Official 800w GPS discussion

[Big D5]

Here we will discuss the GPS system on the 800w. Give me your tips and tricks tell me your stories about your trips and how the GPS performed for you. This is what happened to me this week.

I used my GPS this week to guide me from home to Lake Charles Louisiana, I had issues. The rout from DFW to Lake Charles took me through some areas where the Sprint coverage isn't all that good. My phone rings all day long so its a chore to navigate and keep up with new issues at the same time. I had a total of 94 phone calls on my way to Lake Charles. At one point I was in the middle of some large trees so I got a warning, GPS signal low on the Sprint navigation screen then my 800w stopped tracking and had to be reset to lock again. Sprint navigation failed lost GPS signal then lost phone reception so no map updates. I wound up missing a turn and wound up at a dead end had to go back a couple of miles till I found a place with a signal to get the GPS going needless to say this was a little stressful. On my way back I used Live search for navigation I only zoomed in and out when I had signal, my 800w lost tracking a couple of time on the way back I am thinking this had to do with the number and frequency of phone calls. Once I had to soft reset and once I had to exit Live search then reopen to get the GPS going but all in all using Live search worked much better than Sprint navigation.

So that's my most recent story now tell me yours lets hear those tips as well

Dave

[Modus Operandi]

I would just like to know if there is going to an app that is like sprint nav that gives voice directions like when to turn etc., only on windows live? or any third party apps that are free that do this?

[hippity.hoppity]

The GPS doesn't work well on the 800w and there's no standalone mode. Palm knows about the problems and will address them with a firmware update.

[xdalaw]

Originally Posted by hippity.hoppity

The GPS doesn't work well on the 800w and there's no standalone mode. Palm knows about the problems and will address them with a firmware update.

Would you mind telling us how you learned that Palm intends to provide a firmware update for the stand-alone GPS problems? I haven't seen any mention of that before.
Thanks.

[Modus Operandi]

Originally Posted by hippity.hoppity

The GPS doesn't work well on the 800w and there's no standalone mode. Palm knows about the problems and will address them with a firmware update.

I actually thought i worked quite well, used it earlier today to get around los angeles and back. if it had turn by turn voice it would be awesome though. maybe there will be a hack or something

[crazie.eddie]

Originally Posted by hippity.hoppity

The GPS doesn't work well on the 800w and there's no standalone mode. Palm knows about the problems and will address them with a firmware update.

I also think it works very well and fast. If I cold start my BT GPS receiver, it takes maybe about 30 seconds or more to boot up and acquire satellites. With the assisted GPS on the 800w, it takes about 2-3 seconds for it to acquire satellites from a cold start. Of course, it is Assisted GPS, so it will require Sprint's network. But it should be no problem, unless I happen to want to travel to the deep Borneo jungle.

[Ovendoor]

I also get quick locks using GPS, however the accuracy is hit or miss...one day it's within 5 feet, other days its got me 50 feet away.

Having said that, the GPS in my 800w is better than in my Touch.

[jn1167]

I live in NY and the GPS works great. I have used it a few times without a single problem. I have also never had any real issues with the signal to my phones in the tri-state area

I have been using it with google maps and its pretty much pinpoint.

[Malatesta]

GPS is working very well for me--in NYC I get my location in about < 10 seconds and it's quite accurate.

I've used it with Google Maps, Live Search, GPS Today, Mologogo, Astro Navigator II, etc.

No complaints.

The "standalone" issue will be important for some, but not for my needs.

[sanmanc]

My GPS Story:
A coworker injured herself and ended up cutting her arm quite badly. I ended taking her to one of the clinics that we use for workplace injuries. I looked it up in the Search button on Sprint Navigation and gave me the closest location to us. I did something I usually don't in that I relied the information to be accurate since I was not aware of one of these clincs in the area that the GPS had given. To my surprise there was a clinic there and we made it there in less than 10 minutes.