Looking at V20...location services in airplane mode?

[MWesty]

I'm interested in the V20, but wanted to check to be sure, I can run location services (GPS) while in airplane or flight mode with the V20, correct?

 

[lvt]

It's usually about the OS rather than your phone.

You can run Wi-Fi and GPS while in airplane mode for sure.

 

[Napalm]

I think most mobiles after 2010 allow for this. Something about low power, limited frequency ranges. GPS is receive only so nothing exits the mobile for use. And wifi has since been proven weak enough and narrow enough in frequency band to not affect any system. I'll also tell you LTE bands don't affect any system on a plane either but that's a longer rant.

 

[MWesty]

Thanks for the info. I've had no problem doing this with Samsung phones, but was not sure. Speaking of doing this on a plane, the Flyover country app makes use of this capability.

 

[lvt]

When you turn on Airplane mode the OS will stop all functions that emit or receive signals. But after that you can manually turn on Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth... But apparently not GSM or Data.

 

[Napalm]

when I tested it - GPS and location was not turned off with Airplane mode. Again GPS doesn't transmit so no reason for it to go away. ALSO you phone is getting the exact same signal the airplane is getting with respect to GPS.

just an FYI - oh but make sure you have a location lock before you turn on airplane mode. This speeds up the process of getting a GPS lock in. once locked in though - doesn't matter. I noticed the v20 has some support for some qualcomm low power location mode in the location settings. I've turned that on also - seems to work well.

 

[Napalm]

When you turn on Airplane mode the OS will stop all functions that emit or receive signals. But after that you can manually turn on Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth... But apparently not GSM or Data.

so just an FYI about aircraft systems. for probably over a decade now standard 802.11 wifi standards have been certified for use on wing. More specifically - there are some add on systems for commercial aircraft use that communicate to each other and to the plane via normal 802.11 protocols. Started with G, IIRC. Now the security standards that go with are a bit different. Example - there is a smoke detector/fume detector system that works solely over wifi G.

wifi frequencies and power bands are not close enough nor strong enough to interfere with other essential aircraft systems and have absolutely no effect on navigation performances.

GPRS/EDGE frequencies and power band can indeed cause some ripples on things like VOR and Nav Beacons - more importantly they can screw up ADF. That's automatic direction finders - most modern planes over flying civilized areas don't use adf today. ADF relies on AM radio communications and other frequencies and it triangulates off of knows towers. CDMA and EVO systems also bothered it but not quite as much IIRC. These are sometimes in use for approach which is where the turn off phones for take off and landing actually came from. I have used a phone in the cockpit and watched the director screen waver till I turned it off. that was with me taking a call in the cockpit at under 10,000 ft.

Since some LTE bands are in the same frequency stack I suspect the same effects exist. this is why airplane mode's prime purpose is to turn off your cell system - but leave GPS and WIFI alone. OH and BT isn't strong enough and is in the same frequency stack as WIFI.

GPS - none of these other systems affect GPS signal or useage. you can be on the phone in the cockpit laying the phone on top of the glareshield and the GPS Direction lines won't change.

and before any other rot starts - on a modern commercial aircraft all the electronics boxes (avionics) are shielded and tested as such that no commercially sold mobile will affect them directly. IE lay your mobile directly on the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) box tape it down and fly the plane and you'll never notice the difference.

but use the ADF or VOR and it might waver. Reasoning - you're broadcasting strong enough/close enough to the antenna out side the plane to affect the incoming signals. Not the computer boxes on wing.