices. They would lose a lot of money if people found out they could use their phones on flights.
 
Cell phones, there is a reason they are not allowed, besides any possible interference with the plane. Phones operate on a limited number of frequencies, the first wireless telephones were only 1 in use at a time per city. Cell phones are based on limited range towers, each covering a "cell" of area. If a "Cell" phone is used at elevation, it will be in range of not one, but hundreds of towers. A few people per plane in the area of a major airport like LAX, would probably cause the whole city to no longer be able to make calls.

On GPS on a plane, it's not illegal, but many airlines ban them.
Airlines which APPROVE/DISPROVE GPS use in Flight
 
Thanks for the link kevinrs, my airline seems to allow it. Still don't know how I'll know where I'm at with no Wifi available in-cabin but hey, it's better than nothing...
 
relgeiz said:
Thanks for the link kevinrs, my airline seems to allow it. Still don't know how I'll know where I'm at with no Wifi available in-cabin but hey, it's better than nothing...
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That was already covered in post 2 of this thread :D. Use MapDroyd. It allows you to download maps in advance so they are stored on your phone and can be used with GPS only whilst in Aeroplane mode.
 
Just a side note... I tried to use GPS in a plane during my trip to AZ. (On the ground, plane at the hanger/not moving... Legal. ) It wouldn't get a fix. Not even after half an hour. And I had a window seat. Planes block sat signals quite well while inside the cabin. Maybe you'll have better luck than I did... but I doubt it. :(
 
Tough to say for certain -- I've had difficulties getting a lock that had nothing to do with being in an aircraft. I've certainly heard of plenty of people being able to get a GPS lock on a commercial aircraft though.
 
relgeiz said:
Hello - first off - a big THANK YOU to all the developers, there are some amazing apps out!

I'm going on a flight soon and am looking for an app that can tell me roughly where I am in the USA in-flight using GPS only. I will have to use Airplane mode, so the map would have to reside on my Droid vs. pulled in like Google Maps.

It doesn't have to be super-accurate, just roughly which part of a state I'm above and so on.

I haven't had any luck finding an app like this... does something like this exist?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The app you need I believe is a google app called "My Tracks" it will track your GPS and altitude and works with google my maps to map the data. It can then be sharred as a google map.

Edit: confirmed this works in airplane mode. You will just see a grey screen instead of map or satellite view with a line forming for route.
 
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