[ScienceRules]

Go to Options->Status then type TEST
Then hit the Menu key and click Start.
Check GPS and click Run.

This will bring up the GPS Test screen.
Click once to get the menu and click again to start fixing.

You will get:

Latitude
Longitude
Course
Speed
Time to get fix

Good for verifying that your GPS is working with the added bonus of seeing your coordinates.

Requires the 4.5 code on the 8830.

sR

[ScienceRules]

I think that this is the only direct way to get your GPS coordinates to display on the 8830 without 3rd party software.

Can anyone confirm?

sR

[MegaloMegaloDon]

I get this message almost instantly after selecting Start Fixing.

GPS Info:
Failure: GPS fixing times out!


Possibly a VZW issue?

[steveg22]

Same problem with my Verizon phone.

[ScienceRules]

Same problem with my Verizon phone.

Verizon is not a good test case because they lock out most GPS.

The purpose of this thread is to ascertain that this is the only way to get your coordinates if you have a fully functioning GPS. I don't believe that this feature is enabled under Options-->Advanced Options-->GPS on the 8830 - like it is on other bb models.

sR

Anyone else?

[smushe]

I just think us VZW-ers are locked out
There are a couple of fun tests there tho.

[MegaloMegaloDon]

Why can't VZW be happy with the money they make on plans and not nickle and dime their users.

Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com

[ScienceRules]

Go to Options->Status then type TEST
Then hit the Menu key and click Start.
Check GPS and click Run.

This will bring up the GPS Test screen.
Click once to get the menu and click again to start fixing.

You will get:

Latitude
Longitude
Course
Speed
Time to get fix

Good for verifying that your GPS is working with the added bonus of seeing your coordinates.

Requires the 4.5 code on the 8830.

sR

Hey this works great. However, I'm told that on the Bold you can display your coordinates from the Advanced Options-->GPS screen.

sR

[JRSCCivic98]

Yes, on all GSM based BBs with GPS, you will get coordinates on the Options/Advanced/GPS screen.

[ScienceRules]

Yes, on all GSM based BBs with GPS, you will get coordinates on the Options/Advanced/GPS screen.

Thanx for responding.

I know that all phones in my fine country (we are young and still developing) need to have a fully functional GPS in order to be FCC compliant with e911. No exceptions - tower triangulation by itself - doesn't meet the spec - no more waivers.

My concern is that we, as consumers, have no way to determine if the GPS is working as is mandatory (that it works, not that we know that it works). And in my case, an 8830 from Sprint, I had to work very hard to test out the hardware, and stumbled across the TEST methodology as the only way for me to get coordinates (to determine that the instrumentation works).

I fault the manufacturer for their lack of transparency on this issue.

Having conducted a few tests, I can say that my position is off by a few hundred meters: always -

a) that's a good a thing if I'm being targeted by bad guys
b) that's a bad thing if I need to be located by first responders

I've enabled all of the available gpsOne modes - including, but not limited to Sensitivity Assistance (under escreens). I think that my device needs to be recalibrated as the factory data is no longer "on target".

sR