Tech question 4G

[ThinLizzy]

I've just been upgraded on my pay monthly to 4G. I've read up about it but I very rarely use my phone for t'interweb. I do use the GPS system when I go places I am not familiar with. I was having connection issues on the 3G. I guess the main question is. Will my GPS work better on 4G? Sorry. I'm not techie. I only really use it for calls and texts.

[Sidney1st]

I think it should do.

Governments are apparently more bothered about upgrading to 4g then they are about making sure everyone has some sort of connectivity.
There are plenty of places with poor or no signal around the UK, but they're generally out in the sticks and officials aren't to fussed about them.

[ThinLizzy]

I think it should do.

Governments are apparently more bothered about upgrading to 4g then they are about making sure everyone has some sort of connectivity.
There are plenty of places with poor or no signal around the UK, but they're generally out in the sticks and officials aren't to fussed about them.

I hope so. I see it's geared for faster connectivity, faster downloads etc. I got lost in Runcorn the other week, well out in the sticks really and tried to get my GPS to work. It wansn't having it. I ended up spending a lot more money than I wanted to in getting home as I could have walked had my GPS been working. So I hope it works but reading what you just typed it seems it may be equally ineffective.

[Sidney1st]

My kids use it all the time on their phones, 4G that is, to play games when we're out or travelling.
Seems spot on.

[IAmAClaret]

4G is a 'faster,better,more reliable 3G' in essence, and coverage is always improving.

But, for the way you use your phone, you should take a look at Google Maps Offline mode. This allows you to download and use a Map of an area you select, even if you have no coverage/connection, and can still provide navigation/directions. (Obviously you need to download the said map whilst you do have connection - so do this before you set off).

https://support.google.com/maps/answer/ ... roid&hl=en

*Provided your phone is running Android(Sony,Samsung,HTC,Huawei,Google,OnePlus,LG etc) or iOS(Apple)

[ThinLizzy]

Cheers for that. I'll have to give that a go. Back in the day I used to print off a map/directions. I never thought of that.

[cricketfieldclarets]

The phone will connect to the strongest available signal. Sometimes thats 2g. Sometimes thats 4g. Edit you may need to enable this.

Generally maps shouldnt have that much of an issue as its not really related to the strength of gprs (2g and 3g) or 4g. At least in most cases. Its usually run of gps which is a totally different technology. Dont confuse the names.

Your internet, apps, emails etc rely on your signal. Maps typically rely on gps. (Not GPRS).

Changing connection shouldnt benefit or hinder you for maps but may for other services.

What network are you on and what area?

[ThinLizzy]

The phone will connect to the strongest available signal. Sometimes thats 2g. Sometimes thats 4g. Edit you may need to enable this.

Generally maps shouldnt have that much of an issue as its not really related to the strength of gprs (2g and 3g) or 4g. At least in most cases. Its usually run of gps which is a totally different technology. Dont confuse the names.

Your internet, apps, emails etc rely on your signal. Maps typically rely on gps. (Not GPRS).

Changing connection shouldnt benefit or hinder you for maps but may for other services.

What network are you on and what area?

I'm on Virgin (Not my favourite network but we're tied to a contract). I'm in Liverpool. Signal is good here and I never had a problem with the GPS last November all the way down to and around London. It's only stopped working effectively in the past three/four months. Now, as I say. I couldn't even get it to connect in Runcorn. Albeit, the leafy burbs on the outskirts.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Virgin dont actually have their own network so they will be using someone elses. From memory think its EE. So you will be using whatever EE are on.

EE have the widest coverge of 4g. But not necessarily the best.

As i say maps shouldnt be affected by that anyway. But try using your phone on 3g only and see if that helps. Maybe also try same sim in a different phone if you can to see if that changes anything. Could then be down to device or device settings.

[ThinLizzy]

Virgin dont actually have their own network so they will be using someone elses. From memory think its EE. So you will be using whatever EE are on.

EE have the widest coverge of 4g. But not necessarily the best.

As i say maps shouldnt be affected by that anyway. But try using your phone on 3g only and see if that helps. Maybe also try same sim in a different phone if you can to see if that changes anything. Could then be down to device or device settings.

Well it wasn't working on 3G so that's kind of what I am asking lol. Would it work better on 4G. Could available memory effect the GPS you think?
All very useful information btw thanks.
My phone is an LG Spirit, so is getting on a bit now. Almost two years old. My missus prefers my phone but she just got a brand new Sony Experia. Maybe it may be an idea to switch phones if all else fails as I need the map feature for my job.

[dushanbe]

The two things (GPS and network coverage) are independent of each other. The GPS will work regardless of your network coverage, but unless you are connected to a 3G or 4G cell, the applications based around the GPS (downloading mapping for example) generally won't work.

You will see general improvements with a 4G network, one because its purely a data connection - it is an end-to-end Internet Protocol and two, because the frequency is relatively low at 800 MHz it penetrates buildings more efficiently.

So to answer your initial question, the apps you use for mapping functions will work better with 4G, due to the higher data transfer rate.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Sorry misread it as connection issues since moving to 4g.

You can try the 4g and it may help. But dont think it will. There will be more focus on improving and uograding 4g and it may help in other ways but i doubt it will help maps. Unless you dont use gps for maps.

I would definitely switch handsets just to trial how it works. Process of elimination is usually best way and what your network will probably instruct you to do

Memory shouldnt affect gps. But again if thats full with useless stuff then never hurts to clear it down for other reasons.

Offline maps will help. But online maps typically only use the same connection a sat nav will. So 2 3 or 4g shouldnt really matter.

[IAmAClaret]

To use Google Maps (not in offline mode) you need a data connection.

If you are going somewhere where you have "NO SERVICE", then you will only be able to use Google Maps in Offline mode.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Dushanbe is right. I should have mentioned the downloading bit. The difference in a sat nav is that you would generally be using an offline version for the route with traffic ahead etc identified by gps. And downloading updates would be done seperately.

[ThinLizzy]

Thanks for all your input. Greatly appreciated.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Just throw the thing out the window.

[ThinLizzy]

Just throw the thing out the window.

I'll probably switch. She prefers my phone as its smaller. Just means the hassle of telling everyone I have a new number and switching letterheads etc.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Is she in a different network? Either way you can still retain your numbers.

[ThinLizzy]

Is she in a different network? Either way you can still retain your numbers.

No same network. Wouldn't even know how to go about switching SIMS. Tried it once before when I broke my screen and her phone wouldn't recognise my SIM. I told you. I am no techie

[cricketfieldclarets]

I am beginning to think this maps issue is user error...

[ThinLizzy]

Well obviously I do know how to go about switching SIMS. It's the hassle that goes with the phone recognising the other SIM. I don't know how your phone works, but if we put our SIM in the other's phone it doesn't recognise it. Need to call Virgin or do it online and that's too much hassle. Anyway the original issue still stands. It's either a 3G/4G issue or my phone just stopped working properly. Never had a problem with it until this year.

[aggi]

There's a chance that it's your phone settings that are part of the issue. If you have location services on low power or similar it can take a while to lock on (sometimes quite a while if you're somewhere substantially different to when you last used it).

Is the issue that your phone can't tell you where you are or that the map isn't loading. They are two different problems.

Try an app called GPS status. Stand outside somewhere relatively clear and see how long it takes to get a gps position (it'll flash up something like time to fix).