Andrew, 2025-01-02 19:58:

> VanguardLH wrote on Thu, 2 Jan 2025 02:08:37 -0600 :
>
>> Reset the phone, and next time when an app wants a login then refuse to
>> prevent having the account stored on the phone. If you're just
>> protesting Google, don't login to any newly loaded app that wants you to
>> specify a Google account, so it doesn't get stored on your phone. After
>> a reset, there are no accounts stored on the phone. It is after *you*
>> specify a login that either the app will store it locally to itself, or
>> load it into Accounts in the Android OS.
>
> There are only 3 known Google apps which infest Android with a login.
> And each of those 3 Google apps has a privacy-aware replacement.

What replacement is there for Google Wallet?

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:

> Andrew, 2025-01-02 02:28:
>
>> Arno Welzel wrote on Wed, 1 Jan 2025 23:19:50 +0100 :
>>
>>>> What can't you do on Android WITHOUT a Google Account set up in the OS?
>>>
>>> Everything what does not need a Google account. That was easy.
>>
>> You have no idea how Android works if you say something that absurd.
>
> Why? When you don't have a Google account you can still use Android
> itself. Is that not correct?

An Android phone will work without a Google account. Don't create one
when you first turn on the phone. Or delete any Google account you
already created under the Android global Accounts list. Drastically you
could reset the phone, and make sure to click Skip when asked for a
Google account.

There have already been prior dicussions here on how to remove bundled
apps, like Gmail, where uninstall is disabled.

On 2025-01-04 13:24, Siard wrote:
> On Wed, 1 Jan 2025 02:08 -0000 (UTC), Andrew wrote:
>> What can't you do on Android WITHOUT a Google Account set up in the OS?
>
> Well, without a Google account I do not have access to paid apps.
> There are a few important ones I can hardly do without.

True. I use some.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:

> Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>
>> Siard wrote:
>>
>>> Andrew wrote:
>>
>>>> What can't you do on Android WITHOUT a Google Account set up in the OS?
>>>
>>> Well, without a Google account I do not have access to paid apps.
>>> There are a few important ones I can hardly do without.
>>
>> True. I use some.
>
> Sigh! When will you *ever* learn, Carlos!? 'Andrew' will soon tell you
> that each and every paid app can be replaced by a *better* FOSS app,
> which obviously has no ads.
>
> Didn't you pay *any* attention when he found a replacement for the
> Fitbit app!? Not that that is a paid one, but you'll (not) get the idea.
>
> [For the humour-impaired:] :-)

Andrew/Arlen found a replacement to the Fitbit app? I thought what he
"found" were suggestions by others. :-p

Just because there are free replacements that are sufficient to some
users does not mean those replacements are as full featured. Yes, there
is OpenStreets to replace Google Maps, but I've used OSM, and then
dropped it since it gets some data from city plats for roads that don't
yet exist, and may never exist, and much of its data is crowd sourced,
so areas with few reporting OSM users are sketchy or missing. Free just
means free, not necessarily equal nor better.

I'd be really interested if there were a free app that had all the
features of TalentApps' Parking that I paid $6.98 back in 2020 (after a
couple years of using the free version), but got abandoned in 2021.
This is not an app to find parking. It records where you parked
(manually, or automatically where I use a Bluetooth disconnect to mark
where I stopped and parked the car), and helps you find your car (either
by a map or a compass direction) along with recording your trips, save
notes for a waypoint, take pics (handy in a parking ramp or huge parking
lot), track multiple cars,

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=il.talent.parking
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=il.talent.parking.premium

I've tried other similar "find my car" and trip tracking combo apps, but
they sucked on features, or were unreliable. I used the free ParKing
app for a couple years, and eventually decided to pay for it (along with
several other apps that I had used, and kept, for several years).

So, if there are is this free (and de-Googled) pools of apps out there,
tell me where. No, I don't mean some app that does some of the
functions, but an equivalent free app that does ALL the same functions,
and maybe some more.

I've also paid for some app either to upgrade, unlock features, or to
support the author.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=il.talent.parking.premium
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wilysis.cellinfo
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque
and more.

Yes, there are free versions, but sometimes I want to unlock more
features, or I've used the app for a while, and feel if I'm going to
keep it that I should reward the author. Does the F-Droid Aurora Store
let me do that? Rahul Patel would like me to donate for using Aurora,
but what about the app authors? Do the "free" app authors have to setup
their own merchant accounts or sales services to get "donations"?

On 2025-01-04 22:10, VanguardLH wrote:
> Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:
>
>> Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>>
>>> Siard wrote:
>>>
>>>> Andrew wrote:
>>>
>>>>> What can't you do on Android WITHOUT a Google Account set up in the OS?
>>>>
>>>> Well, without a Google account I do not have access to paid apps.
>>>> There are a few important ones I can hardly do without.
>>>
>>> True. I use some.
>>
>> Sigh! When will you *ever* learn, Carlos!? 'Andrew' will soon tell you
>> that each and every paid app can be replaced by a *better* FOSS app,
>> which obviously has no ads.
>>
>> Didn't you pay *any* attention when he found a replacement for the
>> Fitbit app!? Not that that is a paid one, but you'll (not) get the idea.
>>
>> [For the humour-impaired:] :-)
>
> Andrew/Arlen found a replacement to the Fitbit app? I thought what he
> "found" were suggestions by others. :-p
>
> Just because there are free replacements that are sufficient to some
> users does not mean those replacements are as full featured.

The one I noticed is only a pedometer.

> Yes, there
> is OpenStreets to replace Google Maps, but I've used OSM, and then
> dropped it since it gets some data from city plats for roads that don't
> yet exist, and may never exist, and much of its data is crowd sourced,
> so areas with few reporting OSM users are sketchy or missing. Free just
> means free, not necessarily equal nor better.

Yes, of course, OSM depends on its contributors.

>
> I'd be really interested if there were a free app that had all the
> features of TalentApps' Parking that I paid $6.98 back in 2020 (after a
> couple years of using the free version), but got abandoned in 2021.
> This is not an app to find parking. It records where you parked
> (manually, or automatically where I use a Bluetooth disconnect to mark
> where I stopped and parked the car), and helps you find your car (either
> by a map or a compass direction) along with recording your trips, save
> notes for a waypoint, take pics (handy in a parking ramp or huge parking
> lot), track multiple cars,

Reminds me. I have an app to pay street parking on some cities. I doubt
these things work without an Android account.

I also have an app that connects to the cloud, where a gadget inside my
car records the car position. Tells you where the car is currently
parked (or moving, but that would be very worrisome). I have doubts it
works without an Android account. It is payware and paid subscription
ware (because it provides a WiFi hot spot in the car, which is my reason
for having it).

And I will not work to find out if it needs or not an Android account, I
am not interested.

>
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=il.talent.parking
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=il.talent.parking.premium
>
> I've tried other similar "find my car" and trip tracking combo apps, but
> they sucked on features, or were unreliable. I used the free ParKing
> app for a couple years, and eventually decided to pay for it (along with
> several other apps that I had used, and kept, for several years).
>
> So, if there are is this free (and de-Googled) pools of apps out there,
> tell me where. No, I don't mean some app that does some of the
> functions, but an equivalent free app that does ALL the same functions,
> and maybe some more.
>
> I've also paid for some app either to upgrade, unlock features, or to
> support the author.
>

Right. Same here.

> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=il.talent.parking.premium
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wilysis.cellinfo
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque
> and more.
>
> Yes, there are free versions, but sometimes I want to unlock more
> features, or I've used the app for a while, and feel if I'm going to
> keep it that I should reward the author. Does the F-Droid Aurora Store
> let me do that? Rahul Patel would like me to donate for using Aurora,
> but what about the app authors? Do the "free" app authors have to setup
> their own merchant accounts or sales services to get "donations"?

--
Cheers, Carlos.

Carlos,

>> Yes, there is OpenStreets to replace Google Maps, but I've used OSM, and
>> then dropped it since it gets some data from city plats for roads that
>> don't yet exist, and may never exist,

Using OSMAnd myself, I've seen pedestrian "road" data which has become
obsolete at least a decade ago (if not two or more). In a city. :-|

>> and much of its data is crowd sourced, so areas with few reporting OSM
>> users are sketchy or missing.
....
> Yes, of course, OSM depends on its contributors.

Although I was able to download the relevant map data and figure out which
nodes need to be removed and could estmate(1) which nodes would need to be
added(2), I was never able to figure out where to send such information.
Does either of you know ?

(1) a test with the GPS of a tablet I had didn't give me much confidence in
its accuracy.

(2) I never was able to find an authorative source to what this "diff" file
should look like though.

>> Free just means free, not necessarily equal nor better.

Replace "free" with "payed for", and the same is true. :-) :-(

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

"R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> wrote:

> (1) a test with the GPS of a tablet I had didn't give me much
> confidence in its accuracy.

The magnometer periodically requires re-calibration (the 3-D figure 8
roll) to get compass readings correct.

Similarly, sometimes the A-GPS table needs to get re-downloaded. There
are lots of GPS apps available, and some have an A-GPS reset function.
I use:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2

This is one of those apps that don't have a gear icon to get at
settings. Instead you drag from the left edge of the screen to get at
its config panel; however, with a armor case on the phone, it is hard to
drag from any edge of the screen. There is a help page at:

https://mobiwia.com/gpsstatus/

but it presumes you already know a lot about this stuff. You can swipe
from the left to get the config panel to switch between the Status,
Radar, and Locations panels, or swipe in from the right to move between
them.

This app guides you through the compass re-calibrate. In its main
screen, there is a bubble you center to get the phone level to eliminate
discrepencies. It also has a pitch/roll calibrate function.

Its status panel shows to how many GPS satellites you are connected (the
green dots). The dots, their colors, and shapes is described at their
help page. If you can't reach the GPS satellites, there won't be any
green circle dots, and a constantly spinning "Looking for GPS location"
message is displayed.

For GPS re-calibration, this app lets you reset the A-GPS table, and
download new data.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GNSS

> (2) I never was able to find an authorative source to what this "diff"
> file should look like though.

For GPS traces, I'd start here:

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Mapping_techniques

I saw uploaded traces, and where you upload them, at:

https://www.openstreetmap.org/traces

For editing the database, I'd start here:

https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Editors

For help from their community, I'd try here:

https://community.openstreetmap.org/

I didn't find (but didn't look that hard) for info on the structure of
the database, or of exported data (which I suspect is XML). Remember
that I quit using OSMand, so the above is what I found in online
searches.

VanguardLH,

>> (1) a test with the GPS of a tablet I had didn't give me much
>> confidence in its accuracy.
>
> The magnometer periodically requires re-calibration (the 3-D figure
> 8 roll) to get compass readings correct.

Are you saying that the (functioning of the) GPS is dependant on the compass
?

> Similarly, sometimes the A-GPS table needs to get re-downloaded.

I know that most "smarthone" GPS-es are actually A-GPS. At the time I had
no simcard in tablet, meaning it worked in its off-line mode (and expected
its GPS to work well, out in the open air).

> There are lots of GPS apps available

Thats another thing I'm not prone to: running random apps.

I have no idea what they actually do, and, on that tablet, next-to-no
possibilities to check and/or disallow certain stuff. Combine that with my
stance that an app being allowed on-line is a privilege, not something they
may demand.

> For GPS traces, I'd start here:
>
> https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Mapping_techniques

Thanks, but I already found a working description of how to do it.

Damn, I wanted to post the URL I found, but had to find that the page has
gone. :-(

Ah, it seems to have been relocated to here :
https://osmand.net/docs/user/plugins/trip-recording/

> I saw uploaded traces, and where you upload them, at:
>
> https://www.openstreetmap.org/traces

Uploading a nice trip isn't quite what I was trying to do. Remember, I
didn't trust the accuracy of the tablets GPS, and thus the trip data - a
difference of just a meter or two would be a footwalk going next to a
building, or straight thru its walls. :-) :-(

No, I extracted the nodes from map data for editing purposes (max size just
a few KM squared), and wanted to return those, plus some "guestimated" new
ones, to them.

> https://www.openstreetmap.org/traces
>
> For editing the database, I'd start here:

:-) For "some reason" (i'm a hobby programmer) at that time I did not like a
ready-to-use map editor (I seem to remember I also found a list of map
editors), but wanted access to the raw data.

> For help from their community, I'd try here:
>
> https://community.openstreetmap.org/

Thanks. But that one is for /users/ of the OSMAnd map program, not for
people who want to five a bit deeper.

Heck, I would be rather surprised if anyone there would even know what the
URL is to the "diff" files OSMAnd itself generates - or what the files
format would be.

> I didn't find (but didn't look that hard) for info on the structure
> of the database, or of exported data (which I suspect is XML).

Same here. I did find /some/ info, but not of the current map format(s).

> Remember that I quit using OSMand, so the above is what I found
> in online searches.

I have no problem with that. Information, even if its older, is better than
having none at all.

Though I, just like you, did do some major searching, and (effectivily) came
up empty-handed.

So, thanks for the info.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

VanguardLH, 2025-01-05 18:34:

> "R.Wieser" <address@is.invalid> wrote:
>
>> (1) a test with the GPS of a tablet I had didn't give me much
>> confidence in its accuracy.
>
> The magnometer periodically requires re-calibration (the 3-D figure 8
> roll) to get compass readings correct.

A magnetometer has nothing to do with GPS.

> Similarly, sometimes the A-GPS table needs to get re-downloaded. There
> are lots of GPS apps available, and some have an A-GPS reset function.

A-GPS only reduces the time until you have a GPS fix but it will *not*
improve accuracy. In addition to A-GPS Android also uses triangulation
of known cell towers and WiFi networks to determine the current position
when possible.

[...]
> For GPS re-calibration, this app lets you reset the A-GPS table, and
> download new data.

There is no "GPS re-calibration". A GPS reciever can not be more or less
acurate depening on any kind of "calibration". There are units which are
more acurate than others and GPS signals can become inacurate when you
have a lot of big objects around you, like trees, houses and so on.

> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GNSS

Do you read your own sources?

Quote:

"Assisted GNSS (A-GNSS) is a GNSS augmentation system that often
significantly improves the startup performance—i.e., time-to-first-fix
(TTFF)—of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS). "

And that's it - faster positioning fix, but not better accuracy.

So with A-GPS or A-GNSS the GPS receiver will know what satellites are
visible at all at its current positions and does not have to wait to get
the information with the slow downlink stream via GPS which is only
around 50 kBit/s - which can take up to 12.5 minutes.

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

Arno Welzel wrote:

> VanguardLH wrote:
>
>> The magnometer periodically requires re-calibration (the 3-D figure 8
>> roll) to get compass readings correct.
>
> A magnetometer has nothing to do with GPS.
Occasionally when using google maps from my phone e.g. on a train, it
will report "low accuracy" and request the figure-8 calibration, I think
it can use the magnetometer better to sense the direction of travel?

Andy Burns, 2025-01-10 18:33:

> Arno Welzel wrote:
>
>> VanguardLH wrote:
>>
>>> The magnometer periodically requires re-calibration (the 3-D figure 8
>>> roll) to get compass readings correct.
>>
>> A magnetometer has nothing to do with GPS.
> Occasionally when using google maps from my phone e.g. on a train, it
> will report "low accuracy" and request the figure-8 calibration, I think
> it can use the magnetometer better to sense the direction of travel?

The magnetometer is mostly relevant if you do *not* move and want to
know, in which direction the device is oriented.

However when you move, your direction of travel can will be computed
based on your movement - the magnetometer is then completely irrelevant
and will *not* used for that.

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

On 1/4/2025 7:24 AM, Siard wrote:
> On Wed, 1 Jan 2025 02:08 -0000 (UTC), Andrew wrote:
>> What can't you do on Android WITHOUT a Google Account set up in the OS?
>
> Well, without a Google account I do not have access to paid apps.
> There are a few important ones I can hardly do without.
>

I expect that most people here don't care, but Wired currently has an
interesting article about Gravy Analytics. They were recently hacked,
some of the data went online, 404media investigated, and the result
is evidence of what we've all known, or should:

Besides apps selling you out to dataminers, many, many apps leak
data through ad auctions. The Gravy data shows location tracking
(sold to both business and gov't) for cellphone users. Unsurprisingly,
the whole thing appears to be like a hundred crazed dogs fighting
over a corpse. The article points out that anyone can get into the
data market by simply bidding on ads. There's no need to bid high
enough to win the slot. One can get the personal info of the ad
target just by signing onto the auction. Crazy stuff.

https://www.wired.com/story/gravy-location-data-app-leak-rtb/

Among apps listed were Tinder, MSO365, Call of Duty.... Interestingly,
companies seem to have a stock response ready: "Don't look at us.
We don't do business with Gravy." But those companies have often
been caught spying in the past. And they do run ads. So there seems
to be a lot of plain, baldfaced lying going on. And why not? They don't
face punishment. The strategy of sweeping it under the rug has worked
well. So why offer a quotable quote and risk waking up the peasantry
who are happily using dating apps or counting their footsteps?

Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:

> Andy Burns, 2025-01-10 18:33:
>
>> Arno Welzel wrote:
>>
>>> VanguardLH wrote:
>>>
>>>> The magnometer periodically requires re-calibration (the 3-D figure 8
>>>> roll) to get compass readings correct.
>>>
>>> A magnetometer has nothing to do with GPS.
>> Occasionally when using google maps from my phone e.g. on a train, it
>> will report "low accuracy" and request the figure-8 calibration, I think
>> it can use the magnetometer better to sense the direction of travel?
>
> The magnetometer is mostly relevant if you do *not* move and want to
> know, in which direction the device is oriented.
>
> However when you move, your direction of travel can will be computed
> based on your movement - the magnetometer is then completely irrelevant
> and will *not* used for that.

A "test" didn't give any details just what was the test. Did Wieser
compare his GPS reading (does he have an app that tells him that, and to
how many satellites he was connected, and what type of satellites, and
if they were changing because he was moving) to some map app's GPS
coordinates? Was he moving, or stationery? Did he mark a waypoint
(again, in which app) to move away and then return physically to the
same location to see if he was still shown at the same GPS coordinates?
My response was generic based on a vague test of something to do with
GPS on his tablet which is also undefined, and different devices don't
have the same accuracy (he's using a tablet, not a high-end GPS tracking
device or even a military one, so there will be some hysterysis in
re-measuring a waypoint upon return due to the 1 to 5 meter accuracy
assuming his tablet is capable).

And, yes, A-GPS is for speed in locking into satellites to THEN get
positioning, and that is important when moving when satellites come into
and out of range. And, like your suggestion, perhaps you should read
the referenced articles which mentions a 50 bit/sec download rate to get
the positioning data from the satellites (that's plural), and if a
satellite gets disconnected, and another found, then the download starts
all over. The only data that is instantaneous between device and
satellite is time. The endpoint GPS device computes its location. It
isn't told to the device by the satellite. Wieser's "test" wasn't much
of a GPS test if all he did is one sample while fixed, and then compared
to what?

Rather than nitpicking on the responses, just what is YOUR suggestion to
Wieser regarding his statement of "a test with the GPS of a tablet I had
didn't give me much confidence in its accuracy"? Come on, now, give
some specific suggestions, so we can nitpick on your suggestions being
unfocused for a vague "test".

VanguardLH, 2025-01-11 21:01:

[...]
> Rather than nitpicking on the responses, just what is YOUR suggestion to
> Wieser regarding his statement of "a test with the GPS of a tablet I had
> didn't give me much confidence in its accuracy"? Come on, now, give
> some specific suggestions, so we can nitpick on your suggestions being
> unfocused for a vague "test".

There is none. If a device is not accurate, you can't do anything about
it. A-GPS will not improve that.

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:

> VanguardLH, 2025-01-11 21:01:
>
> [...]
>> Rather than nitpicking on the responses, just what is YOUR suggestion to
>> Wieser regarding his statement of "a test with the GPS of a tablet I had
>> didn't give me much confidence in its accuracy"? Come on, now, give
>> some specific suggestions, so we can nitpick on your suggestions being
>> unfocused for a vague "test".
>
> There is none. If a device is not accurate, you can't do anything about
> it. A-GPS will not improve that.

*If*.

Arno Welzel wrote:

> Andy Burns wrote:
>
>> Occasionally when using google maps from my phone e.g. on a train, it
>> will report "low accuracy" and request the figure-8 calibration
>> The magnetometer is mostly relevant if you donot move and want to
> know, in which direction the device is oriented.
>
> However when you move, your direction of travel can will be computed
> based on your movement - the magnetometer is then completely irrelevant
> and willnot used for that.

I had an extreme case of that, I had a magnetic Qi charger in the car,
you could just "chuck" the phone towards it and it would be held in
place and charge ... except any map application would tend to think I
was doing 180° turns while stationary at junctions, and correct itself
after moving off.

But I was thinking of a train journey just last week, where GPS was
struggling (I was sitting at the end of a carriage with presumably not
much GPS view of the sky) and it was very keen for recalibration.

VanguardLH, 2025-01-13 00:53:

> Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:
>
>> VanguardLH, 2025-01-11 21:01:
>>
>> [...]
>>> Rather than nitpicking on the responses, just what is YOUR suggestion to
>>> Wieser regarding his statement of "a test with the GPS of a tablet I had
>>> didn't give me much confidence in its accuracy"? Come on, now, give
>>> some specific suggestions, so we can nitpick on your suggestions being
>>> unfocused for a vague "test".
>>
>> There is none. If a device is not accurate, you can't do anything about
>> it. A-GPS will not improve that.
>
> *If*.

Yes - so what?

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:

> VanguardLH, 2025-01-13 00:53:
>
>> Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:
>>
>>> VanguardLH, 2025-01-11 21:01:
>>>
>>> [...]
>>>> Rather than nitpicking on the responses, just what is YOUR suggestion to
>>>> Wieser regarding his statement of "a test with the GPS of a tablet I had
>>>> didn't give me much confidence in its accuracy"? Come on, now, give
>>>> some specific suggestions, so we can nitpick on your suggestions being
>>>> unfocused for a vague "test".
>>>
>>> There is none. If a device is not accurate, you can't do anything about
>>> it. A-GPS will not improve that.
>>
>> *If*.
>
> Yes - so what?

My reply was similarly unfocused due to lack of information.

VanguardLH, 2025-01-13 22:39:

> Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:
>
>> VanguardLH, 2025-01-13 00:53:
>>
>>> Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:
>>>
>>>> VanguardLH, 2025-01-11 21:01:
>>>>
>>>> [...]
>>>>> Rather than nitpicking on the responses, just what is YOUR suggestion to
>>>>> Wieser regarding his statement of "a test with the GPS of a tablet I had
>>>>> didn't give me much confidence in its accuracy"? Come on, now, give
>>>>> some specific suggestions, so we can nitpick on your suggestions being
>>>>> unfocused for a vague "test".
>>>>
>>>> There is none. If a device is not accurate, you can't do anything about
>>>> it. A-GPS will not improve that.
>>>
>>> *If*.
>>
>> Yes - so what?
>
> My reply was similarly unfocused due to lack of information.

My reply was not "unfocused due to lack of information".

Again: A-GPS is not improving accuracy. If GPS on a device is not
accurate, you can not improve that with software at all. There is no
"magic trick" to make the GPS reciever work more accurate and you also
can not "calibrate" GPS. A-GPS/A-GNSS only reduces the time to first
fix, since it will provide the satellite position data, so the reciever
does not have to download this data from the satellites using the slow
GPS downlink connection.

Also a magnetometer has *nothing* to do with GPS at all. It will only
report, to which direction the device is currently oriented. But this
has *nothing* to do with your current position. You may need to
calibrate a magnetometer from time to time.

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

On 2025-01-14 09:57, Arno Welzel wrote:
> VanguardLH, 2025-01-13 22:39:
>
>> Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:
>>
>>> VanguardLH, 2025-01-13 00:53:
>>>
>>>> Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> VanguardLH, 2025-01-11 21:01:
>>>>>
>>>>> [...]
>>>>>> Rather than nitpicking on the responses, just what is YOUR suggestion to
>>>>>> Wieser regarding his statement of "a test with the GPS of a tablet I had
>>>>>> didn't give me much confidence in its accuracy"? Come on, now, give
>>>>>> some specific suggestions, so we can nitpick on your suggestions being
>>>>>> unfocused for a vague "test".
>>>>>
>>>>> There is none. If a device is not accurate, you can't do anything about
>>>>> it. A-GPS will not improve that.
>>>>
>>>> *If*.
>>>
>>> Yes - so what?
>>
>> My reply was similarly unfocused due to lack of information.
>
> My reply was not "unfocused due to lack of information".
>
> Again: A-GPS is not improving accuracy. If GPS on a device is not
> accurate, you can not improve that with software at all. There is no
> "magic trick" to make the GPS reciever work more accurate and you also
> can not "calibrate" GPS. A-GPS/A-GNSS only reduces the time to first
> fix, since it will provide the satellite position data, so the reciever
> does not have to download this data from the satellites using the slow
> GPS downlink connection.
>
> Also a magnetometer has *nothing* to do with GPS at all. It will only
> report, to which direction the device is currently oriented. But this
> has *nothing* to do with your current position. You may need to
> calibrate a magnetometer from time to time.

I don't know if related or not, but years ago there was a system used to
improve the accuracy of GPS, in places like harbours. They would put a
special transmitter at a site. The exact location of the site was known,
and also what error it got from the GPS system, continuously evaluated.
A ship would use that information to correct their error from their own
GPS receiver by comparison with the error on the site nearby. The
resulting precision was maybe one meter.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

Carlos E.R., 2025-01-14 13:24:

[...]
> I don't know if related or not, but years ago there was a system used to
> improve the accuracy of GPS, in places like harbours. They would put a
> special transmitter at a site. The exact location of the site was known,
> and also what error it got from the GPS system, continuously evaluated.
> A ship would use that information to correct their error from their own
> GPS receiver by comparison with the error on the site nearby. The
> resulting precision was maybe one meter.

There is also a system called "High precision positioning" and the
accuracy is even less than a meter.

Also see here:

<https://www.u-blox.com/en/technologies/high-precision-positioning>

<https://www.ardusimple.com>

--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

On 2025-01-14 20:51, Arno Welzel wrote:
> Carlos E.R., 2025-01-14 13:24:
>
> [...]
>> I don't know if related or not, but years ago there was a system used to
>> improve the accuracy of GPS, in places like harbours. They would put a
>> special transmitter at a site. The exact location of the site was known,
>> and also what error it got from the GPS system, continuously evaluated.
>> A ship would use that information to correct their error from their own
>> GPS receiver by comparison with the error on the site nearby. The
>> resulting precision was maybe one meter.
>
> There is also a system called "High precision positioning" and the
> accuracy is even less than a meter.
>
> Also see here:
>
> <https://www.u-blox.com/en/technologies/high-precision-positioning>

I believe they are using what I described as part of it.

>
> <https://www.ardusimple.com>
>
>

--
Cheers, Carlos.