I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
needed, or do I have to do it manually?

I also have a Garmin Venu SQ watch. Does the time on it synch to the
phone, or do I also have to do that manually?

On 2023-07-01 15:02, Ken Blake wrote:
> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
> needed, or do I have to do it manually?
>
> I also have a Garmin Venu SQ watch. Does the time on it synch to the
> phone, or do I also have to do that manually?

It takes the local time of the network provider when you arrive at
destination. Not specific about the Pixel.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
> needed, or do I have to do it manually?

Normally it stays at the time zone of the origin and switches to the
time zone of the destination as soon as your phone picks up the mobile
('cell') network there.

If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.

> I also have a Garmin Venu SQ watch. Does the time on it synch to the
> phone, or do I also have to do that manually?

Depends on the watch. My Fitbit Charge 4 syncs with the phone (but
sometimes needs an Internet connection as well).

Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
> needed, or do I have to do it manually?

It'll pick up the correct timezone whenever you connect to a local network.

On 2023-07-01 18:26, Chris wrote:
> Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
>> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
>> needed, or do I have to do it manually?
>
> It'll pick up the correct timezone whenever you connect to a local network.

Define correct :-)

Things get interesting when you are near a frontier (or time zone
frontier), and each side keeps different time zones or different summer
time switch. Or the mobile network provider keeps a different time zone,
that is :-)

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:

>Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
>> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
>> needed, or do I have to do it manually?
>
> Normally it stays at the time zone of the origin and switches to the
>time zone of the destination as soon as your phone picks up the mobile
>('cell') network there.

Thanks. Carlos said the same thing, so I guess you're both right. <G>

>
> If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
>it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
>accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
>
>> I also have a Garmin Venu SQ watch. Does the time on it synch to the
>> phone, or do I also have to do that manually?
>
> Depends on the watch. My Fitbit Charge 4 syncs with the phone (but
>sometimes needs an Internet connection as well).

I think mine also does, but I'm not sure, and that's why I asked.

On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:

> If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
>it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
>accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.

Also if you use in-flight wi-fi it can change the time zone to
something completely different. Presumably it's the time zone of
wherever the internet gateway is on the ground is located.

Chris

On Sat, 1 Jul 2023 23:40:20 +0200, "Carlos E.R."
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

>On 2023-07-01 18:26, Chris wrote:
>> Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>>> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
>>> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
>>> needed, or do I have to do it manually?
>>
>> It'll pick up the correct timezone whenever you connect to a local network.
>
>Define correct :-)
>
>Things get interesting when you are near a frontier (or time zone
>frontier), and each side keeps different time zones or different summer
>time switch. Or the mobile network provider keeps a different time zone,
>that is :-)

When I was in the Canary Isles my phone adjusted to Spanish time,
which was incorrect by 1 hour because there's a time difference to
mainland Spain. I had to set the time manually to get it correct.

Chris

On 2023-07-02 05:22, Chris in Makati wrote:
> On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
> wrote:
>
>> If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
>> it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
>> accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
>
> Also if you use in-flight wi-fi it can change the time zone to
> something completely different. Presumably it's the time zone of
> wherever the internet gateway is on the ground is located.

That's strange, unless you are talking of Windows.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2023-07-02 05:22, Chris in Makati wrote:
> On Sat, 1 Jul 2023 23:40:20 +0200, "Carlos E.R."
> <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 2023-07-01 18:26, Chris wrote:
>>> Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>>>> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
>>>> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
>>>> needed, or do I have to do it manually?
>>>
>>> It'll pick up the correct timezone whenever you connect to a local network.
>>
>> Define correct :-)
>>
>> Things get interesting when you are near a frontier (or time zone
>> frontier), and each side keeps different time zones or different summer
>> time switch. Or the mobile network provider keeps a different time zone,
>> that is :-)
>
> When I was in the Canary Isles my phone adjusted to Spanish time,
> which was incorrect by 1 hour because there's a time difference to
> mainland Spain. I had to set the time manually to get it correct.

Were you using a Spanish provider? That's strange, I have not heard of
this problem.

I'm almost sure that the GSM provided time is correct for the islands,
and the distance to the mainland makes it impossible to connect to a
tower on the mainland. However, time via internet works differently,
there could be an issue there.

Hum. It seems that there are indeed problems with Movistar.

<https://comunidad.movistar.es/t5/Soporte-M%C3%B3vil/Hora-autom%C3%A1tica-en-Canarias/td-p/1246476>

<https://comunidad.movistar.es/t5/Soporte-M%C3%B3vil/Hora-automatica-en-Canarias/td-p/3138439>

--
Cheers, Carlos.

Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
> On 2023-07-01 18:26, Chris wrote:
>> Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>>> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
>>> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
>>> needed, or do I have to do it manually?
>>
>> It'll pick up the correct timezone whenever you connect to a local network.
>
> Define correct :-)
>
> Things get interesting when you are near a frontier (or time zone
> frontier), and each side keeps different time zones or different summer
> time switch. Or the mobile network provider keeps a different time zone,
> that is :-)

True I guess. Although, I've never been in that situation. I suppose the
Spain/Portugal border is one such place.

I know at Freiburg-Mulhouse-Basel Airport can be a problem as you can end
up on a non-EU network which can be expensive for some.

On Sun, 02 Jul 2023 11:22:33 +0800, Chris in Makati <mail@nospam.com>
wrote:

>On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
>wrote:
>
>> If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
>>it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
>>accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
>
>Also if you use in-flight wi-fi

I won't. Too expensive and not needed.

>it can change the time zone to
>something completely different. Presumably it's the time zone of
>wherever the internet gateway is on the ground is located.
>
>Chris

Chris in Makati <mail@nospam.com> wrote:
> On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
> wrote:
>
> > If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
> >it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
> >accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
>
> Also if you use in-flight wi-fi it can change the time zone to
> something completely different. Presumably it's the time zone of
> wherever the internet gateway is on the ground is located.

As Carlos also mentioned. this shouldn't happen, because the phone
should get the time from the *mobile* ('cell') network, not from a Wi-Fi
network. OTOH, a smartphone is a bit of a computer, so some smartphone
could get the time from 'the Internet' via NTP (Network Time Protocol).

Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 02 Jul 2023 11:22:33 +0800, Chris in Makati <mail@nospam.com>
> wrote:
>
> >On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
> >wrote:
> >
> >> If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
> >>it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
> >>accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
> >
> >Also if you use in-flight wi-fi
>
> I won't. Too expensive and not needed.

Many airlines, especially on international flights (you're flying to
Italy, aren't you?) offer free Wi-Fi for *messaging*, i.e. things like
WhatsApp, iMessages, etc., 'even' in economy class. We/I used it to
keep in touch with the homefront during our flights to/from Australia
(via the US! :-)) and my flights to/from the US.

[...]

On 2023-07-02 12:51, Chris wrote:
> Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>> On 2023-07-01 18:26, Chris wrote:
>>> Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>>>> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
>>>> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
>>>> needed, or do I have to do it manually?
>>>
>>> It'll pick up the correct timezone whenever you connect to a local network.
>>
>> Define correct :-)
>>
>> Things get interesting when you are near a frontier (or time zone
>> frontier), and each side keeps different time zones or different summer
>> time switch. Or the mobile network provider keeps a different time zone,
>> that is :-)
>
> True I guess. Although, I've never been in that situation. I suppose the
> Spain/Portugal border is one such place.
>
> I know at Freiburg-Mulhouse-Basel Airport can be a problem as you can end
> up on a non-EU network which can be expensive for some.

Indeed.

I seem to recall that Niagara Falls (I was on the Canada side) was
another area.

And from what Chris in Makati says, the Canary Islands is another (at
least with one provider). I was there long ago, before smartphones, so I
have forgotten.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2023-07-02 19:55, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> Chris in Makati <mail@nospam.com> wrote:
>> On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
>>> it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
>>> accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
>>
>> Also if you use in-flight wi-fi it can change the time zone to
>> something completely different. Presumably it's the time zone of
>> wherever the internet gateway is on the ground is located.
>
> As Carlos also mentioned. this shouldn't happen, because the phone
> should get the time from the *mobile* ('cell') network, not from a Wi-Fi
> network. OTOH, a smartphone is a bit of a computer, so some smartphone
> could get the time from 'the Internet' via NTP (Network Time Protocol).

Yes. But NTP uses UTC, not local time. There is no zone information in
NTP protocol.

But computers using the Windows method to setup time, those can be
affected, they use "local" time.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2023-07-02 20:01, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 02 Jul 2023 11:22:33 +0800, Chris in Makati <mail@nospam.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
>>>> it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
>>>> accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
>>>
>>> Also if you use in-flight wi-fi
>>
>> I won't. Too expensive and not needed.
>
> Many airlines, especially on international flights (you're flying to
> Italy, aren't you?) offer free Wi-Fi for *messaging*, i.e. things like
> WhatsApp, iMessages, etc., 'even' in economy class. We/I used it to
> keep in touch with the homefront during our flights to/from Australia
> (via the US! :-)) and my flights to/from the US.

That's nice :-)

>
> [...]

--
Cheers, Carlos.

Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
> On 2023-07-02 19:55, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> > Chris in Makati <mail@nospam.com> wrote:
> >> On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
> >>> it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
> >>> accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
> >>
> >> Also if you use in-flight wi-fi it can change the time zone to
> >> something completely different. Presumably it's the time zone of
> >> wherever the internet gateway is on the ground is located.
> >
> > As Carlos also mentioned. this shouldn't happen, because the phone
> > should get the time from the *mobile* ('cell') network, not from a Wi-Fi
> > network. OTOH, a smartphone is a bit of a computer, so some smartphone
> > could get the time from 'the Internet' via NTP (Network Time Protocol).
>
> Yes. But NTP uses UTC, not local time. There is no zone information in
> NTP protocol.

Oops! Brain fog! :-) Of course you're right.

Theoretically, the phone could get the UTC time by NTP and the
location - and hence the timezone - from GPS (or another location
source?), but that actually happening in a plane in full flight is highly
unlikely.

OTOH, if the phone used Wi-Fi location services and Google somehow
tracks the location of the Wi-Fi AP in the plane, it *could* work,
theoretically.

> But computers using the Windows method to setup time, those can be
> affected, they use "local" time.

But only if they know what location is "local", which won't happen in
a plane.

On 2 Jul 2023 18:01:04 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:

>Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>> On Sun, 02 Jul 2023 11:22:33 +0800, Chris in Makati <mail@nospam.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
>> >wrote:
>> >
>> >> If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
>> >>it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
>> >>accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
>> >
>> >Also if you use in-flight wi-fi
>>
>> I won't. Too expensive and not needed.
>
> Many airlines, especially on international flights (you're flying to
>Italy, aren't you?)

Yes. Rome.

>offer free Wi-Fi for *messaging*, i.e. things like
>WhatsApp, iMessages, etc., 'even' in economy class. We/I used it to
>keep in touch with the homefront during our flights to/from Australia
>(via the US! :-)) and my flights to/from the US.

I can wait until arrival and use the free WI-fin in the hotel. I hate
messaging, because it's very hard for me to type on the tiny keyboard.

>[...]

On Sun, 2 Jul 2023 20:04:29 +0200, "Carlos E.R."
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

>On 2023-07-02 12:51, Chris wrote:
>> Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>>> On 2023-07-01 18:26, Chris wrote:
>>>> Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>>>>> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
>>>>> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
>>>>> needed, or do I have to do it manually?
>>>>
>>>> It'll pick up the correct timezone whenever you connect to a local network.
>>>
>>> Define correct :-)
>>>
>>> Things get interesting when you are near a frontier (or time zone
>>> frontier), and each side keeps different time zones or different summer
>>> time switch. Or the mobile network provider keeps a different time zone,
>>> that is :-)
>>
>> True I guess. Although, I've never been in that situation. I suppose the
>> Spain/Portugal border is one such place.
>>
>> I know at Freiburg-Mulhouse-Basel Airport can be a problem as you can end
>> up on a non-EU network which can be expensive for some.
>
>Indeed.

I know that airport, which I thought was just called Basel, from
having flown home from there after cruising down the Rhine several
years ago. I was very surprised to find that, despite its name, it
wasn't even in Switzerland.

On Sun, 2 Jul 2023 12:33:09 +0200, "Carlos E.R."
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

>> When I was in the Canary Isles my phone adjusted to Spanish time,
>> which was incorrect by 1 hour because there's a time difference to
>> mainland Spain. I had to set the time manually to get it correct.
>
>Were you using a Spanish provider? That's strange, I have not heard of
>this problem.

I was roaming during my visit there, but don't remember which Spanish
network I was connected to.

Chris

On 2 Jul 2023 17:55:05 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:

>Chris in Makati <mail@nospam.com> wrote:
>> On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
>> >it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
>> >accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
>>
>> Also if you use in-flight wi-fi it can change the time zone to
>> something completely different. Presumably it's the time zone of
>> wherever the internet gateway is on the ground is located.
>
> As Carlos also mentioned. this shouldn't happen, because the phone
>should get the time from the *mobile* ('cell') network, not from a Wi-Fi
>network. OTOH, a smartphone is a bit of a computer, so some smartphone
>could get the time from 'the Internet' via NTP (Network Time Protocol).

I was using an iPhone, and the time definitely changed at some point
during the flight. I assumed it used Apple's Location Services to
determine that I was in a different time zone, but it definitely
didn't connect to a mobile network. My only connection with the
outside world was via a wi-fi connection I had used, or possibly a GPS
signal.

Chris

Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 2 Jul 2023 20:04:29 +0200, "Carlos E.R."
> <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 2023-07-02 12:51, Chris wrote:
>>> Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On 2023-07-01 18:26, Chris wrote:
>>>>> Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>>>>>> I have a Pixel 4a. What happens to its display of the time when
>>>>>> traveling on an airplane? Does the time zone change automatically as
>>>>>> needed, or do I have to do it manually?
>>>>>
>>>>> It'll pick up the correct timezone whenever you connect to a local network.
>>>>
>>>> Define correct :-)
>>>>
>>>> Things get interesting when you are near a frontier (or time zone
>>>> frontier), and each side keeps different time zones or different summer
>>>> time switch. Or the mobile network provider keeps a different time zone,
>>>> that is :-)
>>>
>>> True I guess. Although, I've never been in that situation. I suppose the
>>> Spain/Portugal border is one such place.
>>>
>>> I know at Freiburg-Mulhouse-Basel Airport can be a problem as you can end
>>> up on a non-EU network which can be expensive for some.
>>
>> Indeed.
>
> I know that airport, which I thought was just called Basel, from
> having flown home from there after cruising down the Rhine several
> years ago. I was very surprised to find that, despite its name, it
> wasn't even in Switzerland.

Me too when I flew to Basel a few years ago. You have to be very careful
when through border control as you'll end up in the wrong COUNTRY! :D

On 03.07.23 11:47, Chris wrote:
> Ken Blake <Ken@invalid.news.com> wrote:
>> I know that airport, which I thought was just called Basel, from
>> having flown home from there after cruising down the Rhine several
>> years ago. I was very surprised to find that, despite its name, it
>> wasn't even in Switzerland.
>
> Me too when I flew to Basel a few years ago. You have to be very careful
> when through border control as you'll end up in the wrong COUNTRY! :D

Bullshit. All three countries on the Basel-Mulhouse Airport which is the
correct name are members of the Schengen Area.

--
Sent with Betterbird from a Silicon-Mac. Simply better.
www.betterbird.eu

On 2023-07-02 22:19, Frank Slootweg wrote:
> Carlos E.R. <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>> On 2023-07-02 19:55, Frank Slootweg wrote:
>>> Chris in Makati <mail@nospam.com> wrote:
>>>> On 1 Jul 2023 13:34:06 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> If you switch off flight-mode during the flight - which you shouldn't -
>>>>> it might pick up a cell tower en-route (and set the timezone
>>>>> accordinly), but with a normal commercial flight that's highly unlikely.
>>>>
>>>> Also if you use in-flight wi-fi it can change the time zone to
>>>> something completely different. Presumably it's the time zone of
>>>> wherever the internet gateway is on the ground is located.
>>>
>>> As Carlos also mentioned. this shouldn't happen, because the phone
>>> should get the time from the *mobile* ('cell') network, not from a Wi-Fi
>>> network. OTOH, a smartphone is a bit of a computer, so some smartphone
>>> could get the time from 'the Internet' via NTP (Network Time Protocol).
>>
>> Yes. But NTP uses UTC, not local time. There is no zone information in
>> NTP protocol.
>
> Oops! Brain fog! :-) Of course you're right.
>
> Theoretically, the phone could get the UTC time by NTP and the
> location - and hence the timezone - from GPS (or another location
> source?), but that actually happening in a plane in full flight is highly
> unlikely.

On some plains GPS works. On the last one I tried, I could not get a
fix, the metal cabin impeded it, I guess. Just a month before, I could
track the approach path. I think it did not work at altitude.

>
> OTOH, if the phone used Wi-Fi location services and Google somehow
> tracks the location of the Wi-Fi AP in the plane, it *could* work,
> theoretically.
>
>> But computers using the Windows method to setup time, those can be
>> affected, they use "local" time.
>
> But only if they know what location is "local", which won't happen in
> a plane.

No, the people doing the initial configuration would setup the "locale"
for that Windows setup, and would probably never change. So, assume
headquarters.

Unless they have designed and run some application to track the flight
location and apply it (if it doesn't involve a reboot, I suspect).

--
Cheers, Carlos.