Does gps work outside of US?

thebigthn · #1 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010, 02:21 AM

Hi everyone, I am from the states but I'm currently on vacation in the philippines.

So I have google maps and bing installed on my phone, but I can't seem to get a lock on gps for my location. I'm not connected to any networks, but I'm connected via wifi. Also, quickgps downloads just fine, even though I don't know if that means that I have a gps signal exactly.

Any thoughts?

ark123 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010, 04:35 AM

As far as GPS signal goes it's everywhere.
Why you can't get lock is really unknown, but most likely reason is you can't get AGPS to function.
TP GPS is well known as a very ordinary device. Without AGPS functioning I might have to wait for an hour to get some lock happening.

P.S. Quick GPS is just to download the latest sattelites data based on your location. When you are connected via wifi try to update weather and see if that updates your location as well. Then run quick gps again to get sattelites relevant to your location.

thebigthn · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010, 08:24 PM

yeah, my weather function won't update either. Does that mean that I'm not getting a gps signal then?

studentjunk · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2010, 09:59 PM

GPS is VERY slow overseas. I don't understand how it works. When I was in Portugal, I used GPS test, and it took about 20-30 minutes to get a lock. I don't remember it working any faster on repeated attempts.

ark123 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2010, 04:50 AM

As I mentioned earlier, without AGPS functioning the TP will take ages to lock as it will rely on the actual GPS chip only.
When you are at home, your AGPS function will get information from at least three cell phone transmitters to get your location lock. After that the phone GPS chip will kick in and AGPS will turn off.
For the AGPS to function you need to have your phone connected to one of the cell phone providers (as I understand OP doesn't use them at all, so he has no hope in getting AGPS to work). Also the cell phone network provider you use should have AGPS data transmitted, which I doubt is available everywhere yet.

thebigthn · #6 (**permalink**) 07-11-2010, 05:40 AM

Okay, I got google maps and bing to work by standing outside and waiting for 10 minutes. But my weather location still doesn't work.

Yeah, I didn't connect to any network providers since I didn't want to be roaming, only to my internet wifi. Thanks for your help!