GPS on a plane

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rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
19,441
86
91
Originally posted by: KK
surprised the onboard marshall didn't tackle you. I seriously doubt it would do anything, hell they have gps in the cockpit.

But all the aircraft avionics are shielded properly so they do not interfere with one another.

That being said... there is very little chance any handheld device would interfere with the flight. When I was a pilot I carried cell phones, pagers, etc. in the cockpit and never turned them off. It was probably just once case where no one could explain a navigation error or system screwup so the FAA blamed a handheld electronic device. Who knows.
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: rudder
Originally posted by: KK
surprised the onboard marshall didn't tackle you. I seriously doubt it would do anything, hell they have gps in the cockpit.

But all the aircraft avionics are shielded properly so they do not interfere with one another.

That being said... there is very little chance any handheld device would interfere with the flight. When I was a pilot I carried cell phones, pagers, etc. in the cockpit and never turned them off. It was probably just once case where no one could explain a navigation error or system screwup so the FAA blamed a handheld electronic device. Who knows.

I hear that a lot and I question if that's really even true in the sense that they really "shield" things. It would be interesting if they don't and just say it to stop people from using devices. Because what is shielded? Is the plane equipment shielded? If so wouldn't it have been wise to shield it from everything, including the most likely things such as a cellphone? Or does it mean its own transmitters/signals are shielded? But that doesn't make any sense because what would they be shielding since it's certainly not the signals being transmitted being shielded?

edit: I don't know jack about engineering btw so forgive me if my question sounds stupid
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
97,270
16,366
126
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Originally posted by: rudder
Originally posted by: KK
surprised the onboard marshall didn't tackle you. I seriously doubt it would do anything, hell they have gps in the cockpit.

But all the aircraft avionics are shielded properly so they do not interfere with one another.

That being said... there is very little chance any handheld device would interfere with the flight. When I was a pilot I carried cell phones, pagers, etc. in the cockpit and never turned them off. It was probably just once case where no one could explain a navigation error or system screwup so the FAA blamed a handheld electronic device. Who knows.

I hear that a lot and I question if that's really even true in the sense that they really "shield" things. It would be interesting if they don't and just say it to stop people from using devices. Because what is shielded? Is the plane equipment shielded? If so wouldn't it have been wise to shield it from everything, including the most likely things such as a cellphone? Or does it mean its own transmitters are shielded? But that doesn't make any sense because what would they be shielding since it's certainly not the signals being transmitted being shielded?

The equipment are all encased in Faraday Cages. Of course the antenna is not shielded, that would defeat the purpose of the antenna.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
I'm flying back to NH on Friday..now I want to bring my GPS..
 

darkxshade

Lifer
Mar 31, 2001
13,749
6
81
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Originally posted by: rudder
Originally posted by: KK
surprised the onboard marshall didn't tackle you. I seriously doubt it would do anything, hell they have gps in the cockpit.

But all the aircraft avionics are shielded properly so they do not interfere with one another.

That being said... there is very little chance any handheld device would interfere with the flight. When I was a pilot I carried cell phones, pagers, etc. in the cockpit and never turned them off. It was probably just once case where no one could explain a navigation error or system screwup so the FAA blamed a handheld electronic device. Who knows.

I hear that a lot and I question if that's really even true in the sense that they really "shield" things. It would be interesting if they don't and just say it to stop people from using devices. Because what is shielded? Is the plane equipment shielded? If so wouldn't it have been wise to shield it from everything, including the most likely things such as a cellphone? Or does it mean its own transmitters are shielded? But that doesn't make any sense because what would they be shielding since it's certainly not the signals being transmitted being shielded?

The equipment are all encased in Faraday Cages. Of course the antenna is not shielded, that would defeat the purpose of the antenna.


And that does what for the plane exactly? I sort of know what a faraday cage is but if the purpose of it is to protect equipment from signals, than shouldn't it too protect this equipment from cellphone signals and such? And if it does, why are they using this as an excuse that a plane gps/radio is ok but a cell phone is not? That's all I'm trying to get at.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
97,270
16,366
126
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Originally posted by: sdifox

The equipment are all encased in Faraday Cages. Of course the antenna is not shielded, that would defeat the purpose of the antenna.


And that does what for the plane exactly? I sort of know what a faraday cage is but if the purpose of it is to protect equipment from signals, than shouldn't it too protect this equipment from cellphone signals and such? And if it does, why are they using this as an excuse that a plane gps/radio is ok but a cell phone is not? That's all I'm trying to get at.

Stops any stray EM emission the equipment might put out. Also stops stray EM emission of a foreign nature from interfering with the device.

GPS and radio are not transmitters, cellphone is. But cellphone does not interfere with the plane electronics.
 

911paramedic

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2002
9,448
1
76
What if you put your GPS on the treadmill that was in the cargo hold. Would it register a speed?
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
97,270
16,366
126
Originally posted by: 911paramedic
What if you put your GPS on the treadmill that was in the cargo hold. Would it register a speed?

Frame of reference again. As long as the plane is flying and the gps receiver can get enough satellites, it will register speed
 

david46675

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
404
0
0
should've told them that you needed to know where the plane was so that you could set off your bomb at the proper time...
 

Scouzer

Lifer
Jun 3, 2001
10,358
5
0
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: 911paramedic
What if you put your GPS on the treadmill that was in the cargo hold. Would it register a speed?

Frame of reference again. As long as the plane is flying and the gps receiver can get enough satellites, it will register speed

What if it's an unlimited length treadmill in the cargo hold that is moving in reverse at the exact same speed at the plane is moving forward?
 

shocksyde

Diamond Member
Jun 16, 2001
5,539
0
0
Originally posted by: Scouzer
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: 911paramedic
What if you put your GPS on the treadmill that was in the cargo hold. Would it register a speed?

Frame of reference again. As long as the plane is flying and the gps receiver can get enough satellites, it will register speed

What if it's an unlimited length treadmill in the cargo hold that is moving in reverse at the exact same speed at the plane is moving forward?

Waffles.
 

bignateyk

Lifer
Apr 22, 2002
11,288
7
0
Originally posted by: akshatp
I tried with my TomTom on my way to Vegas last year, never could get a lock on a satellite

Consumer GPS units are locked and will only work up to a certain speed (although I think it would be enough to work on a plane, so im not sure what your issue was).

They do this so that people can't use consumer units to construct a missile. Military GPS units can work to like 20,000 mph or something.
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
48,775
3
81
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: darkxshade
Originally posted by: rudder
Originally posted by: KK
surprised the onboard marshall didn't tackle you. I seriously doubt it would do anything, hell they have gps in the cockpit.

But all the aircraft avionics are shielded properly so they do not interfere with one another.

That being said... there is very little chance any handheld device would interfere with the flight. When I was a pilot I carried cell phones, pagers, etc. in the cockpit and never turned them off. It was probably just once case where no one could explain a navigation error or system screwup so the FAA blamed a handheld electronic device. Who knows.

I hear that a lot and I question if that's really even true in the sense that they really "shield" things. It would be interesting if they don't and just say it to stop people from using devices. Because what is shielded? Is the plane equipment shielded? If so wouldn't it have been wise to shield it from everything, including the most likely things such as a cellphone? Or does it mean its own transmitters are shielded? But that doesn't make any sense because what would they be shielding since it's certainly not the signals being transmitted being shielded?

The equipment are all encased in Faraday Cages. Of course the antenna is not shielded, that would defeat the purpose of the antenna.

*palces a call on smartphone*

pilot: "OMFG WE ARE GONNA DIE! WE ARE GONNA CRASH AND DIE"
copilot: "sir, we are still parked at the gate"
 
Nov 7, 2000
16,403
3
81
i think people have no idea how satellites, cellphones and airplanes work. i think when you take these things, hurtle them through the air at 500 MPH 35,000 feet in the air, these same people are going be fearful and reach unscientific conclusions based on anecdotal evidence that feeds those fears.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
97,270
16,366
126
Originally posted by: Scouzer
Originally posted by: sdifox
Originally posted by: 911paramedic
What if you put your GPS on the treadmill that was in the cargo hold. Would it register a speed?

Frame of reference again. As long as the plane is flying and the gps receiver can get enough satellites, it will register speed

What if it's an unlimited length treadmill in the cargo hold that is moving in reverse at the exact same speed at the plane is moving forward?


what part of frame of reference did you not understand?

Your licence to be a passenger on a plane is hereby revoked.
 

SKORPI0

Lifer
Jan 18, 2000
18,441
2,363
136
Tried a Delorme Street Atlas 2009 and Earthmte LT-20 with a Dell M170 on a Flight from Chicago to San Antonio a few weeks back, took forever to get a lock on 4 sattelites. Gave up after the notebook battery died in less than 2 hours. Same thing on flight back, this is on a Boeing 737.
 

tontod

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
3,244
0
71
Originally posted by: SKORPI0
Tried a Delorme Street Atlas 2009 and Earthmte LT-20 with a Dell M170 on a Flight from Chicago to San Antonio a few weeks back, took forever to get a lock on 4 sattelites. Gave up after the notebook battery died in less than 2 hours. Same thing on flight back, this is on a Boeing 737.

Yeah, it took me a good 15 minutes to get a lock. Last year, I tried for almost an hour (same GPS), I didnt get a lock. Not sure if weather is a factor or not. I have a garmin nuvi 670. It was cool looking at the landscape and guessing what/where we were flying over.
 
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