14 replies to this topic

[opticalc]

Is it like this for everyone?  It takes almost 7 minutes for my BJ-II to get a position lock.  I have a bluetooth GPS puck and its always within 3 minutes from a cold start.

Edited by opticalc, 17 December 2007 - 01:58 PM.

[TruckFreak69]

opticalc, on Dec 17 2007, 08:57, said:

Is it like this for everyone?  It takes almost 7 minutes for my BJ-II to get a position lock.  I have a bluetooth GPS puck and its always within 3 minutes from a cold start.

Same for me, very aggrivating.  I think I may drop 35 bucks for a bluetooth one on ebay.

[Confucious]

HTC phones have a utility called QuickGPS which downloads details of satelites periodically and helps get a quicker fix. Maybe that would help if you can find a copy.

[PaulOBrien]

Not as simple as that unfortunately confucious.



P

[halorin]

I run a program called GPSTest to get my GPS running before I use the actual GPS program I use (Windows Live Search). I find that GPSTest can get a lock in a couple of minutes from a cold start. I usually turn it on like 10 minutes before I know I'm going anywhere to make sure the GPS signal is 'warmed up'. Is it perfect? No, but it's good enough for me.

[opticalc]

It seems like Google Maps *should* be able to use the MyLocation feature combined with the cell tower time to determine which satellites should be overhead at that particular location/time.  This should allow for a less than 30 second GPS signal lock in 3D.  How could we go about proposing this idea to google?

[JemDogs]

Maybe someone adept at programming for WM can whip up a little app that uses minimal resources and simply runs in the background and maintains a GPS connection, so its "always on".

Discuss viability... -shrug-

[MadSci]

Just to add my $0.02, it works fine for me.
I ran the MoDaCo GPS fix. I had no problem this morning with Google Maps. While driving it found me via the GPS in under 2 minutes.

Note however that Google Maps ONLY worked when I used the 'windows' settings.  It doesn't pick it up using the COM ports.

I've seen discussion to this effect elsewhere, and I wonder if there is some confusion out there, what with some people using other GPS software that might require the COM port approach.

So for Google Maps - stick to the default 'windows' settings and it should work out fine.

[halorin]

JemDogs, on Dec 18 2007, 01:26, said:

Maybe someone adept at programming for WM can whip up a little app that uses minimal resources and simply runs in the background and maintains a GPS connection, so its "always on".

Discuss viability... -shrug-

I'm pretty confident your battery life would take a nosedive doing that. But I'm not at all adept on the subject. I just don't think there's a way to keep a 'small' connection to GPS satellites. There may be a way to keep it 'warmed up', but I still think the battery life cost wouldn't make it viable. :\

[Clark A]

I have a BJII and it is acquiring the GPS signal in under 2 minutes. I have the GPS working with the Garmin XT and also Google Maps.

Clark

[PaulOBrien]

I'm gonna release a simple little 'GPS Starter' app for BJII and Q9H, watch this space.

P

[kpy]

I start the GPS function, throw it on my dash, and within a minute I am locked in using Google Maps.  Your location and obstructions will affect it greatly.  I am in the Sacramento valley so it is flat and easy.  And your battery will take a hit if you leave it live.

[KarlZuHoch]

kpy, on Dec 19 2007, 21:32, said:

I start the GPS function, throw it on my dash, and within a minute I am locked in using Google Maps. Your location and obstructions will affect it greatly. I am in the Sacramento valley so it is flat and easy. And your battery will take a hit if you leave it live.

I have to agree, but something strange here. I installed your GPS fix, found it didnt work. Uninstalled, tried google maps again and it worked under a minute. Since then I had it running periodicly and it runs just fine under the 'windows' setting also. But the fix is uninstalled, I'm wondering.. after uninstalling, are there changes internally that I dont know about? (newb here). I tried installing the reg commander app posted in one of these threads but I got a "this program was not intended for your device". I'm guessing you changed something in the registry with your fix?

Either way, it works now =) when connected to 3 sat's i get a reading from within 30 or so feet, when only 1 sat it can be as bad as a hundred meters. Either way, its free and im loving it. I dont think I'll have problems being lost down town now

[jpwoof]

Paul (MVP), on Dec 19 2007, 22:58, said:

I'm gonna release a simple little 'GPS Starter' app for BJII and Q9H, watch this space.

P

Anxiously waiting for this app! :-P

[widgetdude]

Quote

Maybe someone adept at programming for WM can whip up a little app that uses minimal resources and simply runs in the background and maintains a GPS connection, so its "always on".

Discuss viability... -shrug-

jpwoof, on Dec 26 2007, 14:03, said:

Anxiously waiting for this app! :-P

GPSTest does exactly that. After a couple of minutes aquiring the GPS information it stays resident in the background. This allows all of my apps to pick up a gps signal instantaneously. If you haven't gotten it...it's here: http://classic.pocke...p;associateid=9

Just hit the .exe with activesync open and it fires up on the phone. Then create a startup lnk and you are good to go!