GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

*UPDATED 10-11-08* Alltel Has released an Official WM 6.1 ROM, It is ALREADY GPS Enabled. If you have the Windows Mobile 6.1 ROM, this thread is of no use to you. If you have the old 6.0 ROM, this thread will still be of use to you. You can get the new 6.1 ROM and ignore this thread.
Official Alltel Windows Mobile 6.1 Rom ppc-6800: http://216.139.227.226/alltel/RUU_TI..._PPST_Ship.exe

-OR keep your WM 6.0 ROM and do the steps below to enable GPS on your ppc6800

This is to make it so the Internal GPS works on an Alltel ppc-6800 and ppc-6900.
It is for use with the Official Alltel ROM ONLY. This may work for other Official WM 6.0 ROMS from other carriers.
This is for people who do not have unlocked phones and/or custom roms.

*UPDATED 10-2-08* The cab I had up here for a few days didn't work for everybody, so we are back to the 4-file install process until updated. Thanks.


1. Extract the zip file to your phone. (download at bottom of post)
2. Install each of these one at a time. start with 1, then 2, then 3, then 4. (some will just make ur screen flash, this is good, move on to the next one.)
3. After all 4 are installed wait 20 seconds then soft reset.





--------------TROUBLESHOOTING-----------------------------------------
-It can take 10 minutes to get a lock. (too slow for you? see the link at bottom to speed it up.)
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|
-Check Your ROM
start\settings\system\Device Information
PPC6800 > ROM ---3.35 or greater
PPC6800 > Radio --3.37 or greater

PPC6900 > ROM ---3.04 or greater
PPC6900 > Radio --3.37 or greater
|
|
-Location Setting must be ON.
Phone\menu\options...\Services\Location Setting
|
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-Check Your GPS setting:
start/settings/connections/external gps (it may be in start/settings/system/external gps)
Program Tab: Com 4
Hardware Tab: gps hardare port= none, baudrate = 4800 baud
Access Tab: check 'manage gps automatically'
|
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-Test Using Google Maps:
Open Google Maps, Click 'Use GPS'
-------If you get 'Initializing GPS...'
Then your Gps Com ports are wrong in google maps, you didnt soft reset, you didnt let windows manage gps, or you didnt install to main memory.

-------If you get 'Seeking GPS satellites (0)...'
Then your location setting is set to OFF, your com ports are set wrong in windows, you didnt let windows manage gps, didnt wait long enough, obstructed view to satellites.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

*UPDATE*
See this thread to drastically improve the performance of the Internal GPS:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=402134

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

nice, but sounds like it takes some of the fun of breaking the noob seal..

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

It SAys That the file isn't Downloadable

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

housekeeping.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

true but there are no known issues/ glitches with this approach

Some people must use an official ROM because they are work phones.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

has anyone else got this to work?

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

i cant get it to work

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

Shadow-Tech speaks the truth!!!!

Best GPS upgrade technique I've found anywhere on the net!! No hacked ROMS, no bootloader troubles, no A-key, this key, that key, no unlocker headaches, no kitchens, and best of all no questions about mucking up my warranty! This is as straight-forward and simple as it gets folks!

Follow his steps verbatim and you simply can't miss. For me it went something like this.

1. Grabbed the latest Alltel ROM from HTC and installed it. No unlocking/relocking required (at least not for me since I am an Alltel customer)

2. Downloaded Shadow-Tech's .zip file (hint: you MUST cut and paste the web link in your browser like he said in the OP in order to get a download).

3. Follow the steps in the included readme. It does not matter where on the phone you copy the 4 unzipped files to so long as you install them all to main memory and in the correct order (and they're numbered 1-2-3-4 for nOObs like me!!)

Note: Files 1 & 3 may appear to do absolutely nothing when you tap them with the stylus but that's OK. Apparently they do what they need to in order to let files 2 & 4 install correctly.

4. Do a soft reset.

5. Enable Location under Setttings>Phone>Services

6. Verify GPS settings per the readme.txt file included in the .zip package

7. Install Google maps and set it to use GPS and Voila!! Wait a few minutes to acquire satellites and off you go!!!

And now some final notes about slow satellite tracking (GPS 101 if you will...):
All GPS units store information about the GPS satellite constellation. These are not geo-synchronous satellites like DirecTV or Sirius Radio. They are in lower orbit and are constantly moving.

Once locked on, the GPS satellites move in and out of visibility, the GPS stores a running log of when and where it last saw a particular satellite allowing it to more accurately predict when it will see that same satellite again and approximately where that satellite will be in orbit at that time. The more accurately a GPS can predict a satellites location, the quicker it will lock on to it.

Since the entire constellation cycles every few hours, I left my phone sitting docked on the cradle over-night running Google Maps in GPS mode in order to let the GPS unit build up a good solid almanac of the constellation. This morning I'm consistantly able to track 7-9 satellites at any given moment and it only takes seconds to lock on after exiting the program. This includes hard resets, soft resets, standby mode, etc.

All that said, the longer you let your GPS run, the better it will get. Conversely, since the satellites do shift orbit somewhat, the longer you let your GPS sit between uses, the more out of date your almanac becomes, and the longer it will take for that initial lock on.

Great streamlined solution and Kudos to you Shadow-Tech!
10/10!

-JR

BTW, if anyone is having problems downloading the .zip file or the updated Alltel ROM, I'll be happy to mirror.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

Awesome Shadow! Thanks!

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

just trying to do my part. contribution is what makes ppcgeeks work. :)

JollyRoger, your GPS 101 Info is very very enlightning and usefull. Not sure if it is on the GPS sticky but it SHOULD be. I will leave my gps on all night and day and report back soon.



If ANYONE wants to host the patch file FEEL 1000% FREE TO DO SO.

i know the server i used sucks. i just wanted to 'get-it-out-there'. i will gladly update the first post if you get a mirror for me.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

chevyforlife,

did you get the GPS to work? i will be glad to help you through it.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

i have yet to get this to work and i followed the instruction to the letter. arg!!!](*,)
but im still tryin.
could me been in the western part of nebraska have anything to do with it not workin?:scratch::scratch::scratch:

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

are you able to get a data connection where you are?

did you hard reset after installing the ROM? i didnt, but i heard this can be important. if you flash roms alot.

some are also saying you need to install patch 1 soft reset then pastch 2 soft reset and so on. i didnt but heard it can be important.

if you are still up to it:

hard reset.
install the ROM again.
hard reset.
install the patch files into MAIN MEMORY ONLY.
install patch 1 soft reset, then patch 2 soft reset, then 3 soft reset the 4 and soft reset. open google maps.
check use gps. it will say searching for satalites.
give it up to 1hr :( for the first time. mine took about 10 mins for the first time.

make sure you are outside and its not too cloudy and no mountains big trees in the way.

try leaving it by a window all night plugged in with google maps trying to connect to satelites. alla JollyRoger gps 101 tips.

hope this works

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

:headbang:wooh oo i got it towork.. not that accurate tho, but atleast i got it to work. i chyecked under start, settings, phone, services, get settings..., then changed my location on and it worked. yay!!!:mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen ::evil4:

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

**Update**
Ok ive got this working flawlessly and its very accurate. i can usually get 8-9 satellites thanks to all that have helped to get this workin =D>:rr:\\:D/:notworthy:

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

Sweet!
the blue dot that indicates your location might "wiggle/bounce" around a bit but it should be very accurate. 3-5 feet accurate.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

i would say thts pretty close to wat im getting

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

is that true what was said before in that gps101- if you let your phone's gps stay on for a longer period of time (i.e. overnight while charging) it will connect faster in that area? shadow-tech what was your follow up on doing this

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

i have found that it works very well. im goin to use it on my way to Omaha,NE tomorrow. and mine does seem to connect faster from leaving it on.:drunken:

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

sorry, have been to busy. i will definitaly try it this week an lets yall know.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

will this work with the latest alltel 6800 rom Version: 3.35.671.9 that was released on 4/28/08. I already have gps working thanks to a dcd rom but wouldn't mind having an alltel rom back just in case anything happens to my phone and i need a fix. would anyone recommend upgrading to the new rom and re-enabling GPS?

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

That's the rom I used. Works like a champ! My wife and I just took my 6800 house hunting with us and I couldn't be more pleased with it.

-JR

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

First off, GPS Enabled and locked in great!

This might seem like an odd question:

When I tried to use the directions function for Google Maps (downloaded to my mobile) it would only use my EVDO connection. I do not have the unlimited data plan as I am around wifi for 90% of my day. Does anyone know if it is possible to use the direction function to load the directions to my phone and then use the gps to track our progress against those directions?

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

went back to stock and tried this today. It locked on fast and no problem. I used GPS-viewer and google-maps.

btw, anyone else notice that stock rom about 26-28mb free at startup? wow.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

start>settings>connections> click on advanced tab >then click on select network

specify the preferred network from the pull down menu or make one for wifi only.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

are you talkin ram? i dont get nearly that much im useually running 15-17 tops. any ideas?

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

OK so im back from my trip lots of fun and i found that im getting a very strong signal even for having only five satilites. =P
~Chevy

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

works like a charm. thanks for the great guide!

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

Program works for my 6800. Much Thanks!!

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

Is the another program besides Google maps that we can use the GPS with?

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

Thanks for this easy guide. I have been looking for a way to enable the GPS on the Titan since I got it. (Which was recently and the Touch Pro comes out in a couple of months :( )

It still hasn't picked up any satellites, but I will leave it running over night and see what happens. On startup it has me in India, similar to another poster in this thread.

** As a note to anyone reading this post - If you already had Google Maps installed, you need to "reset Google Maps" in the menu selection to get it to clear out the cache and any previous attempts to acquire satellites, or it will just keep giving you the same old message, "No GPS reciever was found..."

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

Many thanks to Shadow-Tech. Worked like a charm I had tried the cab someone had posted and it did not work. When I did what your first post stated it works like a charm many thanks again.

Cheers,
azbobs

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

I still have not been able to get this to work on my 6800 :( It does look for the satellites, but none ever update. From all of the other posts, I have the correct radio, setting, etc., but no luck it seems. Currently living in Florida, located somewhere in India close to the border of Nepal!

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

When it sees the satellites try and push the sleep button on top and then back on and sometimes this triggers mine to come on fix. It doesn't seem to work every time but lots of times it does. Good luck

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

I've followed the instructions carefully & have the latest ROM from HTC. When I run Google Maps, I get an error that says " This program requires a data connection. Please contact your carrier, or visit google.com, etc.". Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

make sure u soft reset after the install process.

make sure location settings are turned on. it is the the phone/menu/options/services

if you are using google maps. select 'use gps' but then also click on 'my location'. if u just click use gps it wont work. U NEED TO CLICK 'my location'

alarmman do u pay for the data service?

if not you can find other software out there that has all of the map data already downloaded. i think the software requires like 300MB-500MB of free space on your storage card.

if this is not an option you can always go thru wifi. but this is less practical.

let me know if you guys still have problems.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

Shadow, thanks for the reply. I do have a data plan, & can connect to the internet via wifi or cell. I did the "GPS enable " stuff on Sunday night, and then travelled a 100 miles into Sprint territory on Monday morning. I realized that morning my cell was dead. I dialed *228 on the phone to activate it and to learn roaming position and it worked. As did my GPS. When I returned to Alltel towers though, no cell again. I called Alltel they had to wipe my registry & I re-activated my phone. I now know to never do *228 away from home. The reason I mention all of this is that my GPS worked in the Sprint tower range. Any of this make sense?

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

kinda makes sense. the gps will work if ur in flight mode. a cell tower just gives u the map data. yes always *228 from home. it seems like ur problem is with google maps not the gps itself. maybe remove google maps then try reinstalling it. maybe also try a program a few peeps use, gpsviewer. it 'initiates' the gps. only a few programs can initiate the gps even though many can use the gps. it needs to be initiated for it to work. post if u get it working. let me know how far u get too.

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

Thanks for the tip. I installed the patch files, soft-reset, installed Google maps and voila! I had my exact location locked in with 5 sats within 30 seconds! I've been waiting for an easy gps solution for my 6800 for months.:headbang:

Re: GPS on alltel 6800 - easy way
 

Just posting to say thanks!