Why does GPS work when underground and under big buildings but radio signals, Wi-Fi, and cell phone signals struggle?

Question

Why does GPS work when underground and under big buildings but radio signals, Wi-Fi, and cell phone signals struggle?

In: 4773

Answer 1

Because it doesn’t need constant satellite communication to estimate your position. As other’s have said, it uses a wide range of tools, other than a GPS signal, to figure out where you’re located.

From a physics view point, GPS signal bands are not far from the bands your phone uses, so they penetrate matter in similar capacities. What blocks phone signals will also block GPS signals.