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So, what does the G in GPS *really* stand for?

W

wrboyce

macrumors 6502
Original poster
I'm not a moron, by the way.. I know GPS == "Global Positioning System".

I live in the UK but am currently on holiday in Spain. I have tried to locate myself using my iPhone many many times whilst over here, even leaving it trying for as long as ten minutes, to absolutely no joy.

Does anyone have any idea why? It makes no sense to me!

All the obvious things are ticked off, Data Roaming is on, I clicked "allow", yes! it's an iPhone 3G!

*puzzled*
 
GPS requires line of sight on at least 3 satellites (although, there's generally 5-8 visible in any portion of the mid-latitude skies). In other words, being outside, and not being surrounded by tall buildings would help significantly, for satellite acquisition.

Turning data roaming on only means that you'll be paying egregious amounts for all the push emails and web data your phone has received while abroad.

The GPS is a novelty, not a stand-alone quality feature, as far as I can tell.
 
wrboyce said:
I'm not a moron, by the way.. I know GPS == "Global Positioning System".

I live in the UK but am currently on holiday in Spain. I have tried to locate myself using my iPhone many many times whilst over here, even leaving it trying for as long as ten minutes, to absolutely no joy.

Does anyone have any idea why? It makes no sense to me!

All the obvious things are ticked off, Data Roaming is on, I clicked "allow", yes! it's an iPhone 3G!

*puzzled*
Click to expand...

It's not the "Data Roaming" that you want on, it's the "Location Services" that you need to make sure is on.

And in my neck of the woods (Los Angeles) with all of it's buildings, hills and trees, the iPhone 3G GPS is working pretty flawlessly for me. Both with tracking me on Google Maps as well as all location-based apps I have got (AirMe, NearBy, G-Spot, etc.)
 
wrboyce said:
I'm not a moron, by the way.. I know GPS == "Global Positioning System".

I live in the UK but am currently on holiday in Spain. I have tried to locate myself using my iPhone many many times whilst over here, even leaving it trying for as long as ten minutes, to absolutely no joy.

Does anyone have any idea why? It makes no sense to me!

All the obvious things are ticked off, Data Roaming is on, I clicked "allow", yes! it's an iPhone 3G!

*puzzled*
Click to expand...

I think your problem might be the way that the iPhone uses cell phone towers to do the "heavy lifting" and then uses GPS for fine tuning. If you're in another country, it might be the case that your iphone is getting confused about how to properly use the cell phone towers to get the GPS started.
 
genshi said:
And in my neck of the woods (Los Angeles) with all of it's buildings, hills and trees, the iPhone 3G GPS is working pretty flawlessly for me.
Click to expand...

Here's a tidbit for your amusement:

GPS satellites orbit at a 55 degree inclination from the equator. This means their orbit takes them between 55 N and 55 S latitudes.

One effect of that is more equatorial cities have better overhead coverage... which is great when between skyscrapers. Whereas more northern/southern cities such as London do not.

Or Moscow, for that matter. Thus the Russian GLONASS system uses 64.8 degrees of inclination so it gets better overhead coverage.
 
Since there might not be tagged cell towers or wifi in you area (those help locate you quikcer), the phone might need a minute or a few to located you with GPS.
 
Google Maps are downloaded over the phone's data connection, so if you're doing this in Spain without WiFi you pay £3 per MB. GPS costs nothing, no matter where you are, but I'm just pointing out that actually displaying the map beneath the flashing dot WILL be costing you money, and quite a lot of it.
 
Gonads. The G stands for Gonads.

Put it in your pocket - then if you ever forget where your balls are you'll just need to remember "They're next to your iPhone."
 
neiltc13 said:
Google Maps are downloaded over the phone's data connection, so if you're doing this in Spain without WiFi you pay £3 per MB. GPS costs nothing, no matter where you are, but I'm just pointing out that actually displaying the map beneath the flashing dot WILL be costing you money, and quite a lot of it.
Click to expand...

Duh, the OP is clearly a rich celebrity.
 
So many responses!

I'm aware of the need for line of site with the sky, and I've tried the GPS in a multitude of places with an unhindered view of the sky.

I also have location services turned on.

I think I agree with FJR, in regards to the "heavy lifting".. It's the only possibility I could think of. I've been roaming with Movistar, who is it that got the iPhone in Spain? Orange? Maybe I should try on their network.

I'm also aware that the data roaming charges are stupidly expensive, and deannnnn - I am unfortunately not a rich celeb, however I made sure any automated collecting of data ("fetch data") was turned off, just incase someone had sent me a huge email or something. I was willing to pay a few quid just for the maps to download, just to see the GPS working abroad.. The main reason I wanted my location is so that I can use G-Spot to get my location and use said information to later Geotag photos taken on my digital camera.

I checked my Bill on o2.co.uk the other day, and was plesantly surprised by my roaming call costs, however no data charges have shown up yet (I have occasionally used Safari to Jaiku my activities) so either I'll get a very nasty surprise at the end of the month, or thanks to some dodgy glitch in the O2 system, they won't be charging me for my International data (wishful thinking?).

I think I've answered everything there.. In other news, I've scratched the bloody iPhone screen on a rollercoaster. Gutted.
 
Badandy said:
This is the best post of the day.
Click to expand...

Quote of the day? GPS standing for Global, obviously, as you know.

As for it not picking you up in Spain, maybe Maps only work when your on your normal 3G network provider? Just a hunch.

Plus, how do you know the area you was in had 3G... did you have any bars?
 
forget OGPS

I'm thinking more like ODBPS or as we say in the hood... Ol'e Dirty B**tard Positioning System.


Don't Stop 😱 ... Hammertime!!!! 😎
 
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