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Question regarding Google maps navigation

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.

Nexus S GPS

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.

[Q] AGPS over WIFI on Android?

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.

[Q] Gps / location services

Sorry I couldn't find the exact match with my issue so I thought of creating a new thread.
I updated my Xperia Neo ROM but I'm having difficulties with GPS/LOCATON service. It works fine on a 3G network but it couldn't load my location whenever I am connected to a wifi network. I've tried using different apps on my phone but still wouldn't work. It just keeps on searching/loading.
It used to work fine before with stock ICS 4.0.4 ROM/KERNEL. Is switching back the only fix? Please help. :crying:

I have the same issue, gps location is not working for my new rom either (unoffical jellaxy cymod 10 - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1875015) is there a fix/patch to flash??!

djrsa said:
I have the same issue, gps location is not working for my new rom either (unoffical jellaxy cymod 10 - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1875015) is there a fix/patch to flash??!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPS on wifi is now working on my NEO. I think it's my wifi connection or just my area.

A possible cause and fix
PrinceRayman said:
Sorry I couldn't find the exact match with my issue so I thought of creating a new thread.
I updated my Xperia Neo ROM but I'm having difficulties with GPS/LOCATON service. It works fine on a 3G network but it couldn't load my location whenever I am connected to a wifi network. I've tried using different apps on my phone but still wouldn't work. It just keeps on searching/loading.
It used to work fine before with stock ICS 4.0.4 ROM/KERNEL. Is switching back the only fix? Please help. :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember that Android has 3 different location services:
Real GPS, this requires only the ability to "see" the sky where the GPS locations are flying over your head, plus up to 15 minutes to download the weekly schedule of where they are flying (the 15 minute download can be replaced by a 5 second web download, but you will still need the 1.5 to 3 minute download of latest updates). Additionally, it may waste a few extra minutes looking for the wrong satellites if it things you are in a different part of the world than you are (this depends on the rom, radio firmware and GPS chip).
Cell tower location service: This sends the number of the nearest 2G/3G/4G to an online service which looks up where that tower is, giving a rough location.
Wi-Fi access point location service: This sends the name and/or MAC address of the nearest Wi-Fi access point to a Google service, which returns where other users were last time they saw that Wi-Fi access point with GPS on and Google Maps Wi-Fi location sharing on.
From this I guess one of 2 things are wrong:
:silly:Your Wi-Fi network is not in Google's database (unlikely since it was recognized with your previous firmware).
The option to share Wi-Fi location data with Google maps is off after the update, :fingers-crossed:try turning it off, then on.

GPS doesn't work in Google Maps - but is okay in Navigation

I've got a problem. When I open Google Maps it doesn't seem to activate my GPS so my location is decided by the operator-network and/or wifi, and is not very precise. I've tried to keep Google Maps open for a long time but my location is never that precise as when the GPS is activated. Also if I log into Android Device Manager on the web, I only get a location with an accuracy of 1.5-2 kilometres so that's neither located by GPS.
But if I then enter a route in Google Maps and use the Navigation, the GPS is turned on and everything is fine. It's the same if I use Sygic GPS Navigation. I've got Avast Anti-Theft installed on my phone and if I log into avast.com and send a location command to my phone, it's also located by GPS with an accuracy of 5 metres.
I've installed 'GPS Status & Toolbox' and set the app to show an icon in my navigation bar when the GPS is used. And it's the same as described above - when Google Maps is open there's no icon but when I use Navigation the icon it's there.
I'm pretty sure that on my last phone (Samsung Galaxy S II) with Android 4.4.2 Google Maps also used the GPS and I've got a precise location every time, so my question is how to get it in the same way on my new phone (Sony Xperia Z1) with Android 4.4.4? There are many times I just want to see on Google Maps exactly where I am without using the Navigation directions to a specific location.

Michael B.N. said:
I've got a problem. When I open Google Maps it doesn't seem to activate my GPS so my location is decided by the operator-network and/or wifi, and is not very precise. I've tried to keep Google Maps open for a long time but my location is never that precise as when the GPS is activated. Also if I log into Android Device Manager on the web, I only get a location with an accuracy of 1.5-2 kilometres so that's neither located by GPS.
But if I then enter a route in Google Maps and use the Navigation, the GPS is turned on and everything is fine. It's the same if I use Sygic GPS Navigation. I've got Avast Anti-Theft installed on my phone and if I log into avast.com and send a location command to my phone, it's also located by GPS with an accuracy of 5 metres.
I've installed 'GPS Status & Toolbox' and set the app to show an icon in my navigation bar when the GPS is used. And it's the same as described above - when Google Maps is open there's no icon but when I use Navigation the icon it's there.
I'm pretty sure that on my last phone (Samsung Galaxy S II) with Android 4.4.2 Google Maps also used the GPS and I've got a precise location every time, so my question is how to get it in the same way on my new phone (Sony Xperia Z1) with Android 4.4.4? There are many times I just want to see on Google Maps exactly where I am without using the Navigation directions to a specific location.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having a similar problem to this where GPS is a bit inaccurate. Would love to hear peoples solves for this. Thanks.

mojito13 said:
I'm having a similar problem to this where GPS is a bit inaccurate. Would love to hear peoples solves for this. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have either of you guys tried clearing app data and see if that works? Every once in a while I get that to resolve my issues.

Michael B.N. said:
I've got a problem. When I open Google Maps it doesn't seem to activate my GPS so my location is decided by the operator-network and/or wifi, and is not very precise. I've tried to keep Google Maps open for a long time but my location is never that precise as when the GPS is activated. Also if I log into Android Device Manager on the web, I only get a location with an accuracy of 1.5-2 kilometres so that's neither located by GPS.
But if I then enter a route in Google Maps and use the Navigation, the GPS is turned on and everything is fine. It's the same if I use Sygic GPS Navigation. I've got Avast Anti-Theft installed on my phone and if I log into avast.com and send a location command to my phone, it's also located by GPS with an accuracy of 5 metres.
I've installed 'GPS Status & Toolbox' and set the app to show an icon in my navigation bar when the GPS is used. And it's the same as described above - when Google Maps is open there's no icon but when I use Navigation the icon it's there.
I'm pretty sure that on my last phone (Samsung Galaxy S II) with Android 4.4.2 Google Maps also used the GPS and I've got a precise location every time, so my question is how to get it in the same way on my new phone (Sony Xperia Z1) with Android 4.4.4? There are many times I just want to see on Google Maps exactly where I am without using the Navigation directions to a specific location.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mojito13 said:
I'm having a similar problem to this where GPS is a bit inaccurate. Would love to hear peoples solves for this. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the_rooter said:
Have either of you guys tried clearing app data and see if that works? Every once in a while I get that to resolve my issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i don't know about the gps not turning on at all, but it is a somewhat known bug on googles end when wifi is used to help location services, it frequently causes accuracy issues.
try turning off your wifi and see how it acts.

Yeah, off wifi it's more accurate. But yes, rooter, just cleared my app data and that did the trick, thanks.