Stefan Monnier wrote: > The FR is the first device I use with a GPS, so I don't know what's > considered as "normal" w.r.t GPS function. I find that my FR's GPS > never works inside a building (e.g. at home), and even outside in the > streets of Montreal, it seems to only be able to get a first fix if I'm > in a somewhat open area (i.e. not in a street but on a place, in > a park), and also it seems to rarely if ever be able to get a first fix > when it's in my pocket. > > Is that normal? My FR does have the capacitor in the µSD slot and it > has a fairly recent kernel (don't know if that means it has the software > fix that "stops the µSD clock when possible", does it?)
It's a little tricky to describe 'normal' since the movement of the sats gives some inherent variability. Getting the first fix also requires significantly more signal than maintaining a fix once acquired, and it seems to help being stationary when doing it. I don't know how limited the view of the sky is in Montreal, but 'urban canyon' effects have long been a problem for GPS systems due to limited view of the sky (can't see enough sats) and multiple reflected signals. That said, since the SD clocking fixes were added to the kernel I find the Freerunner usually at worst as quick as my Garmin Gecko at getting a fix, and substantially better at keeping it. The Freerunner will often keep a fix indoors when the Gecko hasn't a hope. OTOH the Gecko is hardly state of the art now, so expectations may be different. _______________________________________________ Openmoko community mailing list community@lists.openmoko.org http://lists.openmoko.org/mailman/listinfo/community