[aprssig] How about a new TH-7D with this?

[Rick Green]

On Thu, 24 May 2007, gerheim at cox.net wrote:

> If I'm not mistaken, the GPS units in cell phones use "lightweight" GPS 
> algorithms.  The math is faster, cheaper, and less accurate.  I'm not 
> familiar with the details, but my understanding is that a cell phone GPS 
> capability is pretty poor.

Here's what I heard:  They have a GPS 'front-end', but they pass the 
timing information upstream, and the actual location is calculated only 
when necessary at the cell-site, or maybe at a server upstream from that. 
To provide location info at the handheld at a fix-per-second rate would 
require more processing horsepower in the handheld or more bandwidth usage 
on the link, either of which translates to $$$.  That info was offered in 
conjunction with the basic E911 functionality, supposedly a rarely-used 
function.
   That said, Verizon is now offering a 'VZ navigator' service on some 
phones which delivers a moving-map display complete with service locator 
functionality (read: advertising income) and driving directions to the 
handheld.  I have no idea where they've chosen to do the processing, and 
how they've balanced the memory/CPU/bandwidth equation on that one.

-- 
Rick Green

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little
temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
                                   -Benjamin Franklin