Related
I downloaded the new ROM and I can't get the GPS to work at all. I wonder if my unit even has the GPS. Is there a way to find out if it does. I know the model is a PPC6800SP. I wonder if the SP stands for something.
I believe all the 6800's have the same qualcomm chip. I had trouble the first time with google maps and gps, then I walked a couple of blocks away and it was able to lock on. Try taking the phone for a short ride and see if that works.
jelsea said:
I downloaded the new ROM and I can't get the GPS to work at all. I wonder if my unit even has the GPS. Is there a way to find out if it does. I know the model is a PPC6800SP. I wonder if the SP stands for something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry to let you down but I have a PPC 6800 and Yes it have GPS and yes you may download the las ROM from sprint but if you reed well there is no GPS ON right now the page say that for the 1Q of this year they "plan" to release a new ROM to "enable the GPS" the 1Q ends on march so we only have to wait...
To me friendly I don't personally I don't think they will enable the GPS because apparently the problem is no the GPS it is the antenna that in the original design was not design to be a ''Full GPS" it was design to be an "emergency GPS" and that is a big difference from a GPS to let the 911 know were you are between to antennas... and other thing is from you to get signal from a GPS satellite they are trying to get a "non real gps to work as a real gps" via software...
At least that is what I know about it I'm still waiting for the update... too...
For you to be happy yes we have a GPS antenna no full antenna but hey it is an antenna, we have the gps windows drivers for gps inside our phone, we have the com 9 open and sending info to the gps antenna, and we have a chip capable of prepossessing all the gps technology...
Pray and Wait.....
Lowenski said:
I'm sorry to let you down but I have a PPC 6800 and Yes it have GPS and yes you may download the las ROM from sprint but if you reed well there is no GPS ON right now the page say that for the 1Q of this year they "plan" to release a new ROM to "enable the GPS" the 1Q ends on march so we only have to wait...
To me friendly I don't personally I don't think they will enable the GPS because apparently the problem is no the GPS it is the antenna that in the original design was not design to be a ''Full GPS" it was design to be an "emergency GPS" and that is a big difference from a GPS to let the 911 know were you are between to antennas... and other thing is from you to get signal from a GPS satellite they are trying to get a "non real gps to work as a real gps" via software...
At least that is what I know about it I'm still waiting for the update... too...
For you to be happy yes we have a GPS antenna no full antenna but hey it is an antenna, we have the gps windows drivers for gps inside our phone, we have the com 9 open and sending info to the gps antenna, and we have a chip capable of prepossessing all the gps technology...
Pray and Wait.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im sorry that your massively misinformed why dont you go take a look in the titan upgrading forum, theres a gps test rom that got leaked that enables gps.
jelsea said:
I downloaded the new ROM and I can't get the GPS to work at all. I wonder if my unit even has the GPS. Is there a way to find out if it does. I know the model is a PPC6800SP. I wonder if the SP stands for something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im gonna agree with UltimatePG, try it again. Make sure you are outside and can see the sky clearly (shouldnt matter but sometimes it does). also might wanna try a different app to connect. try google maps or try wififofum. my gps works on com4, might be the same or different for you, im not sure.
I would say try the Sprint Navigation App, since it is the only one that has worked for me the first time and every time. Stand outside, not near a window, not in your basement, outside.
Then wait, let it get sats, it might take a few minutes the first time but it will work.
Good luck!
Lowenski said:
I'm sorry to let you down but I have a PPC 6800 and Yes it have GPS and yes you may download the las ROM from sprint but if you reed well there is no GPS ON right now the page say that for the 1Q of this year they "plan" to release a new ROM to "enable the GPS" the 1Q ends on march so we only have to wait...
To me friendly I don't personally I don't think they will enable the GPS because apparently the problem is no the GPS it is the antenna that in the original design was not design to be a ''Full GPS" it was design to be an "emergency GPS" and that is a big difference from a GPS to let the 911 know were you are between to antennas... and other thing is from you to get signal from a GPS satellite they are trying to get a "non real gps to work as a real gps" via software...
At least that is what I know about it I'm still waiting for the update... too...
For you to be happy yes we have a GPS antenna no full antenna but hey it is an antenna, we have the gps windows drivers for gps inside our phone, we have the com 9 open and sending info to the gps antenna, and we have a chip capable of prepossessing all the gps technology...
Pray and Wait.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is so last year....
It turns out,after all the people talked down to people who suggested that the mogul; had full gps,after all the snide comments and flames to people who suggested that it really had it,based on the chip specs,and after all the people who told others to "STFU,the mogul "ONLY" has AGPS and will never get "REAL" gps, that the test rom that was released does in fact enable full gps functionality (as well as the coveted EVDO rev A) that so many people wanted. I am typing this,connected to the internet over a rev A connection. I tried out tom-tom navigator sunday when I drove to see my GF. Its real,its here,and it rocks.
jelsea said:
I downloaded the new ROM and I can't get the GPS to work at all. I wonder if my unit even has the GPS. Is there a way to find out if it does. I know the model is a PPC6800SP. I wonder if the SP stands for something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it has GPS in it. I ended doing a search for "gpsinfo.exe download" (no quotes) on google and found a small app that displays your satelite info. Some people have reported that it can take up to 45 minutes for the phone to get a good connection. Mine took about 20 minutes before it found any satelites, now it finds them very fast. The first time takes awhile. So grab a cup of coffee and fire up either google maps or gpsinfo and stank outside for a bit.
Beta Testing
XmentalX said:
im sorry that your massively misinformed why dont you go take a look in the titan upgrading forum, theres a gps test rom that got leaked that enables gps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I try the new rom and iGuidance works find but google earth no and other programs seems not to work right and the ROM have many stability problems I hope when they release the final version will be more stable....
Sorry for miss informing.... but I still think people can start working in a more intelligent way like for example the ATI drivers.... and many other thing companies do not take the time to make them work find from the first time...
Why if you have a Phone capable of GPS why you just no enable it before marketing, why if we can have ATI acceleration we don't...
and let me tell you I have tested the GPS of the tilt and works much better than the mogul new ROM....
Lowenski said:
Yes I try the new rom and iGuidance works find but google earth no and other programs seems not to work right and the ROM have many stability problems I hope when they release the final version will be more stable....
Sorry for miss informing.... but I still think people can start working in a more intelligent way like for example the ATI drivers.... and many other thing companies do not take the time to make them work find from the first time...
Why if you have a Phone capable of GPS why you just no enable it before marketing, why if we can have ATI acceleration we don't...
and let me tell you I have tested the GPS of the tilt and works much better than the mogul new ROM....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow -- between you two messages you said two totally different things. First you said you don't have GPS and Sprint will never have it, then you say you are testing it and that you have even played with a tilt.
Strange -- I'm confused.
i read something a while back about someone who had disassembled a mogul and found it just had a dummy antenna where the gps antenna should be, i cant find a link now because google only shows all the new pages with info on the leaked update, but i suppose it could be possible there are some moguls out there with gps but no antenna
i too think its funny about all those snide people who said it only had agps. i hope they're going back to take a long look at their posts..ehheheh
Making Strange thing Clear
quantumforce1 said:
wow -- between you two messages you said two totally different things. First you said you don't have GPS and Sprint will never have it, then you say you are testing it and that you have even played with a tilt.
Strange -- I'm confused.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm so sorry about all people confused... Well Yes I have tested the Pre-Release of the new upcoming ROM from Sprint.... I have a PPC 6800 (Mogul) I have tested the HTC Tilt that my friends own... The gps in the 6800 is working kind of slow in comparison to the gps of the tilt my gps is working in COM4: at 4800 bps
and the GPS in the tilt works on COM4: at 9600 bps the New rom for the 6800 have a lot of problems it have problems connecting to the internet... have stability problems, some times the Display do not turn on, some times tis freeze, some times you are in the middle of a call and you los the audio... and many other problems...
The slow speed of the GPS let me thinking about the antenna problem.... I have seen 2 different models of the Mogul I don't know if one of the other have no GPS or what...
But When I write my first post I did no see another post in wish is available the new ROM I only have the facts of the problems with the GPS and the antenna Now I'm running at
ROM 3.16.651.0
Radio version: 3.27.00
I strongly suggest for everyone to wait until Sprint release the Final version of the ROM like they say they will on March... if it happen...
Any one wish need some print screens I can e-mail them....
Thanks
Low Baud Rate
I wouldn't be too concerned with the low baud rate of the GPS.
GPS only needs to send a minimal amount of data...and 4800 bps is more than sufficient to handle the necessary data.
As far as the stability issues, the ROM being used is nowhere near a "final product". I would also attribute most of the problems to the ROM and not the GPS
As far as the lack of support for GPS from HTC, you need to remember between Sprint and HTC, there have been a lot of issues with supporting features that were built into the phone. Remember the 6600 EVDO issue?
Now, to the guy who cannot get GPS working.
Load google maps, does it say "acquiring satellites"?
It does? Good...
Now, place your phone on your car's dashboard.
Drive around for 20 minutes(hopefully away from tall buildings).
Now, pickup your phone and look at it. It should have your position.
GPS signals are VERY weak. In comparison to most other signals, the signal degradation is INSANE. However, it is much easier to keep a signal once you have acquired it. So, once you get that signal, it should be easy to keep locked
Also, after you have acquired satellites your GPS can do a much better job at 'guessing' what to look for. So when you turn it off and then turn it back on, it can guess at GPS satellite location(I am severely oversimplifying everything).
I have loaded two GPS roms. Each time, I had to drive the car around to get a signal(even after standing outside my home for 20 minutes). The car is more comfortable, easier to maneuver into an open area, and it should work within a few minutes.
Here's that donate button you guys were looking for. >_>
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=7ELH2CPLUZLQY
ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE IS NOT REAL EVIDENCE!!!
Get My Tracks from Google Market and post your GPS trip.
My first Froyo 2.2 test:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=108472444080796738089.000491a2c10ac25693114
Jupiter.XML
Jupiter.XML is not a Samsung specific file.
Jupiter mods
I've been modifying some information from the Jupiter XML to get different results. After installing a new jupiter.XML, got to LBSTestMode and select Delete GPS Data.
They can be installed by:
Code:
adb push jupiter.xml /system/etc/jupiter.xml
or (if permission denied)
adb push jupiter.xml /sdcard/jupiter.xml
adb shell
su
busybox cp /sdcard/jupiter.xml /system/etc/jupiter.xml
rm /sdcard/jupiter.xml
I made some changes to Jupiter (hopefully) enabled low noise amplification and remove a lag while trying to regain a hot fix.
View attachment Jupiter-v001.zip
Here's a v002 without ANY AGPS data. Because of a theory that AGPS is causing inaccuracy problems, I've disabled it completely. The fix will take longer, but maybe it'll be more accurate. With AGPS off, you won't get signal indoors. Remember that please and this is for the sake of testing.
AGPS doesn't have anything to do with accuracy. Stick with v001
Removed
You should also disable AGPS within Android
You can disable AGPS this way
Code:
adb shell
su
cd /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings
sqlite3 settings.db
update secure set value="0" where name = "assisted_gps_enabled";
.quit
reboot
v003 has AGPS again. Make sure you enable AGPS in android provider settings (see above). I also switched the SUPL to supl.google.com:7576 instead of spirent. I changed the FrqPlan to match the Blackberry devices FrqPlan.
View attachment Jupiter-v003.zip
v004 is based on XWJP4 from a i9000 build.
I changed a lot. I made my changes to jupiter.xml (disabled the LNA for testing) and I'm using unstable 300ppb (even though I think ppb are meaningless since ppm are more important). It has LBS data enabled from this firmware. Also, I put the new drivers and forced SUPL to supl.google.com in both jupiter and gps.conf
pulled for more testing
v005 are tweaks from XWJP4. I couldn't get the new libgps.so to work on our Captivates (crashes on boot). gps.conf goes in (/system)/etc
View attachment Jupiter-v005.zip
v006 is JI6 compatible. JI6 (the Froyo build) uses the same GPS driver structure as i9000 XWJP4, so we might be able to swap files. This also means it's compatible with i9000 devices. This is mostly playing with SUPL to point to Google and remove a possible fix lag.
/system/etc/jupiter.xml
/system/etc/gps.conf
/data/gps/secgps.conf
View attachment Jupiter-v006.zip
Jupiter Research
It's a interface configuration file for GLGPS from Broadcom. If Samsung messed up, IT'S HERE
These are Samsung's settings (with OH7 OTA)
LogPriMask="LOG_DEBUG"
LogFacMask="LOG_GLLAPI | LOG_DEVIA | LOG_NMEA | LOG_RAWDATA | LOG_DEVMS | LOG_ASIC_IO | LOG_BBTEST | LOG_DEVET | LOG_MESM | LOG_DEVKF | LOG_DEVJG | LOG_DEVMR"
FrqPlan="FRQ_PLAN_26MHZ_2PPM_26MHZ_300PPB_UNSTABLE"
RfType="GL_RF_4751_DANUBE"
BrcmRFwildBase="0x1E2D6409"
BrcmRFclkDiv="21"
BrcmRFclkRefHz="26000000"
pps-enable="false"
pps-offset-ms="0"
pps-width-ns="100"
THIS IS WHAT WE SHOULD PLAY WITH!
I'm done some research and these are values for FrqPlan:
The TCXO has to be accurate +/- 2.0 ppm.
The number after FRQ_PLAN_ describes the type of TCXO used, for example,
FRQ_PLAN_13MHZ_2PPM is a 13MHz reference clock.
FRQ_PLAN_13MHZ_2PPM
FRQ_PLAN_16_8MHZ_2PPM
FRQ_PLAN_26MHZ_2PPM
FRQ_PLAN_10MHZ_2PPM_10MHZ_50PPB
FRQ_PLAN_20000_2PPM_13MHZ_50PPB
FRQ_PLAN_27456_2PPM_26MHZ_50PPB
FRQ_PLAN_33600_2PPM_26MHZ_50PPB
FRQ_PLAN_19200_2PPM_26MHZ_100PPB
RfType values:
GL_RF_PALS7
GL_RF_BARRACUDA
GL_RF_2075_LN22
GL_RF_2075_BRCM
GL_RF_PALS7_BRCM
GL_RF_BARRACUDA_BRCM
GL_RF_BARRACUDA_EXT_LNA
I found this info here:
http://openembed.com/files/pdk15_imx35__Linux_RM.pdf
Captivate Settings from OTA OH7:
Code:
I stripped everything else because we don't need it. We're not debugging. In fact, that might be a reason for the lag (all that unnecessary debugging).
This is the HTC Legend's XML file
Code:
See a difference? NO debugging and different FRQPlan (different chip anyway)
I FOUND SOMETHING WORTHWHILE!!!
Blackberry device that uses the same chip. Here are the settings for gl1
Code:
Blah blah blah! Re-education part
I think a lot of you are playing with options, not knowing what you're doing. I've written some GPS applications for WinMo (check my post history) and have taken a look at this issue. I'm currently working on a project that uses the GPS and Android phones. I negotiated a deal with AT&T to get 50 Samsung Captivates (@ $150 each) with 2GB/mo ($25/mo) for a client and I think I'm going to cancel that.
I don't think many of you understand what's going on with the phone or what AGPS does. AGPS is basically GPS support with cell towers. There are different levels of cell tower support.
MS-Based usually just uses the cell tower's location (not yours) to figure out where you are. This will allow you to go online, and get the cell tower number and find out it's GPS location. From there, the GPS using satellite charting data to find and keep a fix. GPS almanac data (says where the satellites are in the sky) can be supplied by the cell tower (the point of MS-Based), downloaded over the internet or downloaded from GPS signals (the last of the 3 being the slowest). Getting a fix without having any satellite data or positioning is known as a cold fix.
MS-Assisted does what you guys would already figure is happening. It uses the cell tower positioning and cell tower signal central to triangulate your position. In WinMo this would disable your data connection but it seems that's not the case in Android. Regardless it might slow down your internet. Obviously the accuracy here is poor.
SUPL just tells you the lat/long position of the cell towers so changing servers does nearly nothing. Google may have faster SUPL servers than spirent but the data should be the same. Once you have that data, it should be cached locally (but who knows, this is Samsung we're talking about.)
The problem is, technically speaking, the GPS should work even without AGPS. I have a couple of GPS devices with SIRFIII and it works beautifully, no AGPS needed. It should be able to download the almanac, ephemeris and time from the GPS satellites without any cell towers. That's how you know the issue isn't your settings.
Disable AGPS and you'll realize you have no options to play with. You're all playing with AGPS settings which aren't really hardware based GPS (and thus inaccurate). AGPS is not accurate. It was never meant to replace hardware GPS (which is why they put hardware GPS in phones). Hardware GPS has much more accuracy but the fact is, hardware GPS is NOT working on the Samsung Captivate. That's the baseline problem. Forget your AGPS settings. AGPS should only help you with almanac data and getting faster fixes but after that it should be running on standalone hardware and only fall back to the inaccurate AGPS when you lose a clear view of the sky (like when you're in a tunnel).
I notice little issue when I'm standing still. It's when I'm moving that the accuracy dies. With further investigation, it seems the GPS literally stops updating the location after a couple of seconds. You don't notice if you're standing still since you're in the same spot, but when you're driving you'll see it. The GPS freezes for about 20 to 30 seconds.
The question is: Why is it not working?
Here are my hypotheses.
1) There's a function running that borks the GPS and makes the GPS driver crash or lag. The GPS driver quietly reboots and then it gets a fix. This could be the reason why, after disabling and enabling GPS, it grabs a hot-started fix of a location it was struggling to get before. You manually reset the GPS driver. I've tested it with Google Maps/Navigation. The GPS doesn't move for 30 seconds. It freezes, but when I close (disable GPS) and open the app (enable GPS) it gets a hot started fix in 5 seconds. Had I not disabled and enabled the GPS, it would have lagged there. This could be a software issue.
2) The GPS isn't using the almanac data. The almanac data says where the GPS satellites are now and where they will be. The GPS uses this to track. If this isn't used, it needs to get a fix again every so often.
3) Cell towers are actually messing you up because their times are desynchronized or almanac data is outdated. (and we all would love to blame AT&T)
As for my project, I'm ready to change my order from 50 Captivates to 50 Xperia X10 phone. The X10 actually has a WORKING GPS (meaning my app works fine and isn't the cause). I have both phones that AT&T gave me to develop my application. I wis
Thank you for the info. I am eagerly awaiting a true fix
makes sense, let us know of your future findings
I just want to say this is an excellent post and very informative. Thanks for writing it. Unfortunately, I'm seriously debating returning my Captivate over this whole fiasco. The OTA hotfix that's pushing out today does nothing to fix this issue and I some how doubt this will be resolved any time soon.
There are two test ROMS that were leaked, JH2 and JH3, that already have GPS logging enabled by default. We've been turning it off since the data isn't useful to us and it fills up the phone's storage quickly. Would those logs be useful to you?
I have a Captivate, so I don't need the logs really. What are your experiences with Dynamic Accuracy off? I feel like that could be the issue. I know the GPS disables after 120 seconds with Dynamic Accuracy off, but when it does work, how well does it work for you guys?
Also, is the GPS issue for ALL Galaxy S devices? (Vibrant/Captivate/i9000)
I just got my captivate so i havent been around long, but i know for sure it affects all the US versions of the Galaxy S series (Fascinate, epic 4g, captivate, vibrant), im not sure about the European i9000
It affects all Galaxy S phones regardless where you bought them. And the issue is with BroadCom (the GPS chip maker). There is a faulty driver and/or faulty chip firmware. From what I gather, BroadCOM gave Samsung the updated driver at the end of the August which our latest JH7 probably doesn't have.
faspalma said:
I just want to say this is an excellent post and very informative. Thanks for writing it. Unfortunately, I'm seriously debating returning my Captivate over this whole fiasco. The OTA hotfix that's pushing out today does nothing to fix this issue and I some how doubt this will be resolved any time soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to Engadget, the latest update being pushed by AT&T "fixes" the gps issues: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/samsung-captivate-gets-gps-fix-other-galaxy-s-versions-wait-pat/
compuguy1088 said:
According to Engadget, the latest update being pushed by AT&T "fixes" the gps issues: http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/22/samsung-captivate-gets-gps-fix-other-galaxy-s-versions-wait-pat/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Engadget is full of it.
foxbat121 said:
Engadget is full of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it is more that samsung "is full of it", because they are stating the gps is fixed. Engadget is just relaying what Samsung is saying....
Wasn't the source released for the captivate kernel? I would love to see the GPS source code
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
CLShortFuse said:
Wasn't the source released for the captivate kernel? I would love to see the GPS source code
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPS and most all of the drivers are not part of the source release.
Can we recompile the driver, does anybody know?
This is the source code for Nokia's driver for the same chip.
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg03733.html
But I don't think they use NMEA
Ok I hear what you are saying, I never messed with the settings and claimed that it was fixed. I am under the impression that my gps is working and always was but with the new jh7 firmware (ota version) it definitely works better, I had the samsung-firmwares.com release and it made no difference but designgears rooted decided version of thee ota release made a difference. What settings need to be changed to disable all network assisted location to test if I'm actually getting a gps fix without agps?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
Dani897 said:
Ok I hear what you are saying, I never messed with the settings and claimed that it was fixed. I am under the impression that my gps is working and always was but with the new jh7 firmware (ota version) it definitely works better, I had the samsung-firmwares.com release and it made no difference but designgears rooted decided version of thee ota release made a difference. What settings need to be changed to disable all network assisted location to test if I'm actually getting a gps fix without agps?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Network assist is not a problem. There is no need to disable it.
Just take a test drive using Google Navigation. Ignore the fact that it always seems to be dead on your position (because all navigation software snap you to the nearst road). Instead, pay close attention to:
1. Whether or not you see a blue circle surrounding your position. If you do see that, your GPS has failed at that time and the size of the circle is the estimated inaccuracy of the GPS. You need to be patient because blue circle comes and goes randomly.
2. Pay attetion to certain landmarks like bridges, overpasses and intersections. And compare that to your position on the map to see if you experience lags.
3. The navigation software snaps you to the wrong road nearby even though you didn't see the blue circle.
In my personally experience, all three showed up randomly. I have no problem getting a quick lock at all.
foxbat121 said:
Network assist is not a problem. There is no need to disable it.
Just take a test drive using Google Navigation. Ignore the fact that it always seems to be dead on your position (because all navigation software snap you to the nearst road). Instead, pay close attention to:
1. Whether or not you see a blue circle surrounding your position. If you do see that, your GPS has failed at that time and the size of the circle is the estimated inaccuracy of the GPS. You need to be patient because blue circle comes and goes randomly.
2. Pay attetion to certain landmarks like bridges, overpasses and intersections. And compare that to your position on the map to see if you experience lags.
3. The navigation software snaps you to the wrong road nearby even though you didn't see the blue circle.
In my personally experience, all three showed up randomly. I have no problem getting a quick lock at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has been my experience too...and while Cog 2.1 has made it better, I still experience these same problems.
I changed the first post and hope to make this a community effort.
The problem seems to be position estimation. When you take a sharp turn, the GPS position will keep going "expecting" you to follow the same path. After a few seconds, the GPS position will slowly return back to your real position.
If we could just remove position estimation / interpolation, we might see improvement.
You can see what I am talking about in my post here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8295858&postcount=2
Thank you ShortFuse.
This is the most truly helpful GPS thread in a while. I hope we can get to the bottom of this soon.
Everyone needs to contribute to this thread!
I have had my Epic since it was released and for the original build and the first OTA update, my GPS worked fine but I have been trying to use it lately and its not finding satellites. I am wondering if there is a fix for this or if anyone else has been seeing this issue? I know people had issues on earlier builds...
Under what conditions is your GPS not working? Indoors? Outdoors? Assisted GPS enabled or disabled?
djcslice said:
I have had my Epic since it was released and for the original build and the first OTA update, my GPS worked fine but I have been trying to use it lately and its not finding satellites. I am wondering if there is a fix for this or if anyone else has been seeing this issue? I know people had issues on earlier builds...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search for "Cold Start" workaround in this forum or any other Sprint Epic forum.
All Epic phones have GPS bugs. The worst one, which you have just experienced, occurs after a period when the GPS has not been used lately, and the phone has not been recently rebooted. This bug has been isolated to these conditions, and obviously is caused by poor internal handling of time-sensitive GPS cache data. The workarounds force a temporary refresh of the cache.
BTW, even though all Epic's have GPS bugs, officially Sprint and Samsung are still in the denial phase. The bugs may not get fixed, so you should learn the workarounds,
You can also download "GPS Status" which lets you clear your cache data and redownload without having to gimp your GPS in cold start mode (which is horrid if you're off network).
boomerbubba said:
Search for "Cold Start" workaround in this forum or any other Sprint Epic forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recommend this cold start mode as well. Using GPS status to force cache only works part of the time and gimps out your GPS unless your are turning GPS status on and off a dozen times a day each time you want to use location application, not to mention background uses of GPS.
I'm having the same issue, my GPS used to work fine before the latest update and now it takes 2-5mins to acquire a single when im trying to navigate.
narn17 said:
I'm having the same issue, my GPS used to work fine before the latest update and now it takes 2-5mins to acquire a single when im trying to navigate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1)Make sure "use wireless networks" is off
2) use cold start GPS workaround
I was having trouble with the cold start workaround being an intermittent fix. I realized, however, it was usually when I left my house with WiFi turned on.
Apparently the GPS doesn't work (at least on mine) if I have WiFi on even if it's not being used (not connected to an AP). I do not have "use wireless networks" turned on, either.
That really struck me as odd because why would the GPS have anything at all to do with Wifi?
othan1 said:
I was having trouble with the cold start workaround being an intermittent fix. I realized, however, it was usually when I left my house with WiFi turned on.
Apparently the GPS doesn't work (at least on mine) if I have WiFi on even if it's not being used (not connected to an AP). I do not have "use wireless networks" turned on, either.
That really struck me as odd because why would the GPS have anything at all to do with Wifi?
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Click to collapse
I don't think it is the GPS receiver that has a problem. It is the network-based refreshing of the GPS cache, which is what the Cold Start setting triggers -- that is a problem. Having WiFi on inhibits the cellphone network data connection, and after you leave the house your WiFi does no good.
I and some others have found that this cache refresh not only needs WiFi off, but also 4G off. The refresh occurs smoothly using 3G data. (This 4G behavior makes little sense to me, and I think it is itself another symptom of the Epic's bug.)
I use the Cold Start workaround. To make it work effectively, before I start the GPS I make sure WiFi is off. When I am outside and need to initialize the GPS, I temporarily toggle 4G off. Then I open GPS Test, which turns the GPS radio on, forces a Cold Start refresh of the cache, and confirms that I get good satellite locks. Then I turn 4G on again before using an app such as Google Maps.
I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Nothing wrong with my gps. Have you upgraded to the latest firmware? Downloaded the A-GPS data (you can get this by using an app called GPS status)? Switch OFF wifi after you do, then leave it to get a full signal lock (takes up to 15minutes or so with a clear view of the sky).
toddmp said:
I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
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Click to collapse
Make sure you are outside with a clear view of sky when you test. It can take any GPS up to 10 minutes to acquire the ephemeris information (satellite position at a certain time) and lock up. You phone cheats this by using the cellular network to provide a general location of where your are and therefore where to look for certain satellites.
thanks so much for the info guys. I had a feeling it had something to do with no cell phone band helping out. thanks!
GPS works fine here, as other have said the closer you are to the sky/window the better.
yeah..give your TF a few minutes to lock up sat positions (if you've never done this)..
this applies to most pure gps devices..cellphones can use cellular network signal to quickly locate your position but the data isn't really from gps itself.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1088120
Hope this helps
Acid lestitious 2.0. Fugumod 2.4 800 mhz
jerrykur said:
Make sure you are outside with a clear view of sky when you test. It can take any GPS up to 10 minutes to acquire the ephemeris information (satellite position at a certain time) and lock up. You phone cheats this by using the cellular network to provide a general location of where your are and therefore where to look for certain satellites.
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Click to collapse
I wonder if it does the wifi cheat like maps for android phones, where it uses the known APs to determine location? I say that because when I first fired up my transformer yesterday, after connecting to wifi, I screwed around on maps and it found me inside my house in less than 30 seconds.
toddmp said:
I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its the reverse for me! in the same room of house i often cannot get a fix on my Optimus 2x. i use GPS Staus app. but i often get fix within 30secs. as a test i have both machines running the app next to each other and the transformer always gets regular fixes.
..... hmm just realised as i type this that i have a phone called optimus and tablet called transformer, and they both run android!!!
I get fixes with no wifi (ie: only GPS) within 30 seconds.
Quite the opposite, mine is extremely accurate. After it gets a fix on maps that little google person is standing right in my front yard in the satellite view! Better than my Droid!
Mine is almost instantaneous. Just tried it at home based on this thread and had a read in probably 5 seconds.
I have not been able to obtain a GPS lock until today when I set my location to use wireless networks. To me this is really stupid because the GPS shouldn't have to use any location settings to obtain a lock in my mind. That is if the GPS chip in the TF is a true GPS chip it should not to rely on a wifi signal to obtain a lock. If the GPS is turned on then it should lock.
I tested sygic gps navigation 11 and signal lock and quality was better than my galaxy s was pretty accurate
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
Works fine for me, apart from one minor detail. When I switch from Google Maps to another app, even for a few seconds, then the tablet has to get a lock all over again. There appears to be no way to set the GPS to keep a lock while Google Maps isn't the active program.
That, for me, makes Google Maps near-useless in a moving vehicle. Hopefully other third-party apps won't have this issue.
Google Maps is prety much useless on the Transformer for GPS navigation as a data connection is need. I have heard of people caching a route before hand but ..... Copilot Live 7 is out for android so that is one option. However if the GPS relies on a wifi signal in order to obtain a lock then it is about useless too.
toddmp said:
I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gps works fine on mine....unlike my icons or Samsung...both returned
gps does use wifi to help gps locate, theres options to turn this off in settings, i went to pick up my dock today and couldn't get a gps lock while in the car with the transformer in my lap(gps status app showed 3 sats but none would lock) just lifting it up 12 inches closer to the windshield made 7 satellites pop up and instantly started getting locks
i think proximity to a window/line of sky is a big factor, and the transformer does have a true gps chip for those who seem to doubt it, also the navigation app keeps running in the background, its better to use that than google maps
No issues with gps here. The bastard finds me every time!
jadesse said:
However if the GPS relies on a wifi signal in order to obtain a lock then it is about useless too.
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Click to collapse
It doesn't rely on WiFi for a lock, it just uses it to allow a faster connection if you don't already have current ephemeris data downloaded. That's a limitation of all GPS receivers -- it takes a fair while to download the ephemeris data if you're out of date or have travelled a significant distance, and without it the device can't get a GPS fix.
You can think of the WiFi location system as analogous to a cellphone being able to use tower locations to help position itself while waiting for GPS ephemeris data.
Why is the Focus' gps so slow? I don't know what's wrong with my focus, I mean it just takes so long to get the coordinates of my location. I even have to go to a open sky area then wait for few minutes before it can successfully get my coordinates. Its just so annoying, this is a post ipad product, how come an ipad 1 can get my coordinates even inside the room without any difficulty?
Is this a hardware issue or just a firmware fix is due?
my focus gets a very quick lock about 90% of the time, every so often it will take a mintute or so to lock, but i've had this happen with pretty much every phone i've owned, so it seems about average to good for me...
the ipad1 (unless a 3g + wifi model) uses your network to locate you, which is why it's quite fast.
We have 2 Focuses, one AT&T and one Rogers. With both I get about the same time to get a fix, and that's slightly under a minute, in my location (several tall buildings near).
With what app do you check your GPS? I recommend GPS App
It's an AT&T. My ipad is a 3G+Wifi. It gets gps coordinates via gps chip and not A-gps. Most of the time the ipad gets coordinates very fast in span of 20-25 seconds, boom you know where you are in the map.
I am using the built in MAPS software to track my location. Does the software matters? I mean if the chip is really weak, what can the software do ?
jtphl said:
It's an AT&T. My ipad is a 3G+Wifi. It gets gps coordinates via gps chip and not A-gps. Most of the time the ipad gets coordinates very fast in span of 20-25 seconds, boom you know where you are in the map.
I am using the built in MAPS software to track my location. Does the software matters? I mean if the chip is really weak, what can the software do ?
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Click to collapse
Sometimes it does. To give you an example why: GPS without efemerides take several minutes to get a fix. GPS with efemerides take 20s to 1 min to get a fix. Efemerides are downloaded via software.
As for the app I found it to be good enough for testing the GPS part.
I can agree with you. Sometimes while driving if I take a different route than the one the phone provided for me, it will either fail to locate where I am for a few minutes or just fail completely.
I think it's time for a small update.
Is it just a minor driver issue? I hope so , otherwise, we have to live with it or change to another device.
jtphl said:
Is it just a minor driver issue? I hope so , otherwise, we have to live with it or change to another device.
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Click to collapse
Again, other people (including me) haven't experienced any issues.
In fact, it works great for me with Turn by Turn Navigation, even inside the car on the passenger seat (not near the windshield).
Try changing some GPS settings in the focus diagnosis app
Sent from my SGH-i917 using XDA Windows Phone 7 App
what are the settings in GPS I have to adjust to make it perform beyond expectations? Which specific diagnostic option I have to tweak?
Did the OP ever find a solution to this? I'm having some slow locks and the occasional non lock.
I know in the diagnostic app you can get to the GPS with*#1575# but I'm unsure of what data can possibly be changed.
I'm having the same issue on my Focus (Rogers). It never connects to sattelite and always uses aGPS. It's very annoying. I tried many different gps apps and get the same behavior - very innacurate. Garmin allways says "Can't connect to sattelite", gMaps always shows cell tower icon. My phone is unlocked using original Chevron method (not Chevron labs). I also tired to change settings in *#1575# and turn ON/OFF TLS and GLONASS but nothing helps. Should I try hard reset?
Ecstatic12 said:
I'm having the same issue on my Focus (Rogers). It never connects to sattelite and always uses aGPS. It's very annoying. I tried many different gps apps and get the same behavior - very innacurate. Garmin allways says "Can't connect to sattelite", gMaps always shows cell tower icon. My phone is unlocked using original Chevron method (not Chevron labs). I also tired to change settings in *#1575# and turn ON/OFF TLS and GLONASS but nothing helps. Should I try hard reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a hard reset last night and it seems to have cleared up. I also installed this app, have to click the link in the post, searching for it didnt work.http://www.wpcentral.com/new-samsung-high-fidelity-position-enhances-gps-modifies-settings
Not sure if it's a placebo or not, but it seems to be working better.
is Focus GPS native chip or just a-gps?
Coelho_rj said:
is Focus GPS native chip or just a-gps?
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Click to collapse
Assisted GPS, which includes standard GPS in Standalone mode, so it's better than any native GPS.
after my hard reset the GPS locked much quicker for about a week, then it started acting up again.
my new solution seems to be much easier than a hard reset. Just briefly switch to airplane mode then re-enable your data and open maps up again. Been working great for me.
Faster solution that's been working for me. Turn on and off location services. My phone never locks without this, which is sorely annoying.
I had this problem on 7392 rom. After updating to mango 7720 and 8107, I get fix in 3 to 7 seconds in my room Tested with gpsinfo, it's real satellite data, not agps. I have also installed high fidelity position settings app. Don't know if it's helping.
Sent from my SGH-i917. using Board Express