I was wondering if we needed a wifi connection when using GPS or if the satellite connections are all that are required. Also does the GPS functionality cost money to use?
Technically, it works without Wi-Fi, but Wi-Fi adds accuracy. The problem is, you'll find that you can't really search for places to navigate. For example, Google Maps finds my location just fine, but if I search for a store or something, it hangs looking for a data connection. Google Navigate can't find the address that I type in. So, to sum it up, GPS and some sort of data connection go hand-in-hand. When I'm out, I share my 3G Connection from my phone via wireless tethering to supply the tablet with a connection.
There is no cost to use the GPS functionality.
Hope this helps!
Alitheia said:
Technically, it works without Wi-Fi, but Wi-Fi adds accuracy. The problem is, you'll find that you can't really search for places to navigate. For example, Google Maps finds my location just fine, but if I search for a store or something, it hangs looking for a data connection. Google Navigate can't find the address that I type in. So, to sum it up, GPS and some sort of data connection go hand-in-hand. When I'm out, I share my 3G Connection from my phone via wireless tethering to supply the tablet with a connection.
There is no cost to use the GPS functionality.
Hope this helps!
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thank you. that did answer my question(s).
JMH-ESH said:
I was wondering if we needed a wifi connection when using GPS or if the satellite connections are all that are required. Also does the GPS functionality cost money to use?
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It might be of use to read http://en.wikipedia.org/GPS because this is a general question as to the underlying mechanism of global positioning, triangulation and so on, and has nothing to do with the specifics of our device.
Alitheia said:
Technically, it works without Wi-Fi, but Wi-Fi adds accuracy. The problem is, you'll find that you can't really search for places to navigate. For example, Google Maps finds my location just fine, but if I search for a store or something, it hangs looking for a data connection. Google Navigate can't find the address that I type in. So, to sum it up, GPS and some sort of data connection go hand-in-hand. When I'm out, I share my 3G Connection from my phone via wireless tethering to supply the tablet with a connection.
There is no cost to use the GPS functionality.
Hope this helps!
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Click to collapse
That doesn't answer the question. GPS does not require a data connection. Some navigation apps require it, but there are also applications that provide full offline GPS-assisted navigation with no need for an internet connection at all.
ZankerH said:
That doesn't answer the question. GPS does not require a data connection. Some navigation apps require it, but there are also applications that provide full offline GPS-assisted navigation with no need for an internet connection at all.
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To be honest, I think it does, at least partly -- since his second question was if GPS functionality costs money (answer: no, it is kindly provided by the United States Department of Defense for you perusal). Furthermore, in the article is referenced the answer to the ame question above: GPS functionality requires only the GPS antenn itself, although the position acquisition (not to be confused with signal acquisition, since that is reception-dependent only) may be faster when a data connection is available to downoad the ephemeris, for example.
It'd be nicer if you fully read and ditto understood both questionand answer before correction a non-mistake. Again, there was no device-specific question asked, so, essentially, it doesn't belong in here.
Thanks for the clarifications to my answer. My first sentence did say that technically GPS works without Wi-Fi. It was important to state that many of the typical uses for GPS however do require a data connection, so it is very important not to leave that out because the OP didn't state what they planned to use GPS for. I summed it up by saying that data and GPS are great compliments to each other for a device, which is also true.
Related
Just like it's in the iPhone. The GMaps app downloads a certain map area, and then using cell phone triangulation, pin points the location of the phone, and then gives directions etc.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_tracking)
Is such a thing possible on Windows Mobile? It should be, I feel, because there's no special hardware required for it.
GMaps for WinMo, *does* pin point point almost the exact location, but if the data/wifi connection is cut, the map disappears.
Cell Phone Triangulation works OK in the Google Maps latest version (and earlier too) for Window Mobile. The problem is you need a data connection to download the map to the phone. Google Maps does not allow to save the map for offline use or even thru Wifi, AFAIK. For that you will need another program like Google Navigator, which I think is better than Google mobile, but VERY EXPENSIVE. There are other freeware program alternatives that allow offline map saving and usage, but I haven't tested them. Hope this helps.
dgaud007 said:
Cell Phone Triangulation works OK in the Google Maps latest version (and earlier too) for Window Mobile. The problem is you need a data connection to download the map to the phone. Google Maps does not allow to save the map for offline use or even thru Wifi, AFAIK. For that you will need another program like Google Navigator, which I think is better than Google mobile, but VERY EXPENSIVE. There are other freeware program alternatives that allow offline map saving and usage, but I haven't tested them. Hope this helps.
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Wait. So are you positive that google navigator allows this? Download map once and then browse on it offline while your position is calculated using triangulation...?. Also what freewares are you talking about?
Have to tried Bing Maps app for WinMo ? I have got the directions when there's wifi and it caches the whole route. I once drove from Atlanta to Charlotte...only thing you have to do to kinda force it to cache by going over the entire route when you have finished setting up the directions from point A to B...
I downloaded the trial version of Google Navigator. I cannot figure out how to use it! With my WiFi connected, I tried zooming in, and it just doesn't load the map!
It should work thru wifi and cell phone triangulation, unless the demo is crippled or something. I know I used it in Buenos Aires. However, you may want to disregard Google Navigator since it looks like they are no longer in business. Some time ago I also tried these free alternatives, but it was a pain to download the maps,
MGMaps
Terracrosser
Yes, it's showing my location alright, with a Blue dot. But after that it doesn't load anything.
Do those other two apps support cell phone triangulation?
Just researched a bit, they don't.
So is there *no* way I can do what I'm trying to do? Sounds absurd! Why do iPhone users get cache supported GMaps and we dont?
great
that would be great, tell me how this works? or isn't it possible?
thanks
No help? There has to be a way!
If you have a program which will store the maps, (someone mentioned MGMaps and Terracrosser), then you can use cell tower triangulation with VirtualGPS.
EDIT: Nope. It is asking for internet connection for GSM Triangulation; for some reason. I don't understand why would Internet be required for *GSM* Cellular tower Triangulation.
cyanide911 said:
EDIT: Nope. It is asking for internet connection for GSM Triangulation; for some reason. I don't understand why would Internet be required for *GSM* Cellular tower Triangulation.
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because it needs to query a database of cell towers, that database is on the internet. either buy an unlimited data plan or don't bother I think all methods of finding location use a data connection apart from gps. gsm location is very inacurate anyway and they dont triangulate they just assume your position from the 1 cell tower you are connected to
also just a note the iphone uses skyhook to determin location when its not using gps so even if it does dowload the maps before hand it still needs to use a dataconnection if it finds a new access point or cell tower.
Okay, I understand. But then, even though such an app doesn't exist; it must be possible. Considering the app downloads the Map and cellular tower data for a particular area that we select. Then, it will not need any kind of interaction with an other server.
Also, it *is* triangulation. And it is accurate if you live in an urban area.
cyanide911 said:
Okay, I understand. But then, even though such an app doesn't exist; it must be possible. Considering the app downloads the Map and cellular tower data for a particular area that we select. Then, it will not need any kind of interaction with an other server.
Also, it *is* triangulation. And it is accurate if you live in an urban area.
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Yes it would be possible if it downloaded map and cell tower data.
Got any proof about it being triangulation? From what I understand although it is possible for a phone to connect to more than one cell tower wm at least has no managed or native functions which give you access to their cell ids.
Im not 100% if google mobile maps uses wifi but if it does that is triangulation if enough access points can be seen.
I want to say I love this site and have learned alot. I have tried for quite a time to get GPS to work on the xv6700, tho it seems much disinformation has been spread as far as a GPS being within. I have torn down this phone to see for myself if the MSM6500 was in this, which it is. Therefore I believe it does have this ability. I recently installed a program called WPS by Skyhook, which is a Wireless Positioning System. Now just a footnote; my phone has no carrier, I only use it for surfing the internet with wifi. To utilize WPS the site tells me I would need an active internet connection, however it stills works with no connection!!! It seems as if I have gotten the internal gps to wake up. I use Open Mobile Maps and it works excellent. I pickup satellites with Google Maps just to test at home (so far as many as 10 satellites). Can somebody else please duplicate this to verify exactly what is going on here? I just want to emphasize that this is with NO CONNECTION to ANYTHING!!!
when i'm at home using the Trans hooked up to my home wifi. Is the locaton based off of the wifi or my android phone?
E46M3 said:
when i'm at home using the Trans hooked up to my home wifi. Is the locaton based off of the wifi or my android phone?
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I believe it's from your home wifi, at least mine is. I think I enabled the option within google.
Doesn't the tranny have GPS built in?
UKseagull said:
I believe it's from your home wifi, at least mine is. I think I enabled the option within google.
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hmm.. so what happens if your trans is at home idling and you're out with your phone and your friends have you on their latitude? which one does it pick up?
rehughe said:
Doesn't the tranny have GPS built in?
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Click to collapse
It does.
Funny thing, Viewsonic gtablet had neither GPS nor GSM positioning yet is was capable of getting exact location if tethered to Nexus One!
I will try if this still works with TF (positioning with GPS off).
E46M3 said:
hmm.. so what happens if your trans is at home idling and you're out with your phone and your friends have you on their latitude? which one does it pick up?
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Good point, this has happened to me before and latitude showed me as being at home when someone was using my pc. You'd expect latitude to use the location from whichever device used the service last, at least I would expect that
I forgot all about the gps, I don't usually enable it with latitude.
If I remember right, the GPS coordinates are actually embedded in the wifi signal on some GPS enabled wifi devices like the MiFi devices. So I won't be surprised if the phones are doing something similar when you tether to them too.
cl191 said:
If I remember right, the GPS coordinates are actually embedded in the wifi signal on some GPS enabled wifi devices like the MiFi devices. So I won't be surprised if the phones are doing something similar when you tether to them too.
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I'm pretty sure my WiFi AP that I bought in 2003 doesn't have GPS or anything of the sort in it. Haven't tethered to my Droid X yet either. Yet when I pull up Maps at home or at work, Google knows where I am.
I believe they've gathered enough data from devices that have location services and WiFi enabled to have a bit of a database of what WiFi network is located where. That's not a bad thing, I'm just sayin that Google can generally know where you are based on what WiFi network you're connected to.
there is an online lookup service for gps coords for wifi routers. It is user modifiyable . Some how the coords of my router got corruptted and I had to go in and correct them when you location services based on router, the app goes to the lookup site and gets the coords. If not in database, wil not locate
cl191 said:
If I remember right, the GPS coordinates are actually embedded in the wifi signal on some GPS enabled wifi devices like the MiFi devices. So I won't be surprised if the phones are doing something similar when you tether to them too.
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If this is the case, I'd love to see some references.
Here's my understanding - Android devices generally have 3 ways of locating themselves.
One is cell tower triangulation. It is the least accurate, but has the best chance of providing a location so long as the device has cell signal.
Another is WiFi signal triangulation. Google devices (and Google streetview cars) collect data about nearby WiFi networks and send that data back to Google along with the coordinates where it was found (aka, all of the news story lately about apple and Google tracking people). If your device needs to know where it is, it can tell Google what WiFi SSIDs it detects and the Google servers tell the device where it thinks it is. This method is much more accurate than cell triangulation.
Lastly, there's GPS. It is the most accurate, but only works if your device has line of sight to the sky. It usually works near Windows as well.
If you go into settings>location on your device you can enable/disable cell, wifi, or GPS location. On my phone cell and wifi triangulation are lumped under "use wireless networks".
so tje navigation system is prety much useless on transfo when you are out on the road with no wifi? something dont sound right, or am i missing it altohether?
ipulaski said:
so tje navigation system is prety much useless on transfo when you are out on the road with no wifi? something dont sound right, or am i missing it altohether?
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I believe this has already been answered in another thread, but: if you have navigation software that loads maps locally (e.g., CoPilot), then you can use the TF without a wifi signal. Also, if you create a route using Google Navigation, it will cache your route and as long as you don't deviate from it too greatly (to where it would require update information) then you could also use that without wifi.
In short, the TF has a GPS capable of standalone use, but requires mapping data to perform navigation.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Not to mention every other tablet or cellphone is equally useless without a data connection unless you have, as noted above, locally stored mapping software installed or a cached GM route. It's not a Transformer issue, it's a non-dedicated GPS device issue.
Hi thank you for everyone who will reply to this thread.
I use Turn by Turn Navigation which has a feature to allow me to download maps for offline use. I downloaded a whole area around me and decided to test it out.
For some reason it can't locate my location without an internet connection, Why is that? Does GPS need an internet connection?
thekiller99 said:
Hi thank you for everyone who will reply to this thread.
I use Turn by Turn Navigation which has a feature to allow me to download maps for offline use. I downloaded a whole area around me and decided to test it out.
For some reason it can't locate my location without an internet connection, Why is that? Does GPS need an internet connection?
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Click to collapse
no, it's only 1215640 times faster with an internet connection, because it uses base-cell, wifis, ephemerids (oh I hope I wrote it right) downloaded from positioning servers etc...
What is your model telephone?
I have HTC Mozart and when i disable Data Transfer my GPS get fix 5sec.
A-GSP + GPS is better i now but in my model gps i very faster.
In my old Nokia n95 8gb gps get fix slowly. Only in car my gps get fix in car holder.
Mine is HTC HD7
Depends on a region where you are, I mean how many satelites are above you and etc.
Argh i guess not a lot. I live in New Zealand and its a pretty **** country
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.
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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.