Fixing location services for my iPod touch

One of the differences between the iPod touch and the iPhone is that the latter has a built in GPS that the location services uses to work out where you currently are. When there is no GPS (or no coverage) the iPhone uses the known location of Wireless hot spots in range to determine the current location. This is the only option for the iPod touch.

I typically left location services disabled on my Touch, because it could not determine it's location from my house and in fact has never had much success when I am out and about. However this can become annoying when some applications insist on trying to work out where they are and can't just wait for me to provide a zip code or some other manual backup.

I have now fixed this by registering the MAC address of my router and it's location to the third party provider that Apple uses for location services, so now my iPod touch knows where it is (at least when I am home).

You just fill in the form on Skyhook's web site and wait a few weeks for the data to percolate.

I wonder if neighbors can also determine their location from my Wireless access point? I don't think you need to be using the AP to know it's MAC address (but you would need to have some alternative connectivity).