GPS readings

[wzbt03]

Today I went out and fixed the coords on my Spring Brook III cache. Seems that no matter what I did the day I placed it – my gps was not going to cooperate. Just one of those days.
While getting new readings it reminded me of a problem I had a couple of months ago in California. I was in a national park with my gps on and when I looked at the map on my Garmin Legend it showed me 200 miles away and moving. Not only moving but going over 400 mph. I might add I was quite impressed with my average speed of the 3/4 mile hike to Frazier Falls being around 390mph . Fastest I have ever walked .

I presume that I was getting readings from some other airborne source – cruise missle etc. (California tests them I believe). Has this ever happened to anyone?
By turning my GPS off and on it went back to normal.

Second thing that came to mind was the use of GPS’s on commercial airlines. I was going to use mine on a trip after talking with another geocacher that had a great time locating things as he flew over them but they are one of the banned instruments on airlines I was told.
Since they are suppose to be only receiving units I wondered why and later asked a commercial pilot friend. Seems out little units do have the ability to send signals after all and can mess up the instruments on board. I believe this ability is short range.
Anybody else run into this?

[Buy_The_Tie]

I’ve used my GPS on flights (even lately) and was told it was OK. It is quite interesting watching the ground go by, and know exactly what each of those little glowing blobs down on the ground. I even connected my GPS to my laptop, and watched that way (boy can I be a geek or what?). I was just on a flight last month (Midwest Express) and the flight attendants said it was OK.

[Ray]

In order for a radio receiver [such as your GPS] to work, it creates a high frequency signal that it processes internally. It is that lowpower signal that can interfere with other very sensitive electronic devices. With proper shielding between your GPS and that equipment, there is usually no problem. You did the right thing by asking before using the GPS.

[kbraband]

As a former employee of Collins Avionics, I congratulate The Beast for hitting the nail on the head. In the early days of GPS handhelds (3+ years ago) the airlines were not sure if GPS receivers would interfere with flight deck instruments so they took the easy way and simply banned them from use by passengers. Today after millions of miles of GPS use by passengers and no reported interference incidents, many crews will let you use them when the captain signals that it’s OK to use electronic devices such as PDAs and laptops. However, it’s still a good idea to ask a flight attendant first.

I have used my GPS many times on commercial flights. You have to keep it right next to the window, but it’s fun! I also use it with a private pilot friend. He was so impressed that he bought one just like mine and connected it to his PDA to supply data for a PDA navigation program. Now he has a stand-alone backup navigation system in case he ever loses cockpit power.

[The Lil Otter]

quote:

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Originally posted by wzbt03:
it showed me 200 miles away and moving. Not only moving but going over 400 mph. Anybody else run into this?

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Actually I impressed BruceS while caching with him in Chicago area.. I was travelin’ at 750mph (grins) He complimented me that I was one that did keep up to his own caching speed (chuckles)

~The Lil Otter

[OuttaHand]

I used my GPSr on a recent flight on (I believe) Northwest. Before going, I checked there web page. They had listed exactly what devices were allowed to be used, and at what times (in the gate, during level flight, never, etc.). The GPS was specifically listed as being allowed while parked at the gate, and while in level flight, but not during ascent or descent. I printed that page and took it with me on the plane. I did not specifically ask the flight attendant (probably should have) but had the printout with me just in case. It was really cool seeing that kind of speed (REAL in this case) and altitude on my GPSr and seeing what major cities I was flying over. Cool to see the track log once I got home, too.

[Cachew]

I quite often have a max spped of 300+ mph while in the company plane. Waypoints with an altitude of 20,000 feet seem bogus, though.

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