[Ram]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Perhaps your friends hadnt, but the phone was launched on Nov 17, 2007 in EUROPE.

What does launched mean if the major mobile phone stores in a European capital like Munich didn't have the phone to sell?

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Why should Nokia launch an HSDPA phone in India first and not make it available in markets where 3G/HSDPA networks are standard??????

Sometimes reality defies logic.

Originally Posted by Steeroid

You need an internet data connection because the N82 features an aGPS, as opposed to a GPS. ..

You don't have to use A-GPS. You can turn it off in an N82.
Besides Assisted GPS, you can also choose among one or more of Bluetooth GPS, Integrated GPS and Network GPS, in a Nokia N82.

Originally Posted by Steeroid

...they do not store a navigation application on the handset. Hence you need the data connection to download maps.

Typically, most PDA navigation devices have navigation software and maps built into the phone, which means you dont need to wait until the maps are downloaded.

My MGMaps on the N82 does that too. I have stored map tiles from Google Maps of some areas of my interest. Symbian S60 devices beat Windows Mobile devices in speed, software-ruggedness and power consumption, which is why I stay away from Windows Mobile PDAs, although we do work on them professionally.

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Which is why I'm a bit bemused at the fact that your German friends were zapped by an Indian downloading navigation maps over the web.

They were zapped at a mobile phone tracking a car running 140 km/h loading map tiles in realtime working as fast as it did, which they had not seen before. And they are mobile operator engineers from O2 Germany.

Originally Posted by Steeroid

That part of the world is quite used to using PNAs that do not require maps to be downloaded every time you navigate. I think they were probably amazed that people still download maps on demand.

[/quote]
Let objective observations of one on the spot, be a guide of what that, or any other part of the world is used to. Many of us do have a propensity to idolize the West which IMHO, is increasingly misplaced.

[s0uljah]

Originally Posted by Ram

Many of us do have a propensity to idolize the West which IMHO, is increasingly misplaced.

O/T

Very true... I would think we should have learnt from our history by now.

[smsrini]

Help! I've caught the GPS bug!

I am a total Newbie when it comes to GPS. I've read the two threads I found on T-BHP on using a GPS for navigation and find most of the discussion around Garmin, Satguide.

I use a Nokia E61i and think that ideally should buy a Bluetooth GPS receiver. Something like this, RFID, GSM, GPRS, GPS, RF, Wireless, India Mifare, Proximity, Cards, Readers India, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad which SumitB mentioned in his post or this one on ebay.in:
eBay India: HOLUX GPSlim 238 BLUETOOTH GPS RECEIVER GR238 VAT@12.5% (item 380046036928 end time 20-Jul-2008 09:29:40 IST)

My questions:

1) what do i need on my mobile phone? - google maps, Nokia Maps ? Anything better than this ?

2) If I want to connect this BT GPS to my laptop, what is the best software available ?

3) Where can I download / buy maps that will work with these receivers ?

4) Do these BT GPS devices work on A-GPS ? I read that they use differential GPS ?

5) Finally, With iPhone on the cards, for car navigation, is a A-GPS based mobile phone better or a BT GPS receiver better for use ?

Sorry If I am repeating the questions!


thanks
Srini

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

This is a Nokia special - they do not store a navigation application on the handset. Hence you need the data connection to download maps - making cellphone operators (like Vodafone/Airtel/Idea) very happy as you will keep downloading maps as you navigate, driving up data usage.

Typically, most PDA navigation devices have navigation software and maps built into the phone, which means you dont need to wait until the maps are downloaded.

Nokia phones come pre-loaded with maps for few Indian cities. You don't have to download them with GPRS.

And you can download maps for other countries / cities free of cost on PC and copy to phone. Nokia software that comes on DVD with phone makes is straightforward.
It has saperate UI for maps so use does not have to bother about download URL / folder name etc.

[DerAlte]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

... This is a Nokia special - they do not store a navigation application on the handset. Hence you need the data connection to download maps - making cellphone operators (like Vodafone/Airtel/Idea) very happy as you will keep downloading maps as you navigate, driving up data usage. ...

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

Nokia phones come pre-loaded with maps for few Indian cities. You don't have to download them with GPRS.
And you can download maps for other countries / cities free of cost on PC and copy to phone. Nokia software that comes on DVD with phone makes is straightforward.
It has separate UI for maps so use does not have to bother about download URL / folder name etc.

Arrey baba, what is this confusion?
1. "Application" is the software that will use the coordinates to correctly locate the graphical information to be rendered on the screen from the "maps" (which is purely data, not executable code). May or may not have additional phool-patti functionality, like Route Planning, showing Restaurants and what not, route logging etc.
2. "Maps" are the data that is needed to translate a Lat-Long-Elev coordinate (from the GPS) into visual information. This both the vector graphics, text label and terrain data, as well as the associated PoI tables

Now, if one says "no navigation application" on the phone, one should expect both executable and data ("maps", what will you see them with?) to be absent. Conversely, if the "maps" are present - so should the application, no? Otherwise how will the buyer verify that the maps are there?

Of course a GPRS connection is needed for downloading data if the "map" information for the area one is in is not available stored in the device.

Does the N82 "map application" have Route Planning?

[Vid6639]

I'm getting the Holux M-1000B for Rs.2400. It's a newer model compared to the Slim240 which has been replaced by the M-1200.

Only problem I don't think it's with the SirfStar III chipset. It has the MediaTek MT3318 chipset. Any ideas?

Details here: HOLUX - The Pro Name in GPS

[NetfreakBombay]

N82 comes pre-loaded with:

1. Mapping app
2. Vector maps, POI for 6 cities (if sold in India)

If map is not available for some area, it wont display that map. It wont download it over GPRS.

You need to connect it to PC to get more maps and languages.

Now regarding Route Planning:

1. It is rudimentary ( IMHO not as good as other GPS that I used in past )
2. You can only specify start and end (can't specify "via" )
3. You can't alter the route that device has selected
4. If you take a route different from suggested by device, route is updated to accommodate that.
5. You have some options like you can specify preference for toll roads / highways etc

[SumitB]

Originally Posted by vid6639

I'm getting the Holux M-1000B for Rs.2400. It's a newer model compared to the Slim240 which has been replaced by the M-1200.

Only problem I don't think it's with the SirfStar III chipset. It has the MediaTek MT3318 chipset. Any ideas?

Details here: HOLUX - The Pro Name in GPS

The M-1000B does look good. The MT3318 is apparently a newer chipset compared to the SirfStarIII. The SirfStar is capable of 20 parallel channels whereas the MT3318 is capable of 32 parallel channels. This in itself should allow for a more sensitive and faster satellite fix. Since the receiver is fully compatible with the Serial Port Profile (SPP), you will not have any problems whatsoever. Also, its from Holux which guarantees you of support.

[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by SumitB

The M-1000B does look good. The MT3318 is apparently a newer chipset compared to the SirfStarIII. The SirfStar is capable of 20 parallel channels whereas the MT3318 is capable of 32 parallel channels. This in itself should allow for a more sensitive and faster satellite fix. Since the receiver is fully compatible with the Serial Port Profile (SPP), you will not have any problems whatsoever. Also, its from Holux which guarantees you of support.

Excellent SumitB. Thanks a ton for your help. I'm picking up the M-1000B. I'll bargain a bit since I'll be picking up 2 and see if I can get them for 2K each.

Thanks once again.

[DerAlte]

What happened, Ram, you posted the same answers again?

[s0uljah]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

What happened, Ram, you posted the same answers again?

For a second that double post had me puzzled.

iPhone vs n82, lets hear your opinions guys (this one I will encourage even those with no experience with either gadget to post their 2 paise )

[DerAlte]

Oy s0uljah, don't start communal riots now, will you? It is a white wine v/s red wine issue. If you are a vino, go for the red - better kick at a lesser price! If you are hoity-toity glass-sniffing aristocrat, the white it is for you.

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by s0uljah

iPhone vs n82, lets hear your opinions guys

I have N82 and working on iPhone for something related to work. My observations:

1. iPhone has better/larger screen
2. iPhone has touchscreen
3. N82 is "standard" I.e. its like windows, has got applications for almost everything.
4. N82 is "hackable" you get all sorts of documentation / tools for that

N82 with iPhone like screen will be Nirvana.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

What happened, Ram, you posted the same answers again?

Terribly sorry! My friends. Pardon my oversight.

It was my slow Internet connection that misled me into thinking the earlier post did not register.

My Tata Indicom Broadband has been sleeping for the last couple of days and I am hobbled to a GPRS connection with poor network coverage.

Mods: Kindly delete the duplicate post. #3456

[Ram]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

The GPS receiver receives low power, high frequency radio waves, not microwaves.

Steeroid and DerAlte, Aren't electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz to 300,000 MHz called microwaves?

What according to you, is the center frequency of an antenna for receiving GPS signals?

It is 1575.42 MHz ± 3 MHz
Voltage Standing Wave Ratio = 1.5:1
Bandwidth: ± 5 MHz
Impedance: 50 Ω

If that is not microwave, what is?