[Closed] Anyone used a GPS/GPRS tracker when they've taken their bike on a plane?

i've tried getting a fix on my gps while in a plane. didn't work.

unlikely to get one in the hold.

I think someone must have - there are some interesting tracks about 500Km west of Ireland on Strava heat maps!

A tracker would have to be transmitting a signal - which would be against regulations.

Edit: by that, I mean something you could interrogate as to its whereabouts. A Logger would be OK.

The ones I've seen use a mobile sim card that automatically goes into sleep mode when in a plane. You then send it a text and it texts back a GPRS coordinate you can view on Google Maps.

Hmm - if it's in sleep mode, how does it receive a text?

Got a link?

There's a couple I've seen, LugLoc is one and TrakDot is another.

It looks like LugLoc has had some issues with telecom service providers and info is scarce for TrakDot, hence the post really.

I used my very old Garmin once while on a plane, took ages to pick up the satellites, I had to sit holding it to the window for flipping ages, but eventually it picked up. I recorded the flight from the UK to the Red Sea.

This was years ago now. Probably be taken out to the runway and shot now if you were found with "electrical / satellite" devices. Security guards wont be interested in your stories of tracking / Strava / GPS logging.

But in the hold which is a metal tube and buried under luggage, you may fail to get a signal.

TrakDot apparently doesn't use GPS at all. It relies on a GSM (phone) signal. I guess they're assuming that there will be no signal while flying, though the website makes no reference to airline regulations.

LugLoc also uses GSM signal.

LugLoc has a patented Triaxal Accelerometer that was engineered to turn off the device when in flight, turning back on once the plane comes to a full stop. LugLoc is FAA, TSA and FCC Compliant.

Note that, in both cases, GSM is nowhere near as accurate as GPS as it's trying to calculate location based on distance from telephone masts. That means it's reasonable where it can triangulate from multiple masts, pretty much useless if it's only getting a signal from one. I guess it would let you know which airport your luggage was at.

I used a garmin 500 on a trip back from france. It worked fine until we took off.

trace then ended up a direct straight line until we started to descend.

1200 mile route, average 209 mph. max 2808 (obviously I was on blackbird)

I've used an old Garmin eTrex 10 through a window, and a smartphone with all of the transmitty stuff turned off (but GPS turned on) just to show the kids how fast / where we were flying over at the time. Worked fine, but the devices needed to be right up against the window. Nice to know where you are over-flying and what you might be legitimately able to see out of the window.

I've used an old Garmin eTrex 10 through a window, and a smartphone with all of the transmitty stuff turned off (but GPS turned on) just to show the kids how fast / where we were flying over at the time. Worked fine, but the devices needed to be right up against the window. Nice to know where you are over-flying and what you might be legitimately able to see out of the window.

This isn't really want I meant.

I was after something that would tell me where my bike bag was if it got lost in transit.

I was after something that would tell me where my bike bag was if it got lost in transit.

While potentially re-assuring it would ultimately be useless. If it is 'lost' then telling them its in the next room will get you nowhere, they will still follow the normal channels of tracking it and then forwarding on to your location. The only possible use would be if they lost it as in stolen, at which point are you going to hire a car and chase it around a potentially unknown country?

Most publically available GPS stops working once you get above a certain height or speed to stop people using it to guide missiles.

Edit: although having looked up the limits, it shouldn't bother a commercial airliner.

Angryasian packs a Spot Transponder in with his bike.