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GPS – best practices

Summary

  • For accurate data, the GPS needs good sky visibility.
  • Avoid over-heating the GPS.
  • External GPS provide better results than internal GPS in phones/tablets.

General

No GPS is perfect, although some come close. CloudAhoy analyzes the sequence of raw 3D points reported by the GPS, and does its best to improve their accuracy so that the 3D segments display is as close as possible to the actual flight.

To improve the accuracy, CloudAhoy analyzes the raw GPS data, creates a model of the GPS device’s measurement errors, and then digitally enhances the data to compensate for the errors.

Obviously, the more accurate the raw GPS data is to begin with, the better are the results of the digital enhancing process.

Preflight your external GPS

To ensure that your external GPS feeds location data to CloudAhoy (or to any other app), we recommend checking it at home or at the FBO.

  1. Go outside where the external GPS has good sky visibility.
  2. Turn the external GPS on, let it run for a couple of minutes to ensure good satellite lock.
  3. Turn Bluetooth on. Verify that your external GPS is paired and connected.
  4. Run the CloudAhoy app. It would display the GPS name in the Cockpit tab.
  5. Tap START. The GPS lights should change to green.

How to Improve the GPS Accuracy?

If you are using the iPhone/iPad internal GPS, you may consider buying an external GPS that can connect to your device. CloudAhoy supports Bad Elf, GNS 5870/1000 MFI, Dual 150/160/170, Garmin GLO (all under $100) as well as Dual 160, Dual 170, Bad Elf GPS Pro / Pro+ and Garmin GDL-39

Not unlike real estate, the three factors that affect most the quality of raw data are: location, location, location. Even with an external GPS, and certainly if you are only using the iPhone/iPad’s internal GPS, the cockpit location is very important. If you got low scores on the GPS, you are probably not locating the GPS where it can see the sky all the time. You should consider the following factors:

  • The GPS should see as much of the sky as possible, even when the aircraft banks.
  • Do not fry the GPS with direct sun radiation. Protect it and keep it as cool as possible. You can tuck the GPS in a brown envelope or even inside sectional charts to insulate it from a hot dashboard and from the sun’s radiation.
  • If you are using an external GPS, verify on the CloudAhoy app’s GPS field that it is actually connected.
  • Like any object in the cockpit, the GPS should be secured for safety.