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.
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.
I am curious if it is possible to use the built in GPS without a data plan.
I know that the QuickGPS (which keeps reminding me to download new data) makes use of the cell towers for downloading, but I was curious if I could, say, use Google Maps or TomTom or something.
IE, download the map software through the WiFi connection, and then just use the GPS (bypassing the cell towers).
espais said:
I am curious if it is possible to use the built in GPS without a data plan.
I know that the QuickGPS (which keeps reminding me to download new data) makes use of the cell towers for downloading, but I was curious if I could, say, use Google Maps or TomTom or something.
IE, download the map software through the WiFi connection, and then just use the GPS (bypassing the cell towers).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you could use tomtom or igo without using data. google won't work without data though.
mr.jaguar said:
you could use tomtom or igo without using data. google won't work without data though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to expand on this, google doesn't have hte maps downloaded to your phone. the other two actually store the maps on the phone (memory card) so it doesn't need to use data to download the maps. the actual gps chip does not use data as it communicates with gps satellites to triangulate your position. The only problem with these programs is that htey cost money, so if you're willing to drop some cash, then you have your solution.
hi, i'm new to this forum.
i purchased a nexus one and im running it on ATT without edge (yet).
now i know that google navigation needs a connection through wifi or data to download the general directions, but does the gps service work through data also? i.e. does the gps connection cost money/ is done through the mobile carrier or is it a connection like a regular gps device that google provides free of charge?
I tried googling this first btw, but could find a clear answer.
thank you
The GPS itself doesn't use data, but loading the maps does.
You'd have to buy and download one of the GPS apps on the Market -- something that stores all the maps on your SD card. Google Maps and Google Navigation stream the maps to your phone through the data connection, so without a data connection you could find your coordinates (since the GPS still functions), but you'd have no idea where those coordinates are.
but the gps use is complementary? google provides the satellite connection for location free of charge?
I've had the gps tracking me while the phone was in airplane mode. I was using one of the GPS speedometers and it seemed to work. That was on my G1, haven't tried it on the nexus yet though.
GPS
GPS has nothing to do with Google or your carrier. GPS coordinate data is a free service provided by the US government to anyone with a compatible device. Like others are saying though, Google Navigation only caches a limited amount of map data on your route, not the whole thing so if you don't have a data connection, you need to buy a different app
i did not realize the US government provided gps services.
i must say i am very impressed by the nexus one a google so far.
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
Guys,
I jus bought Samsung Captivate. I am new to this.
Is data plan required to use Google maps/Google navigation/GPS on samsung captivate?
If yes, then what is meant by integrated GPS. On wirefly site it says pre-loaded google maps. Should not it behave like normal GPS then?
My GPS does not work unless 3G data or wi-fi (in short internet is on) enabled. I get the lock pretty fast if 3G data or wi-fi enabled. If I turn them off I keep getting message data connection lost.
I block my 3G data using APNDroid or JuiceDefender.
TIA.
ahh technically/theoretically? If you can get a maps program that has an offline cache of files, then no data wouldn't be required. I recall spotting some google map cachers and I think there was an extra android app or two you could use that utilize some sort of downloaded maps. MapDroyd looks like a familair name but I can't speak for any of them since I just stream with google and never tried anything offline anyhow.
kismmisk said:
Guys,
I jus bought Samsung Captivate. I am new to this.
Is data plan required to use Google maps/Google navigation/GPS on samsung captivate?
If yes, then what is meant by integrated GPS. On wirefly site it says pre-loaded google maps. Should not it behave like normal GPS then?
My GPS does not work unless 3G data or wi-fi (in short internet is on) enabled. I get the lock pretty fast if 3G data or wi-fi enabled. If I turn them off I keep getting message data connection lost.
I block my 3G data using APNDroid or JuiceDefender.
TIA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The program "Google Maps" is preloaded, but Google Maps requires a data connection. The GPS chip itself is integrated and you can get your Latitude and Longitude without needing a data connection.
So, yes you have Integrated GPS and Google Maps, but you need a data connection to use Google Maps in real time navigation or just pulling up a map.
As mentioned above, if you want to do mapping without a data connection then you need a way to store maps on your phone - All of North America usually takes up few gigs of space depending on the application.
Att will automatically recognize your phone as a smart phone and will add a data plan. I don't think there is a way around it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
kismmisk said:
Guys, Is data plan required to use Google maps/Google navigation/GPS on samsung captivate?
If yes, then what is meant by integrated GPS. On wirefly site it says pre-loaded google maps. Should not it behave like normal GPS then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not know what 'preloaded' Google Maps is, but yes, Google Maps/Navigator does require data. If you want a GPS software that uses only the GPS chip (and no data), there are software that does that. Personally, I prefer CoPilot Live.
Thanks all for your replies and answers! It helped.