Anyone ever use a handheld GPS on an airliner?

[coomarlin]

I travel quite frequantly on commercial airliners and often wonder where exactly I am flying over at any given time. I was wondering if I took my Garmin Extrex Vista Cx and set it in the window if I might be able to pick up enough satelites to determine where I am?

I'll have my laptop with tracking software available so it could really make those boring plan rides a little more entertaining.

Anyone ever try this?

 

[dug777]

Ignoring the fact that it's illegal?

Possibly threatening your life & anyone else on the aircraft?

Great 😉

 

[coomarlin]

Seriously? Had no idea it was illegal? It's not like it is a transmitter...........It only receives data from what I understand.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: dug777
Ignoring the fact that it's illegal?

Possibly threatening your life & anyone else on the aircraft?

Great 😉

Any proof? I have used it more than once and as long as it isn't against airline policy (American Airlines) you won't have a problem. In fact, on a United flight to Hawaii this year the stewardess seemed pretty excited by it. At that point I was using Streets and Trips and a GPS device on my laptop.

EDIT: It is NOT illegal.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I've done it before! Did it during take-off, flight, cruising speed, and landing. I don't think the plane went down...

My GPS software on the pocket PC had a hard time scrolling, but it's cool to keep track of the altitude and speed as you go.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: coomarlin
Seriously? Had no idea it was illegal? It's not like it is a transmitter...........It only receives data from what I understand.

Just a guess mate 😉

 

[iamwiz82]

And here is the list of airlines who allow it versus do not allow it.

 

[Pegun]

Damn, Don't any of you watch Mythbusters. They already did a show on this and proved that there is so little intereference that is created that theres no way its that horrible of a thing. That's why they've contemplated making cell phones legal on flights.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: coomarlin
Seriously? Had no idea it was illegal? It's not like it is a transmitter...........It only receives data from what I understand.

there is a .000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001% chance that it cold interfere with cockpit instruments, so the FAA says no. But I beleive it is just during takeoff and landing. SAme thing with laptops.

 

[dug777]

I always work on the principle that if there's the slightest chance it could jeopardise the safety of aircraft, i don't even consider doing it, but that's just me. To use it during take off & landing is plain criminally stupid...

 

[Journer]

i tired to use my lappy GPS to see how fast we were going but the POS would never triangulate....get two sats then drop one and get another :'(

 

[coomarlin]

Wow. That is an excellent listing you have there.

Unfortunately I have a special circumstance this weekend. I am flying to San Diego and my flight says: United Airlines (Operated by US Airways) 🙂

United is on the approved list and US Airways is not. lol I'm taking and and I'll see what they say.

United Electronic device policy states:

Electronic devices

Certain electronic devices may not be used on our planes for safety reasons. Such devices may cause electromagnetic interference with cockpit navigation or communications systems during ground operations and while the aircraft is flying below 10,000 feet. However, when an aircraft is traveling above 10,000 feet (normally about ten minutes after takeoff), passengers can use many of the devices listed.

Hearing aids, heart pacemakers, and watches are acceptable at all times.

These electronic devices can be used in the cabin, but may not be used during takeoff and landing:
Calculators
Handheld computer games
Shavers
Portable CD and tape players
Laptop computers/accessory printers/tape drives
Portable VCRs/video players
These electronic devices cannot be used on the airplane at any time:
Cellular phones (cellular phones maybe used on the plane at the gate before the aircraft door is closed or at captain's discretion when the plane is away from the gate and on the ground)
Televisions
AM/FM transmitters-receivers
Remote-controlled toys

No GPS listed anywhere.

But for those of you that have done it obvisouly it works well. DId you stick the GPS in the window?

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: Pegun
Damn, Don't any of you watch Mythbusters. They already did a show on this and proved that there is so little intereference that is created that theres no way its that horrible of a thing. That's why they've contemplated making cell phones legal on flights.

I doubt they'll ever allow cell phones. They want you to use those expensive ass phones on the plane.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: coomarlin
Wow. That is an excellent listing you have there.

Unfortunately I have a special circumstance this weekend. I am flying to San Diego and my flight says: United Airlines (Operated by US Airways) 🙂

United is on the approved list and US Airways is not. lol I'm taking and and I'll see what they say.

United Electronic device policy states:

Electronic devices

Certain electronic devices may not be used on our planes for safety reasons. Such devices may cause electromagnetic interference with cockpit navigation or communications systems during ground operations and while the aircraft is flying below 10,000 feet. However, when an aircraft is traveling above 10,000 feet (normally about ten minutes after takeoff), passengers can use many of the devices listed.

Hearing aids, heart pacemakers, and watches are acceptable at all times.

These electronic devices can be used in the cabin, but may not be used during takeoff and landing:
Calculators
Handheld computer games
Shavers
Portable CD and tape players
Laptop computers/accessory printers/tape drives
Portable VCRs/video players
These electronic devices cannot be used on the airplane at any time:
Cellular phones (cellular phones maybe used on the plane at the gate before the aircraft door is closed or at captain's discretion when the plane is away from the gate and on the ground)
Televisions
AM/FM transmitters-receivers
Remote-controlled toys

No GPS listed anywhere.

But for those of you that have done it obvisouly it works well. DId you stick the GPS in the window?

Yes, but sometimes reception can suck that high up and through such a small window. If you can get it to triangulate right away then I suggest keeping it up and running as long as you can. I was constantly shutting it down and the re-connect took forever.

USAir is now in the Star Alliance and all of the Star Alliance allows it, so I owuld bet they allow it now.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: Pegun
Damn, Don't any of you watch Mythbusters. They already did a show on this and proved that there is so little intereference that is created that theres no way its that horrible of a thing. That's why they've contemplated making cell phones legal on flights.

I doubt they'll ever allow cell phones. They want you to use those expensive ass phones on the plane.

But mainly, it royally screws with cell networks on the ground iirc...

Something to do with the handing the call from cell to cell at 11ty billion miles an hour was it?

 

[Scarpozzi]

What about 100 watt HAMM radios. Are those allowed?

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: Pegun
Damn, Don't any of you watch Mythbusters. They already did a show on this and proved that there is so little intereference that is created that theres no way its that horrible of a thing. That's why they've contemplated making cell phones legal on flights.

I doubt they'll ever allow cell phones. They want you to use those expensive ass phones on the plane.

Kinda hard to do when the service is shut off.
The frequency is going to be used for internet access for inflight WiFi.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
What about 100 watt HAMM radios. Are those allowed?

Before the flight, you need to get on the tarmac and shove the antenna in the aileron nearest to your seat, then run the wire up to the window and use your handy-dandy cordless drill (remember to charge the battery beforehand!). Duct tape can help it keeping it from flying away inflight.

 

[coomarlin]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
What about 100 watt HAMM radios. Are those allowed?

Before the flight, you need to get on the tarmac and shove the antenna in the aileron nearest to your seat, then run the wire up to the window and use your handy-dandy cordless drill (remember to charge the battery beforehand!). Duct tape can help it keeping it from flying away inflight.

LOL. Someone sees you doing that the bomb squad will be out real quick.. hehe.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: coomarlin

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
What about 100 watt HAMM radios. Are those allowed?

Before the flight, you need to get on the tarmac and shove the antenna in the aileron nearest to your seat, then run the wire up to the window and use your handy-dandy cordless drill (remember to charge the battery beforehand!). Duct tape can help it keeping it from flying away inflight.

LOL. Someone sees you doing that the bomb squad will be out real quick.. hehe.

Not if you know how to do this

 

[jemcam]

I've used my Dell Axim with my GPS many times. It gets kind of boring after a while, but it's cool to fire up when you wonder where you are and how fast you're going.

I'm just very discreet, I place my receiver between the sunshade and the window and pull the shade down. Works like a champ.

 

[coomarlin]

Well I always take a few movies to watch in flight on my laptop but I could keep the GPS running in the background.

 

[Rubycon]

Like this?

That was on Air Tran too.

 

[Miramonti]

I've quietly used an etrex many times to track my flight across country etc. I'm still alive, altho I was sitting in the back of the plane.