What can I do when my GPS doesn't work (or if my tablet doesn't have GPS)?

Question

The problem: I want to use an (offline|online) navigation app but:

• I have an Asus Transformer Prime with very bad GPS reception
• I have a tablet without GPS (e.g., a Nook Color)
• My phone has a very low GPS signal
  (Samsung is infamous here, Galaxy S, Nexus S, Gio and so on all have users complaining about it)
• My phone often loses track of GPS satellites

My device has Bluetooth however.

What can I do to get a working and precise GPS signal?

Answer 1

I have several bluetooth-GPS adapters that I use with all of my devices when I need a superb signal because a specialiced receiver is almost always superior to a smartphone's internal GPS (due to integration constraints).

• GPS Receiver: My favourite is the Bluemax 4043 bluetooth receiver. It has more than one day uptime, it can also log 32MB of GPS data and uses a cheap Nokia BL-5C battery. Linux support! OpenStreetMaps Wiki has a comprehensive list of good receivers (search for the bluetooth enabled ones).

• Software support: Cyanogenmod7+ can connect to GPS bluetooth receivers, stock Android users may install 3rd party apps like Bluetooth GPS Provider.

It's very handy for my Nook Color tablet that has no GPS but bluetooth (Asus Transformer Prime users also have this kind of problem).

Answer 2

The Transformer Prime has a problem with its GPS all right. You can get a free external GPS adapter that fits into the docking port.

http://event.asus.com/ASUSPad/TF201GPS/