[b60boy]

I dont know why, but what is the point of having BB Maps on a VZW 8703e if GPS is disabled. I might as well use the Google Maps feature and save some disk space.

I'm I missig anything on this?

[whsbuss]

Originally Posted by b60boy

I dont know why, but what is the point of having BB Maps on a VZW 8703e if GPS is disabled. I might as well use the Google Maps feature and save some disk space.

I'm I missig anything on this?

No you're not missing anything.

[takeshi]

You should ask Verizon.

Though you can still use a BT GPS receiver.

[jgb@etree]

I'm amazed that one of the guru's around here hasn't figured out how to turn on the built in GPS yet.... Can it really be *THAT* difficult?

[fidolatry]

Originally Posted by b60boy

I dont know why, but what is the point of having BB Maps on a VZW 8703e if GPS is disabled. I might as well use the Google Maps feature and save some disk space.

I'm I missig anything on this?

IMHO BB Maps has two killer features over Google:

1. You can map an address from your address book without having to cut and paste.
2. Navigation is MUCH faster than on a browser-based map.

[MrKyoo]

Moved to the GPS & Mapping section.

[jungleland]

Originally Posted by jgb@etree

I'm amazed that one of the guru's around here hasn't figured out how to turn on the built in GPS yet.... Can it really be *THAT* difficult?

It's not possible, it has nothing to do with the handheld, the GPS must be activated on the Network end (VERIZON)

[b60boy]

Hey Jungleland,

So, VZW does NOT enable GPS, correct? What crap.

I will go ahead and petition VZW on your link.

Thanks much!

[jgb@etree]

Originally Posted by jungleland

It's not possible, it has nothing to do with the handheld, the GPS must be activated on the Network end (VERIZON)

I certainly believe you as I know you've been looking into this for some time, it just seems strange that it's a 'network' thing. Since the GPS reciever is located on the handheld itself which would lead me to believe that there must be some way to activate it.

Friggin VZW. I love to hate them.

[jungleland]

Originally Posted by jgb@etree

I certainly believe you as I know you've been looking into this for some time, it just seems strange that it's a 'network' thing. Since the GPS reciever is located on the handheld itself which would lead me to believe that there must be some way to activate it.

Friggin VZW. I love to hate them.

again, needs to be activated by the network...

[joeygator]

If the GPS is in the phone, and it is deactivated by default from Verizon, if you unlock the device, will it be enabled? Just a thought!

[Stinsonddog]

Originally Posted by joeygator

If the GPS is in the phone, and it is deactivated by default from Verizon, if you unlock the device, will it be enabled? Just a thought!

Nope that won't help it on VZ.

[jgb@etree]

Anyone have any detail on HOW the service is locked by Verizon's network?

While I understand & believe what I'm hearing here that it is disabled by the network, I'd just like to understand it a bit better. Just reasoning it out with logic (but very little technical knowledge in this particular area) I'd assume that it would be blocked by software (most likely) or perhaps even a small hardware mod. I can't understand how they can disable it via the network

Mind you, I'm not being a smart-ass with the following, just trying to reason it out as simply as possible in an attempt to understand how the functionality is locked.

So here we are with our VZW 8703e's that have locked GPS functionality. I've got to assume that since the GPS acquires your current location, the GPS receiver is built into the handheld. To determine the coordinates, the GPS receiver would trangulate my position by receiving signals from the GPS satellites - which are far outside of Verizon's control - and pass these coordinates along to the OS or Application thus providing location data to your software. I can see how they'd stop this via software, or possible even by hardware (remove the GPS antenna [if it even has a separate antenna..just a stupid example of how it could be disabled via hardware]) but obviously I'm missing something as you guys are telling me it's disabled by the network... Could you explain in a bit more depth so I can get my arms around this?

[jgb@etree]

bump

[jgb@etree]

Well, based on the lack of response, I'm going to go with my original theory:

The VZW 8703e's GPS functionality is most likely locked via software (not by the network which makes very little sense) which means that one of the resident guru's around here should be able to figure out how to hack it and make the built in GPS work! I certainly don't have the know-how, but will offer a $100 bounty to anyone who can get it working for me.

[Slapyo]

i'm still kind of pissed that i don't have gps turned on, on my 8703e ... yet verizon has other phones which have the gps working. why is it shut off in the first place.

[talatta]

Here's another 8703e user that would really like to know.

[BB8830]

As a soon to be 8830 user I would very much like to have the GPS enabled on my phone too.

We know they can enable the GPS by sending a signal to the phone. Please let me know if that is not correct.

So if I was Verizon I would have an encrypted "password" that was specific to the individual phone. When the signal reaches the phone it turns on the GPS. So, it's going to be software/hardware as each phone is going to have a unique hardware identifier so it knows when it gets the right signal.

So the trick would be to figure out what signal it's expecting, what the encryption is and how to get the phone to recognize that a signal has been sent to enable the GPS.

You would probably have to have a mole in Verizon that could give you the inside scoop.

I wonder if Verizon can tell if the phone has an enabled GPS but their GPS plan hasn't been paid for?

Sure would be nice to be able to use the GPS with third-party programs and not have to pay Verizon for the privilege.

[Runamuck]

Given how fast VZW is to cancel EVDO Datacard accounts for even simple infractions, I'm willing to bet that anyone that enables GPS via a hack is gonna find themselves with a cancellation letter for service.

I speak from experience...I have one for cancellation of my first EVDO service contract simply because I had the audacity to run streaming video over it.

[Bankroll]

I think it can also be done. I also have a Razr with verizon and I read up alot on motomodders.net and the howard forums and found alot of ways to hack that phone and re enable alot of the phones features that verizon had blocked, and they said it wasnt them. Never got in any trouble from them. But one might want to check over there and maybe one of them guys can figure it out.