new guy with GPS questions - Motorola Q Forum

SpeedyG · 05-23-2008, 07:14 AM

I bought this phone with the understanding that it has GPS - but according to ATT the ONLY way to make use of the internal GPS is by using telenav with an unlimited data plan. Is this accurate?

If that's the case that's not something I will be doing as I don't pay for a data plan on this phone. I know that's unimaginable to some people but I have the minimum data plan and only use it to sync with exchange. I'm in front of a computer much of the day so I rarely need it for web browsing or any of the other fun stuff. But I'd love to use it for emergency GPS situations.

Looks like Copilot 7 works on the phone but it appears to use an external GPS?

Thanks for the help.

PacoJr67 · 05-23-2008, 07:20 AM

The Standard (or free) GPS apps need a data connection to download maps as you go. You can also check out garmin mobile XT (not free) it comes with a memory card of all the maps you should need

rudeboy · 05-23-2008, 07:42 AM

aaand welcome aboard..

Q-Me · 05-23-2008, 08:45 AM

Download Google Maps. Then, on your Q9h, start Google Maps, click Menu, click Use GPS. It will take the Q9h a few minutes to find the satellites. Works for me!

ptlee8202 · 05-23-2008, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedyG

but according to ATT the ONLY way to make use of the internal GPS is by using telenav with an unlimited data plan. Is this accurate?

No, that's not accurate. The GPS on the ATT Q9H Global does not need telenav.

PacoJr67 · 05-23-2008, 08:46 AM

in this case though, the OP doesn't have an unlimited data plan...

ptlee8202 · 05-23-2008, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudeboy

aaand welcome aboard..

you did not DYS the guy? How come?

SpeedyG · 05-23-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ptlee8202

you did not DYS the guy? How come?

Good question. Nothing like getting such a warm welcome from someone with the screen name of Rudeboy

Thanks for the feedback.

I just got this reply from copilot that I thought I'd share....

"CoPilot is compatible with the Motorola Q9H. At this time there are stability issues with using the built in GPS but we are working to resolve this. I suggest purchasing an external Bluetooth GPS is you plan to use CoPilot."

Edit follow up from Copilot. I had asked for clarification on the stability or lack there of.

"About ½ of our customers can use the built in GPS and the other ½ can’t. So it will either work, or it won’t work."

I suppose it's possible that the 1/2 that can't make it work just haven't found the correct set of settings but I would think Copilot would have figured that out.

I will look into the free google option to get my feet wet. I had hoped to be able to use the "map it" menu item from a contact name but that takes you to the telnav page. Hopefully moving forward these devices will become slightly more open source.

I'm glad I found this site and look forward to learning more about what my phone can do. I have a small company that designs and installs home entertainment solutions and home automation technologies. So I'm not a technophobe - but I don't have a much time to sit down and just play with a phone to find out what it can do and how to best use it.

I would pay $10/m for telenav if that was the easiest solution but I"m not paying for an unlimited data plan when my average usage is about 1meg/month of data.

Thanks again

bobby-n · 05-23-2008, 09:15 AM

Welcome to EQ

SpeedyG · 05-23-2008, 12:30 PM

Now I'm getting errors on active sync and the phone can't reach the internet when connected via USB. I had a Samsung Blackjack for a year so and I know I had a heck of a time getting all the settings right for that too. Hopefully this won't be too painful. I haven't "docked" in a couple weeks but I now it worked fine before.

Obviously with no data plan I need this to work for downloading program files like google maps.