[s1hastie]

Can anyone answer a quick query on this.

Is the maps application the sat nav for the phone, it appears to be but i am unsure about using it.

I don't want to get charged for data does it need to connect to the internet or is it all preloaded onto the phone so accesses the maps from there,

I guess what i am asking is does it cost to connect to the GPS? I know a TomTom or something wouldn't but never sure with mobile phones.

Cheers

[SCL411]

Hi,

I've used mine four or five times in the last month and have not been charged.

The maps are pre-loaded onto the phone so don't need to be updated as you drive along. The GPS signal is free. The only thing that may be paid for (if you pay for your data usage) is a system that Nokia have to speed up first GPS lock on. The phone contacts a server at Nokia which has a database of sat. locations at pre-set times. The phone uses this data to spped up the lock on process.

If you remember to set the phone to ask before it tries to download data, and tell it no when it opens up the maps application you should find it works fine without incurring any charges - it did for me.

[s1hastie]

Originally Posted by SCL411

Hi,

I've used mine four or five times in the last month and have not been charged.

The maps are pre-loaded onto the phone so don't need to be updated as you drive along. The GPS signal is free. The only thing that may be paid for (if you pay for your data usage) is a system that Nokia have to speed up first GPS lock on. The phone contacts a server at Nokia which has a database of sat. locations at pre-set times. The phone uses this data to spped up the lock on process.

If you remember to set the phone to ask before it tries to download data, and tell it no when it opens up the maps application you should find it works fine without incurring any charges - it did for me.

Thanks mate, how do i set it to ask before it tries to download data? yes i do pay for mine, although most of the time just use the wifi.

[RobM]

You only get charged for data if you use A-GPS (Assisted GPS) which uses the mobile network to help locate you quicker. There is the option in the Maps menu to turn this off though, so only the internal GPS receiver is used for navigation. This will ensure you don't get charged anything for data downloads, but may slow navigation a little if you're in a location that doesn't get a great GPS signal.

[skr1]

It cost me 50.00 for a 3 year (no extra
charge )contract for gps updates europe.

[Dave964]

Originally Posted by SCL411

Hi,

I've used mine four or five times in the last month and have not been charged.

The maps are pre-loaded onto the phone so don't need to be updated as you drive along. The GPS signal is free. The only thing that may be paid for (if you pay for your data usage) is a system that Nokia have to speed up first GPS lock on. The phone contacts a server at Nokia which has a database of sat. locations at pre-set times. The phone uses this data to spped up the lock on process.

If you remember to set the phone to ask before it tries to download data, and tell it no when it opens up the maps application you should find it works fine without incurring any charges - it did for me.

That description is not entirely accurate. AGPS is not carried out by using a Nokia server, and it's not done by sat. locations at pre-set times either. If it was, the phone would simply have that information stored. It has more to do with measurements of cell strength by the phone.

Originally Posted by skr1

It cost me 50.00 for a 3 year (no extra
charge )contract for gps updates europe.

That's for the navigation license - nothing to do with the actual maps themselves.

[SCL411]

Originally Posted by Dave964

That description is not entirely accurate. AGPS is not carried out by using a Nokia server, and it's not done by sat. locations at pre-set times either. If it was, the phone would simply have that information stored. It has more to do with measurements of cell strength by the phone.

Yes, you are right. Some AGPS systems do employ basic triangulation to locate the handset location as well, however, I wasn't sure if Nokia use this method. Basic AGPS relies on downloading a regularly updated table of 'GPS Precise Ephemeris data'. Simply saving this table and referring to it indefinitely would not be sufficent as it does become out of date and would end up not speeding up the time to first lock.

I'm sure you're correct concerning the triangulation method as this, coupled with the GPS ephemeris info would be an accurate and quick way of pinpointing both your location and that of the available GPS sats. However, I'm not sure how knowing your own location without being able to refer to a table of sat locations for a given time would help speed things up - maybe I'm being a bit dense!

[s1hastie]

Im starting to think the phone is faulty.

Just cannot get a GPS signal on it any ideas? Have tried it through the wifi to connect and the contract internet through vodafone.

There is def GPS in my area as we have a TomTom here and it picks it up no problems.

[s1hastie]

panic over got it working,

Just had to leave it for 10 mins had my tea came back and it worked fine.

Even put a route in it and walked down the road with it. Tripped over my neighbours wall though on the way back looking at the phone not where I was going so although it now has sat nav it also has a couple of scratches!

[SCL411]

Glad you got it sorted out! Just remember to keep your eyes on the road when you are in your car!

I seem to remember mine taking longer to lock on the very first time I used it.