Sprint s720 GPS functionality?

trafalger · EVDO Newbie Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Posts: 2

Ok as I sit here and read the back of the box for my new sprint card I see...

"Built-In GPS Receiver - Allows you to get location data from GPS satellites and utilitze GPS navigation and locaiton based applications...."

Well I'll be damned if I can get it to work with either Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 or with Delmore Street Atlas 2006

Has anyone actually figured if/how to get this to work. I can find NO information on this feature on the net except for the fact that it's avaiable but no help on how to actually get it to work. Also nothing in my device manager suggests any type of GPS "virutal" port. I do see a COM5 assigned to Sprint EVDO Status Port but no GPS is detected on that port.

Any ideas...or is Sprint once again flaunting a feature that is impossible to operate.

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 1969

The S720 does proprietary "Assisted GPS", not the open GPS we know. It's annoying but aGPS requires a license from the carrier to access the APIs to use the coordinates (from what I understand, I'm not real up on the details). The reason the carriers charge to use aGPS is because they spent so much to get e911 compliance that they intended to sell as a service to cover costs.

It's understandable but a major bummer as it could really break out mobile GPS applications if more open.

trafalger · EVDO Newbie Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Posts: 2

I figured as much...

The way the box reads it's a standard GPS receiver built in. Good thing I didn't buy it for that very reason, i just thought i had gotten a nice bonus feature....typical sprint/nextel

Mad

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 1969

It's actually false product info me thinks. Sprint and Novatel need to fix that as some may purchase it thinking they get that feature. It's more appropriate to call it 'location-based services'.

flipkid · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Oct 2006 Posts: 2 Location: NyC

mmeshurle · EVDO Newbie Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

Start the GPSMODULE in the program files directory for the Novatel Wireless, and you will see (at least with me using Street and Trips 2007) and Launch button. Picked up the GPS right away after I set the correct COMM port.

dragon_788 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 3

I think there have been a few posts on this, and one really nice how to on getting the GPS to work with Mappoint or Streets and Trips or Google Earth Pro. The key is like the previous poster said, you need to connect with the Sprint GPS utility first, THEN your mapping software can detect the COM port of the GPS and utilize it. I usually just set up the Sprint connection utility to show the GPS status, and when I need a fix I just hit the GPS Go button, the bonus of using a separate software is the Sprint utility only updates once every 5-15 minutes or something, regular GPS software gets a lot more frequent updates.