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If GPS is disabled, how's it deterine your location on google maps?
- Thread starter cisco0910
- Start date
ok, so is the location on the map where it shows my location where a cell phone tower is? or is my location determined by using multiple towers and approximates your location somehow like that. me and a buddy are discussing it as we speak and we don't know for sure.
i realize it can't find exact location. question is hows it determine the location it puts you in? thnx
This.
Not sure if it's one or multiple cell towers at a time. I dont think you can be connected to more than one tower at a time, but I'm not 100% sure. If you'll notice, Google Maps shows your position as a big blue circle, meaning you're somewhere inside the radius of that cell tower's comm range.
yea, i noticed the big blue circle. I'm definitely in the blue circle as i just tried it. Looking at the circle, it's approximately 1/4-1/2 wide.
Dang, so nobody knows a definite answer.
After a discussion with my other nerdly friends, we've decided that you CANNOT be connected to more than one cell tower at a time. Triangulation occurs by passing the signal from one cell tower to the next.
Connecting to multiple towers at once would require multiple transmission devices in your phone, which does not exist. If it did, people with heavy tower coverage could do voice and data at the same time in CDMA networks.
Connecting to multiple towers at once would require multiple transmission devices in your phone, which does not exist. If it did, people with heavy tower coverage could do voice and data at the same time in CDMA networks.
gentlefury
Member
Actually CDMA is built around multi-tower communication, that is why hand-offs don't cause dropped calls like GSM (which is single tower based)
If you don't have GPS turned on, it will attempt to triangulate your location via the nearest available towers. Yes, it can access multiple towers at once to attempt this.
The more towers available, the better the 'location'. So if you have one tower available, it will be harder to determine your location and it will give you a best guess.
The more towers available, the better the 'location'. So if you have one tower available, it will be harder to determine your location and it will give you a best guess.
I thought we gave an answer.
Its called a thread for a reason, maybe somebody will come along with a more detailed explanation.If you are stationary it will show you closer to the nearest tower, with the big blue circle. Once you start moving it will get a better fix on you and be more accurate.
gprichardson1
Member
Ok, I must be doing something wrong. In my Droid settings for My Location I have both wifi and GPS disabled. I then go into Google Maps, open the menu, and click on "My Location". I get a message that says "Please enable a My Location source in system settings". How do I get Google Maps to find my location like you all are doing via the cell signal?
EDIT: Ahh, nevermind. "Wireless Networks" under the My Locations setting doesn't mean Wifi does it? Duh.
EDIT: Ahh, nevermind. "Wireless Networks" under the My Locations setting doesn't mean Wifi does it? Duh.
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