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Hi, I need to purchase some SatNav kit for my Athena, I know the question has been asked before but in particular I am running PK Black 2.0 @ 96dpi and am in need of guidance as to compatability as well as best overall software.
My choices are MioMap (iGO), CoPilot 7, or TomTom... I need trafic redirection over GPRS with my dataplan and as previously stated 96dpi compatability on WM6.
I am also looking for a windscreen mount and bluetooth car kit plus leather case with viewing window when closed.
Is it possible to get a new keyboard?
What do you guys find to be the best UK performer? I mostly travel in UK but some trips to Brussles as well...
Many thanks
Martyn
I quick reply to one part of your question is that I tried running igo 2006 on my athena with 96dpi and it didnt run right. The buttons where all messed up and I couldn't even get through the first menu. TomTom works great with 96dpi though. Miomap might be a little different than iGo. I know they aren't exactly the same just similar. I'm not sure about reliability in the UK though since I am in the US. Miomaps has always work the best for me. The UI and maps load quicker with iGo. TomTom has the traffic support which iGo does not. TomTom also has a pretty nice software package that you install on your computer called TomTom home. This will update your software whenever there is an update and you can get extras through there (ie. POI, Speed Cameras).
TwoPlus1 said:
Hi, I need to purchase some SatNav kit for my Athena, I know the question has been asked before but in particular I am running PK Black 2.0 @ 96dpi and am in need of guidance as to compatability as well as best overall software.
My choices are MioMap (iGO), CoPilot 7, or TomTom... I need trafic redirection over GPRS with my dataplan and as previously stated 96dpi compatability on WM6.
I am also looking for a windscreen mount and bluetooth car kit plus leather case with viewing window when closed.
Is it possible to get a new keyboard?
What do you guys find to be the best UK performer? I mostly travel in UK but some trips to Brussles as well...
Many thanks
Martyn
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Click to collapse
Igo only works in 192dpi. TomTom routing is nowhere near as good but it does traffic (Igo doesn't except via TMC). Copilot 7 isn't out yet AFAIK.
Mount - use the Brodit. BT - use Parrot if necessary.
CoPilot 7 - without a doubt!
Confucious said:
CoPilot 7 - without a doubt!
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Where is that available?
apd said:
Where is that available?
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Click to collapse
Sorry, still in Beta.
TwoPlus1 said:
Hi, I need to purchase some SatNav kit for my Athena, I know the question has been asked before but in particular I am running PK Black 2.0 @ 96dpi and am in need of guidance as to compatability as well as best overall software.
My choices are MioMap (iGO), CoPilot 7, or TomTom... I need trafic redirection over GPRS with my dataplan and as previously stated 96dpi compatability on WM6.
I am also looking for a windscreen mount and bluetooth car kit plus leather case with viewing window when closed.
Is it possible to get a new keyboard?
What do you guys find to be the best UK performer? I mostly travel in UK but some trips to Brussles as well...
Many thanks
Martyn
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used CoPilot 6 and TomTom. Like TomTom better as it's more accurate, works without issues in RealVGA mode, I run 96dpi. Last time I used CoPilot was on my Universal with external GPS, of course. I haven't really tried any other software. TomTom has the traffic updates via subscription and does a good job. Hasn't got me lost yet. CoPilot got me lost a few times so I dropped it.
I've used copilot 5 for about two years, iGO my way 2006 for about two months and Tom Tom for about a month. Of these, iGo is clearly the best IMHO. It's route calculation is the least illogical. It is the prettiest and most user friendly, fastest in getting a GPS fix, and is the only one that warns (audio warning) me when I exceed legal speed limit. Tom Tom only display the speeding visually, but who could keep an eye on the device to know that while driving?
The real downside is that iGO can't run in 96 or 128 dpi mode whereas TT can. Of these, I personally think TT's route calculatin is the least sensible. I often have two of them running side by side (on two devices of course) to see the difference.
Now, i've decided to stick with iGO despite the display problem. I'm love 128 dpi, but whenever I use iGO, I just switch back to 192. Not a real problem if you do it while walking to your car. By the time I start the engine, it is reset back to 192 and gps ready to go.
ltxda said:
I've used CoPilot 6 and TomTom. Like TomTom better as it's more accurate, works without issues in RealVGA mode, I run 96dpi. Last time I used CoPilot was on my Universal with external GPS, of course. I haven't really tried any other software. TomTom has the traffic updates via subscription and does a good job. Hasn't got me lost yet. CoPilot got me lost a few times so I dropped it.
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Suprising, but you are in the US. TomTom in the UK it is generally agreed that the Navteq maps used by CoPilot are far beter than the maps used by TomTom.
CoPilot 7 is a vast improvement over CP6 and works in all resolutions, finds GPS receievers (incl the Athena's internal one) with no problem and just works. Reading any forums and you will see people having problems with getting TomTom working - although a fair proportion of these are pirate copies of TomTom - or people who have just changed device - something that's easy with CP but not with TT!
CP7 will be well worth the wait and hopefully not top long now.
I have not seen iGo - but it does have it's fans, could be worth considering.
For those who haven't seen it yet...http://www.clove.co.uk/viewProduct.aspx?product=DB4D6BD5-6B99-4E02-9CD0-FD52074A1D91
This is a link to a site selling CoPilot 7 due for release 1st week in October, I think I'll struggle on untill then. I have no local knowlege of the places I'm visiting for work so SatNav is a must, free trafic rerouting is also a definate plus as I already have a data plan. I just hope it's faster than people say 6 was...
On the question of car mount's I've seen the brodit, but do they do a windscreen mount as opposed to a vent mount? I prefere this position (near HUD) as opposed to the device calling your attention down into the car.
Thanks for all your comments.
Martyn
Confucious said:
Suprising, but you are in the US. TomTom in the UK it is generally agreed that the Navteq maps used by CoPilot are far beter than the maps used by TomTom.
CoPilot 7 is a vast improvement over CP6 and works in all resolutions, finds GPS receievers (incl the Athena's internal one) with no problem and just works. Reading any forums and you will see people having problems with getting TomTom working - although a fair proportion of these are pirate copies of TomTom - or people who have just changed device - something that's easy with CP but not with TT!
CP7 will be well worth the wait and hopefully not top long now.
I have not seen iGo - but it does have it's fans, could be worth considering.
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TwoPlus1 said:
For those who haven't seen it yet...http://www.clove.co.uk/viewProduct.aspx?product=DB4D6BD5-6B99-4E02-9CD0-FD52074A1D91
This is a link to a site selling CoPilot 7 due for release 1st week in October, I think I'll struggle on untill then. I have no local knowlege of the places I'm visiting for work so SatNav is a must, free trafic rerouting is also a definate plus as I already have a data plan. I just hope it's faster than people say 6 was...
On the question of car mount's I've seen the brodit, but do they do a windscreen mount as opposed to a vent mount? I prefere this position (near HUD) as opposed to the device calling your attention down into the car.
Thanks for all your comments.
Martyn
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Click to collapse
Re Brodit - IMHO they are the best mounts. They mount in different places in different cars - see their website (Brodit.se). I'm not sure I'd mount an Ameo on the windscreen - I would be worried it wasn't secure enough on a suction mount.
I just looked at the screen shots of copilot 7. It is a lot more beautiful than the previous version, although still not as nice as iGO's. My initial impression, based on the website's description is that Copilot 7 still has a long long way to go before it can catch up with iGO. The key areas are as follows:
1) I don't see anything that says Copilot is able to warn user who exceeds the legal speed limit. If the feature is there, they're not doing a good job advertising it. (Or may be they refrain from mentioning it for legal reasons, as it is prohibited to have such a feature in some countries??)
2) When copilot sees says a red light camera, a warning screen pop up that replaces the map. During those few seconds, you might be at a point that you need the map most. In contrast, iGO has a semi transparent speed sign that lay on the map, so your ability to use the map is unhindered. I see that Copilot 7 has not changed this flawed approach.
3) iGO warns the speed camera and red light camera by beep sound rather than spoken word as in copilot. There is a lot of advantage in IGO's approach, because at that moment iGO might be simultaneously be giving turn instruction. In Copilot's approach, the verbal warning on red light camera may interfer with the turn instruction. That was the case with Copilot 5. Not sure if Copilot 7 has improved on this.
4) iGO would also have a different beep if you are exceeding the speed being monitored by the speed camera. This is regardless of whether or not it issues overspeeding (which is in the mercy of whether speed limit data has been kept for that stretch of road). Copilot 5 won't have this strength. What about Copilot 7??.
I can go on into many other details, but would do that only after trying it out first hand.
eaglesteve said:
I just looked at the screen shots of copilot 7. It is a lot more beautiful than the previous version, although still not as nice as iGO's. My initial impression, based on the website's description is that Copilot 7 still has a long long way to go before it can catch up with iGO. The key areas are as follows:
1) I don't see anything that says Copilot is able to warn user who exceeds the legal speed limit. If the feature is there, they're not doing a good job advertising it. (Or may be they refrain from mentioning it for legal reasons, as it is prohibited to have such a feature in some countries??)
2) When copilot sees says a red light camera, a warning screen pop up that replaces the map. During those few seconds, you might be at a point that you need the map most. In contrast, iGO has a semi transparent speed sign that lay on the map, so your ability to use the map is unhindered. I see that Copilot 7 has not changed this flawed approach.
3) iGO warns the speed camera and red light camera by beep sound rather than spoken word as in copilot. There is a lot of advantage in IGO's approach, because at that moment iGO might be simultaneously be giving turn instruction. In Copilot's approach, the verbal warning on red light camera may interfer with the turn instruction. That was the case with Copilot 5. Not sure if Copilot 7 has improved on this.
4) iGO would also have a different beep if you are exceeding the speed being monitored by the speed camera. This is regardless of whether or not it issues overspeeding (which is in the mercy of whether speed limit data has been kept for that stretch of road). Copilot 5 won't have this strength. What about Copilot 7??.
I can go on into many other details, but would do that only after trying it out first hand.
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Agreed on all fronts. If only Igo would do traffic, it would be close to perfect!
apd said:
Agreed on all fronts. If only Igo would do traffic, it would be close to perfect!
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Click to collapse
There is a TMC feature in iGO. Basically, if there is a provider what can provide the data, the software is able to use the traffic information to plan route and recalculate route. I have not used this feature because the company that has started on the traffic management control service project is still not ready to do it yet. What I understand is that traffic data would be broadcast via FM signal to the Athena (that's why there is a built-in FM in our unit), and iGO is able to process and take this into account. But I have to say that I only read about this in the manual, but have not tried it as such broadcasting service is not avaialbe here.
Hope this helps
eaglesteve said:
There is a TMC feature in iGO. Basically, if there is a provider what can provide the data, the software is able to use the traffic information to plan route and recalculate route. I have not used this feature because the company that has started on the traffic management control service project is still not ready to do it yet. What I understand is that traffic data would be broadcast via FM signal to the Athena (that's why there is a built-in FM in our unit), and iGO is able to process and take this into account. But I have to say that I only read about this in the manual, but have not tried it as such broadcasting service is not avaialbe here.
Hope this helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know about thge TMC functions but (a) they're not widely available (b) you would need an external TMC receiver (the Ameo can't deal with this) and (c) they're not as good as the trafficmaster (and similar) data systems we have here. TomTom's (data) traffic system was quite good. Shame!
eaglesteve said:
There is a TMC feature in iGO. Basically, if there is a provider what can provide the data, the software is able to use the traffic information to plan route and recalculate route. I have not used this feature because the company that has started on the traffic management control service project is still not ready to do it yet. What I understand is that traffic data would be broadcast via FM signal to the Athena (that's why there is a built-in FM in our unit), and iGO is able to process and take this into account. But I have to say that I only read about this in the manual, but have not tried it as such broadcasting service is not avaialbe here.
Hope this helps
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could you explain where read about Athena and FM built in?
beginner said:
could you explain where read about Athena and FM built in?
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I have come across a few reports that say Athena has an inbuilt FM receiver and had always assumed that once the TMC service provider is ready I would start using the traffic management feature of my device. But now that you raised the question, I had became curious myself as to whether these reports were accurate. I wish I would locate those webpages, but I don't seem to be able to locate them now.
So, I went and read the service manual to see if anything is mentioned there. Unfortunately, I have to say that the answer is no. The service manual has made no mentioned of FM receiver at all.
With this, I now have to correct my earlier impression and would now assume that these reports were inaccurate. I'm not sure if the service manual is for 7500 only or for both 7500 and 7501. I'm also come across some debate on whether 7501 has an FM radio receiver. I'm pretty sure having come across some debate pointing both ways. However, since I do not have the 7501 manual, I would not raise my hope there.
It would be so nice, so necessary to have FM built in so that we could use the TMC functions. Oh well....
Maps for IGO / MIO
in case that you were not updated with the maps here are the maps for IGO 2006 and MIO
http://www.filefactory.com/f/9eeb0f75e820535d/
Hello everybody.
I can see on several threads on several forums that some of us encounter problems with the GPS, while other do not ... I'm in the first category : I never saw my HERO getting its fix in 10 seconds, its GPS is very very long to get a fix (when it gets it). Changing the Radio ROM does not change anything, etc.
So my question is the following :
Would it be possible that some series of HERO utilize GPS hardware which does not work properly, while other series utilize another hardware ?
How would it be possible to determine which GPS hardware is actually in my device ?
Waiting for your answers and help.
Best regards.
I have TELUS HTC hero.and GPS never works. I even tried rooting phone. and tried a lot of of other ROMs. but it never works. I think i my phone has hardware problem. Does anybody know where this piece of hardware resides in HTC hero
I had a working A-GPS functionality for a long time... untill I ran out of internal storage capacity and suddenly I didn't have the 10 second GPS fix anymore... I didn't even get any email notification anymore.. so I decided it was time for a hardware reset... after that the GPS worked flawless and even the email notification works again...
Unfortunatly I can't test my theories unless I install LOTS and LOTS of apps from the market... :-(
AFAIK the Hero does not have AGPS. Mine certainly does not need it - I get a fix within 10 seconds or so compared with often waiting for 5 or 10 minutes on my previous Win Mobile phone that had AGPS.
I understand that the GPS can be made to be always on in the background with the Hero - but you need to turn that function on. Have you tried home>menu>settings>location and make sure the Enable GPS satellites box is ticked?
I just recieved my Telus Hero, and I saw that it defaulted to AGPS initially when I went to Google Maps, and in the device's settings, you can activate its on-board gps as well. I'd suggest toggling back and forth, and hopefully you can get a faster fix, I know AGPS will help with getting ephemeris data and thus allow faster lock-ons when you use a gps application.
I hope this helps!
I am not sure it defaults to A-GPS. If you have the "enable GPS satellite" box ticked (see my previous post) then it defaults to using GPS as the method to plot your position rather than using the mobile phone signal, but that is not the same as A-GPS.
A-GPS is (AFAIK) a Win Mobile programme that automatically looked up the ephemiris data (using the phone's data connection) and updated it in your GPS at regular intervals (mine used to do it once a week). This was useful if you only used a programme that required the use of the GPS occasionally, and so were not picking up the updated info from the satellites themselves.
However AFIAK A-GPS is not included in the Hero, at least not the GSM version. It is certainly not mentioned in the specs or the manual, and, unlike my previous WM6 phone, I have never had a pop-up reminder that it is about to collect the data.
peterc10 said:
I am not sure it defaults to A-GPS. If you have the "enable GPS satellite" box ticked (see my previous post) then it defaults to using GPS as the method to plot your position rather than using the mobile phone signal, but that is not the same as A-GPS.
A-GPS is (AFAIK) a Win Mobile programme that automatically looked up the ephemiris data (using the phone's data connection) and updated it in your GPS at regular intervals (mine used to do it once a week). This was useful if you only used a programme that required the use of the GPS occasionally, and so were not picking up the updated info from the satellites themselves.
However AFIAK A-GPS is not included in the Hero, at least not the GSM version. It is certainly not mentioned in the specs or the manual, and, unlike my previous WM6 phone, I have never had a pop-up reminder that it is about to collect the data.
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sorry to tell you this, but you are totally wrong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGPS
and the hero has a-gps, when i fire up my google maps it knows my position with an error of about 400 to 2000 metres (usually the position is pretty good, for only network-based location), when i fire up the gps it knows its exact position within a few seconds (when i am outside of buildings of course)
I admit that I am partly, but not totally, wrong.
Again AFAIK the GSM Hero available in the UK (where I am) does not use the phone data connection to collect orbital or almanac data from an assistance server so as to allow quicker satellite lock on, which is what I had always understood A-GPS to be, and which is part of the definition of A-GPS in Wikipedia. Again, if I am wrong on that I apologise in advance.
It does (as I had previously said) use the phone signal and the position of the masts to plot an approximate position for you when you do not have GPS (indoors for example) or when you have switched GPS off. That info can only be used by some programmes, such as Google Maps, but cannot be used by all sat nav programmes. That was not what I understood A-GPS to mean but I now stand humbly corrected.
In my defence I would suggest (as you should always do when looking at Wikipedia) that you check the history and discussion tabs. You will see that my idea as to what A-GPS is used to be close to correct, but the term has changed over time. Ah well ............ such is the problem of getting old(er)!
peterc10 said:
I am not sure it defaults to A-GPS. If you have the "enable GPS satellite" box ticked (see my previous post) then it defaults to using GPS as the method to plot your position rather than using the mobile phone signal, but that is not the same as A-GPS.
A-GPS is (AFAIK) a Win Mobile programme that automatically looked up the ephemiris data (using the phone's data connection) and updated it in your GPS at regular intervals (mine used to do it once a week). This was useful if you only used a programme that required the use of the GPS occasionally, and so were not picking up the updated info from the satellites themselves.
However AFIAK A-GPS is not included in the Hero, at least not the GSM version. It is certainly not mentioned in the specs or the manual, and, unlike my previous WM6 phone, I have never had a pop-up reminder that it is about to collect the data.
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Click to collapse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGPS please revise your knowledge...
The HTC Hero (and every other modern smartphone) is using A-GPS... go read the Wikipedia article...
peterc10 said:
I admit that I am partly, but not totally, wrong.
Again AFAIK the GSM Hero available in the UK (where I am) does not use the phone data connection to collect orbital or almanac data from an assistance server so as to allow quicker satellite lock on, which is what I had always understood A-GPS to be, and which is part of the definition of A-GPS in Wikipedia. Again, if I am wrong on that I apologise in advance.
It does (as I had previously said) use the phone signal and the position of the masts to plot an approximate position for you when you do not have GPS (indoors for example) or when you have switched GPS off. That info can only be used by some programmes, such as Google Maps, but cannot be used by all sat nav programmes. That was not what I understood A-GPS to mean but I now stand humbly corrected.
In my defence I would suggest (as you should always do when looking at Wikipedia) that you check the history and discussion tabs. You will see that my idea as to what A-GPS is used to be close to correct, but the term has changed over time. Ah well ............ such is the problem of getting old(er)!
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ok, i am sorry, also i never meant to flame at you. in fact this seems to be a very interesting discussion.
i have no idea what the hero does exactly, especially not the uk hero... but it was my understanding that it uses a-gps, as says this list. also i have no idea how much of the criteria from the wiki article must/should be met to say it uses a-gps. i guess in the end everybody has to decide for him or herself...
what is sure is that the hero (at least here in germany) uses at least the network information to determine the position. if you know how to wipe everything from the gps (almanach etc) then i would like to try how long it takes to get a fix. if that is an argument in this discussion at all, i guess this needs some reading in advance to get proper results...
Thiesen said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGPS please revise your knowledge...
The HTC Hero (and every other modern smartphone) is using A-GPS... go read the Wikipedia article...
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Hmmmm ..... if it is then HTC do not know about it!
Since reading and taking part in this thread I have become totally confused. I therefore decided to clear up this confusion with HTC. I asked their support team a simple question, which was this "Does my Hero come with A-GPS please?" I included in the question the serial number of my phone.
This is their reply:
"Its comes with GPS but you need to buy a software. Unfortunately we are unable to help with your query as we don not support third party applications. Please refer to the software vendor for further assistance. As far as we know this application may not be compatible. We hope that you will find further assistance with the software developer. Please also note that you can use Googlemaps, which is an included navigational software application."
So HTC themselves don't think the Hero comes with A-GPS! And I certainly haven't installed A-GPS
Now I am just more confused. Or (shock horror) could it be that Wikipedia is wrong!! Or that HTC don't know what they instal on their own phones
peterc10 said:
Hmmmm ..... if it is then HTC do not know about it!
Since reading and taking part in this thread I have become totally confused. I therefore decided to clear up this confusion with HTC. I asked their support team a simple question, which was this "Does my Hero come with A-GPS please?" I included in the question the serial number of my phone.
This is their reply:
"Its comes with GPS but you need to buy a software. Unfortunately we are unable to help with your query as we don not support third party applications. Please refer to the software vendor for further assistance. As far as we know this application may not be compatible. We hope that you will find further assistance with the software developer. Please also note that you can use Googlemaps, which is an included navigational software application."
So HTC themselves don't think the Hero comes with A-GPS! And I certainly haven't installed A-GPS
Now I am just more confused. Or (shock horror) could it be that Wikipedia is wrong!! Or that HTC don't know what they instal on their own phones
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Click to collapse
for me that sounds like you had a dumb supporter answering your question, who doesn't know what a-gps is (or that it exists), and when hearing "gps" he thinks about the navigation in his dads car. so he thinks "oompaloompa, dschee-pee-ass are there, but no funny pictures. need to buy pictures ompfompf!" by pictures he means cards for navigation software, since this is all one big, dirty chunk of sticky green slime in his head...
i understand it that the gps receiver itself has the a-gps feature (or not), but it is not controllable by software, at least not by user applications. i might be wrong, but i still wouldn't give too much on htc's answer
kendong2 said:
for me that sounds like you had a dumb supporter answering your question, who doesn't know what a-gps is
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Which is why I went back to them and explained that A-GPS was not third party software and it was included with some of their other phones.
Now I have got this answer back from them
"It’s come with A-GPS its standard. Sorry for the previous answer."
So there you are - straight from the horse's mouth
Having looked again at my old Touch Diamond (now my wife's ) I was getting A-GPS confused with QuickGPS, which was a programme that downloaded updated ephemeris information weekly. Sorry for that
peterc10 said:
"It’s come with A-GPS its standard. Sorry for the previous answer."
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lol, i guess i was spot-on with my thoughts!
Ok while we are on the subject will Android work with a bluetooth GPS unit such as the Holux M1000????? I see that google maps on Android has no options for this (can't understand when google maps was better on my Windows Mobile device)
ysandhu said:
I have TELUS HTC hero.and GPS never works. I even tried rooting phone. and tried a lot of of other ROMs. but it never works. I think i my phone has hardware problem. Does anybody know where this piece of hardware resides in HTC hero
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I have a Telus Hero on AT&T in the US and GPS fix time is typically under a minute. I have no complaints.
Do you live in an area where it's particularly full of trees or have an older house? That usually delays GPS lock-on, however I've had success with my hero to get gps fixes in places I've never imagined could. Perhaps sending in for warranty might address the issue?
peterc10 said:
Hmmmm ..... if it is then HTC do not know about it!
Since reading and taking part in this thread I have become totally confused. I therefore decided to clear up this confusion with HTC. I asked their support team a simple question, which was this "Does my Hero come with A-GPS please?" I included in the question the serial number of my phone.
This is their reply:
"Its comes with GPS but you need to buy a software. Unfortunately we are unable to help with your query as we don not support third party applications. Please refer to the software vendor for further assistance. As far as we know this application may not be compatible. We hope that you will find further assistance with the software developer. Please also note that you can use Googlemaps, which is an included navigational software application."
So HTC themselves don't think the Hero comes with A-GPS! And I certainly haven't installed A-GPS
Now I am just more confused. Or (shock horror) could it be that Wikipedia is wrong!! Or that HTC don't know what they instal on their own phones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A-GPS is NOT an application... if you read the A-GPS article on Wikipedia you would have known that it is a service from the different cellsite operators around the globe. If you know what triangulation is then you will better understand how A-GPS works...
Thiesen said:
A-GPS is NOT an application... if you read the A-GPS article on Wikipedia you would have known that it is a service from the different cellsite operators around the globe. If you know what triangulation is then you will better understand how A-GPS works...
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IF you had read my post more carefully and IF you had then read my subsequent post you should have realised the following
Firstly I had read the Wikipedia article very carefully, including the notes and history tab
Secondly I decided to ask HTC (the makers of the Hero by the way ) whether or not it supported A-GPS
Thirdly I was reporting THEIR comments about it being third party software NOT MINE.
Fourthly the comment did not sound correct to me which is why I then went back to HTC pointing out that A-GPS was NOT third party software and asking them to reconsider their answer
Fifthly they then came back to me and confirmed that the Hero was indeed compatable with A-GPS
Oh and BTW I suspect I was finding out about triangulation long before you were born ...... it has been used in practice in surveying for a VERY long time. And the theories upon which it is based, geometry and trigonometry, has been around since the ancient greeks, if not longer.
I thought this thing was somehow using network to get a general location somehow. However when I use my phone as a wi-fi hotspot Maps on my touchpad seems to find me to within 20 feet of wherever I actually am at the time.
Can someone explain this to me? Am I hallucinating? Only seems to work when wi-fi is connected though. Is this some sort of google magic?
Only apple and disney make magic.
Sent from my HP Touchpad using Tapatalk
Well, everything I read seems to indicate there is no GPS. in the WiFi version of the TouchPad. However I just opended the maps app and it's right on my house. I have my TP setup to ask me for permission to use location service before an app can use it. Maps ask for this permission prior to giving my location. I assume this is done almost certinly done by Googles location service over my WiFi.
in short, yes it's Google "magic".
To the previous poster... Yes apple also makes magic, but it black magic! LOL
To cut a long story short, it's using the location data of your ip address, through your wifi connection (I believe).
Not necessarily a google thing.
it's just a setting in the router you're getting wifi from. some routers allow you to turn the ip location settings on and off, others are always on.
the only Touchpads with GPS are the 3G/4G ones.
I knew there wasn't a GPS. But I have an unrooted HTC Desire HD phone. Is there an easy way to tether my CM7 Touchpad to my phone to make use of my phone's GPS?
asif9t9 said:
I knew there wasn't a GPS. But I have an unrooted HTC Desire HD phone. Is there an easy way to tether my CM7 Touchpad to my phone to make use of my phone's GPS?
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I use an external GPS receiver tethered with Bluetooth to the touchpad.
asif9t9 said:
I knew there wasn't a GPS. But I have an unrooted HTC Desire HD phone. Is there an easy way to tether my CM7 Touchpad to my phone to make use of my phone's GPS?
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Click to collapse
Yes, download an app called TGPS from the market both on your phone and on the tp, install the client widget on the tp and the server widget on your phone, and as long as you are connected to the same network (either the same wifi or you are using wifi tether from the phone) it will work
Sent from my HP Touchpad using Tapatalk
texasreb said:
I use an external GPS receiver tethered with Bluetooth to the touchpad.
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Did you have to do anything special to get it to work? I paired my external BT GPS device but it didn't see to work.
I'll have to try again and see.
When google drove around making streetview they logged the mac address of every single wifi point they could find and its location.
Even though your touchpad was connected to your phone, it was receiving the SSID from random wifi routers. Even though it wasn't connected to any of these routers, it knew their location and so could guess where you were,
Fon22
Well, according to this document: http://www.qualcomm.com/documents/files/snapdragon-msm8x60-apq8060-product-brief.pdf, it does have embedded GPS. Maybe I am missing something. Certainly the feature is not implemented in webOS on the Touchpad, but maybe the hardware is actually there. One of the devs that has worked with the Touchpad may be able to shed more light on the question.
The Qualcomm datasheet may not give the correct picture. Like many other ARM tablets, the GPS may be incorporated with the 3G part of the chipset, which is not implemented on the standard Touchpad.
kmdub said:
Well, according to this document: http://www.qualcomm.com/documents/files/snapdragon-msm8x60-apq8060-product-brief.pdf, it does have embedded GPS. Maybe I am missing something. Certainly the feature is not implemented in webOS on the Touchpad, but maybe the hardware is actually there. One of the devs that has worked with the Touchpad may be able to shed more light on the question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dmarchant said:
The Qualcomm datasheet may not give the correct picture. Like many other ARM tablets, the GPS may be incorporated with the 3G part of the chipset, which is not implemented on the standard Touchpad.
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Click to collapse
THIS.
plus all the different model touchpads have been taken apart and inspected thoroughly. The different touchpads have different hardware not just size differences.
you can read more here:
http://forums.precentral.net/hp-touchpad/302420-4g-touchpad-owners-lounge.html
The Qualcomm datasheet may not give the correct picture. Like many other ARM tablets, the GPS may be incorporated with the 3G part of the chipset, which is not implemented on the standard Touchpad.
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Click to collapse
Yes, maybe. However, the document does clearly list the modem separately, and caveats other features that do not apply universally. It just seems that the document refers to the GPS functionality as part of the "Snapdragon Family Overview," and lists it separately in the table, where the modems are clearly distinguished.
You are probably right, but this document at least, seems a bit misleading. I am going to look for more technical documentation.
i never had a galaxy S so now idea how bad that really was, but it does kinda suck when you need gps and have to have data on to get a lock in a shortish manner (mainly on holiday where i have no data allowance).
any chance that process tech (nodes etc) will have matured to the point where we can have a dedicated gps received in our phones of the quality of what you can get in a tom tom or whatever? no data needed at all to work?
i ask since i use gps on holidays via jogtracker to track where i've been and the train/bus/plane journies from A to B. very cool to look at after the fact - zoom in - and see what you were passing at the time
Well, you could go tell the US government to go modify their satellite so they transfer GPS almanac faster to your device.
Otherwise no, you'll need to get the info from somewhere, either from data network or the satellites themselves.
what? it's nothing to do with the satellites. get a tom tom and they lock on within 30 secs. get an sgs2 without data and it will lock on within 30 seconds, upto 5+ minutes, same with my old desire.
the "get the info from somewhere" line? it comes from the gps sats.
Well it was a joke, but looks like you didn't it. So to simplify the answer:
NO
The answer keeps being NO, but I'm gonna explain a bit further:
First time you boot a Tom Tom, it can stay anything from 5 to 10 minutes out in the sun to catch the goddamn GPS signal. Which is the average time for any GPS to get proper signal the standard manner. What happens the next time? Well, your tom has already the GPS data cached, so unless you move very far from the last point you connected the GPS, it will catch it rather fast (because it's asuming it stays in the same location).
With Android the results are rather mixed. I believe the caching part is done per app basis, which means maybe an app will get a fast lock provided you used it recently, and some other apps may really take the 5 minutes to get the proper location without any aid.
I think an standarized cache in android for any app using the GPS could be a good idea.
But that's my thought.
AGPS is also used as a signal booster in areas of low GPS signal .
Phone GPS does not need AGPS to work .
jje
Also, smartphones generally have weaker GPS antennas than dedicated navigation devices -- a good GPS antenna requires space, something that's at a premium in a smartphone. There are probably also RF issues to contend with.
So a smartphone is more likely to have a poor GPS signal and thus require help from other technologies like AGPS.
than you to the last 3 posters for providing useful responses
As reference, my SGS1 had terrible GPS. If I had no data and I wasn't using wireless networks to help pinpoint my location, the GPS sat would never find me.
In comparison, my SGS2 can usually get a lock on me within 30 seconds without data/wifi on and no assitance from wireless networks.
It may not be as fast or as reliable as a dedicated GPS unit, but it gets the job done when I need to know where the flip i am.
I'd like to keep my Flyer out in my truck as a perm GPS kinda thing. It gets kinda cold up in NY, so I'm concerned on how cold weather tolerant this thing is. The general rule is not to keep electronics outside when its cold, but come on... have you seen newer cars!! I left my Garmin outside 365/year without issue too.
I'd like to know fact from fiction on this. Maybe Myth Busters did something on it, lol.
If the worst thing to happen to my Flyer is a sluggish screen until it warms up, I'd like to keep it in the truck/car most of the time.
i literally never take my first gen ipod video from 2005 out of my trucks glovebox...in NJ, it gets as cold as single digits in the winter, and hits triple in the summer, and it's always in there, and somehow STILL works..and that's a moving hard drive too lol..i'd think as long as it doesn't move from cold to hot temps really quickly, no condensation should form or anything
Lion batteries tolerate cold better than heat but, I would imagine that there is still a potential for damage to occur.
I doubt the other components would be affected much.. but, just keep in mind there is a chance it will be on life support to actually run the rest of it's life.
If I may also go ahead and point this out.. You can get a Garmin with lifetime updates for about 250$ that doesn't require a cellular data connection and would be more reliable for what your buying it for..
Snow_fox said:
Lion batteries tolerate cold better than heat but, I would imagine that there is still a potential for damage to occur.
I doubt the other components would be affected much.. but, just keep in mind there is a chance it will be on life support to actually run the rest of it's life.
If I may also go ahead and point this out.. You can get a Garmin with lifetime updates for about 250$ that doesn't require a cellular data connection and would be more reliable for what your buying it for..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the Flyer at BestBuy for $99 a few months ago when they messed up the price. I dont have a need for it in the house because I have a GT10.1. I was close to CraigsListing it for $175, but decided to buy the Flyer car dock and use it as device to leave in the truck for GPS and such.
I dont really want another Garmin if the Flyer can work (w/tethering).
While Li ion batteries tolerate cold temperatures better than some other types, they still drain much more quickly in freezing temperatures. If you are leaving your Flyer in screen-off mode (and not powering it down), then you should be careful its not draining until shutoff in cold temps. Full power cycles are not good for Li ion batteries long term. Its also possible that draining the battery until the device shuts off, will render the battery unable to take a charge. (doesn't happen often, but does happen with Android devices).
That said, I completely understand your feeling about wanting to use an Android device instead of a Garmin for car navigation. I haven't used the "latest" Garmins. But the one I have (couple years old) has a crappy unresponsive touch screen, low resolution, and search function is nothing compared to Google.
The only advantage to a Garmin, is that you don't need a data connection. But of course, there are ways around that with Android also, either downloading Google Map sections, or with 3rd party software.
This doesn't answer your question, but I'll just throw this out there:
I've had the Flyer since it's release date at Best Buy. I bought it with full intentions of leaving it in my truck as a GPS/Media Player/Browser.
I built a console for it that goes between my jump seat and dash (the unit basically sits right under my stereo) and I have left it there plugged into a usb charger and line in on my stereo since the day I bought it (I can easily remove it and have on occasion for a few hours at a time.
I live in West Virginia so it probably doesn't get quite as cold as it does in NY but it can get down below zero at night. We have had a pretty mild winter here but that being said - I have never had a single problem out of it. Neither heat nor cold has seemed to have any affect on it whatsoever.
This is not to say that it couldn't and I've wondered the same as you many times... but just as someone who is doing exactly what you plan to do... I have never had a problem with it.
Hope this helps.
Just an FYI regarding the need for a cellular or wifi signal to use the Flyer or View as a dedicated GPS. With the use of a standalone navigation app such as CoPilot Live (no affiliation) or similar, which include built-in maps, your GPS-enabled unit uses only the internal GPS antenna to set a fix, and the on-board maps to get you around. No data connection is required to constantly update maps, as is the case with Google Maps, which is an 'assisted GPS' (aGPS) program.
Once your nav app is loaded, conserve batt power by activating 'airplane mode,' then under 'Location' enable the 'use GPS satellites' function. Make sure your Flyer is securely mounted on windshield or dashboard with a reasonable view of the sky (that's where the satellites are). You'll have no problems getting around in remote areas not served by Sprint et al. Over the past few years we have used my Evo 4g, Evo 3D and Evo View to get around in Europe in just this manner (no phone calls though, these are not international phones).
Regarding cold temperatures, I would remove the device from your vehicle if sub-zero F readings are expected.
procerum said:
No data connection is required to constantly update maps, as is the case with Google Maps, which is an 'assisted GPS' (aGPS) program.
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Click to collapse
That is not what assisted GPS (aGPS) means. aGPS uses cell tower triangulation to speed up GPS location. Virtually any usage of the phone's GPS involves aGPS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS
Also, as I've mentioned previously, Google Maps has the ability to download maps so you can use Maps and Navigation online. You just have to download the maps one area at a time.
I think we're saying the same thing. The Flyer/View will perform GPS (vs. aGPS) duties just fine without tower triangulation (in airplane mode) if your program has built-in maps. No tethering required.
The map caching is in Google Labs, right? I played with that while waiting at an appointment. I tried a Nav to home with it and Nav just spun. I only tried once though. I didn't get a "data connection required" so i know it knew the cached data was there.
I will think about Copilot if GNav doesn't cut it.
I like this thread, lots of good comments!
procerum said:
I think we're saying the same thing. The Flyer/View will perform GPS (vs. aGPS) duties just fine without tower triangulation (in airplane mode) if your program has built-in maps. No tethering required.
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Click to collapse
No, we are not saying the same thing at all. You were saying that Google Maps can't be used without a data connection, since its an "aGPS program", and you seemed to be stating that aGPS had something to do with updating the maps (which it does not). Google Maps is fully functional without a data connection as I stated above.
Also, pretty much any current Android device is going to use aGPS when possible to shorten GPS lock time, regardless of what navigation app you are using (I hate when people call nav software "GPS", as GPS just determines lat/long and elevation and nothing more).
And now you are mis-using the term "tethering". A data connection is not tethering. Tethering is when you share a cell data connection with another device. For instance, tethering a phone to a laptop, means your laptop can use the data connection on your phone.
You really need to get your terms right.
---------- Post added at 08:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:13 PM ----------
kenyu73 said:
The map caching is in Google Labs, right?
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Yeah, that's right. I haven't played around with the feature much myself. But a buddy of mine recently used it during a trip to Europe, so he can navigate the cities on foot without pricey data roaming fees. He said it worked wonderfully.
redpoint73 said:
And now you are mis-using the term "tethering". A data connection is not tethering. Tethering is when you share a cell data connection with another device. For instance, tethering a phone to a laptop, means your laptop can use the data connection on your phone.
You really need to get your terms right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion, Captain. I am attempting to help the OP, who used the term 'tethering,' which is unecessary, as is a data connection, if you have maps on your device:
kenyu73 said:
I dont really want another Garmin if the Flyer can work (w/tethering).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My comments/methodologies are based upon actual travel experiences with these devices, which I'm sharing with the OP. Why do you feel the need to challenge me? Is this an initiation ritual for a new poster?
procerum said:
Thanks for the suggestion, Captain. I am attempting to help the OP, who used the term 'tethering,' which is unecessary, as is a data connection, if you have maps on your device:
My comments/methodologies are based upon actual travel experiences with these devices, which I'm sharing with the OP. Why do you feel the need to challenge me? Is this an initiation ritual for a new poster?
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Its all good gents. I just wanted to know if the Flyer was ok out in the cold.
Whether or not I'll use GNav or purchase something like Copilot is another story. I appreciated the comments from everyone.
procerum said:
kenyu73 said:
I dont really want another Garmin if the Flyer can work (w/tethering).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My comments/methodologies are based upon actual travel experiences with these devices, which I'm sharing with the OP. Why do you feel the need to challenge me? Is this an initiation ritual for a new poster?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The person your last response is directed at, and the OP are the same person.
No, I'm not trying to pick on you. But if you post something that is incorrect, people here are going to call it out. Or people here may just want to offer up a different opinion. Which brings me to the following.
I completely sympathize with the OP's desire to not want another Garmin navigation unit. I've found them to be crap. Overpriced for what they can do, not well made, and completely unreliable. I paid $399 for a flagship Nuvi unit, and it broke down a year after I bought it. Luckily, it was still on warranty, and they fixed it. But then the power cable failed soon after (out of warranty). Good thing I found a replacement on eBay for less than $10, because Garmin wants to charge you $30 (for something that will probably fail again in a year or so anyway). Both failures happened while I was traveling, and luckily I had my smartphone and Google Maps as backup.
Meanwhile, I have 3 HTC smartphones, and one tablet, from as far back as 4 years, still running fine as the day they were bought (aside from a few cosmetic blemishes from normal wear and tear). As far as I'm concerned, you are better off using a smartphone or tablet as navigation, with a 3rd party nav app with pre-loaded apps, if losing data connection is a concern.
Having a dedicated nav unit is probably a dying business model. Aside from providing software for smartphones, I don't see much of Garmin's business being around in a few years.
This is true, the last one I purchased was in 2003; it's unlikely that I'll ever purchase a dedicated unit again. The Flyer/View's 7-inch screen and robust build make for an excellent navigation device.