Bluetooth GPS in B787 cockpit?

[crjo]

Hello,

Has anyone had any success with an external GPS receiver that would connect to an iPad over Bluetooth in the cockpit of a B787?
I bought a Garmin GLO based on good feedback but I can't get it to find any satellites from inside the cockpit...

Thanks.

[BluSdUp]

I had the same problem with my sextant when they blocked the two upper windows on my B737!

[Sidestick_n_Rudder]

crjo Try installing the antenna behind the escape hatch cover. It works, though it’s easy to forget after the flight.

BluSdUp - our of curiosity - what kind of sextant do you have and how to get an aviation sextant? All I was able to find was maritime sextants, which need visible horizon...

[Skyjob]

Place securely on glare shield before departure and acquire a signal, then let it rest there while required

[Stretchwell]

Originally Posted by Small cog

Bluetooth GPS in B787 cockpit?

Why?

My thought too ! I think you’ll find there’s a couple fitted as standard..........

[BluSdUp]

Sidestick
Well, I need a sextant as much as anyone need a private GPS in a Boeing.
Mind you I have one.
As maritime and aviation goes you only need to correct for altitude and voila , you have an accurate position.
Very popular as sole navigation aid for the likes of Roald Amundsen Umberto Nobile et al.
Dependent on horizon indeed! And satellites, err , sun , moon or stars .
Hence some hefty debates of who did reached the Northpole by air.
We did! BTW.

[Sidestick_n_Rudder]

Fot instance for iPad / efb, electronic plotting chart etc. not necessary, but sometimes helpful.

[Capn Bloggs]

Why?

Ever heard of an atlas?

[Smithy02]

Look for Bad Elf. Work in 787 and ipad compatible.

S2

[double_barrel]

Garmin GLO works for me as a passenger in the back of 787! To get initial capture I sometimes have to wedge it in behind a window blind, thereafter it usually keeps a lock easily enough eg on a tray table. So I'm surprised you are having trouble in the front!

[Roj approved]

The window seem to be extra thick and block the signal ( maybe to handle the higher cabin diff?), I saw lots of folks try, but they all gave up, maybe this Bad Elf will work.

[Sidestick_n_Rudder]

Originally Posted by BluSdUp

Sidestick
Well, I need a sextant as much as anyone need a private GPS in a Boeing.
Mind you I have one.
As maritime and aviation goes you only need to correct for altitude and voila , you have an accurate position.
Very popular as sole navigation aid for the likes of Roald Amundsen Umberto Nobile et al.
Dependent on horizon indeed! And satellites, err , sun , moon or stars .
Hence some hefty debates of who did reached the Northpole by air.
We did! BTW.

Hi BluSdUp The maritime one needs a visible horison, whereas the aviation one has a bubble of some sort and works without a horizon. Having said that, could not find one in working condition anywhere. Not that I really need it, just for fun.

As for dip correction - on the 787 you can actually use the horizon line of the HUD as reference to shoot stars - no dip correction required

[BluSdUp]

Sidestick

I have a million projects in the annex and one of them is basic navigation.
( Did xCounty Orienteering from i was 10 years, and maps and stuff always fascinated me.)
With regards to the sextant in aviation , I shall consult with my old Navigator friend in Canada that used to work on the P3 (CF140)Aurora and before that Argus ( Britannia)
He did some interesting work up north in the late 70s and early 80s.
Now, Cod hunting at sea level ca 1/2 knot.
Regards
Cpt B

[Aeroservice]

Hi CRJO,
I think you will find the Cockpit Windscreens and side Screens, although transparent, have some material in them that nicely shields them from GPS Signals. I don't have experience on the 787 but in the 747 and other series, the Window Heat operates by passing electrical current through a super thin rolled gold film to heat the Perspex/Glass to make it more malleable. I think this is enough to shield portable GPS from signals with W/H on or off from experience.
Most likely this is why previous posts have suggested escape hatch areas etc. are a better place to try getting a signal for a portable GPS.

On your lovely machine, you have external, powered GPS Antennae that do a great job.

Even on some lighter Aircraft and Heli's that don't have Window Heat, it is still sometimes difficult to gain a reliable GPS Signal for portable GPS, where it isn't possible to see vertically up to the sky, or only a partial view.

Hope that helps

[TURIN]

Originally Posted by double_barrel

Garmin GLO works for me as a passenger in the back of 787! To get initial capture I sometimes have to wedge it in behind a window blind, thereafter it usually keeps a lock easily enough eg on a tray table. So I'm surprised you are having trouble in the front!

There are no window blinds on a 787.

[Dave Gittins]

I have had a staggering lack of success with an iPad GPS on a 787. Assume it's because there are no window blinds and the glass has something in it to allow its light transmittance to be varied that not only blocks light but also blocks GPS signals.

[SeenItAll]

Originally Posted by Dave Gittins

I have had a staggering lack of success with an iPad GPS on a 787. Assume it's because there are no window blinds and the glass has something in it to allow its light transmittance to be varied that not only blocks light but also blocks GPS signals.

I would agree. It is far harder to get a cell phone signal (which use frequencies similar to GPS) inside a 787 (while waiting at the gate) than on any other plane. I assume it is because of the electroluminescent windows.

[Roo]

Originally Posted by Dave Gittins

I have had a staggering lack of success with an iPad GPS on a 787..

As mentioned earlier, place whatever GPS you have in beside the Flight Deck overhead Door hinges. Place it where the arrows are in the image.You need to pull back the corner of the cover to gain access. If your GPS has a lanyard leave it hanging down beyond the cover as a visible reminder to collect it at the end of the flight. Bad Elf works well in there and I suspect other units will too.

[Brain Potter]

An external GPS is an uncertified piece of emitting electonic equipment containing a lithium battery. I suggest that ‘wedging’ such an item behind a cover on an aircrft is not a good idea.

[WingNut60]

Originally Posted by double_barrel

Garmin GLO works for me as a passenger in the back of 787! To get initial capture I sometimes have to wedge it in behind a window blind, thereafter it usually keeps a lock easily enough eg on a tray table. So I'm surprised you are having trouble in the front!

Window blind? In back of 787?
Not in any that I've flown in. Just a dimmer switch.