How to use GPS on airplane?

I played with my nuvi 260 a little bit on my flight to Florida last Thursday. I found that it had to be right next to the window to keep the signal. As soon as I moved it down to the tray table, it quickly lost contact. Wasn't worth the effort so I went to sleep instead.

You need to sit at a window seat and keep your GPS up against the window for best signal. Switch to satellite page and move the gps around a little to get the strongest signal. Also the GPS acquires a signal much slower when moving which contributes to the long acquisition time.

Correct. You need to be sitting next to a window for the satellites to pick up your position. The new high-sensitivity units work much better.

alot

Correct. You need to be sitting next to a window for the satellites to pick up your position. The new high-sensitivity units work much better.

Alot of airlines won't let you use a gps though, if they know you have it. That has sure changed... with my first Trimble, not only did I use it, I even loaned it to the pilots... they usually wanted to compare the gps speed to airspeed...

If that is the case with Garmin I then have to bow to Magellan, here is my track from 2004 using the Magellan Color from PR to Tampa, the other track is hurricane Frances.

I held the Magellan to the window for about three minutes to acquire and left it on the tray table the whole flight.

http://www.elbazarcubano.com/images/dpreview/frances.jpg

Here is the whole story of the flight:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/9354

I used my Garmin Map 76S on a flight from Montreal to Detroit on North West. I had to aim it through the window most of the time but it gave me a perfect track and some really nice maximum speed readings. The cabin crew were quite helpful and were even interested in viewing the track themselves, or maybe they were just checking to make sure it was indeed a GPS I was using

I took my unit on a recent flight but, was informed that I could not turn on the GPS. Guess I am not a maverick...

Henry

I can state that you will not get a hint of satellite signal in the aisle seat.

Next time I fly, I'm going to ask for a window seat.

I also had my best success when seated on the south side of the plane in addition to being at the window.

While you are sitting in the airport before take off, turn the unit on and let it acquire sats. Go into settings and switch to WAAS (helps to give more accurate elevation location), go into navigation and under route preference select "off road" (otherwise it will continue to try and lock to a road and say 're-calculating'), and turn the volume really low (so you don't make your neighbors mad). Then turn the unit off until you get the approval to use it after take off. Then turn the unit on and zoom waaaaaayyyy out in the 2D mode till it comes in, then you can zoom back in other wise the map never catches up.

Did I forget anything?

I found it depends on the model of the plane as I was able to sit on the aisle seat with no real problems.

I have found that using an external antenna suction cupped to the window gave me the best performance. That way I could put it on the tray and not have to worry about having to hold it the entire flight.

One other thing, put it in the OFF ROAD mode. otherwise it will keep trying to snap to a road below.

I have used this method on both my Ique3600 and Nuvi750 and have had great results

With the external antenna even if you don't get a window seat you might still be able to talk the one sitting next to the window to let you attach the antenna to the window anyway. I have done this also with no problems.

Used my Nuvi 780 on flight from Charleston, sc to dc
it showed the speed and altitude. Until the USAIR flight attendant advised me that they are not allowed on USAIR flights, so it got turned off.

Mike

Place the unit next to the window, you may need to keep moving it around to get the best point at the sats. Sometimes takes about 10 minutes to get locked on. dont wait to long from when you take off, since the unit still thinks you are at the last location. I put the unit into the sat mode screen so I can see how many sats have locked on.

Another approach, still sitting next to a window, is to try sitting over the wing, and point your GPS antenna down at the wing, using it as a big reflector.

I've been on several different planes and have had no problems getting either my 650 or my GPSmap 60 to work. Just lucky, I guess

Won't that be kind of windy sitting over the wing?

I have a Magellan Maestro 3225 and tried using it on a flight from LAX to Sea-Tac. My GPS was able to get signal best when it was pressed against the window. When I held it away (within a few feet of the window), the signal dropped pretty dramatically. Unfortunately, I didn't turn it on before the flight, so I'm not even sure if my GPS can track me during a flight. All I got was my original location on the screen, but it was still clocking me at a speed of 300+ miles per hour. Lol. Just remember to keep yours on. :]

On my return trip, I didn't try again lest agitating some stressed out flight attendants.

I had the suction cup mount with me and affixex it to the window. There was a slight delay on connection but once connected it was accurate the entire trip.

http://antennamatt.blogspot.com/

This was a pretty cool experience for my kids (9 & 11 years old) who were bored on the plane until I took out my Nuvi 760 to show them where we were in the air. It did require sitting next to the window. I was getting zero bars in the aisle seat. The only problem I am trying to figure out is how to determine altitude on my new Nuvi 760. On my older StreetPilot, it was a simple task. The owners manual does not show how to get to that info or the satellite details like I could on my StreetPilot.

On my nuvi 350, I go to "where to?", "my locations", "my current location" and it shows under the coordinates my current elevation.

I fly a lot and I've found that a Boeing aircraft is better at receiving a signal than an Airbus. I typically have a window seat and have used it many times. My max speed is 558mph. Southwest Airlines allows the use of a GPS, they use only 737's, but America West does not, they use both 737's and the Airbus.

Got on a Delta flight last week to NJ and there were screens in front of every seat with a GPS type map on display showing the direction the air craft was traveling. Thought that was interesting. Fly a lot and this was the first time I had seen this.

I can usually acquire a signal with my 680 in about 30 seconds using the sat screen to find the best angle for the strongest signal. Once I acquire the signal, I put the unit on a bean bag mount on the tray the whole trip. I can also sit in an isle seat next to a window seat but I have to acquire the signal at the window first. Most seat mates don't mind because they think it cool to be able to see where we are and how fast we are going.

I also download the Navaids for the route the pilot will fly and can see where we are heading. Never give it a location and always mute or use headphones.

The 350 seemed to lose signal more than 2 feet from the window. Surprisingly, it connects very quickly when right up to the window. I guess there is only the planes interferrence with nothing else between you and the satellite. Best thing is to use the suction cup mount and attach it to the window since no one uses them in their cars anymore.

Ive used mine eMap on planes before....the pilots rarely tell you where you are while flying...so having an GPS next to window...once you acquire a signal is really nice....to see what city your happen to be flying over at that time.

Cheers!

Wasn't aware that Delta was providing this service. JetBlue includes the flight tracker page on their individual TV monitors and many other International flights display position on the front cabin bulkhead.

We need a custom GPS voice that will freak out our fellow passengers while in flight. Maybe Ben Stiller's 'freakout' from the end of Meet The Parents?

That is, if you don't mind being placed in Federal custody.

Depending on the satelite configuration, sometimes one side of the plane (window seat) is better than the other.

Yep, I've had my 650 and my GPSmap 60CS running on numerous flights. I usually sit close to a window, but I've been in the center and had good reception as well. A nice way to pass the time.