My location way off [Archive]

submetropolis

11-20-2009, 12:30 PM

I've searched the forum and could not find this issue so hopefully this isn't redundant.
I have a NEW Samsung Moment through Sprint (new number, new account, new everything) When I hit my location (via GPS) it works great anywhere I'm at.
When I'm connected at home via WI-FI and hit my location it puts me back at an old address I haven't lived at in 2 years. I have the same DSL/wireless router from that address. I've done a hard reset on my router and reset all my home wireless settings. I've emailed 2wire support and ATT support, both say it's my phone. I know this isn't the case because it only happens when I connect to my home wireless network. Plus how would my phone know where I've lived in the past 5 years, give me a break.

Does any else have this problem or heard of this? I'm assuming when AT&T activated my DSL/Router they input my address and that address is stored somewhere that puts my location way off!

extorian

11-20-2009, 02:15 PM

This is because of SkyHook. There are four ways your phone can figure out your position.

1) Your GPS.

2) Your location figured out by how close your are to your network's masts.

3) Your geo-IP location - figured out from your IP address if connected to WiFi - as your broadband connection will likely have an IP address that is unique to your area (county, or city).

4) Your WiFi MAC address location (via SkyHook).

It is number 4 that's the problem here.

SkyHook is a great idea. Basically, GPS systems give you a high accuracy, but they don't work very well indoors. People spend most of their time indoors, so this can be a problem. However, these days, most people are near some kind of WiFi network, so SkyHook went around in cars marking the location of any WiFi network (the MAC address of the WiFi router) they detected. Hence - you're showing up at your old house. I bet if you walk outside of range of your WiFi your location is fine again.

You can (I think) update your WiFi router's location at this site: http://www.skyhookwireless.com/howitworks/submit_ap.php