Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

I'm having issues that I understand others are having as well. I don't think there is anyone out there with an N810 that quickly connects to GPS. Mine rarely connects ever after searching for 10+ mins. So I'm starting this thread to hopefully collect some tips that people use to help their GPS link up.

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

My first connection ever took a good 20 minutes. I was actually driving when I let it set up. It finds the satellites first...then takes its time locking into three or four of them.

Subsequent uses of the GPS has it locked in about 4 minutes after activating it. So for now, I turn on the GPS as I head out the door to the car. By the time I get into the car, its locked in.

I use the 'map' program that came with the N810.

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

You must have a long walk to your car. My problem is that the GPS is never ready when I need it and that means I have to modify my lifestyle to fit my device, rather than it servicing my needs. I now carry my Holux M-1000 around with me everywhere...because the GPS units in my N95 and N810 don't cut it. The GPS on the N810 is embarrassingly poor performing and this fact is getting around to those who read reviews before purchasing. Unfortunately, the general buying public just sees the bullet point on the side of the box or the paragraph blurb direct from Nokia's marketing department on sites like Engadget. I am convinced that many features such as the camera get thrown into the tablets just for marketing sake, with no resolute intention to implement those features well on either the software or hardware side of things.

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

Same here but N800, can not get a lock on in less than 30mins. Total kak.
Yes the Bluetooth GPS box is fine with other devices, OS2008 re-flashed far too many times now!!
Garbage software interface.

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

I think the problem is the poor GPS hardware they use in the N810. For me it was one of the main buying reasons. However, I am very disappointed with the GPS.

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

Install bt-plugin to see if the problem is with your N810 unit, gps chip or navigation software.
Old N770 work just fine with bt gps devices.
What you call fix is internal application run by bt gps device.
So you can easily find out if your bt gps device already got fix, identified by flashing a led.
So test your N810 against external bt gps device first to see everything works fine than switch to internal gps chip/gps software.

Darius

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

i have an n810 , and the longest lock on time ive ever had outside or in a car is about 1 min 45 secs.... hell i once got a lock on in less than a minute in the middle of a thunderstorm

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

Few points what peoples tend to forget, when they use this miraculous GPS technology with Sirf III synonym in their minds. So, when powering GPS up, it's important to understand few facts which really help GPS receiver to perform well and produce valid fix;

1. GPS needs to get clear view to sky (handheld device is always in secondary role, when compared to bluetooth devices, which can be put far front in car).

2. This view should no be blocked by moving GPS receiver around, or wondering by yourself in view of satellites. Some window material is also very efficient to block these GPS signals. This becomes an issue, when GPS is used with old ephemerides data, since downloading ephes from satellites takes continuous, non interrupted flow of GPS information frames, each 30 s long. This is typical 'fast guy' syndrome, when user looks at display of device for few seconds and while it seems that nothing is happening, he takes devices and shakes it (at least) while wondering why Nokia crap is not working.

3. Keep receiver still. Driving and wondering around keeps blocking that very important phase of ephe downloading and it's very likely that it will never succeed.

4. When you have spent over 4 hours (or so) without GPS on, you have to understand that satellites in view and old ephes are non valid for warm start. Keep this in mind.

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

I'd like to point out that people need to realise that the GPS in the n810 is never going to be as good as an external GPS, however:

1. If you have your N810 positioned just off the windscreen of your car, (I swapped the holding bit with the stuff from my n800 nav kit :-) ) then it should pick up GPS signals far far quicker.
2. If you use GPS a hell of a lot or need to seriously rely on it, it is worth buying a good external bluetooth GPS
3. The internal GPS really struggles inside, if I use an external bluetooth then it picks up my location immediately.

Cheers,

Malc

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

DO NOT MOVE until it achieves lock.

Every time I walk out of my house and try to get a lock while walking it takes up to 10 minutes to lock.

If I set it on my porch while I put on my coat it locks in a minute if it's not been "moved" a long distance.

Example of long distance, drove 200 miles with it off, it took a loooong time to lock on next morning.

Example of short time - last used two days ago, put it on my porch at 0952, achieved lock by 0953.

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

To read nmea sentences you don't need to have your gps unit to get fix first.
So just run any gps utility, VisualGPS or another
and record nmea sentences to see if your gps unit can send anything.

GPS diagnostics is what can help you to see what's wrong with your gps navigation.

Darius

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

How can you usu maemo Mapping with N810, it seemingly requires external gps, cannot connect to the internal gps!?

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

Fire off map first and kickstart the gps app.
Search

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

Is there a diagnostics or debug utility for the N8x0? If things don't work I'd like to see why.

The built-in applications show four green bars when everything is fine and if not all bars are grey. I cannot really interpret this. The green bars probably stand for visible/used satellites, the height of the bars is probably signal strength. So what do the grey bars mean? (invisible and zero signal?)

I don't fully understand how GPS works, but everyone knows it requires a signal from minimum three satellites and some data (time, know position of satellites). This data can be received from the satellites themselves. Thus, a cold start is possible but will take time. However knowing what time it is and where you are (approx) should allow for a faster warm start. Most complains here are about this warm start failing.

Now it would be nice to see why the warm start fails. No signal at all? Not enough data? Stupid software? (Does it forget data?)

Any ideas?

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

For any GPS, the first fix after being moved hundreds of miles can take a long time, 5-15 minutes depending on conditions.

The N810 after first fix can take 2-3 minutes. Not moving and open sky is better. The GPS is fairly sensitive, but isn't the best because it has to be small and use little power, but I've gotten fixes near windows indoors. I'm surprised at how good it does that, and bluetooth, and wifi given the package size.

My BT GPS is much better.

http://www.buygpsnow.com/GlobalTop-G...-Off)_914.aspx

It gets fixes even indoors (including WAAS). Paired easily with the n810. Under a minute to a fix, usually WAAS well under 3 minutes. $50 with shipping. Well worth it. But if you've seen any external GPS, it usually has a just under one inch by one inch antenna. There's no way to put that into an n810, however there are GPS repeaters which might work too, but wouldn't be better than the above.

A thin version of the GPS is here:

http://www.buygpsnow.com/Product/Glo...unt)__925.aspx

Semsons.com has the first one, and there may be other choices, but I've gotten several.

And the N810 will work at 5Hz. I need to update a mapping program I did for the Zaurus that used US Census maps (Qt - sigh), but plotted everything and used small but fast compression. All roads, cities, lakes, parks, etc. would fit on the n810.

Re: Tips for getting GPS to connect?
 

Hi,
you can read and save nmea sentences directly from gps chip to a file
from the very beginning (hot or cold start) so no-fix recording is possible.
Saved nmea sentences you can open in VisualGPS or another
off-line gps utility to see a number of satellites in view, signal strength
and more.
If I open terminal I can read nmea sentences on-the-fly and save to a file.

Darius