REVIEW: The O2 Xda Serra
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hi

New member here. Must say, great review on the phone from Windows, so much so that I ordered one from O2 as an upgrade, received today. Love the look of the phone and the functionality having previously had the Stellar, Orbit and Mini S. I've just had a few months on the Iphone 3G and whilst a great phone I missed the full bluetooth tethering ability and the turn by turn sat nav of TomTom.

Now, whilst the Serra is a great phone I just can't believe how bad the GPS is on it. Having spent a day trying, I've been unable to get any satellite lock whatsover. Not sure if its the phone itself or the settings. I've set things as an external GPS receiver, 4800 baud rate and com 4 but no luck.

Can any one help? If I can't get this up and running it's going back and I'm sticking with the Iphone.

thanks

The Serra is a good machine but there are indeed big problem with the GPS system. Rumour has it that O2 may be able to fix these with a future ROM update but nothing hard and fast on that as of yet.

Which GPS package are you using and what version as that may affect the settings you use.

Hi

I'm using TomTom 6 on it at the momemt, with the reciever type set as 'other NMEA'

Another thimg, I've read other reviews of the Touch Pro thart mention Google Maps. Is this downloadable or is it smething that comes on the original ROM?

Many thanks

Google maps are downloadable over a data connection, if you have a data plan you will be ok, if not it can be expensive to download the maps as the file sizes are quite large.

I have also given an answer regarding Tomtom and the bluetooth receiver in your other post.

thanks for your reply. is there a google map application similar to whats on the Iphone? I've searched for mobile maps on Google but it directs you to the Google Mobile site.

You can go to the Google page here to download Maps, or visit m.google.co.uk from your phone's browser. This is the same program that is installed on the iPhone and many current WinMo devices.

Google Maps is no substitute for a proper Sat Nav program like TomTom, although you can get an approximate position using your phone's cell data.

cheers for that, I tried m.google.co.uk on the opera browser on the phone previously and came back page not found.

I realise Google Maps isn't a proper turn by turn app but it's better than nothing. I'm thinking if I can't get the Serra to work with TomTom I'd need to purchase a satnav unit and Google Maps would be a backup for when I'm on foot.

Try the Google Mobile link from Pocket Internet Explorer rather than Opera.

TomTom really ought to work though, but you need to keep the device outside with a clear view of the sky for up to 45 minutes to allow it to download as much satellite data as possible. TTN will show a lock with as few as 3 satellites but giving it a lot longer will get a much more secure lock.

HI,

Great review. I am avid user of HTC phones and O2. this phone is on my list this year as an upgrade. As for the GPS, I must say it could be the software. I currently have O2 XDA Orbit 2. TomTom takes abotu 2 minute to get a lock and CoPilot is slightly faster but both within 2 mninutes. I was appalled at the GPS reciever.

However, when using otyher GPS software like Google maps and Speed Sentry etc... the GPS is the quickets I have ever seen. Google gets a lock within 30 sec (7-8 sattellite inside the house in the middle of the living room). So makes me wonder, what gives? Tried another software Speed Sentry and it too gets a lock within 30 secs faster than TomTom or CoPilot.

For settings, I do not touch setting for the GPS .... you do not need to, it is internal.

Just tell TomTom Or CoPilot that the GPS is internal. and you should be good..

my 0.2 pennies..

The GPS lock issue is definitely software (ROM) based and the elves have reported a fix is due soon!