Reasonable GPS lock workaround w/o root - Samsung Epic 4G Touch

I've been having the same trouble as many have with the Epic 4G Touch's GPS. It takes forever, if ever, to get a GPS lock. I can have a GPS lock, go into McDonald's and come back out and it will be cold starting again. Ridiculous performance.
Rebooting the phone is a pain but seemed to be the only thing that worked every time. After reading a lot of different forums about this problem, I noticed a conservation that speculated that the problem wasn't specifically the GPS itself, but rather was location services. Apparently there are some more recent location services being flashed to phones and the GPS works great. It would make some sense that this is the problem because after a reboot I would think that the phone would reset location services when it turns back on. Further comments in those threads suggests that turning the phone to airplane mode and back also works around this problem.
I've been playing around with this for awhile today and it does appear that going to airplane mode and back helps the situation. I used Tasker to create a task that does this: turns on airplane mode, waits 20 seconds, turns off airplane mode, then launches GPS Test automatically. I created a widget icon for this task. I never attempt to get a GPS fix indoors. What I do is that when I walk outside on the way to the car I hit the widget. I let the phone do it's thing and by the time I get in the car and ready to go, I've had a GPS lock every time today. When I get in the car, I close GPS Test and start whatever app I want to navigate with.
So far, this method has yet to let me down. We will see how the weekend goes.

That's very interesting, I'm gonna try that and see if it helps. I also noticed that getting a lock by starting Navigation right away is almost impossible. It always helps me to Getty a lock with another app first. Telenave seems to work best for me.

This (among the countless others) workaround is fine and I thank you for it.
However I'd really like to know just what the hell is going on with the gps on these phones.
Some folks are fine with the gps working fine in any circumstances. While others have to wave dead chickens and performance some sort of incantation to get gps to be even reasonable. Still others have some issues but can work them out via flashing of modems and what not. Some had to replace their phone with another e4gt and it was fine there after. WTF?
The gps on my old GS2 i9100 was awesome. I never had to give it a second thought or worry about it losing gps lock or taking eons to get even a meager lock. This is entirely not the case with my current E4GT. Damn thing. If the update doesn't fix anything then I'm gonna replace it.
Is there just a batch of bad hardware out there? Is the gps sleeping when it shouldn't? Why does one fix seem to work for one phone but not another? Talk about manufacturer inconsistentancy, geez.
Does the sprint version of the galaxy nexus have these sorts of issues?
Heavy sigh.

Try GPS Status, it's available on the market. I just got a lock on 8/8 satellites within 5 seconds inside my apartment.
Google maps seems to take a little bit longer obtaining a GPS lock but after running GPS Status it seems much faster.
I believe that it does not require root, and the best part is that you do not have to flash back to GB, to get a lock so that you can flash ICS again.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

I would flash back....worked ever sense i did
It's my phone...any mis takes...sry

tubasteve said:
I would flash back....worked ever sense i did
It's my phone...any mis takes...sry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why flash back when this is easier?
There is no reason to have to flash back to GB, check out this article I found with a quick google search.
http://m.lifehacker.com/5873007/how-can-i-fix-my-androids-crappy-gps
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

I'm blue in the face over this issue. Invariably, you get "I get a lock on 12 satellites from my concrete bunker 12 feet underground" responses (not helpful, BTW), yet I can't get a lock in the wide-open spaces. UNLESS, I reboot, start up GPS Test or GPS Tracker, or bounce back and forth from airplane mode, murder a chicken, or whatever.
It's totally hit or miss with this device. Yes, I can get a GOOD lock indoors, but only after I reboot, run GPS Test, and then go back inside. Not exactly convenient when you're hurtling down the freeway at 70mph.
It's frustrating to hear of the great experiences of other users when my experience has been so inconsistent. I rely on my GPS for directions, and for tracking my morning runs. It's a real pisser when it takes 4 minutes for the GPS to finally lock, which ruins any useful statistics for Runkeeper.
I know this is just a rant, but at least I feel better.

Try what I mentioned with GPS Status from the market. It might not be a permanent fix but it will help with getting a lock on your location.
1. Download GPS Status from the market.
2. Turn on GPS.
3. Open GPS Status.
4. Bring up the menu and select tools.
5. Manage A-GPS State.
6. Turn off GPS from the toggle in the status bar.
7. Select the option to Reset.
8. Select the option to Download GPS assistance.
9. Close the application.
10. Turn GPS back on and watch it lock on.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

I had this exact same problem after 2 visits to Sprint they swapped my phone. The new one has had perfect GPS no matter what i flash. I just think there is batches of phones with faulty hardware
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

can you tell us how you did this in tasker?
thanks
jalanjkcarp said:
I've been having the same trouble as many have with the Epic 4G Touch's GPS. It takes forever, if ever, to get a GPS lock. I can have a GPS lock, go into McDonald's and come back out and it will be cold starting again. Ridiculous performance.
Rebooting the phone is a pain but seemed to be the only thing that worked every time. After reading a lot of different forums about this problem, I noticed a conservation that speculated that the problem wasn't specifically the GPS itself, but rather was location services. Apparently there are some more recent location services being flashed to phones and the GPS works great. It would make some sense that this is the problem because after a reboot I would think that the phone would reset location services when it turns back on. Further comments in those threads suggests that turning the phone to airplane mode and back also works around this problem.
I've been playing around with this for awhile today and it does appear that going to airplane mode and back helps the situation. I used Tasker to create a task that does this: turns on airplane mode, waits 20 seconds, turns off airplane mode, then launches GPS Test automatically. I created a widget icon for this task. I never attempt to get a GPS fix indoors. What I do is that when I walk outside on the way to the car I hit the widget. I let the phone do it's thing and by the time I get in the car and ready to go, I've had a GPS lock every time today. When I get in the car, I close GPS Test and start whatever app I want to navigate with.
So far, this method has yet to let me down. We will see how the weekend goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

to: rgregg504
rgregg504 said:
I had this exact same problem after 2 visits to Sprint they swapped my phone. The new one has had perfect GPS no matter what i flash. I just think there is batches of phones with faulty hardware
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, after all my research and attempts at fixing my phone; the only option left to me is replacement. I'm tired of reading forums about it (yet here I am) and it's whole thing is just silly.
I don't suppose you have any documentation on the serial number for the phone that had a ****ty GPS? It would be awesome if there could be some sort of documentation of which patch of phones is bad.

Related

[Q] GPS problems. Can't get a fix!

Hi all,
I have the Desire HD for 2 weeks now but I've only yesterday noted the gps doesn't seem to work... It's a complete stock model, no custom roms or radio's. I'ts just never able to get a fix! Are there other people with problems like this? Could my device be broken?
I have installed a app from the market that tests the gps and it finds no satelites most of the time except one time I checked it found 4 with a very bad signal... Even then in Google Maps or the HTC Locations it didn't get a fix.
Any ideas?
Bump! I have exactly the same problem. Any Advice?
same problem
i HAD this problem, but then i left the GPS on for an entire journey. 45 minutes later it had a fix and ive never had any problems getting a fix within a minute since.
i dont think the phone knows what side of the globe its on the first time, so maybe it just needs a loooong time the first time.
Most GPS devices need to download a file known as an almanac. This determines where satellites will be at specified times.
This file can take a while to download as GPS is purely passive. I'm not sure if the DHD is A-GPS (Assisted). This will download the almanac via mobile or wifi data.
This is why sometimes the first GPS lock can take a while.
Try these two programs:
http://www.appbrain.com/app/gps-status-toolbox/com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2
http://www.appbrain.com/app/gps-test/com.chartcross.gpstest
First one is great for diagnostic so it should tell you what is wrong.
I also have the same problem, been driving for about 30mins and nothing..
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
andyharney said:
Most GPS devices need to download a file known as an almanac. This determines where satellites will be at specified times.
This file can take a while to download as GPS is purely passive. I'm not sure if the DHD is A-GPS (Assisted). This will download the almanac via mobile or wifi data.
This is why sometimes the first GPS lock can take a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok......DHD has A-gps as well
seeing your posts, quite amazed how you did not know this (no pun intended)
dzn said:
Hi all,
I have the Desire HD for 2 weeks now but I've only yesterday noted the gps doesn't seem to work... It's a complete stock model, no custom roms or radio's. I'ts just never able to get a fix! Are there other people with problems like this? Could my device be broken?
I have installed a app from the market that tests the gps and it finds no satelites most of the time except one time I checked it found 4 with a very bad signal... Even then in Google Maps or the HTC Locations it didn't get a fix.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st gps-fix is a pain, after it will all get better....search for my posts, you'll see that this has been asked several times (don't want to be a b**ch but, please use the search button as well) and in general, 1st fix takes some time, 2nd is fast (like <2 min).
At this moment, while I thought my gps fix was very bad (and as I own one, if not the, of the 1st DHD batches, it was not abnormal to think that it also had gps probs) it now fixes within 1 minute....
Problematic piece of device for me for GPS.
Got mine a cpl of days ago , downloaded the apps above but still nothing i will give it one more try.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk
kermez said:
Try these two programs:
http://www.appbrain.com/app/gps-status-toolbox/com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2
http://www.appbrain.com/app/gps-test/com.chartcross.gpstest
First one is great for diagnostic so it should tell you what is wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried both GPS apps. And immediately after that, I was able to get GPS satellite lock on within 20s.
Guys regarding the GPS, all of us we face an issue. It can not lock the satellites quickly. Especially for the people like me who are HTC HD2 owners as well. I was waiting only few seconds. (cooked rom). We MUST forget that now. It's an issue for all of the android devices. Even with the device of the Nexus. So we must live with that. Sometimes it will lock the satellites in 1 min or 30 secs, some other time in 2-3 mins. I searched also in the internet and i found so many complains regarding the GPS and hopefully not only from DHD users
f9cator said:
I tried both GPS apps. And immediately after that, I was able to get GPS satellite lock on within 20s.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I had also that problem but then red at forums that only way to lock as fast as you can satellite is to use first one for locking over internet and after that it's much easier to find satellite. Whenever you have problem with locking or need gps asap first program should provide you with fast satellite find.
Btw gps on dhd is so good that I have sold my old garmin - simply it's obsolete and now I have only to purchase official car holder.
Most of the times is more difficult to get a fix in a speeding car.
In the opposite case is generally faster to get a sat fix.
So I've been using my DHD for 3 weeks now (stock model as well, no root) and here are two issues with GPS that I noticed and have no idea what to do with it.
1. The same problem as described in first post. Every once in a while my GPS just cannot get a fix. I installed GPS Test app. Normally it finds around 6-7 satellites, they are all in use, the yellow indicator in GPS status bar goes green and my location appears on mini-map.
However there are situations when GPS Test says that there is 1 to 5 satelites in view, later on they also apper to be in use, but GPS status doesn't change to green and my actual location doesn't show. It's not a problem of visibility or my location - the GPS can get a fix today and not work tomorrow at the very same place.
I have no idea if this can be fixed, so any help appreciated.
2. This is not really an issue, just something that I find quite disturbing. I'm using this traffic app (Yandex Maps for those of you in Russia). It shows current traffic condition on the map + your current location if you have GPS. So each time I lock my DHD (press the button on the top) the GPS is immedietly switched off. So when I unlock the screen to see the map again it takes from few seconds to a minute or even more to update my current position. Sometimes it doesn't happen at all (see problem #1). I understand it's probably done to save battery but I would prefer continuously working GPS than saving battery. Is there any way to set GPS to always working mode?
Thanks in advance to everyone who can help. Cheers
Hi,
I read all you guys said and after trying both the apps and refreshing my agps data manually I now get 6-7 satellites which is good I think?
So for all of you with the same problem, just stay outside for a moment and make sure you have a data-connection. Then use the GPS Status app and refresh your agps data manually. It should work... It did for me!
Ps. I think my Desire, not the HD, used to see 11 satellites? Is that possible? Does this mean 6-7 is kind of weak?
dzn said:
Hi,
I read all you guys said and after trying both the apps and refreshing my agps data manually I now get 6-7 satellites which is good I think?
So for all of you with the same problem, just stay outside for a moment and make sure you have a data-connection. Then use the GPS Status app and refresh your agps data manually. It should work... It did for me!
Ps. I think my Desire, not the HD, used to see 11 satellites? Is that possible? Does this mean 6-7 is kind of weak?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to make it clear - to manually refresh AGPS using GPS Status - you need to go to Menu->Tools->Manage A-GPS state->Download?
I'm not outside now, but will try it once I have problems getting a fix.
And yes, 11 sats is possible. 6-7 is more than enough though.
Stand still to get a fix? Harder when you are speedy, I think.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Your movement speed has no impact on how quickly you get a lock. Remember, these satellites are in orbit traveling alot faster than your 30 - 70mph.

[Q] Is MY GPS problem typical?

First off, I'm aware this phone is riddled with GPS problems, so I'm not asking the typical questions. But pretty much everything I hear from people about their problems are how they never get a lock, or it takes several minutes to get one. That's not my problem.
My problem is after I get a lock (which is usually pretty quick) and am driving following my Google Nav directions it will CONSTANTLY lose the satellites. Seems to be every couple of miles that it starts searching for satellites for about 2-5 minutes before refinding them, only to lose them a few minutes later, and usually right when I need to exit the freeway. Also it takes it a good minute or so to realize it's lost the satellites, so it will keep me frozen in the same spot on the map for this time, not giving me the convenient button to access the list view.
Has anyone else experienced THIS specific problem, and do you have any advice?
What android version are you on? I had problems like this on eclair but my GPS on froyo is as good as my wife's evo.
Sent from my Evo Killer!
Froyo, Quantum 2.5. In fact this problem has really only been since Froyo ROMs. My GPS was solid in Eclair.
So... nothing? Not even a "no, nobody's having your problem?"
I've had this problem from time to time, but it seems to be inconsistent; I use google nav a few times every day. Hasn't happened lately though and I've been on the same ROM for 5 days now.
I have this issue and i'm on the latest bonsai rom. I think it is a problem with Google Nav personally because with Sprint Navigation it happens less often for me. Or Perhaps I just have a bad GPS chip. I'm going to run stock di18 for a few days and see if it is just Froyo and my Phone that bugs out. Maybe it is just my phone and I need a new one.
Yeah remember google nav is still in beta form
You're better off using sprint navigation
I never lost a lock and I'm on froyo stock dk28
And sprint nav is free..I can see why people on tmo and verizon use google nav but not sprint folk lol
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Happens to me all the time (bonsai 1.1.4).
A quick work around is to use the GPS toggle in the notification area.
Disable it long enough for it to say it lost GPS, enable it finds it quickly (for me), but it's hella annoying.
=]
Update from my previous post,
Google nav worked for 20 minutes all the way home yesterday and today on my way to work it dropped out after 5 minutes then worked for another 15. I'm pretty sure this is just Google nav being buggy and Epic GPS internals are not the greatest. All in all Sprint Nav seems to be working a lot better. If you still continue to have problems try getting a replacement phone from sprint. I hear that some of the epics out there have better luck with GPS. You Could have gotten a bad one like me. WHen i've asked this question in the past on the forums a lot of people just have the big issue of not getting GPS Locks. Never see to many having the GPS drop signal issue. Everyone else's post that i've read say they have perfect GPS. Its funny because I get locks instantly but gps drops randomly like yours... so so lame.
Also try out the new Bonsai4all rom because after I've installed it i'm having a lot less GPS drops with Google Nav and i'm still testing Sprint Nav. Good Luck.
EDIT: I have been testing GPS driving to work and back home. Not one single GPS signal lost. This GPS issues might be in the past. I'm not sure if its Mammons Bonsai Rom that fixed it but If I were anyone having the same issues I would try a fresh wipe of your SD card and Odin epic back to di18, get gps signal in Google Maps, Odin to dk28- get signal in Google Maps, and CWM3.0.0.5 and then flash BOnsai. Good Luck
I don't know what is in bonsai 1.1.4 rom but my gps is perfect now and it was buggy with every other rom I've tried on dk28. I've tried a lot. Midnight,viper,epic experience.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
I had this problem all the time. It was especially bad last week when I was down in Tucson for work. It was what finally motivated me to get rid of the Epic.
I have the same problem OP. I actually finally just posted about it today, see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=921935 and my post is #4. I still don't have a solution, but am willing to try Bonsai 1.1.4 if it would fix things...
Such an annoying problem. I haven't been trying Sprint Nav lately as it is removed in Nebula 1.0.6, but I could try adding it back in and seeing if there is any improvement...
Try the phone reset with the msl code also. Many people are having luck with it. Good luck.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Had the same problem for weeks. So do many others, as this is on numerous threads throughout the boards (and Android Central too). On the latest Bonsai Rom (and others based on it like Midnight), they list a gps fix. Using Midnight 2.9 fixed it for me.
Also, when I was having problems, Sprint Nav worked much better than google Nav.
The more this happens to me, the more I think it's a Google Nav problem, not a hardware/firmware problem. When it happens I see that the GPS icon in the notification bar is solid and not "searching" for a signal. That to me points to the software as the problem. Either way, it's REALLY annoying.
I was never particularly happy with the Sprint Navigation app which is why I've avoided it. Google Nav always worked so well for me before. Also I've been trying to cut down on apps on this phone, especially carrier crap.
I may try Bonsai, although I've generally liked Quantum well enough that I didn't want to switch camps. Several people stating they're using it and not having this problem is a good trail to follow, though.
Still, pretty darn frustrating.
EDIT: All right, I just switched to Bonsai. All I can say is thank you for giving me the push to switch. I don't know about nav yet (although Maps lock was quite literally instant instead of the several seconds I wasn't too bugged by before), but the overall kernel is so absurdly faster I'm shocked. Thanks.
Here is what happens to me. I can get a very accurate GPS lock easily. When I am navigating, however, the GPS lock drops after a few minutes of use, as if GPS were turned off. If I have just rebooted the phone, the GPS lock lasts about 15 minutes, and then it happens again. I can toggle the GPS on and off from the pull down menu to fix it temporarily. But, it keeps happening, and it gets more frequent. I've been this problem on every Froyo ROM I have tried . . . Bonsai, Nebula, etc. It is NOT only on Google NAV. It seems to be even worse on NAVIGON.
I never had these problems on Eclair. The fix on Eclair was not as accurate, but it never just dropped.
This only happens to me when I lose signal. Which usually means I'm out in the middle of nowhere and need my gps.
Thinking of getting a back up offline gps for this reason.
Silent25r said:
This only happens to me when I lose signal. Which usually means I'm out in the middle of nowhere and need my gps.
Thinking of getting a back up offline gps for this reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not my issue. I am in the middle of strong 4G coverage when it happens + Navigon works offline (when you have a sat lock).
I didn't have issues before switching to DK28/Froyo/Nebuls 1.06, but now the GPS is awful ... even after doing the MSL reset. Frustrating is an understatement.

CapGlide a nowbuy because of GPS issues?

Hello,
as my mt4g slide was stolen recently and I was dissatisfied with the inability to a) change the language of the physical keyboard and b) the keys on said keyboard I am looking into the Glide as an alternative. Obviously, there is a lot less development going on for this phone and I still cannot help, but the price of the phone is a big plus.
BUt I read of several GPS issues without any closer description what isnt working - so I ask: could those ICS GPS issues be a deterrent for me? I heavily rely on GPS on my phone for navigation and hiking. What do you say?
If you want, I can test the GPS for you. I hardly use it and haven't used it since ICS came out.
sent from my captivate glide running ICS (NardROM 0.4 Rooted)
I've used google navigation quite a few times now. Intially it takes timeto acquire a GPS fix but there are no other issues that i've encountered.
i've used gps on my glide a LOT and it's always been good.
a lot of that usage is out in the boonies, it's been very handy...
a few times i've had to turn gps off and back on 1 or 2 times to get signal....
sometimes a few dozen feet off when it says turn here....
but all that is kinda par for the gps course, yes ?
typically, i have GPS and music player going while driving, and no issues.
My GPS use to show my location here at home off by a few miles initially when first turned on & then finally moving to the correct location after a few mins. Since upgrading to ICS it starts out exactly where I am now.
sent from my Rooted SGH-I927 Stock ICS using XDA-devapp
I can't complain about the GPS on ICS either. I did have the GPS crash once the first week after flashing, but it took all of 15 seconds to reboot and fix it. I use the GPS almost daily, often for an hour or more at a time, in places ranging from downtown LA to middle of nowhere in the socal deserts, and it's always quick to lock.
A lot people forget that a GPS needs its almanac data, and that getting it (without cellular network assistance) can take 10-15 minutes. I wouldn't be surprised if it lost that data after a factory reset our simply not isn't the GPS for a while.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app

Anyone having issues with Waze and GPS?

Having issues with waze app and GPS. I've always had GPS issues with all of the Note series, so this doesn't surprise me. But this time around it seems like waze is the only one acting oddly. Specifically when I'm on a guided route waze intermittently sees me in a different area, most commonly when I'm on the highway it will see me on a side street running parallel to the highway. So then it thinks I'm off course and routes me back onto the highway or another direction, but I'm still on the highway. Sometimes I think it even sees me traveling a different direction, many times I'll be on the highway and it will want me to do 2 u-turns, changing directions twice but ending up going the same way as before. I also see the arrow icon representing my car on the map will constantly turn as if waze can't tell which direction I'm traveling.
My first thought is faulty GPS. I've ran Google Maps and it seems pretty solid, with none of those errors, but I'll have to test some more. Just wanted to see if anyone else got this? I may switch back to an older APK and try that as well.
No problems here. I noticed the 7's gps is way faster than my note 4 too. It finds my location on a second. My note 4 would take 5 to 10 seconds to lock in
I am having the same issue with Waze on my Note 7. It thinks i have turned onto a side road so it trys to redirect me to the the road im acually on. Its seems to think im about 30 to 50 feet to the right on the screen no matter what direction on the compass i am going.
Sent from my SM-N930P using Tapatalk
I've been having an issue when I'm stopped at the light, and the screen will start to spin around. It's like Waze forgot which way I was going so turns me around & recalculates the route...repeat.
Improvement over my Note 3 which regularly couldn't find a GPS signal or lost it in the middle of driving somewhere.
Were issue
I have been having issues also bit but only with the voice guidance. I get hazard alerts but that's it. Any thoughts on this?
waze always seemed to place me about 50 feet to the right of the road. It spent a lot of time recalculating on/off ramps when it didn't think I was driving through corn fields. I figured it was just a calibration issue with my device and didn't do anything about it before swapping it for a non-exploding phone.
I had no problem with my recalled Note 7. The replacement is messing up with waze. All the symptoms listed above are happening. Ugh
Hmm..that's not good..I still need to get mine replaced...
No GPS issues with Waze on my note 7. I use it daily and mine is a replacement. The only issue im having with Waze is the voice commands. The three finger option and waving just don't do anything! Anyone have an issue with that? I want my one eyed purple monster back!
IDK, I haven't checked on my Note 7 yet, I find this a bit funny though, Most GPS's should be accurate to within something like 5 feet, They are really accurate to within fractions of an inch but the Government and Military makes sure that the firmware on the GPS's for use by the general public are locked out of that level of accuracy. It really is a joke these days.
Do a search and in the search box enter in 2##2 to enable debugging and then enter in ##@rawgps and it will show you what your phone is reporting as the actual raw GPS via a yellow arrow. Send in a debug log on the very bottom of the settings every day. Could be possible that Waze can make adjustments to the note 7. I personally haven't noticed any issues with either phone yet, I do also keep my phone in a case and in a windshield car holder with a good view of the sky. When I ran the app for the first time though I did have to toggle location off and on to get Waze to get a GPS lock.
I returned my replacement unit and got another Note 7. No change. Waze is still showing me taking exits and being on the side road before correcting. Very annoying and the constant recalculate and accompanying chime make it onerous to use. Google maps seem to be fine. I submitted a ticket to waze as well as sending log files. I hope a fix comes soon. I need my alerts when commuting.
I fixed my Wave problems. Apparently when you do the smart switch transfer, it transfers some settings or calibrations maybe. I went into phone settings, application, waze, long press storage, clear cache, clear data. Then Uninstaller and re-download and install waze. Mine has been rock solid since doing this. Hope it works for you too.

GPS issues

So I have noticed when I am going on long trips that my GPS keeps bugging out on google maps. At first I thought it was maps being weird but now I'm starting to think its the GPS in the phone itself. I'll be driving down the highway and it will suddenly start pointing the other direction like i just made a turn. After about a tenth to a quarter of a mile it will correct itself. Over the course of a 200 mile trip it did this every few minutes. Sometimes it would think that I had pulled off the offramp when I was still cruising highway speeds. This and the camera issues are making me seriously consider selling this phone and getting something different...
Krazy_Calvin said:
So I have noticed when I am going on long trips that my GPS keeps bugging out on google maps. At first I thought it was maps being weird but now I'm starting to think its the GPS in the phone itself. I'll be driving down the highway and it will suddenly start pointing the other direction like i just made a turn. After about a tenth to a quarter of a mile it will correct itself. Over the course of a 200 mile trip it did this every few minutes. Sometimes it would think that I had pulled off the offramp when I was still cruising highway speeds. This and the camera issues are making me seriously consider selling this phone and getting something different...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In Google maps click your location (little blue dot), then in the bottom left hand side click calibrate compass. I was having the exact same issue until I did this.
I have tried doing the calibration and it still wont get better than "low" accuracy. Do you get better than low?
Mines medium right now. I remember when I was having issues it showed low too. I had to get out of my car and do the compass calibration again as for some reason it wouldn't move off of low every time I tried in my car.
Yeah it's terrible. Hoping someone else has some fixes
Same annoying gps issues here as well
Just happened today for the first time. No clouds or building, I was out in the open. Marker flipped 180° 3-4 times while I approached a stoplight... hard to know which way to turn.
Makes me think this might be related to the recent 10.0.6 update?
skelzer said:
Just happened today for the first time. No clouds or building, I was out in the open. Marker flipped 180° 3-4 times while I approached a stoplight... hard to know which way to turn.
Makes me think this might be related to the recent 10.0.6 update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that is exactly my lips around a hundred and eighty degrees numerous times. Takes forever for it to get oriented and it still sometimes gets off the kilter. I have noticed this since 10. 0.4
skelzer said:
Just happened today for the first time. No clouds or building, I was out in the open. Marker flipped 180° 3-4 times while I approached a stoplight... hard to know which way to turn.
Makes me think this might be related to the recent 10.0.6 update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first time I noticed this issue was November the 8th when I was driving north for 3 hours. It was obviously happening where it would do that marker flipping around. This last sunday i went on another trip and was still noticing the issue often. It even caused me problems when I was walking around downtown Kansas City trying to find a venue. I had to ask somebody to point me in the right direction because the thing couldn't decide where i needed to go. I have reached out to the oneplus support and i'm waiting for further instructions from them. ... here... ill copy paste the email.
Thank you for contacting OnePlus Customer Support.
We apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused you. As we understand your concern. Please do not worry, we will surely help you with the best possible ways available.
Kindly help us with the below details:
1. Did the issue start post update?
2. Which is the current OS version on the device?
3. Does the issue occur Randomly or Always?
We request you to follow the below troubleshooting steps so that it could fix your issue:
1. Go to Settings- Location- Mode, select High accuracy, switch GPS on.
2. Check the environment, test the GPS in an open and empty place, because GPS used indoors can be blocked.
3. Use different apps to check whether there is the same problem.
4. Disable or Uninstall Security apps as it may limit the authority of the GPS in some apps.
We would also request you to do a network reset on the device so the issue can be resolved:
Network Reset:
Settings>> Backup and Reset>> Network setting Reset>>Reset setting
To assist you will be our pleasure, help us to help you. Request you to reply within the next 5 days as after that the ticket will be auto-closed".
Regards,
Phillip Smith
OnePlus Customer Support
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem with their instructions is i cant seem to find a way to turn the GPS mode to high accuracy as described. anybody know where it might be?
Thank you for connecting back to us.
I understand that you are not able to find the high accuracy settings on OnePlus 7T. Please do not worry, I request you to clear the device cache to fix this issue.
Please follow below steps to clear the cache:
Clear Cache -
- Power off your device.
- Press the power key + volume down for a few seconds.
- Select English.
- Tap on Wipe data and cache.
- Tap on Wipe Data and cache again.
- Tap on Yes to confirm data and cache wipe.
- Wait for the wipe process to complete.
- Reboot phone.
If you had any further questions please reply to us within the 5 days as after that the ticket will be auto-closed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will this just completely wipe my phone if i follow the instructions? I seriously don't want to do that especially if it might not even fix anything.
Krazy_Calvin said:
Will this just completely wipe my phone if i follow the instructions? I seriously don't want to do that especially if it might not even fix anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it will not wipe the phone unless you select that option to wipe data or factory reset.
Well i will tell it to just wipe the cache... i am pretty positive whoever was handling the support just gave me instructions to wipe the whole phone though. lol. im not doing that.
Edit:
Wow... so frustrating... When I tried to do those functions the thing asked for a password. It wasn't my pin or my normal password i use. I have no idea what it was asking for but it gave a forgot password option to reset the phone. I reset the phone.
Also... its that easy to reset this phone?
Ok... Well after resetting my phone completely booted up, installed the latest patches and now when I check the accuracy in the maps it checks out high. Hopefully it stays that way.
Krazy_Calvin said:
Ok... Well after resetting my phone completely booted up, installed the latest patches and now when I check the accuracy in the maps it checks out high. Hopefully it stays that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you lose root?
---------- Post added at 03:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:04 AM ----------
Krazy_Calvin said:
Well i will tell it to just wipe the cache... i am pretty positive whoever was handling the support just gave me instructions to wipe the whole phone though. lol. im not doing that.
Edit:
Wow... so frustrating... When I tried to do those functions the thing asked for a password. It wasn't my pin or my normal password i use. I have no idea what it was asking for but it gave a forgot password option to reset the phone. I reset the phone.
Also... its that easy to reset this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, did you end up losing all your data?
I was never root in the first place. All my data is in the google cloud. I just had to go through the annoyance of setting up all my settings and icons since they didn't stick.
Well I know it's not 7T, but I had horrible GPS on the 6T and 7 Pro models both. Neither had ok accuracy, no matter what I did. It would lose GPS signal on street, in car, on foot. OnePlus is just super horrible at GPS, and I have no clue why. Like why it is not acknowledged and why they won't fix it.
My recommendation is to try a reboot and/or use Google Maps when this happens. I am a fan of Waze, I prefer it much over Maps (speed limits). But in Waze and any other 3rd party GPS app - it struggles to find me way more than Maps. That said, your GPS won't magically fix itself in Maps. It will be just a tiny teeny bit better. So like.. from super horrible bad it will go to christ this is a horrible gps. It may still help in a pinch.
GPS issue
h8Aramex said:
Well I know it's not 7T, but I had horrible GPS on the 6T and 7 Pro models both. Neither had ok accuracy, no matter what I did. It would lose GPS signal on street, in car, on foot. OnePlus is just super horrible at GPS, and I have no clue why. Like why it is not acknowledged and why they won't fix it.
My recommendation is to try a reboot and/or use Google Maps when this happens. I am a fan of Waze, I prefer it much over Maps (speed limits). But in Waze and any other 3rd party GPS app - it struggles to find me way more than Maps. That said, your GPS won't magically fix itself in Maps. It will be just a tiny teeny bit better. So like.. from super horrible bad it will go to christ this is a horrible gps. It may still help in a pinch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
..in setting, turn off :Google location accuracy - improve location accuracy , and wi-fi and bluetooth scanning. It works for me
(source: https://forums.oneplus.com/threads/gps-issue.1113746/page-2)
georgito said:
..in setting, turn off :Google location accuracy - improve location accuracy , and wi-fi and bluetooth scanning. It works for me
(source: https://forums.oneplus.com/threads/gps-issue.1113746/page-2)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting, thank you, I will try that.
I mean in my testing, I actually put different phones next to each other and tested GPS Signal strength.
The 7 Pro basically has a much worse signal than any other phone I tested. It's dark orange/red. Every other phone is at least yellow.
Just install "GPS Status" from Play Store, put your phone besides whatever other phone and prepare to get shocked.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4938075&stc=1&d=1580304335
https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4938077&stc=1&d=1580304335
Hello,
Posting this in case others are still searching for a gps accuracy fix on the Oneplus 7t phone.
I may have found a workaround for the gps accuracy issues on the 7t. Fwiw, I'm using the Verizon version, on a HD1905, with the latest March update 10.0.0.HD65AA. I was experiencing all the same issues, and sadly the March update didn't seem to make any improvement. I've only had the phone for a few days, and was very disappointed w/ the gps performance. Tried everything including wiping the phone clean (I didn't realize the gps was wonky until I spent a couple days migrating everything over), and nothing worked -- it would immediately boot and have wildly wrong gps location, or the lock would seem to phase in an out. If it wasn't for the shelter in place order, I probably would have returned it.
After much trial and error, I found a workaround that seems to work. Even tested on our walk around today with Gaia and it correctly tracked our path.
1) put phone into airplane mode
2) reboot, and leave in airplane mode after reboot
3) run google maps, wait for lock, should be accurate
4) turn off airplane mode
5) test gps -- it should work better
If you reboot while normal networking is enabled, the gps would fail every time -- never accurate. But when networking is completely shutdown when the GPS radio is turned on, it seems to work as expected. Using the 'GPS test' app, my accuracy goes from 100m/ no lock, to approx. 3M 3d-lock, just sitting inside on my desk, and it maintains it. I'd say my old Pixel phone still has slightly better gps accuracy overall, but this is very usable now. And, I don't reboot very often -- phone is always charged, etc, so the workaround is doable for me. If I do need to reboot, just have to remember to use airplane mode first. Otherwise, seems to work as expected now.
Hope that helps someone.
beyondcrazy said:
Hello,
Posting this in case others are still searching for a gps accuracy fix on the Oneplus 7t phone.
I may have found a workaround for the gps accuracy issues on the 7t. Fwiw, I'm using the Verizon version, on a HD1905, with the latest March update 10.0.0.HD65AA. I was experiencing all the same issues, and sadly the March update didn't seem to make any improvement. I've only had the phone for a few days, and was very disappointed w/ the gps performance. Tried everything including wiping the phone clean (I didn't realize the gps was wonky until I spent a couple days migrating everything over), and nothing worked -- it would immediately boot and have wildly wrong gps location, or the lock would seem to phase in an out. If it wasn't for the shelter in place order, I probably would have returned it.
After much trial and error, I found a workaround that seems to work. Even tested on our walk around today with Gaia and it correctly tracked our path.
1) put phone into airplane mode
2) reboot, and leave in airplane mode after reboot
3) run google maps, wait for lock, should be accurate
4) turn off airplane mode
5) test gps -- it should work better
If you reboot while normal networking is enabled, the gps would fail every time -- never accurate. But when networking is completely shutdown when the GPS radio is turned on, it seems to work as expected. Using the 'GPS test' app, my accuracy goes from 100m/ no lock, to approx. 3M 3d-lock, just sitting inside on my desk, and it maintains it. I'd say my old Pixel phone still has slightly better gps accuracy overall, but this is very usable now. And, I don't reboot very often -- phone is always charged, etc, so the workaround is doable for me. If I do need to reboot, just have to remember to use airplane mode first. Otherwise, seems to work as expected now.
Hope that helps someone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for posting this. Wow. That is a lot of headache to run through. I will try that as well. As I absolutely can't stand the GPS on this phone.
I have also found a workaround, although it involves toggling the location settings on and off. IE toggling the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth scanning on and off. Generally this works for me, although sometimes I have to reboot the phone

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