GPS Signal Tips
Getting a Good GPS Signal
GPS needs a clear view of the sky. Buildings, tunnels, dense trees and, above all, metal boxes (cars, trains, ferries, planes) weaken the signal and make your track jump around. Readings the phone is unsure about are left out, so a bad signal shows up as gaps or a jagged line.
General Tips
- Keep the phone where it can see the sky: a top pocket, a handlebar mount, the dashboard
- Avoid bags and pockets lined with foil or metal
- In a vehicle, put the phone by a window
- If tracking looks wrong, step outside and wait 30 seconds for a new fix
On a Boat or Ferry
- Stay on deck or near a window when you can
- Below deck in a steel hull the signal is often lost completely
- The gap fills in when you are back outside
Cycling and Motorcycling
- A handlebar or top-tube mount is ideal
- A frame bag with a clear top works well
- Deep in a pannier or a metal tank bag the signal suffers
- Expect short gaps in tunnels and city canyons
Walking and Hiking
- An outer pocket or the top of a pack is better than deep inside it
- Dense forest reduces accuracy; it improves on ridges and clearings
In a Car, Campervan or RV
- Dashboard or windscreen mount
- Not under a seat or in the glovebox
- Tunnels and multi-storey car parks interrupt GPS briefly
On a Plane
- Turn on airplane mode, then turn location services back on
- A window seat helps; the phone needs to see satellites through the window
- Flights are recorded as straight lines and do not get flyby films
Troubleshooting
- Check that location permission is Always / Allow all the time
- On Android, exclude Pebbls from battery optimisation
- Restart the app if tracking seems stuck; Settings › Advanced › Restart App
- Settings › Support › Send Location Logs helps us diagnose a problem