Locus Map - forum

Support => Troubles & Questions => Topic started by: durian on August 24, 2011, 12:46:17

Title: Cell-ID locations
Post by: durian on August 24, 2011, 12:46:17
There is an option to record Cell-ID locations. Does that find the coordinates of the Cell phone towers you are connected to? I tried recording a track with the GPS off and the cell-ID location option on - I thought maybe that could make a track from tower to tower. It didn't work though.

What should it do exactly?

-peter
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: Menion on August 24, 2011, 13:06:50
it do not record cell-id tower locations but your actual location received by cell-it or wi-fi (green circle on map). So it's very battery saving method how to record path (with low accuracy of course) without enabled GPS
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: durian on August 24, 2011, 17:20:49
OK. Thanks! I was playing it in the train on the way to work, trying to save a track. But I realize now that I only save points when accuracy < 50 meters, and that will probably not happen with cell tower accuracy.

I will try again on the way back :-)
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: Menion on August 24, 2011, 17:25:44
yes that's correct :) Below 50m you'll get only on a place with huge density of towers or with wi-fi in city ...
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: durian on August 25, 2011, 07:43:51
I tried with 5000 meters, but it still didn't record anything.

I got a couple of crashes though, when I exited the applications. It happened three times yesterday. I include the last crashlog. I wonder if it is related. I use the latest Pro version,

-peter
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: Menion on August 25, 2011, 08:23:15
hmm, I just - disabled GPS, enabled in Locus record Cell-ID and increased minimum accuracy to 1000, then started GPS and track record ... and ... recording works without problem (you have to have recorded at least two points to start counting so wait for a minute)

and thanks for crash, probably fixed
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: durian on August 25, 2011, 08:27:19
Quote from: "menion"hmm, I just - disabled GPS, enabled in Locus record Cell-ID and increased minimum accuracy to 1000, then started GPS and track record ... and ... recording works without problem (you have to have recorded at least two points to start counting so wait for a minute)

and thanks for crash, probably fixed

You write, "then started GPS and track record" - do I have to enable GPS again to record Cell-ID locations? In the text in the settings is says "when system GPS is turned off". Do I need to switch off the GPS in system menu, but switch on in the Locus screen for this to work?

-peter
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: Menion on August 25, 2011, 08:46:23
hmm yes .. that's the problem. Probably on GPS screen in locus should be instead of "GPS on/off" text (on button), something like "get available location on/off". Yes, disable GPS in system and start "get location" in Locus by "GPS on/off" button. This will allow locus to receive locations only from network porvider (cell-id, wi-fi, ...) and not from hardware GPS
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: durian on August 25, 2011, 09:02:37
Yes, that seems to work!

As you said, the text on the GPS button in Locus is a bit confusing, I always thought that would control the system GPS as well.

-peter
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: rijackson741 on September 13, 2011, 12:41:15
Quote from: "menion"enabled in Locus record Cell-ID

Could you tell me where in the settings to find this. I have been through the settings menus, but didn't see it anywhere (maybe I'm just being blind, but I looked twice). Thanks.
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: Menion on September 13, 2011, 12:47:29
settings -> track recording -> record Cell-ID locations ...
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: rijackson741 on September 13, 2011, 13:47:28
Thanks. I was being blind. I don't know how I missed that.

You say above "Yes, disable GPS in system and start "get location" in Locus by "GPS on/off" button. This will allow locus to receive locations only from network porvider (cell-id, wi-fi, ...) and not from hardware GPS". But with the system GPS turned off Locus does not allow me to turn on the GPS unless the GPS is turned on in the system settings.

I'll try recording a track later anyway, to see what happens.

Thanks for the help.
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: Menion on September 13, 2011, 14:19:30
hmm this is weird, if you have "Use wireless networks" enabled and "Use GPS satellites" disabled, Locus GPS on/off should work correctly
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: rijackson741 on September 13, 2011, 14:58:58
I just checked. In system settings, "Use GPS Satellites" is disabled". In track recording, "Record Cell-ID locations" is enabled. If I go to the GPS screen the button on the bottom left says "GPS Off". If I touch it then I get the message "GPS not enabled. Do you want to show system settings?". So I cannot get the button to say  "GPS on" unless I enable the GPS in the system settings. (unless I am missing something else, which is quite possible  :) )

Edit: One thought. Does it matter if I have "Use Wireless Networks" (i.e. for location) enabled in the system settings? I currently have this disabled, because I don't like giving Google my location information.
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: Menion on September 13, 2011, 15:16:07
:) ... i wrote ..
Quote from: "menion"hmm this is weird, if you have "Use wireless networks" enabled and...
... so this wireless = Cell-ID in Locus ... it's same ;)
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: rijackson741 on September 14, 2011, 13:12:29
Thanks

I forgot you just poll an existing service for the information, but don't switch that service on or off  :)

I have one suggestion. Move "Record cell ID locations" from "Track Recording" to "GPS and location". It's sometimes useful just to center the map on your current location, because sometimes you can get a good cell phone signal, but no GPS fix (inside certain large buildings, for example).
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: Menion on September 14, 2011, 13:37:50
hmm this is not needed I think. Disable GPS in Locus and enabled wireless in system. When you then press centering button in Locus, it will center you to last know location (last location system received from whatever source) and centering will then be disabled. So if you don't have enabled GPS in Locus, you can still use centering function in this simple way ;)
Title: Re: Cell-ID locations
Post by: rijackson741 on September 14, 2011, 16:14:54
Thanks. It didn't occur to me that map centering would work without the GPS enabled in Locus. It work perfectly though  :)