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Hi All,
At the moment i own a TP (a.k.a HTC Raphael), but i'm thinking about buying a new phone and the HD2 is one of the candidates. Before buying i would like to know if the GPS performance of the HD2 is up to scratch?
For some unknown reason reviews never (...hardly) include GPS tests.....WHY!!!??
The GPS performance of the TP even with the official HTC patches is still worthless. Waiting for a fix could take an hour (i'm NOT exaggerating).
pi_mento said:
Hi All,
At the moment i own a TP (a.k.a HTC Raphael), but i'm thinking about buying a new phone and the HD2 is one of the candidates. Before buying i would like to know if the GPS performance of the HD2 is up to scratch?
For some unknown reason reviews never (...hardly) include GPS tests.....WHY!!!??
The GPS performance of the TP even with the official HTC patches is still worthless. Waiting for a fix could take an hour (i'm NOT exaggerating).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i know what you are talking about, i had an TP before my HD2 too, and i have to say there is world of difference between them. with my tp i had to wait about 15 mins. with hd2 about 10 seconds.. even inside buildings i get a fix! with my tp i wouldnt even hoped for that.
so yeah its a LOT better
The HD2 is in a different GPS league from the TP, Diamond, etc. They were a disaster.
IOW it's much better IMO.
Works pretty good. I just enable QuickGPS when I flash a ROM and I never have any issues (never tried using GPS without that!)
I've an everage GPS fix in ~15sec.... It's brilliant! even from cold start!
Sometimes you get GPS even in very light buildings
GPS is awesome, simply awesome... outside get a fix in a few seconds with full sat coverage (all the columns show a satellite) inside it takes a few seconds longer and again full columns... there is barely any lag on the journy (icon vs real travel)...
GPS fix in 30 secs in Street Navi, 15 secs in Aviation software ...... great!
Also, 10-15 seconds, outside even less...
What I find amazing: Even in my living room, sitting about 1,5m away from the window, I get fix to 7-10 satellites within 20 seconds...
(Always with fresh QuickGPS data)
when i had a diamond i had no issues at all, the hd2 is a lot faster
I have never used GPS on a PDA before but have a dedicated (new) TomTom GPS unit and when I decided to try my HD2 I mounted them both in the car and ran tests.
Within 5 minutes my mind was made up. The TomTom was outperformed in all areas. The route recalculation is much much MUCH faster than the TomTom and the same applies for the aquisition of the GPS signal. Combine this with an awesome screen and it is perfect. I play music throught the headphone socket to my car stereo and run GPS at the same time. When a call comes in the music mutes and resumes when I hang up. The GPS unit runs in the background without any issue. The TomTom GPS unit is now in the cupboard collecting dust.
I have never used quick GPS as I have never had a need.
I agree, HD2 GPS works like a charm.
QuickGPS - what for!?
After reading the feedback in this thread, I suddenly remembered the QuickGPS. Last time I used it was two months ago, because... it was there to be used! Without QuickGPS I get a fix in my HD2 in around 5 seconds! I am not joking! Never felt the need to go for QuickGPS. BTW, went just now to Options and ticked "Download QuickGPS automatically". Why not!? I have Copilot 8 and love it. Just missing the QWERTY keyboard. Otherwise, there's no better combination in the world when it comes to portable phone-music-GPS-video-Internet-camera-etc, etc.
Wow! Thnx u guys for the feedback!
I can live with getting a fix within 30 sec's on a cold start (coming from an avrg. 15 mins for a fix). The HD2 seems to be the PDA/Phone that i have been waiting for since the dawn of Pocket PC 2002 .
HD2 here i come!
I've found the HD2 to actually get a GPS signal even inside my dad's car. no other gps device can get a signal through the windscreen. It's weak on the HD2, but there!!!
A bluetooth GPS stick cannot even penetrate it.
HD2 GPS is a joke!
I do not mind much if the GPS locks indoor, though HD2 does it very easily indeed (and fast). I find really bad is the very poor precision of HD2 GPS - it constantly gives a 20-40 meters error in all directions (no matter in the city or in open field, no matter how many sats are found, even 10). My old Samsung i780 has an error within 2 meters. Just record your path (on feet) with e.g. RunGPS or NaviComputer and you will see the the ugly zigzag line instead of a smooth one which I used to have with i780. Of course if you are not lucky to have HD2 with much better GPS than my..
(It is almost OK with TomTom car navigation, though, with occasional map rotating and recalculating the route).
GPS is very fast and precise here, definitely the best GPS signal out of all the WM phones I've owned
My GPS with iGO conects in about 10sec and its very precision. Corect in area of 3-4 meters
DMAND said:
GPS is very fast and precise here, definitely the best GPS signal out of all the WM phones I've owned
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is interesting, maybe your old Tmous radio (..50..) is doing a miracle. i have 2.09.51.03 radio, the previos 2.07.51 had the same bad GPS precision.
However, how do you know that it is precise? If I simply looking at a Google map standing still, I see pretty precise spot which my GPS gives, but once I begin to move, the position begis to jump 20-40 meters to all directions..
HD2's GPS really rocks! My old N95 took about 15 mins to fix.
yep fast here as well about 10 sec for a fix cold.
just got a vibrant just now, new to the tmobile game and i lvoe the phone because i tryed it out as a demo at t-mobile store. only thign i was scared was about the bar problems which i heard are for osme people not all and gps which is coming in a fix. i just turned on the phone nad i noticed while playing with it the battery notification is off track compared to the real battery% is this a fixable in an update or whats the soultion? also friend of mine said it lags after putting apps on there? any word on that? thanks.
Please use the search function.
Im having 0-2 bars on my phone of siginal! My first t-mobile phone and its a lemon i might just resell it
You should just get an iPhone 4.... you seem more on the level of an apple user.
bigg12x said:
Im having 0-2 bars on my phone of siginal! My first t-mobile phone and its a lemon i might just resell it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try holding with your right hand
Sent from my Samsung Vibrant using XDA App
Yes the battery level is a common problem, but doesn't affect the phone performance. To see the actual battery level go to settings->about phone or download the t-mobile app my account/my device.
As for the bars, as others have reported the connection still works well even though it may display few or no bars. Again, not a big deal.
As for the gps, I have realized that it works really well OUTSIDE but sucks inside. To test this idea, disable "use wireless networks" in settings->location and security, but leave gps enabled. Then go outside and see how long it takes for your location to lock on in google maps. Then go inside and do the same. I have consistently noticed that the gps locks on accurately and quickly if I am outside, but takes horribly long inside. However, wireless network location compensates for the horrible gps signal when inside.
The battery thing is normal for android (i dont know why android hasnt fixed this yet) there are apps and widgets that can correctly display the percentage.
The signal this is not a big deal, its possible you are in a moderate coverage for tmobile. Do a few test calls, you will notice the call is still flawless.
Its not a lemon
I'm sure there will be some kind of software fix for this in the near future. in the mean time, I suggest downloading an app called "battery indicator" from the market.
Sent from Samsung Vibrant using XDA App
bigg12x said:
Im having 0-2 bars on my phone of siginal! My first t-mobile phone and its a lemon i might just resell it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The signal is fine but the bar readout is wrong. Have you tried calls? Data? They work fine I'm sure and I know that from experience.
sigeltek said:
You should just get an iPhone 4.... you seem more on the level of an apple user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL. Classic .....ROLF....
@bigg12x, try doing a complete reset on the phone. It wouldn't hurt. Also, the things you've heard from your friend is pretty dramatic. There's no serious issues...just some software quirks that can be ironed out.
Chalup said:
Yes the battery level is a common problem, but doesn't affect the phone performance. To see the actual battery level go to settings->about phone or download the t-mobile app my account/my device.
As for the bars, as others have reported the connection still works well even though it may display few or no bars. Again, not a big deal.
As for the gps, I have realized that it works really well OUTSIDE but sucks inside. To test this idea, disable "use wireless networks" in settings->location and security, but leave gps enabled. Then go outside and see how long it takes for your location to lock on in google maps. Then go inside and do the same. I have consistently noticed that the gps locks on accurately and quickly if I am outside, but takes horribly long inside. However, wireless network location compensates for the horrible gps signal when inside.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or the battery app which shows the Percentage on the notifications bar
so an update is possible to fix that signal bar display
Chalup said:
..........
As for the gps, I have realized that it works really well OUTSIDE but sucks inside. To test this idea, disable "use wireless networks" in settings->location and security, but leave gps enabled. Then go outside and see how long it takes for your location to lock on in google maps. Then go inside and do the same. I have consistently noticed that the gps locks on accurately and quickly if I am outside, but takes horribly long inside. However, wireless network location compensates for the horrible gps signal when inside.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i've never had a dedicated GPS unit (Garmin, Tom-tom & magellan) that would get a signal inside my house - i've always been told GPS is line of sight, and anything from house roof, tree cover and heavy overcast or fog would block GPS signal - considering those satellites don't have onboard generators,suspect the signal they're shooting is that great in terms of wattage
smh @ samsung not even addressing the problem and how they will take care of it wow what a company!
Chalup said:
As for the gps, I have realized that it works really well OUTSIDE but sucks inside. To test this idea, disable "use wireless networks" in settings->location and security, but leave gps enabled. Then go outside and see how long it takes for your location to lock on in google maps. Then go inside and do the same. I have consistently noticed that the gps locks on accurately and quickly if I am outside, but takes horribly long inside. However, wireless network location compensates for the horrible gps signal when inside.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have obviously never used GPS before. If it connects at all when you are inside, you are ahead of the game. I have a $600 Garmin Nuvi that will not connect when I am sitting in my car in the garage.
i am able to make calls even showing zero bars of service, its not a big deal. the phone's other attributes out weight a single flaw
I am in BUM-FU## NC tonight, in a mill built in the 1800's with 22 inch brick walls... and I made a phone call perfectly. My parents live in a converted old River Mill.
This phone and T Mobile rock. My brother (iPhone), mother and father (Motorola RAZRs) could not make a phone call as their phones display "No Service".
HAHAHAHA
The bar reading on Vibrant looks too conservative.
I did a side by side comparison at the corp store with my nexus one and found Vibrant has one fewer bar than nexus one.
I actually need gps quite a bit in my line of work. I bought this phone because of it. But, it just does not work. Some claim it works fine, but at the same time they are saying they get 5-10m lock! (thats off by 30ft!) With a borrowed motorola atrix i was getting 4.9 feet accuracy (thats like accurate by 2 steps!). I think I have come to the conslusion that it will never work, and samsuck doesn't even care! Why else would they keep releasing newer phones with the exact same problems? I'm gonna jump ship...everything else about this phone is awesome. Any ideas if HTC has good gps/reception? I am thinking about the incredible S. (and i'm not a troll, I have lived with this phone's gps issues for almost 1 year now).
Get a real GPS receiver, and don't expect it will be cheap if you want a real 4.9ft accuracy.
and for i9000 is about 15ft~30ft accuracy, quite good when compare to my garmin unit.
Samsung should get sued for that piece of hardware ****... but the i9000 is still the best phone
You should try Darkys 10.1 with Darky Core and JVO Modem. GPS works okay but no perfectly !
i do like this:
android market : gps toolbox , in settings has 2 options - download agps satelites and reset gps
1st i download the satelites data
2nd i reset gps
and after closing this app , i open my gps soft and it works , i use iGO
Why do i always hear people with problems my gps works fine since day one. even on the old roms. only with these newer ones i get real fast lock.
never had any problem with navigation software and driving my car
i a using sygic mobile maps because i dont wanna waste data with google maps.
And if your unit performs worse than everyone else's SGS, then you might consider bending the contacts that connect the GPS antenna inside. Seems they don't make good contact on many units.
There is a thread about it somewhere.
Mike
Garbled meaning induced by swype when posting from XDA app on SGS I9000.
at the beginning gps was not very good but after android 2.2 and newer fw gps is totally fine for me. outside and in car it works very good. btw data network is activated for me and it helps for faster fix...
I gave up on the Internal GPS after a few Months.
Purchased an External Bluetooth GPS Receiver and now have accuracy to around 5 meters at times.
Also easier as the GPS Receiver can be turned on the get Satellite lock then connected to the Phone.
GPS on JVO ROM is all you can get. It's not enough to lead you driving on a city. GPS antenna is too small, does not update position often enough, keeps using guessing instead of real GPS position (your previous speed is used to calculate the supposed position, something very bad when you're turning around many times).
It's good enough to use it walking outside the city (main reason for me), or in highways (smooth curves and slow change of direction), but the GPS on the Galaxy S is real ****. Worst than the one in my previous two phones, and worst than the one in many current phones.
I really don't understand why having a phone that big we keep having to deal with so much unuseful plastic. 1.5 cm above an below the screen. Just make the phone the same size as the screen. The speaker can go in the top, like in many Motorola models. The battery could be bigger. If they have to make an GPS antenna that's 5 cm long, make it, running along one side.
It's like the phone hanging after a call. I would not advise this device for anyone depending of his phone to receive critical calls at any time. This **** just hangs radomly and you have to force a reboot.
Just to let people know that I've spent all afternoon trying 3 different ROMS, 2 times each, and the GPS sensivity is better on XXJVO.
I flashed the deodexed versions from Ramad, and used GPS status app to test. Just flash the ROM, install GPS status, see how many satellites it detects.
JVJV9 and XXJVP detect 1 or less while on my desk
XXJVO detects 4 and gets a fix, and sometimes it mantains the fix
Next to a window, JVJV9 and XXJVP detect 5 or 6 satellites, get a fix but lose it, most of the time 0 satellites in green.
XXJVO detects 8 satellites, 7 in green all the time
Accounting for the fact that satellite positions change between one test and another, I repeated tests twice.
I tried XXJVP on the field last weekend and was unable to get a fix while on the car.
Phone is sitting now on my desk, and has 4 satellites in green and intermitent fix. Much better than the other ROMs that see 0 or 1 satellites sitting on the same spot.
SKeijmel said:
Why do i always hear people with problems my gps works fine since day one. even on the old roms. only with these newer ones i get real fast lock.
never had any problem with navigation software and driving my car
i a using sygic mobile maps because i dont wanna waste data with google maps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gmaps 5.x and above has cache option...I'm finding very useful. Plus offline navigation should be coming this summer
Personally, I've given up on the GPS.. Samsung should honestly be sued, but it is too expensive to do so.
It has gotten better with newer ROM's, but, the sensitivity still appears to be a joke compared to my years old garmin forerunner. It may be good enough for some people who use it for navigation (because, I'd imagine there are plenty of algorithms which can probably be employed). However, the track quality produced seems semi-laughable, and the GPS appears to be nowhere near the quality of a dedicated unit.
People also need to stop checking programs like "gps status". They don't tell you if the location is correct (because it wont show you on the maps). So the accuracy value means nothing (the accuracy value means nothing without RAIM/FDE anyway regardless of unit).
GPS doesn't work at all on my SGS.
I tried that 'push the upper part of the rubberplastic thingy' trick, no result.
Whenever I try to find my location in Google maps, it can only find the WIFI center about 1km away from here. I think that's thanks to the Use Wireless Networks setting. but the GPS in my own SGS has never ever succeeded in locking any satelites.
Must be a hardware fauly I guess?
I bought it in October IIRC.
I don't mind though, never had the need to use GPS.
But it just bothers me that I got a somewhat malfunctioning device.
No big deal though!
Its been working fine on mine.. The only time i had issues was with 2.2/2.2.1
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
Some data points:
The signal to noise levels reported by the test tools seem reasonable.
All GPS systems use averaging to get a lock.
All GPS systems use Kalman filtering, which filters and connects location and speed, to make the system work at all. The stronger the filter, the more stable the position. But this gives bigger problems in turns.
Dedicated receivers have a much bigger antenna and thus need less averaging to get a stable position.
Receiver software has 'modes' - for example walking and driving mode. In driving mode, movements at low speeds are suppressed.
GPS is still a work in progress; there must be a reason Samsung renamed LBStestMode into AngryGPS!
Not sure if anyone can help.
For some reason, I noticed a couple of weeks ago that my phone alerted me as normal for some app updates, but when I checked them, practically every app on my phone needed updating.
Shortly after that, I was in the bedroom browsing the net and noticed that the wifi icon was only on the dot and floating up to about 1 or 2 bars - always used to be full.
Sat here now in front my router and its was the same, although strength is showing good and 65Mbps. My partners Desire S is showing full strength along with my work iPhone. Was also in the bedroom last night and it was hopeless, kept dropping out and unusable, although iPhone again was full - never used to be like it.
As far as I can see, the software hasn't changed
Android 2.3.5
HTC Sense 3.0
Software number 3.12.405.1
Hope someone can advise
stuarta99 said:
Not sure if anyone can help.
For some reason, I noticed a couple of weeks ago that my phone alerted me as normal for some app updates, but when I checked them, practically every app on my phone needed updating.
Shortly after that, I was in the bedroom browsing the net and noticed that the wifi icon was only on the dot and floating up to about 1 or 2 bars - always used to be full.
Sat here now in front my router and its was the same, although strength is showing good and 65Mbps. My partners Desire S is showing full strength along with my work iPhone. Was also in the bedroom last night and it was hopeless, kept dropping out and unusable, although iPhone again was full - never used to be like it.
As far as I can see, the software hasn't changed
Android 2.3.5
HTC Sense 3.0
Software number 3.12.405.1
Hope someone can advise
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pull your battery cover off and clean the contacts, possible it's just a bad antenna connection.
yep thanks Darunion.
I was just logging on to reply and say that I've done that and seems to have done the trick.
Stoopid phones lol
Yes, I had same problem with, wifi signal. I pulled battery corer off and cleaned the contacts. Since then everything is fine.
I have tried this fix, it still doesn't work.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1190180
Raising the top right 2 flaps, according to this image. http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=668981&d=1311865226
Basically I raised everything.
Any idea what else I can try?
I am using 2.09 HSPL
do you have any objective measure of how weak your signal is?
mine isn't so great either; certainly less than a friend's iphone.
if you go into wifi/ advanced (in winMo), you get a signal quality bar. Mine only registers 100% when i'm literally within about 750cm of my router. beyond that, it drops to about 80% for another 2 metres, then drops to 60%.
i've done the same test on my old tytn II winMo phone and it's about the same, so maybe that's just how it is.
what this means, is that free wifi in bars/ hotels etc. mostly work OK but can be marginal where others are getting a good connection 100%.
i haven't tried taking off the back to bend the contacts up yet as I remember the royal pain it was the last time I had to open my HD2 (to clean a fingerprint off the inside of the lens cover left by a HD2 tech after an RMA).
Perhaps test a couple of the favourite radios & see if get any better wifi reception.
HD2 wifi is not the strongest but if hardware & firmware up to scratch it normally usable even on low registering signals.
My HD2 signal compares about same to a Desire, Topaz & Touch Pro.
my WiFi signal is about ok.. Though Network signal ain't that great.
I have bad wifi signal strength too My friend has 3/4 bars in his LG Optimus One P500 and downloads a torrent with 200kb/s and I can barely see the connection with 1/4 bars and keeps disappearing.
I haven't tried the antenna fix though.