After the ROM upgrade the GPS works as expected. But, is there some way to be certain the GPS is turned off when it is not needed? I'd like to assure that battery drain is minimized.

If it weren't off when you weren't using it, you would require zero time to lock on when you fired up a GPS app because it would be constantly maintaining a fix.

Basically, what he is isaying is that it is off when not in use. It initializes when either its COM port or the GPS intermediate driver are accessed by a program.

To confirm my understanding, the GPS turns on when a program requires and shuts down when no programs are running that require the GPS, correct?

I understand that the GPS doesn't function until a program requires it, I wasn't sure that it shut down.

Correct. Until a program goes looking for the GPS chip, it's off.

I have my GPS unlocked, I downloaded the quick gps files and tried to use the HTC GPS tool. I cant seem to get any satellite fix. and Ive tried to use Google Maps to test it out before I buy iGuidance. What steps exactly do I need to to get my GPS working properly? Ive searched for a general post on this, but i cant find. Any links or explanations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

How did you "unlock" yours - verizon version, cooked rom, or the "bored" gps fix?

I unlocked it with PPST 2.01. In the SSK 2.3 Rom. With WM 6.5

Hit XDA and grab a copy of Chartcross GPS Test. All it does is open up the GPS unit and display satellite status as it's getting a fix. That should tell you whether or not you're actually receiving GPS data.

Note that the Touch Pro had "issues" with getting a fix as originally released. The latest ROM update for the Fuze fixed that for me, so there may be a ROM upgrade that drops your fix time from minutes (and many of them) to seconds.

Make sure you did this
Start
Settings
System
External GPS

Program Tab
GPS Program Port - 4

Hardware tab
Port - none
baud - 4800

access tab
check automatically


Then check this
Start
Settings
Personal tab
Phone
Location Setting
HIT get settings
Choose location On

These are the basic settings for GPA in winmo - I am guessing they are already set, but it is worth a check.

Now go into whatever program you are using and find GPS Settings in the program - turn location on and then look for a com port - set it to com 4 as well. If this doesnt work then look for a "gps intermediate driver" in the same com port list - this lets winmo pick the port itself.

Try these and let me know - Also, I know these are here in some thread or another because that is how I found them back in the day.

Checked all of above and im trying to test google maps and im getting the same thing as before where it says "Seeking GPS Satellites"

That's normal behavior until it gets a GPS fix.

Have you ever gotten a fix with the GPS before? If not, the first fix can take up to 3 minutes to achieve, particularly if you don't have aGPS in your area or a recent QuickGPS download.

Grab GPSTest, if VZW installs QuickGPS then run it, then step outside and run GPSTest. You'll be able to see whether you're even seeing satellites using that app, as well as the state of the GPS fix (you're looking for "3D"). The first fix can be painfully slow, then they'll drop pretty quickly since you'll be doing a warm start instead of a cold start.

I tried waiting. I went outside under a clear sky. none of the GPS programs i had would work. I then grabbed my bluetooth GPS Reciever from my old i760 and hooked that up and in my basement it worked with every program i had from google maps, htc gps tool, iNav iGuidance, and GPS test. Im not completley convinced that My GPS is unlocked. Ive done all of "bored's" instructions to unlock it.

Can't really help with the GPS unlock issue - AT&T didn't lock theirs.

There's a "Raphael CDMA" forum at XDA-Developers. That forum tends to be more technical in nature (and more snarky), so you might want to take a look at GPS threads there and see what they have to say.

The early TP ROMs did have GPS issues that updated ROMs have improved/fixed. It may be that the ROM is an issue and not the chipset/phone itself. Long lock times were common across the platform for many, many users without some significant tweaks. So it may be that your ROM doesn't have the GPS fixes that have been put in newer ROMs, and you might find those at XDA.

Just update using the official Verizon update. It's an exe that will walk you through the update. It enables the GPS and Visual Voicemail. I don't remember the site but Google Verizon ROM update and it should come up. I think it might have been "PCD" something or other.

Sometimes Google Maps and Live aka Bing are just slow to get a lock, even if QuickGPS is up-to-date. I find that VZNavigator is always quick. Once VZNavigator gets a lock however, the Goog and Bing are quick too. Makes me wonder if the GPS actually ever shuts off once it's on.

Yes, the GPS shuts off. VZNavigator probably uses aGPS to speed up the fix, with the tower seeding the phone about location and/or satellite data. But once the GPS gets a lock, it's the same data being presented to each application from Windows Mobile. Verizon may just have "dumbed down" aGPS to only work with their app (which would be annoying, but not surprising).