Starlink has quietly shut down a feature that allowed researchers to use its satellite signals for navigation, but that won't stop the push for GPS alternatives. A team at Ohio State University has spent years perfecting a technique that exploits signals from Starlink and other satellite constellations to pinpoint locations without GPS—and they've gotten remarkably good at it.

In 2021, researcher Zak Kassas demonstrated that eavesdropping on six Starlink satellites could determine position within 8 meters, though it required 13 minutes of tracking. By 2025, their method achieved 2-meter accuracy in just 20 seconds using only three satellites on average. They accomplish this by analyzing Doppler frequency shifts from satellite movements, applying software corrections for timing errors, and using specialized antenna systems.

The approach isn't limited to Starlink—they've also exploited signals from Orbcomm, Iridium, OneWeb, NOAA, and a dedicated PNT constellation called Xona. They've tested the technology with ground vehicles, high-altitude balloons, drones, and ships off the coast of Greenland in the Arctic. Some organizations have already licensed the technology. "People are hungry and hurting in the absence of GPS or GNSS, and they want these solutions," Kassas said.