Related
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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 just ordered a Bluetooth GPS receiver from Amazon because they are only $5! Original price is $150, so you save 97%.
Bluetooth GPS reciever
Bluetooth-GPS
I figured for $5, it is worth a shot. I should be receiving it by the end of the week, and will post my findings.
mcrcracer said:
I just ordered a Bluetooth GPS receiver from Amazon because they are only $5! Original price is $150, so you save 97%.
Bluetooth GPS reciever
http://www.androidpit.com/en/android.../Bluetooth-GPS
I figured for $5, it is worth a shot. I should be receiving it by the end of the week, and will post my findings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you're trading one problem for another, WiFi will vanish with Bluetooth on.
Neither of these links work?
NOT SOLVED.
What's the point of of a thin, sleek tablet when it's got to have a dongle sticking out it.
At most your post is an obvious workaround, but hardly anywhere near ideal, or even acceptable for a lot of people.
kristovaher said:
Well, you're trading one problem for another, WiFi will vanish with Bluetooth on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your tethering your tablet via BT to a GPS unit, why would you care if WiFi was off or on? If your even doing this, it is obvious your out traveling and thus, WiFi is of no use so... it is a mute point
Someone Walkin' said:
NOT SOLVED.
What's the point of of a thin, sleek tablet when it's got to have a dongle sticking out it.
At most your post is an obvious workaround, but hardly anywhere near ideal, or even acceptable for a lot of people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You obviously don't know what a Bluetooth GPS receiver is. Though I do agree that this is a workaround.
You realize the ones for $5 don't come with the charger, right?
Lock-N-Load said:
If your tethering your tablet via BT to a GPS unit, why would you care if WiFi was off or on? If your even doing this, it is obvious your out traveling and thus, WiFi is of no use so... it is a mute point
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unless you want to tether to a phone or hotspot to use nav
Lock-N-Load said:
If your tethering your tablet via BT to a GPS unit, why would you care if WiFi was off or on? If your even doing this, it is obvious your out traveling and thus, WiFi is of no use so... it is a mute point
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wifi-tethering with a smartphone?
Lock-N-Load said:
it is a mute point
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a MOOT point, for sure.
tdrussell said:
unless you want to tether to a phone or hotspot to use nav
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you're doing that then why not just use tether gps?
pyro6128 said:
if you're doing that then why not just use tether gps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably true, but sometimes, a smartphone's AGPS isn't that much better.
And sometimes, you want to use... the Internet.
Glad I don't really care about GPS on a tablet or even a laptop. Both my cars have navigation systems so I'm good on that
wifi-tethering with a smartphone? I'll just use the phone GPS.
Honestly I can't even think of a situation where I really needed GPS on a larger screen...
(obviously this is just my personal situation)
Itaintrite said:
Probably true, but sometimes, a smartphone's AGPS isn't that much better.
And sometimes, you want to use... the Internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not saying its ideal. Obviously having a dedicated working gps in the tab is better. I'm just saying if you have a smart phone, instead of buying a bluetooth gps and jumping through hoops and all, might as well just use tether gps and use your phone's.
hairdewx said:
Glad I don't really care about GPS on a tablet or even a laptop. Both my cars have navigation systems so I'm good on that
wifi-tethering with a smartphone? I'll just use the phone GPS.
Honestly I can't even think of a situation where I really needed GPS on a larger screen...
(obviously this is just my personal situation)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what I was thinking with all these people complaining about the GPS. I could care less. I don't think I will ever even turn it on.
wynand32 said:
It's a MOOT point, for sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
d'ohh busted
kristovaher said:
Well, you're trading one problem for another, WiFi will vanish with Bluetooth on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Situation 1: You're home using your wifi and you need Blutooth GPS.
Solution: Dude, if you need to know where you are at home, there is a bigger issue.
Situation 2: You're driving down the road and you need Blutooth GPS.
Solution: Turn it on, there's no Wifi anyways
Situation 3: You're driving down the road, you need GPS, but someone is using the Prime in the passenger seat connected to a wifi hotspot from a phone right next to you.
Solution: First, it probably won't drop in that close proximity. Second, how often is this situation going to happen? For six sigma the population, this will happen less than once.
Situation 4: You're in a coffee shop on wifi and need GPS.
Solution: Disconnect Wifi, do your GPS location, reconnect Wifi.
Alternate Solution: Use the wifi location tracking.
So really, there is no issue here. Unless you have one I'm not thinking of.
pyro6128 said:
I'm not saying its ideal. Obviously having a dedicated working gps in the tab is better. I'm just saying if you have a smart phone, instead of buying a bluetooth gps and jumping through hoops and all, might as well just use tether gps and use your phone's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I agree. If you have a smartphone, might as well use the phone for GPS. Tether-GPS isn't that fast.
I PERSONALLY will never use GPS with my tablet though. There's a reason why GPS devices don't have 10" screen ;P
Just so we are clear, I am by no means in NEED of GPS on my tablet, as I have a droid bionic.
This workaround is for my wife to use while I am driving. We go on a lot of road trips, and she constantly complains about screen size of the droid.
I agree with people in the sense that GPS is not needed on the tablet, and it is not feasible to be driving around by yourself using the tablet for GPS.
I think you will find that tethering a bt GPS might be a pain. Back in the day I managed it with my old dell axim but drivers will be an issue on android.
There can be use for GPS in a tablet with cached or offline maps though. I actually hold on to our htc-hd2 because of the great GPS with offline maps under wm6.x. we use it all the time...but I prefer the pocketabilty of that system for GPS navigation.
I have little use for GPS on a tablet...but I am a little annoyed as I was with my vibrant that GPS is not working as advertised on the prime.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
So this may be a stupid question from someone who isn't an advanced tablet user, but why is the GPS so important to so many people? If I need a GPS to get somewhere, I use my phone or GPS. And even if my tablet is tethered to my phone with the GPS off, it still gets it's location just fine. If I'm just an ignorant fool please feel free to let me know, just wondering what the benefit of it is.
Dan
I like maps and have very nice and detailed maps from memory map. It's very nice on a phone, but it would be so mutch better from a tablet.
Besides that, I can't stand it if something doesn't work (even if I never gone use it).
ddelong22 said:
So this may be a stupid question from someone who isn't an advanced tablet user, but why is the GPS so important to so many people? If I need a GPS to get somewhere, I use my phone or GPS. And even if my tablet is tethered to my phone with the GPS off, it still gets it's location just fine. If I'm just an ignorant fool please feel free to let me know, just wondering what the benefit of it is.
Dan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they make seat mounts where you could technically use it as a turn by turn navigation. someone mentioned he wanted to mount one in his RV. I personally wouldn't mind having mine be functional so when I am riding with my friends to a vacation spot or something I can backseat turn by turn us to a liquor store or something....... all in all shouldn't be a huge deal for most but the fact that Asus was dumb enough to put a aluminum plate to block signal is kind of alarming.
ddelong22 said:
So this may be a stupid question from someone who isn't an advanced tablet user, but why is the GPS so important to so many people? If I need a GPS to get somewhere, I use my phone or GPS. And even if my tablet is tethered to my phone with the GPS off, it still gets it's location just fine. If I'm just an ignorant fool please feel free to let me know, just wondering what the benefit of it is.
Dan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[A] I believe the point of GPS on this device (or any modern tablet / phone) is the utter ubiquity of GPS functions in apps, search, etc.... that coupled with gps hardware being so small, cheap, and power-conscious - it makes little sense to leave it out (even wih major usability issues)
I rarely use gps on my phone, let alone a tablet. Location based services are overrated
Maybe a gps to track a jog or hike? I'd love to see a jogger carrying a tablet
I'd also say that the people that post on these forums are generally not like the average user
It allows the FBI to find you when you view questionable material on the web.
Also, it allows Google to know where you are while collecting all of your habits, personal info and tastes.
Not everyone has a smart phone...not everyone can afford multiple gadget...
They buy the best gadget that meets their needs, the tp was originally advertised as the only device you need....
before ASUS dropped it from its specs, gps was part of the tp, so they expected the product to work...
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
Well whats important with GPS?? Well, whether you use it or not. If the box says it has GPS, it better have a working GPS. If you buy a car and it says it has a rearview camera and you find out that rearview camera was not working. Would you just says its ok thats what turning your head and looking at the mirrors are for. You paid for the feature, you best bet it works correctly if you paid for it. But if you bought it after the fact that they struck the GPS out of the box specs, then you shouldnt complain about the GPS or the use of it on your tablet.
People are upset because the box says GPS, and you paid for GPS but your not getting GPS.
Not getting what you paid for = upsetting.
Its like buying a turbo charged MR2 then finding out that the turbo isn't actually hooked up because toyota says the MR2 isn't meant to be a high performance race car...
And to add to that note..
And you find out the guy in your neighborhood bought the same MR2 at the same dealer and his turbo actually works. Its like WTF??? The guy is ranting I love my MR2 and not all MR2's are the same. And another guy with a faulty MR2 is also saying "its ok I dont use the turbo that much anyways" ... hehehehe.. Sorry just had to add.
Here's another idiot question, is GPS a subscription service?
No. As long as the device you have has a GPS receiver all it needs is a navigation software. The prime has a built in GPS receiver and has a navigation app so in theory it should lock on to satellites without the help of a wifi connection. But due to whatever Asus did to the prime, whether the aluminum case or firmware. The prime is a hit, or somewhere in the middle, to a complete miss in getting a lock on a satellite. Thus making the prime's GPS way below other devices with a GPS receiver and made Asus remove it from their specs.
ddelong22 said:
So this may be a stupid question from someone who isn't an advanced tablet user, but why is the GPS so important to so many people? If I need a GPS to get somewhere, I use my phone or GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think a little, then you will know:
1. Not everyone has GPS in their phone. Buying phone with GPS = additional cost.
2. Dedicated GPS devices have often outdated maps because they lack internet connection and buing one = additional cost.
3. Tablet has enormous screen, great for using navigation while being a passenger (you hold the tablet in your hands, look at maps or use navigation) - the screen is much bigger and better than most phones (I for one have very basic phone because I have tablet for more advanced things).
4. Tablet has a great battery life - it's perfect for out-of-car navigation (trips on foot, on a bike) and for tracking GPS for your photo camera on any type of trips.
5. GPS is usefull not only for navigation. Simple thing like having Google Maps locate you is very useful, but also webpages and many fun application use it. Just search the market for GPS, you will find a lot of useful applications of your tablet with GPS.
6. For instanced where your tablet gets stolen GPS can help you locate it.
I think I missed some things, because I'm writing this list second time, from what I remember...
My Prime's GPS doesn't work at all...with or without wifi.
any one esle experience this? I searched before i posted this. Mods please delete and guide me to a thread if its been created.
anyone?
Try this
Credits to MobileTechReview and Lisa and pdagal (saw this on youtube, so I'm not sure where the original thread is.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgx2Kpfi-Ps&feature=relmfu
Haven't tried this out because I don't own this device. What am I doing here??? Who knows.
I experiend this problem with my Prime too. I used GPS Test, w/ or w/o wifi indoor and I get not signal.
Yeah I did too, took it back got another one with mediocre GPS which pretty much is the best you can get. The perfect working prime does not exist, some people will say they have it but they will also say they don't care about GPS. lol
Good luck hope u can still exchange the thing.
you probably have a terrible connection to the gps antenna. my bet is if you go for a drive and point your TFP out the window for 10 mins you might pick up five sats with bad SNR. exchange it!
Try this for GPS...
I am using this on my android phone: GPS 2 Bluetooth v.2.2 by
cajax
And this on the tablet: Bluetooth GPS by Googoo Android
Download from Android Market and follow the directions and you will get full GPS,,,,especially in the house or car with phone close to window
Settings
-on tablet and phone make sure in Development the Allow for mock locations is checked
-on the Bluetooth GPS by Googoo Android app on tablet check mark in settings "Use insecure connection"
Yeah... there is a billion threads on this forum about GPS problems. Mine is non-existent as well.
I was told that it worked for some people before the firmware / ICS upgrade. But if you are looking for GPS, I would highly recommend you take the Prime back and get something else... because Asus pretty much removed that feature off the spec sheet and stated that "it's not designed to be a professional GPS device"
I am on my 3rd prime before I could see any satellites with mine. Here is a video of one working and one not working.
My GPS worked one time, one night. It never worked before or since. So yes, my WiFi is basically dead on arrival and is completely useless and non functioning.
I finally decide to return mine for a fix, Asus sent me the RMA infomation.
I am kinda disappointed in Asus tranformer prime I have been waiting for it more than a year, else I could have iPad 2.
my case: the GPS work out for the couple of first time OUTdoor only. Then after I update to ICS, GPS was stopped working on both w/ or w/o WIFI, outdoor or indoor.
I also the Wifi was having some issues too, the signal was always week, the further you get from the access point, it is likely you want have wifi...where my iPhonw 4 is working at the same distance....
doeboy711 said:
I am on my 3rd prime before I could see any satellites with mine. Here is a video of one working and one not working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, interesting. When you consider the Prime's only been out a little over a month so h/w should be the same and they're all running the same s/w there shouldn't be huge differences between them. Out of curiousity, do they perform differently with Wi-Fi also?
BarryH_GEG said:
Wow, interesting. When you consider the Prime's only been out a little over a month so h/w should be the same and they're all running the same s/w there shouldn't be huge differences between them. Out of curiousity, do they perform differently with Wi-Fi also?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had good wifi on all three. Using speed test app on both my phone and the prime, they both pulled almost identical speeds all over my house. The first one had the serial # unkown issue, gps not working at all and screen bleed. The second one also had screen bleed and no gps found. The third one is a keeper, so far everything works out great. It sucks that I got used to the other 2 primes, customized it and then had to return it. But now, since I have a keeper, I am really going to customize the hell out of it lol.
A lot of the wifi problems I had when I first got the Prime eroded away. Mainly it was Wifi and Bluetooth pair problems, but after nearly a month with the Prime I find that I've been Bluetooth pairing and viewing Hulu+ (hacked) / Netflix without issues.
My GPS isn't prefect, but it works enough where I'm not planning to RMA (or return my Prime) because of it.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
whoa... alot of posts!
i dont plan on sending it back, i can live without gps, ill rather use it on my phone.... and the wifi is working fine... just find it a bit weird that it didnt work at all!
worst way for any company to start a top line item... if this worked perfect, imagine how many more sales they would of done... so sad
I have an RMA to send my unit back to Asus and before I do I would like to get a general idea of GPS functionality over a broader user group. If I think that I can get one with usable GPS I will do the RMA.. Thanks.
GPS is *bad*
Sid_Daley said:
I have an RMA to send my unit back to Asus and before I do I would like to get a general idea of GPS functionality over a broader user group. If I think that I can get one with usable GPS I will do the RMA.. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will never get one with GPS that functions *well*. They made the GPS kit to "fix" the GPS problem, but I dont think you can order it any more. You might look around on here to see if someone is selling/giving theirs away.
tl;dr; I wouldn't count on getting one where GPS functions like you want.
I just received a gps kit from Asus even though the offer is expired and my tablet was purchased as a refurb 2 weeks ago all I did was sign up for one and 4 days later it was at my door completely free of charge. Follow the steps here event.asus.com/ASUSPad/TF201GPS/ hopefully they send one out to you as well.
I have the dongle as well, but it doesn't really get a GPS lock with it. I wonder if the further north you are the harder it is for reception?
SD
The answer for me has allway been simple, use a bluetooth gps device. They are small, cheap and vastly more efficient than any built in GPS whatever tablet you have. You can place it in an optimum place, be it your pocket or the corner under the windscreen and you can still charge your Prime. It updates my position faster than my wife's Tomtom. The downside is wifi is compromised by the bluetooth but since I never use wifi while on the move, it makes no difference to me.
Sid_Daley said:
I have the dongle as well, but it doesn't really get a GPS lock with it. I wonder if the further north you are the harder it is for reception?
SD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would that matter? anyway, i get a lock that's adequate for Google Earth and Flightradar24, that's good enough for me:good:
PS: That's indoors (upstairs flat) without using the dongle.
Migman said:
Why would that matter? anyway, i get a lock that's adequate for Google Earth and Flightradar24, that's good enough for me:good:
PS: That's indoors (upstairs flat) without using the dongle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cant even get 1 satelite and the dongle only gets me 1.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
ian1 said:
I cant even get 1 satelite and the dongle only gets me 1.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought mine earlier in the year and got the dongle. It's pretty good in terms of reception, at least in my area (south Israel): I got more locks with it than I had with my cellphones before. That said, the device itself is quite a nightmare to operate: you attach it to the bottom part of the tablet and it completely obstructs the docking port, giving you no way to charge the tablet until it's removed. Of course if you have a case/enclosure for your tablet, taking it out constantly is very inconvenient, making things even more annoying, but from what I can see, it does give you GPS...
As for the built-in GPS - it receives absolutely nothing. For people who hope to get at least one unusable satellite in an open field on a clear day: forget about it! I tried to get into the open as much as I could and there was zero reception everywhere. Short of taking a Shuttle right next to that GPS satellite or modding your expensive tablet with antenna strips made out of tin foil or something (which I saw a person on YouTube do), you won't be receiving anything at any time through the built-in GPS module...
TF201 GPS Remedy
If you're still having GPS problems with your TF201 and have root access, download TF201_External_GPS.zip and flash it in recovery or with GooManager, etc. My GPS was dead with or without the dongle, and after flashing that file the GPS reception in my TF201 is just as good as it is in my Samsung Galaxy S2 phone. There is a TF201-GPSTweaks.zip that you can try as well, but I didn't notice a difference with that.
alexmojo said:
If you're still having GPS problems with your TF201 and have root access, download TF201_External_GPS.zip and flash it in recovery or with GooManager, etc. My GPS was dead with or without the dongle, and after flashing that file the GPS reception in my TF201 is just as good as it is in my Samsung Galaxy S2 phone. There is a TF201-GPSTweaks.zip that you can try as well, but I didn't notice a difference with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ordered the GPS dongle last week from their site in received it today but I also bought the prime 3 weeks agoeither way GPS works the same with or without it for me
I haven't rooted yet but I will be, do you have a download link for TF201_External_GPS.zip..
Thanks
alexmojo said:
If you're still having GPS problems with your TF201 and have root access, download TF201_External_GPS.zip and flash it in recovery or with GooManager, etc. My GPS was dead with or without the dongle, and after flashing that file the GPS reception in my TF201 is just as good as it is in my Samsung Galaxy S2 phone. There is a TF201-GPSTweaks.zip that you can try as well, but I didn't notice a difference with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my transformer tf 201 work very well with bluetooth gps reciever
I just buy bluetooth gps reciever 'CoPiloT' about GBP 15, it work very well . I can use SYGIC NAVIGATION so smooth .