How to fix your IP geolocation on Google maps

[Phoenixfury]

I discovered after getting the new updates that Google maps was not displaying my proper location. Instead the IP geolocation was showing the old neighborhood I used to live in about 10 months ago. I knew my wireless router likely was in Skyhook's database and it just assumed I had never moved. So I sent this to Skyhook's technical support...

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Phoenixfury to support

show details Jan 16 (2 days ago)



Reply


I just updated my iPod Touch with the new apps and tried out the new
wifi locator option. For some reason when I try this at home, its
showing the old location where I used to live. I just moved about ten
months ago, but im using the same wireless router. Is there something
I have to change in my router to get skyhook to locate me properly?
Thanks in advance!

Phoenix

Sent from my iPod Touch

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This was their reply..

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Hey Phoenix,

We are happy to help you add or update your personal Access Point to the
system. In order to do so you will need to provide us with the MAC Address
of the wireless access point and your location (as latitude/longitude)

1. Find your location as latitude, longitude
First we need to determine the location of the AP. Go to Google Maps
(http://maps.google.com) and find the location of your access point on the
map. Center the map (double-click on it) on the location and then enter the
following into your Address Bar:

javascript:void(prompt('',gApplication.getMap().ge tCenter()));

This will open a prompt giving you the latitude,longitude of the center of
the map. Copy and paste that into an email. If you are having problems there
is a little more detailed tutorial here:
http://lifehacker.com/software/google-maps/how-to-find-latitude-and-longitud
e-267361.php

2. Find the MAC Address of your wireless access point
Next we need to get the MAC Address of your AP. This can be tricky, so its
best to use software to find it. We recommend NetStumbler and iStumbler on
Windows and Mac respectively. You can download the programs at the following
links:

Windows: http://www.netstumbler.com/
Mac: http://istumbler.net/

Find your AP in the list and the associated MAC address for it. Now paste
the MAC address in the email.

Now you should have a MAC address, latitude and longitude. Its good to
recheck the location by pasting the latitude, longitude back into Google
Maps to make sure its the right location. Once you verify it, send us the
information and we¹ll add them to the database. It may take up to a week
before the AP is available when using your iPhone or iPod touch. If it after
a few weeks you are still having problems, let us know.

Let me know if you have any questions, thanks for the support and happy
mapping :)

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Once you have your information together, email support@skyhookwireless.com and let them know your geolocation information is incorrect and forward the information as per their instructions.

Hopefully this helps others like myself who found their IP geolocation information is way off.

[Phoenixfury]

I should note Netstumbler didn't work on my notebook.. Aparently Netstumbler doesn't like the Broadcom chipset.. Well actually it just appears to be unsupported. I'm not 100% sure, but almost 99% that the MAC address printed under my Linksys router should suffice.. If not please let me know. I should be able to get the proper MAC address if I actually log into the router.. Unfortunately I lost the password to it and I'd have to reset it in order to get it. I don't want to be disruptive to others in the household that also use the wireless router, but if I must I'll log in if I have to. Otherwise I think the MAC printed on the bottem of the router should work.

[Phoenixfury]

Since I last posted, I had discovered the MAC address for the wireless is only slightly different than the MAC printed on the router.. It's the same except the very last character is a C instead of an A. With that said make sure you get the wireless MAC address and not just the one printed physically on the router.

[Chaski]

Does this mean that by mailing them, I can get my router, and location in their database?

[Phoenixfury]

Yep, that's the ideer!

[Chaski]

Awesome! I've emailed them a request, just waiting for a reply.
It'll be so useful when I can use this feature.

[Phoenixfury]

Awesome! I've emailed them a request, just waiting for a reply.
It'll be so useful when I can use this feature.

I was finally able to go somewhere else where it worked properly. I went to my best friend's mother's house and it pin pointed her neighborhood very nicely much like mine pin points my old neighborhood spot on. Now it's just a matter of a couple of weeks before they get mine fixed. Sure it won't bennifit me so much (afterall I know where I live!) but it may help other iPhone, Touch, and Loki users who may stray into my neighborhood trying to figure out where they are going. :) That and I'd just like to get it to work right in the first place. ;)

If you have the latest update with the January upgrade you already have this feature.. However if Skyhook doesn't have your information, it will just likely tell you it can't find anything. I've already bumped into a few access points that couldn't give me their location.

[Chaski]

I've got the update and will hopefully get my access point added to their database. It would be useful for the route planning features for me.