Access to GPS on a780

[wizmaster]

So is it reasonable to say the non-german versions of this phone do not have gps?

[akmits]

Looks like it.

[apanix]

Hi all,
I have a Spanish version of A780 and it has GPS installed and active but Copilot is not able to get a satellite fix.
When I boot the phone the GPS icon is in grey color, after going out in the road and start Copilot the icon gets a red dish forever...Copilot always shows "Determining current position" and never gets a fix!
When the icon is grey clicking on status bar let me to choose between enable/disable AGPS (I settled ON) but most of time I cannot see the dropdown list to choose ON/OFF.

Anyway some days ago I was able to get a fix and successfully test Copilot navigation, but since that day I'm not anymore able to make Copilot working!
Does anybody have any idea ??
Please help me!

Thanks
Regards

[Diabl020]

Essentially -> No one has seen GPS work.. and everyone has given up on it?

Well, it would have been cool though
Anyone tried asking Motorola themselves?

-Diabl020

[claferr]

I have followed the discussion thread with interest. I would like to add an extra something. If you look at the specifications of the FC Oncore chip that provides the GPS functions on the A780 (www.ilotus.com.sg), you will notice that it talks about the host system having to download the operating software for the FS Oncore receiver. It seems to me that even if your phone had a unactivated GPS and that you turned on all the SEEM bits that are necessary, the phone firmware still has to download that code into the GPS chip for it to start working.

--cl

[alexargs]

I don´t know if this is the best place to post it, but among with user Michalack we borrow a780 from fedejj
and decided to determinate -before doing more test with seems and flash- if the mobile has the GPS chip, so we think its time to share
so that one who dare... try it
of course you loose the warranty,
do it at your own risk
sorry in advance for my bad English

1) open the key pad it has two little screws cover , we use a knife but I strongly recomend to use a screwdriver



2) that's how should stay the phone, carrefuly remove the "numbers" and you will see two more screw




3) Carrefuuly realese the safe of the board, unplug the flex, turn the green board and you will see this (at this point we were happy because you coud see the antena of the GPS)



4) now its when you need to procced with extremely caution
with a screw driver and very gently broke the metal cover with numbers that you could see in the picture on item 3

here is when we came to the sad conclusion
No gps chip in the board




if you have Gps we think you should see something like this




it's seems that even they made the same board they only spend on the chip for some phones

of course after that there is no chance to get Gps working

[swifty]

thanks a lot alexargs!
this is what i am waiting for a long time.
BUT DON'T PUT A KNIFE ON A780 AGAIN

>I don´t know if this is the best place to post it,
i have put it there:
http://www.motorolafans.com/componen.../Motorola_A780
look at: helpful links

and there:
http://www.motorolafans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7466

[yaworski]

This is not the first time Motorola is doing something like this. Motorola V300 has essentially the same PCB that V500 and V600 have (with VERY little changes), but they haven't put there bluetooth chipset. I had V300 phone and one guy from matrax forum offered that he can install the bluetooth chipset into V300 and it worked (replacing flash chip and programming it from blank was needed to program BT MAC address into the phone).

I think it would be possible to install GPS chipset if it would be available to buy it somewhere.

[swifty]

ohh yes the main problem will be buying the chip.
but after i look at the last picture, i don't think that it is possible to connect/solder the chip by hand

[alexargs]

@swifty: sorry about the knife we were running out of time and couldn't find that little screwdriver,
wow being in the wiki makes me fell proud thanks.

regarding buying it I send e-mails to the manufacter and delaers just to know,

but who knows may be we dare of course not handed but with a machine, but Iam affraid like I read that the chipset need some special programming (kind of as the mac for Bt -saving distances- i mean it's no like plug and play )
any news will be informed


@ yaworski: we thought the same when we open and see the antenna and no chip v300 manufactured here in Argentina came with v555 board so you are able to even enable video capture, weird things about marketing and companies, but that's why we are here to squeeze all the juice of our equpememntes