Based on recent threads, and the ASUS statement that we shouldn't expect the GPS to work very well, I'm going to cancel my Amazon pre-order for the TF201-C1. I do a lot of back-country driving in my Jeep, so good GPS capability is of "prime" importance to me. Right now, I do it with a Win7-based netbook & a puck GPS, but thought going to an Android-based tablet would be a nice change. But trying to do it with a poor-at-best GPS doesn't cut it. Since this will be my first tablet, I thought I'd ask about other alternatives. Is there someone else (Samsung, Sony, etc) who makes a tablet with a GPS that works well? (I'd also want one that will be based on Android 4 or upgrading to it). Thanx/Jerry
None anyone who thinks or thought theirs worked did not test it properly by giving it a real world point A to point B driving test. Everyones is the same because every backplate is the same all aluminum backplate which is the culprit for the weak reception signals.
You may want to think about getting a gps unit or smart phone. I have a droidx using google maps that works better than my garmin gps unit. Also if you are doing back country driving in your jeep, I don't think you will want to do it with a 10 inch pad as your guide. I once looked into trying to do that with my ipad I had at the time and trying to find something that could keep that big pad steady was beyond my reach. I couldn't find anything that kept out steady enough.
Actually, I do want a 10" screen for back-roads driving. Trying to explore trails on the USGS raster 7.5' maps on a 4" screen doesn't work so well. There are several companies that make mounts for netbook-size units (I made my own) that work well. I'm in a large Jeep club & lots of us do this (on Windows netbooks). But my problem remains if I want to try to do this with an Android tablet -- the GPS has to work, or the tablet has to work with an external bluetooth puck GPS. Any thoughts? BTW...I'm not sure a put this thread in the right place. If a moderator/senior member has a better place for it, pls help me out with that part. Thanx again/Jerry
Regarding the GPS: I turned wifi off, stepped outside in full view of the open sky, turned on "GPS Essentials" (free download in the Market), and selected "satellites" from the menu; within less than one minute, there were 12 satellites in view, and I had locked on to 6 of them. This varied as satellites came into and out of view on my screen, so my GPS seems to be working, at least from a static position. I have not tried to use it for navigation, but I was never interested in that usage in the first place; I have a Garmin for that.
Jerry, Well doesn't look like this tablet will work flute you then. Any body in your group using ipad? That might be a good option, but you would have to get one with a data plan.
Everyones works from a static position no ones works from a practical use navigation position moving from point A to point B your Prime is not special sorry to tell you lol
I love how jdbaker is so sinister. chill out dude... On a side note, if GPS doesn't work well for navigation (and a fix isn't available) maybe you can find a bluetooth or wired GPS reciever that will hook up to the Prime...
Check around on XDA and Transformer Forum; there are some who say that they have used their Primes in navigational mode. I guess they have to make a choice between your expertise and their lying eyes.
My GPS won't see any satellites, well almost....I left the navigation acquiring satellites when I went to bed last night, around 1:30 in the morning it locked on and told me how far to drive to the first turn and about 30 seconds later it lost lock. So I'd call the GPS at this point worthless. They no longer list GPS in the specs on the Asus website.
My GPS was able to locate me and GPS status was telling me I had 12 satellites. I was outside with a clear view of the sky. Wifi was turned off and the tablet had been rebooted. I left it on for about 30 minutes and didn't have any problems.
Vectorman, I'm not sure what XDA posts you're referring to, but the mega-massive thread has countless instances of people who've been able to get GPS locks when they aren't moving, but then these locks crap out the instant they head to their car and start moving. Mine couldn't even maintain a lock while I walked around the block with it, much less while driving. I"ve got a stand-alone GPS, an in-dash stereo with GPS, and multiple Android phones with GPS that are all capable of functioning in my area, so the prime is definitely a substandard performer in that particular arena.
What a friggin bummer! I hate to say this...but....here goes. I've REALLY been looking forward to getting a Prime, but IF in fact the Prime has a problem with doing GPS properly....I may just forget the whole idea. Maybe it's due to my 'techie' nature,....but for years I've been wanting to get my hands on a smartphone type of device that I could REALLY use for good GPS performance. In other words, I was very interested in having handheld GPS location ability but never bought a stand alone GPS device. I was thrilled when that capability came to smartphones, so I enthusiastically bought one. Unfortunately I didn't find out about the poor GPS ability of that specific smartphone until I had it for a while. Then after reading the forum postings on it I realized that the device I bought seems to have a very poor reputation regarding it's GPS functioning. Even a FW upgrading from 2.1 to 2.3.3 did not resolve the problem. It's still just as aggravating and frustrating as it has always been. That leads me to my point, which is...I've already had one major disappointment regarding the GPS capability of my smartphone...I sure as hell don't need to be foolish enough to buy a tablet that apparently has the SAME type of problem. Screw that ! One disappointment with a major device purchase is enough. So, for me, as much as I hate to say it,...even as pumped as I have been over getting a Prime,..if the Prime can't do decent GPS functioning....then it looks like it's a deal breaker for me. I'll just wait for another tablet device that 'can do'.
Yeah, I think Optimus Prime has a better GPS than Transformer prime. Too many issues with the Prime, too much money for it not to work right. Asus jumped the gun, they should have delayed the release. If it were a car, it would be recalled.....
This is turning into a real bummer. I was really excited when Best Buy told me they could ship a grey Prime to me immediately in place of the champagne one I had on pre-order. My Prime is in town and UPS is scheduled to deliver it Tuesday. One of the main uses I have for it is as a navigation backup for the panel mounted Garmin GPSs in my plane. If the prime can't cope with automobile speeds I don't have much confidence in it at 200 MPH. Transformer Primes are selling for $200 to $400 over list on eBay so I guess I can sell it and wait for the upgraded version that has a working GPS.
Newtech, Great looking plane. Don't know if this would interest you, but it appears that several pilots are using this: Amazon.com: Dual Electronics XGPS150 Universal Bluetooth GPS Receiver for iPad 2, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone and Other Smartphones, Tablets and Laptops: GPS & Navigation Looks like it not only works with IOS but Android as well. I know it's not your ideal situation being that you bought this tablet for the GPS, but the rest of this tablet is just perfect. I love the prime and if I ever do need GPS with this tablet, I might look at using this. Especially since this is bluetooth.
