Sprint Navigation - Grade F

[W0KIE]

I tested Sprint PCS Navigation and compared it to my Garmin handheld GPS with mapping navigation. There was no comparision. I give Sprint PCS Navigation a grade of F and the Garmin handheld a grade B.

The biggest problem with Sprint Navigation is it really doesn't get an exact GPS fix on your starting location. Close but no cigar. And it doesn't seem to know what direction you are heading when you are driving slowly. Because of this it starts the route very poorly. Sprint Nav takes a little time to boot up. Sprint Nav does have a nice female voice which you can make repeat by hitting the talk button.

Bottom line: Buy a dedicated vehicle navigation unit and skip Sprint PCS Navigation. It's not worth the money.

[Imajika]

I have a dedicated Garmin GPS unit but I also got the GARMIN navigation pack for my boyfriend's phone. I compared the navigation on his phone to my Garmin unit and they were exactly the same. Both are Garmin products so I would expect them to be. I would recommend the Garmin navigation program through Sprint. It's 9.99 a month. I love Garmin products and would never use anything else for GPS services.

[BrettW]

sprint navigation is only as good as the device your using it with, if your using it with an older handset such as the a920 mentioned in your avatar space that would be why

on my Q9c hand in hand with my step-moms new garmin device tested in a road test they were just as accurate as each other, at times the Q9c was a bit more accurate due to its usage of GPS+Tower assistance now that ive done the hack

only thing is the sprint navigation maps are a little dated theres a new bridge that was built where i live and while driving over it sprint nav said i was in the water

[some18mybrain]

only thing is the sprint navigation maps are a little dated theres a new bridge that was built where i live and while driving over it sprint nav said i was in the water

Did it make a "glub glub" sound to let you know you had driven into water?? :laughing:

I use my Sprint Navigation all the time, and although I agree that it is not 100% updated on some things, it has never gotten me lost, so I have no complaints :)

[james2K]

works good on the M1, but don't EVER take it into unknown territory with a V9m...

[rennyn]

works good on the M1, but don't EVER take it into unknown territory with a V9m...

It actually works very well on my v9m during the little testing that I did. Always got a good fix on where I was and where I was heading.

[james2K]

It actually works very well on my v9m during the little testing that I did. Always got a good fix on where I was and where I was heading.

well lucky you :p :hee:
that phone got me so freakin lost... i should have just got directions beforehand but I was used to gps on my phone

after 1 minute, everytime i got a fix, it'd say "NO GPS" :mad: I wanted to throw it

[BrettW]

thats one benifit to the Q9c is it has 3 methods of getting a GPS fix all of which suppliment each other. there is, satellite, tower, and server

[VDubb]

Brett,

Isn't that how AGPS operates? To my understanding, the only difference with the Q9c and other phones it that the GPS also functions without the towers as well. I assume that the Q9c will function if you have a GPS program with Maps installed on the device or memory card and no data services available.

-VDubb

[BrettW]

Brett,

Isn't that how AGPS operates? To my understanding, the only difference with the Q9c and other phones it that the GPS also functions without the towers as well. I assume that the Q9c will function if you have a GPS program with Maps installed on the device or memory card and no data services available.

-VDubb

my post was mostly directed towards the OP, but nonetheless...

not always agps can operate in 1 of a few ways, the Q9c is a device that takes advantage of every way that aGps can operate where as most devices require tower or server support (or even both) as well as a gps satellite link, the Q9c only requires either the tower, or satellite, or if needed it can use both or all 3 to get the most accurate possible result, to get server support one must do a hack to enable it, its a quite easy hack that can be found here, or on google by searching q9c gps hack

or a better explanation provided from wikipedia

"
An A-GPS receiver can address these problems in several ways, using an Assistance Server:

The Assistance Server can locate the phone roughly by what cell site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_site) it is connected to on the cellular network (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_network).
The Assistance Server has a good satellite signal, and lots of computation power, so it can compare fragmentary signals relayed to it by cell phones, with the satellite signal it receives directly, and then inform the cell phone or emergency services of the cell phone's position.
It can supply orbital data (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephemeris) for the GPS satellites to the cell phone, enabling the cell phone to lock to the satellites when it otherwise could not, and autonomously calculate its position.
It can have better knowledge of ionospheric (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionospheric) conditions and other errors affecting the GPS signal than the cell phone alone, enabling more precise calculation of position. (See also Wide Area Augmentation System (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wide_Area_Augmentation_System))Some A-GPS solutions require an active connection to a cell phone (or other data) network to function, in others [2] (http://www.globallocate.com/A-GPS/A-GPS_Frameset.htm) [3] (http://www.globallocate.com/SEMICONDUCTORS/SEMI_MAIN_Frameset.htm) it simply makes positioning faster and more accurate, but is not required."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGPS

so yes in the end, you can use the Q9c as a standalone unit with maps loading off an SD card, the fun part is finding one that works well, im currently on that quest ill be trying out route66 tonight

[chapelhill]

Couldn't disagree more.

I have had dedicated Nav systems and the ability to have this convenient feature as part of my phone is invaluable.

(1) If you start the program from a slow or still location, you can always look at the route summary to see which way you are supposed to go. (2) Your phone doesn't need a GPS lock to give you local business information if you choose the "somewhere else" option... of course, if you are near one of your recent or favorite searches. (3) you have to pay for traffic on other GPS units. (4) You would have to pay for Navi with Sprint for at least 2 years before you spend the same money as a stand-alone unit and that would be a basic model. (5) -You should seriously try the Navi on the new Q because it is FABULOUS and loads FAST :-)

[sde780]

I love TeleNav. The signal is good, although it's a bit slow to decide that I'm not on track, it sure beats Garmin IMO.

Garmin freezes on me, and says I'm at their headquarters in another state.

[Dubspoon]

When is it going to be more like it's parent TeleNav.... sharing locations, downloadable voices and better graphics

[boowooh]

I have been using garmin on my A920 for 2 years now and I just think it's the greatest! Just last week, I had to dive down to one of our vendors, only equipped with a printed google map, it was more difficult. With Garmin it tells me exactly where the bldg is, left or right etc. When I got there I had to wait for 2 hours so I just went to the mall close by and not being familiar with the area, I got lost going back but thanks to my Garmin... I found my way back.

I have never used the Sprint Nav, but maybe I will try depending on which new phone I get.

[W0KIE]

I didn't know that Garmin had an application for the Samsung A920. I downloaded the application at a pricy $10 a month plus tax. I'll give it a fair trail today using my Garmin 60Csx hand held as the benchmark. So far I like the Garmin A920 colorful menus and Ms. Garmin's voice. :clap:

[W0KIE]

Test 1:

SprintUsers Executive Summary:

Garmin application on SprintPCS Samsung A920 (GSprint) is still grade F.

Garmin GPSMap 60CSx (GMap) handheld with Garmin city map upgrade grade B.

Details:

Both GSprint and GMap computed the same route on a six or so mile trip from my home to my office. Both took me down a rush hour stalled freeway with a cloverleaf in the middle. No warning of freeway stall from GSprint. GMap displayed a beautiful wide view of the cloverleaf, GSprint did not. GMap beeped advance notice of upcoming turns with reasonable notice. GSprint announced some turns at the very last moment.

Coming off the final freeway I had a perfectly straight three mile run toward my office down a six lane avenue. At the start of the avenue run both GSprint and GMap were in perfect sync. Just one mile down the avenue in the lane nearest the center median things got REALLY UGLY on the GSprint. GSprint got totally lost and wanted me to turn off the avenue and start back into a neighborhood. :1zhelp: GMap was rock solid and never lost its bearing. :tu:

The only thing good I can say right now about GSprint on the Samsung A920 is that the colors are deeper than GMap, GSprint talks, and just maybe GSprint is better than no map at all.

[gumby420h]

you should all send your feed back about this to Sprint at this email address

customeresolutioncenter@sprint.com:


i have had some bugs with the sprint one myself and i will b writting them tomorrow as well

[W0KIE]

If you use your Sprint cell phone as your navigator then I suggest you send your cell phone navigator audio to your car radio. How?

First find an "FM car transmitter for auxillary devices." Here's the one I found at Wal-Mart for $30. Mine is white.

http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/418

Then go to Radio Shack and find headset jack adapter 274-004 which will connect the above to your cell phone's 3/32' jack if it's like my Samsung A920. The adapter must be stereo. Cost is $10.

My Sprint cell phone will output navigation audio and possibly other cell phone audio to the car radio even though the cell phone lid is closed.