Hello All,
OK, This will show you how out of the loop I am.
Purchased an HTC Touch Pro (via CL), phone to see how it would work as simply an GPS while riding the motorcycle all over creation this summer.
I was able to download Google maps(4.0) here at home & installed via WIFI. After installing I could not get any satellites to 'come in'. I enabled the phone part on the Touch,then the satellites (5) became available and did in fact show my location! I am not going to get an actual data plan for this phone FYI. My question is,were does the GPS satellites "come from"? I assume the only way this will function properly is to have an WIFI connection? That being said, how does the regular 'car gps's' get their signal driving down the road?
Is the gps radio signal independent of both the wifi & data signals, I guess is what I am asking? Why would I have had to enable the phone/ON for the satellites to show up,when I do not have a data plan? Maybe just an inherit setup for the gps radio,config?
Thanks,
Barry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System
you can use GPS for free, you don't need to have a wifi connection or any other data connection
accountabc,
Thanks for the link! I was 'hoping' this is how the gps thing shook down. I figured there would have to be a catch to were I would have to have a data plan on the U S Cellular enabled HTC Touch Pro. This is going to work out just as I had hoped! No GPS hanging off of the handlebars,being a target for thieves every time i get away from the bike!!!.
Suweeeet!!!
Now if I can read it while tooling around the switchbacks???,,,Yikes...
take Care,
Barry
accountabc,
I had a brilliant idea,to test the viability of my Google Maps working without an Data or WIFI connection. I unplugged my Access point here. Tried opening Google Maps on the HTC Touch Pro, and get the 'connecting' dialouge at the top right of GM's. It finally times out with saying" A data connection is required for this app". I tried going into the setting of the "external gps" and took off the 'automatically configure' and set the com ports several different ways to no avail.
This phone does have the latest ROM that U S Cellular provides. I may have to try and start hacking with some other ROM's to see if an 'unlocked' ROM may circumvent this problem? Although I have had this phone for almost two months I have just started getting acclimated with it ,the last 2 days.
I'll do some more searching here to see if someone does in fact have a workaround for this? It does seem the GPS radio should do the grunt work. I am just not sure about the Google Maps needed to be updated dynamically with a net connection?
Thanks again,
Barry
why not use something like garmin xt which doesn't require a data conenction since all the maps are on a sd card
Related
Ok, maybe you guys can help here. I have quite a bit of experience with Windows Mobile phones (had an 8525, upgraded to a custom ROM, unlocked SIM/CID, etc), so that's what level of experience you're working with.
Now, I just picked up the Fuze, very cool phone! However, I'm wondering the following about GPS:
1. Is it available in this phone (i.e. AT&T didn't disable it).
2. I want to do GPS. I don't have a data plan. I DO have wi-fi. I DON'T want to be charged money. Is this possible?
Thanks in advance! The questions were probably asked elsewhere, but I looked around a bit and everything else looked way above these questions, which hopefully are pretty simple to answer...
i have the same question...
I know the Fuze has GPS, and i followed the steps on THIS link, but it doesnt seem to work, the GPS Test, never seems to finish looking for satelites, and when i go to Google Maps, it keeps "seeking GPS satelites"
GPS is available on the Fuze and it's independent of any data plan. All you need is some program that can access the GPS.
However, getting the GPS to work seems to be flakey at best. I tested mine briefly but wasn't able to get a signal lock. Need to do some more testing.
The GPS on my Fuze works great. First you should run Quick GPS and it will use the wifi to download the current GPS satellite locations. Then you should use google maps, you have to goto google maps menu and say 'use gps' then just go stand outside somewhere where theres no much tree coverage and wait for awhile (for the first time, now that I've done it once the GPS starts working in 10 seconds or so) Then you will start to pick up the gps satellites. I'm not sure how great it will be without a data plan... it uses the data plan to download the map info. Hopefully your wifi works out side.
cladeus101 said:
The GPS on my Fuze works great. First you should run Quick GPS and it will use the wifi to download the current GPS satellite locations. Then you should use google maps, you have to goto google maps menu and say 'use gps' then just go stand outside somewhere where theres no much tree coverage and wait for awhile (for the first time, now that I've done it once the GPS starts working in 10 seconds or so) Then you will start to pick up the gps satellites. I'm not sure how great it will be without a data plan... it uses the data plan to download the map info. Hopefully your wifi works out side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about using something like Garmin or TomTom's software? Would that work without a data plan, and without the need for wi-fi?
I use Garmin without a data plan and it works great. I installed it first thing after I got my GPS and didn't do anything to get it to work. The GPS on my FUZE worked out of the box like it should.
My friend has the LG incite and run windows mobile. He has no media net, but is able to use gps just by using gpsgate and then the tom tom program. i was wondering if there is a way for us on the FUZE to do the same?
SEARCH SEARCH SEARCHH!! <<--- IDK why people don't use the search when we have it!!
all you have to do is turn off the AGPS in your settings. (Go to Start > Settings > System > AGPS Settings) and make sure Enable AGPS is NOT checked. You now have GPS without using your MediaNet!
Definitely did not work for me... Are there any other settings that I need? I turned off AGPS and went to my google maps and tom tom and can't get it to work.
.....google maps REQUIRES the internet to work, whether it's WiFi or MediaNet some sort fo internet is needed.
...as per TomTom it should work. I used to do it all the time until i actually got the data plan for myself.
See i don't want to get the data plan because its just for something I will use once in a blue moon. I just wanna have GPS in case I need it some time
okay...so TomTom or any other navigation software will work as long as you have the maps on your storage card...
I gotta wait till I get my phone back, but can anyone tell me if this works? (People without media Net of course) From my understanding it'll keep saying that its looking for a connection and can't get one.
not sure what "media net" is assuming it's some sort of isp
but gps don't require gprs or even a phone part to work
mind you most these gps's dont work indoors you have to be outside
or in a car and have a working tomtom set correctly up or gamin or any
other gps software suite
Media Net is ATT data plan they call it media net. Everytime I try connecting GPS it seems like its trying to use a data plan and since I shut it off by calling up ATT it seems like my phone is only trying to go through ATT and saying no connection
tomtom and gamin gps software should not use a data connection at all
if of cause the install include the cards of where one is located
the same software is run on pda's with gps but no phone
like many of the mio pda's
if your using some PirateBay copy of Tomtom or Garmin then you need to check the tags. Raphael is not a smartphone it's a PPC.
Advanced config take off aGPS.
MoDaCo nodata.cab
otherwise get garmin i've had very few problems once i figured out how to copy my maps from my c550 to my phone.
whats the point of having a phone as powerful as the touch pro if you aren't gonna pay for a data plan? thats like a car with no gas
FatalCharade said:
whats the point of having a phone as powerful as the touch pro if you aren't gonna pay for a data plan? thats like a car with no gas
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
albeit i do have a data plan, i debated it for a while when i realized i was spending 80-90 hours a week in the hospital which has wifi and so does the fuze....given the limited time out of wifi spots, i almost went without it.... but then chose to go with it for those times when i'm not in wifi spots...
Try Amaze Gps....turn by turn gps...and it doesnt use data....and best of all its free!!
amAze needs the user to have a data plan in order for it to operate. similar to google maps
Hey ive unlocked and flashed to a sweet NRG rom and love it. I just want to use google Maps (or something similar) to find my position on a map (turn by turn maybe?). I remember with my iPhone when I first had it the GPS worked great then one day I was never able to get my actual position (just within a certain amount of meters).
Did rogers shut down GPS?
Now on my new phone when I goto "GPS location" in google maps it searches for a satellite but doesnt seem to get my position (0)... Is there a setting I can turn on to allow GPS or do I need to cal rogers and rip on someone? LOL
keep up the great work guys!!!
- Eddy
I just turned 3g on and did the HTC GPS tool. I opened the port and started the test and then menu-Information and I dont seem to have a position.
any ideas guys? seems like rogers problem.
eddyg519 said:
I just turned 3g on and did the HTC GPS tool. I opened the port and started the test and then menu-Information and I dont seem to have a position.
any ideas guys? seems like rogers problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPS on the HTC is using the basic GPS Signal coming from satellites. Are u outside or near a window to a fix ?
Look http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System
What u used was A-GPS what is assisted GPS with help from Cell Phone provider. It gives faster fix and a pseude gps in buildings.
Go outside with ur cellphone with clear sky view, start the htc gps tool and u should get position fix within some minutes or even seconds. There is no need for 3g because the gps itself does not need any cellphone connection. It takes satellite signals to calculate the position.
When u update quick gps it is faster in the position fix because it already knows some basic sat data. But still no phone connection necessary for using GPS.
The google map u then only see with data (3g or wlan) not because of the GPS but because of the drawed map graphics wich have to be loaded.
ok i will try the outside thing although I have the phone pointed to the window pretty much. Checking rogers website both phones only have a-GPS but I still cant get an actual location on either. Only about a 4 block square or circle.
EDIT: ok i enabled A-GPS on the touch pro and still no luck with google maps. It still seems to be looking for actual GPS
OK im managed to get it working. I changed the port to com5 and scanned found some sat's I had to change the bit thing to 56700 on com5 within google maps. Seems to be working like a charm!
Hi guys! New to the forum and the Android OS. I've just purchased the Nexus S a couple of weeks ago and the phone is great except for a couple of minor details, but one thing really bothers me is the GPS. When I'm connected to wi-fi, Google maps is able to tell me my location fairly accurately. However, outdoors with no wi-fi, I try to have the settings to locate me based on satellite, but that always give me a "your current location is temporarily unavailable" message. I'm basically completely outdoors with view of the clear blue sky and it will always give me this message. Is something wrong
I've searched on the forum but nothing that answers my question. Anyone?
Hi,
Based on your question I am not shure if you are aware of the following:
GPS is only one of several location detection methods used by your phone. Another one is based on WIFI hotspots in range. Basically the phone scans the wifi frequencies to look for ALL hotspots in range and then sends this list of hotspots to google (only if some kind of internet access is available to the phone!). When this combination of hotspots is known to google, your phone gets an estimated location back from the google server. So from what you write, it is possible that you never had a gps fix, even when you got a (fairly good) location based on wifi.
I suggest you install some gps software other than google maps to check the functionality of your device. I use "GPS test", should be on the market. All it does, is scanning for satellites and displaying the list of discovered satelites. When the signal is good enough, you get a "U" in the column "flags" for the locked satellites.
Attention! You must start the scan manually from the apps context menu.
cheers
Yeah you gotta turn on your GPS for a more accurate reading if you're using maps or other navigational app
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App
Just an update. I haven't needed to use the GPS lately, but this week I decided to try again, and before, I have gotten a GPS fix with the GPS Test app. But that signal never lasts very long and it also takes a really long time for the app to use the satellite to lock on to my location. The GPS indicator on the top left of the app is usually yellow and only after a long time does it turn green, but sometimes it never turns green even with 7 or 8 satellites in view. Is this just a limitation of mobile GPS in cell phones?
I don't have a data plan so I can't connect to the internet while on the road, hence the need for GPS without having internet access.
As long as you have the SIM inserted, not on airplane mode and gps is turned on, and nothing is wrong with your phone hardware I don't see why it shouldn't get location fix outdoor.
There are some good offline maps like Osmand and MapDroyd.
Hi all,
I'm going on holiday and would like to use my Android (Galaxy Tab) for offline navigation. I'd like to keep my GSM module switched off all the time to avoid data roaming charges. I'll do my surfing etc over WIFI where available.
I'd like to use AGPS for a quick satellite fix.
Can I download AGPS satellite data over WIFI, or does this require a GSM (GPRS/UMTS) connection?
How do I manually trigger AGPS download on Android?*
Help is much appreciated!
N.
* On the Windows Mobile devices of old there used to be a program calles "QuickGPS" or similar that would download AGPS satellite data, but I don't see any such option on Android - - ?
Android GPS requires a LIVE data connection to function with realtime navigation, if u are just using Wi-Fi this won't work.
On the other hand, assuming u have a hefty sdcard in your tablet, u could use "sygic GPS" from market, that WILL allow offline GPS.
icenight89,
I'm using Navigon, which keeps map data on board, no data connection required there. Sygic is another option. Google Navigation does require a live connection, but Navigon, Sygic and others do not. Storage required for on-board map data is not all that massive btw, my Navigon maps of Europe require ~ 2 GB.
My question was more on the point of assisted-GPS satellite data. How do I download current satellite data so that my GPS knows where to look (thus getting a quicker satellite fix) if I want to avoid a mobile data connection via GSM?
Once I have a GPS fix, offline satnav is no problem.
Any ideas there?
N.
Android downloads agps data automatically, there is no way to "force" an update. U could try connecting to wifi and then running android nav (google maps/navigation) with GPS enabled, that would cache the new data I presume. That's your only option really
On a side note, I consider 2gb for one sole app a lot, whether its maps or not lol
Um, GPS Test software lets you do this.
syl0n said:
Um, GPS Test software lets you do this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Five years later, google lands me on this thread because I too was asking "can I update AGPS over wifi?". (Empirical evidence: I can, because at the trail-head I get a lock in about 10 seconds. On the other hand, maybe it didn't update, and the GPS hardware/antenna is just that good. )
And since answers were given without answering the question, I will keep looking.
But as for GPS Test, it is essential. Prior to using any nav app, I open GPS Test and watch it get a lock, or not, because the satellite display shows me exactly what is going on, as opposed to the nav apps, which just sit there maybe getting a lock maybe not and you have no effing idea why.