[csawatsky]

I've decided I'm done with my 8130's internal gps. It just plain doesn't work well enough to rely on it.

but my question is, if I get a bluetooth GPS receiver, will that improve the "searching for satellite" nonsense that plagues me now? I realize that in the 3rd basement of a lead enclosed building I won't get signal, but my pearl doesn't even pick up signal standing in the middle of a field, 9 times out of 10.

That said, any recommendations? I seem to recall seeing a review of a gps dongle that was keychain sized, that would be handy.

Also, will bbmaps work without data? I hope to be able to use this setup to find myself if I get lost dirtbiking in back country where there's no cellular. I don't expect maps, but if I mark a point, will I be able to see where I currently am in relation to said point?

thanks!

[twn2]

I've found that my BT GPS is not worth using. It's not the GPS that's the problem, but the updating of the maps on my BB. It's just not fast enough. I'll stick with my TomTom. I used the GPS with my wife's Dell and Tomtom software and it works great. Why? Because all the maps are loaded on the unit and it's not being pulled from the air. Now, if there was some way to preload the maps, then it might be usefull. But driving around some place like Chicago or DC or Boston using the BB is not helpful at all....in my opinion.

Tom

[Redflea]

I use a VZW 8130 and the Freedom Keychain 2000 BT puck w/my BB w/Google Maps and Windows Live Search...works well. Occassionally WLS will not see the BT GPS unit while Google Maps will, and I find if I go into Google maps and back to WLS, then WLS sees it.

I've never had access to my internal GPS HW due to the VZW lockout on that, so no idea why you're having problems w/the built-in GPS.

No idea how it will go if you are in areas w/out a signal, but I suspect it just won't work.

[John Clark]

Originally Posted by twn2

I've found that my BT GPS is not worth using. It's not the GPS that's the problem, but the updating of the maps on my BB. It's just not fast enough. I'll stick with my TomTom. I used the GPS with my wife's Dell and Tomtom software and it works great. Why? Because all the maps are loaded on the unit and it's not being pulled from the air. Now, if there was some way to preload the maps, then it might be usefull. But driving around some place like Chicago or DC or Boston using the BB is not helpful at all....in my opinion.

Tom

I use Google Maps and TeleNav all the time with my BB and my Freedom Keychain GPS. I think it works quite well. Once the initial load is done it updates quite quickly and works quite well in all my travels.

[clskills]

I use the Sprint Nav and the shit works great. I think its better then my Garmin. Never loses sig quick as hell also

[Berto]

Originally Posted by twn2

I've found that my BT GPS is not worth using. It's not the GPS that's the problem, but the updating of the maps on my BB. It's just not fast enough. I'll stick with my TomTom. I used the GPS with my wife's Dell and Tomtom software and it works great. Why? Because all the maps are loaded on the unit and it's not being pulled from the air. Now, if there was some way to preload the maps, then it might be usefull. But driving around some place like Chicago or DC or Boston using the BB is not helpful at all....in my opinion.

Tom

I came here to search this same problem, and saw that GMM 2.1.0 just came out today. It looks like the problem is fixed for me, Google Maps is much more aggressive trying to stay connected to the GPS receiver!!

[csawatsky]

just got my freedom keychain gps today... holy crap does this thing ever work better than built in gps. Sitting at my desk in my office after I opened the box, paired it up, got satellite in less than 30 seconds.
That said, I was just down in SoCal for the weekend, and google maps worked fairly well with the AGPS. That functionality just doesn't work here because there isn't enough tower to triangulate against.

Now if only there was a solid off-line mapping program available...