What can I do with MiFi 2200 GPS?

[ClarDold]

I see that the MiFi 2200 has "GPS Capabilities", but I don't see any use of it.

If I look at Google Maps, "My Location" is not current.

Does some Verizon app make use of it?

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Clarence

[RoyB_VZW]

How are you using the MiFi, and with what device? There could potentially be a setting on that device (not the MiFi), that is not permitting the GPS from locating properly. For more information on the GPS capabilities of the device click here. 

Thanks, 

[ClarDold]

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RoyB_VZW wrote:

How are you using the MiFi, and with what device? There could potentially be a setting on that device (not the MiFi), that is not permitting the GPS from locating properly. For more information on the GPS capabilities of the device click here. 

Thanks, 

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That link doesn't work for me.

Do I have to be connected thought MiFi to get to it?

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Clarence

[ClarDold]

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RoyB_VZW wrote:

How are you using the MiFi, and with what device? There could potentially be a setting on that device (not the MiFi), that is not permitting the GPS from locating properly. For more information on the GPS capabilities of the device click here. 

Thanks, 

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I'm using a Windows 7 PC, and Google Maps, which doesn't show my location.

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Clarence

[#5]

http://maps.google.com/support/?hl=en Maybe you can find something here.

[ClarDold]

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jimfitzgerald wrote:
http://maps.google.com/support/?hl=en Maybe you can find something here.

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No help there, except one person noting that it used to work, and now it doesn't.

I never saw it work, and wonder if the poster that saw it work was actually picking up nearby points, and not the MiFi.

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Clarence

[#7]

Evidently, the free version of Google Earth no longer supports usage as a GPS moving map database. After reading your post, I tried it with my Delorme Earthmate GPS and found out you must have Google Earth Pro. I know it used to work, because I was able to get it to work in the past. You should use a GPS moving map database such as Street Atlas USA, etc. Get something that loads directly onto your computer and use your Mifi simply to provide GPS coordinates.

[RoyB_VZW]

Have you checked your PC for any settings (firewalls, blocks etc.) that may be preventing the GPS feature from working properly? If so, please provide me with a contact number where you can be reached (when you have access to the MiFi) for troubleshooting. 

Thanks again, 

[ClarDold]

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RoyB_VZW wrote:

Have you checked your PC for any settings (firewalls, blocks etc.) that may be preventing the GPS feature from working properly? If so, please provide me with a contact number where you can be reached (when you have access to the MiFi) for troubleshooting. 

Thanks again, 

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Could you tell me what it is that should work?  What program?  What feature?

I fully understand how Google Maps works with normal WiFi.

Is the document you mentioned available to an outside user?  I think this URL is only usable from inside Verizon.

http://dm.ddc.vzwcorp.com/documentmanager/secure/ContentRetrieval/Info_MiFi_2200_Software_Update_D11...

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Clarence

[Jax_Omen]

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.

[ClarDold]

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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.

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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

[Jax_Omen]

I love how when you click "software update" on that mifi page, it links you to a 4g USB modem's software update instead!

[RoyB_VZW]

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]

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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, 

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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

[#15]

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. 

[#16]

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.

[ClarDold · Accepted solution]

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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.

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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

[MrElvey]

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.

[MrElvey]

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." '

[manikin13]

This is by far the best thread on location based services for the mifi 2200 device. I have use this device, and here are my findings. I started out as private customer using my companies corp discount to get the device. the default firmware on the device has the GPS functionality disabled. However wifi location does still work on iOS devices, and android devices. The issue is frequently the location is nowhere near where you are. locks into a previous spot, mine in currently showing Salida, CA where I was 2 weeks ago, and not Florence, KY where I am currently. Using my company's login I was able to get the GPS functionality firmware, this allows you to enable, or disable the GPS function. When this is enabled, it adds a fake serial port for the GPS data (You need to be plugged in with a USB cable). When using any mapping software, you can tell it to pull the GPS data from that serial port. Since I do not use the mifi plugged in this is pretty much useless.

My main issue is that frequently the wifi location update is wrong. I would like to determine if there is a fix for this. From what i have been able to determine it appears to be related to the power up and down of the modem. If I see diagnostic page of the modem (mifi administration) I can see that the location is based on the last power up time, however this time does not seem to update regularly even if the modem has since been powered down. I am wondering if a soft reset is a solution.

[manikin13]

Thank you - That is perfect. So if I do not broadcast the SSID (hidden SSID) This should stop occuring? Is this a correct assumption? Also is there anyway of clearing this device from google's database more frequently as in daily? Can google be contacted regarding this?