Using GPS on 800w (or other gps sprint phones) without PCS coverage

[brennj4]

Is it possible? I know that the GPS chip is built into the hardware, so is it possible to use it in areas outside of sprint coverage? I travel in the mountains a lot in areas without coverage. I had an old garmin gps that worked fine.

I just dont want to rely on it for directions and then have it crap out on me when it hits a sprint dead spot.

Also, anyone know if the 800w does voice dialing or voice activated gps? How about audable turn by turn directions?

Thanks

[Bearxor]

I don't believe it's possible without a program like TomTom or something on your phone that stores the maps locally. Something like the maps program or live or google maps is going to require the map data to be downloaded over a data connection in real time.

It may still track you location, but without the map program getting map data, you'll just see a blank background.

This is easy enough to test, just turn the phone off and try a GPS program.

[miketab]

you are probably going to need some program to start the gps if you are out of sprint coverage and have no data to start another gps program like google maps or live search.

If you already started the gps when you in data coverage area it will not die.
s
earch for a gps starter program in the forum.

[jlaudio]

On my Sprint BlackBerry i have used the gps in roaming. Is not very good, If your roaming your using under EVDO internet speeds and it loads a lot. Most of the time if I'm roaming I am not in need of the gps untill i get closer to my destination.

[nxtech3]

i believe the only phone Sprint sells that does voice activated gps directions is the Instinct

[Big D5]

Originally Posted by nxtech3

i believe the only phone Sprint sells that does voice activated gps directions is the Instinct

I would have to say that you are incorrect with Live Search all PPC's have voice activated search, mapping, and directions. With the 800w and some others you also have GPS so voice activated GPS directions is possible.

[nxtech3]

Originally Posted by Big D5

I would have to say that you are incorrect with Live Search all PPC's have voice activated search, mapping, and directions. With the 800w and some others you also have GPS so voice activated GPS directions is possible.

I wasnt aware that you could set Live Search to a hardware button to activate like the instinct, if thats the case then yes i would agree that all ppcs could do it.

[Bearxor]

I've tried the gps on my iphone today and even without a data connection it activated, locked and tracked. If I tried to change the map to a place I hadn't viewed before it was grayed out, but the iPhone, at least, seems to keep a cache of previously viewed maps.

[TheBundo]

Part of Google Maps stays in memory, the part you last used. I have went into dead cell coverage areas with the right section showing, zoomed out, and been able to use it that way. I can even do some zooming that way

[crazie.eddie]

If you mean by Voice Activated GPS that you mean Voice prompted turn by turn directions, then it's not whether the device can support it, it's the software. Google Maps and Live Search provide Turn by Turn directions, but not by voice. Garmin, TomTom, etc. do give Voice prompted turn by turn directions.

A friend of mine, who is a Sprint Sales Engineer, stated that the GPS on the CDMA phones are network assisted. So if you have no coverage, then the GPS will not be usefull. If you want to travel outside the network coverage area and use the GPS, it's best to buy a BT GPS receiver. When you reach an area outside your Sprints network, you can configure your GPS program to use the BT GPS.