Related
I see a lot of people with GPS problems these days & most of them have to do with not getting a fast enough satelite fix. There are several things you can & should do to enhance you Kaiser & it's GPS capabilities.
Firstly, use HTC's QuickGPS. Your device has to locate, communicate with & track numerous navigation satelites to get a fix that can be used by your navigation software of choice. Typically your device will need this information from 3 - 5 satelites, however there can be as many as 14. Each Satelite has Almanac information, this information contains suck as the current location, speed & Orbitital Patterns. This is where QuickGPS comes in. QuickGPS downloads this almanc information from servers & helps to guide your device the most appropriate satelites in your area. downloading the QuickGPS data at least once a week is key to maintaining quick satelite locks with your device.
Second, I see a lot of people using the HCT GPS Tool from the Polaris. WHY? Sure it can help to jump start your GPS, but there are other more functional programs out there that accomplish the same thing & much more.
Enter GPSGate! GPSGate is a light weight GPS utility that can be installed on a storage card & I could not live without. It is easy to use, it configures itself, it WILL jumpstart your GPS & allows you to do some amazing things otherwise impossible. GPSGate is a semi-commercial software developed by Franson. A trial version is free to download & the only difference between the free & the pay version is that the pay version allows you to Connect to GpsGate Server or GpsGate.com for sharing or logging over the Internet. GPSGate will help speed things up for you & also do many other things. Whenever you launch GPSGate, you GPS chip is immediately initialized & goes to work. Starting GPSGate before your navigation software or selecting the auto-start function gets your device working on connecting to the satelites NOW!
Ever tried running TomTom & Live Search at the same time? Usually it won't work & sometimes will freeze your device. Not when you use GPSGate. GPSGate will not only start your GPS faster, but it will also let you share the Kaiser GPS among several applications all at once.
GPSGate will let you use external GPS devices with your Kaiser & it will also allow you to use your Kaiser as a GPS receiver for other devices such as laptops, over A/S or Bluetooth connections. In fact, you can share the Kaiser's GPS over a network, ActiveSync, Bluetooth or HTTP. It will also allow you to Multiplex and split NMEA streams. GPSGate will communicate fast & flawlessly with a simultaneous multitude of programs. It will also allow you to start & stop your GPS Session on the fly.
I use TomTom, but I frequently use Live Search at the same time because POI's are always changing & new ones are added. Live Search is much better @ finding New things like restraunts & allows me to add them into my contacts & then select them thru TomTom all without having to start & stop each program allowing me to keep my focus on the road where it belongs.
Just download & install the cab, launch the program, follow the 2-steps on the screen & you're done.
Most of the important functionality is intact without licensing, (I think everything except the server based tracking & logging)
Overview:
Share your position online using GpsGate.com
Track your friends on a map, see a remote person in Google Earth and more...
Connecting Google Earth to GpsGate!
Display your GPS position in Google Earth.
Connecting Google Maps to GpsGate!
Display your GPS position in Google Maps.
Sharing GPS data over a network and between computers
How to share GPS data using TCP/IP, UDP, Bluetooth or COM ports.
NMEA Multiplexer - combine multiple inputs
How to merge and split several NMEA channels.
Run GpsGate as a Service
How to set up GpsGate to run as a NT service.
How to run multiple instances of GpsGate, close input when no output is used, block writing and reading, and more...
NO, I do NOT work for or endorse Franson! I just really find this program helpful & very useful.
GPSGate: http://rapidshare.com/files/95732296/GPSGate.rar
QuickGPS: http://rapidshare.com/files/69959229/HTC_QuickGPS.CAB
spent this whole time talking about GPSGATE but dont even post a way to find more info or even get it......
ChInEsE ChIcKeN said:
spent this whole time talking about GPSGATE but dont even post a way to find more info or even get it......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL are you serious....thanks I needed this
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=GPSgate&btnG=Google+Search
Not that hard to find.
Google is your friend
I don't understand why this is useful. The GPS is already sharable in the Kaiser. I've run multiple GPS apps at the same time with no problems. The only use for GPS gate that I can see is uploading your position to their server.
tdusen said:
I don't understand why this is useful. The GPS is already sharable in the Kaiser. I've run multiple GPS apps at the same time with no problems. The only use for GPS gate that I can see is uploading your position to their server.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use iGuidance 4 and are using a 6.1 rom, GPSGate is not only useful, it is required in order for your map to update. Others have reported that GPSPROXY will also work, and it is free.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I have been playing with 6.1 ROMS for two weeks and was about to give up because I could not get GPS to work properly (yes I tried everything that was recommended!) I was about to give up and revert back to a 6 ROM... and like a pheonix from the ashes I saw your post. Franson GpsGate did the trick. My GPS is working better than ever, heck my phone is working better than ever, many thanks to Sleuth and to you for fixing that last very frustrating and important glitch.
crispyj said:
If you use iGuidance 4 and are using a 6.1 rom, GPSGate is not only useful, it is required in order for your map to update. Others have reported that GPSPROXY will also work, and it is free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then I'm just lucky I guess. I'm running 6.1 and I have Beeline GPS, TomTom and Live Search all running just fine. No GPS Gate or GPSProxy loaded.
tdusen said:
Then I'm just lucky I guess. I'm running 6.1 and I have Beeline GPS, TomTom and Live Search all running just fine. No GPS Gate or GPSProxy loaded.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are lucky. Many Tilt users are, but for the unfortunate, for what ever reason, we have GPS issues and this solved it at least for me. But I am curious... if you GPS is operating so wonderfully... why are you in this thread?
the same reason I am in here probably, to see what everyone is talking about and to see what kinds of GPS issues are out there that people are having. I know mine is working just fine but still checking out what is going on in case I run in to issues or see someone with issues that I might be able to help out or point them to this thread.
I read every GPS thread. I'm always on the look out for some way to disable Static Navigation. So far, no luck.
My original post in this thread was to ask what does this software give me that I don't already have. The stock GPS is intended to be sharable. If it does work like it's supposed then no proxy software should be necessary.
GPS quality varies widely from one Tilt to the next...
I have 2 Tilts and I can tell you one of them gets almost instant GPS lock while the other one struggles to ever get a lock.
I'm awaiting a second warranty replacement from at&t as the first one they sent has crappy GPS also. I've already warned them that they will continue shipping me Tilts under warranty until I get a replacement that works as well as my 2nd Tilt does.
One thing I like about GPS Gate is the Tray Icon. It would be better if the tap & hold menu had an option to toggle the GPS on/off.
It is nice that you can also use it to provide GPS feed to your laptop if you have such a need.
tdusen said:
I read every GPS thread. I'm always on the look out for some way to disable Static Navigation. So far, no luck.
My original post in this thread was to ask what does this software give me that I don't already have. The stock GPS is intended to be sharable. If it does work like it's supposed then no proxy software should be necessary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More than anything I was bored & wanted to write (Got my replacement & had time to kill while Sec. Unlocking, Flashing, etc.), lol.
Really I'd see a lot of Noobies complaining about not being able to use multiple proggies & having issues giving gps a quick jump. This post was really just kinda intended for the noobie that doesn't have the skill or patience to set up multiple port connections for the GPS. With GPSGate they don't have to. It all wil run thru the same V-port without them having to do any changes manually. I find that using GPSGate there is NO DELAY in the new application receiving the GPS data. Before GPSGate, every time I switched programs my device would hang for a bit. I also noticed a lot of people using or including HTC GPS Tools in roms for a jump start of the GPS device, & I figured why not something more useful.
+ I know that while a lot of us know about these programs, not many new guys do & when I'm out & about, occasionally I like to use my laptop W/ Streets & trips because all my customer routes are in there. This way I can use it for navigation & construction updates on long drive days. Of course I know not everyone has a nerd mobile like my truck with a PPC & Laptop Mount cradle, lol...but you never know.
Do these proxies keep the GPS receiver running all the time? what does that do to battery life?
It does what you TELL IT to do. You can start or stop the GPS on the fly. OF COURSE if you leave the GPS running it will drain the battery faster. But it only keeps it on for as long as you keep it active. Using the proxy itself will not change the discharge rate of your battery to any noticable degree.
Search for Franson GPSGate. You can read your heart out about it.
What should you put the baud rate to?
I mean I would assume higher means better but since my kaiser takes 10 minutes to get a lock I haven't really bothered doing any proper comparisons.
In any case all I get for the ten-fifteen minutes I've had this running is "GPS data but no position, running ok"
(Pretty much like GPS Tool, it runs and shows a lot of sattelites but never gets a lock. It does once in a while but it seldom and it'll always take ~10 minutes)
I have run quick gps.
This is with a cooked rom and a new radio though.
With my stock rom/radio I got a lock within 2-3 minutes after starting tomtom.
GSLEON3 said:
Really I'd see a lot of Noobies complaining about not being able to use multiple proggies & having issues giving gps a quick jump. This post was really just kinda intended for the noobie that doesn't have the skill or patience to set up multiple port connections for the GPS. With GPSGate they don't have to. It all wil run thru the same V-port without them having to do any changes manually. I find that using GPSGate there is NO DELAY in the new application receiving the GPS data. Before GPSGate, every time I switched programs my device would hang for a bit. I also noticed a lot of people using or including HTC GPS Tools in roms for a jump start of the GPS device, & I figured why not something more useful.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GSLEON3,
Although my GPS works within much problems or 3rd party software so far, I do appreciate your post on this as it clearly is helpful at his point of the ROM development.
I too am having troubles with my GPS. I have only had my tilt for a week or so but I can't seem to get the GPS to work well enough to be truly useful.
I have GPS Gate installed and it sometimes gets a lock and sometimes it doesn't. I have tried both TomTom 6 and iNav v3 and v4 with and without GPS Gate. I can generally get a lock sitting still and sometimes I can get a lock moving but anytime I try to use the navigation to go anywhere it either looses its lock within 10 minutes OR it only is able to track 1-3 satellites and thus HORRIBLY inaccurate showing me tracking between 50 and 500 yards from my actual location (if there are side roads or streets it almost never has me on the correct road). I have tried changing the position of the device to get better reception with no change.
I have also tried several different ROMS with different radios with no change. Are there some settings in GPS gate that I need to change to get better performance or do I have a defective unit? Any help would be appreciated.
GSLEON3 said:
More than anything I was bored & wanted to write (Got my replacement & had time to kill while Sec. Unlocking, Flashing, etc.), lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad you were bored to write this. I, for one, thinks its a good source of info and a possible set of solutions for GPS issues. I dont think you can have too much possible solutions, so thanks for posting this up!
thanks much for taking time to post valuable information. i for one am no noob to windows mobile, but am too GPS. so, i definitely am willing to check into anything that could possibly boost performance of any component. thanks again and it does help alot with the new tool. one question i have is about the virtual port driver. the message comes up and ask me to soft reset for the virtual port driver to be installed, so i do. when i run the tool again it does the same thing, to me, indicating the driver didnt install. i go into advanced options and check the status and it says my driver memory is low, please soft reset. any ideas and thanks again.
GPS working Better at higher baud
I have been experimenting with changing the settings for my GPS in GPSGate. I posted earlier that I was having trouble getting it to work reliably and that I would frequently loose lock and not be able to get it back.
Here is what I have found works best so far:
Radio: 1.64.08.21
COM: 4
BAUD: 57600
Emulating: COM 1
TomTom: COM 1 at 57600
I really don't know why this works better but I have been able to consistently HOLD a lock once I get one. I still have trouble with it sometimes taking a VERY long time acquire a lock but once I have one it is working well. I will post if I find anything that works better.
If anyone has insight on this or finds any better settings please post.
I have just updated my ROM to "Dutty's WM6.1 Hybrid v2 5.2.19716/5.2.19700" and at the same time installed TomTom.
It can take quite a while to pick up a lock the first time the software is booted but if I close and open TomTom without rebooting the phone the second time is much quicker (almost instant). I have just tried rebooting the phone and it goes through the same slow process the first time tomtom is booted and then quick following that. Is this normal behaviour for GPS on the device (not holding GPS info when the phone is rebooted) or is it an issue with the ROM or Radio. If its the radio is their anyone in the UK who can recommend the best radio for battery life and GPS.
Cheers,
Michael
cyberkid2002 said:
I have just updated my ROM to "Dutty's WM6.1 Hybrid v2 5.2.19716/5.2.19700" and at the same time installed TomTom.
It can take quite a while to pick up a lock the first time the software is booted but if I close and open TomTom without rebooting the phone the second time is much quicker (almost instant). I have just tried rebooting the phone and it goes through the same slow process the first time tomtom is booted and then quick following that. Is this normal behaviour for GPS on the device (not holding GPS info when the phone is rebooted) or is it an issue with the ROM or Radio. If its the radio is their anyone in the UK who can recommend the best radio for battery life and GPS.
Cheers,
Michael
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is pretty normal for GPS especially on these devices. It takes a while to get the first fix after a reset, but subsequent ones are quicker.
You may be able to speed up this process by using the QuickGPS tool to download cache data of satellite locations.
Also, try and use GPSTest to get the lock first. Many people use the GPSTest application and keep it running in the background as it tends to keep a good lock on things.
Adjust the baud rate with GPStest.
cheers for the responses... i will try the GPSTest thing...
KDKobes: what change does adjusting the baud rate make? quicker to lock?
I'm running the new, stock 6.1 Rom, and the only criticisim I have of it is the really slow initial GPS lock. The first time I use it after a soft reset or reboot, it can take anything in the region of 10-15 minutes, which I really don't think is right - I'm positive the original Rom was better at this. Subsequent fixes are much quicker, but if you find yourself needing the GPS and you happen to have recently rebooted, chance are you'll be well past your destination by the time it picks up, which is not good.
Quick GPS appears to be behaving as it always has - whenever I check it has recent data showing, downloaded through Activesync as normal - but it's almost as if that data's not being used in this Rom.
I should mention I'm seeing this behaviour in both Tom Tom and Live Search... it always does get a lock eventually, so there doesn't appear to be a problem with the GPS itself. Has anyone got any insight into this?
cyberkid2002 said:
cheers for the responses... i will try the GPSTest thing...
KDKobes: what change does adjusting the baud rate make? quicker to lock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The baud rate is used by the internal COM port to interface with the GPS controller. It is the same deal like the speed of a modem...2400....4800...9600, etc.
Honestly with the amount of data that a GPS passes (which is not that much) I don't know if it makes a difference if it is set low. However, I always set mine high because faster is better, right so, might as well.
bengalih said:
The baud rate is used by the internal COM port to interface with the GPS controller. It is the same deal like the speed of a modem...2400....4800...9600, etc.
Honestly with the amount of data that a GPS passes (which is not that much) I don't know if it makes a difference if it is set low. However, I always set mine high because faster is better, right so, might as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where would you even set that though? I played with GPS Tool for a while, but it appeared to forget whatever port setting I used next time it ran anyway, so presumably it only affects that session of GPS Tool, not the system as a whole. In TomTom there's no speed setting for the internal GPS either; it should all be handled by WM itself.
Boinng said:
Where would you even set that though? I played with GPS Tool for a while, but it appeared to forget whatever port setting I used next time it ran anyway, so presumably it only affects that session of GPS Tool, not the system as a whole. In TomTom there's no speed setting for the internal GPS either; it should all be handled by WM itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I think that's right... you can set it inside GPSTest.
However, like I stated many people find that GPSTest gets the quickest lock and prefer to either open it first and/or leave it running in the background. I haven't used my GPS that much, but I do find that this works.
It at least allows me to see what is going on with the lock. If I start Google Maps it will either work or not with GPS, but not really show me what's going on. GPSTest will allow me to see if I have a lock or not and then open up my other apps for use.
I just realised, I'm talking about the HTC GPS Tool, while you're talking about GPS Test - which is that, the Chartcross one?
You should try IGO8
cyberkid2002 said:
I have just updated my ROM to "Dutty's WM6.1 Hybrid v2 5.2.19716/5.2.19700" and at the same time installed TomTom.
It can take quite a while to pick up a lock the first time the software is booted but if I close and open TomTom without rebooting the phone the second time is much quicker (almost instant). I have just tried rebooting the phone and it goes through the same slow process the first time tomtom is booted and then quick following that. Is this normal behaviour for GPS on the device (not holding GPS info when the phone is rebooted) or is it an issue with the ROM or Radio. If its the radio is their anyone in the UK who can recommend the best radio for battery life and GPS.
Cheers,
Michael
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello!
I have experienced exactly the same problem as you have with TomTom.
I have both a "Tytn II" and a HTC Advantage (X7500).
When using TomTom on the X7500 the GPS takes time to fix a position, 15-20 min or more is not unusual after a soft reset.
Then when it has fixed the position it is EXTREMLY slow when it comes to calculating the route!
I live in Sweden and I often drive to Germany, and when calculating the route from Sweden to Germany it takes over 3 min to finish!
Then we have the issue with the struggling graphics, (Of course I have been told that TomTom has trouble with VGA displays, and I find that to be very true.) the map is very slow and sometimes it stops completly for a few secounds!
On my Tytn II however the map is not struggling the same way, and it calculates much faster then on the X7500, Why? I dont know!
X7500 is a much faster device so it beats me!
The GPS lock is however almost as slow on the Tytn II as it is on the X7500, no matter if I have used quick GPS to download data or not!
A few weeks ago I stumbled upon a navigation program called IGO8, I decided to try it, and believe me when I say that I will never go back to TomTom again!
First of all the GPS lock is almost instant with IGO8, from a soft reset it finds a lock within maybe 2 min at most! And then it seems that it somehow remembers the position and the next time you start the program it will have a fix in secounds!
Then it calculates much faster, I tryed to calculate the route from Sweden to Germany on my X7500 and it was finishes under 20 secounds! (Compare that to over 3 minutes with TomTom on the same device!)
It supports VGA screens, so the map floats much better on my X7500.
Next thing is that there is more maps for IGO 8 so it covers much more of "mother earth" if you want to navigate in a foreign country!
It also has 3D terrain, and can even show buildings in 3D! (Only works in some places!)
It has a very simple and logical interface that is much easyer to understand then TomTom, and it is skinnable and very customizable!
So if you are serious about having a great navi I would strongly recommend you to try IGO 8! I can promise you will not be dissapointed!
Oh and buy the way, I dont work for IGO either!
More GPS Woes
KDKobes said:
Adjust the baud rate with GPStest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have problems getting software on my O2 Stellar to recognise the internal gps. I've tried a couple of different programs (TomTom & GPSTuner) and also fiddled around with the com ports in both the software and on the Stellar (using the External gps app in settings) but still no recognition of the internal gps.
I caleed O2 and no one could help, in fact they didn't even know it had internal gps!
I've seen GPSTest mentioned a few times. It's not on my Stellar - where can I get it?
Am I missing something?
Help please!
Thanks
Dave
davespearce said:
I have problems getting software on my O2 Stellar to recognise the internal gps. I've tried a couple of different programs (TomTom & GPSTuner) and also fiddled around with the com ports in both the software and on the Stellar (using the External gps app in settings) but still no recognition of the internal gps.
I caleed O2 and no one could help, in fact they didn't even know it had internal gps!
I've seen GPSTest mentioned a few times. It's not on my Stellar - where can I get it?
Am I missing something?
Help please!
Thanks
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get GPSTest here
You can either manually set it to a COM port or have it autoscan. I believe some ROMs identify it as COM3 and others COM4, so probably best to do an autoscan. It might take a few minutes to find it, and then another few to get a lock. But after that it generally starts up and locks within a minute or two (in my experience).
thinking about utilizing my kaiser's gps for road trip, i figure i'd ask for advice before jumped in buying gps software (since i don't have a guarantee to be able to load google map at all times). let me hear it if you've done road trips using kaiser as your main gps device & how reliable is it - of course it'll run on car's power plug - does it get overheat or have any issue receiving call when gps software is active etc?
thanks in advance guys.
I use AT&T's Telenav and have made trips with the Tilt running for up to 5-6 hours at a stretch, no problems. I just have it in a Brodit car mount, use a car charger and use my Jabra BT8040 for the street names and voice directions when I need it. Since Telenav is using a data connection, it drops out if a call comes in on an EDGE connection. Keeps going fine if in a 3G area though.
i use kaiser with garmin and adria route maps and everything works fine. no overheating, no problem with calls. you just have to make sure to get the right maps for your needs (up to date, covering your area of interests...)
gps
i use my tilt as my only GPS, and with the tomtom6 software loaded onto it, its taken me hundreds of miles all over the US with no issues. I recommend using this and not buying another GPS, especially since the tomtom software makes it identical to any other tomtom device
It's nice to have google maps, windows live installed to use when you can, but it's hard to beat something like TomTom or iGo8 if you want to splurge..
Definitely recommend getting a car mount (that you can swivel!) and a car charger and your battery gets chewed up QUICK when using GPS...
Enjoy!
-RT
i used it at a last min, with google maps on a trip, of course having gps and edge on at the same time kills the battery, but having it charge in car was fine it worked well, just wish i could have faster then edge connection with us tmo
Tomtom Navigator worked reliably under my TyTN IIs original WM 6.0 firmware (allbeit a little like watching a slideshow at times) but now under HTCs latest 6.1 release, GPS performance is very erratic and it takes ages to get a fix in most cases. HTC needs to come up with a fix to this issue so I suggest you steer clear of the HTC WM 6.1 update until it's been resolved.
It's perfectly suitable for this kind of use.
Don't forget about car charger, I've bought mine off eBay for silly price
Yep, I'll throw in my $.02 too. Great for road navigation, sucks for much else. It's off by 15-20 feet at all times, jumps around randomly, and altitude is always WAY off, but none of that matters with road nav software as they "snap to road".
There *is* the occational time I'll have TomTom suddenly think I'm on a nearby road, like if two are closely parallelling each other (say, interstate and small road beside it) and once or twice I've had it think I'm on a cross street I'm approaching, but rarely is it more than you might see it blip over to the wrong street, start recalculating, then jump back.
reliable
here is my 2 cents having just used it on a 1500 mile week-long roadtrip a week ago. simply, it was as awesome as it can get. i had tomtom 6 with the latest US-Canada map on my 2GB microSD.
before setting sail, i saved all the addresses i wanted to go to as FAVs, and just went off, no problems getting a signal, and the signal was accurate enough for driving.
when i needed to look for a POI that TomTom didn't have, I would just start Google Maps for Mobile and find it. I was also running Mologogo to allow family to know where I was. GPS photos where also nice to have.
as others pointed out, a windshield mount and a car charger are musts.
the only problem I had (couldn't explain, but didn't cause enough problems to research) was that it would heat up really good (of course being exposed to direct sun light helped) that it would start flashing red while being charged, and i had to stop charging to get it back to flashing green. I then found that brining it next to the AC actually helped in keeping it charging.
ya ill 2nd that it does get really hot while using gps and internet while trying to charge it... but i only used it for short times 20-30min and when you have a super long road u dont need it, i dont use it to tell me every direction i was a copilot
i think most gps sucks at accurate position or even giving live directions, thats why i dont use it in such a way, only to see the map and were I am in relation to the directions.
I think the GPS is very accurate. With Google Maps, if I stand at the end of my driveway and zoom into the sat view of my home, it's got me pegged to within a meter or so, easily (even clearly indicating which side of the driveway I'm on, and it's only about 13m wide at that point). And, as soon as I start walking, "my location" starts moving along too.
I use it with Garmin Mobile XT (GMXT) software for road navigation and it works quite well. Must have a car charget as it drains battery a lot. GPS is sometimes slow to lock (even with QuickGPS data), so you can't expect to turn it on and be navigating within 30 seconds everytime. Other than it is perfect - only one device to carry. Good maps, voice directions etc...
My suggestion is to get a entry level Garmin or Tomtom automotive gps cost less than $130 and is designed to be used for extended period of time repeatedly and have maps of entire North America.
In my opinion phones are not designed to be running for so many hours constantly, some inner parts might be aging (pcb boards becomes dark and burned looking) without you knowing it. Especially in the hotter areas where the dashboard temperature could reach 160 degrees easily since it's constantly exposed to the sun. GPS on the phone works as a backup when you are far from your car in a totally strange place. Automotive GPS are designed to be used in such harsh conditions.
Also consider the network coverage of the phones if you are using one of the free services, as when you are out of the internet service, you can't get any map update...... So in the long run an entry level GPS w/maps saves you more money, since they cost about same as a piece of software for your phone that probably does not get updated as often as each company's regular automotive GPS products.
So what I am trying to say is:
Save your delicate Tilt/TyTN II, and get a GPS! You can find discontinued Garmin GPS products on eBay for heck cheap, for example the Garmin C320 that my girlfriend still uses since I bought it years ago, and gave to her when I upgraded to C580, goes for around $60-70 and it's one of the best GPS I've used.
just went to georgia and back with garmin mobile xt + 2009 maps installed, no problems at all.
I have tried it on long journeys using tomtom, route66, garminxt and miomaps.
Works fine using any of this s/w. I found the new Diamond ROMs slowed tomtomt down when getting a satellite fix. It took at least 10 minutes at the best of times. I have gone back to one of Duttys 6.1 ROMS and it is all working fine again.
I use GPS tuner V5.0 for GPS, you can create your own maps, waypoints etc. No tomtom in this part of the world, but Mapking works good too.
Be sure to have a charger nearby though...
Thank you guys for the advice
It's awesome to hear from your experiences in a way that gives me an idea how much should I expect from my Kaiser, well I guess I'll try to use it only when I need directions the most (i.e. within cities) as opposed to "continue on highway XYZ for 80 miles, drive straight ahead, straight ahead, 79 more miles c'mon you can do it, ...."
and thank you guys also to be kind enough providing some info for the GPS software, I'm entirely grateful
If you're taking a long trips over 1 hour DO NOT USE GOOGLE MAPS!!! even if you have a car charger. Google maps requires a constant data connection to update its maps on top of keeping the screen on and powering the internal GPS receiver. The drain is more than the car charger can handle. The phone will get hot with in 30 minutes of google maps usage. If you dont have a car charger Google Maps will kill your fully charged standard battery less than 4 hours if you're on EDGE, less than 3 hours if you're on 3G. Stay away from Google Maps for long trips. The only time I use Google Maps on a long trip is to check for traffic.
A dedicated GPS navigation software like TomTom, iGuidance, Destinator, Garmin mobile work best for long trips. The drain is minimal. The car charger will handle TomTom, iGuidance or Destinator for hours and hours without any problem. The phone doesnt get as hot plus it actually charges the phone. As for its actual useage and practicality, TomTom software is just as good as the dedicated TomTom. The interface is the same. High end TomTom may have more options but that's about it. It gets you from point A to point B. It may not take you on a route that you like but it'll get you there. It automatically reroutes and recalculates if you miss a turn. Like any other GPS device, if you need to change destination or search for POI hand it to the passanger and let them do it.
I'd say you need a better car charger. I use AT&T Nav, which also uses a constant data connection for maps and real time traffic updates. When I've used mine for whole days of constant use (ferrying people around D.C. and greater area one weekend for a work function), my car charger managed to keep it fully charged the whole time (and I made/received quite a few calls and emails those days too, plus did a fair bit of web surfing).
Sure, the back got a little warm, but honestly, I feel the device is not harmed by it - in fact, I'd argue it's designed for such use. just like people who use wifi for long periods or who get tons of push mail daily and so forth. Heck, mine gets pretty warm just using wifi when updating my RSS and podcast feeds every day. Does it have thermal overload protection anyway? I would not be surprised if it did.
The screen LEDs are not likely going to burn out from constant use in the lifetime of the device (which for even the most infrequent user won't be more then several or so years). You figure an LED should be good for at least, say 50,000 hours (?) which is over 10 years if on for 12hrs every single day.
The heat may kill the battery a bit sooner then later, but after one year or two at most of 24/7 use (I never turn my phone off), the battery will be shot anyway.
I say just use the thing - what's the point of such a device if you cannot use it for the things it is supposedly intended for? Anyhow, that's how I use mine, and it's doing just fine.
Hi there,
It's indeed confirmed now that the gps chipset in diamond is Static navigation enabled, i.e. it won't refresh your location and speed if you are walking, it'll just lock your last gps location instead of updating it continuously while you walk. So it's nearly makes it impossible to walk to your destination i.e. you can't geocache at all.
I hope anybody has some clue about turning it off.
Have you tried something like SirfTech - if you can get it to connect to the internal GPS device (and assuming it is a SirfStar chipset, which I still don't know for sure?) then you should be able to toggle the static navigation setting. There are instructions right at the very bottom of that page on how to adjust the static navigation setting.
The other remaining question is how long this change will persist - hopefully it should persist until the battery is removed, but it depends how the power to the GPS receiver is switched - it's possible that switching off the PDA, or even putting it into standby, could cause the GPS receiver state to reset to default.
Its not a sirf chipset and those tools wont work on it
someone1234 said:
Its not a sirf chipset and those tools wont work on it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I second that. I guess we people will have to live with it. There's a HTC GPS utility from HTC which works on this qualcomm chip but I am no expert if there's any setting which can turn static navigation off. For someone wanna give a try to the HTC tool, download the attached file.
i just did a quick test with Diamond running TomTom walking along the street. It works fine in pedestrian mode. My actual postion was accurate at all times during the test. Diamond GPS is suitable for navigation in pedestrian mode.
Probably you have not tryed with some device with really good SirfStar III GPS, like ETEN X500.
@panosha
my point is: walking navigation mode is indeed available with Diamond running TomTom. I am not to compare GPS performance of Diamond directly with Sirf III equipped devices.
That said, if you take a look at my signature, you would certainly notice that I have also few HTC Sirf III equipped phones presently and not to mention TomTom GO 510. I am quite certain that Diamond is quite usable for walking routes..
Is usable for walking routes, but it has mediocre behavior for this use, concerning the good GPS devices.
@panosha.
mediocre behavior indeed.
I was referring to the very first post in this thread:
.. it won't refresh your location and speed if you are walking, it'll just lock your last gps location instead of updating it continuously while you walk. So it's nearly makes it impossible to walk to your destination i.e. you can't geocache at all...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, it will refresh GPS location as you walk.
yes, it will update GPS position fairly constantly.
yes, it is possible to walk to a destination and geocache.
Sorry but I have to disagree.
While the Diamond keeps up with a standalone device while driving, I took them both out walking today and the Diamond is terrible while walking. In fact I did the route three times and it was always approximately 30 feet out of synch which is no good at all in a city environment.
If anyone has any idea how to improve this I'd certainly be happy to hear it.
I have a P1i and external receiver and at this rate I may have to return the Diamond and go back to it, which is a shame.
Yeah. That's the point. It indeed keeps up while driving but crap while walking.
Folks, I think it would be really important to find a solution for this problem.
It seems that it has definitely to do with static navigation and
is no problem of any kind of application.
Since I have my diamond I used a lot of different gps software,
but the lag is always the same.
This is indeed very bad, thus the reception quality is superb!
My last HTC was a trinity which had also a Qualcom chipset,
but with this device I never noticed such a behavior.
Somehow it must be possible to turn the static navigation of...
Are there any news so far?
I guess nobody could figure it out yet. WE have to keep our fingers crossed
Is there any other news?
Disabling static navigation would be greate!!
Does anyone know the brand/model of the gps chip?
And there's always a lag between your actual position and the position shown in the GPS software....
Sometimes this lag is more than 50m...
HastaSSSS
I am trying to see if the Qualcomm ONEgps - GPS can have its programming changed with QPST, but unfortunately I havent found any information on getting it to run with Diamond. I think that would be the only way to turn off static nav, as the system is not Sifir or what ever its called, so non of the current "static nav" off solutions will work. I have OziExplorer running and I get the issue. I also noticed that there is a lot of unecessary activiting on decent/assend info, its as though it has quite a unstable 3d lock.
Can anyone else using TomTom pedestrian mode could confirm if there is no delay (more then 10-30 seconds) between starting walking and position beginning to update?
Thanks!
D.
does tt has special option for pedestrian? maybe the problem is tt and NOT the hardware (gps-diamond)??
i am using igo and it has special options for pedestrian, for car, bicycle, public transportation and even emergency vehicle. seeing this made me think that the program will react different at different speeds.
i did not tried the pedestrian option but i promise to do it and come back with the results.
Sorry about the dumb question, bust how can I switch to pedestrian mode in TomTom???
It's the same s*ht
The GPS on this receiver, for the time being, really sucks...
I'm hopping that someone will figure out a solution, or with a release of a new radio ROM.
Even when I'm driving, the gps lags so much.... Drives me crazy!
When I stop on a red light, the gps still indicates speed for 15s more or less, until it actually stops on the place where my car actually is...
I wonder if the gou acceleration driver is actually installed...it could happen that this delay is due to the fact that the CPU has to do all the work, and since the resolution is VGA, it means extra work, which the CPU can't handle 100%...
HastaSSSS
Hi all sifus outthere.
I got a problem here.
When I run Garmin Mobile XT, then navigate using "where to" option,
then start the navigation, after 1 minutes++ my Xperia screen when black and ON again then the "gps Off" message is on the Garmin navigation menu.
I dont have an update on the speed and location, what I do next is ON the GPS at com4, and then again problem keep repeating.
What is the problem with my Xperia, is my Xperia is going to "kaput"?
TQ
What version you have of garmin mobile xt? Did you try to reinstal it?
Or have you tried another navisoft? I am using iGo8 and it works really good.
Its GarminXT 5.00.20w, is there any with the phone setting that cut its display to off when navigating or the GPS in phone is faulthy?
When I first bought this phone with my friends, its work fine when do the navigating, but only the drawback is, battery last around 4 hours.
mujinkun said:
Its GarminXT 5.00.20w, is there any with the phone setting that cut its display to off when navigating or the GPS in phone is faulthy?
When I first bought this phone with my friends, its work fine when do the navigating, but only the drawback is, battery last around 4 hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think its installation problem, i have same version, and had install Garmin on many phones and no problem. Try to install it again, and format SD card before. That should help you. Navigation drains battery, use car charger.
OT: Also, you want to use the "GPS Intermediate Driver". I had problems using COM4, Garmin didn't find the aGPS and it didn' display the connection status in Garmin's opening screen, now it does.
Best Regards,
Jörg
I have exactly the same problem..
I used GarminMobile XT for more than a year without any problem, and then, without any significant change in device software configuration, I noticed it went off after some time, regardless the settings you adjust within Garmin application. It went off no matter whether it is charging or not..
What seems odd to me also, while Garmin is in Search for satellite mode, it doesnt go off, no matter how long gps trying to find satellites (i left it intentionally while I was inside a buidling, for testing purpose for more than half hour, and the screen was illuminated, the phone worked). But, when it find its gps position, after some time, it goes off.
One thing more, I noticed I lost satellites in the screen where you find the info about signal reception, position and satellites.. When gps find its position, I have current coordinates, altitude, but can't see any satellite within 'radar' representation of available satellites.. Not so important, just wanted to mention..
The only way I could figure this out, without re-installation (Im not quite sure whether to reinstall only Garmin, or complete mobile from the scratch, and don't have time to bother with that) is to manually un-check turn off back light and turn off device in power settings while I use Garmin navigation..
I use also TomTom and iGO8, without any problem so far..
Seems to me there is some 'misunderstanding' between Garmin and device with power settings, not quite sure..
Hope this would help man..
No satellites on satellite display => don't use com, use intermediate driver. To select driver pres 'disable' on gps setting screen (that one you get to by click signal meter, without satellite display).
Dr. Sid, thanks a lot, it worked.. I have satellites now on the screen, maybe that could also solve the problem with gps turning off..
I will test it during the day and post my findings..
Thanks again man..
Actually joerg.daehn mentioned it before.