Database Users

Navi using GSM Cell ID Info

Hi people,
Everyone is so excited with GPS navi solution, I was wondering if there is currently a software that allows basic navi using the Cell ID Broadcaseted from our current GSM network. I know that it may not be as accurate as a GPS navi system but it should be more that enough to tell the navi software to load the correct map and allow one to see what is around your area.
Well there are other advantages over GPS:
- Able to use the navi system undergound where GPS signal is not reachable. Eg, basement carpar, underground highways, etc. You will be able to use it whenever there is GSM coverage!
- No expensive GPS hardware required. The idealised situation is that the PDA is able to pair a bluetooth enabled handphone and the phone will feed the navi software with the current cell ID. If one have a XDA, that would be even better! You can then use your blue connection for your BT headset!
I have come across this software called Agis Navfone. Too bad it runs on Symbian Phones only... Does anyone out there have any ideal? If not, why not we can start some development in this direction? I'm a hobbist programmer, maybe someone can point to some info that shows me how to extract CellID in PocketPC. There's another what is to programme a virtual GPS device which will actually convert the CellID of the current network at translate it to something which most navi software will understand. THanks.

http://www.navizon.com/

TMC/Traffic information with Touch HD - possible?

Hi,
I wonder if someone has already tested if there is any navigation software able to implement TMC or TMC-alike traffic information with Touch HD, using either the integrated FM radio or getting the information through an internet connection or so. So far, I got very different information on this topic that always started with "I think it should work ..." or "I think it does not work ...". Does anybody know? Has anyone tried this?
I do not want to get an extra hardware TMC module.
Only if TMC can be integrated it would be possible to replace my existing PNA by the Touch HD ...
Thanks!
Eriol

Eriol said:
Hi,
I wonder if someone has already tested if there is any navigation software able to implement TMC or TMC-alike traffic information with Touch HD, using either the integrated FM radio or getting the information through an internet connection or so. So far, I got very different information on this topic that always started with "I think it should work ..." or "I think it does not work ...". Does anybody know? Has anyone tried this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anybody actually use TMC with the Touch HD?
Eriol

Garmin Mobile XT has free Traffic info in Europe - this product works fine with the HD.
TomTom Navigator 7 also has a chargeable traffic option, and works with HD.
Both get their traffic info via Internet Connection.

Read in other forums that IGo finds TMC hardware on the HD, but as of now cannot use it. Maybe it will be activated with later ROMs.

I can confirm that Garmin Mobile XT's free traffic information works well in the US, as well. It uses your data connection but it's quick even on Edge speeds.

You do get highways agency traffic speed info through the google maps app, FWIW.

Traffictv is a Mobile / PC or Laptop version of Trafficmaster that works very well on the Touch HD. I've just d/l the latest version straight to my HD and with the GPS, it also route follows.
Have a look at it. I've been subscribing for a few years now and it works very well. (Uses all those sensors you can see frequently laid in the tarmac on the Motorways and the Blue Cameras on A roads.)
£39.99 a year.
Would be perfect if one of the Nav kit manufacturers added it to their Sat Navs.

Have you managed to get Traffictv to work with other software yet, such as TT, Igo8 or Navigon?
thanks

RDS TMC iGO8

Hi,
A great achievement by the members who made TMC with iGO8 possible. It works fantastic.
However, I think there is one handicap to get the best out of it.
If you while driving leave (temporarily) the signal area of the FM-broadcast-transmitter, it takes iGO8 often a very long time to find an alternative TMC broadcast/frequency.
I think this is caused by not supporting a facility of RDS that is called Alternative Frequencies (AF) + Programme Identity (PI) code.
This supports the FM-tuner in finding - and switching to - an alternative frequency in a split second even of the same broadcast.
That way Traffic Information gets really up to date and much more realiable to drive on. Especially, when you have to decide in a short period which route to take, every minute without TMC counts.
My questions
1.Has anyone an idea if my assumption is right
2.If so what can be done to improve this matter?
So maybe we can make TMC from good to perfect (literally on the Touch)
I am very curious to your reactions.

As this has nothing to do with the Blackstone itself, you are posting in the wrong section. Report this issues in the thread you have the driver from, so the people contributing will notify it .

johnpatcher said:
As this has nothing to do with the Blackstone itself, you are posting in the wrong section. Report this issues in the thread you have the driver from, so the people contributing will notify it .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I think the question is if the FM-tuner, that is part of the Blackstone product-delivery is capable of RDS + AF + PI-support.
And if not: if and how that could be implemented. According to the information of HTC the Touch with te same processors does support this.
If this post still should be relocated please let me know.

[Q] Bluetooth function

i'm sorry if this question is vague.
I'm working on a app for work that needs to be kept classified until done if it can be done.
I was wondering if there is way to use the bluetooth function on the phone within an app. without having to root your phone.
it's hard to ask this question with out giving away the classified information.

http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/wireless/bluetooth.html
?

You can write code that sends and receives data over bluetooth if thats what youre asking. One example is handling the NMEA messages from a bluetooth GPS

do you think it would be possible to use a android phone as bluetooh headset?

Really depends on the phone and what you're connecting with. I'm not sure if a phone can receive A2DP connections, but it could be possible. Phones definitely can recive data connections over bluetooth, I just don't know enough about A2DP to know if the phone could work as a server for it. Someone else who knows more about A2DP maybe will know though.
It also could be possible to use something like SPP or RFCOMM.
Really, there isn't a good way to answer such a vague question.

sorry i have to keep it classified due to work, if it was a personal project i would give the full details of it.

Totally understandable I just wish I had a better answer for you.

thanks for your help i will keep researching looking the google information and etc

I think that if the Android libraries don't provide what you need (and I suspect they don't), then you are stuck, without root/SU.
I've developed an FM radio app that speaks to the FM chip via HCI, and spent a few weeks trying, but was unable to get raw HCI access except via existing command line utilities on the phone.

mikereidis said:
I think that if the Android libraries don't provide what you need (and I suspect they don't), then you are stuck, without root/SU.
I've developed an FM radio app that speaks to the FM chip via HCI, and spent a few weeks trying, but was unable to get raw HCI access except via existing command line utilities on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah that's what i was affraid of ...

[Q] BT Serial Port SPP (rfcomm) maybe someday?

I can't post this in development because I an still a nobody ...
Would it be possible to add in rfcomm for Bluetooth SPP serial port? The Nook would make a great tablet for telescope mount control over BT. You can't do it with the iPad due to the security around the BT stacks. It would also allow NEMA GPS modules to be read for different applications.
I'm running CM7 7.0.2 and this isn't yet available.
Just a dream?

Not sure if this is what you're talking about, but you can send the GPS data to the Nook form a GPS device like a Cell phone or GPS receiver. I use a stand alone GPS receiver and sometimes my Droid cell phone to send my location to the Nook to use CoPilot and Google Maps on the Nook. That's at least half of what you're talking about right?

Calla969 said:
Not sure if this is what you're talking about, but you can send the GPS data to the Nook form a GPS device like a Cell phone or GPS receiver. I use a stand alone GPS receiver and sometimes my Droid cell phone to send my location to the Nook to use CoPilot and Google Maps on the Nook. That's at least half of what you're talking about right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, you got me pondering...
I got out my trusty Garmin GPS 10 and I can pair but it's not connected. That could be for a couple of reasons (the Nook only connects on demand maybe.) But if what you are saying is correct, maybe it does support SPP since it uses a comm port for the GPS.
But, when I connected from my notebook and checked the services, SPP wasn't one of them (just OPEX and AD2P.) I will keep playing but I half expect that part of the SPP stack requirements are missing.
On the plus side, if the GPS will work too, that is a second plus since it's nice to be able to ask the GPS for the specific time and location during the telescope setup (it matters.)
I'll look for an app in the Market that might read an external GPS devices and show the location. I notice most apps are for reading the phone GPS (which we don't have.)
Thanks!

Android does not support SPP, but there are multiple apps in the market which do, Bluetooth GPS Provider is the one which I prefer as it works very well and just works no matter what.

Thanks folks,
I fired up the Garmin GPS 10 and it works using Bluetooth GPS. That means an application can add in the SPP. That is perfect and gives us hope!
I really appreciate the responses!

Awats said:
Thanks folks,
I fired up the Garmin GPS 10 and it works using Bluetooth GPS. That means an application can add in the SPP. That is perfect and gives us hope!
I really appreciate the responses!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, apps can directly talk with a Blutooth GPS. There are a handful which do this, or again, Bluetooth GPS Provider will provide the BT GPS to every app that asks for GPS.

This isn't only about GPS. GPS is just one aspect. I want to communicate with any serial device over BT. My understanding from reading it that rfcomm and the applications can supply that function.
What I did notice last night is that even without an application that supplies rfcomm, the Nook would still discover the devices unlike the iPad. I could pair to pretty much anything I wanted but it wouldn't connect. That's normal from my perspective.
At least I know it can be made to work.

khaytsus said:
Android does not support SPP...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the XOOM does at least. Not sure whether it was Motorola's or Google's doing though. I use a Bluetooth to Serial adapter from Roving Networks quite successfully with it. I'm unaware of any other devices that do it.

I agree that native Android doesn't support SPP but the rfcomm library does and if it's linked into the application, SPP works.
Now if I can only find a way to use VNC to control my PPC from the Nook without going through a remote server (maybe via adhoc or BT ...)

Any device at API level 5 (2.0) or above may support BluetoothSocket, RFCOMM and therefore SPP unless the OEM did something to screw it up.