I'm planning on using the iGo Europe app for my iPhone for my trip to Europe but I was wondering if the GPS connectivity works without 3G, Edge, or Wi-Fi.
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Does the GPS work if it's not connected to 3G/EDGE/Wi-Fi?
- Thread starter iPhonePhreak
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Yes, GPS will work, but as mentioned above, you will need to download an app that doesn't depend on downloading maps as you go.
Something like Navigon or TomTom should work fine.
Something like Navigon or TomTom should work fine.
The iPhone has a dedicated GPS chipset in it - so while the GPS itself may provide you with lat/lon/elevation, it won't do you a lot of good if you aren't able to access the data necessary to load maps showing where you are (unless you're using an app that has the maps preloaded on your iPhone, such as Navigon or TomTom).
I know that Google Maps maps aren't preloaded but the app iGo Europe has preloaded maps. I have an iPhone 4 if that changes anything...
So then yes you can use iGo fine without a data plan or cell connection. The GPS will show you your location. Compass will keep you pointed in the right direction. iGO will show you the map. Much like all of the other navigation apps on the AppStore that costs a lot (TomTom, Navigon, etc...). They don't require a data plan.
But without a cell connection it takes a little bit more time for the phone to find your position as it relies heavily on the cell tower to first find your general area and then find a satellite.
But without a cell connection it takes a little bit more time for the phone to find your position as it relies heavily on the cell tower to first find your general area and then find a satellite.
GPS requires having accurate satellite orbit information. Every few hours, that information needs to be updated.
The iPhone A-GPS system relies on a data connection to quickly download the satellite orbit and status information from an assistance server on the internet, in order to get a fast first position fix.
Without that assistance, it has to download that info from a satellite at a slow fifty bits per second, which can take over ten minutes.
The iPhone A-GPS system relies on a data connection to quickly download the satellite orbit and status information from an assistance server on the internet, in order to get a fast first position fix.
Without that assistance, it has to download that info from a satellite at a slow fifty bits per second, which can take over ten minutes.
I don't know what everyone else is doing (most seem to be from the States and it seems that everything is banjaxed there).
I live in Ireland and use my GPS on the iP4 extensively without a data connection.
I get GPS lock in seconds (not 10 minutes lol).
As long as you have an app with pre cached maps you'll be grand.
I live in Ireland and use my GPS on the iP4 extensively without a data connection.
I get GPS lock in seconds (not 10 minutes lol).
As long as you have an app with pre cached maps you'll be grand.
Sure, once it has all the satellite status and ephemeris information.
Turn off your GPS for a week, or turn it off and fly a few hundred miles away. Then turn it on again. It'll take a while to download and figure out the updated satellite info.
I don't know about that. I have to disagree. Had my iPhone 4 activated in San Diego, (Live in Northern Los Angeles County). My iPhone 3GS was dead. 3 days later I used Navigon (on my 3GS) to get home, had signal locked almost immediately and didn't lose me at all the entire way home, about 170 miles.
I've used it multiple times like that before I eventually sold it. Never once had a problem.
Same here in Canada, I don't subscribe to data. I use Navigon which has preloaded maps, GPS loads in seconds.
And you had no data connection at all during that time? If you did have a data connection, you used AGPS, and that's not what he's talking about. If you never leave your general location (I think they say within 200 miles), it can figure out future data. It's when you change locations without its knowledge that you have a problem.
I went to the Bahamas and had to switch off all data connections. It did take a pretty good long time to find me. Probably around 5 minutes.
CoreLocation will still use data as part of the AGPS process if it's available.
How could I have had data on? The phone was dead, no sim, no service? I had just activated my iPhone 4, so it was an iPod Touch with a Camera and GPS chip.
If you're within 200 or so miles of where CoreLocation was last turned on, it can still achieve a quick lock. It can calculate current satellite locations based upon where they were last and the current date. In addition, unless you had Airplane Mode enabled, CoreLocation will still be able to use AGPS by examining nearby WiFi network names using Skyhook if some are available.
So it's not as simple as it may appear.
Yes but I used it several times after the 170 mile trip home from San Diego, reaching outside a 200 mile radius. I used it as my GPS device, because I didn't have a dock in my car for my iPhone 4, for about 5 weeks. Never once had a problem.
Oh, I see the confusion, then.
This doesn't matter. Once it has a lock on your physical location, it's able to calculate satellite positions. So you may have move 500 miles, but since you retained a GPS lock, it knows which satellites to look for and where as you travel.
The only case that could trigger the long lock process is if the GPS is off, and you move 200 miles without ever turning it on. Then, you have to have both no cell phone reception (for cell tower AGPS) and WiFi turned off or no WiFi networks present (Skyhook AGPS).
Hopefully that makes it a little clearer. It's actually a pretty complicated system, but the short answer to OP's question is that the GPS works without 3G/EDGE/WIFI, but it *may* be slower to lock. If you don't move around a lot between GPS uses, it'll probably still lock quickly.
Yeah, okay, I think I get it now, it is more complicated than I had originally thought. All I know is that I got it to work and I was happy with that lol.
Thanks.
Why you so quick to fail?
Like others have mentioned, the GPS will still work except for apps that don't have preloaded maps.
Same dilemma as the Op
Hi all, I didn't want to create a new thread when I have the same issue as the OP. I decided that I want to stop using AT&T and unlock my phone and get tMobile without a data plan.
Anyhow, I'm looking for a Map App. or GPS app that has all the maps preloaded in order to not rely on a 3G connection. What app would any of you wise macrumors lurkers recommend? Is there a way for a jailbroken iPhone to download the maps for the original iPhone map app? I've tried several standalone GPS products, but I find that I liked The Map App the best.
Thanks in advance!
Hi all, I didn't want to create a new thread when I have the same issue as the OP. I decided that I want to stop using AT&T and unlock my phone and get tMobile without a data plan.
Anyhow, I'm looking for a Map App. or GPS app that has all the maps preloaded in order to not rely on a 3G connection. What app would any of you wise macrumors lurkers recommend? Is there a way for a jailbroken iPhone to download the maps for the original iPhone map app? I've tried several standalone GPS products, but I find that I liked The Map App the best.
Thanks in advance!
