wireless location vs. gps on maps

[augiecrazy8]

For whatever reason, I can't get a gps signal when using maps (the gps function is turned on, I'm not dumb), but the second I turn on the wireless location option I get my location on maps in no time. Can someone explain the difference?

 

[benmarvin]

The wireless locations function uses cellular towers and sometimes wifi signals to try and triangulate your position. But it's only so accurate, usually down to 200m or so. If you have both turned on, then the wireless assists the GPS into finding you more quickly. Hence the A-GPS in the G1's feature list. If you have GPS turned on by itself, it still may take a few minutes to get a location, even with a clear view of the sky.

 

[kabbie_mcfeely]

The wireless locations function uses cellular towers and sometimes wifi signals to try and triangulate your position. But it's only so accurate, usually down to 200m or so. If you have both turned on, then the wireless assists the GPS into finding you more quickly. Hence the A-GPS in the G1's feature list. If you have GPS turned on by itself, it still may take a few minutes to get a location, even with a clear view of the sky.

Just to add a little more to what benmarvin said ...

It may take a few minutes for your GPS to aquire enough satellites to get an accurate signal. Once it has aqired the right signal it should be accurate down to about 10-30 feet (depending on sky blockage).

If you turn off the GPS and move to another location more than a mile or so from last location, it will again take a few minutes sometimes to get the satellites.

I have 6 GPS units, 3 hanhelds (1 is 10 years old, 1 5 years old, 1 3 months old), 1 car GPS and 2 G1 phone GPS. They all work the same way and take about the same amount of time(+/- a few seconds) to aquire the signal.