Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

Two questions.

1) Will the Magellan GPS receive sattelite signals while onboard a commercial airliner?

and if so,

2) Is GPS a "banned" electronic device on commercial airliners?

Thanks,
Rich

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 16

Hi,
I don't know if the Magellan SB module will work on a comm. aircraft, but I know that my Garmin 12 works fine next to the window.

Electronics are banned during take-off and landing, however most GPS devices are simply receivers, so IMHO there is no risk of interference.

It is very cool to see the acceleration during take-off.

Have fun with GPS

--Froggie

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 13

They are on AA

I was just on an American Airlines flight and GPS's are not allowed to be used inflight - just like cellphones and radios.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Petersburg, AK
Posts: 131

All commercial flights I've been on have not permitted GPS...

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Illinois
Posts: 32

GPS on planes

I just flew last week and the explanation was that the devices weren't allowed during takeoff and landing. But the only devices banned during the flight were transmitting devices.
By the way, the Magellan works fine in flight.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 16

That's what i thought...GPS are just receivers....the actual device just "catches" a signal...and therefor I don't see why any harm would be caused.

If anyone could explain the reason, that would be great.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 106

quote:

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Originally posted by Froggie
Electronics are banned during take-off and landing, however most GPS devices are simply receivers, so IMHO there is no risk of interference.

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Which makes you wonder about . . .

quote:

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Originally posted by Froggie
It is very cool to see the acceleration during take-off.

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DOH!

quote:

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Originally posted by Froggie
That's what i thought...GPS are just receivers....the actual device just "catches" a signal...and therefor I don't see why any harm would be caused.

If anyone could explain the reason, that would be great.

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It's all about electronic emissions. Clearly "transmitting" devices have electronic emissions, but so do many non-transmitting ones. Because there is wide variance in the way electronics are produced and shielded, the airlines have chosen the most conservative approach and determined some classes of items (e.g. portable radios?!?! - receiver only) are also banned.

I've always felt that airline manufacturers should bear more of the responsibility for these emissions through improved shielding of sensitive/critical components. This will become even more critical as advanced electronics play an increasing role in our daily lives. As it is, there has been no traceable, conclusive incident of passenger carried electronics impacting the control, communication, or navigation systems on an aircraft - just a lot of assumptions and finger pointing.

Kupe

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 41

Electronics on aircraft

As far as I know, the only two items that are banned on commercial aircraft are FM radios and Cell Phones. I am not sure for the reason of banning cell phones as WiRED had a big article on that and I think it came down to airline/cell phone companies policy.

The reason FM radios are banned is that the emissions given off by the FM radio are in the same frequency range (VHF) as the VOR navigation equipment causing a potential interference problem. As a private pilot, I have seen what a FM radio can do to a VOR receiver in a small airplane at close range. If this would have the same effect in a commercial airliner, who knows.

In another case, I have heard of a Gameboy causing interference on a Boeing 757 data bus but I am not sure if that is an urban legend or what.

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: New York, New York, USA
Posts: 27

The reason cell phones are banned on airplanes is simply because if they allowed passengers to use their cell phones on the plane nobody would use the airline phone's (usually located on the back of the seats) where they charge roughly $35.00 a minute. If cell phones (or gps)would really mess something up on the plane in flight then you would not be able to use any phone (theirs or yours) on the plane ever.

I imagine they don't care about gps because the airlines don't sell gps service on the plane. Rest assured that if they did, personal gps devices would be specifically banned also.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

I tried it yesterday

Flew to O'Hare from Philadelphia yesterday and Magellan was able to lock-on 4 sattelites. Very cool. I marked O'Hare as a way-point and used NAV Comp to give me current heading speed and elevation information while in "position" mode. The only problems I noticed were that the odometer and trip odometer were updating with bad milage in the "speed" mode. Also, the elevation value in the "speed", "plot", and "Nav2" mode was pegged at 99999 ft., eventhough the elevation value was correct in the "position" mode. We were cruising at 32-35,000 feet. I thought this was strange, since you would think that the elevation value in the "position" mode was the same calculation and variable as the elevation value in the other modes.
I also liked the "distance" and "TTG" calculations. Now I know where we're at real time.

Next week, a flight to Europe, that will be the real test!

Also, is anybody aware of any global position map applications that fit on the Handspring. Maybe with a view of the continents and oceans?

Thanks,
Rich

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Illinois
Posts: 32

GPS in flight

Rich wrote:
Also, the elevation value in the "speed", "plot", and "Nav2" mode was pegged at 99999 ft., eventhough the elevation value was correct in the "position" mode. We were cruising at 32-35,000 feet.

I noticed the same thing, hopefully Magellan will correct this error.

Someone else wrote that they thought the airlines wouldn't allow cell phone use was to ensure people would use the planes phones. I didn't know cell phones would work at 35,000 feet. Could this be possible??

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 96

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I didn't know cell phones would work at 35,000 feet. Could this be possible??
**********************************************************

No way...no how...cell phone tracking from cell to cell is too slow for one, by the time the phone/cell figured out where you were, you wouldn't be there anymore. And two, you are so far above the mountains and hill tops they use for coverage that the tiny receiver on any cell phone would never be able to pick it up...even IF the cells broadcast straight up, which they don't.

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Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Glendora, CA
Posts: 96

I know this is out of line but...

as a visorcentral newbee, I do have a question...how do quote someone else's text without retyping or copy/pasting?

thanks!

sam

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 5

Yes, GPS works in planes

Yes, GPS systems do work in planes. I was using on on a United Airlines flight, and it worked perfectly, properly showing speed (about 500 mph) and where we were. Also note: this was a UAL flight, and the GPS worked great and no complaints from the stewards, however, it only worked next to the window, anywhere else there wasn't ANY signal (and this was a Magellan Map 330, so 12 channel) Also, the whole urban legend thingy about Gameboys not being allowed, they are and they work and nothing happened. In addition tot eh GPS segment, the device did work great and again, I was amazed at how accurate the signals were and how it properly labeled our speed! :-)

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 30

GPS on America West

I used my Garmin eMap on a flight between Portland and Tucson. When placed in the window, it tracked very well, giving speed, altitude, location, direction, etc. I could never get more than 4 sats, but that was enough. On the commuter flight between Phoenix and Tucson, the attendant told me I had to "ask before using GPS devices" because they were "remote control devices." I tried to explain to her that I couldn't work my tv with it, so it couldn't be a remote, but she didn't get the joke. Needless to say, I agree with the general consensus on this thread that GPS devices are harmless, and are becoming very popular on planes. Finally a way to tell what the heck you're looking at out the window, especially at night. As soon as the airlines figure out a way to charge for their use, they will do it.

Registered: Mar 2001
Location:
Posts: 5

Re: Electronics on aircraft

quote:

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Originally posted by halldp
As far as I know, the only two items that are banned on commercial aircraft are FM radios and Cell Phones. I am not sure for the reason of banning cell phones as WiRED had a big article on that and I think it came down to airline/cell phone companies policy.

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