htc touch gps
 

i just got a htc touch phone.dose it have a gps system on it?

Re: htc touch gps
 

Not exactly a "gps system", but the Touch is GPS enabled, but also since you just got yours then the GPS is locked. To unlock it youcan either wait for the official update for the Touch or do as I did and use a custom ROM. Search the forums for custom ROMS and the detailed instructions on how to flash them on your phone.

Re: htc touch gps
 

thanks

Re: htc touch gps
 

Moved to Touch Forum.

late,
Coz

Re: htc touch gps
 

Yes and it will require u a data plan to use the gps function of your Touch.

Re: htc touch gps
 

Yes if you use google maps but not if you run Garmin/Tom Tom etc

Re: htc touch gps
 

Who else disagree that You need a data plan to use the GPS? i invite you to speak up. I will tell You why do U need the data plan to use the GPS.

Re: htc touch gps
 

You don't need a data plan to use GPS. They have nothing to do with each other

Re: htc touch gps
 

Ok I have 2 that disagree. Keep it coming. I will tell U need a data plan to use the GPS as navigation tool.

Re: htc touch gps
 

I will wait till tomorrow for all the people that believes that they do not need a data plan to use their phones GPS as navigation tool. I wanna put a stop on this debate coz people are misleading other people with wrong infos and beliefs.

Re: htc touch gps
 

how is it helpful if you have this revolutionary thought of how it uses a data plan. why not share and help us all out.

Re: htc touch gps
 

Ok if u insist. I want more people to read it though well anyways here's just a simple explanation why. Most of the phones that have GPS chip in it uses A-GPS technology. I know your familiar with that already. A-GPS has 4 types including the standalone. Standalone does not need a data plan. If u don't have AT&T tilt, moto Q9c and blackberry device, U don't have a standalone chip on ur phone. So for the rest of us, we will pay for data. U ask why do we need data? Well this is how it works. The GPS satellite will locate ur position. The satellite then communicate with cell towers about ur whereabout. Then the info will be processed at a nearby A-GPS servers. The A-GPS servers will then transfer the computed data to ur phone. Now you ask, Why does the A-GPS server do the computations? Because they have a significantly more powerful processors than ur phone.It's faster when they do the computations. And most importantly, To save your batery. It will drain your batery doing this calculations. Now U ask, So where the data plan comes in place. Here's your answer. How will the A-GPS servers transfer the DATA to ur phone? here are your options, Voice plan? text messaging plan? Or DATA plan? Now you tell me how to transfer Data to your phone if the answer is not in the 3 options? yah digg? if U do. Hit that T.

Re: htc touch gps
 

From my experience, some GPS proggies get a fix without data via the network. The chipset is detecting the radio signals from the satellites, and with 4 or more, you get a great triangulation from that alone. You then need the maps relative to that spot. If I have maps on my stoage card, (Garmin, IGO, TOMTOM) I can still navigate. For some unexplained reason last night, I couldn't get on the internet on my phone, but I was able to use tomtom. I know for a fact I was disconnected from any data that I get from my data plan.

EDIT: Oh yeah, these programs warn you when they want to connect to the internet for traffic updates or extras. They want to make sure you're ok with using your data plan or they say they say you can't use these features without a data plan. I think you may be right about AGPS, but it doesn't use your data plan, it uses the 3.37 (or other) radio's frequency and doesn't require DATA. it just has to read a frequency that is in the air. I can look at deatailed satellite info in IGO and its not telling me where the satellites are relative to the cell tower relative to me. Its not triangulating off of the cell towers. If it was, I'd never have a problem getting a GPS fix because I'm indoors. I'd have problems because I can't read 3-4 cell towers.

I'm new here, but not totally noob.

Re: htc touch gps
 

I forgot to mention, If your phone is navigating, U do not have access to the internet.it is being used by the GPS. That it the 3rd type of A-GPS which most of our phones have,Ur phone does not do any calculations at all. Phone GPS's are made that way. Carrier programmed it that way to nickel and dime as. I have a very strong proof about my explanation.

Re: htc touch gps
 

That's Bu&^%$#t. TomTom, and Garmin both connect to the internet while navigating for a lot of extras. While Navigating.. Also, see my edits in the above post. Hve you tried either? Tomtom would be the most concretre example, but Garmin too... google maps NEEDS the internet to get its map info I believe......,my not being able to connect had nothing to do with that. it was an odd anomoly.

Re: htc touch gps
 

third type of A-GPS
MS Assisted - Your handset is connected to the network, uses GPS signals + a location signal then relays its 'fix' to the server, which then uses the signal strength from your phone to the network towers to further plot your position. You can still maintain voice communication in this scenario, but not 'Internet/Network service' ie Web Browser, IM, streaming TV etc..

Re: htc touch gps
 

Ur garmin and tomtom software is utilizing the use of GPS chip that is why u can download stuffs that u need. Outside the GPS software u r using is not accessible

Re: htc touch gps
 

As for all u that don't know. The GPS chip on your phone was not made for navigation purposes. It is a requirement from e911. Cellphones has GPS chips in it eversince 2002. e911 requires that. But ur carrier locked it because it's not for u to use. It's for 911 to locate the distress call and relay it to the dispatcheer. When people found out about a GPS chip on the phone, They wanna use it as navigation tool coz it cool. GPS on my phone. Well tell you what. Who's gonna pay for the maintenance of the A-GPS servers that give u info if U use it for free? If U want a real GPS that does not need data plan, Buy garmin, tomtom magellan etc.

Re: htc touch gps
 

I'm pretty skeptical. Do you have anything to support your statements?

-GT

Re: htc touch gps
 

yes I do. But the thing is, This is not the right thread to post it though. I've researched this because people here are telling people the wrong infos. I will give one though.
http://www.nextel.com/en/services/gp...vigation.shtml
here is a link on sprint navigation software. You will see there what U need. data shared plan. I know ur next question. That is sprint software! I use tomtom garmin etc. software. Well, what method does ur tomtom garmin software does that is different with sprint software, That does not require U a data plan? This application is for GPS enabled phones including ur moguls.

GPS chipset required in device. (All Sprint phones sold since Jan 2002 have the GPS chipset. Contact your Sprint account representative for additional information.)
taken from:
https://sfl.sprintpcs.com/finder-spr...tm?question=34

Re: htc touch gps
 

If you can enable the GPS thru a custom rom then you would not need a data plan. If you wait for the official upgrade you will need to add either a data plan that includes GPS or a separate GPS add on thru sprint. Right now for that phone , there is no option available for either way, but I cant see sprint allowing GPS to function thru an upgrade without figuring out a way to make a buck. GPS cant be purchased thru sprint since they have very few non blackberry phones that have GPS. They have managed to bundle GPS in a vision plan with other goodies like TV, and music.....Mike ( sprint customer care rep )

Re: htc touch gps
 

I have the bell version of the HTC Touch with Garmin XT installed. Just spent a week in the far north where there is zero coverage, nothing. And I had accurate SAT. lock anytime I fired it up. After reading your post I put the phone in airplane mode then fired up Garmin, locked in under 2 minutes.

Re: htc touch gps
 

Mike, The custom rom that will enable the GPS came from leaked rom. it is not written on scratched. This came from the carriers itself. Carriers decide if U can use the full potential of the chip or not. And besides, All cell phone chips is A-GPS. There's nothing else. So eventhough u have enable it urself, U will only make it a standalone A-GPS. I list example of phones with standalone A-GPS capabilities on my earlier posts. This is not very good either coz the chip inside is weak. Most phones GPS chip are made by qualcom hence it's called GPS one. The only way U can Use a GPS chip without the help of a cell tower is the one with SIRF III chipsets. These chipsets are highly sensitive and do the onboard computing. This is not on our cell phone because this chips are expensive. Phones eversince 2002 from sprint has GPS chips already which the main purpose is a requirement for e911 to pinpoint ur location. You do not need data plans on these cheap phone because the only reason it's there is to find ur whereaouts. It does not transmit any info on the phone from A-GPS server. Carriers locked this and did not make any software to use it as a navigation device.

Re: htc touch gps
 

Ur GPS chip is different from ur radio. The satellite will still locate U but u cannot navigate if there is no way a data can access ur phone. The only way a satellite cannot lock on u is if U turn off ur phone completely.

Try this my brother, Put ur phone on flight mode then try to update ur weather. A simple application like that requires a data transfer isn't it?

Re: htc touch gps
 

Navigation worked just fine up north. I had just installed Garmin XT and was playing with some of the features.

Re: htc touch gps
 

I cannot explain to you what happened up north coz it was u in there. I am speaking for the A-GPS technology and carriers standpoint. Now, if I ask U to prove that statement, Can U provide me and the readers some proof?

Edited: Oh yeah. On the other thread, Someone claimed that he has 2 HTC Touch which he use 1 at a time. He used the one that has no service from sprint as navigation and it worked. I was crossing my fingers that it has a standalone technology coz I have a touch too. as you can see in this link, a list of phones with A-GPS technology. Touch is not listed. Touch Might have a Different chip on it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...h_Assisted_GPS

Re: htc touch gps
 

Hey casper, How about doing a little experiment. Turn ur radio off the get a lock. Then try to navigate on that settings. Lets confirm this. But make sure that there is no data coming in the phone just the GPS chip and your software. Since U have a touch, can anyone do this on a mogul? I wanna hear input from u too.

Re: htc touch gps
 

After midnight here I'll try and get some screen shots tomorrow after work.

Re: htc touch gps
 

LMAO. Is this a way to get your post count up?

1) Touch has GPS, I can get a lock with phone and data off.

2) I can navigate with any number of Apps when phone and data are off.

3) I live in New Zealand where carrier doesn't have agps.

Re: htc touch gps
 

Ok basically, We are talking about U.S. carriers and A-GPS technology. Obviously Ur statement did not fall on any of the 2 which makes it not valid. Ur Touch is GSM which is completely different from CDMA. Even if U don't use cell tower, U still fall on the standalone type which I mentioned on the earlier post.and You are being sarcastic for a reason that I don't understand while U can disagree with respect. But I will still be nice with u. Can U pls. tell us what technology ur phone use and how it works. and can u pls. include a hard proof because I also want to learn that.

Re: htc touch gps
 

types of A-GPS
Standalone - Your handset has no connection to the network, and uses only the GPS satellite signals it can currently receive to try and establish a location.
MS Based - Your handset is connected to the network, and uses the GPS signals + a location signal from the network.
MS Assisted - Your handset is connected to the network, uses GPS signals + a location signal then relays its 'fix' to the server, which then uses the signal strength from your phone to the network towers to further plot your position. You can still maintain voice communication in this scenario, but not 'Internet/Network service' ie Web Browser, IM, streaming TV etc..
MS Assisted/Hybrid - Same as above, but network functionality remains. Normally only in areas with exceptional coverage.

Re: htc touch gps
 

My device is a CDMA device. Branded in NZ as an OKTA Touch. It is identical to and is labeled internally as a vouge.

I have no idea what you mean by hard proof? I am at the bottom of the world my phone and data are off (as well as the network not supporting agps) and I can get a lock on 4-6 Sats and get pin pointed to within 2-3m of where I am.

Now my post count is up to. I am out of here. Good luck. ](*,)

Re: htc touch gps
 

Another Touch user that does not use cell tower. Hmmmm. CDMA in new zealand. That's new to me.

Re: htc touch gps
 

Give it up Jethro ... you are wrong on this one. It is well-known that you can receive a GPS lock without any cellphone towers involved. Sure, A-GPS may kick in for certain apps, such as Google Maps, but an A-GPS signal is useless for an app like TomTom or Garmin because it is not precise enough.

Also, the whole point of your thread makes little sense. How many users do *not* have a data plan anyway? It's going to be an insignificant number.

-GT

Re: htc touch gps
 

Hmm... I have a Telus HTC Touch (exactly the same hardware as sprint/bell/alltel), and when I goto the states I turn off my data. From a COLD GPS start, I can get a lock. I'm not sure how that requires data? The almanacs can be downloaded from the gps sats, just like in regular GPS units.

Re: htc touch gps
 

Because I am back from the north and have signal again, I put the Touch in airplane mode and ran Garmin XT. The navigation screen in this program goes full screen so that screen shot won't show the phones status. But the main screen has the phones status and the the buttons to stop navigation or detour only come up when you are navigating..

http://i27.tinypic.com/1428lld.jpg

http://i26.tinypic.com/35hq0ao.jpg

Dave

Re: htc touch gps
 

http://i26.tinypic.com/35hq0ao.jpgNice Picture tlcasper. Also, those green bars are representing how many sattelites the device is reading for navigation. There are in fact other satellites your device reads, but aren't for navigation purposes.

Ok, I did some more testing last night. I SUCCESSFULLY had Google Maps going, following me down the street very accurately, and I minimized, opened up PIE, and got on the internet, switched back to Google Maps and is had still been following me the whole time, so 1st of all, you CAN use the internet and GPS at the same time. Google maps goes as far as to specifically tell you that you NEED a data plan to use this program when and if you happen to lose your data coverage. Garmin/Tomtom, on the other hand, never mentions it until you try and use the extras. GPS is 1 way reading of a signal. My phone isn't communicating (sending any info) it is just receiving info from the satellites.

Links for you my friend:

About GPS being 1 way reception: http://www.tomtom.com/support/index....age=4&FID=4043

And incurring DATA charges for traffic updates:
http://www.tomtom.com/support/index....age=4&FID=4355

A nice one: http://www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/

If their products work on my phone, then this is how they are working. Not from my data plan.

On the other hand: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-GPS

I believe this is what you're talking about. This is where it needs the data plan to assist, but not always required. To relay the information about my position to someone, i.e. police, it would need a data plan.

I don't believe that my navigation programs are utilizing A-GPS on my hardware. They might use it as complimentary, but not exclusively.

But no where on Garmin's site or Tomtom's site do they mention that I need a data plan to use GPS functionality. Only for the extras.

The Mogul is the same. Over at my other forum, everyone is MOGUL, and I learned from them. I know the mogul is the same. Telenav (Sprint Navigation) on the other hand is blocked unless you have that plan. They make you subscribe because they can. Proprietary software.....

Re: htc touch gps
 

Oh boy. As I said before, A lock can be established because the satellite can locate you. Now the transmission of data will come from an A-GPS server because your phone will have hard time computing for data and it will drain ur battery. Pls. read the previous post before posting. Thanks

Re: htc touch gps
 

Banger. I appreciate U doing ur homework. But unfortunately, U did not make any point including the screenshots. The screenshots posted did not prove anything. The links you post is about a GPS systems. Not a Phone with GPS. It uses SIRF III chipsets and is highly sensitive it does not need assistance from cell tower. It also do the computations on the device itself. There is the 4th type if you read the types of A-GPS that I posted. The HYBRID. U can still go to the network while using the GPS. Yes The Wiki is one for my reference. You said it yourself

Some A-GPS solutions require an active connection to a cell phone (or other data) network to function, in others[2][3] it simply makes positioning faster and more accurate, but is not required.

"in Others" refering to phones that do not need data assistance Which I mentioned to be the standalone type which can be found in ATT tilt, Moto q9c and newer blackberry devices.

Re: htc touch gps
 

I am sorry guys but seems like u went to a debate without any ammo. Since you guys got a lot of challenge questions for me, I have 2 for U people.

1. If your phone does not need a cell tower and a data transmission, U are claiming that ur phone has a standalone GPS type. Now can you pls. post a link that proved that ur phone has a Standalone GPS aside from the mentioned phone with standalone A-GPS.

2. If your phone uses cell towers and the data transmitted is free so how does your phone perform navigation with radio off? How will the free data transmission come in?

ANd here for All disbelievers:
A-GPS utilizes data from a satellite reference network that is continually updated in the TCS XLP A-GPS Server. The TCS A-GPS Server sends this aiding data to the mobile over an Internet Protocol (IP) connection established by the mobile. The Aiding Data assists the GPS receiver in the mobile handset to determine where to acquire overhead satellites. This significantly increases the sensitivity of the device so it works effectively from inside a briefcase or pocket. The Time to First Fix of the device is quicker, helping keep battery consumption to a minimum. The combined features make TCS' A-GPS Server the most accurate and commercially viable option for mobile positioning.
Taken from here:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...3/ai_113529025

and pls. read the links that I posted earlier. It will help U understand. i will do my best to help U understand until U agree.