Android Question FusedLocation with GPS and WiFi, no Cellular

[Rusty]

I'm using FusedLocation with 2 cell phones, one has a SIM card and the other doesn't.
The one with the SIM card is able to capture FusedLocation GPS Lat/Long almost everywhere (not in undergound garages etc. that you would expect to not receive Satellite signals).
The one with no SIM and Wifi only, receives GPS information, but even outdoors, the GPS Lat/Long is not consistently available.
Is it required to have Cell signal for the FusedLocation to work reliably?
I must note that the phone with no SIM is a Samsung S6 and the phone with SIM is a Samsung S7.
Any suggestions/ideas are appreciated.
Regards,
Rusty

 

[Erel]

How do you know that it found the location based on the GPS and not based on the cellular network?

 

[Rusty]

Both phones are away from any wifi, the one phone has no cellular SIM, so it has to be GPS, right?
the S7 has Cell so it could be triangulating from the Cell towers or GPS, not sure.
My main concern is the phone S6 that has no SIM and it's limitations on getting the Lat/Long since it doesn't have either Wifi or cell service, I'm seeing frequent times it can't get them.
In the case of the S6, wouldn't it have to be GPS?
any suggestions?
Thanks Erel,
Rusty

 

[canalrun]

Hello Rusty,

I use the FusedLocationProvider on Phones and Wear Watches both with and without Wi-Fi and Cellular connections. It works wonderfully.

I'm pretty sure I have read that the FusedLocationProvider will use the best combination of all three – Wi-Fi and Cellular localization, and GPS.

I would be inclined to believe the GPS receiver on the S6 does not get a strong signal all of the time.

I have used a wide range of phones with GPS, all the way from $35 used cheapo phones from eBay to S5's and G3's.

I've seen GPS reception vary quite a bit even between phones of the same type.

Barry.

 

[Rusty]

Hi Barry,
Always great to hear from you
Thanks for that update as this confirms my client issue.
He is carrying an S6 with no SIM and is finding the Lat/Long inconsistently available.
My S7 has been carried literally from North Carolina through every state between there and Oregon (in the US, this is over 3000 miles (4800 km) and it never failed to record my location (except in a couple of canyons and tunnels).
So my S7 must be triangulating cell towers and using GPS where my client can't triangulate cell towers since he has no SIM...
I guess he'll have to buy a SIM, eh?
I hope all is going well for you. I appreciate your help.
Regards,
Rusty