Some GPS devices are designed for that very purpose. They have bluetooth and a call managing interface built-in so they can be the link between your headset and your phone while you ride.
Might as well just use a smartphone IMO.
Anybody use their smartphone as a bike GPS?
- Thread starter The Road Warrior
- Start date
Some GPS devices are designed for that very purpose. They have bluetooth and a call managing interface built-in so they can be the link between your headset and your phone while you ride.
Might as well just use a smartphone IMO.
vrus
Well-known member
If you have offline maps on your phone, you can use it without a signal.
http://www.androidauthority.com/meet-the-rugged-smartphone-the-casio-gzone-commando-13340/
this phone looks interesting!
Sure, you can still use the maps but it won't locate you because it needs cell tower signals to do that.
I don't get it. I installed Navigon on my 3GS, and I never use it. I always get the error message that my GPS isn't strong enough and it can't show me the route. The one time I got it to work, my GPS was so slow it was always way behind my location. It would pin point my location, freeze there (while moving 100km/h on a highway) for about 20 seconds, then finally relocate me, and repeat. Useless... I get the same issue using Maps... it's never a fluid/constant or accurate movement.
No it won't. There very few phones that have an actual satellite GPS sensor built in. They all rely on cell tower signals to locate.
Venom01
Well-known member
I can turn the data off but keep the GPS on with my nexus.at least it has the option. Ill give it a try sometime.
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That's right, location of the phone has nothing to do with data. In fact you can remove your SIM card and it will still locate you off the cell towers. The phone keeps communicating with cell towers as long as it's turned on, and airplane mode is off.
To me it's more about having the maps than the actual gps. There's usually street signs at all the streets, so you may have to do things the old fashioned way until you get a cell signal, but our forefathers did it, and we can to. Lol.
I use TomTom on my iPhone all the time. downside is if you get a txt it stays on the screen so I picked up some conductive thread and sewed some thru the thumb and index finger of my left glove so I can dismiss the message without having to pull over. Thank god they are perf leather and I didn't have to make my own holes LOL
vrus
Well-known member
dude... they communicate with the satellites...they CAN communicate with the cell towers, but that's assisted gps.
Show me a popular smartphone that has satellite GPS.
daught
Well-known member
Most smart phones have A-GPS
"Assisted GPS, generally abbreviated as A-GPS or aGPS, is a system which can, under certain conditions, improve the startup performance, or time-to-first-fix (TTFF) of a GPS satellite-based positioning system. It is used extensively with GPS-capable cellular phones"
Basically some phones will need cell signal to lock on gps satellites, other will just start up quicker. Some, at least most nokia smartphones, are able to fall back to pure GPS. All A-GPS phones function without GSM signal once they locked in to GPS satellites.
You are confusing GPS with Cell ID based location.
EDIT: A-GPS needs data, signal is not enough.
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Umm, iPhone 3G/3GS/4 uses A-GPS, which to my understanding is Satellite GPS with Cell Tower and Wifi hotspot assistance.
redridernl
Well-known member
My Optimus One uses satellites. Once the gps starts up the data icon disappears, unless you're doing something else that uses data of course. It shows how many satellites have been found when it starts.
ap4000
Member
I am not sure this is completely accurate. The term "GPS" means global positioning system. It is the technology used by devices using signal from satellites to locate your position. You will need view of the sky to get the satellite signals. When you are underground or deep in a building you cannot get GPS signals anymore, most of the time that is where aGPS come into play. It uses the cell towers to locate your "approximate" location.
If a phone is using the data network to locate your location it is no longer GPS. It is merely finding your "approximate" location based on cell towers which is not accurate at all. I am not sure why it would need data to get your location. The only time it would need data is if you are using a mapping software that requires to download the maps real time. Example is Google maps. To avoid needing data, you can always purchase a mapping software that stores the maps on your phone and use the GPS receiver functionality of your phone. As long as you have a view of the sky you can get you location from the satellites.
So all you need to be able to effectively navigate is a phone that has a built in GPS receiver and mapping software that uses the phone's built in GPS receiver and find out where you are and place you in the right place on the maps.
I have:
Dell Streak - Android based phone. It does have a built in GPS receiver. (Since I have had personal experience with at least 6 different types and shapes of smart phones and all have a built in GPS receivers I think it is safe to assume all smart phones have this)
I run Google maps and a have a 6 gig data plan to download the maps when I am in my cell coverage area.
When I leave my cell service area I load a program called copilot which I bought for $10. I have only had to do this when I went to the states.
Venom01
Well-known member
O.k. I had to test this. I have a Google HTC nexus one. I turned the airplane mode ON. Booted up the Google navagation app. Took FOREVER to get a satellite signal which usually takes no time with the airplane mode on. After it got a signal I was good to go but it was slower and a little less accurate then normal. Still good to know. You can look it up at the nexus one forums.
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