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I downloaded and installed the 6.1 with gps. I was curious is there any programs that lets you use the htc 6800 as a gps unit to connect to your laptop. Like say I'm using google earth or any other program on the laptop, Is there a program that would let me connect the htc to the laptop to use it as the gps device?
ppc 6800 and using as external GPS (bluetooth with laptop for example)
zycot said:
I downloaded and installed the 6.1 with gps. I was curious is there any programs that lets you use the htc 6800 as a gps unit to connect to your laptop. Like say I'm using google earth or any other program on the laptop, Is there a program that would let me connect the htc to the laptop to use it as the gps device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found GPS2Blue works decently. Works either via Bluetooth or TCP connection, check site for more details.
http://users.skynet.be/hofinger/GPS2Blue.html
Thanks tim, I gave that program a try, works great.
I have another question, Does anyone know of a program that would send gps data to a website to monitor where you are? For example, I'm taking a road trip to my mother's about 500 miles away. I want her to be able to monitor on my trip progress over the web. So as I'm driving my phone can upload my gps data to a website so she can track it without annoying me with phone calls while I'm driving.
I used to have this on a rig with a gps device and a Kenwood radio. I would send packet data through the radio and have a site to display my postion. I havn't really had a radio in a while. I thought someone might of came up with something like this.
Sprite Terminator might do the job for you... one of its features is locating your phone via GPS
sprite terminator link
Well I gave that program a try, I don't think it's compatible with wm6.1. When I send the text commands to get the info back. My phone doesn't send the text message back to me.
thanks for the suggestion though, was worth a try.
sorry, i actually have not had the chance to try it. i know the thread i found it in they were speaking about adding it to a kitchen. hopefully we will have support for the program soon
GPS tracking (road trips etc)
zycot said:
Thanks tim, I gave that program a try, works great.
I have another question, Does anyone know of a program that would send gps data to a website to monitor where you are? For example, I'm taking a road trip to my mother's about 500 miles away. I want her to be able to monitor on my trip progress over the web. So as I'm driving my phone can upload my gps data to a website so she can track it without annoying me with phone calls while I'm driving.
I used to have this on a rig with a gps device and a Kenwood radio. I would send packet data through the radio and have a site to display my postion. I havn't really had a radio in a while. I thought someone might of came up with something like this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Michael, found a free service that should do the trick. http://www.mologogo.com/
That's the best free one I found for active updating of GPS location while traveling with main focus on friend's/family/etc GPS tracking in real-time. Wish you a safe trip and good luck!
Will TetherGPS (Lite or Full) work with any ROMs on the GTab. Would love to have a 10inch GPS.
morseja said:
Will TetherGPS (Lite or Full) work with any ROMs on the GTab. Would love to have a 10inch GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont see why not, but the only reason that came out was because the nook color had no bluetooth (at the time), which the gtab has.
acomiskey said:
Dont see why not, but the only reason that came out was because the nook color had no bluetooth (at the time), which the gtab has.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how does bluetooth help with GPS? I guess im missing something
DroidHam said:
how does bluetooth help with GPS? I guess im missing something
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bluetooth tether to get gps from your phone or from bluetooth gps receiver.
Tethergps is a client/server app which sends gps data over 2 wifi tethered android devices. For example, I wifi tether my droid x to my nook color, and send gps info from droid x to nook color.
TetherGPS does not wok on VEGAn 5.1.1 on the Gtablet. If I remember correctly, someone tried it on one of the TnT-lite variants as well with no success.
ShareGPS (on an android phone) and BluetoothGPS on the tablet will work for GPS data from the phone to the tablet over a bluetooth connection. Then WiFi tether for data.
An alternative would be to get a cheap Bluetooth GPS receiver and pair it with the gtab, and use one of several utilities in the market to feed the data to a mapping application of your choice. Kinda how we used to do it in the ppc PDA days.
Thanks I can pair the 2 but, I can not get the phone and GTab to talk to each other. I do have a BT GPS and it pairs it to the GTab. What utility would you suggest to start with to get the GPS to match with the navigation software.
For Turn-by-Turn, why do you still need WiFi?
I bought the external GPS receiver, and Google Maps work, but to get turn-by-turn, I have to WiFi tether to my Droid phone. Why?
jlbdroid said:
I bought the external GPS receiver, and Google Maps work, but to get turn-by-turn, I have to WiFi tether to my Droid phone. Why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Navigation needs connectivity to setup the route. Once the route is setup and 'cached' you can drop your connection, so long as you don't vary from the route. Any re-calculation needs connectivity.
for off-line navigation try Co-Pilot. It's pretty cheap (I Think $5.00 for USA). It stores the map files on your SDcard so no connectivity is needed.
Also, I'm pretty sure the latest google maps starts storing maps tiles locally as you drive around. Thus, the more you use it, the less dependent you are on a live connection.
+1 for bluetooth gps receiver, bluegps to interface, and co-pilot for nav.
I put up a new version of TetherGPS this morning which might solve certain crashing issues. If it still isn't working, and someone wants to help me test fixes (I don't have a g-tab), shoot me an e-mail at [email protected]
going to try out tehter gps since I can't seem to find blue gps to put on my tab. I found sharegps for my phone.
**edit**
Tether GPS Client FC's on me on my gTab running TNT lite.
I believe I've tracked down the FC problem. Give this APK a try. You will only need to install it on your tablet. The server on the phone is unchanged.
This is the lite version, but it includes a full client. If this works I'll push an update to the market for both versions.
http://comptonsoft.com/tethergps/RC/TGPS_Lite.apk
Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
Ok, the last version might not have fixed it, but I'm pretty sure this one does.
If you downloaded the last one, try again, same link.
http://comptonsoft.com/tethergps/RC/TGPS_Lite.apk
I've got TetherGPS working on my Viewsonic g tablet running Brilliant Corners 1.2! The trick, you have to disable "Automatic Broadcast IP" and specify the servers (phones) ip address instead. I have a feeling this will work on other roms too!
1. Enable "use gps satellites" on both devices and enable "allow mock locations" on the tablet.
2. Download and install the latest version of TetherGPS on both devices and Wireless Tether on the phone.
3. Create a network using Wireless Tether. After tethering, the IP address you need can be found in Wireless Tether under menu>access control
4. Run TetherGPS on the phone and uncheck "Automatic Broadcast IP" and enter the IP address from step three into "Broadcast IP" and click Start Server.
5. Run TetherGPS on tablet and select Start Client.
6. Once you have it up and running put the widgets on both devices
Now that (hopefully) everything is working all you have to do next time you want to use this is
1. Start Wireless Tether and establish a connection from tablet.
2. Click TetherGPS server widget on phone.
3. Click TetherGPS client widget on tablet.
Hope this works for you too,
Sandman
tcrews said:
TetherGPS does not wok on VEGAn 5.1.1 on the Gtablet. If I remember correctly, someone tried it on one of the TnT-lite variants as well with no success.
ShareGPS (on an android phone) and BluetoothGPS on the tablet will work for GPS data from the phone to the tablet over a bluetooth connection. Then WiFi tether for data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 Share GPS on my HTC Inspire 4G. BluetoothGPS4Droid on my GTab running TNT Lite 4.4. Works like a charm!
Make sure Bluetooth is on on both devices. Make sure you have WiFi on your GTab (to load maps). I use the WiFi Tether program on my HTC Inspire 4G. Start ShareGPS on phone it will be "listening" and watch for the GPS coordinates to show up. Start BluetoothGPS4Droid on GTab, choose the phone device listed on top of settings, select check mark on SiRF GPS, set retrys to 5 and then select Start/Stop GPS. Phone should then recognize the GTab name and show connected. If not, select menu on ShareGPS and connect to. (You should see your device listed but you also have the option to pair if not listed)
Give it up to 1 min to acquire satellites and launch whatever mapping program you use... Enjoy~
So I got my self to thinking; What is the best way to handle connectivity for my devices?
I have a rooted/rom'd Evo Shift, and will have my gTab soon (hopefully). I generally leave BT on my phone on all the time, and it is currently paired with my Car's head unit to stream audio and hands free calls.
Do I pair my table to my phone via BT and tether?
What are the consequences of leaving that on all the time? How would that affect the battery life of the phone and tablet? I know in the old days when you used the PAM (phone as modem) your phone didn't get any internet connectivity. Is that the case with BT tethering?
Do I pair my tablet with my head unit? I don't know if it can be paired with more then one device. I doubt it though. Maybe just pair hands free from my phone and a2dp from the gtab? Not sure if that is possible, have to read the head unit's manual.
I apologize for the incoherent ramblings. I'm trying to figure out what other people have done along with what works well, or what doesn't work at all.
Thanks,
So I've read up a little more and found some answers.
Looks like I can get GPS information from my phone via blue tooth. This will be awesome in the car. Any one who has done this, is it possible to get internet tethering via blue tooth from the same phone at the same time?
Using wifi to tether data while i use blue tooth for GPS information is possible, but doesn't seem very elegant.
It doesn't look like my head unit can have multiple BT pairings active at the same time. Guess I will have to use an aux cable for the tab and BT for my phone.
An ideal solution would be for my tab to use wifi for internet if available, and tether via BT to my phone if a wifi network is not available. It would be nice to leave the tethering open all day, but I think that would drain my phones battery something fierce. My over all concept it to have a personal network of interconnected devices with my phone acting as their connection to the internet.
Any advice, comments, death threats or criticism (constructive or not).
Bluetooth GPS sharing is very doable. There are several threads dedicated to setting this up. Looks like you may have found a few of them.
Tethering BT data to your phone is also very doable. Again, there are several threads on this, and I'm pretty active in most of them. Been working on this for a bit.
Start with this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1001496
Wifi tethering is much easier. The issue I've had is mostly around BT and Wifi signal conflicts. I don't see it much in just using BT GPS and WiFi Data, but if I receive a call (I use a BT headset when on the road), the quality of my call is in the toilet for at least a minute or so. My guess is that the Tab is trying to get WiFI data from the phone (which it won't be able to because I'm on the phone - VZW CDMA - can't be on the Net and on phone at same time). After about a minute or so, it calms down. Unacceptable solution though.
So, I've now been mostly doing GPS & Data through Bluetooth to the phone. The problem with this hookup is again when I take a call, of course my Data drops on the tab (no way around that). But even worse, the GPS signal gets degraded too. I'm thinking just not enough Bluetooth bandwidth to support Headset, Data, and GPS at the same time?
So my most recent setup (just tried it for a bit today) is to use an external Bluetooth GPS (got one on Amazon for about $25.00) and then Bluetooth Tether to the phone for data. It's a little bit complicated, and involves yet another 'gadget', but I am getting the best results from this setup so far.
Thanks for the info.
I'm on sprint and know the "no data and voice" problem all to well. Even when using maps for navigation on my phone, if a call comes in, the GPS becomes retarded and inaccurate. Once the call ends, all is good.
with getting data from your phone via bluetooth, is that something you leave on all the time or do you have to turn on BT tethering when you want data?
grandebob said:
Thanks for the info.
I'm on sprint and know the "no data and voice" problem all to well. Even when using maps for navigation on my phone, if a call comes in, the GPS becomes retarded and inaccurate. Once the call ends, all is good.
with getting data from your phone via bluetooth, is that something you leave on all the time or do you have to turn on BT tethering when you want data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't been using that often to be honest. So when I do, I turn on BT tethering at that time.
I also use Co-Pilot for Navigation. It doesn't need data, just GPS. Map data is downloaded to the sdcard. Just depends on how I feel at that moment. Both nav systems have their advantages/disadvantages.
I'll have to check out co-pilot. storing maps for offline use sounds like a good idea, as long as they don't get stale.
OK, so I've kind of got blue tooth GPS data working. Using an app called "ShareGPS" on my phone and "BlueToothGPS" on my gtab, I've successfully gotten gps data to my tab. Using the BlueToothGPS app on my tab, i can see satellites and GPS data flowing. Unfortunately maps doesn't seem to get location data, and there doesn't appear to be a way to enable GPS data in any of the settings.
Running TnT lite. Any one know how I can get maps to see the GPS data?
I just got my Tab last night and while at work, decided to download a book that I'm in the middle of (Amazon archive). Our wifi at work is weak (to say the least) and I couldn't keep a connection long enough to download one book. It finally dawned on me that my rooted Evo has wireless tether. It worked like a champ! It's the first time I've used it and I gotta tell you, that alone made my day. Nice strong connection and I was able to websurf to my heart's content. I'm running TnT Lite 4.40.
Ok I'm reading to pick up one of these bluetooth GPS receivers and get my nook performing GPS duties. What software package is best? As I understand it, there is also some other little piece of software that I need to get the bluetooth info to port into the GPS software. Any ideas?
KDOG2020 said:
Ok I'm reading to pick up one of these bluetooth GPS receivers and get my nook performing GPS duties. What software package is best? As I understand it, there is also some other little piece of software that I need to get the bluetooth info to port into the GPS software. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had success running CM7 on internal memory with CoPilot Live USA ($4.99 from the market) in conjunction with the free Bluetooth GPS Provider app also in the market. You can't beat that--$4.99 for a 7 inch GPS. I've taken it on a 500 mile trip and it performed perfectly. Stay away from Sygic Aura--it doesn't allow for mock locations.
sec6 said:
I have had success running CM7 on internal memory with CoPilot Live USA ($4.99 from the market) in conjunction with the free Bluetooth GPS Provider app also in the market. You can't beat that--$4.99 for a 7 inch GPS. I've taken it on a 500 mile trip and it performed perfectly. Stay away from Sygic Aura--it doesn't allow for mock locations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does CoPilot Live require a data connection, or can one download all the mapsets to SD and run completely offline?
tj!2k7 said:
Does CoPilot Live require a data connection, or can one download all the mapsets to SD and run completely offline?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you download the maps, you're done. No data connection needed. However, I'm not sure how one would pull GPS location from a device with no GPS onboard?
LarcenQ said:
Once you download the maps, you're done. No data connection needed. However, I'm not sure how one would pull GPS location from a device with no GPS onboard?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read original post, he bought an external GPS blue tooth unit which he connects to the nook.
I just use my phone hooked up through an audio jack. I'm lucky enough to live where I don't have to worry about not having a data signal.
Disregard my previous lack of common sense. I can't see the forest for the trees sometimes. I need to look into this Bluetooth adapter. Sounds convenient.
I also have heard there is an additional bit of software needed for this to work as eluded to in my first post. Anyone know what I'm referring to? I will have to check out that CoPilot software.
You need the Bluetooth gps provider app. It's free in the market.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
sec6 said:
I have had success running CM7 on internal memory with CoPilot Live USA ($4.99 from the market) in conjunction with the free Bluetooth GPS Provider app also in the market. You can't beat that--$4.99 for a 7 inch GPS. I've taken it on a 500 mile trip and it performed perfectly. Stay away from Sygic Aura--it doesn't allow for mock locations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was just about to buy this app, but the reviews don't look great. You've had good success? Will Google maps store maps? I thought they had implemented an "offline" feature. Are there any other apps that store maps so you don't need to use data?
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Copilot is usable - but it does have a bug that requires a wifi connection when you first enter a street address and it does not call out street names while navigating
Google maps works but u need a wifi connection to download maps while driving
Calla969 said:
I was just about to buy this app, but the reviews don't look great. You've had good success? Will Google maps store maps? I thought they had implemented an "offline" feature. Are there any other apps that store maps so you don't need to use data?
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
animatechnica said:
Copilot is usable - but it does have a bug that requires a wifi connection when you first enter a street address and it does not call out street names while navigating
Google maps works but u need a wifi connection to download maps while driving
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't experienced the bug of having to have the wifi connection on when entering a street address. And as far as not calling out the street names, it does tell you when to take a right (take the next turn right in .3 miles) or left or exit, etc. The street name is displayed on the Nook, so it is quite sufficient. If it called out even the street names what need for the beautiful Nook display?
I use Google Navigator on my phone, same would apply to the NC of course.. Online maps are great until you need to route somewhere when you have no signal.
A few weeks ago I routed to a back-country location, got there no problem. Leaving however, I had no idea how to get back out as I had no cell signal. Had to bust out the old TomTom One from in the trunk.
I haven't looked into CoPilot, but I've heard various bad things about it.. Price is right though, if it's usable. On WM6 I paid lots of money for TomTom + NA maps.
OK, so I bought the CoPilot app, but it just tells my device IMEI number is invalid and won't let me proceed. Any ideas how to get around this?
Calla969 said:
OK, so I bought the CoPilot app, but it just tells my device IMEI number is invalid and won't let me proceed. Any ideas how to get around this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that sucks.. Piracy measure I suspect, and our IMEI is of course fake since it's not a phone.
I've seen others claiming that it's working for them, so I'm not ready to give up just yet.
Sent from my Droid using XDA App
Calla969 said:
I've seen others claiming that it's working for them, so I'm not ready to give up just yet.
Sent from my Droid using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Calla969,
What were the installation steps you took after you purchased CoPilot live? Was it the CoPilot Live USA version?
What ROM are you using?
Mine installed fine and is working as we speak. I originally installed CoPilot USA on the SD card with experimental bluetooth rom. Then when I switched over to CM7 on internal memory I restored app and data through titanium backup. I'm currently running it on CM7 tablet tweaks RC1. I'm using a Garmin 10x receiver, bluetooth, mock locations, and satellites enabled, GPS bluetooth provider apk.
*** Edit: Found the problem. It is the most recent update from the market. I got the same IMEI number error. Just restoring now with the previous version (8.2.504). Yes, that's it. Works with this version. Maybe there is a way you can get this version of the apk? PM? ***
Pm sent.
I'm running the latest tablet tweaks version of cm7.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Bump. Any suggestions for the best bluetooth receiver to use with the NC? Maybe its time for a NC GPS sub-forum. Just a suggestion?
KDOG2020 said:
Bump. Any suggestions for the best bluetooth receiver to use with the NC? Maybe its time for a NC GPS sub-forum. Just a suggestion?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt any of them would differ... I get the same range on both of mine on phone and NC.... Both of them mere inches on the NC, where I get 3-4 feet using my phone.
Personally I like my two GPSes for different reasons... My Holux 236 for its accuracy and robustness. And my Columbus V900 for its built-in datalogger, albiet it being about 4 meters consistently off from its real location and -80 meters in actual Altitude.
CoPilot USA
I sent a trouble ticket into CoPilot USA when I got the IMEI error. They dropped a new version about 3 days ago that fixed that problem. New version is 8.2.0.590. When I can get Bluetooth talking to my GPS receiver, CoPilot USA does work. (I strongly prefer TomTom but the price is right for CoPilot USA!) My ROM PhireMod 6.0
BLUETOOTH QUESTION: What Bluetooth application do you use? I’ve tried BlueGPS for Android (1.2.1) -Error msg “Too amy connection problems”; Bluetooth GPS (Googoo Android V 0.5.5p1) -Error msg “Service Discovery Failed”; and Bluetooth GPS Provider (Works most of the time – but seems unpredictable). I’m interfacing a Bluetooth GPS receiver.
So, is "Bluetooth GPS Receiver" from Market the best Bluetooth App?
[
Hi all im trying to use my GPS on navigation and it doesnt seem to be working one bit i even downloaded a gps app and that wasnt picking it up also any idea's what's wrong?
TipTopFlipFlop said:
Hi all im trying to use my GPS on navigation and it doesnt seem to be working one bit i even downloaded a gps app and that wasnt picking it up also any idea's what's wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT: the only real GPS dead zones are underground and on a very rare occurence when your time and date aren't synchronized with that of the GPS sattelite. Other then that, have you tried to enable GPS in settings (would be weird if it was disabled by default). It also matters if you have a data connection when using some apps (I have never gotten google maps to show me where I am when I have no data).
Hope some of this is useful to you
Dyskmaster said:
EDIT: the only real GPS dead zones are underground and on a very rare occurence when your time and date aren't synchronized with that of the GPS sattelite. Other then that, have you tried to enable GPS in settings (would be weird if it was disabled by default). It also matters if you have a data connection when using some apps (I have never gotten google maps to show me where I am when I have no data).
Hope some of this is useful to you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank's for the reply the GPS is enabled still no luck,you cant get data on the Galaxy Player anyway i think.
Other people must be having this problem too the thread has had about 200 view's does anyone know anything about this problem?
TipTopFlipFlop said:
Thank's for the reply the GPS is enabled still no luck,you cant get data on the Galaxy Player anyway i think.
Other people must be having this problem too the thread has had about 200 view's does anyone know anything about this problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By data connection he means a wifi connection.
GPS uses data always. So it needs a data stream to get and use location services and maps.
On a phone it uses cellular or wifi but on an ipod style device or the galaxy player it needs wifi.
Without wifi it will never work unless your gps config files are modified; which is something i learned when trying to get the Acer Iconia GPS to work. And even then its probably not going to work.
Turn on wifi. I bet it works.
You now may be thinking "then what good is gps when i do not have a data connection!!?" - and my answer is exactly!!!
Gps on these devices is a gimmick and really only works when wifi is available.
True gps like a tom tom device doesnt need a wifi connection because it uses the gps link iyself for the limited data it needs plus the maps are built in.
On the galaxy player and phones the maps are downloaded at needed because they are hundreds of megs .
v_lestat said:
{snip}
True gps like a tom tom device doesnt need a wifi connection because it uses the gps link iyself for the limited data it needs plus the maps are built in.
On the galaxy player and phones the maps are downloaded at needed because they are hundreds of megs .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Galaxy Player works fine as a standalone GPS without need of a wifi connection if you have the right kind of app. I use Sygic but there are several others. You download maps from Sygic to your player so they are available on your device. Works fine on my 5" Galaxy Player. Also there are apps like speedometers which use the GPS and work fine without a wifi connection.
I use Sygic. And also use pre recorded areas in Google Maps when I need it. No need to WI-FI, etc..
It is a good GPS 5 ".
In fact, very good.
Until now no problems experienced with GPS. If you do not connect may be related to your area.
v_lestat said:
By data connection he means a wifi connection.
GPS uses data always. So it needs a data stream to get and use location services and maps.
On a phone it uses cellular or wifi but on an ipod style device or the galaxy player it needs wifi.
Without wifi it will never work unless your gps config files are modified; which is something i learned when trying to get the Acer Iconia GPS to work. And even then its probably not going to work.
Turn on wifi. I bet it works.
You now may be thinking "then what good is gps when i do not have a data connection!!?" - and my answer is exactly!!!
Gps on these devices is a gimmick and really only works when wifi is available.
True gps like a tom tom device doesnt need a wifi connection because it uses the gps link iyself for the limited data it needs plus the maps are built in.
On the galaxy player and phones the maps are downloaded at needed because they are hundreds of megs .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The GPS technology works perfectly fine without data connection. To speed up the first fix, aGPS was developped and uses a data connection when available, but data connection is not mandatory. It's what is used in most if not all smartphones (search for "assisted gps" in wikipedia).
Data connection are required by some navigation software because they need to download the maps or for some obscure reasons. It's the case with google navigation for example.
But you can use a software that doesn't require data connection and store all its map on the device and only uses the GPS signal to do the fix, as gotok pointed out correctly. An android device with a good navigation software is no different than what you call a "true gps like tomtom".
I think you just don't make the difference between GPS (the technology) and navigation software.
I agree that the samsung S wifi's GPS capabilities are not very useful "out of the box" with the limitations of google navigation, but it can work perfectly fine with a good software. Don't blame this device (or any other one) for the shortcomings of google navigation and some other software.
MervinMinky said:
I agree that the samsung S wifi's GPS capabilities are not very useful "out of the box" with the limitations of google navigation, but it can work perfectly fine with a good software. Don't blame this device (or any other one) for the shortcomings of google navigation and some other software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The software is definitely an issue. The SGP i got for christmas couldn't utilize its GPS at all. Regardless of what app tried to use GPS location services, i always got a location error (E.G. Location unavailable at this time.) After doing a little searching, i found that someone had an app that fixed a similar problem. I downloaded "GPS Status & Toolbox" and let it run. Its primary use is a compass and getting information about location, but after i opened it and let it download GPS configuration information, everything worked perfectly. Maps showed where i was, Facebook gave me nearby locations and so on.
Dont know if everyone figured this out already or not, but after reading over most of the thread, i didn't see a definitive solution. Just thought I'd share what i had found.
MervinMinky said:
The GPS technology works perfectly fine without data connection. To speed up the first fix, aGPS was developped and uses a data connection when available, but data connection is not mandatory. It's what is used in most if not all smartphones (search for "assisted gps" in wikipedia).
Data connection are required by some navigation software because they need to download the maps or for some obscure reasons. It's the case with google navigation for example.
But you can use a software that doesn't require data connection and store all its map on the device and only uses the GPS signal to do the fix, as gotok pointed out correctly. An android device with a good navigation software is no different than what you call a "true gps like tomtom".
I think you just don't make the difference between GPS (the technology) and navigation software.
I agree that the samsung S wifi's GPS capabilities are not very useful "out of the box" with the limitations of google navigation, but it can work perfectly fine with a good software. Don't blame this device (or any other one) for the shortcomings of google navigation and some other software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Data connection is never "mandatory" but with some GPS chipsets, it effectively is.
Some chipsets are so crippled they are almost never able to get a lock without assistance.
See the original GalaxyS phones as one example.
The Infuse is improved but not much better.
The Galaxy S II is VERY good at standalone operation.
Galaxy Players - ???, no clue
The GPS works fine, without wifi, on the Galaxy Player 5.0. To test it, get GPS Test (free). Of all the devices I have ever had with GPS (including Nokia phones, LG Android and HTC phones, Garmin) the GPS is the fastest I have experienced. Locks indoors and on moving trains very fast.
I use CoPilot mapping and navigation program and it works great.
I use "Mapdroid" (Free) and "Navdroid" (purchased) and both work great as stand-alone apps. The maps are open source maps and can be had for pretty much anywhere in the world.
Just like a real stand-alone GPSr the accuracy and speed of start up depends on a clear view of the sky, enough time to builds it's almanac of Sats and how far you are from the location you last accessed the app ( moving great distances between uses is almost the same as being turned on for the first time). The same can be said if too much time has gone by between use (such as months).
The Sat almanac gets built when your gpsr is turned on for the first time and is used as a predictive way identifying which Sats should be overhead at the current time you turn your GPSr on. Four or more Sataltites locked in gives you a higher degree of accuracy.
John