@vanawful, the GPS capability comes from the TI WiLink 7 chip (WL-1283) that provides all the wireless capabilities for the WiFi-only PlayBook.
Although the jury's still out on whether different units may behave differently, so far it appears likely every unit *can* work, under the right conditions, but problems in the software (OS level) or possibly in the chip itself (nobody's saying yet) mean that it's quite unreliable.
There is no need to have WiFi enabled for it, and I've used the GPS frequently now with WiFi off and no nearby hotspots, no tethering (I don't even have a smartphone), and just the GPS running.
If you pick a clear day (i.e. no big rain clouds off to the south, etc), are out in the open without buildings or other things blocking the view of the sky, make certain you are not covering up the lower-right corner of the PlayBook where it appears the GPS antenna is, run the Compass app, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes (if this is your first time using it) so it can find and download ephemeris data from each satellite, you should see it start reporting lat/long positions after that.
If you do this, and it doesn't work, try again. Then try again. Maybe try another time. Preferably do this on different days too, and possibly after a reboot. Yes, it appears to be that flaky sometimes...
I've written my own GPS recording app (no fancy map... just records the readings) and done numerous tests at this point. The readings, when they arrive, are generally exceptionally good. The main problem is getting them to actually arrive and, so far, I've found nothing that can force the issue. Even with my own app, I sometimes have to start it up and leave it alone for some minutes, 4-5 times, before I get the first reading, and there are days I've just given up and moved on. The next day it will simply work. It's largely random.
The three single biggest things you need to remember to get any readings: be outdoors away from big buildings, don't pick a heavily overcast day, and do NOT hold the unit with your right hand covering the bottom right corner (when held in the default landscape orientation with the cameras on top, that is).
beside the 'Reply' button.
