Android. How to know if location detected is from GPS or Network provider

Question

I'm trying to implement an application which senses position from both GPS and the network provider and shows it on a Google Map. I succeeded in doing this, but I have a question: I get the provider in the onCreate() of my Activity (it extends LocationListener)

locationManager = (LocationManager) getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
Criteria criteria = new Criteria();
provider = locationManager.getBestProvider(criteria, false);
location = locationManager.getLastKnownLocation(provider);

It works fine, my problem is that when onLocationChange() is called, I should act differently if the provider which called it is GPS or NETWORK. Is there a way to know which? To be more clear:

When onLocationChanged(Location location) is called, is there a chance to know which provider made the call? I have tried using an if on the provider string but it seems it doesn't work.

Adam Matan · Answer 1 · 2013-03-10T12:13:59.047

1

Do you need to know the Location provider (GPS, WIFI or Network) or its accuracy?

getAccuracy()

Get the estimated accuracy of this location, in meters.

We define accuracy as the radius of 68% confidence. In other words, if you draw a circle centered at this location's latitude and longitude, and with a radius equal to the accuracy, then there is a 68% probability that the true location is inside the circle.

If you really care about the provider, you could probably use isProviderEnabled().

edited Mar 10 '13 at 12:13

answered Mar 10 '13 at 12:07

Adam Matan

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Thanks. I've seen isProviderEnabled(), my problem is that they are both enabled! I should know which provider have set the location in order to do different thing if it is GPS or NETWORK. – user2153669 Mar 10 '13 at 12:18
You should probably see the detailed answer here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2021176/how-can-i-check-the-current-status-of-the-gps-receiver – Adam Matan Mar 10 '13 at 12:23

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 10 '13 at 12:56

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check that accuracy is <= 30m:

boolean isGPS = (location.getAccuracy() <= 30);

answered Mar 10 '13 at 12:56

AlexWien

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Thank you. I've found out that there is a method ( location.getProvider() ) that seems to do what i want...I'll let you know! – user2153669 Mar 10 '13 at 14:48

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 29 '15 at 12:34

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I think you wanna know which provider provided last Location update .....

u have created Provider as a string just use that String in code like if (provider.matches("GPS")){}

answered Dec 29 '15 at 12:34

Lakshay Jain

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 05 '18 at 18:25

I see several answers, and although they may be useful, none addresses the actual question asked:

When onLocationChanged(Location location) is called, is there a chance to know which provider made the call?

To know whether it was GPS_PROVIDER or NETWORK_PROVIDER the one triggering the onLocationChanged you can use the getProvider() method (or the provider value in Kotlin):

@Override
public void onLocationChanged(Location location){
    //obtain a string, 'gps' or 'network', from the location
    System.out.println(location.getProvider());
}

Or in Kotlin:

override fun onLocationChanged(location: Location?) {
    println(location!!.provider)     
}

Doc reference here

Android. How to know if location detected is from GPS or Network provider

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