Can cell phone GPS systems replace in-car nav?

[DivideBYZero]

Triangualtion from towers is MUCH less accurate than trad GPS. I've used both. Get a TomTom integrated unit or something. Cheaper than in-dash, you can lend it to family for when they do long journys or to take between cars. Problem solved.

 

[theeedude]

You only need 4 satellites or towers to triangulate, not 12 or 16.
The 16 satellites are just so that you have an unobstructed view of at least 4 of them (3 if you use center of the earth as a "virtual satellite")

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: senseamp
You only need 4 satellites or towers to triangulate, not 12 or 16.
The 16 satellites are just so that you have an unobstructed view of at least 4 of them (3 if you use center of the earth as a "virtual satellite")

you can get located with 4 satellites.


sure, but it wont be as accurate as 12 or 16

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: LS20

Originally posted by: senseamp
You only need 4 satellites or towers to triangulate, not 12 or 16.
The 16 satellites are just so that you have an unobstructed view of at least 4 of them (3 if you use center of the earth as a "virtual satellite")

you can get located with 4 satellites.


sure, but it wont be as accurate as 12 or 16

Yes it will. The ones over 4 are redundand. You need 4 satellites because 4 spheres intersect in one dot, so knowing location of 4 satellites, and time it took for their signal to reach the receiver, you calculate the location of the receiver.

 

[Winchester]

Pretty much all phones, if not all, are equipped with e911 which utilizes triangluation. I personally dont see why I can not use my cell phone as the "receiver" and plug it into my laptop via cable or bluetooth and utlize the location for my mapping program.

BTW: On a blackberry you can actually install some software on it and then you can track the phone where ever it is. It is free. Just dont remember the name of it.

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: senseamp


Yes it will. The ones over 4 are redundand. You need 4 satellites because 4 spheres intersect in one dot, so knowing location of 4 satellites, and time it took for their signal to reach the receiver, you calculate the location of the receiver.

No it wont.
Okay, maybe in theory, or if youre in the desert with 4 towers flanking you. So: no it wont.