Database Users

Is using GPS free?

Hi, sorry if this sounds like a really dumb question, but I am thinking of getting TomTom Navigator for my XDA II and I just wanted to check if you have to pay each time you use GPS? Does it use your phone connection at all?
Thanks a lot

Yes it's free, there are no charges for reception of GPS signals. TomTom Navigator 3 has an 'optional' subscriber service which makes use of a GPRS Data Service to receive live traffic updates.
See http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/howgpsworks.php for a GPS primer.

more on GPS you can find from there
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cheers
Asihan

Thanks griffog, I thought it probably free was but just wanted to check before getting hit with massive GPRS charges!
Thanks a lot!

Do you have to have data plan for GPS?

I have T-Mobile USA. Can I use the GPS without a data plan?

What is meant by data plan ?

azahidi said:
What is meant by data plan ?
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Internet Plan
I only have a plan with minutes and no internet.

DanRo80 said:
Internet Plan
I only have a plan with minutes and no internet.
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Some GPS applications, e.g. Garmin mobile and many freeware GPS apps, do not require internet connection. Google maps mobile requires internet connection, of course.

azahidi said:
Some GPS applications, e.g. Garmin mobile and many freeware GPS apps, do not require internet connection. Google maps mobile requires internet connection, of course.
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And you are not able to use QuickGPS for faster detection of the satellites.
But I do not know if this is necessary/useful for these programs.

MvBoe said:
And you are not able to use QuickGPS for faster detection of the satellites.
But I do not know if this is necessary/useful for these programs.
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True that QuickGPS is supposed to assist in faster GPS detection. However I am not sure how much faster, I mean by how many seconds faster (no empirical measure). From my experience, satellite detection without QuickGPS updated for a few weeks, is still quite fast, a few ten seconds - but still dependant on the sky/cloud condition. I am talking from where I live - equatorial. I am not sure about north of the tropics (Europe and N.America)

A definite no!
You do not need a data plan to use the GPS! Depending on which cellular company you go with, some of their people will try to tell or sell you on a plan. You do not need it.
For WM 5 and above, it is recommended that you let WM manage your GPS for all programs. To do this go to the System Settings tab and select the External GPS app (why it is called external is beyond me). Then move through the tabs to configure the GPS. Ideally, use a port that is not in use. I typically use 9. Then click the box to have WM manage the GPS for all programs that need data from it.
Now, you just need software and there is plenty of free programs out. One utility I recommend is GPS Toggle (http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-gps-toggle.html ). This small Today screen plug-in will turn on the Jade GPS to quote warm it up for you. If the GPS has not been turned on in awhile, it can take up to 10 minutes or longer to have it lock onto four satellites which is what is considered necessary for satellite navigation (satnav). During this period, the satellites will use your time signal as one of the primary pieces of info to sync your GPS. Then based upon the positon of the satellites, they will identify your location. Once they have downloaded enough data to the GPS and are in sync, your GPS will become satnav capable.
Another app you might to look at is GPSToday (http://www.freewarepocketpc.net/ppc-download-gpstoday-v0-9.html#). I recommend setting this app as separate one and not a Today screen plug-in but that is your choice after reviewing what it is capable of doing. I love that it can geotag pictures taken by Jade which basically takes quote dumb or pictures that do not have typical computer info written into them. You can even use it to mark where you parked your car (at a stadium or large event), store the coordinates and have it navigate back to your car. Another good use is for geocaching.
These are just two small apps. What you really want now is iGO8 (highly recommended), TomTom or another commercial software program.
__________________
WM 6.5 HTC T3232 (clone)
running iGO8

Everywhere I look it seems that iGO8 is only for iPhone, but people say they are using it. I am also in the United States.

DanRo80 said:
Everywhere I look it seems that iGO8 is only for iPhone, but people say they are using it. I am also in the United States.
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If you look here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=472110&highlight=gps+software), it might give you an idea. iGo8 has been used on Jade.

azahidi said:
If you look here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=472110&highlight=gps+software), it might give you an idea. iGo8 has been used on Jade.
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Yeah, I was in there. It's just that the website said that it was for the iPhone and it looked like it was for Europe only. Nevermind, I am just dopey. I see that it is also for America and Canada.

No Data Plan - What Works?

With so many of the feature sets of phones geared to data plans, I'm a little concerned about how the HD2 will deal with features for someone like me who doesn't have a data plan because I'm out of data range 85% of the time. In looking at the manual, these items come to mind:
1. Update Weather Info Using Wi-Fi or ActiveSync Connection?
2. Using Footprints with GPS; No Data Connection?
3. Update Stocks Using Wi-Fi or ActiveSync Connection?
4. Navigation Using GPS Only; No Data Connection? Can Google maps be downloaded and used when no data connection is available?
I currently use a TyTN II that came with TomTom for navigation. Would my current version work on the HD2? If not, is there a software package for navigation that will work with the HD2?
Thanks in advance.
-Bob-

rebecker said:
someone like me who doesn't have a data plan because I'm out of data range 85% of the time.
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I don't get it - I have never encountered a situation where I would have voice service but no data - is it even possible?
Anyway, your #1 and #3 will work fine, don't know about Footprints - never used that, and Google Maps have cache, but you need to download the maps around your location at least once. Then if you want to zoom in/out or move away from the predownloaded area you'll need a data connection.
TomTom should work just fine - why wouldn't it?

vangrieg said:
I don't get it - I have never encountered a situation where I would have voice service but no data - is it even possible?
Anyway, your #1 and #3 will work fine, don't know about Footprints - never used that, and Google Maps have cache, but you need to download the maps around your location at least once. Then if you want to zoom in/out or move away from the predownloaded area you'll need a data connection.
TomTom should work just fine - why wouldn't it?
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I don't have a data plan because I'm outside the US 85% of the time. Too cheap to pay for a 'plan' when I'm in the US. Use a pay-as-you-go plan. No data available as far as I know. Has that changed??
Thanks for your reply.
-Bob-

vangrieg said:
TomTom should work just fine - why wouldn't it?
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Click to collapse
Screen resolution, maybe??

rebecker said:
I don't have a data plan because I'm outside the US 85% of the time. Too cheap to pay for a 'plan' when I'm in the US. Use a pay-as-you-go plan. No data available as far as I know. Has that changed??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, OK, I thought by "range" you meant "coverage". Haven't been in the US for 5 years, so don't know whether they have data service for prepaid packages. I'm sure somebody offered that when I was there, but I may be mistaken, can't be an expert on this issue for sure!
rebecker said:
Screen resolution, maybe??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HD2 has the same resolution as HD, so you will be fine I'm sure.

GPS and Weather...

To get GPS working on the HTC Touch 3G do you have to have an internet connection or can I just use it like I do with my SatNav system in my car?
Also, I read somewhere that the weather is updated by GPS but I can't seem to get that working. The manual seems to point at needing an internet connection!
Any help on this would be great!
Thanks.

1st question : Gps only needs a software like TomTom to run, no internet connection except if you want google maps.
2nd question : Weather needs a connection (either wifi or 3G) to update, it isn't updated by the GPS.

moedinha said:
1st question : Gps only needs a software like TomTom to run, no internet connection except if you want google maps.
2nd question : Weather needs a connection (either wifi or 3G) to update, it isn't updated by the GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, I used Google Maps and maybe that's why it asked me for a connection. Anyone have any ideas for the best mobile navigation software for the Touch 3G? I don't want something that will run so slow I can't use it. Something simple and fast would be good.
Thanks moedinha

quaium said:
Right, I used Google Maps and maybe that's why it asked me for a connection. Anyone have any ideas for the best mobile navigation software for the Touch 3G? I don't want something that will run so slow I can't use it. Something simple and fast would be good.
Thanks moedinha
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Click to collapse
Try Garmin Mobile XT. It's good.
have a look a this discussion http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=472110&highlight=gps+software

I agree with azahidi,
I've been using Garmin Mobile XT since the day I got my Touch 3G
I always get a satellite lock in under 10 seconds (just update QuickGPS)
I have Thailand and Philippines map installed

Google Maps are good and are free, also TomTom is a good recommendation.

TomTom and roaming

I have TomTom and 1 gb of Europmaps installaed and it works just fine.
But now im going on holliday and was thinking about using my HD2 and TomTom navigation. But is TomTom using data when showing you where to go?
I know that e.g. Googlemaps is using data to download maps as you go, but now that TomTom is using the 1 gb maps, is TomTom then also using data to work?
TomTom isn't working if you disable the phone in the Commanager.
So will it cost to use tomtom abroad?

Good question
I use Tomtom and I have used this with no available credit and not received any extra charges or anything
I would be interested to know why it needs the phone connected to a phone signal to actually work this is also the same with Garmin XT
I would think it would work while roaming without causing any additional charges to your phone but that is just a guess

the plot thickens
i just ran Garmin XT on the HD2
I first tried with flight mode and Garmin works fine
Removed the SIM card and Garmin still works
weird as I also have garmin xt on my HD as well and if I have no sim it wont work

Thanks ozmoran, il'l try and use Tomtom on my holliday and se if i get any big bill

Tomtom will not incur charges when roaming, if your worried just make sure your HD2 cant make an internet connection by installing something like nodata.
Iv noticed in flight mode that iGo8 and memory map both work fine however for some reason tomtom never does, iv never incurred charges though using tomtom while roaming.

the HTC has got a A-GPS chipset. That chipset uses the GSM network to get an estimate of the handset’s location down to cell/sector, therefore can predict with great accuracy the GPS signal the handset will receive. With this assistance the size of the search space is greatly reduced and the time-to-first-fix.
there is no charge for this.

petervgijn said:
the HTC has got a A-GPS chipset. That chipset uses the GSM network to get an estimate of the handset’s location down to cell/sector, therefore can predict with great accuracy the GPS signal the handset will receive. With this assistance the size of the search space is greatly reduced and the time-to-first-fix.
there is no charge for this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a thought should Tomtom work if AGPS is turned off?
and thanks for the info
much appreciated
dont worry i tried with location and same result
so if its more detailed Id rather not mess with it LOL

yea just takes a bit longer to get a fix. but apart from that it doesnt need to access anything unless you clicked on an update by mistake

TomTom uses no data for me. I used it when i was driving to Switzerland from Sweden. I just installed a nodata app to make sure it used no data for weather, emails and such.
I got no big bill when i got back home, except that the text messages and the calls was alittle more expensive than usual (duh?)