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I am losing my mind with my GPS. I have had my TP2 since last August and I have never been able to find a solution to the horrible GPS quality. I have tried matching up the ports, changing the ports, different software, hard-resets, I have installed the hotfix, I have called HTC, but things are still terrible. The only thing that ever cause an improvement was manually choosing the ports and such, however the improvement was only slight.
I have used GPS on Google Maps on the iPhone under the same provider (Optus in Australia) and the moment I opened the program there was always a GPS lock, not once did I ever have to wait or get it ready, but on my TP2 using Google Maps (or any other application), sometimes I am forced to wait minutes before getting a signal, if at all. I have searched and searched for a resolution but im not finding any. I just don't understand what I paid top dollar for, I chose the TP2 over the Xperia for it's GPS capabilities, but its hardly capable. I feel as if I am out of options, i've had it for too long to get my money back; I would really appreciate your thoughts on this?
I use iGuidance2009 and have no problems, though I do update quickGPS regularly. Google Maps I dont know about as I dont use it.
This has been a problem ever since the Touch Pro. My old Kaiser never had these horrible GPS issues, Touch Pro and Touch Pro 2 do.
What I have found to work well is to toggle the phone in the Comm manager when GPS is not working correctly.
Also, if you can get AGPS to work correctly, that does wonders for GPS lock time speeds! It would take minutes before, but once AGPS is set to work correctly, I can get a lock in 10 seconds! You have to go into the registry and make sure AGPS is set to use the right data connection.
This only improves acquisition times, it does not reduce the lag which was introduced in the original Touch Pro.
Google maps is probably the worst test app for speed. I use TomTom and iGo on Juicy R5 now, default rom before, and both have no lag. Google maps lags as much as 30 seconds, Garmin and also a few free gps apps I tried lagged 10-15 secs. So this is really, really app dependent. Don't know why.
As for lock speed, agps is a must. If QuickGPS/SEASGEE isn't working then you get the same lock speeds that you would get on old, old car gps systems (up to 5 mins to get a lock).
petard said:
This has been a problem ever since the Touch Pro. My old Kaiser never had these horrible GPS issues, Touch Pro and Touch Pro 2 do.
What I have found to work well is to toggle the phone in the Comm manager when GPS is not working correctly.
Also, if you can get AGPS to work correctly, that does wonders for GPS lock time speeds! It would take minutes before, but once AGPS is set to work correctly, I can get a lock in 10 seconds! You have to go into the registry and make sure AGPS is set to use the right data connection.
This only improves acquisition times, it does not reduce the lag which was introduced in the original Touch Pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's just you with such serious problems, maybe your phone has problems..
AGPS is key to getting a fast lock. That's where you should be focused.
Some registry tweaks may improve your fix. It rocks for me and others owners, but not sure for every body.
take a look there:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=523676
and there:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=524655
It could be a good beginning ;-)
khaytsus said:
It's just you with such serious problems, maybe your phone has problems..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, its not. Everyone has position lag. It isn't unbearable, but it is pretty annoying. You take an exit on a highway and it takes about 3 seconds to realize you took it sometimes. What is really weird is it keeps going on one road while the arrow turns in the direction you are headed until it finally places you on the correct road. That part may be due to TomTom though, but I'm not sure.
petard said:
You take an exit on a highway and it takes about 3 seconds to realize you took it sometimes. What is really weird is it keeps going on one road while the arrow turns in the direction you are headed until it finally places you on the correct road. That part may be due to TomTom though, but I'm not sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As per my personal experience, this is due to internal GPS data filtering by WM, so tweaks recalled by woaloo (I mean reducing of WM's GPS-related data buffer sizes) can help here.
Be careful however with it as too low values will drives GPS to become "nervous" - your position will become unstable, starting to jump randomly with a radius of few hundreds meters.
Another reason of the lag is (most likely) related to the navi software one uses. I use iGO8 and there are for sure settings moderating position behavior from pretty quick (but unstable) to rather slow but noticeable more stable. I personally prefer this last one.
To the original poster, have you tried running a program like VisualGPS? If so, how much signal strength is it showing for the satellites? I see as high as 39 when indoors. I get quick and accurate locks and I am very happy with the GPS performance. I have to believe that you have a hardware problem.
As for the thread drift on the few seconds delay, yes, that is there, but not a big issue.
Personal experience with the GPS... initially could never get it to connect, basically because every time i tried i was inside behind venitian blinds..... never use GPS before so my bad.
Walked outside and it was great. About 10 secs or less to lock, the lag is only a couple of seconds, no more than 5 secs. Added the tweeks and it was improved slightly. The accuracy was within 5 meters or less (used the property boundries in google maps to verify).
Moving at high speed it was pretty good too.
Compared to other phones and iPhone borrowed from a mate there is negligable difference in the accuracy and lag.
BRETT
So the GPS performance on the Touch Pro 2 is not that much better than the Touch Pro? The receiver on the Touch Pro is extremely weak.
At my work we have a GPS re-radiator for use with the equipment that we build. Indoors using the re-radiator I can get a lock in seconds with 11 satellites (the signal is abnormally strong). Outdoors, I'm happy if I can get a lock with 7.
worwig said:
To the original poster, have you tried running a program like VisualGPS? If so, how much signal strength is it showing for the satellites? I see as high as 39 when indoors. I get quick and accurate locks and I am very happy with the GPS performance. I have to believe that you have a hardware problem.
As for the thread drift on the few seconds delay, yes, that is there, but not a big issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did try something like that, not sure if it was VisualGPS but it showed me the strength of GPS signal and it was quite accurate with how the GPS appeared to be behaving.
I got the phone's motherboard replaced and that fixed the issue. Thank you all for the replies though, it was possibly faulty.
Have the new Energy rom on but used the GPS hotfix. Seems to have increased lock time considerably.
I'll keep an eye on it though in case the lock time increases...
Wonder if we can find an app that would imbed GPS co-ordinates in any pics we take... Got a Samsung S8300t as well & it does this though the GPS navigation software is non-existant....
ultramag69 said:
Have the new Energy rom on but used the GPS hotfix. Seems to have increased lock time considerably.
I'll keep an eye on it though in case the lock time increases...
Wonder if we can find an app that would imbed GPS co-ordinates in any pics we take... Got a Samsung S8300t as well & it does this though the GPS navigation software is non-existant....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One of the extra camera modes you can unlock in the TP2 is a geotagging mode that does exactly that. There's a number of ways to enable them...Rhodium Settings Tool has a switch for each of them individually (burst, sport, video share, and geotagging), or you can just run the cab below
....and, for anybody else on this thread who hasn't tried it already, I'd suggest checking out the cab fone_fanatic put together to help with GPS locks on the TP2, details HERE
Hello everyone! I just registered on the forum, but I'm following it for a while. In fact I just bought a galaxy s, switched from an iphone 3g in fact, and I'm loving it!
Before buying the phone, I read all the info available about it, and I was really preoccupied about the whole gps issues posts...I use the gps quite a lot, and I really couldn't stand a 500€ phone with no working gps. But in the end I bought it, thinking "well, if it is so bad I could always keep my iphone and use it as a navigator".
Now I tried the navigator two times already, on a 40km route, from my house to the city and back, the former with the navigon software and the latter with the google navigator. I must say that my navigator was ALWAYS SPOT ON. And I mean it, every street I crossed was exactly at the point it is supposed to be, and turn indications were very precise, in fact even more precise than the iphone gps with tomtom, which I loved!
My galaxy s was bought in Italy, and is running firmware 2.1-update1, baseband I9000XXJF5, kernel 2.6.29 root(at)SE-S602 #2, build number ECLAIR.XWJFD. I configured it to use both the gps and the wireless network in home settings.
I just wanted to share my experience because maybe there are other people like me out there who are thinking twice about buying the phone because of the reported gps problems...
Now...could it be that the supposed gps issues were an hardware problem, which has been fixed in a more recent batch production?
I havent had any issues with my SGS aswell, works great (JM2 firmware), maybe its a different version of SGS...
Navigation software like Navigon, CoPilot etc always try to place you on the nearest road, and hence they work fine even though the GPS isn't spot on.
Try using MyTracks, SportyPal or iMapMyRun to track a route and you can clearly see that the GPS is struggling with keeping an accurate fix.
I've used my SGS with CoPilot and it guided me perfectly around northern europe, but tracking my cycling or running is not an option as it is now.
Would be interested in seeing you track a drive/bike ride/run with one of these apps to see if it works as it should.
I have to agree with you on this. I never experÃenced ANY problem with the GPS. And I use it ALOT!
And here we go again.
The problem is indeed with the GPS having trouble to keep an accurate fix (so not obtaining it fast enough) and in most 'road navigation' software, or the likes, you won't experience this behavior since they: pin you to the road, smooth your path, or perform any other optimizations after they've received the position from the GPS driver/interface.
If you indeed use a program like MyTracks, SportyPal, RunGPS, etc then you will see you're 'jumping' around quite a lot. This is caused by:
1) The GPS LOCKS to 8 satellites Max
2) It drops any satellite with a SNR less than 22
this can be tested by using a program like GPS Test. This holds true for ALL Galaxy phones out there. Not every one is experiencing these problems since:
1) They use a program that pins the user to roads or does some other modification
2) They are lucky to be in a relative clear field so enough satellites with a SNR above 22 are available
3) They simply think those few deviations are not a problem
It is very most likely an issue with the GPS driver which can be fixed by Samsung.
scrappy.doo said:
And here we go again.
The problem is indeed with the GPS having trouble to keep an accurate fix (so not obtaining it fast enough) and in most 'road navigation' software, or the likes, you won't experience this behavior since they: pin you to the road, smooth your path, or perform any other optimizations after they've received the position from the GPS driver/interface.
If you indeed use a program like MyTracks, SportyPal, RunGPS, etc then you will see you're 'jumping' around quite a lot. This is caused by:
1) The GPS LOCKS to 8 satellites Max
2) It drops any satellite with a SNR less than 22
this can be tested by using a program like GPS Test. This holds true for ALL Galaxy phones out there. Not every one is experiencing these problems since:
1) They use a program that pins the user to roads or does some other modification
2) They are lucky to be in a relative clear field so enough satellites with a SNR above 22 are available
3) They simply think those few deviations are not a problem
It is very most likely an issue with the GPS driver which can be fixed by Samsung.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
or they have another batch, or they do not have lots of programs running or they have that magic touch or they control memory in a better way or using another firmware........
My GPS has been accurate both walking in the forest driving the car .... and yes I know the differences between the softwares internal handling of the fixes. I still think that some people has the error and others have not. Of course I can get errors if I want to, by loading a lot of programs, keeping it very hidden inside the car etc. Due to something, different users get different results and I do not know which is in majority. Maybe all but a few got a faulty phone or the reverse. Just do not get to the assumption that everybody that has a good GPS are some amateurs and do not know anything about GPS.
My Galaxy S regularly has locks on sats that have SNR's lower than 22.
scrappy.doo said:
And here we go again.
The problem is indeed with the GPS having trouble to keep an accurate fix (so not obtaining it fast enough) and in most 'road navigation' software, or the likes, you won't experience this behavior since they: pin you to the road, smooth your path, or perform any other optimizations after they've received the position from the GPS driver/interface.
If you indeed use a program like MyTracks, SportyPal, RunGPS, etc then you will see you're 'jumping' around quite a lot. This is caused by:
1) The GPS LOCKS to 8 satellites Max
2) It drops any satellite with a SNR less than 22
this can be tested by using a program like GPS Test. This holds true for ALL Galaxy phones out there. Not every one is experiencing these problems since:
1) They use a program that pins the user to roads or does some other modification
2) They are lucky to be in a relative clear field so enough satellites with a SNR above 22 are available
3) They simply think those few deviations are not a problem
It is very most likely an issue with the GPS driver which can be fixed by Samsung.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have found that the internal driver that spits out the NMEA can get locks to more than 8 satellites < 20 SnR, but when presented to the Android API, Samsung only announce upto 8 satellites > 20 SnR.
Unfortunatly the NMEA locations are just as wayward as the MyTracks information, so we can't blame the apps.
I too agree that this problem is across all phones, whether the user is fortunate to experience the issue or not. You just have to have the right/wrong conditions, and even then the system is intermittent.
I have had two Galaxy S phones now. The second isn't as bad as the first. But I know there is a large section of people who state that their GPS is perfect who then fire up MyTracks and go back on what they say.
milsjg said:
or they have another batch, or they do not have lots of programs running or they have that magic touch or they control memory in a better way or using another firmware........
My GPS has been accurate both walking in the forest driving the car .... and yes I know the differences between the softwares internal handling of the fixes. I still think that some people has the error and others have not. Of course I can get errors if I want to, by loading a lot of programs, keeping it very hidden inside the car etc. Due to something, different users get different results and I do not know which is in majority. Maybe all but a few got a faulty phone or the reverse. Just do not get to the assumption that everybody that has a good GPS are some amateurs and do not know anything about GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How long have you had your Galaxy S milsjg? How long have you been testing the GPS? What firmware version are you running? Have you applied any lag fixes? What software do you use to test the tracking?
I would be keen to point out, just because you don't experience errors, do not assume your phone does not have the error.
Certainly at minimum, your phone will have the software bug where accuracy is misreported, locks on satelltes < 20SnR, or locks on more than 8 satellites are reported.
heygrl said:
My Galaxy S regularly has locks on sats that have SNR's lower than 22.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think 22 is the wrong SnR. It's actually < 21, but lets say 20 to be on the safe side.
If you do have lots of locks, please post a picture of GPS Test output showing a lock on more than 8 satellites. As far as Im aware, no one ever has seen this on GPS Test under Samsung Galaxy S, and when pressed about the matter, they confess that they see more than 8, but only get a fix on upto 8.
Remember a fix is a bar in GPS test that isn't grey.
sjdean said:
I have had two Galaxy S phones now. The second isn't as bad as the first. But I know there is a large section of people who state that their GPS is perfect who then fire up MyTracks and go back on what they say.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But there are also people who do use MyTracks that does not have problems with the GPS.
I have posted an example when I recorded with GPSCompassMap (which like MyTracks will not snap to roads):
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=e...9.033224,15.057449&spn=0.076491,0.147629&z=13
That is typical performance for me, and I have been walking and driving with MyTrack, GPSCompassMap and Co-Pilot without issues.
Obviously, judging by most disussions on the subject I seem to be in a minority, so it still seems to be a major issue with the phone that needs to be fixed.
But something seems to be at play that means that some users find the GPS unusable, while for others it is fine.
That's not terrible at all.
I also wanted to note that the GPS really seems to be biploar. I think this is just a huge issue with Samsung's poor firmware/software/coding/whatever. There is no reason why it shouldn't work right, the chip is featured in many other phones and it's not from some second rate manufacture. The phone has no problems seeing sats with good enough SNR's.. etc.
PsiIion said:
But there are also people who do use MyTracks that does not have problems with the GPS.
I have posted an example when I recorded with GPSCompassMap (which like MyTracks will not snap to roads):
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=e...9.033224,15.057449&spn=0.076491,0.147629&z=13
That is typical performance for me, and I have been walking and driving with MyTrack, GPSCompassMap and Co-Pilot without issues.
Obviously, judging by most disussions on the subject I seem to be in a minority, so it still seems to be a major issue with the phone that needs to be fixed.
But something seems to be at play that means that some users find the GPS unusable, while for others it is fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like suggested earlier if your Galaxy's GPS performs perfectly 100% ok to you then please: "post a picture of GPS Test output showing a lock on more than 8 satellites."
Judging the track you drove you where clearly in the open field so the GPS should perform ok. The conditions are very optimal. Despite the conditions being good you see some deviation at the beginning of your track (when you seem to be just marginally surrounded by some trees/forest).
Hell I can show you plenty of screenshots that will show my Vibrant locked on sats that have SNR's well under 22 which seems to be some type of "thing" that the Vibrant doesn't do which is a fabrication for me. I often have locks below 22SNR.
heygrl said:
Hell I can show you plenty of screenshots that will show my Vibrant locked on sats that have SNR's well under 22 which seems to be some type of "thing" that the Vibrant doesn't do which is a fabrication for me. I often have locks below 22SNR.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but i do bet that you dont have a lock under 20SNR!
scrappy.doo said:
Like suggested earlier if your Galaxy's GPS performs perfectly 100% ok to you then please: "post a picture of GPS Test output showing a lock on more than 8 satellites."
Judging the track you drove you where clearly in the open field so the GPS should perform ok. The conditions are very optimal. Despite the conditions being good you see some deviation at the beginning of your track (when you seem to be just marginally surrounded by some trees/forest).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never locked to more than eight satellites, but why do I need to do that as long at it the precision is fine?
GPSCompassMap shows the number of sats you are connected to, and while recording that track it was locking to eight almost constantly, only occasionally dipping down to six or seven.
There is a lot of trees and forest along the road, but not really obstructing the view of the sky.
I basically turned on the GPS and app and started driving, and the starting point was not obstructed. But of course it takes a few seconds to get a proper lock.
Like I said, I have used the GPS a lot in various conditions without problems. It does't seem like the ones having problems are only trying it indoors or in canyons, so I don't think the difference is about the conditions.
Well to answer the questions that Sdjean asked: I have had the phone for one and a half month. I am using I9000XWJM2 with Samset 1,7 (I have not had any serious problem with any firmware regarding the GPS but have had some lag issues). I have used CardioTrainer, My Track as tracking software, Navigon for navigation and Gmaps for, well I don,t know. I have had a mobile from 1989 and GPS from ca 2000. I have had GPS enabled phones and handhelds for the last 6 years and also owned some external GPSs. I have worked with tracking for at least 8 years, so do not think that people that do not complain about Samsung GPS is amateurs.
IMHO handhelds without any corrections (WAAS, ERGOS, DGPS etc) will get a fix within 5- 15 meters (sd 95). If you want a fix better than that, you have to apply some correction.
This talk about more than 8 fixes is not important. If you have 8 fixes the ninth will not improve the total location fix very much, specially if it has crappy s/n. Other phones may use another statistically way of calculating the fix using bad fixes and get down to an accuracy of 5,6 feet (which I do think is highly improbable if you do not use corrections). If they use low quality fixes they may only mess things up.
However, I agree that the jumping of the GPS fix is not tolerable so if you have that issue Samsung most help you. But if you complain about the accuracy being 5 to 10 meters. Search Google and read about how the GPS works and what you can do to correct it.
Definitely, I agree. An accuracy of 5m to 10m would be ideal, unfortunately while my phone does achieve that on many occasions, the signal is too sporadic.
I can turn a corner and get a signal loss and show as going round a loop, or carrying on in a straight line until the GPS catches up. I can go under a bridge and the GPS will think Im walking off to the right, or left when Im going straight.
I know XWJM2 seems to dampen the path a little. That I think is in XXJP3 firmware as "Use Sensor Aiding", but unfortunately this is a bodge that doesn't fix the jittery signal.
At times, my GPS can be flawless. I'll get a lock onto 8 satellites, stable with no problems. I'll get a flawless track. But the rest of the time, I'll lose lock at random moments and struggle to gain even three satellites.
Then there are the times I'll be out walking and the because I turn corner, despite having a ten metre accuracy and the compass pointing in the right direction, the GPS thinks Im moving sideways and plots a sideways path. It thinks Im a crab.
I would concur, 8 satellites should be enough, but we do know that more satellites can help in urban canyons when you're likely to lose 5 behind a tall building. The problem is further compounded when your GPS struggles to maintain lock. Some of us do actually need those extra satellites on the GPS, and we do need the system to lock onto <20 SnR Satellites.
Just to ask this one more time in case it was missed milsjg, are you running any lag fixes?
Thanks
Simon
What is this nonsense about the phone not allowing a lock on sats with SNR's below 20?
I regularly get 5-10 meters in my car. NEVER any higher.
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sjdean said:
Definitely, I agree. An accuracy of 5m to 10m would be ideal, unfortunately while my phone does achieve that on many occasions, the signal is too sporadic.
I can turn a corner and get a signal loss and show as going round a loop, or carrying on in a straight line until the GPS catches up. I can go under a bridge and the GPS will think Im walking off to the right, or left when Im going straight.
I know XWJM2 seems to dampen the path a little. That I think is in XXJP3 firmware as "Use Sensor Aiding", but unfortunately this is a bodge that doesn't fix the jittery signal.
At times, my GPS can be flawless. I'll get a lock onto 8 satellites, stable with no problems. I'll get a flawless track. But the rest of the time, I'll lose lock at random moments and struggle to gain even three satellites.
Then there are the times I'll be out walking and the because I turn corner, despite having a ten metre accuracy and the compass pointing in the right direction, the GPS thinks Im moving sideways and plots a sideways path. It thinks Im a crab.
I would concur, 8 satellites should be enough, but we do know that more satellites can help in urban canyons when you're likely to lose 5 behind a tall building. The problem is further compounded when your GPS struggles to maintain lock. Some of us do actually need those extra satellites on the GPS, and we do need the system to lock onto <20 SnR Satellites.
Just to ask this one more time in case it was missed milsjg, are you running any lag fixes?
Thanks
Simon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No lag fixes except the Samset 1,7 that may do something to run it smoother (I really do not know). I hope that Samsung can resolve this jumping fix and bad reception problems Even if it is a problem that not seems to occur in every phone (or setup) they are obliged to customers to fix the problem. I appreciate your work to get a deeper view in to the GPS problem. So as long as you are interested keep on doing your good work but remember it is Samsung that are obliged to get the solution.
heygrl said:
What is this nonsense about the phone not allowing a lock on sats with SNR's below 20?
I regularly get 5-10 meters in my car. NEVER any higher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This seems very strange from my perspective if this is a normal view. I hope that this is the startup of the GPS in GPS test otherwise it should lock on to the satellites with higher S/N. I do not have any GPS problems just for the record. What firmware are you using?
igniztion said:
Try using MyTracks, SportyPal or iMapMyRun to track a route and you can clearly see that the GPS is struggling with keeping an accurate fix.
Would be interested in seeing you track a drive/bike ride/run with one of these apps to see if it works as it should.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just for the record, windows mobile devices like my old HTC Athena, had even worse GPS tracking, and took forever to pick up satellites using any GPS software
so the SGS GPS is amazing in comparison, it picks up in less than a minute vs. like 5+ min on the HTC Athena
Ever since I've had this phone, I've not had any issues that would make me want to start a thread, except one -- the GPS. Here are the issues I've had, which are probably similar to other's experiences:
1) GPS just stops locking occasionally, and required reboot to fix. This happened at random times, but it always seemed like I had to have the phone on for a long time before it occured.
Solution: Sometimes I can use the "GPS status" program to reset the GPS state, and this would work sometimes. It doesn't always work though, and I need to reboot to get it back.
2) GPS stops turning on at all. This was traced down to my company requiring full encryption of the flash/SD card, which apparently this phone has a bug that prevents GPS from working at all when you do this. I had to remove my work email from the phone to get GPS back.
Solution: None yet, except turning encryption off.
3) The GPS icon in the notifier bar stays on in the "locked" status, even when GPS is turned off.
Solution: Reboot. Not ideal, obviously.
I've also tried replacing the gps.conf file as another user pointed out, but that doesn't appear to have fixed anything. Does anyone have a solution for these issues that I haven't already mentioned, particularly #1? It's getting very annoying when I need to use navigation and I have to reboot just to have a chance of it working.
Get your phone looked at/replaced. I literally have none of those issues.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
I know some people have issues with GPS but mine locks INSTANTLY and I have no issues with it.
Locks WAY faster then my HTC EVO 4G ever did!
I havent had one issue with the GPS. I use it in the mornings with runkeeper and it locks nearly instantly. I would say get the phone looked at
I've had similar issues with my GPS.. it takes a long time to get a lock and afterwards it's very temperamental. Unless my phone has an absolutely clear view of the sky in my car it will lose the lock instantly. It's extremely frustrating since I'm coming from a Samsung SGS Vibrant that had a horrible GPS. Samsung needs to start putting in better GPS modules in their phones. Many HTC owners have reported that their GPS works incredible and can lock on sats in their basement etc.
Just to add to my above post about my GPS locking instantly, it even locks instantly in my basement when I have like one bar of phone service.
I'd have to say the GPS is one of the better features on this phone.
I'll echo the view that you should have the phone looked at, I'm coming from a Thundebolt which frequently, literally never locked. My E4gT locks nearly instantly even when my signal is weak.
i leave my gps/ wireless networks off 90% of the time, so sometimes when i first put it on, it takes forever to lock on. i started just putting it on and rebooting and then it locks instantly
sidebar, i love how data isnt needed. i put it on to load the map correctly then turn it off to save battery
Just to clarify, if I reboot the GPS does seem to lock MUCH quicker.. I'm going to flash the stock ROM that was leaked recently and see if my issues go away, if not.. I'll probably see if Sprint can swap my phone out with another. LOS has been driving me insane.. I'm an on-call support engineer so missing a call due to LOS would be very bad for me.
My GPS sucks as well. When it locks (hardly ever) it is super inaccurate. I went to sprint and since I don't have the insurance I had to call Samsung. I'm going to send my phone to them (no loaner). They said once they receive it, I will have it back within 6 days. I'll let you know how it goes.
No problems with gps on both of the phones that I have had. The current one is exceptional actually. I use a GOLF gps program/app WEEKLY and the accuracy is actually remarkable. From my comparing it to a friends gps (also pretty accurate) as well as a LASER rangefinder (to center pin locations) it is usually within 2 or 3 yards from our calculations, which we think is pretty acceptable for our single digit games.
It helps alot on shots inside 150 yards, especially inside 100 when we think it is 50 yard shot and it is really 70, you have a big advantage there whether its 67 or 70 yards compared to your shot of 50 if you didnt have the gps.
It does take about 10 to 15 seconds once you stop moving to catch up and give an accurate yardage, this is likely the program/app as some of them I have tried find it quicker some slower...
JC
Disable "Use sensor aiding" if it's enabled. Locks much faster.
Is there anyone who use defy GPS daily? Can you share which rom or any GPS tweak to make defy more accurate and responsive for navigation?
I have been testing defy GPS, it seems like its rather not accurate to pinpoint location. Accuracy show 4-9m, but often real position is off by 30-200m. For navigation, it's response time rather slow plus the inaccuracy makes it not reliable. My old windows mobile P3600 gives precise position when put beside defy while navigating.
For info, I have disable wifi in location setting. I know I have successfully download supl data. With data enabled, I can lock under 10 sec.
This inaccuracy had been a problem for CM7. I have tested stock froyo and gingerbread, and problem still there.
So, can anyone help here? Do you have the same problem, if not please share your rom version or tweak..
I've used mine a lot for gps, i just make sure to download agps data with an app called GPS test as soon as i can, then if i'm not moving too much from where i stopped gps for the last time it takes very little to lock.
I'm on CM7 and it never disappointed me in Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France.
Any GPS fix i've tried did nothing good for me.
My defy lock fast. What bothers me is the accuracy.
Google maps shows accuracy 4-9m, but real position is off sometimes by 200m.
Sometimes it correct itself, other time, even if I waited for a few minutes, it didn't show my real position.
And I'm sure I disable Use Wireless Networks in location setting.
So how is your accuracy?
Relly good, thanks
Seriously, i've seen this mentioned quite often in the CM7 thread, but it never happened to me.
As said before, keeping agps data pretty updated to my position or close enough has always been enough for me.
Good luck in finding a solution that works for you!
GPS has been working perfectly for me under any Rom. Stock GB, CM7 and Stock Froyo.
In CM7 it locks pretty fast, always under 10 secs, after a few secs accuracy down to 3m. Works really good.
I only have GPS Status to download from time to time accurate AGPS data and that's all.
Thanks for the reply..
I have tried almost everything.
Tuning gpsconfig.xml and location.cfg, clear agps cache, restart before testing many value one by one. Tried many stock rom, take GPS files from milestone and milestone2 and the GPS still inconsistent.
Sometimes its accurate, but after turn off GPS for a few second, turn on again, its showing wrong position with accuracy shown as 4-9m, waited for some minutes, and still wrong. Sometimes its accurate for a few test, but after a few minutes, turn on GPS again, its showing wrong position again.
Tried also calibrate compass, even remove the compass driver, but still error.
There is a possibility of multipath error in GPS (bouncing signal from surrounding), but with easily lock to 5-6 satellites with 10-12 satellites in view, I suppose this can nullify error, as real for positioning, we only needed 4 satellites.
I hope there is someone out there know fix for this..
use this fix: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=953630
Maybe it helps
pravarth said:
use this fix: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=953630
Maybe it helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Already tried.. even tested various value in gps.conf. No good..
Thanks.
bobo9900 said:
Is there anyone who use defy GPS daily? Can you share which rom or any GPS tweak to make defy more accurate and responsive for navigation?
I have been testing defy GPS, it seems like its rather not accurate to pinpoint location. Accuracy show 4-9m, but often real position is off by 30-200m. For navigation, it's response time rather slow plus the inaccuracy makes it not reliable. My old windows mobile P3600 gives precise position when put beside defy while navigating.
For info, I have disable wifi in location setting. I know I have successfully download supl data. With data enabled, I can lock under 10 sec.
This inaccuracy had been a problem for CM7. I have tested stock froyo and gingerbread, and problem still there.
So, can anyone help here? Do you have the same problem, if not please share your rom version or tweak..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MIUI rom allows you to enter your preferred satellite under ph settings ^^
Then use gps status app to manage a-gps state - I get anywhere from 10 - 30m accuracy
You are not alone
GPS accuracy on my Defy has been a concern since I bought it. Just like yours, it locks to 4-6 satellites and claims that it's accurate to 4 meters, but my real position is usually a block away. Other symthoms are:
- Accuracy improves with speed and becomes very good when traveling by car, very poor when still or just walking. The correlation between accuracy and speed should be the other way around...
- If there are more than 6 satellites in view, it locks to a maximum of six and then starts "jumping" from one set of satellites to another each two seconds or so. It does so even if the telephone is completely still. I think It should stay with the same satellites while not moving.
As you, I also tried all and every GPS fix script under the sun to no good, even filled a bug report for CM7 back in the day with no luck. It seems that a lot of people out there have perfectly working GPS (o so it seems).
This issue is quite strange though. I have a green lens Defy, and my wife has a Red lens one. We bought them several months apart and they both have the same accuracy issue, so it doesn't seem to be related to a bad production batch. I wonder if its related to geographic position (maybe it works worse in some countries, somehow)
Hopefully its a software issue and can be fixed.
I dont have this issue. Ive actually been sort of surprised at the accuracy of the GPS with CM7... it locks on within seconds (vs the minutes with Froyo). Almost instantaneous with WIFI and GPS on. And it is always accurate. Sorry to hear about your GPS troubles. It could be a hardware problem also?
Not sure what it is, but I haven't been able to get a solid GPS fix since I got the phone. Any other phone I use may take a minute, but it'll get a pretty accurate fix afterward - 50 feet or less. And this is in the same exact place.
I sat with the phone and the GPS Test app by Chartcross initially, and had 24 satellites in view. I went and downloaded FasterGPS and updated the GPS for US servers (since the Mini came from France I believe), and now I can get between 3 and 6 in use, but it only locks very rarely, and even when it does, it's only to like 500 feet in accuracy. As I'm typing, it randomly jumped to 7 satellites, accuracy bounced between 200 and 300 feet...and a few seconds later it went back to no lock and going between 3 and 6 in use.
Suggestions? I already rooted the phone, as well as installed Xposed and Crossbreeder. And of course, I have all proper GPS settings turned on.
EDIT: I went and did that simple fix all around the web of tightening the screws...didn't seem to help much. I went outside, and had no problem getting like 20/23 satellites, accuracy to like 5 feet. But as I go inside, I lose accuracy/satellites, until I get to my apartment and have nothing again. Is the S4 Mini's GPS antennae just weaker than other's?
When indoors, did you turn your wifi on?
Whosat said:
When indoors, did you turn your wifi on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, always used data for the phones. And even using Wifi on the S4 Mini doesn't seem to help in terms of a GPS fix.
I've noticed on all 3 android phones I've had, that gps generally doesn't work indoors.
I did get a faster fix outdoors using the app GPS Status and updating the A-GPS data from within the Tools menu.
You should also try moving in one direction as you are trying to get a fix outdoors - always works for me.