Help w/GPS setting to work with google map mobile

[dwboston]

Originally Posted by mexiken

I've had the Q9h since the 1st day it came out, and so I've been following this forum here since early November. You guys seem to be a reliable and quick source for info, so I frequent this board often.

I must say, without any doubt, that INDEED, the GPS chip works out of the box. However, with the FIRST model I had, it didn't seem to wanna work right out of the box. At least I THOUGHT it was the model. It turns out it was the software. Using the new Google maps (2.0), it almost ALWAYS locks. Yes its slow and not as good as others, I don't know if thats the lock that AT&T requested being put on it or the limitation of the GPS chip itself, but it DOES work. I have found that by downloading WLS and adjusting the GPS setting to "GPS Intermediate Driver" helps lock up more.

For those of you have the problem where it says, "seeking GPS satellites" and then it disappears, JUST WAIT. Its actually working but it will take up to a minute or two to display the "GPS active(#)" notification. My Q9h has sometimes sat there, "seeking" for minutes til it times out, but once that disappears, it ALWAYS fires up the GPS within a minute or two. I don't know what its doing, but its working. So just be patient, because if you get anxious like me and restart it, you start the painfully slow process of acquiring a lock all over again.

This is my experience. Anyone else with different ones feel free to chime in. Hope I could help.

My experience is pretty similar. I just fired up Google Maps and got a lock within 30 seconds. If you do the registry edit that enables the GPS icon on the top part of the home screen next to the battery meter you can tell that the GPS is still searching for a lock when the "seeking GPS satellites" goes away if it hasn't got a lock yet.

The regedit (from MoDaCo) is:

HKLM\Services\LCAService

Change DisplayIcon from 0 to 1 and restart your phone.

[mexiken]

I'm glad you posted that. I'm curious. What program do I need to use to access the registry on the mobile phones ???? I've tried searching the forum but can't seem to find it

[dwboston]

Originally Posted by mexiken

I'm glad you posted that. I'm curious. What program do I need to use to access the registry on the mobile phones ???? I've tried searching the forum but can't seem to find it

I use PHM Registry Editor. It was free and works really well.

[mexiken]

I actually just tried to install it. It didn't work. I have Vista. It said the desktop version which was for ActiveSync didn't work for me =(

I installed mobile registry editor and found your registry line, but it says, "access denied" to make changes

[mexiken]

Nevermind, got PHM to work.

I downloaded the cab, and despite it saying it was written for an earlier version, it works like a charm. I see the little icon now. VERY helpful =)

[dwboston]

Originally Posted by mexiken

Nevermind, got PHM to work.

I downloaded the cab, and despite it saying it was written for an earlier version, it works like a charm. I see the little icon now. VERY helpful =)

It's a little counterintuitive but the "GPS" icon mean GPS is OFF. The )))[x] means it's searching but hasn't connected yet. The )))[checkmark] means it's connected. It's reassuring that the program shuts the GPS off when you exit.

You do lose the little vibrate icon there when the vibrate profile is active, at least on the AT&T Q9h.

[mexiken]

Yeah I noticed. Unfortunately, ever since I did the registry hack, I can't seem to get a lock, so I haven't seen the checkmark yet =(

I just had it working earlier too....

[dwboston]

Originally Posted by mexiken

Yeah I noticed. Unfortunately, ever since I did the registry hack, I can't seem to get a lock, so I haven't seen the checkmark yet =(

I just had it working earlier too....

That registry edit just affects the icon display, nothing else. Did you install the GPSID configuration utility? Read this thread over at MoDaCo for the info: http://www.modaco.com/content/Smartp...on-Smartphone/

[mexiken]

Yeah I finally got it. My unit is so touchy. Or actually, not. It seems to work better when I set it down and let it lock on, as opposed to holding it in my hands. Very sensitive if you ask me. If I hold it in my hands and watch it, I can get it to time out. If I set it on my bed next to me and reply to a post on here, by the time I'm done, its locked up !!!! Weird I tell ya....

[sivart]

Originally Posted by LuvrGirl

Ok, here's what you do. You need to download the GPSID configuration utility. Follow this link to the Modaco forum and download Paul's file: Microsoft_Smartphone_GPSID_Settings.cab.

Copy the CAB file to your Q and run the CAB file from the Q. It will install an app called GPSID Settings. Go into your Start Menu and run the app. Set the Program Port to COM3, Hardware Port to NONE, (I) set the baud rate to the highest possible (115200) and make sure there is a check on "Manage Automatically". Now, soft reset the device (just turn off and on) to make sure the settings take effect.

Next step, you need to download an app called GPS Test, this is the app that will kind of "kick start" your GPS so that it will be ready for apps like GoogleMaps and LiveSearch to obtain the GPS fix ALOT faster. Download GPS Test from here: http://www.smartphone-freeware.org/system/files/applications/GPSTest_1.04.CAB

Copy the GPS Test CAB to your Q and run the CAB file from the Q. It will install an app called GPS Test, go into the Start Menu and run the app. You need to configure it to find your GPS, so hit the right soft key labeled Menu, choose 4.GPS Settings, make sure you set your COM port to COM3, (I) set my baud rate to 38400. Hit left soft key labeled Save. Hit Menu again, 6.More, 1.Exit Program.

Now, go into your GoogleMaps app and under the Settings, make sure to select COM3. Exit out of GoogleMaps. Now, you might want to soft reset your device again, just to make sure all settings take effect.

Once you're back up again on the Q, start GPS Test first, it will begin to start up your GPS to obtain signals. It will actually say GPS starting... and then once it's got the lock, I think it says GPS Fix or something like that. From here you could just hit the HomeScreen button (this keeps GPS Test running in the background). Now that you know you have the GPS signal, run GoogleMaps and it should get the GPS lock quick.

Whew! Hopefully I got everything in here... tried to remember every single step I took to get this working on mine.

Post back if you run into any problems.

MaRiA

is it okay to always leave the GPS Test running in the background?