[stonent]

Mine on my 7520 doesn't seem to work very well at all. I only got it to work once, and it was while driving.

Is it supposed to sync frequently? It's over 1.5 days and no update. I'd hate to be half dead on the side of the road and 911 send someone to the subway I ate at on Monday.

[martin_j001]

It only refreshes when you tell it to, its not automatic at all.

[stonent]

I hope it refreshes if I call 911.

[yahtzee]

Originally Posted by stonent

I hope it refreshes if I call 911.

Its pretty irrelevant if it refreshes or not...

A-GPS requires precise time to perform satellite signal processing. It can utilize precise time from a synchronized network (which provides optimized TTFF and sensitivity), or derive it on either a synchronized or an asynchronous network from aiding data received from the Location Server. A-GPS operates on any air interface network, synchronized or not, without requiring any costly equipment to derive time, and will operate with enhanced efficiency and performance on precisely synchronized networks.

What makes Assisted-GPS work so well is that the wireless network, using its own GPS receivers, as well as an estimate of the handset’s location down to cell/sector, can predict with great accuracy the GPS signal the handset will receive and send that information to the handset. With this assistance the size of the search space is greatly reduced and the time-to-first-fix (TTFF) shortened from minutes to seconds.

[Mark Rejhon]

The 7520 GPS has a real GPS receiver built into it. It's not A-GPS, but real GPS. Yes, you heard that right! :D

I heard several rumors that it should be capable of GPS navigation mapping once the API's become available for it.

It appears that the 7520 uses a REAL GPS receiver. Therefore, it does not use GPS from the antennas, and is therefore not A-GPS. All the press releases say GPS, not A-GPS.

The 7520 is unique in that it is the only BlackBerry with a real GPS receiver. Yes, GPS navigation mapping software should be possible eventually, once the API's become available. But the 7520's memory limit, will limit the size of the maps.

[yahtzee]

Originally Posted by Mark Rejhon

The 7520 GPS has a real GPS receiver built into it. It's not A-GPS, but real GPS. Yes, you heard that right! :D

I heard several rumors that it should be capable of GPS navigation mapping once the API's become available for it.

It appears that the 7520 uses a REAL GPS receiver. Therefore, it does not use GPS from the antennas, and is therefore not A-GPS. All the press releases say GPS, not A-GPS.

The 7520 is unique in that it is the only BlackBerry with a real GPS receiver. Yes, GPS navigation mapping software should be possible eventually, once the API's become available. But the 7520's memory limit, will limit the size of the maps.

So since the API's arent enabled as of today, how are the 911 agencies locating folks?

[fusion2u]

No problem here with my GPS , using a 7520.

[stonent]

I have since found it works best if you are in an open area such as a parking lot. You can get a signal almost immediately.

[Mark Rejhon]

>>"So since the API's arent enabled as of today, how are the 911 agencies locating folks?"

That's because it's built into the operating system. It's just that the API's are only available inside the OS -- not to third party software. So a computer programmer can't make an installable map program that uses the GPS.

[GTi4Life]

I used 911 to report an accident with my 7520 and 911 knew exactly where I was before I even told them my location. I hope we can use it for mapping soon.

[nextelnutt]

I would like to be able to use it for Telenav. I am spending $55.00 a month for Packet Stream Gold and it would be a nice saving to have the BB do it all. And I can finally not look like I have a tool belt full of electronics.

[nextelnutt]

So where can I get to my GPS cordinates on my BB 7520?
I will have to do some looking.

[rcg]

Originally Posted by Mark Rejhon

The 7520 GPS has a real GPS receiver built into it. It's not A-GPS, but real GPS. Yes, you heard that right! :D

I heard several rumors that it should be capable of GPS navigation mapping once the API's become available for it.

It appears that the 7520 uses a REAL GPS receiver. Therefore, it does not use GPS from the antennas, and is therefore not A-GPS. All the press releases say GPS, not A-GPS.

The 7520 is unique in that it is the only BlackBerry with a real GPS receiver. Yes, GPS navigation mapping software should be possible eventually, once the API's become available. But the 7520's memory limit, will limit the size of the maps.

The 7520 absolutely has A-GPS. It has the ability to use raw GPS data, network assisted location or a combination of both.

[Mark Rejhon]

In which case, a rephrasing would certainly be needed.

At the moment, to the best of my knowledge, the 7250 and 7520 are the only BlackBerries with real satellite GPS recievers in addition to A-GPS.

[drbob86]

Under Options, Location Based Services there is a GPS receiver function that is using absolute/unaided GPS. It may take 200 seconds to get a fix.

e911 calls use AGPS every time. Fix taking is pretty quick.

Applications for 7520 will have their choice based on the JSR179 GPS interface implementation.

Coming soon..
See the RIM Dec 16, 2004 press release.