Differences in GPS usage between non-gps and gps phones?

Discussion for Sports Tracker

21-07-2009 09:05

Hi,
I'll soon be switching from my N81 (which doesn't have internal gps receiver) to N82 (which does).
I know pretty well now when the gps receiver achieves a fix - the led starts blinking.

How do I know that the N82 has a gps fix before a workout?

Seems to be a trivial question, so tycoons like you should easily answer it ;)

Comments

Submitted by mbrett on 21-07-2009 09:55.

You can check via GPS Data.

Should be in the Tools / Settings area of your phone.

Within there you can check Satellite status or just leave the position screen on.

mbrett
N97 RM-505 (Product Code: 0585262 (Vodafone UK)) FW 11.0.021
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.015

Submitted by frigo on 21-07-2009 21:23.

Thanks,
and GPS data is also the app where I set up my preferrence about using the internal gps receiver, right?
But won't it drain the battery fast? How does the phone know that I need gps data now, and not all the time? Should this app run in the background 24/7?

Submitted by mbrett on 22-07-2009 10:07.

GPS only truns on when you open this app or another application request GPS information. It only operates upon request. The internal GPS does not drain the battery that fast. My experience is that it is not much more drainign than bluetooth, but as I said before unlike bluetooth it only turns on when GPS information is requested.

You don't need to run this application in the background to use the GPS. I have found this application useful before in verifying GPS when otehr applications have been having issues and it has sometimes worked as prompt when an app has been unable to gain intial GPS lock.

mbrett
N97 RM-505 (Product Code: 0585262 (Vodafone UK)) FW 11.0.021
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.015

Submitted by frigo on 22-07-2009 09:15.

Using NST, there's only one way to check that the app has a GPS lock - New workout -> OK -> Screen up and the gps status. Am I correct. I know I can switch to GPS data, but without it, there's no other way, right?

Submitted by mbrett on 22-07-2009 10:09.

Yes. The only way to check the NST has GPS lock is to look for the icon on the workout screen changing to a green tick. You can howver use GPS Data to check if you lack of lick in NST is due to a GPS issue or an NST issue. Also I have found before now that at certain times when NSt has not got a lock and I have started GPS Data and got a lock NST has then got a lock.

mbrett
N97 RM-505 (Product Code: 0585262 (Vodafone UK)) FW 11.0.021
N95 8Gb (Product Code: 0558787 (UK)) FW 31.0.015