iPhone 4 GPS location data connection question

[joeworrall]

I was under the impression that acquiring a GPS signal did not use any data connection, and hence the reason that apps like TomTom satnav do not run up huge data bills when abroad in Europe for example.

Dont know if this is related but i turned "airplane" mode on and used the google maps apps to try and locate my position but it told me i need a data connection?

before i go buying the expensive TomTom app i wanted to know wether this is the case or wether the data connection was needed to load various parts of the google map (which would not be required with TomTom as their maps are fully loaded already) rather than locating me.

thanks for your help.

 

[Ruby110]

Turning on airplane mode turns off the gps.

Data access isn't required for the gps to work but it will lock on much faster. It doesn't actually need the data; it needs the cell towers.

Without cell data or wifi, gps lock takes awhile.

You can test this by going to an area with a clear bier of the sky; remove your sim card and wait for the gps to lock on. You will need to be patient.