GPS out of the country? - Mogul, XV6800 General

Hello!
I'm just back from a trip from london. I brought with me my P4000 thinking that I would be able to use it's great GPS abroad.
It never worked once.
I thought this thing had an aGPS chip, meaning it was a true GPS that could be assisted by cell towers to find a fix faster. So, my understanding was that it should have worked abroad, albeit slower to find a fix then here.
As soon as I got back home, it started working again.
Any ideas?
Mod Edit: Moved from Titan Upgrading
Thanks!

Hello!
I'm just back from a trip from london. I brought with me my P4000 thinking that I would be able to use it's great GPS abroad.
It never worked once.
I thought this thing had an aGPS chip, meaning it was a true GPS that could be assisted by cell towers to find a fix faster. So, my understanding was that it should have worked abroad, albeit slower to find a fix then here.
As soon as I got back home, it started working again.
Any ideas?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you were roaming overseas, then you won't be inside Verizon's firewall, therefore you won't have connectivity to the PDE server. The standalone GPS should have still worked, though it probably would take a lot longer to fix due to the fact you moved a great deal since the last fix. Did you try to use QuickGPS to download the ephemeris data? That probably would have sped up your fix a little.

I'm using tomtom, so, I don't need access to verizon. Anyway, I'm with Telus.
I've let it stand by the window for hours and it never got a lock. I didn't try QuickGPS.
Should I have switched something in the registry to have it work in standalone mode instead of assisted?

Well, i'm living in Republic Of Moldova. WE have no aGPS here at all, but i still can use GPS function on Titan. I have to wait about 1-3 minutes for lock.
I have installed DCD 3.2.6 rom and 3.42.50 Radio. Use SeaSGEE to download ephemeris data and Navitel Navigator. But Tom Tom and any other programs work fine too.
PS Sorry for my English.

I recall having a similar discussion in an earlier thread.
See if any of this info helps:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=2538917
If you do that right, i'm pretty sure it won't even attempt to connect to a PDE server (when u change GPSMode), so you should be able to get a *slightly* quicker lock, as it won't waste time looking for that server.
I do also suggest using some other tool like QuickGPS to retrieve the ephemeris data before trying to get a lock; it *should* speed it up, but I don't know how true that really holds.

Ok,
Thanks for all the infos. I'm going to Madrid next month, I'll try again there.

I was able to get GPS locks all over Europe no problem this past July.

I'm using tomtom, so, I don't need access to verizon. Anyway, I'm with Telus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it doesn't matter whether you have Verizon or Telus when it comes to aGPS. I was referring to aGPS. If you aren't inside your carriers internal network, then you won't access the PDE.
The GPS should still work regardless, just in standalone mode, which is why I asked if you tried QuickGPS to try and speed up the lock times.

I was under the impression that there is a registry setting for the global "zone" for our GPSr to look for and that it was set to US.
From the posts I reviewed few if any folks have been able to lock overseas unless they got locks while traveling
GC, have you found any settings in the registry for this?
In QuickGPS I think the setting is as follows:
[HKLM] - Software\HTC\QuickGPS\region
Its set for US for me here in TN and I think someone from Holland posted on PPCGeeks a long time ago NL worked for him to get a lock once he found and got it via trial and error...

I am sure you are onto something here
I think you guys are really onto something here. I have had the most frustrating time with my titan because of this very issue. I travel outside of the USA frequently and in all my travels have only managed to get a lock once! All through Australia and Thailand with no phone signal I was unable to get a lock with either flight mode on or phone mode on. Even in Taiwan where VZW has some modicum of representation (i.e the phone function worked but zero data) I go no lock.
gc was right about the agps thing. Outside of Verizon network you will not get assisted gps (although strangely when in "extended area" roaming inside USA it still seems to work).
in the end i tried a hundred things to get a lock including leaving the phone out in the full view of the sky for 6 hours. Nothing worked except the gps mode that scrawnyb talked about. I finally got a (very slow) lock after what seemed like hours.
I really believe that osteo's answer about the zone (i.e. "US" here in USA) is also part of the answer. I can only assume that the ephemeris data has to be relative to where you are on the earths surface, so the phone having some idea of where you are surely would help (especially without cell tower help from agps).
Targitai, if you visit this thread again can you please check the setting in your phone to see what zone setting you have that assists with locking. You need to look in [HKLM] - Software\HTC\QuickGPS\region and check that you are not set to "US" or similar.
I wont be traveling OS for a few months now, so I cannot confirm any of the above. I hope others who are traveling see this thread and can report back.
Thanks for the helpful info on this thread. This problem has been bugging me for months. Strange this is that my bluetooth gps never takes more than about 2-3 minutes to get a lock, even after crossing to the other side of the earth, over 9000 miles to Australia.

Well,
I'm here in Madrid now and it doesn'T work.
I tried changing the registry key of the GPS mode and it didn't help.
Any other things I can try?

stanelie said:
Well,
I'm here in Madrid now and it doesn'T work.
I tried changing the registry key of the GPS mode and it didn't help.
Any other things I can try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How long did you wait, and do you have a clear view of the sky?
After traveling a long distance it can take some time to download the full catalog info on the satellites.

I waited a few hours in clear sight of the sky.
My old hp hw 6515 with a old stand-alone GPS chips can find a lock fine...

sorry, double post...

I have had my gps lock over the ocean in an airplane. I dont have navigation software installed other than google maps so I just used Visual GPS to verify I had lat/lon fix and a gps speedometer app to tell me I was going at the same speed the captain had said. No wireless data connection at all.

Hi, I have a similar problem, but when I'm in a no service area, the GPS locks in 2 minutes. When the phone gets a cell phone tower, never gets a lock unless I let him overnight catching sats. I'm from Venezuela, may be the cell phone towers or the network, I don't know, induce some kind of conflict in the position calculation of the GPS. In the flight mode the problem persist.

Related

GPS Reception is terrible

Just curious if anyone else has issues with GPS reception on their sprint touch. I upgraded to the latest htc rom earlier in the week and everything is great except I cannot get GPS to hook up - I've had it work only once.
i upgraded too and i'm using GPS with GoPilot Live, iGO8 and Garmin Mobile XT and it works without issue.
what GPS program are you using with your touch?
Google maps is the only application i've tried. It will search (and search, and search) but doesn't find any or only 1 sat.
Make sure all your settings are correct and try using something like GPS Viewer to get the initilal lock.
Any hint on which settings, and what the the correct values for those settings would be?
Thanks for the tip on GPS Viewer - I will def check it out!
Thanks,
Tim
First, make sure you have the proper Radio/ROM, I assume you do.
Second, under System Settings>External GPS
Programs>COM4 Port
Hardware>(None) Baud Rate>4800
Access>Check Manage Automatically
Third, under Personal Settings>Phone
Services>Location Setting>Location On
Fourth, the Registry
I know of only one value that may help if you change, there are more, but haven't seen them, and I believe it's different on some carriers, like Sprint
HKCU>Software>HTC>SUPL AGPS>GPS Mode
For the inital sat lock, make sure you stand outside on a clear sky and wait at least 5 min, if it takes that long.
The first time I did this, I was trying from inside, finally tried it outside after 3 days of no luck, but now it works quite well. I usually get connected under 30 seconds. As long as your in the same area when you reconnect it should be quick, the first is usually the longest. And I personally use LiveSearch for the directions.
Change from 2 to either 4 or 1, this may help, never really guarenteed though
I was in Boston this weekend and noticed the GPS on my Touch would not lock in a signal in the financial district surrounded by tall buildings. But when I have a clearer view of the sky it works fine. Are you in an open area when you are using it?
hapa_dude said:
I was in Boston this weekend and noticed the GPS on my Touch would not lock in a signal in the financial district surrounded by tall buildings. But when I have a clearer view of the sky it works fine. Are you in an open area when you are using it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It surely helps! Any obstructions will make it harder to pickup the signal.
TheChampJT said:
First, make sure you have the proper Radio/ROM, I assume you do.
Second, under System Settings>External GPS
Programs>COM4 Port
Hardware>(None) Baud Rate>4800
Access>Check Manage Automatically
Third, under Personal Settings>Phone
Services>Location Setting>Location On
Fourth, the Registry
I know of only one value that may help if you change, there are more, but haven't seen them, and I believe it's different on some carriers, like Sprint
HKCU>Software>HTC>SUPL AGPS>GPS Mode
For the inital sat lock, make sure you stand outside on a clear sky and wait at least 5 min, if it takes that long.
The first time I did this, I was trying from inside, finally tried it outside after 3 days of no luck, but now it works quite well. I usually get connected under 30 seconds. As long as your in the same area when you reconnect it should be quick, the first is usually the longest. And I personally use LiveSearch for the directions.
Change from 2 to either 4 or 1, this may help, never really guarenteed though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was having problems with mine too until I did the 4th one and changed it to a 1 from 2 and it works much better. Try it and see you can always turn it back to 2
This helped me
http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173024
My apologies if this has already been posted somewhere. I did a search and came up empty...
So like a lot of people, I've been having some major problems with the GPS's reliability on the Touch (yep, last week's flavor of the week). It connects only when it feels like it, and numerous resets seem to temporarily solve the problem. Well, changing the following registry value seemed to solve all of my problems:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\ConnMgr\Providers\{7C4B7A3 8-5FF7-4bc1-80F6-5DA7870BB1AA}\Connections\Phone as Modem]
"Enabled"=dword:00000000"
Change the value to 0, and soft reset.
It appears that the GPS, by default, makes use of the "Phone as Modem" data connection to take advantage of aGPS, but if a "Sprint PCS" data connection is already active, the GPS doesn't swap connection methods and ultimately hangs. This problem is exacerbated if you have Push services or other data connections running.
I personally haven't noticed any problems with disabling PAM, but as usual, your mileage will vary. For me, I get GPS locks within 15 seconds when I'm in a reasonably accessible location, and I no longer have to reset-and-pray to get this thing working.
bill22 said:
http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=173024
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My apologies if this has already been posted somewhere. I did a search and came up empty...
So like a lot of people, I've been having some major problems with the GPS's reliability on the Touch (yep, last week's flavor of the week). It connects only when it feels like it, and numerous resets seem to temporarily solve the problem. Well, changing the following registry value seemed to solve all of my problems:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\ConnMgr\Providers\{7C4B7A3 8-5FF7-4bc1-80F6-5DA7870BB1AA}\Connections\Phone as Modem]
"Enabled"=dword:00000000"
Change the value to 0, and soft reset.
It appears that the GPS, by default, makes use of the "Phone as Modem" data connection to take advantage of aGPS, but if a "Sprint PCS" data connection is already active, the GPS doesn't swap connection methods and ultimately hangs. This problem is exacerbated if you have Push services or other data connections running.
I personally haven't noticed any problems with disabling PAM, but as usual, your mileage will vary. For me, I get GPS locks within 15 seconds when I'm in a reasonably accessible location, and I no longer have to reset-and-pray to get this thing working.
Link not working, repost.
hate to tell you this, but if you are using the builtin GPS, a clear view of the sky does nothing to improve your gps position locking. our phones have AGPS which means it is fake GPS. It uses the distance from cell towers to triangulate your position, not satellites. Thats why you can get a lock inside with no view of the sky.
some ROMs have different settings on them so following the above directions should work. Or you can do like me and find a better ROM

GPS Issue

First off I'm just a bit confused on the whole GPS thing. I have all the tutorials and stuff but will the GPS actually work without the data plan? (aGPS).
I have..
Radio: 3.42.50 Bell Radio
ROM: NFS 1.12VZW
I cant seem to pick up any signal at all...
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
GPS will work with out data plan, but maps are loaded from internet most of the time..
also it *might* pull data, that you shouldnt be charged for, aGPS uses a tower to determin the GPS clock and basicaly jump starts your lock by a min or so. with out it, your phone would search for GPS signals and try to sync its time with it, befor lockign on to all 3.
with aGPS it only uses a tower and 2 others
Hi Guys,
Here is an excellent article covering gps vrs agps:
http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/gps_vs_agps_a_quick_tutorial.html
As spyderekz said, our Vogues are capable of "stand-alone" gps. Having said that, agps is more accurate.
I am an Airline pilot with Air Canada Jazz, I have tested my gps in the air (with the phone in airplane mode), and the gps was able to lock. GPS sattelites are all numbered, both TomTom and gps viewer (GPS viewer is included in NFSFAN's ROM) display GPS status pages. These pages show how many sattelites you are recieving, and their numbers. Our Aircraft FMS (flight management system) has a similiar page. Both my Vogue and the aircraft picked up the same sattelites (The airplane picked up more, then again, MUCH bigger antenna!!!).
I also live in BC, I have used TomTom driving many mountain passes with no cell phone reception and TT keeps ticking along nicely.
I should add I'm on the Bell network, and Bell has not locked any GPS functions unlike Verizon where users must jump through many hoops to get it working.
Quick question tankbusta, what network are you on?....nerermind, just noticed your Verizon. Have you tried the stock Verizon ROM, complete the agps fix, then flash to NFSFAN's ROM???
If you search the posts, you'll see NFSFAN recommends using your own carriers radio, and letting ALL customizations run when upgrading that radio. As long as Verizon has a 3.xxxx radio, you should be able to use the tutorial to get gps working.
No problem using TomTom.
hi i was wondering if anyone knows what is the 6digit epst code that you get from getspc for a htc touvh 6900???
It is "000000"

HTC Snap, GPS not detecting satellites

I can't get a satellite lock on my HTC Snap.
I have enable "use GPS" in google maps. google maps will search for satellites and after sometime come back saying weak signal & some recomendations to look for clear view of the sky.
Garmin XT also can't search GPS satellites. I install GPS Test, it seems that there's a GPS hardware but somehow the signal reception is super weak.
I have sent my Snaps to HTC service center and the best thing they can do is change the mainboard. This also show no result.
Anybody, please help. i'm starting to get frustrated with this GPS issue...
Bing GPS
I use the Bing app and have similar issues establishing GPS signal. This is my first GPS device so I'm not sure if this is normal, or if the phone is crap for GPS, or if I'm doing it wrong. I try to keep the QuickGPS updated, but that doesn't seem to help. I thought AGPS was supposed to be fast, but faster compared to what? Maybe this is 'fast' for GPS. I have seen friend's full on GPS devices and they seem to pickup pretty quick. So... who knows?
One thing to definitely try is make sure quickgps is up to date and automatically downloading. garmin could NOT find my location without that up to date and it would show one red bar signal strength. once i loaded up quickgps, updated it, and ran garmin again, full green signal.
It's The GPS Hardware ...
I've tried it all with my Dash 3G -- and concluded that it's the GPS in the phone that is garbage. I've since switched back to my trusty OnCourse Bluetooth GPS and I get a lock in Google Maps in less than 30 seconds and in Garmin XT in less than 10. IMHO, the GPS is certainly a weakness on this phone.
It finally sunk in for me when I lost signal 9 times while walking a few miles down Beacon Street in Boston. Holding the phone in my hand it kept dropping the signal over and over again. So I gave up. Built in GPS is handy in a pinch (when you have 30 minutes to wait for it to find a signal) but for serious navigating I use my Bluetooth GPS exclusively now.
No true at all. the gps in the Ozone is amazingly fast.
drewcam888 said:
No true at all. the gps in the Ozone is amazingly fast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree. Simply because something is not working like it should for these others does not mean that the GPS is not good. I use garmin xt with my ozone and its is extremely fast at updating my position as i'm driving along.
Problem solved
Let say that i'm in a really bad luck. this is my first GPS device and its not working. After the 2nd time come out from the service center (2nd concecutive mainboard), then the GPS is functioning, normaly....
my maple can get lock on GPS signal quite fast. with AGPS updated, it can get signal lock within seconds (given you have a clear sky view). i found that it could takes some time for Garmin XT to get GPS signal, so I use GPS Test to speed up the process then start the Garmin XT.
so for those who can't get GPS signal. it's definitely your hardware. I also found that the online customer service officer at HTC is just a mere lips service / useless. they keep telling me to be patient and patient without real action.
There's a free GPS testing tool for Windows Mobile called GPS Test. Once that set up, you can find out which serial port is used by the GPS receiver in your Windows Mobile, and set Google Maps GPS setting accordingly. Once it's set up, Google Maps can easily find multiple satellites if you're on open space. Once it's using GPS, your location on Google Maps will be a pin point, rather than a large circle denoting your approximate location.
PS: Found out with GPS Test that my GPS receiver in my Snap is using COM4 port at 9600 bps
Sincerely,
Paul Pambudi
WIND Mobile HTC Maple users not getting GPS working PLEASE READ!
I went through four HTC Maples (two accounts each 1st phone was a warranty exchange for another non-related problem). Each of the four Maples could not lock in single GPS satellite. WIND tech support had no clue after many calls and tests run at their tech support offices in Toronto. WIND recommended that I get in contact with HTC directly to see if they might have a solution.
One call to HTC started the ball rolling and setup a trouble ticket. Within 3 days and about seven call backs to trouble shoot, HTC had the solution and both of our Maples now have fully functioning GPS with Google Maps.
The problem was in the ROMs that had an old version of Google Maps (both their WM 6.1 and WM 6.5 HTC Maple ROM for WIND accounts).
Solution: using the Maple's browser go to m.google.com/maps and install the latest version. Problem solved!
HTC customer service in North America ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!
Will I buy another HTC product? HELL YA!!!
Here's a gem!
My Snap used to take 30-40 seconds on a cold start to get a location lock (with aGPS turned on).
I installed the attached CAB (which just adds some registry keys, also found here: Here), which makes the phone use Google's aGPS server, and got a cold start GPS lock in 7 seconds... indoors!
arpitp said:
Here's a gem!
My Snap used to take 30-40 seconds on a cold start to get a location lock (with aGPS turned on).
I installed the attached CAB (which just adds some registry keys, also found here: showthread.php?t=544421), which makes the phone use Google's aGPS server, and got a cold start GPS lock in 7 seconds... indoors!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thread you listed for registry key changes doesn't appear to work.
Any chance you might be able to list it again?
Thanks.
AE!
AquiEsta! said:
The thread you listed for registry key changes doesn't appear to work.
Any chance you might be able to list it again?
Thanks.
AE!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, the link was bad. I'm used to posting links in that format from another forum. Anyhow, it's fixed in the last post, and here it is as well:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=544421
arpitp said:
Sorry, the link was bad. I'm used to posting links in that format from another forum. Anyhow, it's fixed in the last post, and here it is as well:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=544421
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for updating the link.
I have tried both of the CABs for the non Nokia and both make no difference if you
can't get a GPS lock. AGPS simply does not work using the latest Google maps CAB
available.
The "FF Ultimate aGPS Tweak_supl.google_Generic.cab" actually makes Google Maps
take forever to just start up after being installed and still no location is updated
indoors. Also, the phone will not snyc now with the desktop and this is after three
soft resets.
Even worse is the fact the phone now runs slow as hell. Everything takes forever
to open and is VERY sluggish.
Installed the other CAB "FF Google aGPS Settings Generic.cab" and still the same
problems. What could be the problem?
Finally got fed up with the POS CAB and uninstalled it. So far I've notice that the
phone has recovered its speed opening items and the right ones not like before
with that POS CAB which would cause all kinds of problems. Snyc now works
and so this looks like I'm back in business minus the fact I still can't get the aGPS
to work.
Oh well, you can't win them all...
AE!

gps wont find anything

so I bought a htc hd2 using it to type this, however gps wont lock (and kb Really is bad lol) im on o2
any ideas..
Re gps won't find anything
Hi,
A couple of questions. What software are you using? (like Google Maps). You say you can't get a lock, are you able to access any satellite? Have you selected Google Maps Use GPS Option. Have you enabled QuickGPS (Start/Tools/QuickGPS). There is a setting there to let you download Satellite data using your PC connection during Activesync which might help you if you have data issues.
Now, silly question, are you indoors or outdoors when you are trying to get a fix?. Im not always able to get a satellite fix from my living room).
Regards.
Re: gps won't find anything
Hi,
A couple of questions. What software are you using? (like Google Maps). You say you can't get a lock, are you able to access any satellite? Have you selected Google Maps Use GPS Option. Have you enabled QuickGPS (Start/Tools/QuickGPS). There is a setting there to let you download Satellite data using your PC connection during Activesync which might help you if you have data issues.
Now, silly question, are you indoors or outdoors when you are trying to get a fix?. Im not always able to get a satellite fix from my living room).
Regards.
sorry took so long to reply (keyboard really has issues ... or maybe i have the issues and just cant use it) so i came to pc to reply.
i was indoors at the time (trying to show my gf how great my phone is and shes with her iphone getting a gps location in seconds) so i was indoors , i have tried outside however and it dont seem to work, i had the same (and still do) with my xda ignito and just give up on it , but this is a new phone and i just want to be able to sit in my house and go oooh phone says im here haha.
i used quickgps however that has not helped
LOL, knowing that you couldn't get it working on your other phone might have helped in your original posting . Have you talked to O2?
gps does not care about the carrier...
BTW: What the iphone does (and your phone can do too) is the self positining using the google api. that works over the cellular network, using a table of positions where the antennas are lokated and not gps!
GPS indoors is not possible with a antenna like the HD2 or the Iphone has, aslong as you live in a "normal house" and not in some weird mobile home ect...
If it cant get a fix using google maps or tomtom outside of your house within 2minutes of not moving somewhere on the street, or the gps tuner did not even find one satellite, think of hard-resetting your phone and then try again.
if you sill can find anything your antenna might be broken so you need to return your phone to warrenty and get a new one, or yours fixed!
greetz
Intereseting, I've never actually seen a phone using nagigation software without data services from a carrier. I must live a really sheltered life. Good luck.
Usually, every GPS phone has trouble locking from inside houses, with the exception of when you are standing next to a window sometimes. My HD2 however locks in seconds when outside.
I would suggest running QuickGPS (or something along those lines) from Start->Tools, it updates the locations of the satellites so the GPS takes less to locate them when locking.
All the best,
shpatar.
cMMY69 said:
Intereseting, I've never actually seen a phone using nagigation software without data services from a carrier. I must live a really sheltered life. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what are you talking about? tomtom, garmin etc. never use the carrier to get a fixed gps position. thats why you call it gps, because it uses it and gps is not run by any phone carrier but by the us. forces... so you dont need any dataservice or even simcard to get your gps position with your gps-enabled phone...
larrytango said:
sorry took so long to reply (keyboard really has issues ... or maybe i have the issues and just cant use it) so i came to pc to reply.
i was indoors at the time (trying to show my gf how great my phone is and shes with her iphone getting a gps location in seconds) so i was indoors , i have tried outside however and it dont seem to work, i had the same (and still do) with my xda ignito and just give up on it , but this is a new phone and i just want to be able to sit in my house and go oooh phone says im here haha.
i used quickgps however that has not helped
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using igo8? I know i had to manually set the correct com port (COM4) within igo settings before it would work.
Also you can manually set it in google maps. Try setting it to COM4 baud rate of 4800
The carrier locating in my area is useless when i am inside my house. Says i am like a mile away in the middle of a field! lol.
larrytango said:
sorry took so long to reply (keyboard really has issues ... or maybe i have the issues and just cant use it) so i came to pc to reply.
i was indoors at the time (trying to show my gf how great my phone is and shes with her iphone getting a gps location in seconds) so i was indoors , i have tried outside however and it dont seem to work, i had the same (and still do) with my xda ignito and just give up on it , but this is a new phone and i just want to be able to sit in my house and go oooh phone says im here haha.
i used quickgps however that has not helped
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As others have replied- the iPhone uses a different method of getting your position, as its GPS receiver is pretty poor (which is why TomTom needs its own GPS receiver in a dedicated cradle to work properly )
The HD2 has the best GPS receiver I've yet seen in a mobile device- no longer than 1 minute even from cold start in most cases- and I've used it in UK, Italy and Slovenia in the last 6 weeks. However, if you are indoors it will struggle.
Which software are you using to try and get a fix? Maybe it isn't initiating the GPS correctly.
The Ignito is also pretty good, so maybe you are in a 'dead' area? Have you tried in a different location?
brandi said:
gps does not care about the carrier...
BTW: What the iphone does (and your phone can do too) is the self positining using the google api. that works over the cellular network, using a table of positions where the antennas are lokated and not gps!
GPS indoors is not possible with a antenna like the HD2 or the Iphone has, aslong as you live in a "normal house" and not in some weird mobile home ect...
If it cant get a fix using google maps or tomtom outside of your house within 2minutes of not moving somewhere on the street, or the gps tuner did not even find one satellite, think of hard-resetting your phone and then try again.
if you sill can find anything your antenna might be broken so you need to return your phone to warrenty and get a new one, or yours fixed!
greetz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i said what network i was on to imply what rom i was on (was first day with hd2 and i was typing using it .. and i wanted to make it as small as possible - hate the kb lol)
and my gf iphone does actually pick up gps in the house , mine doesnt tho.
i got a signal once since i started this when outside after about 20 mins.
i understand what you mean with regards to cell network etc and obviously that works fine .. however gps seems to not like me

GPS Issue, only in some areas. GSM network dependent.

Bit of an odd one. Basically at home with the phone on my home network T-Mobile I simply can't get a GPS fix. This problem has only happened in the last couple of weeks previously its been fine, a fix within seconds.
As some of you may know T-Mobile and Orange in the UK have now enabled roaming between the 2 networks. If I force the phone to roam onto Orange I get a GPS fix with-in a minute. Switch the network back to T-Mobile back to no fix.
If I'm in a different area, network on T-Mobile, fix within seconds. I thought maybe it's quick GPS wrongly loading the wrong area because of an issue in the cell db, I've set quick GPS to never update and now the GPS appears to cold start although quick GPS still says the data it has is valid for x number of days.
I've tried defaulting the phone but exactly the same with defaults and using GPS Test rather than TomTom.
Does anyone have any ideas? Is anyone else having the same issue?
I just tried another test. I roamed onto Orange and got a GPS fix in TomTom, I then set my network back to T-Mobile and the GPS fix was lost! As I switched networks I left TomTom running in the background.
A bit more testing. If I force the phone onto 3G T-Mobile the GPS works fine. My theory is what ever frequency the cell here operates on (some 5 miles away in the 1800MHz band) must be causing the some issue with the hardware
I'm thinking that most people wouldn't be able to experiment to see this, I'm just lucky or unlucky depending on how you look at it that I'm in a position where I can switch networks therefore changing frequency within the 1800MHz band and I can stay in the same place to test it. I've had in the past where the GPS would loose its fix for no reason and then just come back while travelling on a motorway I wonder if this was the same thing. Also the chances of someone owning a HD2 using the GPS and being on a cell who's frequency causes a problem is pretty small, and if your travelling you're likely to just think it's dropped for some reason, and oh yes it's back again now so think no more of it.
You are getting confused between GPS and GPRS.
GPS is the satellite system that you use to pinpoint your location (as with TomTom). If your phone is indoors or has a restricted view of the sky, then it cannot receive a signal.
GPRS is a data connection between your phone and the telecoms company. It is basically 2.5G, which way a intermediate step before 3G became set up.
fred_up said:
You are getting confused between GPS and GPRS.
GPS is the satellite system that you use to pinpoint your location (as with TomTom). If your phone is indoors or has a restricted view of the sky, then it cannot receive a signal.
GPRS is a data connection between your phone and the telecoms company. It is basically 2.5G, which way a intermediate step before 3G became set up.
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No, completely understand the difference between GPRS and GPS
I've proven with out a doubt that when using the t-mobile cell serving our house (2g) there is no GPS signal. Use another network still 1800 and there is GPS, use 3g, or move to another area on t-mobile there is GPS.
GPS was working at home while on t-mobile upto a couple of weeks ago, I can only think that the cell has had some work done and has changed frequency.
twerki78 said:
No, completely understand the difference between GPRS and GPS
I've proven with out a doubt that when using the t-mobile cell serving our house (2g) there is no GPS signal. Use another network still 1800 and there is GPS, use 3g, or move to another area on t-mobile there is GPS.
GPS was working at home while on t-mobile upto a couple of weeks ago, I can only think that the cell has had some work done and has changed frequency.
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Silly question, but have you got AGPS activated? Because it can give you a rough location based upon the local cell transmitter info and any GPS satelite signals you may be recieving.
fred_up said:
Silly question, but have you got AGPS activated? Because it can give you a rough location based upon the local cell transmitter info and any GPS satellite signals you may be receiving.
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I have AGPS disabled. I doubt my operator supports it. I have tried with QuickGPS disabled and enabled but makes no difference.
If I get a fix while on Orange, leave which ever GPS enabled application I have running, running in the background, force the phone back onto my home network (TMobile), go back to the GPS application there's no fix and no satellite signal being received not even a hint.
I've also tried with the SIM card removed and GPS performs perfectly!
Thank you, I thought I was going mad - my GPS has been working perfectly since I got the phone 6 months ago but in the last week has been dropping out or refusing to start at all.
I tried a hard reset, which fixed the problem until I started driving the next day - after a few minutes TomTom lost it's way. Using a bluetooth GPS proved the signal was good, so I was coming around to the idea that the phone was broken...
I have also now read other users that have had GPS problems when roaming, although usually when switching between countries.
Looking on the T-Mobile website about the orange roaming issue it say 'there might be a few quirky side-effects' but I haven't even signed up for the Orange roaming option, sounds like T-Mobile has changed something for everyone?
I have read that fixing the network choice to manual, not auto, can help with GPS issues while roaming - I've yet to test this.
boomboomer said:
Thank you, I thought I was going mad - my GPS has been working perfectly since I got the phone 6 months ago but in the last week has been dropping out or refusing to start at all.
I tried a hard reset, which fixed the problem until I started driving the next day - after a few minutes TomTom lost it's way. Using a bluetooth GPS proved the signal was good, so I was coming around to the idea that the phone was broken...
I have also now read other users that have had GPS problems when roaming, although usually when switching between countries.
Looking on the T-Mobile website about the orange roaming issue it say 'there might be a few quirky side-effects' but I haven't even signed up for the Orange roaming option, sounds like T-Mobile has changed something for everyone?
I have read that fixing the network choice to manual, not auto, can help with GPS issues while roaming - I've yet to test this.
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I've had the issue for a couple of weeks I would say. Certainly last weekend I couldn't get a fix for ages when I set off and it wasn't until I was a way away from home that the GPS got a fix. This was before the roaming got switch on, of course it doesn't mean they were not doing something with the cell/network.
I too can get a perfect fix with external GPS or with a GPS nav system, or by changing networks! I've also tried another SIM card in the phone, again T-Mobile and get the same results.
I've attached some screen shots.
1st T-mobile no satellites, you'll notice that there isn't so much of hint of signal.
2nd Changing network.
3rd T-Mobile Orange and GPS fix.
All screen shots were taken with the phone in the same place.
Just come back from a drive just to test the GPS. Basically driven 30 miles away from home fixing the phone to T-Mobile and 2G and the only time I got a GPS fix was when the phone lost signal.
Parked in a layby and switched over to orange and got a fix with in a few seconds! Just can't figure out what the connection with being on T-mobile 2g is!
What Radio version is your phone using?
fred_up said:
What Radio version is your phone using?
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Have the same issue with various official T-Mobile ROMs.
I had a play with updating my AGPS settings last night using the Google settings from this thread: http://ip208-100-42-21.static.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=544421 when working on Orange couldn't notice any difference, with T-Mobile still not GPS fix.
I left the GPS running over night on T-Mobile, admittedly indoors but somewhere I know I get a fix, there was still no fix 7 hours later.
I live in a rural village covered only by one cell mast. GPS starts and runs fine at home with or without the phone turned on. if I walk over the other side of the hill, different cell mast, the GPS drops out immediately - I can't test if 3G fixes the problem as it doesn't work here. Once the GPS has stopped I can't get it to start again, even switching the phone off to airplane mode doesn't help. Only a soft reset, with the phone still in airplane mode will allow the GPS to start.
Switching the phone back on and the GPS drops, however walking back over the hill to home - back to my original cell mast and the GPS starts again.
I'm pretty sure t-mobile have rolled out a change to their 2G system, but not to all masts? rural ones maybe last done hence why my home cell still works.
How to proceed from here? T-Mobile are kind of hard to talk to.....
One thing I did notice was in Memory Map the satellite view normally flicks across satellite numbers until it finds a signal, if the T-Mobile problem occurs this process stops and it would appear to have frozen the service?
I take back the hard to talk to part of my last post, I emailed support from the website and they phoned me back within 2 hours!
As to be expected they couldn't give any instant answers but I gave this thread as a reference and the problem is to be escalated.
The call centerthen phoned me back and asked if I was happy, also to offer me 30 minutes free calls for next 3 months - very nice thank you.
Good work boomboomer. Hopefully T-mobile will find something. I'd like to know what they find, still can't understand the connection between a GSM network and GPS though. I haven't tried a controlled test with flight mode but will try that later. Out of interest what part of the country are you in? maybe it's just a pocket of cells that are affective? I'm in the BA8 postcode area.
The problem certainly only affects 2G, 3G is fine.
I'm out of the country this week but fingers crossed T-Mobile will find the problem. It's nice to know I'm not the only one with a problem.
I'm quite a distance away, DT2 here.
I've been asked to test the GPS over the next few days and keep a log of when and where it doesn't work, they said their network people will ring me soon.
At least this fault is 'interesting' in the words of their technical support guy, he'd never heard of anything like it, so there's hope they will give it some time.
On the plus side they've also given me a free month of internet, so I can't fault their customer support focus.
Incidentally, do you have SPB shell installed? This was the only change I'd made on my phone at the time this problem started.
boomboomer said:
I'm quite a distance away, DT2 here.
I've been asked to test the GPS over the next few days and keep a log of when and where it doesn't work, they said their network people will ring me soon.
At least this fault is 'interesting' in the words of their technical support guy, he'd never heard of anything like it, so there's hope they will give it some time.
On the plus side they've also given me a free month of internet, so I can't fault their customer support focus.
Incidentally, do you have SPB shell installed? This was the only change I'd made on my phone at the time this problem started.
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I didn't get chance to do any testing today at Heathrow as ended up being a bit rushed. I wouldn't say your not a million miles away. 22miles ish, the Cell that covers our home is in Dorset which is pretty useless when you have to call 999 because you get connected to Dorset who then can't pass you to Somerset and you end up being in a situation where you have no way of contacting Somerset 999 not great in this day and age! But I'm not going to get started on that one on this topic.
It's quite possible its a regional problem.
No I haven't installed SPB shell, I have tried it with a defaulted phone but still had the same problem.
I'm out the country now until Friday, but will do some testing when I return on my return journey. I'll fix the phone to 2g T-mobile and keep an eye on where the GPS drops out.
Oh dear, just got a call from T-Mobile technical networks - they don't support GPS as part of their service and won't be spending any time on the problem, case closed. They did say the problem seems to be with HTC devices only, blackberrys are not effected so it sounds like they have heard of the issue eleswhere?
Looks like it's a network switch required to solve the problem, shame that as I've been with T-Mobile for over 7 years.
boomboomer said:
Oh dear, just got a call from T-Mobile technical networks - they don't support GPS as part of their service and won't be spending any time on the problem, case closed. They did say the problem seems to be with HTC devices only, blackberrys are not effected so it sounds like they have heard of the issue eleswhere?
Looks like it's a network switch required to solve the problem, shame that as I've been with T-Mobile for over 7 years.
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Hmm, T-Mobile sold me the phone for use on their network, the phone is sold with a GPS, that now doesn't work on their network surely they need to spend sometime working with HTC to resolve the problem.
I do have a case open with HTC under the ref 10gbc410001235 they were supposed to be taking it up with tier 2 but as yet I've not heard anything back. I'll have to follow it up when I'm back in the UK. It might be worth you also logging a fault with HTC quoting my ref. at least if 2 people call in with the same problem they may start to think it's not just one crazy with the issue!
My other half has a HTC Desire, I haven't checked the GPS on her phone. Not sure if they use the same chipset, of course one is WM the other android. I wonder if its a problem for all HTC phones or just the HD2?

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