GPS - but how?

[imallcrawl]

I have GPS on my JT and it works perfectly, but how the heck is it connecting to the internet? I know on my other vehicles I needed internet to use GPS, but this thing is connecting and I have no clue how its doing this? Does our JT's or any newer Jeeps have free hot spots now and if so how do we access it?

(*photo not mine, just used as reference)

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[Fpolanco]

The GPS maps are saved on an internal hard drive. There's a GPS receiver somewhere (maybe embedded in the windshield but not sure) that receives a signal and relays that to the map. I'm about 90% sure this is how it works.

As for the hotspot, I'm pretty sure they stopped this service a few yrs ago. I got my JT in 2021 and they stopped shortly thereafter.

 

[rsouthern]

Your system has map data saved (that shows roads, rivers, addresses and corresponding map coordinates like lat/long etc) Your system will have this "base data" that was stored when the radio was manufactured. You may or may not receive updates depending on things like having a data subscription to maps or something similar. Even without a subscription to map data updates, the base data will be available to show you the area on the screen. Lots of fun when you have an old map and you're driving on a new road, the nav usually get's upset and can't navigate until you get back to a road that exists in the old data. My old car had a NAV CD in the trunk that provided this data and I had to buy periodic updates from Navtec to get updated map data. This is all now done on memory in your radio/headunit now (e.g. harddrive or SSD).

In terms of getting GPS position coordinates, you don't need any internet access for that, just the data from the GPS satellites that give your computer position data, which is then shown on the screen with the map data that I just mentioned.

You have a GPS receiver in your Jeep, most likely on the crossbar or the roll cage (i.e. above the driver's head) and that receives the timing data from the GPS satellites that your system uses to figure out where you are on the map.

 

[imallcrawl]

The GPS maps are saved on an internal hard drive. There's a GPS receiver somewhere (maybe embedded in the windshield but not sure) that receives a signal and relays that to the map. I'm about 90% sure this is how it works.

As for the hotspot, I'm pretty sure they stopped this service a few yrs ago. I got my JT in 2021 and they stopped shortly thereafter.

Ah that makes sense! But the roads around here are constantly changing with new developments and construction, I guess if your 90% is correct that would mean my GPS will eventually be wrong

But hey, that still leaves me wondering why did my other vehicles with GPS require internet? Without it the dang thing would've even turn on.

 

[JTGuy]

I also have the full NAV 8.4 in my 22 and wish I could install OnX Offroad into it.

 

[imallcrawl]

Your system either has map data saved (that shows roads, rivers, addresses etc) Your system will have some "base data" that was stored at some earlier time and may or may not receive updates depending on things like having a data subscription to maps or something similar. My old car had a NAV CD in the trunk that provided this data and I had to buy periodic updates from Navtec to get updated map data. This is all now done on memory in your radio/headunit now (e.g. harddrive or SSD).

In terms of getting GPS position coordinates, you don't need any internet access for that, just the data from the GPS satellites that give your computer position data, which is then shown on the screen with the map data that I just mentioned.

You have a GPS receiver in your Jeep, most likely on the crossbar or the roll cage (i.e. above the driver's head) and that receives the timing data from the GPS satellites that your system uses to figure out where you are on the map.

Great response, makes sense!

 

[JonMN]

I look at the installed GPS as a handy backup. I use my iPhone (via CarPlay) for navigation, but, like you mentioned, it needs cell service to get data. If there is no cell service, the built-in nav is a great backup.

 

[jav_eee]

But the roads around here are constantly changing with new developments and construction,

This is exactly why built-in navigation isn’t as great as people make it seem. Google or Apple Maps will always be up to date. Your jeep won’t.

 

[Badunit]

This is exactly why built-in navigation isn’t as great as people make it seem. Google or Apple Maps will always be up to date. Your jeep won’t.

But when you are lost somewhere in the boonies with no cell service, the phone has no maps and no directions while the built-in nav does. Been there. That is about the only time I use the nav system in any of my vehicles, though.

I have actual AAA printed maps for some areas as a second backup, for nostalgia, and to see the whole map on a much larger "screen" than a phone or the UConnect (only when parked, of course).

 

[smlobx]

But when you are lost somewhere in the boonies with no cell service, the phone has no maps and no directions while the built-in nav does. Been there. That is about the only time I use the nav system in any of my vehicles, though.

I have actual AAA printed maps for some areas as a second backup, for nostalgia, and to see the whole map on a much larger "screen" than a phone or the UConnect.

Thats not necessarily correct..
If you use apps like Gaia, onX, maps.me etc. you can download areas your traveling to ahead of time and use them without cell service.

I've been very happy with maps.me all over the world. It has things like hiking trails as well as offroad trails.
Then connect your phone to your display and its just like you'd want.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This is exactly why built-in navigation isn’t as great as people make it seem. Google or Apple Maps will always be up to date. Your jeep won’t.

Is that true of the 24s and 25s using TomTom?

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...ture-installed-uconnect-5.93397/#post-1498697

OTOH, Google isn't exactly sure of some of the roads here - and in Indiana, it had us turn east for an address on a highway where we really needed to go west for a couple of miles. It also left me in an industrial rail yard switching area by Sioux City one time.

I guess that all have their "oopsies". But the Jeep nav before the later models was rather expensive to update - even the special prices were pricy.
I keep my wife's 2023 JLU updated but she's not one to use such things on a phone and wants the built-in nav to work. And for her, it works pretty well.

 

[Jteakus]

I was able to select OnX through my Apple Car Play and have it shown on my dash unit just like Maps on my phone nav,

On another note, weren't all our Jeeps supposed to be loaded with all the BOH trails from the factory?

 

[DylanM]

On another note, weren't all our Jeeps supposed to be loaded with all the BOH trails from the factory?

Pretty sure they didn't start doing that until the '24 or '25 models.

 

[Fpolanco]

Ah that makes sense! But the roads around here are constantly changing with new developments and construction, I guess if your 90% is correct that would mean my GPS will eventually be wrong

But hey, that still leaves me wondering why did my other vehicles with GPS require internet? Without it the dang thing would've even turn on.

Not doubting you but that’s so weird! Maybe those platforms had programs running in the background.

I’m pretty sure Jeep offers the option to update your GPS at the end of the year “over the air” or via a USB flash drive.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I’m pretty sure Jeep offers the option to update your GPS at the end of the year “over the air” or via a USB flash drive.

Up through 2023 model year, you had to buy a USB stick for the map update. Then you needed to have internet access to verify it was you, your update, and so on.

The 24 and later have an app you can use to apply updates using a USB drive. It's a two step process - stick the drive in the Jeep, the radio will dump info onto the USB drive, then you plug that into your computer with the app and get the updates, then it puts them on the USB which you then use to update the NAV. (FCA toolbox I think it's called?)
I think they'll also do OTA updates on 24 and later but that's just my feeble memory thinking that.

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