Should I enable WIFI scanning / Bluetooth scanning / Network Location under setting->location->location services?

Which one would help me navigate inside a building or underground using open source maps?

I haven’t tested yet, does google map requires any of those location services enabled to work? Should I just use google map in vanadium?

thanks a lot

  • pogodem0n@lemmy.world
    6·
    16 hours ago

    The thing that help you navigate inside buildings is called “Network Location”.

    Google and Apple provide this functionality by collecting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth network data from all their users and creating a massive database.

    By default, “Network Location” is disabled in GrapheneOS. If you have Google Play Services installed, you can use Google’s Network Location service by enabling those options.

    Fortunately, GrapheneOS provides an alternative using Apple’s network location services. There is an option to use GrapheneOS proxy server instead of connecting directly to Apple. Of course, whether you use this feature should entirely depend on how much you trust GrapheneOS developers. This one works using just Wi-Fi data and I use it daily.

    • happeningtofry99158@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      13 hours ago

      thanks a lot!

      though could you briefly explain the term “Network Location”? what does this “network” represents? How is it going to help with location and geopositioning? My understanding is that by enabling “Network Location” the location defined with “Network” is sent to SLP server as assisted data for geopositioning.

      I would assume “Network” represents cellular data, hope someone could confirm

      • pogodem0n@lemmy.world
        1·
        10 hours ago

        You need a direct line of sight with satellites for GPS to work.

        Of course, this is almost impossible indoors. Here’s how network location works to my understanding:

        Another person outdoors uses GPS to locate themselves. This person has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled and their device can see your home/office network. Google and Apple save this information to their databases. When you request your location indoors, your device sends Wi-Fi information of nearby access points. The servers know approximate location of this Wi-Fi network and can give you your approximate location, though with a large margin of error.