To better troubleshoot Google Maps and why it is showing the incorrect location, I recommend contacting Google directly, as this is not a Verizon Wireless application that we would troubleshoot. You can do so by clicking on this link.
Thanks,
ClarDold wrote:Could you tell me what it is that should work? What program? What feature?
I fully understand how Google Maps works with normal WiFi.
I think Google Maps might be correctly locating me if I am connected via USB, but the answer should be simpler than this.
I don't know why an answer can't be posted, instead of inviting me to post a phone number for someone to call.
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Clarence
Jax_Omen wrote:
I'd assume he accidentally linked an internal URL too, when I click that it asks me to sign in. The only Mifi "software upgrade" (from the URL) that I can find on this site is http://support.vzw.com/system_update/mifi.html but it doesn't list anything related to gps.
No indication of what firmware is being loaded or what the date on it might be.
It says it "now supports Windows 7", a sad thing for a WiFi hotspot to say.
(Mine connects just fine to Windows 7, WiFi or USB Modem.)
One of the screen shots shows a "version 159".
I don't see that exactly, but mine shows "Modem: 169" on the Diags page, so I might think mine is newer that this, except the screen shots probably aren't updated when the firmware is changed.
The pdf files have a date of Nov 2010, so that's pretty stale.
I don't have VZAccess Manager installed. I thought I had applied an update somehow, from the opening web page, but maybe I'm mistaken. I thought another button appeared under "disconnect" on the opening screen. Actually, looking at http://support.vzw.com/clc/devices/knowledge_base.html?id=27030, it looks like a startup screen for VZAccess Manager. It is probably the same for a WiFi admin login.
Oh, this one is even better... http://support.vzw.com/clc/devices/index.html?p=4726#using
Click on the Sofware Update, and go to a page for updating a different device software.
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Clarence
RoyB_VZW wrote:To better troubleshoot Google Maps and why it is showing the incorrect location, I recommend contacting Google directly, as this is not a Verizon Wireless application that we would troubleshoot. You can do so by clicking on this link.
Thanks,
What program, application, web page, or any sort of interface is expected to work with the Verizon MiFi GPS capability?
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Clarence
There are some very questions posted about the GPS capability of the MiFi 2200. Here are some definitive answers that I have researched in depth with our products team:
1) You need proper software in order to get the GPS functionality of the MiFi 2200 to work (Verizon Wireless does not have any).
2) This aGPS feature is only supported for Verizon Enterprise Accounts (businesses) because they would potentially have their own software .
3) We do not advertise the GPS as a feature of the device.
4) The GPS chip inside the MiFi 2200 is installed by the manufacturer - Novatel. They are also a software company.
5) This was never intended or marketed to be a turn-by-turn navigation device.
From a basic technology standpoint, you would need a software program installed on the computer that is designed to work with a parallel GPS unit (specifically the MiFi 2200). We do not currently offer this for our MiFi devices.
You can still connect to the internet on the laptop, go to a mapping website (such as Google maps), and bring up directions (of course, not while driving!). It will not bring up your current location because it is a website and not a program.
jimfitzgerald wrote:
So will it work with a laptop and Street Atlas USA or not? It would make no sense to use up your data allowance downloading map images from the internet when you could simply install one of the numerous navigation programs on your laptop. All you would need from the MiFi is the GPS lat/lon data.
Someone from Verizon called me about this topic.
They said the MiFi 2200 contains a fully featured telephone chipset, it just doesn't have the telephony interfaces.
The primary use of the GPS in the MiFi 2200 is for E911, which doesn't seem to apply, since you would never make a phone call with it, but it could be used by your carrier to locate you if you were connected via WiFi, but you don't have access to it.
It could be tied to SMS texts sent to 911 centers when they accept text alerts.
Google Maps doesn't take advantage of it, which makes sense. It may incorrectly get cataloged as if it were a normal hotspot. If someone with a GPS-enabled device connects via it, or even reports it as visible when they make a "my location" lookup, it might be located at the spot where it is at that moment in the Google database. There is supposed to be a block for all of the mobile hotspot MACs in the Google Database, but that isn't in effect now.
From a PC, run arp -a, or use some other method to discover the MAC address of your MiFi.
It appears in the "LAN" page of the MiFi web interface.
Put that MAC address into http://samy.pl/androidmap and see what location it returns.
In my case, samy shows me at home, because that's the first place I connected a GPS-enabled Blackberry, and did a Google Maps "locate me", while connected to the MiFi. Using Google Maps "Locate Me" on a PC shows the location based on nearby hotspots, not necessarily the one you are connected to.
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Clarence
MikeS, thanks for all that info.
This thread seems to provide an older, but uniquely informative answer: Verizon MIFI 2200 - Please enable the GPS - or allow me to cancel my plan.
I bought a MiFi 2200 from Verizon after having used one with Virgin Mobile, including using the GPS functionality (no, not the WiFi location-based system) with an iPod touch and Wi-Fi-only iPad, using the built-in software they come with. Note that the iPad was sold to me BUNDLED WITH a Wi-Fi-only iPad by Verizon, as a package deal! I wanted the Verizon network, because it's often considered better than (and tested out in the store as better than) the Sprint network the MiFi 2200 from Virgin Mobile relied on. So it seems to me that the info from the products team is not all correct, as I am certain that all the necessary software is already on my iPod and iPad to use a MiFi 2200's aGPS functionality. It seems that it must therefore be the case that they were sold with this function disabled, or Verizon disables it on their end. I wonder if/how GPS functionality is mentioned the sales contract between Verizon and Novatel - who wanted it disabled, and who knew it would be disabled.
Because it was advertised as the same device, same model # - MiFi 2200, I feel I was led to believe it would have the same great GPS functionality as the MiFi 2200 I got that was programmed to use Virgin Mobile/Sprint's network. I only found out there was no GPS after I started troubleshooting why the maps app wasn't working properly.
I feel that the honorable thing is for Verizon to make a free firmware upgrade available that allows access to the GPS chip by customers such as myself. It sounds likely that such an upgrade is already in use by some MiFi 2200's on Verizon Enterprise Accounts.
It seems that in fact, Verizon has chosen to intentionally sell a device in which this has been disabled, without disclosing (that is, while hiding) that fact until after the sale. This of course could be definitively determined via discovery in a legal case. I would prefer if a software upgrade became available that fixed it, without any involvement with the legal system.
Ah the irony.
'October 14, 2010—Verizon Wireless and Apple® today announced ... three bundles, all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot ... “This is the perfect pairing for holiday travels,” said John Stratton, chief operating officer for Verizon Wireless." '
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