GPS Keep Alive v1.3

[Guest RoyalDrew]

NEW V1.3 Thanks to wjdunn3!!

Since i use several GPS applications (google maps, igo8, gczii, gps weather radar) there were many times where i was disappointed when my GPS was turned off when the phone went into standby. Also while hiking and Geocaching there have been several times where it took way too long to get a gps fix, sometimes i've just given up on it. I'm in a semi-mountainous area in southwestern Virginia so i'm not sure if the same problems exist in the magnitude as they do with me.

Now i have GPS KeepAlive and all those problems are gone.

With no other GPS applications open i can start GPS Keep Alive and let my i910 go to sleep, whenever i need to take a peak at google maps/gczii i get almost instantaneous gps lock. (probably however long it takes the application to pole the receiver)

After a few days of use i haven't seen much drain on my battery, but would like to hear others experiences.

This was using the old KeepAlive not customized for the omnia. New look is shown below!

DON'T PICK ON MY LAME SPB MS SETUP LOL! eh it was quick and simple, has everything i need.

Thanks to wjdunn3 for the new Omnia version!

Run GPS Keep Alive. Instructions are included on screen.

New i9x0 version.

v1.3

- Defaults to "ON" at app start up.

- Added "Update Now" option that will update the status immediately without affecting your timed update interval.

- Display number of locked GPS Satellites

v1.2 Change Log:

- Program name changed to GPSKeepAlive.exe

- Remembers your Sync interval setting across pgm/phone resets

- Show Sync interval on screen

- Option Menu reflects what Sync interval is selected

- Format change of Lat./Long. information display

- Fixed bug that messed up the sync interval if you toggle on/off more than once (which may be why some see batt drain.. just speculating)

GPS_Controller_CAB_v1_3.CAB

GPS_Controller_CAB_v1_2.CAB

GPSController_Orig_Setup.CAB

^^ This one should work on any WM5.0+ device.

The screen resolution may not fit but you should still be able to use it.

License info

Original Source Code Site

KeepAliveSource.zip

Source Code

I encourage all coders to take a look! make it better!!

If you have an error during install saying you need an updated .NET version read here.

.NET v3.5 is cooked in to most of the newer roms for omnias so most of you shouldn't have issues.

Edited March 23, 2010 by RoyalDrew

[Guest JaCoL]

Check a GPS2DAY this is my best GSP keeper/warmer ever :(

[Guest rfarrah]

Since i use several GPS applications (google maps, igo8, gczii, gps weather radar) there were many times where i was disappointed when my GPS was turned off when the phone went into standby. Also while hiking and Geocaching there have been several times where it took way too long to get a gps fix, sometimes i've just given up on it. I'm in a semi-mountainous area in southwestern Virginia so i'm not sure if the same problems exists in the magnitude as they do with me.

Now i have GPS Keep Alive and all those problems are gone.

The site only gives you the source code so you can build the application. I've chosen not to post the built app because i have not gotten permission from the developer and do not want to take any type of credit for the app. Also the developers guide on the project may entice someone else to build the application to better suit our needs :(..... snip!

Sounds interesting. Let us know if an app gets built.

Edited February 28, 2010 by rfarrah

[Guest RoyalDrew]

Check a GPS2DAY this is my best GSP keeper/warmer ever :(

So GPS2DAY keeps the gps fix even when your phone is in standby?

It seems that i've used this program before, if you're meaning GPSToday by GeoTerrestrial, and it has many great features but i don't think it does quite what this one does.

Sounds interesting. Let us know if an app gets built.

Well the code for the app is on the site that i provided a link to. I installed Visual Studio 2008 + Windows Mobile Standard SDK. Then I downloaded and opened the project in Visual Studio and selected Build Batch from the Build menu. It produced KeepAlive.exe(even tho it said on the site there would be two files) which i moved over to my omnia and run whenever i want my gps alive. Works Great!.

I am no programmer or any type of coder and i am assuming that i built the app correctly. Maybe we could get one of these awesome MoDaCo coders to verify the build and the application. :(

And with the battery drain evaluation, i have not seen a noticeable change in the battery life. I left KeepAlive running all day and opened GCZii every couple of hours just to make sure it was keeping my fix(instantly 4+ sats) and i had %60 batt when i got home after about 10 hours of otherwise normal use.

One of the best things about the program is "once locked on to a signal, the receiver is able to hang onto it even when going into areas where it would not be able to lock on to the signal from a cold start."

What's also great about this app is that it 'should' work on lots of devices, from WM5 - WM6.5

[Guest RoyalDrew]

Hmm.. ok the engine of the GPSToday app called GeoSynchronous is also described as doing the exact same thing as KeepAlive.exe.

GeoTerrestrial is also saying that they will be releasing it as a stand-alone product but until then i will stay with KeepAlive since I don't even use my Today screen and i don't want any a program eating resources or downloading/sending data which eats batt life.

So until GeoTerrestrial releases GeoSynchonous I'm sticking with KeepAlive.

[Guest raza1]

Hmm.. ok the engine of the GPSToday app called GeoSynchronous is also described as doing the exact same thing as KeepAlive.exe.

GeoTerrestrial is also saying that they will be releasing it as a stand-alone product but until then i will stay with KeepAlive since I don't even use my Today screen and i don't want any a program eating resources or downloading/sending data which eats batt life.

So until GeoTerrestrial releases GeoSynchonous I'm sticking with KeepAlive.

I'm realy a noob in installing KeepAlive :( .

I went to the site but it's all too difficult for me. Is there a way you can help me with an installation file or something?

I'll be very happy to use something like this as being a courier! :(

I also never use the todayscreen as I'm using SPBMobile shell. :(

[Guest RoyalDrew]

I have made edits to the first post and provided the KeepAlive.exe file, source code, and licensing info let me know how it goes!!

[Guest urphonesux]

okay got it trying to get a first lock after a flash.

Fingers crossed ppl

Edited March 1, 2010 by urphonesux

[Guest rfarrah]

Since i use several GPS applications (google maps, igo8, gczii, gps weather radar) there were many times where i was disappointed when my GPS was turned off when the phone went into standby. Also while hiking and Geocaching there have been several times where it took way too long to get a gps fix, sometimes i've just given up on it. I'm in a semi-mountainous area in southwestern Virginia so i'm not sure if the same problems exists in the magnitude as they do with me.

Now i have GPS Keep Alive and all those problems are gone.

With no other GPS applications open i can start GPS Keep Alive and let my i910 go to sleep, whenever i need to take a peak at google maps/gczii i get almost instantaneous gps lock. (probably however long it takes the application to pole the receiver)

After a few days of use i haven't seen much drain on my battery, but would like to hear others experiences.

License info

GPS KeepAlive.exe

THIS WAS BUILT BY ME FROM THE SOURCE CODE!! IT WORKS BUT I AM NOT FOR CERTAIN THAT I DID EVERYTHING CORRECTLY!! (only thing i did was click build batch in Visual Studio)

If someone could verify that this build is actually what the Programmer intended it to be please help me out and let me know!!

This file works completely fine on my i910 on liorytes 28232 build. The only issue i have is that it seems to be made for a smaller screen and cannot read all of the text but you should be able to figure it out. I am not in any way responsible for any malfunctions this may cause to your device!!

Source Code

If someone thinks they may have a better solution please let me know if i have overlooked it

So....just run the exe from the device?

[Guest RoyalDrew]

So....just run the exe from the device?

yes, i wish i knew how to package it better but just put it wherever on the device and make a shortcut to it if you'd like. Run KeepAlive.exe choose Turn On and whenever you get a gps signal it should keep it until you are in an area where the omnias gps receiver is not capable of keeping a signal.

[Guest urphonesux]

just tested it with garmin and google maps and it appears to work perfectly, will report on the battery drain (if any) later

rfarrah o just put it in my start menu and ran it from the utilities folder

Edited March 1, 2010 by urphonesux

[Guest RoyalDrew]

just tested it with garmin and google maps and it appears to work perfectly, will report on the battery drain (if any) later

rfarrah o just put it in my start menu and ran it from the utilities folder

Nice!! It's good to know someone else is enjoying it!

[Guest urphonesux]

so far no issues whatsoever and it appears to not imact my battery at all. I set it to sync every 30 mins and it seems to be the perfect solution so far

[Guest RoyalDrew]

so far no issues whatsoever and it appears to not imact my battery at all. I set it to sync every 30 mins and it seems to be the perfect solution so far

Sweet, hopefully this will get some more good reviews. I updated the first post with a screen and links to videos using it inside and outside!

[Guest Junoman]

Nice work bro!

I presume it should work with i900 omnia as well!

J.

[Guest raza1]

Nice work bro!

I presume it should work with i900 omnia as well!

J.

It does! I'm testing it now but I let you know tomorrow after a day on the road to be more precisely with my measurements.

I hope I can make a shortcut in Mobile Shell because it's not recognized as a program.

I first start TomTom and then push the end button on the front of the omnia so it doesn't close and keeps the sattelites alive.

After that I turn on keepalive (10 min options) and close TT.

After 1 hour I tested the program by turning on TT and satellites are being found immediately or 5 secs :(

More tomorrow!

Tnx till this far! :(

[Guest wjdunn3]

Great find RoyalDrew. I took the project and corrected the display resolution for the i900 & i910. and tweeked some screen colors. I also packaged it up into a CAB for easy install and uninstall.

Royal... you can update your first post.

EDIT: Cab removed...see newer version in first post!!

Screen01.bmp

Screen02.bmp

Edited March 3, 2010 by wjdunn3

[Guest Junoman]

Sounds good though! :(

J.

It does! I'm testing it now but I let you know tomorrow after a day on the road to be more precisely with my measurements.

I hope I can make a shortcut in Mobile Shell because it's not recognized as a program.

I first start TomTom and then push the end button on the front of the omnia so it doesn't close and keeps the sattelites alive.

After that I turn on keepalive (10 min options) and close TT.

After 1 hour I tested the program by turning on TT and satellites are being found immediately or 5 secs :(

More tomorrow!

Tnx till this far! :(

[Guest JaGuR]

Sounds good though! :(

J.

Works great, but there is a fair amount of battery drain, even set at 30 mins update.

In 7 - 8 hours, I went from 80% to 10%

[Guest RoyalDrew]

Great find RoyalDrew. I took the project and corrected the display resolution for the i900 & i910. and tweeked some screen colors. I also packaged it up into a CAB for easy install and uninstall.

Royal... you can update your first post.

NICE! hey man can you do the same for the non-omnia users? just cab the original up and add shortcut?

I'm in the process of editing first post

[Guest RoyalDrew]

I first start TomTom and then push the end button on the front of the omnia so it doesn't close and keeps the sattelites alive.

After that I turn on keepalive (10 min options) and close TT.

After 1 hour I tested the program by turning on TT and satellites are being found immediately or 5 secs :(

More tomorrow!

Tnx till this far! :(

You can start Keep Alive without any other gps programs open. Whenever you would normally grab your gps fix it keeps it.

I have been just starting it when i'm about to go out somewhere and leave it running. Anytime i need/want to use a gps app the fix is immediate.

Works great, but there is a fair amount of battery drain, even set at 30 mins update.

In 7 - 8 hours, I went from 80% to 10%

Hmm.. I use my phone at work to get email updates and my office phone calls are also forwarded to my i910.

I have left Keep Alive going all day and the least i've seen at the end of the day is %40.

KeepAlive was already running when i unplugged my i910 from the wall and already had my GPS fix at 10am, did my normal thing at work and as i was coming home at 9:30pm it was at %40.

That's also with poor phone reception in the building at work.

[Guest scubamike]

I too can vouch for the increased battery drain. That being said, it was sure nice to have an instant GPS fix when I fired up google maps. I may give this another shot tomorrow with the new Omnia version.

[Guest raza1]

Too much battery drain for me to.

If I let TT running in the background I almost have the same battery loss then this so for me that would even work better than this, sorry :-(

[Guest wjdunn3]

Attached is the original application, un-touched. It is setup for Landscape QVGA devices. I only CAB'd it and added the START menu shortcut.

GPSController_Orig_Setup.CAB

[Guest wjdunn3]

I am not experiencing any additional battery drain that some other have reported. However, I am not using the stock Verizon CF03 ROM either. I am using waremike32's NuROM M2D2 ROM.

So, depending on what ROM you have and what applications you have running (including today screen plugins...titanium or otherwise), your mileage may vary. Just a guess, but if you are having a lot a batt drain, then there probably is an app or plug-in that is making use of the GPS constantly now that is is "on" all the time. You can try changing the GPS Controller / Keep Alive query time to a longer interval.