I go out on BLM land with my brother in law sometimes and I was thinking of using my phone as a GPS device with Google Maps/Earth.
The only real problem with this is that most of these areas have no/intermittent phone service. If I leave my phone on it will search for service constantly and burns through the battery very quickly.
Is there any way to turn the cell service off but leave the GPS functionality on, which should still allow me to use maps, etc?
with google maps you will need an internet connection(also requires cell connection)
mdram-omnia said:
with google maps you will need an internet connection(also requires cell connection)
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Wow, my 3 cups off coffee must not have been enough for me this morning lol. That was a pretty dumb question haha.
A quick google search leads me to believe that you can get offline maps on your phone that use GPS data.
So I think my question still remains if you can turn the cell service off and still have GPS?
astraelraen said:
Wow, my 3 cups off coffee must not have been enough for me this morning lol. That was a pretty dumb question haha.
A quick google search leads me to believe that you can get offline maps on your phone that use GPS data.
So I think my question still remains if you can turn the cell service off and still have GPS?
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Click to collapse
my assumption is yes, it works on other phone this way
but also remember all that time with the screen on eats up the battery on most phones
http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-eTrex-GP...0474646749?pt=GPS_Devices&hash=item43a1a35cdd
astraelraen said:
I go out on BLM land with my brother in law sometimes and I was thinking of using my phone as a GPS device with Google Maps/Earth.
The only real problem with this is that most of these areas have no/intermittent phone service. If I leave my phone on it will search for service constantly and burns through the battery very quickly.
Is there any way to turn the cell service off but leave the GPS functionality on, which should still allow me to use maps, etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a very good question. Nobody outside Verizon really knows for sure what the Fascinate's location and settings do. The three labels under Settings -> Location & Security seem to have been made up by marketing dweebs, and not defined and do not correspond to the settings on other Galaxy S phones.
Further, on other Galaxy S phones, controlling the detailed settings of the GPS/aGPS is not done from that main Settings menu at all, but from the menu of a hidden app that can usually be invoked by a dialer code. But no one I know of has ever discovered such an app on the Fascinate. On most other Galaxy S variants, the hidden app that controls aGPS settings is called LbsTestMode. The new Sprint Epic has a different but similar app called GpsSetup. Because these system apps are hidden, they do not show up on the usual tools listing end-user apps. But their .apk files would show up to a rooted user or in a system dump.
Most older Galaxy S phones default to Standalone mode. The Epic defaults to MS Based mode. The Fascinate default is really unknown.
It may be possible to access the hidden GPS menu, if any, without the secret dialer code. If anyone has a rooted phone, they can look to discover if there is an .apk file named LbsTestMode.apk (the name for the app on most Galaxy S models) or GpsSetup.apk (the name for the new app on the Sprint Epic.)
If either of those hidden system app files is present, it can probably be run by setting up a direct shortcut using a third-party launcher utility such as LauncherPro or ADW. If there is no such app, that would also be worth knowing.
It is not necessary to have a rooted phone to run the hidden app.
FWIW, I have tested the Sprint Epic's GPS in Standalone mode in West Texas, far from any network coverage. It captured the tracks quite well for subsequet display in other software, demonstrating that the underlying GPS works well. I did not have any apps loaded with locally cached maps, so I could not see maps in real time.
You should be able to disable the other radios on the phone to conserve battery, but the GPS radio itself is power-hungry if run all the time.
Related
New to the forums, and betting this is a stupid Question, but I was wondering if there was anyway to tap into the GPS locater(built in for emergency calls such as 911) and use that for a GPS application, If the Wizard even has one built in, I would imagine that it does, but anways wondering if its possible, and if anyone has any incite into how to use this/turn it on?
There's no GPS in the wizard.
markgamber said:
There's no GPS in the wizard.
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Emergency services can locate your phone fairly accurately using triangulation from the gsm phone masts, using network data. There was a company selling a tracking service such as this for mobile users a while back, but I forget the details.
yeah ran into that service a while back, but the main way to get to it was to buy two handsets and pay for their cheap data service and put the other handset in someones car or whatever and use the 1st handset to track them...
I think that navizon.com has a program like that. theres a trial version for free. Doesnt google maps also use that technology?
hmm try google map 2.0 they show u wat ur location is without GPS
try http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=349188
I've tried both of these apps and both aren't worth a crap to me. They get my location in the right state, heck even the right city...almost. But I can't get it to be consistent let alone even half right.
I tried em both out and would like to know what I have been doing wrong since everyone else says that they are "great."
Thanks,
Ivan
It's already been said, but get Google Map 2.0...I installed it a few days ago, and it's not bad. I'm usually within 2000ft. of the calculated location.
Bad Karma said:
I've tried both of these apps and both aren't worth a crap to me. They get my location in the right state, heck even the right city...almost. But I can't get it to be consistent let alone even half right.
I tried em both out and would like to know what I have been doing wrong since everyone else says that they are "great."
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Click to collapse
The only thing you did wrong was expect triangulation to work like you're watching CSI. In the real world, there is signal bounce, interference from trees, buildings, and other radio transmissions, and a whole host of other nameless error-creating problems. Radio triangulation is severely limited, but considering this sort of feature wasn't even available as a free application (much less being built into a mapping software as robust as GMaps) until VERY recently, it's pretty good, if you don't have GPS. You can buy a dongle to attach to your MDA, or you can suck it up, and deal with generally inaccurate location.
Trying it again...I thought that I had 2.0 but maybe not...I'll let you know either way how it comes out this time.
-Ivan
Ok much better...however it is still like 4 miles!!! off.
Does it update when in travel or how/when will it become more accurate??
Thanks agian,
Ivan
Google Maps 2 has "My location"
I dunno if you knew but Google Maps has been updated now and it offers My location - which is pretty close what GPS does. It gets your position through cellular towers and then it locates you within half a mile if I'm not mistaken...
Try it and c if it works 4 u
Myrddin Wyllt said:
It's already been said, but get Google Map 2.0...I installed it a few days ago, and it's not bad. I'm usually within 2000ft. of the calculated location.
The only thing you did wrong was expect triangulation to work like you're watching CSI. In the real world, there is signal bounce, interference from trees, buildings, and other radio transmissions, and a whole host of other nameless error-creating problems. Radio triangulation is severely limited, but considering this sort of feature wasn't even available as a free application (much less being built into a mapping software as robust as GMaps) until VERY recently, it's pretty good, if you don't have GPS. You can buy a dongle to attach to your MDA, or you can suck it up, and deal with generally inaccurate location.
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Click to collapse
Actually google maps DOES NOT use triangulation..it will just show ur position based on a single cell tower and the signal strength being calculated by your phone..
So I tried my Google Maps 2.0 on the fly today...
It told me that it wouldn't work because I did not have a "data connection" and that I needed to contact my "service provider" to be able to utilize that function... (Or some crap like that)
What am I doing wrong now??
Thanks guys,
Ivan
It looks like Google forced OEMs to ditch Skyhook, and, affording to this article, Samsung was involved. I wonder if Samsung scrambled to put together a quick fix before releasing the Galaxy S and this could explain the AGPS issues.
http://i.engadget.com/2010/09/17/skyhook-google-forced-motorola-to-drop-our-location-service-de/
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Isnt skyhook disabled by default? So how would this affect the GPS?
KerryG said:
Isnt skyhook disabled by default? So how would this affect the GPS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/17/skyhook-google-forced-motorola-to-drop-our-location-service-de/
Following that, Skyhook claims that Google then went after an unidentified "Company X" (likely Samsung) and forced it to drop XPS as well -- which would certainly explain why Samsung's Galaxy S phones have WiFi positioning turned off by default, unlike every other Android phone. Ouch.
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Skyhook is absolutely 100% unnecessary for a properly functioning gps. It has nothing to do with the problems on the Galaxy S devices.
Sent from Samsung Vibrant
Just turn it back on. Go to *#*#1472365#*#*, application settings, scroll down to skyhook, select on. Then wifi positioning/AGPS should be on now. Its a shame its off by default.
Sent from my messenger rabbit
so what is this going to change if i enable skyhook?? should I enable skyhook??
Not sure if this is the same for everyone, but I can't seem to access the GPS settings using the *#*#1472365#*#* command - not sure when it started, but the one thing I did do between the last time I accessed the service (a few weeks back) to now is flashing the leaked firmware. Anyone else with this issue? I found the noted article yesterday and wanted to check to see if the Skyhook option was still there, and, of course, I can't tell.
courtmagician said:
Not sure if this is the same for everyone, but I can't seem to access the GPS settings using the *#*#1472365#*#* command - not sure when it started, but the one thing I did do between the last time I accessed the service (a few weeks back) to now is flashing the leaked firmware. Anyone else with this issue? I found the noted article yesterday and wanted to check to see if the Skyhook option was still there, and, of course, I can't tell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That dialer code invoked a hidden app called LbsTestMode. The dialer code no longer works in the leaked ROM, but the hidden app is still there. It can be accessed by the workaround explained here, which does involve installing LauncherPro and setting up a shortcut.
Maybe Samsung rushed to market without thoroughly testing the GPS on the Galaxy phones after being told not to use Skyhook. It could have been integrated into their existing firmware. I don't know; I could be completely wrong on this, but I'm just throwing it out there to see what others think. I also can't access the GPS service menu on the new firmware. I haven't had major GPS issues to tell you the truth, but my brother has to launch GPS test to make his maps work on his Epic.
cthach11 said:
Just turn it back on. Go to *#*#1472365#*#*, application settings, scroll down to skyhook, select on. Then wifi positioning/AGPS should be on now. Its a shame its off by default.
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Click to collapse
Skyhook has nothing to do with aGPS. It is a non-GPS method of location service based on a map of all the WiFi routers and access points out there. The Skyhook company has a bunch of people who wardrive and collect the data to populate its database, then offers the service to carriers for a fee.
However, the same hidden utility (LbsTestMode) whose menu can be used to enable Skyhook also can be used to enable aGPS. Selecting MS Based mode instead of the default Standalone mode is what would do that. This controls the operation of the satellite based GPS, accelerating the download of certain satellite data over the network. It is entirely independent of Skyhook.
Enabling MS Based aGPS makes obvious sense. It is an established industry standard for GPS operation on cellphones. The merits of Skyhook are another question, and I don't really have an informed opinion.
Thanks for the link. You can actually do the same thing in ADW (which is what I use), just choose "Custom Shortcut" and then "Activities" and you can scroll don to LbsTestMode. I like it when solutions are right in front of my face
So do you need to leave your WiFi on all the time when enabling Skyhook? That would drain your battery even faster...
courtmagician said:
Thanks for the link. You can actually do the same thing in ADW (which is what I use), just choose "Custom Shortcut" and then "Activities" and you can scroll don to LbsTestMode. I like it when solutions are right in front of my face
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this, never knew I could do that with ADW
I've always had Skyhook turned off and yet when connected to my WiFi network I get a highly accurate position, even with GPS turned off. Thoughts?
jjohns63 said:
I've always had Skyhook turned off and yet when connected to my WiFi network I get a highly accurate position, even with GPS turned off. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your position would be coming from your GPS or from cellphone tower triangulation, depending on your other settings, whether you use WiFi or not.
Skyhook would looking for all the other WiFi locations around you that are in its database. Those locations might include your local WiFI router along with everyone else's if Shyhook's wardivers found it. But Skyhook would not actually connect to those WiFi sources. It would only detect them.
boomerbubba said:
Your position would be coming from your GPS or from cellphone tower triangulation, depending on your other settings, whether you use WiFi or not.
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Click to collapse
I know this is not the case as the accuracy circle in maps covers maybe half a block, not a mile. As I said, I had disabled the GPS, and cell tower triangulation is not that accurate, especially where I am with low signal.
Skyhook would looking for all the other WiFi locations around you that are in its database. Those locations might include your local WiFI router along with everyone else's if Shyhook's wardivers found it. But Skyhook would not actually connect to those WiFi sources. It would only detect them.
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Click to collapse
This makes sense because I tested it today without actually connecting to a network and it still found my location to the same "wifi accuracy". I had turned on Skyhook for this test. However, I'm still wondering how it was able to find my location with Skyhook turned off.
Skyhook is one company providing a service of mapping access points to locations. Google uses their own - probably picked up from Google maps car.
If you have "use wireless networks" checked under GPS - it will use this other provider (probably google) and not skyhook.
Ive turned skyhook on and off in testmode as well as trying other settings, gps is still bag of suck.Frankly i get better results with it on. Marginal though.BTW.use the lbs test mode app. It'll save you alot of headaches.
Vibrant vibrating nicely now,Kthx!
I'm in South Florida and when I update weather or location in maps, half of the time it will say I'm in Wilson, OK. My dad just got the MT4G and his does the same thing.
Any ideas? Thanks. (We both have 2.2.1 and latest updates on everything).
How is your location being determined? GPS? Mobile networks?
Usually mobile network, but I think its happened with GPS too. However, once I need to get directions from Google Navigate, it gets the right location. But until then, my weather is wrong, latitude will be wrong, etc.. I usually keep GPS off until I need Navigation.
That's definitely odd. Yeah, I keep my GPS off pretty much all the time - unless an app requests it on-demand. My weather is always found, perfectly. What's interesting is that it's happening on both your and your dad's phone. To me, that almost seems like the tower it's connecting to.
Shoot, it could even be a "bug" in the HTC weather app/widget that based on certain location data, it displays a completely different value (city). I'm only speculating.
If it was just your phone, I'd be inclined to say there is a hardware issue. I have had 3 MT4G's in my hands + my fiancee's and none of them have ever once experienced any issue such as this.
Possibly anything to do with the APNs (Access Point Names)? Check Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile networks > Access Point Names. As far as I can tell, this is supposed to be set to T-Mobile Data.
Sorry I can't be of more help!
I know, weird. And we are on T-Mobile Data for the APN... Maybe it is the tower... ?
I have the SAME issue, it isn't as drastic, but everytime I try to go into "Maps" application to search for stuff in my location, it "finds" me at a place I haven't been for like a week, however... again, as soon as I use my turn by turn, it locks onto where I am and gives me legit directions...
My MyTouch 3G did that, said I was on the other side of the state. It probably has to do with the tower you're hooked into, because mine would only do it at work, not at home.
On the Fascinate, there are 3 locations options:
1. VZW location services
2. Standalone location services
3. Google location services
Is there significant battery use in the background associated with location services being on when I am NOT directly running a location-based app (i.e. maps)?
In a word: absolutely!
Sent from my SuperClean'd SGS
Which ones are the worst culprits? Is google's a particularly bad battery-sucker? I like having that stuff enabled, but I'd also like to have battery life be decent...
From what people are finding they all contribute & so far performance has been somewhat subjective to area. It seems that the stand-alone & the google services generate more drain for most. Apparently the gps toggle on the shade is for stand-alone.
Sent from my SuperClean'd SGS
Can someone explain the differences between the three options and the benefits of them?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Starting with DL30 and EB01, I found there is an unholy relationship between WIFI sleep and Google location services. My phone idle screen-off battery usage stinks with WIFI enabled regardless of WIFI sleep policy... that is unless I disable Google location services. Note I leave mobile data enabled and have no background apps using gps or data.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Now that you have mentioned this, I am also now curious as to what the differences between the three are in terms of battery usage and general functionality. All three seem to lock my location almost instantly when I open Google Maps but if one of them works just as well but uses less battery well that's a no brainer.
Side note, I almost never have GPS turned on. The only exception is when I'm driving somewhere unfamiliar and need directions.
1. VZW Location services aid Bing, and other Verizon branded apps use whatever means are available to help aid your autonomous GPS unit lock on a fix. Its a form of aGPS in a sense. If you use Bing, or VZ Navigator (which if you do, something isn't quite right with you....) it will use cell tower triangulation to approximate your location, to which it feeds to the GPS chip in hopes it may lock onto you faster. From what I've seen, it DOESN'T use WiFi to help locate a person, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.
2. Standalone implies the autonomous GPS chip thats located in your phone. This is what the GPS toggles toggle. If you disable this, forget trying to have an accurate location. However, I have noticed that when used only when needed, and turned off the rest of the time, garners great battery life, for me anyway.
3. Google uses both WiFi AND cell triangulation to lock onto your relative position, while waiting for an actual GPS fix. And this options enables this on all Google apps (Maps, Browser, Search, etc)
I leave Google search on and since I don't ever have WiFi on unless I need it for something, I see no ill effects on battery life.
Hope this helps.
Lately my phone has been showing my google results in the wrong location. For example if I search for California Pizza Kitchen instead of showing the closest ones to my location (San Fernando Valley/Los Angeles) it shows me in Moreno Valley. This is true for everything that requires location including Google Maps EXCEPT when I use the turn by turn navigation the location corrects itself in Google maps but not anywhere else. This has become extremely annoying when searching for local businesses. I know this probably isn't specific to the S5 but need some help to rectify this. Thanks in advance.
Anybody?
I know this is going to sound far fetched but do you have WeatherBug installed on your device?
c4manceph said:
I know this is going to sound far fetched but do you have WeatherBug installed on your device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope
WeatherBug was causing this issue for me and a simple uninstall /reinstall resolved the issue.
Perhaps you have a similar issue with one of your apps causing the issue.
I'd check apps that use your location as a possible culprit.
armeN0317 said:
Lately my phone has been showing my google results in the wrong location. For example if I search for California Pizza Kitchen instead of showing the closest ones to my location (San Fernando Valley/Los Angeles) it shows me in Moreno Valley. This is true for everything that requires location including Google Maps EXCEPT when I use the turn by turn navigation the location corrects itself in Google maps but not anywhere else. This has become extremely annoying when searching for local businesses. I know this probably isn't specific to the S5 but need some help to rectify this. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you stock or root? Is it with the GPS on or network? Are you the google location settings on always? I had map issues on the s4, we wound up on a back road that was about 20 miles away from where we were supposed to..but I've not had issues on the s5. I'm stock, use enable gps and google location when using. Have you tried clearing the cache & data from the Gmaps app?
alright so it's also happening to my wife's note 3 on verizon and she is totally stock nothing fancy at all. Could this be a carrier issue with towers or something?
armeN0317 said:
alright so it's also happening to my wife's note 3 on verizon and she is totally stock nothing fancy at all. Could this be a carrier issue with towers or something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like with what sainthooligan said, we need to know if you're using GPS or network to try and figure out what is happening. I personally havent had any problems with location. I use an app from the playstore called gpstest to keep my gps in check. You can clear and update the AGPS from the settings on that app.
warpedmind0u812 said:
Like with what sainthooligan said, we need to know if you're using GPS or network to try and figure out what is happening. I personally havent had any problems with location. I use an app from the playstore called gpstest to keep my gps in check. You can clear and update the AGPS from the settings on that app.
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Click to collapse
its in High Accuracy mode. I don't think its a location setting since she has a completely different phone and it's happening to her too.
armeN0317 said:
its in High Accuracy mode. I don't think its a location setting since she has a completely different phone and it's happening to her too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try ticking GPS only mode and see if there is a change. If there is a noticeable change then it my be a network issue.
warpedmind0u812 said:
Try ticking GPS only mode and see if there is a change. If there is a noticeable change then it my be a network issue.
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Click to collapse
Switched it to GPS only maps works fine but google search results still show riverside/moreno valley area. Also cleared cache and data on chrome and google search app.
armeN0317 said:
Switched it to GPS only maps works fine but google search results still show riverside/moreno valley area. Also cleared cache and data on chrome and google search app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For "google search results" do you mean where the location is displayed from in the the browser? This is relative to the ip address of your internet connection through your ISP or carrier (see attached screen shot).
if that isn't relevant to what you noted, have you checked your location settings under Settings > Location > My places to see if you have something in there that shouldn't be for home,work or car?
So I had some more time today to troubleshoot this issue more in depth and boy you will never guess what I found. So all my chrome settings all my locations settings are correct all that stuff is good. And guys keep in mind this is happening to 3 separate devices with separate owners and gmail accounts on the same verizon plan. Turns out the Verizon Provided Samsung Range Extender was the culprit. Soon as I unplugged the range extender the correct location for searches and everything else was there. Now after power cycling the Range Extender it refused to find a GPS location. My range extender is located on a window pane and the gps united is extended to the top of the window about 8-9ft from the ground (basically as good a placement as possible). I contacted verizon and after long conversations with different reps they finally agreed the range extender is the issue. I am waiting on their technical department to give the ok for them to replace my range extender (they still seem to think its possible they may have an issue or outage with range extenders in my area and want to eliminate that from the equation before proceeding). Man I really would hate to wonder how this would have been diagnosed with someone not as technically inclined as myself and without the outlet of this forum for advise. So basically waiting on big red to OK a replacement for me and go from there. I'll update this post soon as I get to that step.