Database Users

GPS

Hey guys, can someone confirm that when using the GPS function it does or does not use data plan? I know some phones such as the iPhone and Blackberry uses data for GPS, and I know the Touch HD is not required as it has the GPS receiver in the device. If someone can confirm this that would be appreciated.
Thanks

Hi!
No the phone has built in GPS Receiver

Awesome, I'm glad that they don't use data for the GPS function, that would be such a killer on data. Thanks for clarifying.

A GPS by definition must not use data. There are other methods of determining location besides GPS, but they are definitely not called GPS. Note that your device, though equipped with a GPS can ALSO use the cell network for finding its location.

So in the case of the iPhone 3g, what would you call that? My dad uses his "GPS" quite a bit but of course uses the data to download the maps. I'm assuming that the HTC Magic has the maps downloaded on the phone already therefore not needing data. Also when the cellphone uses the cell network to triangulate your position, that is not using data correct? I appreciate all the responses and clarification.
Thanks!

I have no knowledge or interest in apple junk.
However, you seem to be confusing the GPS with *what you do with* the data from the GPS. In your example, to me it sounds like it probably has a normal GPS that does NOT use data. GPS does NOT provide maps, pictures, or anything of the sort. GPS provides locational information by comparing the signals from several satellites to generate information like latitude, longitude, altitude, and bearing. This is all a bunch of numbers that the typical user won't be able to make much use of, so along with the GPS itself, you have some program that *does something* with the data. If you use google maps, then your phone will pull appropriate information from google's servers based on the information retrieved from the GPS. Another program that you could use, for example, is "gps status" (available on the market, use "gps status 2" for android 1.5 equipped devices), this will display the GPS information (and accelerometer) withOUT the maps/pictures/etc., and thus will NOT use any data from your data plan.
Regarding the cell tower location method... it doesn't use any data plan data, however, that does not mean that it is free.... check with your provider for specifics. Generally, cell tower location is crude whereas GPS is fine.
Does that help to clarify things?

Yes it does, thanks for your reply.

Other questions... CAn I use GPS software without Internet connection? Or I need all time internet to magic downlaod maps and info? It is any program Tomtom style for android? Thanks.

if someone has, or does release an application that contains its own map tiles, it will be entirely free to use, but will probably cost a fair amount to buy (the map tiles don't come cheap to the developers). Also I would expect such an app to be fairly large, and (if it does even fit) would eat up most or all of the 512 MB you can store your software in.
thinking about it, they could always give you an sd card with the maps and only have a fairly small app in the phone memory. although that's another matter
As long as an app uses google maps (or other online map resources), it will cost you data to use it.

[Q] what gps google ?

Hi guys I have just attempted to use the satnav installed on the MDJ 1.7 rom which I believe is google ? anyway I can get a gps lock by using gps-status then in the application it hangs on getting directions and will only work using the data connection any ideas ? or is there a better one ?

Just wondering fi tis fault with google or the GPS ? I can get lock so must be with the app ?
Oh it does work using data connection but no good in europe or USA.
I guess I could use WM just for SAtNav and copilot or tomtom but would be nice to have it all working.

AFAIK, it gets your location with GPS and then attempts to calculate the route, which requires a data connection. I'm not sure whether it needs the data connection after that or not, but I've driven 100's of miles using it and have never had the map stop moving or lose any information, so I don't believe it uses data during the journey. Maybe just a touch every now and then.
If it gets your location and then fails calculating your route then it suggests that there is an issue with your data connection.

johncmolyneux said:
AFAIK, it gets your location with GPS and then attempts to calculate the route, which requires a data connection. I'm not sure whether it needs the data connection after that or not, but I've driven 100's of miles using it and have never had the map stop moving or lose any information, so I don't believe it uses data during the journey. Maybe just a touch every now and then.
If it gets your location and then fails calculating your route then it suggests that there is an issue with your data connection.
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Ahh that makes sense now so it needs data connection to download the route data then you can switch it off.
Still bit crap when you are abroad because data charges are like £1 per mb or so.
So guess I may get co-pilot from the "market" which seams quite reasonable ?
Thanks.

about GPS works

I have an easy question about GPS, I am using Vibrant without network plan. So I don't know if I can use GPS with out any wifi or 3g? I am using the BV 1.3.1 now.. If that will work, how can I set up?

GPS uses military run satellites to determine you location. The network or data transfer is irreverent. Your GPS will work without network connection.
Now lets say you try to navigate to a location with Google maps. This will not work, although the phone will know your location it can not use the network to DL the maps nor calculate your route. If you use a nav app that store a maps on your SD card, then you'll be fine

SykesAT said:
GPS uses military run satellites to determine you location. The network or data transfer is irreverent. Your GPS will work without network connection.
Now lets say you try to navigate to a location with Google maps. This will not work, although the phone will know your location it can not use the network to DL the maps nor calculate your route. If you use a nav app that store a maps on your SD card, then you'll be fine
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+1 yup plus it will be slower

oka1 said:
+1 yup plus it will be slower
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It will be slower? The GPS navigate will be slower or the phone will be slower? much slower?

oka1 said:
+1 yup plus it will be slower
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Is there any nav app that we can't download free and store the maps in SD so that can navigate without network?

oka1 said:
+1 yup plus it will be slower
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pxc668 said:
It will be slower? The GPS navigate will be slower or the phone will be slower? much slower?
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I don't see how the phone would be slower, in any regard. It would not affect the phones processing speed, nor would the gps run slower. The only thing that could be slower is finding your location from a cold start, using network location can speed this, but imo it's irrelevant. Network location is too inaccurate for navigation.
There are some apps which store maps, but none that are free. Maybe someone else knows of one.

In my experience, GPS lock can be considerably slower without the network. The AGPS works by querying the network to get supplemental information like precise time and maybe ephemeris data (precise sat location) which can make a huge difference in acquiring lock. The phone is capable of acquiring lock without this network aid, but locks can take minutes, and accurate locks can take many minutes.
Of course, the other caveats about requiring off-line maps etc for navigation functions also apply.

I don't have a data plan either but my gps works just fine. It locks onto sats in about 10 sec.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=10488647
thats open source map app where u can drop locations to go turn by turn (initially the maps load over wifi, but u can choose to save them and save them according to the resolution. I live in Atlanta so i only saved the GA portion with a decent resolution, which is nice that i dont have to worry about downloading states ill never need).
i personally use copilot live more (about 1gb for USA maps with poi)
i forgot the price, but it is 100% worth it (almost better than my in car navi)
Running bionix btw if that helps with gps lockon timings
and dont forget to get apn droid from the app store to make sure it disables all cellular network data. only downside is that if you want mms then u have to turn it back on reboot and then download the mms then turn it off again, but i dont get many mms anyway so its ok.

Get CoPilot Live USA.
Its $5 on the market and it preloads the maps for the country on your phone. Works WITHOUT data and the interface is SLICK. Full 3D navigation with really good voice turn by turn.
One of the best purchases I ever made. Hope it helps you too
PS: Maps get updated about every month so they are always current as far as road names and points of interest. Note that since it isn't using any data and data triangulation, if it is the first time you use it after a phone reboot it will take up to 3-4 minutes to lock on. This is normal as it is the same if you try any 3rd party GPS receiver navigation system. Once you've used it once since the phone has booted up, lockon time will be under a minute.

proposed solution for gps issues

Hi guys, I've been working hard for a while trying to track down a work-around to get gps to work properly, I've been testing my idea for about a week now and its been 100% effective for me so far.
Back ground:- I've been messing with every rom and they all exibit the same issue, "no azimuth or elevation data" is being received from the satelites. Without this data no location can be caluclated.
I stopped using Zeubeas ICS for a while as I wanted to use what should be a perfect, stable rom, as good as zeubeas rom is I didn't feel it was stable enough for my testing, so I ended up choosing cyanogen 7.2.0 as my choice.
First thing to note is that I have found that "gps test" by chartcross or gps status & toolbox by mobiwia eclipsim don't seam to work properly, as in they are supposed to have the ability to clear the agps data stored on the phone but from my testing it dosn't work hence why I struggled for so long beleiving those apps worked. So I stopped using them compleatly.
I Did find an app that does seam to work for me, it is also called gps test, but it is by Mike Lockwood, it shows satalite azimuth and elevation data and also seams to clear the agps data correctly.
I also use a really neat gps app called AndroiTS Gps test free, it has a nice gui, shows satalite azimuth and elevation data and more and doesn't seam to cause any conflict with gps apps.
The test condidtions:-
GPS on
3G & wifi off
Open either androiTS or gps test (then menu and start gps)
Wait a while, if you see numbers in the azim & elev other than 0(zero) you should eventually get location lock I have found that it takes no longer than 5 minutes to get lock, outside in the open.
Ok so you don't see azim & elev data, here's what I do to get it going again
Gps on of course
3G and wifi off (don't want any data or anything just yet)
Open gps test
Menu
Select clear aiding data
Close down gps test
3G data on, wifi off (having wifi on doesn't seam to help)
Open gps test
Menu
Start
Hey presto I see azimuth and elevation data again
When I do this I get really quick gps lock
Another thing I have noticed if you do the clear aiding data with 3G data off and wifi off then start gps you won't see azimuth or elevation data.
I hope this helps all the others with gps issues, if your getting gps issues and you can see the azimuth and elevation data but no lock this solution "may" also help.
I have not yet tried this idea on any other rom, so I don't know if it works as it does for me using cm 7.2.0, that is on my "todo list"
Happy Gps'ing

Update to this discussion.
I have now tried zeubeas beta 4 and out of the box I get no azimuzh or elevation data, the method I put forth above unfortunately did nothing to rectify GPS data either.
Sent from my Legend using xda app-developers app

[Q] Can you run GPS without a data connection?

My old phone could not run GPS without a data connection and that sucked, massively when I was overseas.
Does anyone know if the Nexus 4 is the same way, or if there is a way to run GPS without a data connection?
Thanks!

I've never heard of a phone that didn't have a separate GPS radio. If like you say your old phone needed a data connection then that wouldn't have been true GPS and was probably using triangulation between cell towers for location and that's a different beast all together. On every android device I've owned since 2010, including the Nexus 4, GPS is a standalone feature.

Your question is confusing. If you're asking if you can use all GPS features without data, in other words navigation/etc the answer is yes. However, Google Maps does not support those features without an active connection, you will need to purchase or obtain a standalone GPS application for Android (Garmin for example has one).

GPS will return location data, but Google requires a data connection for directions. You can download maps for offline use in My Places, but you will still need data for routes and directions. You can buy offline Nav apps for total offline use (CoPilot is one of them).

You might want to check into Backcountry Pro if you're looking for 'offline' GPS support that also has to support things like topographic maps and way points (primarily for backpacking, hiking, and camping). You should check into something like Garmin's app if you need directions and road maps offline.