If you’re asking this question, there is a pretty good chance that you are either using an older iOS device, or an Android device whose location settings are set incorrectly. This is not meant as a positive or negative about iPad vs Android, but there are subtle differences between the way these two operating systems obtain their own location.
In either system, the devices can obtain location data (i.e. “where am I?”) through three methods:
- Triangulation of cell tower locations
- Location data related to received Wi-Fi signals (regardless of whether the device is connected to that Wi-Fi)
- The use of a GPS chip obtaining location via satellite signal
Of these three methods, the one that uses the MOST battery power is the third, the use of the GPS chip. Therefore, either operating system will try to find its own location by using one or both of the first two methods before using the GPS chip. This maximizes battery life. However, the first method (cell towers) may only give an approximate location and the second method (Wi-Fi signals) can be inaccurate by up to a block due to varying strength of Wi-Fi signals, the movement of the device itself, or even inaccurate original data for that Wi-Fi networks location. Only the third method (GPS chip) ensures a location accurate to within about 30 feet because of its use of satellite timing signals.
In an Android device, the operating system allows you to select a Location Setting to only use the third method, the GPS chip, restricting the device to using the most accurate of the three methods as long as you are willing to sacrifice battery life. You can change this setting in and Android through Settings > Location > Mode or Accuracy > set to “GPS Only” or “Highest Accuracy”. The method of verifying or changing this setting may vary slightly from phone model to phone model. Contact your service provider if you are unable to locate the setting.
For iOS users that are updated to iOS 14 or higher, a feature has been added called the Precise Location toggle for Location Services. This new toggle gives the user more control over which apps can access your current location, and to what granularity. To be certain this setting is correct, open Settings and scroll down to Apps. Find StreetWise and double click to get to the app's permission settings. Check location services to be certain it is set to "ON":
In an iOS (Apple) device using an operating system version prior to iOS14, the operating system makes that choice for you, always prioritizing battery life even if your device is always on shore power. There is no way in that older OS to lock an iOS device into always using GPS. As a result, the location of an iPad or iOS device may jump around a bit, especially when the device is not moving at all, and may have an accuracy range of considerably more than the 30 feet expected from a GPS chip. In certain circumstances, this can be as much as a half block or more.
It's also important to remember that the location of a unit can ONLY be sent to StreetWise if the StreetWise app is actually running. Make sure your firefighters are not closing the app when the location of their unit is needed by others. That also includes not "sending the app to the background" so that another app can be used or a web search can be performed. You've no doubt been told that apps can continue running even when they are "backgrounded", but there are limitations to that such that it's not terribly reliable. When an app is "backgrounded" and other apps or services on the device are needed, resources will be taken from "backgrounded" apps first in order to support the active app. So, even if you leave StreetWise running in the background while another app is being used, it is not a guarantee that your location data is still being transmitted from that unit to our server and, subsequently, out to other devices or to your dispatchers.