General GPS operation questions...

[rsfeller]

Yes I would do a search but since PPCgeeks doesn't allow 3 character word searches I have to just ask...

Got GPS working easily on my XV6900 with the new official Verizon wm6.1 ROM and the Vahalla GPS cab. Not a single problem so far. As a matter of fact this locks on sat(s) about 3 times faster then my Garmin hand held and even locks in 20 sec while in my basement as I type now!

Questions:

1. I see the sats(s) so I'll assume this is true GPS and not some "magic" with the cell phone towers, correct? (I only ask because I'm blown away by the lock time and the fact I'm in the basement and my Garmin barely works on a cloudy day!)

2. if I do not start any software (say Google Maps) to call to the GPS does it in fact stay off and not consume my battery? Or does the GPS need to turned on/off somewhere in the phone config that I have not found yet? (again I'm amazed at the lock speed and cannot believe that the GPS is not already running before the Google Map calls for it).

3. What other software does anyone recommend for interactive directions or fun?

thanks.

[CenFlo]

Originally Posted by rsfeller

Yes I would do a search but since PPCgeeks doesn't allow 3 character word searches I have to just ask...

Got GPS working easily on my XV6900 with the new official Verizon wm6.1 ROM and the Vahalla GPS cab. Not a single problem so far. As a matter of fact this locks on sat(s) about 3 times faster then my Garmin hand held and even locks in 20 sec while in my basement as I type now!

Questions:

1. I see the sats(s) so I'll assume this is true GPS and not some "magic" with the cell phone towers, correct? (I only ask because I'm blown away by the lock time and the fact I'm in the basement and my Garmin barely works on a cloudy day!)

2. if I do not start any software (say Google Maps) to call to the GPS does it in fact stay off and not consume my battery? Or does the GPS need to turned on/off somewhere in the phone config that I have not found yet? (again I'm amazed at the lock speed and cannot believe that the GPS is not already running before the Google Map calls for it).

3. What other software does anyone recommend for interactive directions or fun?

thanks.

I'm no expert on cellular GPS or standard, but I use it for hand held and in my boat, both Garmin units.

The hand held units are low power and normally take a while to lock. The GPS in my boat locks on much faster than my hand held.

The GPS on our phones use AGPS (Both satellite and cellular towers) to determine the location via triangulation and trilateration. It's similar to the same way your phone voice/data moves from one cell tower to another.

The location feature should only use power on our phones when you are calling in to play the tracking. Granted your phone is always being located when you have it on and are in contact with the tower(s) and switch. Hence the term "standby" time.

I just put amazeGPS on my phone today and it's a really cool app, it appears to be quite the resource hog and makes my phone very slow, even when I exit the program. Had to do a soft reset today after messing with it.

I personally like the GPSToday app the best. http://www.geoterrestrial.com/ It's got all the features I need and I like the GeoMail that comes with it.

[njkid32]

In regards to searching with only 3 letters. Just add * to the end of the word. For example GPS*.

[JudgeFred]

i'm using iGuidance v4 - the map update very slow to none (i had to touch the screen then it update), however the GPS tracking is update correctly (such as speed, lat & long).

[rsfeller]

Thanks guys, great feedback. And the * is a lifesaver on the searches, it's a whole new world now!

I suspected the cell tower/GPS theory. The locks were way to quick plus my basement comment but I have incredible EVDO here in Delaware, Ohio.

I figured the GPS was really at the towers.

I also was impressed with my battery running the phone for two hours on gps and all day at work. I believe the only premature power consumption on my new xv6900 as due to screen being on for almost two hours while I played with Google Maps!

This really is a great phone! Now that I removed my horrible cook'd wm6.1 and got a clean Verizon 6.1 with no junk it flys...

[rusty105]

Originally Posted by rsfeller

Yes I would do a search but since PPCgeeks doesn't allow 3 character word searches I have to just ask...

Got GPS working easily on my XV6900 with the new official Verizon wm6.1 ROM and the Vahalla GPS cab. Not a single problem so far. As a matter of fact this locks on sat(s) about 3 times faster then my Garmin hand held and even locks in 20 sec while in my basement as I type now!

Questions:

1. I see the sats(s) so I'll assume this is true GPS and not some "magic" with the cell phone towers, correct? (I only ask because I'm blown away by the lock time and the fact I'm in the basement and my Garmin barely works on a cloudy day!)

2. if I do not start any software (say Google Maps) to call to the GPS does it in fact stay off and not consume my battery? Or does the GPS need to turned on/off somewhere in the phone config that I have not found yet? (again I'm amazed at the lock speed and cannot believe that the GPS is not already running before the Google Map calls for it).

3. What other software does anyone recommend for interactive directions or fun?

thanks.

Did you let the customizations run? I flashed with the leaked verizon wm 6.1 update, but did not let the customs run. I installed the valhalla cab, and still no GPS on Google maps. Do you need to let the customs run??

Rusty

[strra]

Originally Posted by rsfeller

Yes I would do a search but since PPCgeeks doesn't allow 3 character word searches I have to just ask...

Got GPS working easily on my XV6900 with the new official Verizon wm6.1 ROM and the Vahalla GPS cab. Not a single problem so far. As a matter of fact this locks on sat(s) about 3 times faster then my Garmin hand held and even locks in 20 sec while in my basement as I type now!

Questions:

1. I see the sats(s) so I'll assume this is true GPS and not some "magic" with the cell phone towers, correct? (I only ask because I'm blown away by the lock time and the fact I'm in the basement and my Garmin barely works on a cloudy day!)

2. if I do not start any software (say Google Maps) to call to the GPS does it in fact stay off and not consume my battery? Or does the GPS need to turned on/off somewhere in the phone config that I have not found yet? (again I'm amazed at the lock speed and cannot believe that the GPS is not already running before the Google Map calls for it).

3. What other software does anyone recommend for interactive directions or fun?

thanks.

Answers:

1. i've been able to get quick locks with the phone radio off and in no/low signal areas

2. yes, unless you're using gps software, the gps is off as far as i understand. i, personally, like to make sure of this and i use either BAF GPS Toggle or GPSToday to make sure the gps is off when i want it off.

3. amAze GPS is an amazing (no pun intended) free turn-by-turn gps software, though tomtom is much better, it's pretty expensive. i personally use tomtom

[rsfeller]

Originally Posted by rusty105

Did you let the customizations run? I flashed with the leaked verizon wm 6.1 update, but did not let the customs run. I installed the valhalla cab, and still no GPS on Google maps. Do you need to let the customs run??

Rusty

Rusty, I do understand these posts get really confusing and many of these gurus are hardcore geeks and have trouble explaining in simple terms the processes.

Here is where I am guessing you are going wrong, but I am no expert. Only a guy who has flashed two different phones 1001 times!

Since you are using the "leaked" Verizon wm6.1 update you must allow it run all the way through and customize to be a Verizon phone again! This is not true with up unlocking and upgrades that first use the Sprint (I believe) updates but of course you would be screwed with custom Sprint "stuff" after the customization.

So for once this process is as easy as you would hope.

1. Run Verizon wm.61 upgrade
2. Run Vahalla cab
3. Reboot

You must make sure ALL LOCATION ON (i believe) is set under PHONE LOCATION SETTINGS. (see screenshot) for it to work too. (correct me if i'm wrong).

I used Google Maps first and selected the setting that allow for GPS to be used and had a lock in 20 seconds!

[rangie]

Originally Posted by JudgeFred

i'm using iGuidance v4 - the map update very slow to none (i had to touch the screen then it update), however the GPS tracking is update correctly (such as speed, lat & long).

You need Franson GPS Gate to fix the lag in iGuidance. Just do a search. The directions are in the Titan forum.

[rusty105]

Originally Posted by rsfeller

Rusty, I do understand these posts get really confusing and many of these gurus are hardcore geeks and have trouble explaining in simple terms the processes.

Here is where I am guessing you are going wrong, but I am no expert. Only a guy who has flashed two different phones 1001 times!

Since you are using the "leaked" Verizon wm6.1 update you must allow it run all the way through and customize to be a Verizon phone again! This is not true with up unlocking and upgrades that first use the Sprint (I believe) updates but of course you would be screwed with custom Sprint "stuff" after the customization.

So for once this process is as easy as you would hope.

1. Run Verizon wm.61 upgrade
2. Run Vahalla cab
3. Reboot

You must make sure ALL LOCATION ON (i believe) is set under PHONE LOCATION SETTINGS. (see screenshot) for it to work too. (correct me if i'm wrong).

I used Google Maps first and selected the setting that allow for GPS to be used and had a lock in 20 seconds!

I thought once you let the customizations run on the leaked ROM it locked the GPS for future use, and you were stuck without it. I want to be able in the future to flash a different (non Verizon) ROM and use GPS.

Rusty