FYI: Low cost GPS solution

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

2nd and 3rd Gen iPhones have a real GPS inside. They can also triangulate off cell towers for a lower accuracy position.

iPod Touch's do not do either as it has no cell radio or GPS. They use the most unique method of location awareness. At company with WiFi sniffers has driven around every metro area street by street and geo-located every WiFi network it found. Based on this database, the Touch uses the WiFi network to come up with a location. I've been amazed how accurate it is.

[Captain Steve]

Downloaded this yesterday on my iPhone 3G... amazing. Its going into a baggie next to my Eagle.

[Terry]

2nd and 3rd Gen iPhones have a real GPS inside. They can also triangulate off cell towers for a lower accuracy position.

iPod Touch's do not do either as it has no cell radio or GPS. They use the most unique method of location awareness. At company with WiFi sniffers has driven around every metro area street by street and geo-located every WiFi network it found. Based on this database, the Touch uses the WiFi network to come up with a location. I've been amazed how accurate it is.

How does someone with an iPod Touch launch this database application. Is it something already in the iPod at purchase or is it something we buy at the iTunes store? How do we apply it and make use of it?

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

You don't launch anything. Whenever you run a app that wants to use your location info you get a popup that asks permission. If you say yes, the app makes a query to the online database and returns your location.

For instance if you start the weather app, it will ask to use your location info. When you touch 'Yes', after a brief pause it comes back with your correct city (Bellevue in my case at home) based on this database. When I run the Maps app it returns a very accurate location of my house.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Thanks Duane - I have the first gen Iphone still.

Also, in the US, i dont believe you can get an Iphone without a data plan at present, that might change next year.

[Kelly Hanson East]

Upgraded to the 3GS yesterday, and Voila - the GPS nails me right on target.

So (just as Duane reports above) the upshot is this solution works for 3G and later phones, but not first generation Iphone

[red_sky_at_night]

Upgraded to the 3GS yesterday, and Voila - the GPS nails me right on target.

So (just as Duane reports above) the upshot is this solution works for 3G and later phones, but not first generation Iphone

Very nice My plan doesn't allow me to upgrade until November...but I might hold out until the next generation device is released (they seem to have about 12 month cycle). A friend has the 3GS and it's noticeably about twice as fast as the 3G because of the faster processor and memory. It also has an internal magnetic compass, which makes it even more useful as a navigational aid.

[Kelly Hanson East]

I bit and bought the Navionics chart package last night, since I saved the budget about a boat buck on car and house repair this week...managed to resurrect the 15 year old gas dryer for an 11 USD solenoid and 15 minutes labour......

the chart package on the 3Gs is too cool...