N95's GPS is stronger than we think!

[Leong]

HI folks! So lots of you have been complaining about the usability of the GPS.. Well, this will certainly surprise you.

Today i went out for a little bike ride, i wanted to have google maps on and use the nokia " sports tracker" program. So i did. however, i was afraid of mounting a RM3190 device on my bike. Instead, i waited for it to get a lock (which took only 7 seconds), CLOSED the slider, yes, closed it! and as it that wasnt enough, i kept it safely in my pocket. IT was also kinda cloudy outside.

...So the signal would be lost right.... WRONG.

To my surprise, "sports tracker" succesfully tracked my entire route!!

Here's my question. Nokia reccomended:
1. keep slider open
2. have clear skies
3. do not block the keypad

but i crossed all of those. Has anyone else ever experienced this?

*i understand it totally dosent work if i'm in a car*

[s.illes79]

yes I have.

If you are off the city then there are not high building, etc which are more affecting the GPS then the phone itself. I also could track a route with my phone in my jeans packet inside London. However I think it's more accurate if you keep it opened.

[dayene]

i was in Soho, NY with my friends last week and i tried to use the gps (i never really use it), it won't lock and there weren't any tall building really than in midtown. my friend wanted to try out the gps on the phone and i felt ashamed i couldn't show it to him

[s.illes79]

there could be many reason for that

did you check "options/view/ statellites info" ?
did you have any bars? How long were they? What colors?
did you use A-GPS or GPS?
if A-GPS did you check your log if there were any GPRS data transmitted?

[AngusG]

hrmm... interesting... I've really gotta come up with a way of attaching my phone to my bike so i can use it on my way to work :S:S... maybe a custom leather case'll do the job...

[dayene]

i had five bars but no color. i checked a-gps, i-gps, network based. i will try to explore this gps again.

there could be many reason for that

did you check "options/view/ statellites info" ?
did you have any bars? How long were they? What colors?
did you use A-GPS or GPS?
if A-GPS did you check your log if there were any GPRS data transmitted?

[Leong]

hrmm... interesting... I've really gotta come up with a way of attaching my phone to my bike so i can use it on my way to work :S:S... maybe a custom leather case'll do the job...

I couldnt do that here in malaysia. where i live there are lots of bikers. adults and even kids only 8 years old riding around with bikes, especially the malays. Its kinda their culture........
I'm afraid i'd be mugged if i did that. just make sure your area is safe.............................................. ..

[dayene]

you can't expose your phone just anywhere! i walk in NY holding my phone inside my pocket LOL

[timo_w2s]

I use sports tracker in my pocket when out on the bike too and it works just fine as I like to log all my rides. I don't even have AGPS. I must admit I too was pleasantly surprised the first time.

[Homer]

I found that although it could track with the slider closed and the phone in my pocket it got confused every time I took it out and opened it to see where I was, giving a little wobble on the route.

[fldude99]

i was in Soho, NY with my friends last week and i tried to use the gps (i never really use it), it won't lock and there weren't any tall building really than in midtown. my friend wanted to try out the gps on the phone and i felt ashamed i couldn't show it to him

Dayene: don't feel bad about this. I was in NYC as well and it is a complete b..tch to get a sat lock in the big apple. It has to be the buildings cuz when I would go to roosevelt island it locked right away. But manhattan..forget it!!

[vash_h]

i activated GPS data.. and asked it to show the status of satelite.. in a short while, i manage to get 4 BLACK FULL BARS..

slide the keypad close.. and the 4 BLACK FULL BARS becomes 4 BLACK 1/4 BARS.. but its still active!!

[spidernet21]

i had five bars but no color. i checked a-gps, i-gps, network based. i will try to explore this gps again.

Believe it or not, the next time you try and get a signal, bring up the sat. info and then turn your device upside down where the bottom of the phone now faces the sky. It has worked for 8 phones I've set up (for first times) to help with the progress. Try it and post.

[Mechdon]

To my surprise, "sports tracker" succesfully tracked my entire route!!

Here's my question. Nokia reccomended:
1. keep slider open
2. have clear skies
3. do not block the keypad

but i crossed all of those. Has anyone else ever experienced this?

*i understand it totally dosent work if i'm in a car*

The reason why you're able to do that is because of the A-GPS function which came with the v12 firmware upgrade. The above recommendations by Nokia may be outdated...they were meant for the built-in GPS before A-GPS was available for the phone. And yes, I tried it in my car and it works too.

[munkimatt]

The reason why you're able to do that is because of the A-GPS function which came with the v12 firmware upgrade. The above recommendations by Nokia were outdated...they were meant for the built-in GPS before A-GPS was available for the phone. And yes, I tried it in my car and it works too.

That's kind of a half truth. AGPS is really used just to get the initial fix and then to get a fix if you start to lose it. It's still work in the car because there's enough 'clear' speace around you (windows).

People seem to get getting a little excited about the AGPS as occaisonally people can get a lock indoors. The standard GPS rules still apply (clear sky etc) but the AGPS just provides that little extra. For example, I still can't get a lock indoors.

[Mechdon]

That's kind of a half truth. AGPS is really used just to get the initial fix and then to get a fix if you start to lose it. It's still work in the car because there's enough 'clear' speace around you (windows).

People seem to get getting a little excited about the AGPS as occaisonally people can get a lock indoors. The standard GPS rules still apply (clear sky etc) but the AGPS just provides that little extra. For example, I still can't get a lock indoors.

Ok, I agree that A-GPS still requires GPS signals (albeit weak ones) for it to work indoors. What I meant is that with A-GPS, I'm now able to get a GPS- lock without the slider open (which I wasn't able to do so previously). If you're unable to get a lock indoors, does opening the slider help?

[munkimatt]

No. And in fact, living in Northwest england where it's constantly cloudy, myself and other N95 users will struggle to geta lock outside with the keypad shut. We really need that slide open to get one.

Hence why I use a Bluetooth GPS.

[Mechdon]

No. And in fact, living in Northwest england where it's constantly cloudy, myself and other N95 users will struggle to geta lock outside with the keypad shut. We really need that slide open to get one.

Hence why I use a Bluetooth GPS.

Thanks, I see where you're coming from. I would think cloudy weather would affect all GPS receivers as well. How is the performance of your bluetooth GPS compared with the built-in GPS? (i.e in cloudy weather?)

[munkimatt]

Really impressive. 10 second locks from cold when stationary. I find the internal GPS connects quicker when moving though. Especially moving at the speeds I drive at!

[ellmondo]

i have never had problems with obtaining a signal but then again i do live in brisbane and there are not really tall buildings or as many in brisbane city then in new york city :P

[AngusG]

i do live in brisbane

Get outa town!!!