Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

Everyone knows n810 internal GPS sucks. And for T-mobile subscribers, TM506 seems to be the best 3G phone used to tether with n810/n800. This phone also has a built-in GPS. I was wondering if anyone had success in using TM506 as an external bluetooth GPS module for n810/n800?

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

According to Howardforums this can be done.. I just ordered my n810 so have been looking at some options as well... I love my E71 but unfortunately it doesn't work on Tmos funky 3g Frequency and I hate ATT...

So its either the TM506 (still reading reviews on battery life) or use my sprint 3g card with the cradlepoint router I set up in the truck... Only issue is the cradlepoint only lasts about 2 hours on battery life.

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

@dxitt

Have yet to get Maemo Mapper to turn on the TM506's GPS. MM will connect to the 506 through BT, but it is unable to start the GPS. I am using a T-Mobile branded firmware though, and that could be preventing my N810 from starting the GPS. However, if you've got a TMO data plan, just use the A-GPS Beta program with MM while you're tethered to the 506, and you "should" be seeing satellites in less than a minute. Also, if your not going to get a data plan, you will probably want to de-brand the phone, since the GPS on the TMO branded version sucks too!

@secgeek

The 506 has a great battery, but using GPS will drain it faster than any other activity on the phone. If your gonna use it all day, you'll want to buy a car adapter and/or some spare batteries.

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

TM506 GPS locks the location really fast. Try its preloaded TeleNav software, I got a lock in less than a minute. Way better than n810's sucky GPS, which is the motivation of using Tm506's GPS instead of n810's. Having a data plan is a separate issue, it doesn't improve n810's GPS lock time.

The battery was drained pretty quickly too on n810 if GPS is turned on. How frustrating would that be when you lose half of the battery power and it still hasn't got a location lock!

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

Having a data plan is not a separate issue. Having the N810 tethered to the TM506's 3G data connection makes the N810 GPS work the way Nokia always wanted it to. I can barely get a fix on either device in the NY metro area without using AGPS. Plus AGPS seems to save the N810's battery just a bit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS_Phone

And that's also why I use amAze on the TM506, great software, even the voice navigation works great. Oh yeah and it's FREE!

Anyway I'll be de-branding the TM506 on Friday. I'll post here if I get it to work as an external GPS.

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

Please let us how it goes with debranded tm506...

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

There is Java (J2ME) app called ExtGPS which can export your GPS internal device over BlueTooth for an other device, like a laptop or the NIT :)

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

I have also had some success using minigpsd to connect to a Motorola i776 GPS.
This phone however, couldn't seem to manage both the BT DUN data tether and the BT NMEA out GPS serial connection at the same time.

I hope the TM506 works out better for you.

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

Hi, I would like to use my Samsung i617 BlackjackII (which is a windows mobile smartphone, not pocket pc) as an external gps for my n800. Is there any way I can do this?, yodude how did you do that wih the minigpsd software?.

Thanks in advance

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

Hey Allnameswereout,

I installed extGPS on my TM506 and it runs. I have to also launch my Location Services on my phone to get the GPS satellite hardware turned on. Once both are running the extGPS says "Fix NMEA-0183" and then "Bluetooth: Not Connected".

My laptop actually connects just find but my N810 will not show as connected. Even thought I'm connected through it right now to type this message. I know it's because I need to be using the SPP port for the GPS. But how do I set that up?

The ExtGPS site has this Linux tutorial but I'm not so hot at finding the first command which isn't installed on my N810.
http://www.symarctic.com/beta/index....y071105-201719

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

Ok, some progress using the command sdp-query.

sdp-query 00:21:9e:2f:4a:b9
r|SPP|2|0|Serial Port 1
r|DUN|1|0|Dial-up Networking
r|00000002-0000-1000-8000-0002ee000002|10|0|OBEX SyncML Client
l|0x110A|25|0|Music Streaming Service
l|0x110C|23|0|Remote Control Target Service
l|0x110E|23|0|Remote Control Service
r|0x8E771401|2|0|SEMC Watch Phone
l|0x1116|15|0|PAN Network Access Point
l|0x1115|15|0|PAN user
r|0x111F|5|0|Hands-Free Gateway
r|0x1112|4|0|Headset Gateway
r|OPP|6|0|OBEX Object Push
r|FTP|7|0|OBEX File Transfer
r|0x1104|8|0|OBEX IrMC Sync Server
l|HID|17|0|HID Mouse & Keyboard
l|0x8E771301|61689|0|SEMC HLA
r|0x112F|11|0|Phonebook Access PSE
r|SPP|16|0|Symarctic ExtGPS

Ok I see that my extgps is on channel 16 but now the rfcomm command that they refer to isn't something in my path. I did a "find / -name rfcomm" and all of the occurences of "rfcomm" say "permission denied". Any help would be appreciates.

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

Please read the whole message first before attempting.

Make sure ExtGPS is started and has a fix. When it says 'NMEA [with a number]' (green) it has a fix. Then it says 'BlueTooth not connected' (red). You've gotten this far it seems. Make sure your phone's BlueTooth is on and visible/findable either permanently or (probably better) temporarily not hidden.

If you put the phone temporarily (for example for 1 minute) visible you have to issue the following between now and (for example 1 minute). Go to Applications -> Settings -> Control Panel. Open here GPS Location. Put on 'Enable GPS', and click 'Pair new device'. Now your N8x0 will find your phone. It asks you to fill in a pin code. Fill in something and remember this for the next step. Your phone will now ask you to fill in a pin code. Use the very same you filled in on your N8x0. Now they are paired. Instead of the Internal GPS pick the new one from the list. Now close GPS Location and fire up an application which uses GPS; e.g. Wayfinder. The 'BlueTooth not connected error' (red) will go away and become 'Connected' (green). If you now see the GPS Panel appearing and getting 'green' it works, and instead of using GPS Location in the Config panel you can use this icon in the Panel instead provided GPS is being used by e.g. Wayfinder.

Say you had an external GPS mouse. It'd all go the same, just you wouldn't have to use ExtGPS.

Assuming your phone's GPS is good you'll find you'll have a great, fast GPS receiver & program. You can even also use BlueTooth tethering with Maemo Mapper.

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

The battery life of this phone is horrible. I've owned it for a few months now... I've also exchanged the batter once thinking it was a faulty battery. If you use the phone as a modem connected to the NIT, battery lasts maybe 10 hours. if you do not use any internet, no bluetooth, no anything, and almost 0 calls, the batter lasts 48 hours in standby.
THis phone was advertised as having amazing battery life, but it has been a big disappointment in that sense.
Everything else works great, the 3G speed is awesome. I've tested my speed multiple times and I get approximately 780kbps/160kbps on my tablet while thethered to the phone through BT.
Anyone else have the same experience as me with the battery?

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

My experience with TM506 battery is not as bad. I think it's better than n810 when GPS is turned on.

Now this may be off-topic. There's a open-source java program called Mobile GMaps which lets me pre-load the maps (google maps, MS live maps etc. same repositories used by Maemo mapper) to my 4GB M2 card. The Gmail and Google Maps (stand alone java apps from Google) as well as Yahoo mails work so well on TM506. I found that I depend on my n810 less and less. Very unfortunate for n810...

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

ExtGPS doesn't use that much battery life. Try it, maybe your phone survives the day. Mine does.

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

Which version of ExtGPS did you try? I don't find the version for Sony TM506 on the web. I am sure most of us know how to pair a phone with our ITs and that is why we buy this phone for tethering. I downloaded one on my TM506, forget which one. I see the green light for NMEA with a number, but the bluetooth connection part still shows red even through the IT and the phone show they are connected. I use the wayfinder on my IT too. Any more suggestion?

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

This one

http://www.joiku.com/?action=product...product_id=351

Just fill in that you have a Nokia phone. It is a J2ME application, so if your phone supports J2ME, it works.

There is difference between tethering (internet connectivity) and GPS.

Did you follow my instructions above? Make sure you're not using the internal GPS and make sure you're using GPS Location to pair with your phone. Even if you're already having tethering enabled! I know, this is not really the way you'd expect it to work, but its the way it works :)

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

I followed all the steps, and it still doesn't work. Maybe someone has better luck than me. Anybody?
Thanks for your suggestion anyway.

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

I can't get this to fully work. Any help would be appreciated. The two circles go green, and I see NMEA data in hyperterminal, but only GPGSV data, which I believe does not included long/lat info. I also downloaded VisualGPS, and it had the same symptom, the satellites would show up, but no long/lat.

Has anyone successfully had a TM506 and extgps working together and providing location information?

Thanks.

Re: Use Sony TM506 phone built-in phone GPS as external GPS for n810/n800
 

2 users who cannot get it working. 0 who got it working. Seems the problem is not related to N8x0 but to TM506? Maybe there are user forums for this device where you can ask if someone got an application like ExtGPS working. Maybe the BlueTooth profile to export the GPS is not supported on TM506.