Androidfilter: can I use my Android's GPS despite not buying a 3G plan?

Sygic is another program that doesn't need a data connection. There are quite a few in the Play store! @tckma: The GPS in phones is pretty standard, just like a dedicated unit. The reason wifi improves accuracy somewhat is that Google collects data on the locations of wifi networks. Your phone will recognize that it can detect the McDonalds wifi you just passed and at what strength, so after running that info past Google, it now knows that you are somewhere on the outer range of that particular McDonalds.

GPS on mobile devices is kind of a misnomer. If I recall correctly, it does not use the GPS satellite network like a standalone GPS device would. Rather, it triangulates your current location by calculating the distance to the nearest 2 or 3 cell towers. This requires a cellular connection, though I don't think any data is used. This is called 'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS' or 'A-GPS'. The Galaxy S2 http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9100_galaxy_s_ii-3621.php...

There's a free app called https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapfactor.navigator&hl=en for Android which will pre-download OpenStreetMap data for this purpose. I haven't tested it before. The GPS receiver doesn't rely on the data connection itself, so I assume it's maps and navigation you need, right? Also, I find https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.highwaynorth.gpstoolbox&hl=en useful for when I can't get a decent signal.

This will tell you if GPS is working, no data connection needed. Try it when not connected to WIFI, and it should be clear if your problem is only no maps, or if it's something else. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chartcross.gpstest&hl=en

Seconding WizKid - CoPilot will do what you want without a data plan, just download the maps ahead of time via WiFi. It does cost money though.

GPS on mobile devices is kind of a misnomer. If I recall correctly, it does not use the GPS satellite network like a standalone GPS device would. Rather, it triangulates your current location by calculating the distance to the nearest 2 or 3 cell towers. This requires a cellular connection, though I don't think any data is used. Somewhere in my settings (N.B.: iPhone, not Android), there is a message that says "GPS accuracy is improved when WiFi is enabled." I'm not sure why that is, as I don't think WiFi routers broadcast any kind of location information so it could not use your router as a "tower" for location purposes.

I have a Galaxy S2 (now using the SuperNexus ROM, but that doesn't matter). The GPS is a GPS. Forget about the A-GPS nonsense. As far as I remember, the A (assisted) means that it uses the wifi or cell location to get a fix more quickly...I don't think the Galaxy S2 uses that.) Google maps wants to work on-line (that's why you need to be connected) and it will let you cache (store for later use) one small map for later use. Here are two free (lite versions) that enable you to download large (statewide or world) maps: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapswithme.maps https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.osmand I have the paid version of OsmAnd, and it enables me to download covering the entire world. The search function is not great. The lite version (free three areas); upgrade to paid is about $6.00. MapsWithMe free seems to permit unlimited download of maps, but some features require the paid version, which is about $5.00. Uses the same worldwide set of open-source maps as OsmAnd. I will probably spend the $5.00 to upgrade soon. You do the map downloading over WiFi (I have NO other data plan) and from there on you can be anywhere in the world and you will know where you are, provide you have previously downloaded the map for that area. BTW I don't think either gives you voice navigation, but there are other more expensive apps that do that.

...there is a message that says "GPS accuracy is improved when WiFi is enabled." I'm not sure why that is, as I don't think WiFi routers broadcast any kind of location information so it could not use your router as a "tower" for location purposes.Google http://www.zdnet.com/google-explains-why-street-view-cars-record-wi-fi-data-3040088799/ while sending the StreetView cars around, so the routers don't need to broadcast their location info to help because Google already knows exactly where they are. Your phone doesn't have to connect to a wifi network, just report what MAC addresses it can see from where it is. In this way they are effectively using everyone's router for location purposes. http://youtu.be/fWk_rMQiDGc?t=32m about using this for nefarious purposes: "... if I can obtain the user's router's MAC address in any way, regardless of browser, nationality, or age, I can typically determine their location and show up at their place with pizza and beer later that night."

A-GPS does not triangulation of your location from nearby cell towers, or WiFi. A-GPS uses a network connection to consult servers for information that allows it reduce the amount of data that needs to be collected from satellites to get a good GPS fix, which saves power, and reduces the time needed to determine location.