Handheld GPS - anyone ever take one on a plane?

[dave64o]

I'm flying later today and was thinking I should take my GPS for while I'm at my destination. Has anyone ever taken their's on a plane and turned it on during the flight? Mine (Garmin 765T) has settings for if you're walking, on a bike, or in a car.

I'm just curious what I'd see if I powered it on in the plane, especially if I put in my destination. For example, would it constantly be recalculating the route because I'm not following the route it wanted me to take over roads, would it tell me my speed, would it say "YOU"RE GOING 8 TIMES THE SPEED LIMIT!! SLOW THE @#%!& DOWN!!!!!", etc.

Just looking for a way to pass some time while I'm up there for 5 hours.

[Disco_Gee]

I've tried using the GPS in my 6110 Navigator on a number of flights and it's never worked. I'm not sure why.

[Toasted]

WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE.

[Sandvich Hero]

Well, in a commercial airliner, you are basically sitting in a Faraday cage. No RF gets out or in the cabin (that includes GPS signal), so yeah, I would be quite surprised if it worked.

But even then, if you just rolled the window down and hold it outside , it would work as any other GPS unit. The plane probably has a GPS unit (or 2, or 3, they don't rely exclusively on it, but sometimes use it for approaches). There are handheld units intended for private pilots too, which are basically the same thing as for the cars, but with the added "aviation" mode, and can be switched back and forth to car mode (Garmin 196, 296, 396, etc comes to mind).

Originally Posted by Toasted

WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE.

Oh, and this ^^

[RWP]

Once. I was able to get sat locks holding it near the window. It was cool to see it read 505 MPH.

[Quadcam]

I guess it depends on the gps unit but as far as I know the non aviation gps supposedly cant keep up with the speed and wont work. just another way to get you to pay higher prices for "FAA approved" equipment

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I did once, though I understand you're not supposed to on a flight. I'd tell you more but I hear sirens approaching.


Okay, the sirens passed by. I held the GPS, a Magellan Explorist 500, near the window to pick up the satellite signals. It got a lock surprisingly quickly. The altitude read an even 36000 feet. We were over Arizona. I don't recall what the travel speed indicated.

[Sandvich Hero]

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

I did once, though I understand you're not supposed to on a flight. I'd tell you more but I hear sirens approaching.


Okay, the sirens passed by. I held the GPS, a Magellan Explorist 500, near the window to pick up the satellite signals. It got a lock surprisingly quickly. The altitude read an even 36000 feet. We were over Arizona. I don't recall what the travel speed indicated.

Maybe you're "officially" not supposed to, but your GPS unit is only a receiver, it doesn't emit anything (unlike a cellphone, for example). I don't see how it could cause any problem ...

Originally Posted by Quadcam

I guess it depends on the gps unit but as far as I know the non aviation gps supposedly cant keep up with the speed and wont work. just another way to get you to pay higher prices for "FAA approved" equipment

The only GPS units that are FAA regulated are the fixed ones installed in the dash. The handhelds that you clip and also use in your car do not need any approbation, since they are for "reference" only and should therefore not be used as your main navigation equipment (and are not IFR approved anyways). But yeah, they still charge a ridiculous price for those too (a Garmin 296 could cost you 2000$ a couple years ago, when I still worked in avionics).

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Originally Posted by Sandvich Hero

Maybe you're "officially" not supposed to, but your GPS unit is only a receiver, it doesn't emit anything (unlike a cellphone, for example). I don't see how it could cause any problem ...

Radio receivers are banned in flight purportedly because they will emit signals from their local oscillators, to some extent. A damaged or defective one could radiate unusually high amounts of RF.

[popinfresh]

Umm, most flights have a little GPS map on them anyway that tells you speed, elevation etc on the screen in front of you, use that.

[Sandvich Hero]

Originally Posted by Bob Lee (QSC)

Radio receivers are banned in flight purportedly because they will emit signals from their local oscillators, to some extent. A damaged or defective one could radiate unusually high amounts of RF.

Fair enough, from your sig, you're probably more versed in RF engineering than me anyways, so I'll leave you that.
It's true a defective unit (or badly shielded) has the potential to blast around.

[dave64o]

Kind of a moot point. I was running a little late and ran out the door without it. Looks like I won't have my little toy to play with on the way back so I"ll probably just sleep. Oh well.

On the plus side, so far I've been here two days and am still ahead after three rounds of blackjack and one round of poker.

[syciprider]

I'm bringing mine on my ship so I can tell exactly where in the middle of the ocean I am...

I'm on a boat, everybody look at me I'm on a boat.
Hey Ma if you could see me now...

[Tim Cole]

[NorCal Dog]

Originally Posted by Tim Cole

go directly to jail

do not go past go

do not collect $200.

[syciprider]

You know if you tried to save the location you will be able to see the altitude also

[WickedPissah]

They have google earth in your little TV screen on JetBlue. It tracks your flight, it's cool.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Originally Posted by syciprider

You know if you tried to save the location you will be able to see the altitude also

For given equipment and load you can get a rough idea of the altitude from the speed (assuming no headwind or tailwind).