Originally Posted by
Steve B.
BlueTooth has a limited range of maybe 50ft. They can use BT to track you inside stores. The only satellite connection is one-way from the satellite to the device with GPS. There’s no “phone to satellite” connection unless it’s a sat phone you are using.
Cell tower pings can locate you, just not as well as GPS. Also wifi, if there are enough wifi networks wherever you are. I think* Google gets that location information also, even if GPS is turned off, if the service is enabled.
If your phone is collecting this data, Google doesn't necessarily need to have it real time. It can upload any time you have a network connection, WiFi or cell data.
*99% sure of it. If you look back in location history and see sudden jags in the track - like miles away - it's when the algorithm messes up, gps was lost and it only had a ping off some further away cell tower.