topic Re: Using phone as sat nav in Android

Using phone as sat nav

Waynefb — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:36:23 GMT

Hi,

I bought a cheap, but up-to-date (ish) chinese phone (Cubot GT95), partly as I wanted more space & RAM to run it as a Sat Nav. It seems like a fairly capable phone.

However, using Google Maps, I get the error message 'No GPS Hardware - Turn-by-turn navigation is only available on devices with GPS Hardware.'

How can I get round this?

Is there really something missing that will stop it working as a sat nav? (It can find my location no problem most of the time in other programmes eg weather.) Or is it a google glitch? Or do I need to do some downloading of clever bits of software???

Many many thanks in advance for any help anyone can give. I really want to make sat nav work on this.

Cheers,

Wayne

Re: Using phone as sat nav

MI5 — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:41:32 GMT

Does it have A-GPS and GLONASS....?

Re: Using phone as sat nav

aldaweb — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:48:55 GMT

Have you turned on GPS in the settings?

Note that GPS depletes the battery rapidly so you need to keep it plugged in to a power adapter if in car.

Re: Using phone as sat nav

Waynefb — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:54:16 GMT

I'm sorry, I don't know.

Re: Using phone as sat nav

Waynefb — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:55:23 GMT

I've given permission for apps to have access to my location. That's all I could find.

Re: Using phone as sat nav

Bambino — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 09:17:23 GMT

Go to Settings, then Location Access. If your phone is equipped with GPS you should see a box to tick to turn it on. If you're using it for Sat Nav, make sure you untick it after you're finished, as it will use up your battery very quickly.

Re: Using phone as sat nav

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 11:41:53 GMT

According to the listing on Amazon I found, it does have GPS hardware. May be worth trying an alternative mapping app, such as Waze or CoPilot and see if you have any luck with those (note that the free CoPilot won't do navigation, but it should get a GPS fix if the phone supports it).

Re: Using phone as sat nav

Waynefb — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:15:24 GMT

Hi folks & thanks for your help so far.

All the spec listings I could find say that it has 'A-GPS', but not GONASS. Is that something I can/should download?

I can't find anything in the settings that mentions GPS, but, the phone easily tracks my location (in Google Maps, Weather forecasts etc) so doesn't that mean that it must have GPS??

In 'location access' it has two headings only: 'access to my location' (with tick box) and 'wifi and mobile network location' (with tick box).

I've seen some apps called gps test or similar - are those the kinds of things that can see the internals of my phone??

Much confused.

Re: Using phone as sat nav

MI5 — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:22:27 GMT

Your phone will use WiFi and cell data to track your location so doesn't necessarily need GPS for some apps.
If you have GPS as an option (I would think you do have) you should see an option to tick the box to turn it on when you pull down from the top of the screen to access the notification panel.
I asked about GLONASS as I'm not sure if GMaps needs this for TbT or not?

Re: Using phone as sat nav

MI5 — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:24:56 GMT

According to this http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/model/e4c82dd5 you do have GPS and GLONASS so you should be good to go - You just need to find the GPS switch to turn it on now

Re: Using phone as sat nav

Waynefb — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:47:24 GMT

Lol! well that's good then....kinda!

so errrrm, what else might GPS be called? Could it be something involved with the VPN settings, as I had to enter all them. (Wasn't it you that helped out then too?? I seem to remember your rat piccy!)

Btw, I downloaded a test app - it told me that the phone doesnt have a magnetometer thingy and the gps is disabled. :o(

Re: Using phone as sat nav

MI5 — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:02:21 GMT

LOL, yes, we know it's disabled
No, it won't have anything to do with VPN settings (could have been me - I'm the only rat on here ;))
If it's not called "GPS" it could just be named "Location".
It will be in settings or on your toggles in the pull down menu.....

Re: Using phone as sat nav

Waynefb — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:10:58 GMT

Hmmmm. All there is is 'location access' with the two boxes, which I've ticked. Nothing with e.g, gps on or off.

Could it be data roaming or sthng?

Re: Using phone as sat nav

MI5 — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:19:56 GMT

No, not data roaming - What quick setting toggles have you got in the pull down window?

Re: Using phone as sat nav

Waynefb — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:24:15 GMT

ok, theres:

owner

airplane mode

battery

wifi

bluetooth

data connection

data usage

audio profiles

brightness

timeout

autorotation

Re: Using phone as sat nav

MI5 — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:33:17 GMT

Hmmmm, none of those 😞
Can we go through the settings menu next?

Re: Using phone as sat nav

Waynefb — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:40:18 GMT

sure...

(wireless & networks:)

sim management

wifi

bluetooth

Data usage

more...

airplane mode

vpn

tethering & portable hotspot

mobile networks

(greyed) usb internet

(Device:)

Audio profiles

display

storage

battery

apps

(Personal:)

Location access >> (two boxes as described)

security

privacy

language & input

back up & reset

(Accounts:)

google

add account

(System:)

date & time

Scheduled power on/off

accessibility

developer options

about phone

The end.

Re: Using phone as sat nav

MI5 — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:43:36 GMT

I'm wondering if it is something in "Privacy" ?
Meanwhile, I found this on Google.....

"I had this issue too. Other GPS apps would locate me but Google maps would not after 4.2 OTA even though location services were turned on in settings. Apparently, that setting is for non-google apps and there is another setting switch somewhere for google apps.

I found a fix after I noticed that my Google Now cards were not working. I clicked on the top search bar which brings up search and google Now. At the bottom there was a message that said my location access was turned off. I clicked on that and then clicked on the settings link that it had.
It brought me to a new white setting screen with a switch for location access which i switched to ON. It seems that this specific switch has to be on for google apps to access the GPS.

Works now. Hope that helps"

Re: Using phone as sat nav

MI5 — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:46:48 GMT

I think that is referring to Google Settings (It should be an app) and then when open go into Location and turn it on.

Re: Using phone as sat nav

Waynefb — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:53:07 GMT

hmmmmmmmmm.....

i clicked on the google search bar etc which got me to sign in to my account, but no new secret higher plane screen....