Mark Read Well-Known Member Licensed User Longtime User Jan 6, 2014 #1 A strange question to ask but here it is: At what altitude will the gps system no longer work? My idea is to send a balloon into space with a smartphone. I have a feeling it will only fail if the phone freezes. What do the experts say? Many thanks Mark
A strange question to ask but here it is: At what altitude will the gps system no longer work? My idea is to send a balloon into space with a smartphone. I have a feeling it will only fail if the phone freezes. What do the experts say? Many thanks Mark
Erel B4X founder Staff member Licensed User Longtime User Jan 6, 2014 #2 Interesting question... How will you interact with the phone? I guess that you will lose the connection before the GPS fails. Upvote 0
Interesting question... How will you interact with the phone? I guess that you will lose the connection before the GPS fails.
J John D. Member Licensed User Longtime User Jan 6, 2014 #3 This is not an authoritative answer, but the GPS receiver should work without regard to altitude. As far as temperature goes, it's hard to say. The battery might be affected by temperature more than anything else, but at extremely low temperature, only testing will tell. http://www.androidpit.com/cold-smartphones Upvote 0
This is not an authoritative answer, but the GPS receiver should work without regard to altitude. As far as temperature goes, it's hard to say. The battery might be affected by temperature more than anything else, but at extremely low temperature, only testing will tell. http://www.androidpit.com/cold-smartphones
Mark Read Well-Known Member Licensed User Longtime User Jan 6, 2014 #4 I won't actually interact with the phone. I want to send the gps info to a server running sql. If the data connection is lost, I will save the data on a SD card and hope that I get the phone back when it plummets back to earth! B4A goes into space!! Upvote 0
I won't actually interact with the phone. I want to send the gps info to a server running sql. If the data connection is lost, I will save the data on a SD card and hope that I get the phone back when it plummets back to earth! B4A goes into space!!
Erel B4X founder Staff member Licensed User Longtime User Jan 6, 2014 #5 I expect the data connectivity to be the first to break. Then comes the challenging step which is to find the device once it returns... Upvote 0
I expect the data connectivity to be the first to break. Then comes the challenging step which is to find the device once it returns...
J John D. Member Licensed User Longtime User Jan 6, 2014 #6 If the phone lands in an area where it can establish a connection, you can get it to report in with its exact location, if it still works. Upvote 0
If the phone lands in an area where it can establish a connection, you can get it to report in with its exact location, if it still works.
Erel B4X founder Staff member Licensed User Longtime User Jan 6, 2014 #7 You can also send SMS messages with the location. SMS doesn't depend on a data connection. Upvote 0
Mark Read Well-Known Member Licensed User Longtime User Jan 6, 2014 #8 Having read a bit in internet about this, as far as I can find: Standard GPS (not military grade) should work up to about 8 km, then it dies but comes back again when it is lower than 8 km. This should help finding the thing again. @Erel, thanks for the thought. SMS would also be an option but it would have to be an MMS as I will activate the camera as well. Upvote 0
Having read a bit in internet about this, as far as I can find: Standard GPS (not military grade) should work up to about 8 km, then it dies but comes back again when it is lower than 8 km. This should help finding the thing again. @Erel, thanks for the thought. SMS would also be an option but it would have to be an MMS as I will activate the camera as well.
Erel B4X founder Staff member Licensed User Longtime User Jan 6, 2014 #9 Use SMS to send the location, not the images. MMS also requires data connection. Upvote 0
