Hi guys, I have DROID X that I picked up on launch date and the only thing I hate about this phone is GPS lock is taking forever! I would be standing outside and it will still take at least 10 mins to get a lock.
I still have my HTC HD2 and it will get lock on satellite no problem after I run included app called QuickGPS. Right now after running GPS Test app on DROID X for like 10 mins. and it is showing 5 satellites in view and 3 in use. I have HD2 right next to my DROIDX and it is showing between 5 and 7 active. Once I ran QuickGPS on HD2, I can open Google Maps app on HD2 later in the day and I can get my location instantly. Can't do the same with DROID X. I will have to start this 10 mins. process all over again. This is really annoying.
Before I returned EVO for DROID X, I don't remember getting GPS lock taking a long time on EVO. I thought may be my DROID X's GPS chip is defected but my wife's DROID X she got 10 days after launch is doing the same thing. Long wait time to get sat lock.
So is there any DROID X owners having the same issue? Is there a QuickGPS app for Android phone to update GPS satellite data to the phone to cut down the long wait time to get a satellite lock?
I used the GPS, Google Nav on my Droid X for the first time this Saturday with no delay or issues.
Here is how I pulled it up and used it.
I enabled GPS via the power buttons on my desktop, held the lower search button town and said "Navigate to Tri County Mall." It pulled up and within seconds had me plotted and I was on my way.
Only issue is that the Nav program did lockup half way through the trip. I just had to hit home and "Navigate to" and it was fine from then on.
Ok this is what I have found with gps fix. You must establish fix prior to using google nav. So turn on gps under settings etc then open google maps hit menu key and select my location should get fix right away. Now start nav and it will work flawlessly. I tried to use nav without a gps fix and would drive for 30 miles without fix, then tried canceling navigation route to get back to gmaps, as soon as I opened maps it always has a fix.
Also of you haven't read there is a battery bug with the gps make sure you cycle off your gps when your done using it or battery life will be crap.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Enndr said:
I used the GPS, Google Nav on my Droid X for the first time this Saturday with no delay or issues.
Here is how I pulled it up and used it.
I enabled GPS via the power buttons on my desktop, held the lower search button town and said "Navigate to Tri County Mall." It pulled up and within seconds had me plotted and I was on my way.
Only issue is that the Nav program did lockup half way through the trip. I just had to hit home and "Navigate to" and it was fine from then on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is weird. If I go to Google Maps app and go to Menu and select "My Location" it takes forever to pin point my location because it is searching for GPS lock. But when I followed what you said by holding down Search button and say "Navigate to xxxx", I was able to get a GPS lock within 10 seconds and get directions. Thanks for the tip!
Related
Here is a post I have put up on the vodafone.IE support forum this afternoon.
http://forum.vodafone.ie/index.php?/topic/5898-samsung-galaxy-s-gps-issue/
I figured I would post here too - as maybe this will give some of you serious android programmers a clue as to where to find the issue with GPS
___________________________________________
I have experienced issues with the Galaxy S (2 weeks old - with the KIES Android 2.2 update loaded) doing Navigation,
I decided to download the FREE VERSION of application "GPS Status & Toolbox" from the Android Market to see what king of signal quality the phone was getting. The results were more than a little surprising.
The application will need GPS turned on. I turned off the "Wireless Networks" location services to make sure it was not contributing to the problem.
When you start the application, go to Menu->Settings->Display & Tools-> and select "Keep the screen on" so you can watch the satellite signals.
Now, return to the main screen, and allow the phone to pick up satellite signals. At the bottom right of the compass window it shows Fix/Sats with numbers indicating how many Satellites it has found, and how many it has managed to fix on a signal from. And, just below that there is a line of signal strength bars all the way across the screen.
Once you get enough good fixes, the signal strength bars for the fixed signals will turn green, and the phone will update your position below the compass.
Now for the fun bit....
The FREE version of this phone displays (some dubious) ads at the bottom of the screen. If you click on any one of them, it will launch an Internet Browser session over the top of the application. Immediately press the BACK button to cancel the Internet Browser, and return to watching your satellite signals. Notice that the MENU and BACK buttons will have lit up as the browser started, and will still be lit.
After approximately 3 seconds, watch the MENU and BACK buttons light go out, and at the same instant, the signal from ALL satellites will drop completely, and the phone will start scanning for satellites from scratch again.
It appears as though Samsung have inadvertently hooked the control of the power feed to the GPS chip into the same piece of logic as the power feed to the light behind the phone's buttons.
I am not sure what else can trigger the loss of signals but this appears to be a real problem.
I have verified that it is not just my phone that experiences this issue. I have replicated it on one of my colleagues phones too.
Can somebody from Vodafone please try this same test and report the results back to Samsung. It needs to be fixed urgently.
After approximately 3 seconds, watch the MENU and BACK buttons light go out, and at the same instant, the signal from ALL satellites will drop completely, and the phone will start scanning for satellites from scratch again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed a similar effect when using the GPS test app.
When you have a fix, if you turn the phone 90 deg. to 'landscape' view and then back again, it has to start again to get a lock...
Are you sure it is not a bug in the app? With GPS Test app, I have a fix, then press menu button then press the back button to hide it. 3 seconds later the button lights go out but I still have a fix.
Its a bug in the app. Same thing happens when you go to settings too. Loses a good fix.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Liverpool Fan in Dublin on Vodafone with with SGS (are you my twin??)I'm also an LFC fan in Dublin with an SGS on VF and I also have GPS issues.
Did VF ever respond to you? I've given up trying to talk to them, they really haven't a clue and don't care.
BTW, I followed the instructions on this thread to a T (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=842694&highlight=dangrayorg) and I now have fast GPS fixes and pretty good Google Navigation ability. Sure the location sometimes strays 20-40 metres off the road we are heading down but it's actually pretty good bearing in mind it's a bloody phone not a dedicated car based GPS.
I'm actually quite happy with it now
BenEadir
LiverpoolFCfan said:
Here is a post I have put up on the vodafone.IE support forum this afternoon.
[
Now for the fun bit....
The FREE version of this phone displays (some dubious) ads at the bottom of the screen.
AD FREE from the market gets rid of adverts but is of no help to sourcing a new manager .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone else having issues getting a GPS lock? I'm sitting inside a building but my Hero would always lock here, especially after resetting the AGPS data with GPS Status program. Tried that with the Shift, and still not getting a lock even after a minute. Not sure what else to try.
Typically I keep mine turned off, but I just turned mine on and went to Maps and it locks my location in.
mine took a little while to initialize (indoors) but it locked in within 30 seconds.
No issues here. Inside my GFs apartment it locks very quick and is probably about 5-10 feet off according to google maps. My moments GPS never locked or worked so I'm extremely happy with the GPS quality on this phone.
The first lock took around a minute to get. Now it gets a solid lock in just a few seconds, if that.
A little off. Not as bad as my gfs Samsung Instinct, but it does often have me a few hundred meters from my actual location.
-NuAngel
Sent from my PG06100 using XDA App
Me and my girlfriend are having constant problems with the gps lock. Seems to work when it wants and disconnects randomly.
Sent from my PG06100 using XDA App
GPS is spotty for me as well. GPS Status won't even get it working for me when it won't work.
When it does work it is not as accurate as my Heroc was. Hopefully this gets some love in any updates.
GPS is great for me. The only issue I've run into is that when I go from Maps to Navigation, my SD card gets mounted as read-only for some reason.
I know a couple of days ago I tried to use my Google Maps/GPS and it couldn't get a lock on me. It was like going crazy or something. However, it was snowing and kinda foggy so maybe that had something to do with it. It worked the next day though when the sky was clear.
No gps lock on my end either. Also tried the gps status clear....nothing so far
EDIT: just opened maps for about a minute or so and it locked finally. Closed maps then opened again, locked within seconds.
Bumping this thread: I have issues with getting a GPS lock. If I open Google Maps, I'll never get a lock (at least not before the phone goes to sleep - 60 seconds). I open up GPS test, which I downloaded from the market. It gets one satellite to lock right away. Sometimes two. Then it takes forever to get 3-4 more (at least 60 seconds). I can then go into google maps, and it will get a lock within 15-20 seconds. But if I let the phone go to sleep, and open up maps again, I don't get a lock, unless I do the GPS test. And sometimes that doesn't even work. I've done the GPS Clear thing, via the epst codes (##GPSCLRX#), and that doesn't seem to do anything. I'm running the MikShiftG 1.1 rom. I'm going to make a nandroid backup, and see if that happens on a stock 2.3.3 rooted rom.
So we all have issues with the i9000m and GPS (Or many of us do).
After I got my replacement hardware with a Dec date on it and when it was running 2.1 and was using whatever the version of Google maps was out at that time (Dec 24th), my phone was getting GPS lock really snappily.
After updating to JL2 of 2.2, it became unpredictable but when it was working, it was VERY fast. Two weeks later, my friend got his back and they had only replaced his mobo but he was unable to get a GPS lock in Google Maps or any Google app that used GPS.
Today, on break, after I had fiddled with my phone some this week, we tested what I was thinking of, that being: Google Maps or something with how it and 2.2 interacts is broke on our phones.
Here is what I did that was also tested and is doing the exact same thing on mine and my friends phone:
Install the Tricorder app
Reboot the phone (Either battery pull or power switch, same result)
Try to get a GPS lock in Google Maps (Our phones would time out to power save before it would get a lock)
Start Tricorder, go to the GPS/Compass section and wait for the satellite bars to turn blue
Exit Tricorder and then start Google Maps or any other Google app, the GPS lock will occur in less than 10 seconds every time
If anyone else could test this on the newer hardware or on a phone that had its mobo replaced, it would be nice to see if this is happening on more than these two phones.
And note that once I started and exited from Tricorder after it locked, all GPS apps now locked super fast.
Both our phones are running official JL2 2.2 with no rooting or whatnot.
Thanks,
Jason.
It is well known that you sometimes need more than 30 seconds (default screen off delay) to get a lock.
But if you start an application that can run in the background such as google navigation or my tracks (recording on), your GPS won't shut down when the screen turn off and you will finally get a fix if you wait long enough.
It is also well known that once you get a fix, if you loose it (by turning off your GPS app) you can get it back really quickly.
You didn't find anything special. Just leave google maps open (by pressing on the screen at least once every 30 seconds) and you will get a lock just as fast as with your tricorder app. There is no magic. You only need to leave your GPS on for long enough.
From my experience, I sometimes waited 2-3 minutes with JL2. But I don't care, as long as the GPS is accurate.
I have exactly the same lock on with Eclair > JPY > JPX > instant to about 30 seconds .
This is about the hundredth supposed fix posted .
jje
Very well...
I shall fade back into the shadows...
Very well...
I shall fade back into the shadows...
Dont do that you may be the one with a solution for those that need a solution .
jje
JJEgan said:
Dont do that you may be the one with a solution for those that need a solution
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And how is waiting in Tricorder for a GPS fix instead of Google maps a solution?
Exactly zorxd..
ok, so what if since either (can't say for sure cuz don't use gps much at all) rooting, or flashing speedmod k13e, when i pull down the tool screen and click on gps to turn it green, the gps icon does not appear at the top of the screen - i don't think it's on at all. apps like maps, gps navigator etc that use the gps don't work.
what's that about?
Was testing out my gps for the first time while going to work and I had the gps cut out 2 times. It wasn't trying to get a gps lock but the whole GPS was turned off. Google Nav and Google Maps wasn't able to start up the gps. Disabled wireless and checked settings and it was enabled. Had to disable and re enable to get it to work again. When it did work however it was flawless... Hopefully this is just a one time deal. Will test again while going home.
I just got my atrix today, and i'm here sitting at my desk which is inside a concrete room with me being 8 feet from a window and i got an instant lock and it doesn't seem to drop it
I used nav as soon as I got in my car after purchase this morning to test it. It locked within a few seconds and never dropped on me. Audio is really loud and clear which is a major difference from the Inspire I exchanged to get it.
I got a lock today inside my company's steel/concrete building. After my captivate that seems like a real miracle.
n0kia916 said:
Was testing out my gps for the first time while going to work and I had the gps cut out 2 times. It wasn't trying to get a gps lock but the whole GPS was turned off. Google Nav and Google Maps wasn't able to start up the gps. Disabled wireless and checked settings and it was enabled. Had to disable and re enable to get it to work again. When it did work however it was flawless... Hopefully this is just a one time deal. Will test again while going home.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It happenend to me yesterday too after 2 hours driving the GPS turned itself completely off. I had to disable/re-enable GPS again to make it work.
To help most people with gps locking issues
1) download gps status from the market
2) turn gps on
3) open gps status
4) hit menu button, tools, manage a-gps state, then select reset
5) hit menu botton, tools, manage a-gps state, then select download
6) give the phone a clear view of the sky, when you get signal you will see the middle row fill with info and satellites in green on the bottom.. Back out and open gps app of choice.
How this helps
Sent from my Rocking dj05, themed superdark w/o swype mod, voodoo 5, with custom boot and shutdown.. With premium xda app.
check this post in the htc desire, it helped me out tremendously
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11342772&postcount=1
I will try this my gps never locks on and I cant use google navigation it sear,hes for signal for e er
3 Easy Fixes for GPS
neh4pres said:
To help most people with gps locking issues
1) download gps status from the market
2) turn gps on
3) open gps status
4) hit menu button, tools, manage a-gps state, then select reset
5) hit menu botton, tools, manage a-gps state, then select download
[...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just want to list out the 3 tips that really helped with GPS locks (for me):
1. d/l "GPS Status" and aGPS reset/download (this thread);
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=11872531
Thanks to neh4pres!
2. use "GPS Status" d/l to recalibrate magnetic compass;
http://forum.androidcentral.com/verizon-fascinate/97732-gps-probs-check-your-mag-compass.html
Thanks to j32driver!
3. modify /etc/gps.conf entry (requires root/temp root) changing NTP_SERVER=north-america.pool.ntp.org to NTP_SERVER=us.pool.ntp.org.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1038649
Thanks to calebv2!
Sadly, these fixes will not fix issues related to bad satellite coverage/visibility/interference. And won't fix EC09 fried SD cards, either.
Thanks for all the links and help here. My GPS has always been sub par. While it will still not lock on when I'm in my living room, it gives me fairly accurate locks when outside.
Rush
Glad to see this helped people.. For really stubborn gps locks, follow my original instructions after a fresh boot.
Sent from my frozen yogurt filled fascinate
Bingo. I had updated to ED01 and was getting nuthin' at all from the GPS. Did the reset/update AGPS, adjusted the NTP server, and within 5 seconds or so had 8+ satellites and 14-foot accuracy. Sweet.
I had tried all listed suggestions above and still could not get a lock without a 2+ minute delay (and only using GPS Status could i finally get a lock)
I updated my radio to EC09 last night and Instant GPS!!
So excited about that I can even pull GPS without cell signal which i have never been able to do before.
Editing the GPS.conf work perfectly. I went from no locks to locking in 2-3 seconds.
as soon as vzw comes out with a dual core lte that i like, i will dump my fassy bc of the gps lock issue. i have tried every "fix" i could find since i got the phone over 1 year ago, and still have issues. whats odd is that i can have a perfect lock and use gps to arrive at a destination, but when i leave the building cant reaquire! sometimes a battery pull solves the problem, sometimes just 20+ min of waiting. uggg!
Helped me !!!
took just 1 minute in total LOL.
god bless mate .
I now use "gps aids" from market.. It seems to work little better.. Next time im at a computer I'll update op
Sent from a beautiful miui fascinate
The GPS.conf thing, I looked in mine and I have:
NTP_SERVER=us.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=north-america.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=0.north-america.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=1.north-america.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=2.north-america.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=3.north-america.pool.ntp.org
so do I win?
Sent from my MIUI SCH-i500
Gps booster from market works wonders