How to enable the GPS on your VAIO VPCZ-137GG

ENABLING THE BUILT-IN GPS MODULE ON YOUR SONY VAIO VPCZ-137GG
For those of you that own a Sony VAIO VPCZ-137GG (the only Sony Asia/South Africa Z-series model equipped with an embedded 3G card), the following procedure describes how to enable the GPS functionality on your VAIO notebook. The GPS module is part of the 3G card, but the standard software and drivers that shipped with your VAIO has disabled the functionality of the GPS.

Disclaimer: Perform the software modifications at your own risk. I will not accept any responsibility for any claims that may arise as a result of these modifications.

The steps described below assumes that you are starting from a fresh install i.e. all the Sony drivers and programs have been loaded and the machine is in an original, factory-shipped state/configuration.

PREPARATORY STEPS
It is preferable that you do these steps on another machine connected to the internet, as you would need to download software and drivers, and modify one of the downloaded drivers. You will be downloading these from other international Sony sites, and do not be concerned if the listed VAIO model numbers do not correspond to your VAIO VPCZ-137GG.

You would also need a flash disk/memory stick to save the downloads, as you would later need to transfer these downloads to your VAIO.

Preparatory step 1: Download the SmartWi™ Connection Utility
Download the SmartWi™ Connection Utility for Wireless WAN from
Sony eSupport - VPCZ137GX/S - Software Updates & Drivers Save the file on a flash disk/memory stick.

Preparatory Step 2: Download the Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0
Download the Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0 from
VAIO : Sony Europe. The file would be in a .rar format. Unpack the file in a folder on the flash drive.

Preparatory Step 3: Modifying the Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0
Open the folder where the Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0 was unpacked to. Find the file called “WWAN_setup.bat”. Right-click on the file, choose “Edit”. The file would be opened in Notepad, and the entries would look as follows:
d 72-VP161-10_1.1.80
Setup.exe SS=0 WIN7DRIVER=1 GPS=1 DEFAULTIMAGE=6 /q
cd..
md c:\Programdata\Wwan\Driver\
CHOICE /c YN /n /d Y /t 20
copy version.txt c:\Programdata\Wwan\Driver\

Change the entry next “GPS=0” in the second line to “GPS=1”. Save the file and exit Notepad.
Ensure that the modified (edited) Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0 and the SmartWi™ Connection Utility for Wireless WAN is saved on the flash disk/memory stick.

STEPS FOR REMOVING AND RE-INSTALLING DRIVERS AND SOFTWARE ON YOUR VAIO

Step 1: Uninstall VAIO Smart Network
Go to Control Panel, under the “Programs” category, select “Uninstall a program”. Scroll down the list until you find the “VAIO Smart Network” entry. Right-click on this entry and select “Uninstall”. Make sure the un-installation process is complete, and then reboot the machine.

Step 2: Uninstall Qualcomm Gobi 2000 Package for Sony
Go to Control Panel, under the “Programs” category, select “Uninstall a program”. Scroll down the list until you find the “Qualcomm Gobi 2000 Package for Sony” entry. Right-click on this entry and select “Uninstall”. Make sure the un-installation process is complete, and then reboot the machine.

Step 3: Install the modified Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0 driver package
Insert the flash disk/memory stick containing the modified (edited) Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0 and the SmartWi™ Connection Utility for Wireless WAN in your VAIO. Open the folder where the Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0 was unpacked to. Double-click/run the file “WWAN_setup.bat”. Allow the setup process to complete. Reboot the machine.

Step 4: Install the SmartWi™ Connection Utility for Wireless WAN
From the flash disk/memory stick, open the folder containing the SmartWi™ Connection Utility for Wireless WAN package (the package name is SOAOTH-00228204-0042). Double-click/run this package and allow the installation to complete. The installation could take up to 3 minutes, so be patient. Once the installation is complete, you will be prompted to reboot. Please reboot the machine.

Step 5: Run the SmartWi™ Connection Utility for Wireless WAN for the first time and switch the GPS module on
Click on Start, All Programs and scroll down until you find the “SmartWi Connection Utility” entry. Click on the folder and run the program “SmartWi Connection Utility”. In the program window, move the slider under “Location Services” to the “on” position. This will switch the GPS module on.

Step 6: Verify the presence of the NMEA (GPS) port
Go to Control Panel, select Hardware and Sound, and under Devices and Printers, select Device Manager. Expand the “Ports” section, and verify that there is an entry under ports named “Qualcomm Gobi 2000 HS-USB NMEA 9225”. The default is COM6, although this may differ if you have other peripherals connected to the VAIO. If this entry is not present your GPS module is not active, please ensure that you have switched “Location Services” on. Your wireless switch on the front panel should also be on.

Step 7: Verify the GPS module is working
Under “Location Services” (where it says Powered by Google Earth), select one of the items in the drop-down list and click on “Go”. You will notice the GPS will take a few moments to initialise, and depending on the position of the VAIO, it should find a few satellites within about 2-3 minutes. Remember GPS technology is reliant on line-of-sight and a clear view of the sky, although the VAIO’s GPS is powerful enough to lock on satellites whilst indoors. This is largely dependent on factors influencing GPS.
Internet Explorer should open up Google Maps and display your current position.

Other:
If you wish to use the GPS with Windows 7’s location sensor, download the following third-party utility from
Welcome to GPSDirect GPS NMEA Windows 7 Sensor Driver

Your privacy may be compromised with this...

 

Good guide! +rep

BTW: What's the difference between SmartWi and VAIO Smart Network? Some time ago, I patched my WWAN driver like you described and I can use GPS just after my WWAN card is switched on via the Smart Network Utility.

I guess its fairly the same just Smart Network is for the EMEA market.

 

Once you get your GPS running I would recommend using the free trial of Microsoft Streets & Trips to toy around with it.

Its also one of the cheapest computer based GPS programs.

Others like Garmin are expensive and very locked down with map downloads being separate from the client etc. I just bought a Garmin GPS for less than I can buy the PC software & maps for....

 

I came to the same conclusion, I was actually searching for a version of VAIO Smart NEtwork that has the button/switch for toggling the GPS on/off but could not find any. The SamrtWi works really well I must say. I actually like the fact that I could control my GPS, WWAN, WLAN and Bluetooth all from the convenience of one app. I also read somewhere that WiFi and GPS cannot be used at the same time, mine is quite happy to do both.

Thanks for the compliment. Rudi

 

I had a quick look at MS Streets & Trips, it seems they do not cover South Africa

Garmin is very popular over here, and the presence of TomTom has brought some stiff competition in the market, so map products are actually quite reasonably priced here. The Garmin devices are damn expensive, probably 'cause they are all imported from the USA.

I would probably not invest in a standalone map product just for my VAIO, as I already own Mapsource with several mapsets for almost the entire African continent and the Philippines. Just a pity Mapsource does not talk to external GPS's - or I haven't figured out how to...

Next step of this project is to properly integrate this VAIO GPS into the Windows 7 Location Sensor. The method I mentioned seems a little clunky and does not work too well.

I am also keen on getting the VAIO Location Utility (I believe it is used in the P series) integrated with IE, as it is suppose to relay your location to web-based programs like Google Maps and the hated Facebook via a toolbar in IE. My model's homepage on the Sony website lists the VAIO Location Utility as a download, but installing it made no difference. Maybe someone has managed to get this working

 

Can you use WWAN/GPS when you have your battery taken out?

I can not.

 

From memory, the manual mentions that WWAN will not work unless the battery is inserted correctly. I think it's one of the WWAN troubleshooting tips.

 

Correct, the WWAN/GPS does not work when the battery is removed.

 

Guys, just to get this right.. which Z's have a GPS module? The VPCZ13 that comes with mobile broadband (wimax)? (North America)

 

Latebeat, I cannot say for sure which North-American models are equipped with WWAN. I have seen elsewhere that some NA models have WWAN capability without a SIM slot, presumably that works wtih CDMA technology.

The only model sold in Asia/South Africa equipped with WWAN/GPS is the VPCZ137GG.

If your model has the Gobi WWAN (mobile broadband) card installed, you also have GPS functionality, although Sony seemingly does not support GPS functionality.

Hope this helps, Rudi

 

Hi ,
thank you for your post !
I've tried to do this procedure on my Sony Vaio X Series VPCX131KX/B but it does not seem to work.
The problem is that when I turn GPS on it can't find any satellite not even with GPSDirect NMEA Sensor Driver for Windows 7.
I think that my notebook do have gps because I can find a NMEA port.
When I turn on location service on the SmartWi connection utility it just says " searching for gps signal " and automatically turns on Verizon WIreless to , although I don't have a Verizon subrscription and I'm actually using this notebook bought in the US in Italy.
Thanks for your help !

 

OK, let's start with two basic questions:
1. Does your VAIO have a 3G wireless card (operating with a SIM) installed? If so, can you please post the make & model of the 3G module. Look under device manager\modems and note the model. Mine is a Qualcomm Gobi 2000 HS-USB modem 9225.
2. I presume you are outdoors when you are trying to locate satellites. Try to be outside (or near a window) when locating satellites.

I will also attempt to ascertain if your specific VAIO has a GPS built-in. Don't bother ringing VAIO customer service, they won't even know what you are talking about

Rudi

 

Hi Rudi ,
thank you for your answer !
1. Yes , I suppose it does have a wireless card , my model too is a Qualcomm Gobi 200 HS-USB modem 9225
2. I've tried outdoors too , it doesn't work !It's strange because my iphone gps works perfectly even indoors

How can I ascertain if my vaio has a GPS built-in ?

 

Your VAIO definitely has a built-in GPS if it is fitted with the Qualcomm Gobi 2000 HS-USB modem 9225, as the card has both a GPS and a 3G module embedded on it.

Could you follow the steps in the guide that I posted at the beginning of this thread? Did you get stuck somewhere in the process? It is weird that you cant pick up any sats.

It is important that you do "step 3" to allow your driver to tell SmartWi that you have a GPS. For convenience I have posted the description of Step 3 below:

Preparatory Step 3: Modifying the Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0
Open the folder where the Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0 was unpacked to. Find the file called “WWAN_setup.bat”. Right-click on the file, choose “Edit”. The file would be opened in Notepad, and the entries would look as follows:
d 72-VP161-10_1.1.80
Setup.exe SS=0 WIN7DRIVER=1 GPS=1 DEFAULTIMAGE=6 /q
cd..
md c:\Programdata\Wwan\Driver\
CHOICE /c YN /n /d Y /t 20
copy version.txt c:\Programdata\Wwan\Driver\

Change the entry next “GPS=0” in the second line to “GPS=1”. Save the file and exit Notepad.
Ensure that the modified (edited) Qualcomm Gobi2000 (WWAN) Driver 2.0.7.0 and the SmartWi™ Connection Utility for Wireless WAN is saved on the flash disk/memory stick.

If you cant do the changes to the driver I can try and upload the modified driver for you on box.net.

 

Yes , I did everything as you said and I've just double checked , it's saying 'GPS=1'.I don't know why it's not working