Related
With all the custom programs out there for the mogul, I'm in heaven. So far most everything has worked great. I'm running DCD 3.0.1, with the newest radio. A few small issues, but for me nothing to get worked up about.
Recently, I did alot of researching into GPS software. I wanted a program that was kinda like a all in one. One GPS program to do it all. I've tried quite a few and settled on the Garmin XT. It does pretty much everything for mobile Gps. As for Geocaching or "on foot" GPS, I use Tracky.
Now with this in mind, I was noticing some of the things I've seen other people talk about. Jump Starting the GPS. Very critical, especially with garmin. So I decided to give that Astrolauncher program a shot. For Garmin, it works like a champ. Only problem I find is with the Time. The first thing I noticed was the garmin part switched to night mode in the middle of the day time. Didn't think much about it. I closed the program out and later on noticed the time was WAYYY off on the phone. Only way to fix it is to restart the phone. I can't seem to narrow the problem down. Is this a program that is being initiated with Astrolauncher? Or is it a problem with the Garmin GPS? Does anyone else notice this? When it does happen, if I restart the phone, then restart Garmin, it is fine. But it seems like its the initial startup where it happens.
Any ideas?
Just for info, I will do a review on my findings for all my GPS software I've played with.
Thanks for the ideas in advance.
Chem
Chemdawg said:
With all the custom programs out there for the mogul, I'm in heaven. So far most everything has worked great. I'm running DCD 3.0.1, with the newest radio. A few small issues, but for me nothing to get worked up about.
Recently, I did alot of researching into GPS software. I wanted a program that was kinda like a all in one. One GPS program to do it all. I've tried quite a few and settled on the Garmin XT. It does pretty much everything for mobile Gps. As for Geocaching or "on foot" GPS, I use Tracky.
Now with this in mind, I was noticing some of the things I've seen other people talk about. Jump Starting the GPS. Very critical, especially with garmin. So I decided to give that Astrolauncher program a shot. For Garmin, it works like a champ. Only problem I find is with the Time. The first thing I noticed was the garmin part switched to night mode in the middle of the day time. Didn't think much about it. I closed the program out and later on noticed the time was WAYYY off on the phone. Only way to fix it is to restart the phone. I can't seem to narrow the problem down. Is this a program that is being initiated with Astrolauncher? Or is it a problem with the Garmin GPS? Does anyone else notice this? When it does happen, if I restart the phone, then restart Garmin, it is fine. But it seems like its the initial startup where it happens.
Any ideas?
Just for info, I will do a review on my findings for all my GPS software I've played with.
Thanks for the ideas in advance.
Chem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have stated before that VisualGPSce is my fav for this as it seems to lock the fastest for me. However, the new Sprint radio seems to lock for me in less than a minute on the highway every time. I rarely use VisualGPSce anymore.
If you can get TomTom, try that. I find it better and more user friendly than garmin. I do believe there is a way to turn off night mode within the settings on Garmin though.
I have not tried those two, but I will. I'm always willing to give new things a shot. As far as Garmin goes, I already have a Garmin Street Pilot, so I'm very familiar with how they work. I'm still baffled about this time thing. It doesn't do it all the time. I think if using Astrolauncher, to start the program, if it doens't lock like RIGHT away, the time goes to the GPS time which (Being that it's not locked yet), is wrong.
Make sense?
Chemdawg said:
I have not tried those two, but I will. I'm always willing to give new things a shot. As far as Garmin goes, I already have a Garmin Street Pilot, so I'm very familiar with how they work. I'm still baffled about this time thing. It doesn't do it all the time. I think if using Astrolauncher, to start the program, if it doens't lock like RIGHT away, the time goes to the GPS time which (Being that it's not locked yet), is wrong.
Make sense?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't see a link to Garmin in the install for Astro, I thought only TomTom and iGuidance. It may not help you with Garmin, but having not used it I can't say. You may be better with another primer program.
While I am not using either of those aps, I would wonder if going through the setting, you should be able to turn off the 'time sync w/ satellites' and just rely on other means for setting the time. i.e. phone network, or synced computer.
On the other hand, I have been using navizon to prime my gps w/ no time problems.
You may want to give it a shot, you can even make a little money while traveling around...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=2057112
Chemdawg said:
With all the custom programs out there for the mogul, I'm in heaven. So far most everything has worked great. I'm running DCD 3.0.1, with the newest radio. A few small issues, but for me nothing to get worked up about.
Recently, I did alot of researching into GPS software. I wanted a program that was kinda like a all in one. One GPS program to do it all. I've tried quite a few and settled on the Garmin XT. It does pretty much everything for mobile Gps. As for Geocaching or "on foot" GPS, I use Tracky.
Now with this in mind, I was noticing some of the things I've seen other people talk about. Jump Starting the GPS. Very critical, especially with garmin. So I decided to give that Astrolauncher program a shot. For Garmin, it works like a champ. Only problem I find is with the Time. The first thing I noticed was the garmin part switched to night mode in the middle of the day time. Didn't think much about it. I closed the program out and later on noticed the time was WAYYY off on the phone. Only way to fix it is to restart the phone. I can't seem to narrow the problem down. Is this a program that is being initiated with Astrolauncher? Or is it a problem with the Garmin GPS? Does anyone else notice this? When it does happen, if I restart the phone, then restart Garmin, it is fine. But it seems like its the initial startup where it happens.
Any ideas?
Just for info, I will do a review on my findings for all my GPS software I've played with.
Thanks for the ideas in advance.
Chem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Garmin does that to me only if I do not prime the GPS enough. I have been using GPS Test 1.04 because I am too lazy to find something better. I find if I wait long enough for it to find the first satellite, I don't have an issue with Garmin. If I launch GPS Test then immediately launch Garmin, I get the time zone change. I was going to try astrolauncher (that's why I'm reading this thread), but apparently I shouldn't bother... On to find something else.
I propose that one of these GPS problem threads be made sticky since we cannot simply search "GPS" here and the GPS problems seem to be accumulating.
With that said, I would have to say that my GPS performance is pretty terrible. At first, it felt like doing the QuickGPS thing and/or deleting the xtra.bin file helped. For the most part, though, getting a lock has proven quite sporadic. What should the expectation here be? Should I expect the GPS to work reliably indoors? What about if I am near a window? Why would it work in some buildings near a window and not in others?
My personal opinion is that the GPS should work within 15-20 feet of a window. Using Chartcross GPS Test, even when the GPS is locked, I am getting mostly yellow bars. I am not exactly sure what a good reading looks like on Chartcross, but there appears to be a 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% bar. Maybe the 25% bar is 100%? In any event, I rarely have a satellite that is getting above what I suspect to be 30%.
Is there a thread somewhere that details what the various fields mean and/or should read in Chartcross or a similar utility? I am coming up on my 30 days to return the phone, so if someone thinks that my device may be defective please speak up!
Thanks as always XDA-ers!
GPS signals are not strong, you have to be near a window (e.g. less than 50cm) or outside to get it to work properly. Inside I get 8 sats with too little to lock, outside I can get up to 11 locked. I use modified GPS settings to improve the lock. I've created a CAB for you.
http://rapidshare.com/files/179766394/X1_GPS_Enhancements.cab.html
Try them and then tell me how it works.
No you cant use it inside, but this has nothing to do with windows. Think of it this way:
To use the GPS, you need a line of sight to the sky, small barriers it will work through (like car roofs). So even a "line of sight" to a window, wont help you because of the thikness of the house roof. To be able to use GPS inside, you need something else, like a big antenna
Anyways, the GPS is for outside/car use only.
CantoX1i said:
No you cant use it inside, but this has nothing to do with windows. Think of it this way:
To use the GPS, you need a line of sight to the sky, small barriers it will work through (like car roofs). So even a "line of sight" to a window, wont help you because of the thikness of the house roof. To be able to use GPS inside, you need something else, like a big antenna
Anyways, the GPS is for outside/car use only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is partially true. The signal can "reflect" off surfaces as well, though - as with light - weaker. And it does have to do with windows simply because a window has a lot (lot!) less density than say, a brick wall. Less density means easier path for the signal. Being near a window does indeed increase the chance of signal lock.
Angelusz said:
That is partially true. The signal can "reflect" off surfaces as well, though - as with light - weaker. And it does have to do with windows simply because a window has a lot (lot!) less density than say, a brick wall. Less density means easier path for the signal. Being near a window does indeed increase the chance of signal lock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hah, I did not know that! Thanks for informing me
I have a lock when I am inside all the time, usually about 5 satellites or so... out side that jumps considerably, in fact I was very impressed with the speed and sensitivity when compared to my Kaiser/TyTN II/MDA Vario III and I havent used quick gps yet... of course now I said that its going to be sods luck and it will [email protected] out on me...
Shadowdh said:
I have a lock when I am inside all the time, usually about 5 satellites or so... out side that jumps considerably, in fact I was very impressed with the speed and sensitivity when compared to my Kaiser/TyTN II/MDA Vario III and I havent used quick gps yet... of course now I said that its going to be sods luck and it will [email protected] out on me...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it depends on several factors. If your home is made of wood instead of brick, that'll make a difference. If you live higher above sea level, it might make a difference. If you live on the countryside, that will definitely make a difference. I happen to live below sea level in a brick house in the middle of an average sized city. My reception won't be something to write home about
Angelusz said:
Well, it depends on several factors. If your home is made of wood instead of brick, that'll make a difference. If you live higher above sea level, it might make a difference. If you live on the countryside, that will definitely make a difference. I happen to live below sea level in a brick house in the middle of an average sized city. My reception won't be something to write home about
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah see, I live on a hill in the country in a house made of straw... well not straw, its brick but still in the clear when it comes to being surrounded by other houses... this probably makes the diff... cheers
I've only had signal ONCE so far with my X1
It was at my living room window.
After that, no signal, ever. Not even out doors.
Im in NYC, plenty of buildings, but cmon somethings gotta be wrong. I even tried a hard reset to get it to work again. Nope... Bastard GPS ):
Nippero said:
I've only had signal ONCE so far with my X1
It was at my living room window.
After that, no signal, ever. Not even out doors.
Im in NYC, plenty of buildings, but cmon somethings gotta be wrong. I even tried a hard reset to get it to work again. Nope... Bastard GPS ):
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Run quickGPS and install my cab. Try again and let us know!
Nippero:
you wont get any signal (or good accurate location) if you are in a big city.... your best bet is using google map w/ agps and let the cell tower locate where you are at
another thing I want to point out.... I tried using the gps on x1 when I was on the plane... while it was always able to lock on to a couple sats... it wasnt able to locate where I was at .... and the worst part is after I get back on the ground... the gps stop working and I had to hard reset my phone .... I tested it twice and both seems to be the case... so if you dont want to hard reset your phone.... I suggest you not to try it next time when you are on the plane
You guys must have really big houses to need GPS to work indoors
Angelusz said:
GPS signals are not strong, you have to be near a window (e.g. less than 50cm) or outside to get it to work properly. Inside I get 8 sats with too little to lock, outside I can get up to 11 locked. I use modified GPS settings to improve the lock. I've created a CAB for you.
http://rapidshare.com/files/179766394/X1_GPS_Enhancements.cab.html
Try them and then tell me how it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really appreciate the quick reply and cab file. I will load it shortly. Is my understanding correct that A-GPS is turned off by default? If so, does this cab enable it? What improvement did you see with your cab file? Lastly, do you use Chartcross GPS test? I'm trying to figure out what the different fields/values mean in it.
Thanks!
Careful with changing the A-GPS to on by default. You can do this through Schapman's advanced configuration tool too, but I've had nothing but bad luck with it.
I use iGO8 and after I turned A-GPS on, the gps signal would drop every few seconds and would have a hard time finding satellites. Switching everything back to factory "defaults" and just using quickgps updates, I've had zero issues. Apart from the initial sat discovery, it's always fast to start and fast to pick back up (maybe 2-3 seconds) again.
jhoffa said:
Careful with changing the A-GPS to on by default. You can do this through Schapman's advanced configuration tool too, but I've had nothing but bad luck with it.
I use iGO8 and after I turned A-GPS on, the gps signal would drop every few seconds and would have a hard time finding satellites. Switching everything back to factory "defaults" and just using quickgps updates, I've had zero issues. Apart from the initial sat discovery, it's always fast to start and fast to pick back up (maybe 2-3 seconds) again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speaking of iGO8, does 8.1 work with the Xperia or only 8.3?
Dead link....
Hello everyone !
Can someone repost the cab file ? as it was uploaded to a limited RS account it is not downloadable anymore.....
Thanks a lot in advance !
Angelusz said:
GPS signals are not strong, you have to be near a window (e.g. less than 50cm) or outside to get it to work properly. Inside I get 8 sats with too little to lock, outside I can get up to 11 locked. I use modified GPS settings to improve the lock. I've created a CAB for you.
http://rapidshare.com/files/179766394/X1_GPS_Enhancements.cab.html
Try them and then tell me how it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Per RapidShare...
Error
This file is neither allocated to a Premium Account, or a Collector's Account, and can therefore only be downloaded 10 times.
This limit is reached.
To download this file, the uploader either needs to transfer this file into his/her Collector's Account, or upload the file again. The file can later be moved to a Collector's Account. The uploader just needs to click the delete link of the file to get further information.
odobo said:
another thing I want to point out.... I tried using the gps on x1 when I was on the plane... while it was always able to lock on to a couple sats... it wasnt able to locate where I was at .... and the worst part is after I get back on the ground... the gps stop working and I had to hard reset my phone .... I tested it twice and both seems to be the case... so if you dont want to hard reset your phone.... I suggest you not to try it next time when you are on the plane
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPS is only able to keep a lock under a certain speed. Airplanes are fast, so you will lose the lock. Once on the ground you can get a lock again by running QuickGPS. As your location has changed tremendously (depends on how far you fly ofc), the sattelites aren't where your phone thinks they are.
ohiosux said:
I really appreciate the quick reply and cab file. I will load it shortly. Is my understanding correct that A-GPS is turned off by default? If so, does this cab enable it? What improvement did you see with your cab file? Lastly, do you use Chartcross GPS test? I'm trying to figure out what the different fields/values mean in it.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome. My CAB does not enable aGPS, as it sometimes causes problems like quoted below. It changes some registry settings that basically tell your phone to keep looking for a better lock, for a longer period of time.
jhoffa said:
Careful with changing the A-GPS to on by default. You can do this through Schapman's advanced configuration tool too, but I've had nothing but bad luck with it.
I use iGO8 and after I turned A-GPS on, the gps signal would drop every few seconds and would have a hard time finding satellites. Switching everything back to factory "defaults" and just using quickgps updates, I've had zero issues. Apart from the initial sat discovery, it's always fast to start and fast to pick back up (maybe 2-3 seconds) again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not that your individual experience with aGPS doesn't generalize to everyone. I've personally tried aGPS here. It made 0 difference (as far as I could tell), so turned it off again.
If you wish to try aGPS, feel free to do so, as it can be disabled as easily as it can be enabled, a hard-reset should not be neccesary.
ragnascroutch said:
Hello everyone !
Can someone repost the cab file ? as it was uploaded to a limited RS account it is not downloadable anymore.....
Thanks a lot in advance !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yet again: http://rapidshare.com/files/180048557/X1_GPS_Enhancements.cab.html
As I don't have a better rapidshare account, it's yet again a 10-DL limit CAB. If anyone can mirror it for me, that'd be nice.
My iGO works fabulous after installing Angelusz's cab. GPS connection is now very fast even in my apartment.
What did u do man....?
Many thanks !
Angelusz said:
Yet again: http://rapidshare.com/files/180048557X1_GPS_Enhancements.cab.html
As I don't have a better rapidshare account, it's yet again a 10-DL limit CAB. If anyone can mirror it for me, that'd be nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for the upload mate, i'll share some feedback when i'll have some time to test...
Cheers.
Just surveying how well the GPS on the Touch works for most people. It seem as though many people still have problems, even after the carrier updates and all the hacking done here. I personally could never get the GPS working consistently without using Alltel Navigator, which cost $10 a month.
My current theory is that the phone's radio injects noise into the GPS receiver, either because it shares an antenna with the phone, or for the same reason why a powerful radio signal (like driving past a transmitter tower) can overwhelm the front end of receivers that aren't even near the transmitter's frequency.
Evidence: If I launch Google Maps when I'm offline, and I can select "Use GPS" and avoid having Google Maps try to go online before it acquires at least 3 GPS satellites, it seems to lock on within a minute or so about 90% of the time.
If anything causes the phone to go online before I've acquired GPS, it almost never seems to succeed.
If I take/make a voice call, or engage in sustained data transfer, it almost always seems to lose the GPS signal.
If I pan/scroll the map and cause Google Maps to need a BIG chunk of data, it will probably lose the GPS signal.
I'd be interested to hear whether anyone else has noticed a similar inverse correlation between RF activity and GPS acquisition.
Hmmm, I haven't noticed any correlation between data and location, it's an interesting theory though. It takes me anywhere from a minute to 15 seconds to get a lock, and when occasionally satellite signal drops out, Google maps finds it again within 10 seconds or less. I'm a verizon user, btw, and I use GMaps, Live, and TomTOm7+GpsViewer.
Mine works great -
Mine works great - I have Garmin XT for turn-by-turn and it seems to find satellites pretty fast - The other day I decided to try a little experiment and I set up both my Sony GPS and my Touch and pressed "go" at the same time and the Touch GPS was just a fraction of a second behind the Sony (both from a cold start), which I think is pretty good - I have no problem using Windows Live, but for some reason the most recent Google Maps doesn't work as well, it can take forever (seemingly) to lock.
baud rate
after doing a little more
research, i found a post
suggesting to use the
57600 baud rate in google
maps. it worked and i got
a lock within about a minute
sorry bought the english
im typing on my phone here
at work.
my 6800 locks consistanly with in 15 seconds. Just bought the wife a 6900 and its been taking about 1-2 minutes. Not sure why that is.
i had a lot of trouple with my gps being inconsistent and what not. this post on ppc geeks fixed the problem now i connect 6-11 satsellites in 30 seconds or less. duno if it'll help u but u can try it:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=36377&highlight=shadow-tech+agps
not taking any credit for that guide it was pmed to me im pretty sure all acknowledgements are made within the post itself.
Use this to get your GPS working well...
My GPS works excellently with Google maps, as well as with iGO8. I can lock into about 8 sats in 15 seconds or so using the AstroGPSLauncher that AstronusX created and posted at this thread.
Took me just a couple of minutes to create the shortcut and put it in my program list.
I might lose satellites in iGO8 if I get a phone call and take it, but it will get back the sats after a minute or two once the phone call has completed.
Hope this helps.
Steve
Carrick1973 said:
My GPS works excellently with Google maps, as well as with iGO8. I can lock into about 8 sats in 15 seconds or so using the AstroGPSLauncher that AstronusX created and posted at this thread.
Took me just a couple of minutes to create the shortcut and put it in my program list.
I might lose satellites in iGO8 if I get a phone call and take it, but it will get back the sats after a minute or two once the phone call has completed.
Hope this helps.
Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have M2D plugin?
I have NFSFAN Rom and Igo8 is really pain. If you switch to Today or just phone - there is no way to get IGo back. Have to Reset.
Yes, I've been running iGo8 on NSFFAN's 1.08 ROM. I agree that it dogs down damn bad when I get a call while running iGo, but I can get it back up without having to reset if there isn't anything else running. It does take quite awhile to get sat locks back though after switching over to phone. It might be quicker to close out of iGo and restart.
Thanks for all the helpful post guys, that 57600 baud rate didn`t last to long. It was just as inconsistant as anything else I tried. I`ve heard about the Shadow Tech`s Fix for a while now but never tried it till last night. I am having some trouble with the dialing ##3424 step. I`ve tried the different 3424 numbers, and using task manager to open Dmrouter.exe under /DIAG parameters. Nothing happens on my phone, and I don`t see HTC Diag in Device Manager on XP. I have another post on the Shadow Tech Fix thread, but if anybody here knows what I`m doing wrong I`d appreciate a little info.
BTW I`m using NFSfans alltel 1.02 rom
pknyo said:
Thanks for all the helpful post guys, that 57600 baud rate didn`t last to long. It was just as inconsistant as anything else I tried. I`ve heard about the Shadow Tech`s Fix for a while now but never tried it till last night. I am having some trouble with the dialing ##3424 step. I`ve tried the different 3424 numbers, and using task manager to open Dmrouter.exe under /DIAG parameters. Nothing happens on my phone, and I don`t see HTC Diag in Device Manager on XP. I have another post on the Shadow Tech Fix thread, but if anybody here knows what I`m doing wrong I`d appreciate a little info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go into windows and execute Dmrouter.exe it should, it may not change anything on your screen. Easy way to tell is if you have an activesync connection, execute it, and if activesync disconnects then your in it. Another way is to check task manager, and see if it is running.
There was a problem with the driver for the Vogue in WModem. I found a thread with the fix:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=462712
Valahalla? I know it has to do with GPS just wondering what it is
Phone shows up as Palm treo modem
I got dmrouter.exe working, but in vista it shows up as palm treo modem after drivers are found and installed. I`ll try again in XP and see if it happens again.
Wow I finally got this to work (Shadow Techs Fix)
It took about a day and a half, but I finally got it!
1.) I flashed back to Official Alltel 6.1 Rom and skipped customizations.
2.) I followed the steps in this thread http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=36377&highlight=shadow-tech+agps
3.) Reflashed back NFSFAN`s 1.02 Rom. I then tested it out and 10 seconds later I had 8 satellites locked on me.
Thanks to everybody who helped me out here with your posts. I started this thread as just a kinda survey to find out if I was not alone in having so much difficulty making my phone work as it should, and ended up a very happy Touch owner.
on alltel
it almost never works. shadow-tech's fix helps immensely
im in dominican republic
and i never manage to get a gps signal.
=/ is it me or the phone?
or the fact that this island is worst then the one in LOST
I checked the accuracy of the GPS on my phone about a year ago- Sometimes I work with surveyors, so we matched my vogue against a survey grade GPS to determine how off it was- My phone was +/- 3 feet (1m) in latititude and +/- 10 feet (3m) in longitude. I think that's pretty damn good. This was in a refinery in NJ, USA, with lots of big steel tanks around.
First I was using gps toggle, now I'm running NSFANs 6.5 v8 with gps viewer. I never have trouble getting a lock after about a minute of warming up.
Concerning the Shadow tech fix some of you guys have used here : http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=36377&highlight=shadow-tech+agps
I was wondering if this fix has already been incorporated into all the cooked ROMs for the Vogue that have come out since March '09?
Hi all,
I am new to the android OS, got my galaxy s a week ago.
I still keep my HD2 and to be honest I may sell the galaxy due to the poor gps reception and keep the hd2 for the next year.
The other thing I do not like is the fact that I cannot program the buttons behaviour.
Any way my question is, is it possible to disable the build in gps and use an external Bluetooth GPS Receiver?
The gps on my hd2 is miles, miles better.
I dont think its possible in this version of android. There is no way to tell the app to use the external gps instead of the internal one.
All we can hope for is a fix from Samsung.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
what is all the fuss about android then...
it doesnot support such a basic thing...
absolute joke
GPS won't start
Hello, I am experiencing an issue with my phone and I was wondering if anyone knows a solution.
Basically the GPS receiver won't turn on when an application requests it, so it won't get any location information (the gps notification icon doesn't appear at all). This is definitely a software issue, because if you go to the settings menu and keep fiddling with the location settings (gps on<->off, wireless on<->off) at some point it WILL turn on and work correctly (and the gps icon appears), but randomly afterwards it will go back to not starting up again and you have to go back to the settings menu.
Is there a workaround for this? I'm hoping that a firmware update will fix it, but in the meantime is there anything that can be done? (I'd prefer to wait for the official firmware before flashing it).
Not really a fix but Extended Controls can make a switch on your home screen that will flip the gps function on and off, that will save some time if you have to go into that menu a lot.
darnap said:
Hello, I am experiencing an issue with my phone and I was wondering if anyone knows a solution.
Basically the GPS receiver won't turn on when an application requests it, so it won't get any location information (the gps notification icon doesn't appear at all). This is definitely a software issue, because if you go to the settings menu and keep fiddling with the location settings (gps on<->off, wireless on<->off) at some point it WILL turn on and work correctly (and the gps icon appears), but randomly afterwards it will go back to not starting up again and you have to go back to the settings menu.
Is there a workaround for this? I'm hoping that a firmware update will fix it, but in the meantime is there anything that can be done? (I'd prefer to wait for the official firmware before flashing it).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm the same issue, rumour is that the upcoming firmware is going to improve the GPS a lot.
You can also use the 'Power Control' Widget that comes with the device.
Here you can turn On/Off a number of items, one being GPS.
I had this issue but it's just a case of going into settings and toggling the gps off and on again.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Good to know about the GPS on/off switch.
I was always rebooting my phone to get the GPS back to work.
There is an option in the secret GPS menu where you can set it to cold start, instead of hot start. Fixed it for me.
More here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=725748
not sure this will work but...
not sure this will work but found thin in Android market...
3 x w. appbrain dot com/app/googoo.android.btgps
Cleaner
Bluetooth External GPS
Hey guys. I wanted to know if we can 'natively' from within Android 2.1 / Samsung Galaxy S use an external bluetooth gps...
In the bluetooth menu I can conenct to the TomTom bluetooth gps module but it can't be paired...
however after some digging I found this app:
http://www.androlib.com/android.application.googoo-android-btgps-AtDE.aspx
It does what it says. I get satellites straight away.
Now one big big problem with this app is that it closes as soon as I try and open another app by pressing the home button or even holding down the home button to switch between apps...
when the app closes it ends the connection between the TomTom bluetooth gps module meaning by the time a satnav app has opened the message box pops up and says 'do you want to enable gps'
why does this app close when you try open another app? No other apps like Asphalt etc close like this...
is there a way to use the external gps?
many thanks
From my limited understanding, no it's not possible. I don't know why, but Android has been a bit slow on the uptake for Bluetooth.
It's taken to FroYo to actually get Bluetooth Hands Free dialling - we'll see how good Google is in interpreting what you say to it, so far, it hasn't been successful for me on the phone itself let alone Bluetooth.
With regards Bluetooth GPS, I understand that it isn't possible. There would at least have to be some kind of underlying interface to overrule the internal GPS and feed the Bluetooth GPS information into the OS in place.
I want it to be possible, then we wouldn't care so much about broken GPS's.
Cya
Simon
Another GPS fix
Hey guy give this a try and let me know if it works for you.
http://theandroidrevolution.blogspot.com/2010/07/android-tips-tricks-samsung-galaxy-s.html
working like a charm, faster fix and i can actually use the GPS while driving (EU)
Isn't this like turng skyhook on?
Ie ,..whilst locki it uses wifi to identify where u are?
this fix it seems very accurate in Maps, whereas all other "fixes" did not work for me.
i don't notice anything different in GPS tester (i still hardly get any satellites if any) but in Maps my position seems to be very accurate....i'm just inside in my flat, but all other fixes never helped me before even in this situation.
Hello
Thanks for your suggestion for a GPS fix
Immediate I can not see the big difference in standard configuration and the change which you refer to.
I still have a unsettled GPS fix when I use Google maps.
However, I think I can see a slight improvement in the Google navigation. Now I remain almost always in the correct lane.
I use (default) I9000XXJF3
I've read that a newer version should resolve the GPS "problem", but is it possible to change the parameters of GPS I9000XXJF3 match the parameters of the new versions. ?
And just one question more.
If I close the GPS from the phone to calculate my position after mobile mast or WIFI.
How do I get it to find my location by WIFI.?
Hope for a response.
Thanks
Herman
This fix gives an instant , i mean instant gps fix with a clear sky.
on gps test gets 8-9 satellite now , when previously i could max get 1-2, that too not connect.
thanks a ton for this.
outside this fix i also had operation mode as ms based and had skyhook on.
I found this suggested fix a few hours back as well and have been trying it out.
I didn't get much better results from it to start out with but having played the accuracy setting I've found putting this up to 150 seems to make a big difference. Once I made this change GPS Test seems to show that the Galaxy is a bit less picky about the signal strength it needs before making a lock.
I've not gone any further in testing accuracy numbers beyond 5, 20 (the default I believe) 50 and 150. It might be worth trying other values.
I'd like to make a unique single thread with all the issues related to gps on DHD and the procedures/tips to make it work better.
MY EXPERIENCE
I was ready to go to dinner to my girlfriend's uncle (50km far away). I bought my DHD two days before. Ok, let's try gps. Google navigator. Started driving and my phone didn't get a lock. After five minutes of driving, i needed some help from navigator. Nope, still no gps lock. I stopped the car, got out with DHD in hand and lock again in two minutes with the sky in sight. No problem until destination. At the end of the dinner, on the road again. For the first 3 minutes, gps lock. Then lock lost, gps icon blinking and nothing. Tried to reload the phone. Fast boot first time and complete reboot the second time. I didn't stop the car this time, tried while driving (my girlfriend handled telephone while i was driving ).
It took 45 minutes to get lock again. Thanks god, i learned the route on the journey there.
The same thing happened again three times in the next days.
I thought that some software installed corrupted my phone.....(sorry, i was used to the windows mobile whims!!!!).
Hard resetted, but the problem was always there. Without logic, sometimes i had gps lock, sometimes not. Sometimes my DHD was keeping the lock until destination, other times gps lock was lost while moving.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Not all the people complaints about gps on DHD. I don't know why but there are many people who have problems using it. I think that, except for the faulty devices with defective gps chip, the behaviour is the same for all devices. Only the people perception about the performances of gps are different, and their behaviours of use. I had different expectations about gps. I was used to start driving without gps lock, my HtcHD would have always found lock in one minute anyway. Even if moving, even if many clouds or raining.
People who arrived to Android coming from Windows Mobile do experience a general lack of speed in locking gps position and a very different way about gps is handled by the OS.
My DesireHD hardly locks gps where my previous HtcHD locked gps in few seconds.
The same difficulties I have now with DesireHD, I had them too when I installed Android on my HtcHD. But I thought it was the unstable Android SD ROM's fault.
Another issue is the speed of hot start: DHD seem to have a very very short term memory in fact of gps. Hot start is really hot only if you reconnect within short time.
My HtcHD was able to reconnect in few seconds even if hours passed from the previous lock, if not moved.
My new DHD needs more time to lock, even if the previous lock was 30 minutes before. It happens to take 45 seconds or more to lock again if the sky is not completely in sight.
Even if I get lock with GPS Status, shutdown the program and I reopen it few seconds after, gps lock is not immediate. It takes almost ten seconds to lock.
I think I have to forget the Winmo performances in fact of gps, on Android.
(I think it's the only thing i'm gonna be missing, anyway......)
I think i'll have to wait for the lock before start driving from now.
ISSUES EXPERIENCED BY USERS
- DHD locks gps but when moving it loses the lock and it stays for minutes (from 10 to 60) looking for it again. -
Let DHD get an outdoor strong gps lock for some minutes before starting to move.
- DHD is unable to find a lock. Phone never ever locked gps, whether indoor or outdoor, with the whole sky in sight.
Try resetting AGPS data and let your phone get a lock without data connection, outdoor with the sky in sight on a plain stable surface
If you never ever succeed to get a lock, you should consider to have a faulty chip on your device. I think it's better to contact HTC Repair service.
- DHD behaves with no logic. Sometimes it finds a lock in seconds, sometimes it takes ages to find a lock.
Let DHD get an outdoor strong gps lock for some minutes before starting to move.
- DHD is unable to find a lock if any data connection is available.
Try resetting AGPS data e let your phone get a lock without data connection, outdoor with the sky in sight on a plain stable surface
TIPS
Do all of these steps. And, except for the first, try to do them all the times you use gps. And evaluate the improvements, if there are.
One time procedure:
- Force the phone to lock gps without any data connection and check APN type (see below for the link to step-by-step procedure).
It is important to put the phone outdoor on a stable and straight surface in order to get a strong lock, with a complete view of the sky.
My advice is to empty a-gps data BEFORE doing this operation (this can be done with GPS Status - Menu => Tools => MAnage Agps state => Empty data - The program is free and doesn't need root permissions)
Before every use of gps:
- Use FasterFix (needs root permissions) to change NTP server zone. The system/etc/gps.conf file contains parameters for NTP server and AGPS data. In mine i find that the ntp server used is located in northamerica. I live in Rome so I use Fasterfix to change it, forcing to use european ntp server. I don't know why but Android changes by itself this file, putting again north america server, so i have to change it more than once in a day to keep it using european server.
NOTE: Fasterfix gives back an error the first time you open it, choose the seerver and try to apply it. Only the second or the third attempt, it returns an ok result. Don't mind error. Don't worry about it. Even if returned error, it did its job anyway.
- Synch Device clock with atomic time. I use ClockSynch (needs root permissions), but every program capable of doing the same thing can be used. This is intended to help device in calculating your position. More accurate time means less corrections by the software, faster position calculating and a more accurate position.
- Let the phone get a strong lock BEFORE starting to move with your car. A couple of minutes before, you should let your phone on a stable surface, with sky in sight. Outdoor, obviously. Better if outside the car.
This thing could seem stupid, i know. But let your DHD get the lock in a place where it has a good view to the satellites. Let it acquire precision (you can see it in the left middle part of the screen, using GPS Status). Start moving only when precision has reached a minimum value (expressed in meters/feets - lower value, more accurate). You will see that gps lock will be more and more stable than before.
- Use a task killer program to kill all the processes which may use gps. I noticed that if one or more program able to use gps have been left opened in background, sometimes, without logic, something goes wrong and Gps receiver is no longer reachable by software.
In this situation if I open GPS Status, I see gps icon blinking, but in fact no satellites are seen by the program. I mean that on the screen is not shown 0/3 or 0/5 satellites. On the screen i see nothing about the number of sats, neither 0/0, empty. And in some situations this thing cannot be true (i.e. if i am completely outdoor with a perfect sky view).
RESOURCES
Gps lock without data connection: http://wccftech.com/2010/09/09/solving-gps-nofix-problem-cyanogenmod-6-nexus/
Gps Status: http://www.appbrain.com/app/gps-status-toolbox/com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2
FasterFix: http://www.appbrain.com/app/fasterfix/com.Double.FasterFix
ClockSync: http://www.appbrain.com/app/clocksync/ru.org.amip.ClockSync
Advanced Task Killer: http://www.appbrain.com/app/advanced-task-killer/com.rechild.advancedtaskkiller
EDIT: I have a stock ROM. Nothing upgraded. The only modification is the root access permissions granted with visionary.
Good thread, helpful and insightful.
I am going to download all those applications as I too have been experiencing Slow GPS lock.
Just 1 possible solution for you, have you tried to upgrade your radio? This may sometimes help solve GPS problems.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
No, I didn't upgrade my radio.
I'd like to do it but i'm very hesitant to mess around with my phone like this.
P.S. Let me know if you had some improvements.
giegi_dc said:
No, I didn't upgrade my radio.
I'd like to do it but i'm very hesitant to mess around with my phone like this.
P.S. Let me know if you had some improvements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Updated radio can make a MASSIVE difference. One of the best things you can do to your phone if you're having any kind of GPS / 3G / Wifi issues.
Go to:
Menu > Settings > About Phone > Software Info
Where it says Baseband Version, this is your radio version.
For me the most annoything that happens with GPS is that when playing a music and using at the same time an offline map gps program, when a voice or some ding dong sound happens, the music played stops and resumes after those gps sounds ends...
I think this is due to Android sys... even WinMobile it's better on this...
Thanks for the tips. My GPS is locking on very quickly now and even inside buildings. I used clocksync + GPS status + Fasterfix. Fixing to around 8 - 9 satellites indoors and 12/12 outdoors.
Done.
Great.
It Works!!!!
initially it would take me a good minute or two to acquire a precise location INDOORS, now it does it in 10-15 secs!!!!!!
i was already using GPS Status, this is with FasterFix.
Thanks.
so strange I never had problem with GPS, always fixes in less than 10 second and never loses as well.
I use iGO and it never let me down.
I had problem with gps-lock from the beginning.
Tried the link above "gps-lock without dataconnection"
Now it locks within seconds
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Personally, I've had no problem with gps for apps such as Google navigation where the screen stays on.
It's a different story, however, for apps like cardio trainer where the phone loses gps lock when the screen is off. I understand this is a known issue with Android 2.2 and has been fixed for 2.3+. I don't know if anyone else has problems with this.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
magnus66 said:
I had problem with gps-lock from the beginning.
Tried the link above "gps-lock without dataconnection"
Now it locks within seconds
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but mine desire didnt work? first when take out the sim card ,reset and download data ..it work like charm..lock around 10 sec..then put sim card back it took age cant find satelite to lock..
anyone know what wrong?
On my DHD, indoors, GPS sucks badly.. apps such as "aroundme" its pretty useless, just hangs finding a signal. but outdoors when I use navigation, etc it works okay. I dont use GPS that much anyway, so cant complain. It is a tad annoying when your indoors and cant find stuff though.
I've had really big problems with my GPS.
Could not get a lock so I rooted my phone and upgraded the radio. Changed the gps.conf file and reset A-GPS settings and tried GPS without a dataconnection. None of the suggested things above did work, so I downgraded the radio to stock and unrooted my phone and sent it to a repair center.
Hopefully they will fix it.
I have a Hero (root) and a Desire (stock) and they get a lock on within seconds and works flawless even indoors.
I guess HTC has a lot of faulty GPS modules in their Desire HD mobiles, but not all are using GPS so therefore we only hear about some of the problems.
Trying the Nexus one fix as in the first post, after taking SIM out, I do not get any GPS signals on GPS Status, if I put SIM back in I get fixes but GPS unusable as it keeps losing connection whilst in journey. The steps I have taken so far are as follows:
* Take your SIM out of the Nexus One
* Power on the device
* Turn WiFi on
* Turn GPS on
* Open application: GPS Status (ver 3.4)
* Go into its Settings menu
* Click on GPS and Sensors
* Click Manage A-GPS state
* Click Reset
* Click Manage A-GPS state again
* Click Download [You'll see a message telling you that a data connection is needed, ignore it]
* Now put your phone on a stable, straight surface in order to enable the phone to get a lock, within GPS Status. This time, you’ll see your phone get the lock way faster than before.
Any help will be appreciated.
onesolo said:
For me the most annoything that happens with GPS is that when playing a music and using at the same time an offline map gps program, when a voice or some ding dong sound happens, the music played stops and resumes after those gps sounds ends...
I think this is due to Android sys... even WinMobile it's better on this...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quoting my self...
There's some developments about this issue...
Or one use the nice HTC Gps Software (at least the version that cames with gingerbread) or use the iGO Amigo.
I tried the iGO Amigo and I finally can listen to music at same time when the voice from iGo speaks!!! There's no interruptions at all like on the majority of GPS softwares that I tried on my DHD (don't know how it works on another devices)
I think that this issue is something that is only developers fault cause initially I thought it was due android design, maybe it was only possible to play something only from one app at a time. (ie. not play two things from two different apps simultaneous) but I figure that after all that is possible.
Bad developers!!!!
GPS Problems: finally the solution
Hi all,
Here I want to tell my experience with HD Desire GPS to help all those who were (like me) desperate.
The way to solve exists ! Read to the end to know how.
I bought my HD Desire in January 2011 (from Euronics in Rome - Italy) and after one week of use the problems began with the GPS.
It did not fix more ... but above all there were more than 1 or 2 visible satellites ... even in open sky, in good conditions, even outside for 30 minutes.
The phone was obviously still immaculate (without root and with the original ROM and RADIO) then I went back to the shop where I bought ... and using GPS-Status the seller has found that actually did not work.
Very kindly he changed my on the flight the phone ... I installed GPS-Status on the new phone just replaced and now everything works fine (fix in less than 10sec and 7 / 8 satellites visible).
I came at home and for 2/3 days it worked wonders but soon it began again with the same GPS problems.
No more fix and at maximum 2/3 satellites visible.
Building on the fact that the phone had been replaced and ... GPS Status actually had made a fix in less than 10 seconds ... (When I had replaced) ... I said, Sure ... is certainly a software problem and not an hardware one ... because the phone is a new one.
So I did a factory reset ... reset all settings as the original ... and retried. Nothing.
The GPS was dead for the second time in two weeks.
Then, I began a careful search on various forums (both Italian and international).
I've tried everything ... really everything ... but nothing. It does not work !
Tried GPS-Status (A-GPS Reset, Download), then fasterfix (it.pool.ntp.org) then I started to change ROM (root, S-Off and ENF S-Off), then I tried all possible Radio and RIL in all combinations. Sometimes happen that the fix was very fast and this gave me the illusion (temporary) of having finally found the solution. However, on time (sometimes even after a few minutes) the problem returns back!
I also tried to clean the contacts of the GPS as shown in this video on youTube(h**p:/*w*wdotyoutubedotcom/watch?v=7qm_z65LA8k).
At the end ... after 4 months of trying all... I sent back in warranty the phone to the HTC service (S-ON and leave to unroot because it was under warranty).
After 10 days of impatient waiting, HTC gave me back the phone and say that the GPS was faulty and had been replaced.
I redid a restore using Titanium Backup Pro ... restoring back all in the exact same conditions I had when the GPS was not working.
Now everything works wonderfully !!!
Im using the original ROM (RUU 2.36.405.8), original Radio (12.54.60.25U_26.09.04.11_M2) and the original Kernel (2.6.35.10-g0956377).
Fix in 10/20 sec (everytime), with at least 7 / 8 satellites (tested for several days now).
Moral of the story ... There are lots of HTC Desire HD phones (probably the first stock) that today are still in the form of stocks and inventories in some shopping malls / shops with the GPS module that is broken !!! (it works for a few days and then no longer works).
The only way is to send back your phone in warranty and ensure that GPS module is replaced (having first restored with all unroot and S-OFF as otherwise the warranty does not apply).
Believe me ... if you have tried everything ... this is the only way!
Now I'm an happy HTC Desire HD owner (with Gingerbread) with a GPS which is a splinter.
Im currently using Navigator, Google Maps, CoPilot and everything works great !
I hope this post may help and comfort those who are desperate and can not run the GPS on the Desire HD.
Greetings to all.
Andrea.