Why does my phone get my location wrong on Wi-Fi?

Hungerdunger

When I'm out and about with my phone it knows my location. However, when I'm at home in West Wales and connected to my Wi-Fi, if I use an app which supplies my location, (e.g. a Twitter app called "Plume") it tells me I'm in Newton-le-Willows in Lancashire.


This isn't a major problem - I'm just curious about the reason for it happening and whether I can fix it. Can anyone help?

Browntoa

It's identifying where your ISP servers are

droopsnoot

Is your ISP based in Newton-le-Willows?


I'm using mobile broadband and sometimes if I post on FB, it posts a random location. I once posted on FB and it decided I was in New York for some reason. I'm guessing that it decides based on the IP address.

brewerdave

It can be quite amusing - for instance,my anti virus software is warning me that my location is visible (in order to try and persuade me to upgrade) - but it thinks I'm ~ 150 miles further North!!

JJ_Egan

Its the AGP data that's false .
Could be a non UK firmware that's pointing the NTP time server abroad.
I would try below if Android .




https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2

Hungerdunger

droopsnoot wrote: »

Is your ISP based in Newton-le-Willows?

I'm with Plusnet, who I believe are based in Yorkshire.



When I look at the location on Google Earth, it takes me to a residential area.

ben501

brewerdave wrote: »

It can be quite amusing - for instance,my anti virus software is warning me that my location is visible

Not just me then. I got a popup yesterday telling me exactly where I was in Canada :rotfl: (I was using a VPN for something, so at least I know it works)

stator

It's supposed to use multiple pieces of information, such as the cell tower IDs and local WiFi network names. But if it has limited information available, it might make bad decisions. It could be that someone has moved their WiFi.
If you turn off WiFi and mobile but turn on GPS, clear the A-GPS data and try and force you phone to get a proper GPS accurate location, then turn WiFi back on it might start to get things right. There are plenty of free GPS status apps that show you GPS status and let your clear the A-GPS data. Also make sure power saving mode isn't turned on. Power saving mode stops GPS from working and instead all locations are guessed based on cell information and wifi information.