Phone : iPhone 3G 8gb (HK unlocked)
Firmware : 2.0.1
Telco : Maxis 3G
Journey : From Puchong,KL to Ipoh,Perak (using LDP, Federal Highway, and Plus)

For introduction, just to let's u know that I tested the GPS in bukit bintang (while walking) and in front of my house. I works.

However, last Friday, while I am going from Puchong to Ipoh (my wife driving), I encounter some problems with the GPS with Maxis 3G line.

First, there is no "full bar" signals while driving, starting from Puchong, only 2-3 bar most of the time.

Second, ONLY manage to get the "blue dot" under the Sunway bridge before turning into Federal highway while caught in the traffic jam. (This is the only time I saw the "blue dot" in this journey)

Third, there is no more 3g signal after the Sg. Buloh area, only left with EDGE or GPRS.

Conclusion:
So... pretty sad with this test results..

Would appreciate if anyone can share their GPS test with us.

Note: my car is tinted with V-kool.

aaah...3G fellow users..come come come..

v need ur testimonials

Maxis 3G very cacat la, even in ipoh i only can get in like few places.. Thats why i rather stick with my 1st gen iphone for now..

Not sure about celcom 3G thou, heard it were slightly better than maxis's gay 3G..

Tested with Vodafone 3G prepay, the response was really good, but it takes up a lot of my money

the GPS is linked to 3G line?

to load the google maps

ah....... thanks for the clarification bro

Well.. i tested the GPS out while driving along KL-Putrajaya Highway heading towards airport. As I'm not on unlimited 3G data plan.. ouch!

Well.. it works most of the time (I can't really confirm because I'm driving and glancing at it once in a while. But one thing for sure.. I notice the current location DOT moving along and my 3G signal is full. I turn the map to just use only the street signs to ensure minimal data download. One thing about Google Maps implementation as compared to Nokia Maps are the followings:
1) Nokia Maps have voice navigation and the maps are updated
2) Google Maps although quite accurate but some portion of the map is not reflecting current infrastructure ie. KL-Putrajaya Highway (it means I can see a blue dot moving along the map but there's no road and there's no street signs.. like moving through empty air until I reach Cyberjaya exit whereby the Elite highway is reflected)

So, my overall point of view, GPS signal is quicker to lock in my area as compared to my N80 paired with a Bluetooth GPS receiver, but when you input FROM and TO, most of the time, it can't get any directions for you unlike the same thing I tried for Nokia Maps. Tried lots of scenario but somehow, always get the can't retrieve directions error thingy.

Overall, i felt, once there's a 3rd party GPS apps available and it uses updated maps (ie. Mapking or Malsing), GPS will really shine for iPhone 3G. Until then, the GPS is just a novelty.

p/s: Last weekend, I got lost in Shah Alam and thank God the GPS is able to show me where I am and where I want to go (manually).

see.. it saved ur arse

@ knightltu

Thanks a lot for the feedback. Would appreciate if you could provide us your details:-

1. Phone model, country and lock/unlocked
2. Firmware
3. Telco.

TQ

question ~ the GPS must use with google earth ? mean 3G must always ON ??? then the bill mah very high ??? if user is not using unlimited plan.

Just curious, why some of u r buying the iphone 3G if u are not really using the 3g service?

Then, better just stick to iphone original... less firmware issues, more stable and more softwares can be download from Installer.. anyway, WIFI is always faster than 3g..

Waaa.... up to this post, its already 70/30 where i3g would be 30 for me... it used to be the other way round....

sorry for the bump of this thread, just want to make things more clear for me.

is the google map pre-intalled on iphone covered the whole world? if it's not, so can i download part of the map like how nokia map does?

the above conversation seems like talking about the satellite view of google map which i heard need access to the internet (via 3G/EDGE) all the time right? the normal plain view need internet access or not?

thanks in advance ya...

i only tested the gps wif wifi system, respond very fast. never try wif 3g.

Hi 3G Iphone users,

Can you share with us whether we can use the built-in Gps receiver in the Iphone instead of 3G line for navigation?
Last question is can we sms our peer point to another 3G Iphone or any phone that uses Google map..

Thanks for the advance enlightement...

Google map will auto download i think, just like browser. Iphone GPS need either wifi or network, is so called AGPS, not like GPS from Garmin.

ah so if i need to browse map where the place haven't loaded yet offline but don't have any network access, or simply use just GPS without GPRS assistant to pinpoint me at a place i never been to before, impossible?

i asked this cause e.g. i go to other countries with my iphone but with no roaming, and the place no wifi, so the GPS is useless already?

---

Added on September 12, 2008, 5:02 pmanyway i found this article, looks like the google map still need EDGE/3G to access even not using GPS...

http://weblogs.redeyechicago.com/iphoneblo...ou-know-ho.html

This post has been edited by little ice: Sep 12 2008, 05:02 PM

^Yes.

googlemap doesnt have offline map, so it will need to use 3g/wifi connection to download the map. Unlike Garmin that has its own offline map, they do not require map downloading. A-GPS uses cellular network to triangulate the position for faster position lock. if there is no GPRS connection, A-GPS will have to rely on onboard GPS chip which might take a long time.