GPS not working without internet connection

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GPS not working without internet connection

Sorry, didn't know which category to place this under. I have the ipod touch 4g with the built-in GPS receiver. It usually works really good, but when it's not connected to the internet it refuses to provide a location. Why is this, and is there a way to override it? Also are there any apps to get lat/lon/alt, sats visible, pdop, hdop, etc?

Windows Vista

Posted on Jan 3, 2011 1:01 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 3, 2011 2:03 AM in response to Doctor Zer

Not sure... But in order for the GPS to find your exact location you need to access the Internet.

Make sure your Location Services are enabled for Maps.
Settings > General > Location Services

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Answer 2

Doctor Zer Author

Level 1

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Jan 3, 2011 2:46 AM in response to Doctor Zer

Can anyone explain why it needs to access the internet to work properly?

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Answer 3

Andy :]

Level 2

400 points

Jan 3, 2011 3:19 AM in response to Doctor Zer

This is because the iPod Touch does not have a built in GPS.

Regards

Andy

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Answer 4

Yeman

Level 1

1 points

Jan 3, 2011 3:31 AM in response to Doctor Zer

Hiii,

Ipod touch 4G does not have built in GPS. Its only have pre-installed "Maps" app which required internet over wifi to use.

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Answer 5

Doctor Zer Author

Level 1

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Jan 3, 2011 5:55 PM in response to Andy :]

The iPod touch 4g does have a GPS reciever. This is because:
1. It connects to my home internet, the address of which is not public information.
2. When I am viewing my location via GPS, I can see noise in my position as it updates every 20 sec or so.
3. Once I have a wi-fi signal, it will continue to update my position after the connection is broken. It just won't obtain an initial position unless I'm connected to the internet.
4. It said so on the spec sheet when I bought it (I realize it doesn't say GPS anymore. But when it first came out, when I bought mine, it said it had GPS at Apple's website and all the retailers' websites. That's one of the main reasons why I bought it.)

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Answer 6

romgi

Level 1

10 points

Jan 3, 2011 6:15 PM in response to Doctor Zer

Sadly, many of the features that were listed in the original technical specifications for the 4th generation iPod touch did not make it to reality. The iPod Touch does not have GPS. I'm not sure of how it does it, but it uses the internet connection to determine your location.

Please look here at the technical specifications listed by apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/SP594

Also, if you want independent confirmation, ifixit did a teardown of the ipod touch 4g and didn't find any sort of GPS chip. You can read their teardown here: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPod-Touch-4th-Generation-Teardown/3562/1

sorry if GPS is the reason that you bought an iPod touch, but it really just doesn't have one.

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