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GPS in Europe

I've searched and searched most of the Android forums along with the Eris forums as well but I can't find anyone who has gotten this to work. The best I could find was someone in Puerto Rico with a Eris that even with a 1x connection wasn't able to get a GPS sync.
Has anyone traveled to Europe with a CDMA Hero and been able to get a GPS lock?
Were you able to use co-pilot or something similar with offline maps to be able to navigate around?
I tested putting the phone in airplane mode and turning on GPS and using GPS Logger to see if I get a sync and I do here in the US. In the settings I only had "Use GPS satellites" checked and not "use wireless networks". This leads me to believe it should work but I have to wonder if the last sync was cached which allowed it to work in testing.
So if anyone has and real life experience with this please let me know, otherwise I may have to drag out the old Mogul with a BT GPS dongle.

Good question! I am going to Japan for 2 weeks and was wondering the same thing.

It should work I think, cause GPS is supposed to locate you anywhere. Its just the maps but google maps has the whole world.

zeezey said:
It should work I think, cause GPS is supposed to locate you anywhere. Its just the maps but google maps has the whole world.
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Only thing is, Maps requires a data connection to display the maps!
You'd probably have to get a europe navigation program for android (if one exists?)

lordofokra said:
Only thing is, Maps requires a data connection to display the maps!
You'd probably have to get a europe navigation program for android (if one exists?)
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Yeah, it's called CoPilet Live Navigation Europe, but its f***ing expensive lol
like $75 USD
Better pleasure me at the same time as navigating for that price

lordofokra said:
Only thing is, Maps requires a data connection to display the maps!
You'd probably have to get a europe navigation program for android (if one exists?)
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There is a hacked GMaps that works outside the USA...

I'm starting to think no one has any real world experience with this. I have a feeling my upcoming travel I will end up being a guinea pig.

gu1dry said:
There is a hacked GMaps that works outside the USA...
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Wouldn't he still need data to use it? Europe doesn't use our CDMA and he wouldn't have signal.

I found a navigation app that doesn't need an interenet connection. It relies on OpenStreetMap so I am not sure how good that data is in Europe
http://www.andnav.org/
I also found this app which lets you download an area while you have an internet connection
http://bigplanetmaps.wordpress.com/
but it seems buggy.
There is also this one but it doesn't look like it has a navigation option
http://www.mapdroyd.com/
All the notable gps navigation apps that have mappacks cost $50 or more.
Another problem is that your phone uses the cell network as a "cheat" to get your initial location. So whenever you boot up a GPS nav app without cell towers it is going to take several minutes to get your location so just be aware it will take awhile to get your location. That fact is true for any GPS unit you start for the first time. This is why the newer units will ask for the city you are in so it can try to get a lock faster.

I was in Europe earlier this month and none of the pictures I took with the phone had any of the GPS data in it.
Hope your results are different.

ymsc said:
I was in Europe earlier this month and none of the pictures I took with the phone had any of the GPS data in it.
Hope your results are different.
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y doesn't someone ask someone from Europe?

regaw_leinad said:
y doesn't someone ask someone from Europe?
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They do not have the CDMA Hero in Europe

ymsc said:
They do not have the CDMA Hero in Europe
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lol wow I don't even remember asking that last night ?? what a dumb question haha

I think a good way to test if it will work is to do a complete wipe and as soon as the phone boots throw it in airplane mode. Then disable the network location by celltower. Disable Mobile network. Take it out of airplane mode and activate only the GPS(not the mobile network location... make sure that is off before you come out of airplane mode)
Then put one of those program on your phone (I am liking andnav) and see if it finds your location after several minutes.
You need to wipe it so your phone never gets your current location. This will be a similar situation to when you go overseas.
The big question here is does the Hero need that initial location from the towers or will it do like other GPS units and search until it find the location(which can take many minutes!)

I just tried that andnav2 and it properly won't work for you.
Even if you download the mappacks you will still need to cache and area you are visiting while you have a data connection. Then you can't plan routes there unless you have a data connection. You can however pre-load routes and then don't need a data connection but you have to pre-plan stuff.
I am sorry to say but I think your best bet is to get a dedicated unit. The paid apps for the android might do the job for you if you want to save on how many electronics you carry around but they are so expensive that I say by then just buy a separate unit.
If you have or want to buy a TomTom then I can tell you how to get maps for your areas you are visiting but you will need to PM me. Not only am I not allowed to post but that would be way off topic since it has nothing to do with the Hero. I took a TomTom One when I went to Germany a couple months ago and it worked like a charm.

Just bumping this in case anyone has any further insight or has tried this.
I still planning on trying it myself. I'll have the old mogul with a bluetooth gps dongle as a backup.
Actually here is a question. Has anyone gotten a bluetooth gps dongle to work with their phones. I know the last time I was in europe my mogul would not pick up a gps signal with the internal chip but as soon as I fired up the bluetooth everything was good.

watzone69 said:
Good question! I am going to Japan for 2 weeks and was wondering the same thing.
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japan uses cdma. you'll probably have a nice strong roaming signal over there

feld said:
japan uses cdma. you'll probably have a nice strong roaming signal over there
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Yep, I'm in Japan right now. As soon as I took my phone out of airplane mode I got a roaming notification for $1.99/minute. No thanks! I disabled mobile network and have just been using the camera and music functions.
I'm posting this from my father-in-law's computer. He lives in a small town outside of Tokyo and I haven't found a wifi hotspot yet. I'm going in to Tokyo tomorrow so I will try to find a free one somewhere and maybe download some maps.
Earlier today I tried getting a GPS lock w/google maps and it seems like it found my location (no map, of course) but now it says "your location is temporarily unavailable". Maybe the initial lock was cached data? I may try the wipe/airplane mode method that centron posted.
BTW, I have seen ads for WIMAX here. Hopefully next time I'm here I'll have the EVO.

Based on my experience traveling around Europe with my Sprint Mogul you will need to have a CDMA signal even if your phone has a dedicated GPS chip. Even TomTom wouldn't work without it. Granted this is a different phone running WM6, but I believe the result will be the same.
Please write us back when you test it out across the pond and let us know.

I'll try to remember in the am. I'm in the UK right now. I tried the other day, but was having issues getting a dhcp addresses from the wifi ....

LTE location storage?

Ever since I bought my thunderbolt I've been trying to figure out why when my gps is off I'm listed as located about 40 miles weather from my home. I switch gps on and instantly I'm back to home. (Ie I live in plant city, fl, Odessa fl is where it locates me). So I flashed the newest synergyROM and it had the HTC location stuffs. It gave me a physical address.
Here's where it gets weird, I bought my Thunderbolt used. I got it from a guy in citrus park fl, right near Odessa. Then I remembered that he said he lived in Odessa. So I've narrowed it down to two things:
1: the thunderbolt somehow tracks its original home location
2: somewhere stored on the phone is that address.
Now ofcourse I'm a flash addict, so besides the initial rooting and downgrading, and I've flashed about 20+ times and wiped well over 100, I can't believe this data is being stored on the phone. The LTE card is new. I bought the phone LTE'less and so its a brand new LTE card unused.
Does anyone have an idea on why my location is messed up like this?

Try GPS Status & Toolbox from the Android Market.
Go into it's menu > Tools > Manage A-GPS state
First rest data then download fresh.
See if that helps.

Great idea..... But no :-( didn't work.
Another tidbit... When outside of a LTE area it works perfect. But if I'm inside a LTE area even forcing 3g and WiFi it'll revert. I think something is stored with the sim or some kind of cache somewhere

When you have GPS off are you connected to wifi.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

My GPS is always on. It just gets switched on by apps as they need them.
But I've confirmed this to be a LTE issue with my phone. I'm in lakeland in a non-LTE area and my location without using the GPS Status App is perfect. I have the issue whenever im in a LTE network regardless of WiFi or not.
Can someone else try this and see if its just me with the issue

I am unsure about your issue, but I also am in the TB area (travel from St Pete to Land O Lakes daily and am all over on a monthly basis, Hills, Pasco, Pinellas)
Have had few issues since the beginning when we all had terrible location issues, like states away. Just chimed in to confirm it isnt an area issue.

How are you confirming your location? I use the stock weather app to tell when its got issues

Navigation and 4G Problems

I am stuck on the Evo Shift 2.3.3 I am having problems with my GPS and 4g.
I live in the heart of Boston and my 4g signal is horribly weak. Also whenever I use my gps (ANYWHERE) It can find me just fine, but when I do Navigation for driving, it just says "Searching for GPS"
Any help?
Is it possible to update Radios without a rooted phone?

I think you have the most current radios with 2.3.3. Pretty sure you can't flash with a locked bootloader anyway. Could be wrong on both counts tho, never been on the stock 2.3.
You try clearing data on telenav? How does google maps nav work for you?
Sent from my Shifty Speed Brick using xda premium

I always use the google navigation. I never bothered with telenav because I thought you had to pay for it.

Try turning on your WiFi when using GPS. It helps lock the signal quicker. As for your 4G you can try this THREAD . I use it with good results . Also , if you want to speed up your data you can try the info on HERE . Both of these can be done without Root. You just need your MSL. I usually just call Sprint and ask for it.

Followed the 4G and 3G tutorials, it was doesn't difficult to get the MSL number, quick call to Sprint, made a joke and stuff with the Tech and he gave it to me with no question.
*Note* I always make jokes and stuff with all the Techs.
Anyways, Turning on wifi even though I am no where near Wifi signals helps GPS? This is like my fourth Sprint Android device and I've never had so many problems with Navigation.

Yes turining on WiFi helps. Even though your not connected, it helps lock quicker. I can dig up the thread that explains it if you would like.

No gps while overseas in airplane mode

I am overseas and can not get a gps lock. I am using stock ep3h. I didn't think this phone was tied so closely to agps. anyone had this issue or solved the problem

If u can get to the market, download faster fix, and set the region to the country you are in.... requires root
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App

fasterfix offers no help. any other suggestions

Faster fix will change your region if you can't use GPS after that you must have a different problem,
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium

yes I have another problem. does anyone have any other suggestions

Airplane mode will turn off all radios including gps.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium

unless the charge is different gps is not tied to airplane. I have a few other phones that work in airplane. I have also tried in non airplane but I still have no cdma service. can anyone confirm that there gps has worked overseas with no cdma service?

doesnt gps work with wifi or 3g/4g? cuz phone need to upload the map where u at it..

soondolee said:
doesnt gps work with wifi or 3g/4g? cuz phone need to upload the map where u at it..
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Not if you're using offline maps that are completely stored on your phone. There's no need for a data connection for those.

I also use the GPS in airplane mode all the time while I hike in the mountains where there are no cell towers or wifi, so I understand where you are coming from. I use google MyTracks all the time while running and hiking.
I am not sure how to fix your issue, but I have a few ideas for you to try.
First, when you move over 100 miles with a gps off and then turn it on generally you will need 45 minutes to 1 hour for the gps to realize it is somewhere new.
Download GPS Test and GPS Status. Give them each a try for 15 minutes outside. These apps have some strange magic that has fixed several of my phones just by running them for a bit.
Let me know how this works out.
Dave

I have had it outside for 2 hours with no lock. gps test is no help

any other suggestions

Lets get a little further into the issue then... You stated no lock. But did the GPS ever pick up any sats? If so what were the sat numbers?

I have seen 6 satellites only once without lock. I normally see 0 to 3 with zero most of the time. it is seeing some of the same satellites my other phone with a full lock is seeing but this phone will never lock. I just think the agps feature is so embedded that the receiver is lost without it's data. which sucks because I center still the offline gps features on this that my cheap world phone doesn't have.

[Q] NS4G GPS issues in Germany

Last week I flew from the U.S. to Germany for a month-long business visit. I brought my Nexus S 4G (Bugless Pete's ICS ROM/kernal) knowing that I wouldn't be able to use the phone, but figured I'd still be able to get wireless and GPS.
The GPS worked fine in the U.S. but has been terrible here. I was able to get a single lock on my location the first day, but ever since have been unable to get anything. I also have an HTC Flyer which doesn't have any problems with GPS, so it's not the signal.
Is there any reason why the NS4G specifically would have poor GPS in Europe? Any tweaks that can be made?

I wonder if Hitler had something to do with it

I found some stuff that might help. One app is FasterGPS. It works by changing your region for a faster lock, so it should help...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ult#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsIm9yZy5mYXN0ZXJncHMiXQ
Another app I use is QBANIN GPSfix, which I activate after turning GPS location on but before actually using the Navigation or Maps app.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=12406555&postcount=11
Someone said this worked too:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22088356&postcount=1534

fwald said:
Last week I flew from the U.S. to Germany for a month-long business visit. I brought my Nexus S 4G (Bugless Pete's ICS ROM/kernal) knowing that I wouldn't be able to use the phone, but figured I'd still be able to get wireless and GPS.
The GPS worked fine in the U.S. but has been terrible here. I was able to get a single lock on my location the first day, but ever since have been unable to get anything. I also have an HTC Flyer which doesn't have any problems with GPS, so it's not the signal.
Is there any reason why the NS4G specifically would have poor GPS in Europe? Any tweaks that can be made?
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In the US it's able to use wifi and cell tower A-GPS triangulation data to help get the initial location determined. When that data is factored in, the lock is a lot easier to get.
If you can happen to hop on a wifi network out there, I bet you'll be able to get a lock pretty quickly too.

gullu101 said:
I found some stuff that might help.
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Thanks, I'll give those a shot.
superm1 said:
In the US it's able to use wifi and cell tower A-GPS triangulation data to help get the initial location determined. When that data is factored in, the lock is a lot easier to get.
If you can happen to hop on a wifi network out there, I bet you'll be able to get a lock pretty quickly too.
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I think you're absolutely right. When I did get the lock, I was on wifi.
And now that I think about it some more, Google Maps and Navigation must need an active data link to work, right? The map info isn't stored locally.

fwald said:
Thanks, I'll give those a shot.
I think you're absolutely right. When I did get the lock, I was on wifi.
And now that I think about it some more, Google Maps and Navigation must need an active data link to work, right? The map info isn't stored locally.
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There is a lab setting that lets you cache map tiles for like 10 mi square areas I think. I've never actually tried it. I expect it will just get you map information but not actually get you directions and navigation working though. Those I think will require an active data link.

superm1 said:
There is a lab setting that lets you cache map tiles for like 10 mi square areas I think. I've never actually tried it. I expect it will just get you map information but not actually get you directions and navigation working though. Those I think will require an active data link.
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Yeah I've tried it, it's pretty useful. You can download the maps via WiFi and it'll save them to your phone