Difference between Google maps and osmand while pinpointing location

[Nelson A. de Oliveira]

Sometimes I see that osmand isn't possible to pinpoint my location
(not even approximate, with the blue circle) while Google maps
properly displays where I am.
It happens basically when using 3G and/or wifi.

Why there is this difference between them (and why can't osmand locate
me exactly like gmaps), please?

[Sabra Sharaya]

I think Google stores the location of cell towers and WiFi access points, so if it detects either one then it knows you are in that location. I also suspect it adds the location of newly detected access points using GPS information.

[Nelson A. de Oliveira]

On Sun, Mar 31, 2013 at 1:38 AM, Sabra Sharaya <sabras...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I think Google stores the location of cell towers and WiFi access points, so
> if it detects either one then it knows you are in that location. I also
> suspect it adds the location of newly detected access points using GPS
> information.

Can't other apps use this kind of information too?

[Sabra Sharaya]

I think the location based on cell towers is built into the Android API with the permission "Coarse (network-based) location". And at least one app, Llama profiles, determines the location based on cell towers it detected while in that location. I would think an app like OSMand could detect the SSID of routers even if it doesn't have the key to connect to the router. Then if it can pick up a good GPS fix, it can store the location with the MAC address of the router in a database.

[Harry van der Wolf]

The OpenCellIDs project is trying just to do that. See <http://opencellid.org/>
The Keypad-mapper 3 supports this project. See keypad-mapper 3 in the Google store and tje openstreetmap wiki at
<http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Keypad-Mapper_3>

Harry

2013/4/1 Sabra Sharaya <sabras...@gmail.com>

[Sabra Sharaya]

They don't seem to have an Android app, and their documentation suggests they only support GSM phones.