A-GPS vs. Google Location Services?

[Mastiff37]

Can someone (without guessing) explain the distinction? I thought that A-GPS was side information given to the GPS to help it acquire more quickly, so cell tower info and/or wifi locations. I was having trouble with my Droid X GPS acquiring at all and someone on another forum said there is some issue with Google location services messing up the GPS, so I disabled it. I expected that I wouldn't be able to update A-GPS data because of that, but I still could (in the GPS status app). So, is A-GPS something else? More importantly, can I fly across country and have my GPS still acquire in seconds without GLS enabled? Thanks.

 

[takeshi]

FYI, the Droid X subforum is here: http://androidforums.com/motorola-droid-x/. This is the (original) Droid subforum.

I thought that A-GPS was side information given to the GPS to help it acquire more quickly, so cell tower info and/or wifi locations.

The first half of that sentence is correct. However, aGPS data has nothing to do with cell towers or wifi locations. aGPS data is only used to obtain a GPS (satellite) fix. Rule of thumb: if it's not using the GPS satellites it's not any form of GPS.

Google Location services are an entirely separate method of determining your location.

If your device is having problems getting a GPS fix then use GPS Status to clear your aGPS data and try again.

More importantly, can I fly across country and have my GPS still acquire in seconds without GLS enabled?

Again, apples and oranges. Don't get confused by the masses that use "GPS" to mean any method of determining your location.

 

[Mastiff37]

Just so you know, I'm an engineer and have worked on designing GPS receivers for 15 years (just not for phones). What could the phone tell the GPS receiver to help it acquire faster besides where it is or what time it is?