Database Users

Get Absolute Brilliant GPS Reception on HTC HD2

Do you want to have very fast lockon, near full GPS reception on your HD2?
Try this, Go to settings - Location - AGPS Service and turn AGPS Service OFF!!
It seems that if you are using CoPilot Live 8 with AGPS Service turned ON, it has a firewall setting blocking it. My CoPilot would freeze everytime it was looking for a GPS signal with it enabled until it had found a signal - up to 5 mins waiting time then it would be fine. When i turned AGPS Service OFF, i had instant GPS reception on all my programs that had GPS. Example, HTC Footprints, CoPilot Live, GPSed - Everything
So i hope this helps you out because it has certainly has made my day
Please let me know if this helps you.
Have a great day

krico said:
Do you want to have very fast lockon, near full GPS reception on your HD2?
Try this, Go to settings - Location - AGPS Service and turn AGPS Service OFF!!
It seems that if you are using CoPilot Live 8 with AGPS Service turned ON, it has a firewall setting blocking it. My CoPilot would freeze everytime it was looking for a GPS signal with it enabled until it had found a signal - up to 5 mins waiting time then it would be fine. When i turned AGPS Service OFF, i had instant GPS reception on all my programs that had GPS. Example, HTC Footprints, CoPilot Live, GPSed - Everything
So i hope this helps you out because it has certainly has made my day
Please let me know if this helps you.
Have a great day
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Co-Pilot 8 and it locks on instantly (within 5 seconds) with A-GPS on. Not to mention the other GPS prgrams I have for sports, geocaching and google maps?

I use copilot live 8 also w/ the a-GPS on, locks on pretty quick, no freezing.

Every program I use says no GPS signal, except for the default weather app? :S

U sure ... I thought A-GPS is tools for GPS program detect GPS faster ... b'cos it store satellite positions ..max valid day 6 days.

Correct. I use that (QuickGPS) all the time but what i'm describing is in completly different settings.

Most probably it all depends on what ROM that you're using.

BumAround said:
Most probably it all depends on what ROM that you're using.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That,s probably true dude. I'm using the latest Telstra ROM update.

Slow gps signal search

hi guys,
when i try to use gps (with syngic), it takes a lot of time to search satellites. when i had WM, there was an app that downloaded satellite's data every week. there is a way to have a faster signal search in android?
thanks

loscassapalle said:
hi guys,
when i try to use gps (with syngic), it takes a lot of time to search satellites. when i had WM, there was an app that downloaded satellite's data every week. there is a way to have a faster signal search in android?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine does it already, when I enable GPS, the mobile connections kicks in and I get a fix in no time

as far as i know the aGPS ( assisted GPS ) can use the network towers to make a quick location fix within a radius of 1.5 Km, but you need to have this function active.
knowing roughly where you are helps the gps to select the needed data from the satellites.
last week i got a gps fix in less then 20 sec.

k.mooijman said:
as far as i know the aGPS ( assisted GPS ) can use the network towers to make a quick location fix within a radius of 1.5 Km, but you need to have this function active.
knowing roughly where you are helps the gps to select the needed data from the satellites.
last week i got a gps fix in less then 20 sec.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but AGPS needs data connection

GPS lock time problem

Hi,When I use my phone for finding my location without using data connectivity - without relying on A-GPS so my phone finds my location after a lot of time or sometimes google maps can't find my location.
How can I solve this?
Thanks.

After day or so it won't get fix at all. Samsung just did something wrong I'm afraid. Looks like the GPS in SG2 NEEDS data to work. I found the hard way on my trip to Japan. I know no solution.

So I cant change my gps settings?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

GPS in the S2 is weird. Some days it locks in seconds other times it takes forever. I never use A-GPS.
Today I couldn't get it to lock but last night it was instant. So I restored a CWM backup from last night, rebooted and it locked instantly.
I played around with MIUI for a couple of days and found lock time much better than stock or custom rom.
Also, changing server with fasterfix makes no difference when its having problems locking.
I just don't get it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

GPS Aids in Market. It will take a bit of time on first lock but from then it will be fast.

sxi200 said:
GPS in the S2 is weird. Some days it locks in seconds other times it takes forever. I never use A-GPS.
Today I couldn't get it to lock but last night it was instant. So I restored a CWM backup from last night, rebooted and it locked instantly.
I played around with MIUI for a couple of days and found lock time much better than stock or custom rom.
Also, changing server with fasterfix makes no difference when its having problems locking.
I just don't get it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do you 'never use AGPS' ? Btw. my problem is not time of the lock. But the fact, that without network, I don't get fix AT ALL. With network AGPS reset helps (many apps can do that). But without network GPS works only for some time (AGPS data still valid). After that you just won't get fix. It even looks like wifi connection won't help, it has to be mobile network.

It's because of crappy gps reciever or it can be improved by another rom?
Thanks
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App

It seems the problem is that GPS is in mode, where it simply relies on AGPS. In older ROMs there was app called LBSTestMode where you could change the mode to stand alone, or just AGPS based. This application is not in newer ROMs, so it cannot be switched. It clearly is just a software thing. Except it looks that there is no solution which does not involve flashing roms and/or rooting.

Dr.Sid said:
How do you 'never use AGPS' ? Btw. my problem is not time of the lock. But the fact, that without network, I don't get fix AT ALL. With network AGPS reset helps (many apps can do that). But without network GPS works only for some time (AGPS data still valid). After that you just won't get fix. It even looks like wifi connection won't help, it has to be mobile network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I never use it. I don't tick 'use wireless networks' at all. To me that's fake GPS.
Since my last post, GPS has been perfect. Am able to lock up to 11 satellites sitting on the couch. On average it takes about 10 seconds to lock. Tested it at least 20 times today.
But who knows what will happen tomorrow!!!
Man, if you can only get a lock using wireless networks then I think your GPS might be stuffed.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

sxi200 said:
Yeah I never use it. I don't tick 'use wireless networks' at all. To me that's fake GPS.
Since my last post, GPS has been perfect. Am able to lock up to 11 satellites sitting on the couch. On average it takes about 10 seconds to lock. Tested it at least 20 times today.
But who knows what will happen tomorrow!!!
Man, if you can only get a lock using wireless networks then I think your GPS might be stuffed.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That does not mean you don't use AGPS. AGPS is method, where data about GPS satellites are not downloaded from those satellites via GPS receiver, but rather from server via. mobile network. So I'm afraid you do use AGPS, unless you disable mobile networking (and wait about day for current data to become obsolete).

One thing I've noticed is that when I run Z-DeviceTest and bring up the GPS status display, it shows that none of the satellites have almanac data, and very rarely have ephemeris data. If that's accurate, that would suggest that if you've turned off AGPS and mobile networking, you could have some trouble.

3waygeek said:
One thing I've noticed is that when I run Z-DeviceTest and bring up the GPS status display, it shows that none of the satellites have almanac data, and very rarely have ephemeris data. If that's accurate, that would suggest that if you've turned off AGPS and mobile networking, you could have some trouble.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice find. First app I know which shows this. Now I can test if that almanac is downloading via GPS satellites or not.

Dr.Sid said:
That does not mean you don't use AGPS. AGPS is method, where data about GPS satellites are not downloaded from those satellites via GPS receiver, but rather from server via. mobile network. So I'm afraid you do use AGPS, unless you disable mobile networking (and wait about day for current data to become obsolete).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. So does that would mean it's impossible to get a GPS lock without data enabled? Or just harder to?
Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned AGPS, but instead wireless networks which show your position even though GPS is not locked.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

sxi200 said:
Ok. So does that would mean it's impossible to get a GPS lock without data enabled? Or just harder to?
Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned AGPS, but instead wireless networks which show your position even though GPS is not locked.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems it may vary with ROM, and it is possible to switch it, at least older ROMs contain service menu module (LbsTestMode) to switch it. But my SG2 seems to be unable to get a fix without network. It simply does not even try do download Almanac or Ephemerides data from the satellites.
Also for AGPS, mobile network must be used, not WiFi. As I understand it, those AGPS server names are virtual, and network provider redirects them based on location .. which is not possible via WiFi.
I wonder WHY there is such option at all. Do mobile network providers want us to be unable to get a fix without them ?

Dr.Sid said:
It seems it may vary with ROM, and it is possible to switch it, at least older ROMs contain service menu module (LbsTestMode) to switch it. But my SG2 seems to be unable to get a fix without network. It simply does not even try do download Almanac or Ephemerides data from the satellites.
Also for AGPS, mobile network must be used, not WiFi. As I understand it, those AGPS server names are virtual, and network provider redirects them based on location .. which is not possible via WiFi.
I wonder WHY there is such option at all. Do mobile network providers want us to be unable to get a fix without them ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Dr, I think you have diagnosed my problem
Every so often I turn off data and use only wifi. One day my GPS locks in seconds then the next it takes forever.
So I have now tested it a couple of times over the last couple of days, when I can't get a lock I turn off wifi and turn on data. All of a sudden GPS locks again. Interesting!!
Hopefully that is it. Will test again the next time it won't lock.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

Ha ! Breakthrough. I could get a fix without network ! But ..
I used newer version of 'GPS Status' app. It shows state of unconnected satellites with gray/blue/yellow based on how much data it has - none/almanac/ephemerides. So you can see if there is some progress or not.
So I disabled network (both wifi and mobile), disabled location from mobile network, left just GPS on .. run GPS status and used 'Reset AGPS'.
The connection has few 'phases':
1) you get signals from satellites .. you see it in power meter .. all are gray .. and their dots on the 'sky' view are all in the N. Sure, GPS does not know where the satellites are, and does not know where you are .. so it can't know where on the 'sky' they should show.
2) Some signals/dots turn blue. That means you have almanac data. Rough position of all satellites, which is transmitted by all satellites. That already means your GPS receiver was used to download some data from the satellites. Based on this, GPS can tell very roughly where you are, and will paint dots on the skyview.
3) Some signals/dots turn yellow. That means you successfully downloaded ephemerides data from that satellite, and it can be used in fix. Have enough of them, and you are done.
4) Some signals/dots turn green - you have fix. The error will get better over time as more satellites are used.
I took me over 5 minutes .. but thanks to this tool I could see I'm indeed receiving some data and there is some progress. Also it only worked outside, under open skies. I tried that in a car, in a bus, in a train .. after 10 minutes I did not get over phase 1. With AGPS I get fix in all such situations in few seconds.
It just looks like the data decoding module for almanac/ephemerides is not the same as for the time (which is used in fix itself). While time channel is quite sensitive and fine, data channel seems to have troubles with even slightest disturbances.
Still I'm happy I made it work in the end !
Btw. the fact that AGPS does not work over WiFi still holds.

ayosopov said:
Hi,When I use my phone for finding my location without using data connectivity - without relying on A-GPS so my phone finds my location after a lot of time or sometimes google maps can't find my location.
How can I solve this?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try fasterfix from market

I rarely have the data connection on (just to save battery) and WiFi is only on where I know I have a known connection - thus it is off when outside.
I put on the GPS then immediately run Sygic satnav program. I will have a fix normally within 30 seconds and a worst case of about a minute (that I can remember).
I have just tried switching off and on my phone, putting on the GPS (from the Pull down menu) and run Sygic. From switching on the GPS, I had a lock in about a minute.
KI3 Stock ROM

fred_up said:
I rarely have the data connection on (just to save battery) and WiFi is only on where I know I have a known connection - thus it is off when outside.
I put on the GPS then immediately run Sygic satnav program. I will have a fix normally within 30 seconds and a worst case of about a minute (that I can remember).
I have just tried switching off and on my phone, putting on the GPS (from the Pull down menu) and run Sygic. From switching on the GPS, I had a lock in about a minute.
KI3 Stock ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you try that with AGPS manually reset ? I recommend 'GPS Status' tool to do it, it's in 'tools' menu.

GPS lock time seems much improved in KJ4 firmware for me (i'm on orange 2.3.5)
all three DOP values in GPS Status now show figures (instead of infinity for two of them), and i'm getting reported accuracies of around 5 metres, instead of 14 - 20 metres on the older firmware.

GPS ... without internet?

Before buying this set I want to know something about its GPS.
1. Can it get a lock on the satellites without an internet connection.
2. If yes, how much time it takes to get an accurate position.
Please can anyone test it.

GPS has nothing to do with internet. So yeah it works without internet.
I've read reports that positioning time is around 4-5 seconds.

GPS is not dependent on the internet, but my Tmobile Sensation 4G sure needed a data connection for it to function as a navigation device. I had to download the Google maps for my area to my phone so I could navigate without a data connection.

Gavin S. said:
GPS is not dependent on the internet, but my Tmobile Sensation 4G sure needed a data connection for it to function as a navigation device. I had to download the Google maps for my area to my phone so I could navigate without a data connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. If you pre-download whatever area you will need while on WiFi, it will make it so it doesn't need a data connection in use for navigating out in the "wild".

How do you pre-download an area?

Nitemare3219 said:
How do you pre-download an area?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know Google Maps has this function now, but I'm not sure how to go about it. Personally, when I'm hiking or going to a remote place, I use Backcountry Pro. It's a little pricey for a phone app, but they have lots of topographical and aerial satellite shots of the entire North America.
In short, GPS does NOT require an Internet connection to function (find your phone). The app that uses the GPS may need an Internet connection to work though.
EDIT: I found this for instructions on how to do offline navigation with Google Maps.

Open maps and hit menu and one option will be make available offline. Choose that and delineate the area you want. I think I had like a 80mb limit to the size of the file. It was a fairly large bit of map, though.

There is a 80mb limit but you can save 10 of these squares so it's more than enough. A large city can be covered in about 3 or 4 squares.

I've used Google Maps including a lock with navigation in a car without a SIM card in foreign countries, so yes.

Gavin S. said:
Open maps and hit menu and one option will be make available offline. Choose that and delineate the area you want. I think I had like a 80mb limit to the size of the file. It was a fairly large bit of map, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried that but I don't see a way to save it with a given name and I could only save one image as the second replaced the first. Also the map when you are off line looses a lot of detail except for a small area in the center. At least it did when I tried.

donec said:
I have tried that but I don't see a way to save it with a given name and I could only save one image as the second replaced the first. Also the map when you are off line looses a lot of detail except for a small area in the center. At least it did when I tried.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got me. Maybe you can only have 1 image at a time. Neotekz might have more information.

you could try the app - navfreeworld - that's offline open street maps. I use it with the GPS when overseas so I don't eat up my data connection. Its a free app so if you don't like it, all you lose is time

donec said:
I have tried that but I don't see a way to save it with a given name and I could only save one image as the second replaced the first. Also the map when you are off line looses a lot of detail except for a small area in the center. At least it did when I tried.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you can change the name, it just auto assigns the name of the area you are saving. I just checked with my gnex and I'm able to save more than one. You can go see the list of your saved maps by going to maps settings->my places->offline tab. There is an option there to add new maps too.

Seemonsters said:
GPS has nothing to do with internet. So yeah it works without internet.
I've read reports that positioning time is around 4-5 seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried it yourself...GPS position without internet in just 4-5 sec is impossible...
Please give it another try ...this time without internet...and let me know...
I want to make sure without internet GPS is good on this device before I buy it
Sent from my LG-SU660 using XDA Premium App

Seemonsters said:
GPS has nothing to do with internet. So yeah it works without internet.
I've read reports that positioning time is around 4-5 seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not necessarily. My epic 4g will not enable the GPS if there has been no data connection since boot. So if its in airplane mode because I'm somewhere with bad/no signal (sprint, so this was common) there's no way to use GPS with offline maps.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

zman0900 said:
Not necessarily. My epic 4g will not enable the GPS if there has been no data connection since boot. So if its in airplane mode because I'm somewhere with bad/no signal (sprint, so this was common) there's no way to use GPS with offline maps.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used GPS on some samsung phones without internet...
but I am asking about Nexus 4...?
Has anyone tried GPS on it without internet?

I just tried it, phone in airplane mode and it grabbed 8/19 sats in the area in <8s. That is a HUGE improvement over my sensation which could never get a good (green) lock but it only grabbed ~3 sats in the area and it could take up to 30s with data on, it also constantly lost connection when on a drive so I'll see if that has improved later today.

threeclaws said:
I just tried it, phone in airplane mode and it grabbed 8/19 sats in the area in <8s. That is a HUGE improvement over my sensation which could never get a good (green) lock but it only grabbed ~3 sats in the area and it could take up to 30s with data on, it also constantly lost connection when on a drive so I'll see if that has improved later today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You tried it over Nexus 4?
Thanks a lot...

If the mobile is saving information every once and then, it's not useful to turn of internet. I think it should be turned off several days until the "assisted" info gets out of date (A-GPS without A).
I have a TomTom GPS, and it downloads once a WEEK the GPS information. If Nexus4 does the same, it's not useful to turn down the internet for a couple of minutes. I think

Struck89 said:
If the mobile is saving information every once and then, it's not useful to turn of internet. I think it should be turned off several days until the "assisted" info gets out of date (A-GPS without A).
I have a TomTom GPS, and it downloads once a WEEK the GPS information. If Nexus4 does the same, it's not useful to turn down the internet for a couple of minutes. I think
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
threeclaws
Can you re test?
Can you delete your a-gps data before trying it again.
Use this tool
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2
Then try this software to check ur gps positioning
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chartcross.gpstest&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5jaGFydGNyb3NzLmdwc3Rlc3QiXQ..
Thanks in advance

[Q] GPS lock problem after kk

Seems to have GPS lock problems after kk update. Very difficult to get lock, and even when lock is eventually found, signal drops off easily. Anyone with this problem and have a solution for this?

koj012 said:
Seems to have GPS lock problems after kk update. Very difficult to get lock, and even when lock is eventually found, signal drops off easily. Anyone with this problem and have a solution for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest I have seen that on my 4.3, where GPS lock takes more than twice longer (sometimes 5-10 times) than on my S3 - there is another thread on that somewhere. I was hoping 4.4 to come with improved firmware on that one, but apparently not so much

i'm not on kitkat, but i have problems with gps.
however, problems occurs only when recording a track with "my tracks" from google.. as navigation apps works fine, no issue with the signal. only my tracks is giving me huge gaps between checkpoints..

I dont have gps locking problem in kitkat, but with directions while navigation, gps marker points in opposite direction.
Sent from my SM-N900 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

xclub_101 said:
To be honest I have seen that on my 4.3, where GPS lock takes more than twice longer (sometimes 5-10 times) than on my S3 - there is another thread on that somewhere. I was hoping 4.4 to come with improved firmware on that one, but apparently not so much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have actually had the same problem, I thought it was only me. I ran stock Italy ROM 4.3, but don't see any improvement under 4.4.2 Poland. Even GPS Status app does not seem to help.

xclub_101 said:
To be honest I have seen that on my 4.3, where GPS lock takes more than twice longer (sometimes 5-10 times) than on my S3 - there is another thread on that somewhere. I was hoping 4.4 to come with improved firmware on that one, but apparently not so much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting, my GPS lock in MapsWithMe Pro is almost instantaneous. About 5 seconds, usually. Unless I'm indoors, but you can't blame a phone for the laws of physics.
N9005 DBT 4.3 MK2/MJ7/MK2
If I use Google Maps, it will only triangulate if I turn on 'Use WiFi', 'Allow Google Location' and more of that rubbish, and even then it takes about 5 minutes to get a lock.
My advice: Stop using Google Maps.

ShadowLea said:
Interesting, my GPS lock in MapsWithMe Pro is almost instantaneous. About 5 seconds, usually. Unless I'm indoors, but you can't blame a phone for the laws of physics.
N9005 DBT 4.3 MK2/MJ7/MK2
If I use Google Maps, it will only triangulate if I turn on 'Use WiFi', 'Allow Google Location' and more of that rubbish, and even then it takes about 5 minutes to get a lock.
My advice: Stop using Google Maps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I almost NEVER use Google Maps (OK, maybe for testing stuff) - and I can only wonder how you got that idea anyway Generally I am very happy with Sygic and I also use GPS Test for quick testing, also Accurate Compass (for very quickly calibrating the compass).
2. I have now tested MapsWithMe for like 2 days and I can guarantee you that the "instantaneous GPS lock" is COMPLETE bullsh*t - the program is only caching your last position (which generates huge problems if you move between locks), then it tries to use location data from your WiFi connection if that is active; if not it then tries to use some very basic and EXTREMELY INACCURATE positioning based on GSM cell towers (at which point the error displayed for my position was in the order of 1-2 km); during all those steps the program also fires-up the GPS - but it acquires the lock EXACTLY with the same speed (or complete lack thereof) as any other program attempting GPS lock
3. What still remains a little surprising for me is that sometimes (like well over 50% of time but NOT 100%) my GPS lock is MUCH, MUCH faster (in any program) if I have the Mobile Data connection active (which normally I rarely have); once I have the GPS lock I can then stop the Mobile Data connection and the lock remains perfectly good. EDIT: However the WiFi connection does NOT seem to make ANY difference on GPS lock whatsoever.

Isn't this basicly what AGPS should be doing. It requires a data connection to get the positioning fix faster than just using the GPS. once it gets the location it does not need the data that much. Except for google maps to download the map and navigation information, and this is why it needs a data connection all the time.
Sygic does not need a data connection for the map nor navigation. But, of course, having a data connection well get the fix faster.

y2kkingboy said:
Isn't this basicly what AGPS should be doing. It requires a data connection to get the positioning fix faster than just using the GPS. once it gets the location it does not need the data that much. Except for google maps to download the map and navigation information, and this is why it needs a data connection all the time.
Sygic does not need a data connection for the map nor navigation. But, of course, having a data connection well get the fix faster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I had no surprise from the fact that aGPS can work
What I might have not mentioned above (fixed that now) was:
- a WiFi connection never improves things
- my old i9300 never needed the mobile data connection (or any kind of connection - that made basically no difference on it).
Those two seem to suggest that the Note3 "GPS driver stack" is worse than the old i9300. Also the fact that the mobile data connection does not improve things in 100% of the cases was IMHO interesting to note.

xclub_101 said:
1. I almost NEVER use Google Maps (OK, maybe for testing stuff) - and I can only wonder how you got that idea anyway Generally I am very happy with Sygic and I also use GPS Test for quick testing, also Accurate Compass (for very quickly calibrating the compass).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, miscommunication. I did not mean you used Gmaps, I meant people in general. Gmaps is a nightmare, on 50Mbps LTE it still barely loads... Even on my homenetwork of 120Mbps WiFi it takes ages to load the map itself, surely the packages are not 1GB a piece?
2. I have now tested MapsWithMe for like 2 days and I can guarantee you that the "instantaneous GPS lock" is COMPLETE bullsh*t - the program is only caching your last position (which generates huge problems if you move between locks), then it tries to use location data from your WiFi connection if that is active; if not it then tries to use some very basic and EXTREMELY INACCURATE positioning based on GSM cell towers (at which point the error displayed for my position was in the order of 1-2 km); during all those steps the program also fires-up the GPS - but it acquires the lock EXACTLY with the same speed (or complete lack thereof) as any other program attempting GPS lock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I travel an average of 600KM a day.
Yes, MWM caches the last position. Which is hilarious from time to time, last week it thought I was still in Zurich when I was actually in Berlin. If you click the gps icon three times again, it repositions. Waiting for it to refix automatically takes ages.
I do not have WiFi on the Autobahn, (If only! ) and 70% of the journey I do not even have a mobile signal.
3. What still remains a little surprising for me is that sometimes (like well over 50% of time but NOT 100%) my GPS lock is MUCH, MUCH faster (in any program) if I have the Mobile Data connection active (which normally I rarely have); once I have the GPS lock I can then stop the Mobile Data connection and the lock remains perfectly good. EDIT: However the WiFi connection does NOT seem to make ANY difference on GPS lock whatsoever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing suprising about that. It uses the celltowers to triangulate by sending a data package, as opposed to attempting to connect to three satelites. If the network is fast enough (UMTS and above) it is much easier to get an accurate position. GPRS doesn't work all that well, nor does having 1 bar of signal on anything but LTE.
WiFi only helps if there are active points nearby (no need to connect to them, detecting them is sufficient) and you have 'use wireless networks' enabled under Location Settings.
I just tested: WiFi and Mobile Data off, No network signal, on the Fyra (Highspeed train. Or as much as the NS can manage, anyway.) from Schiphol Airport to Breda @160kph. Got a lock with SpeedView in 15 seconds, detected 24 sats. Not instantaneous, but then you can't ask for that at such speeds.
I do have to say, on the previous firmware it took much, much longer. About 1-2 minutes. And I tried a Dutch Note 3 yesterday, it required almosylt a minute on the same firnware version.
The weather also influences the signal, clear skies vastly improve things. As does solar activity. Last October you could wait an hour and not get a lock, due to a solarstorm causing too much magnetic interference in the atmosphere. Even my GPS locator itself took almost half an hour.
Send From My Samsung Galaxy Note 3 N9005 Using Tapatalk

ShadowLea said:
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Nothing suprising about that. It uses the celltowers to triangulate by sending a data package, as opposed to attempting to connect to three satelites. If the network is fast enough (UMTS and above) it is much easier to get an accurate position. GPRS doesn't work all that well, nor does having 1 bar of signal on anything but LTE.
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Actually original aGPS doesn't quite work that way at all - here is some info from some of the guys doing some of the Linux kernel drivers for aGPS devices (I can not guarantee it is 100% accurate but fits OK with other info that I have seen):
http://wiki.openmoko.org/wiki/Hardware:AGPS
And another thing to remember when testing GPS - after a successful GPS lock it is very likely that you will have a MUCH faster 2nd GPS lock for up to about 2 hours. So any such immediate 2nd lock should be see in the above context, also the lack of it

Least this problem isn't just me. Always used to track my rides with Endomondo without a hitch but I went out for the first time since KitKat and I couldn't tell you how many times it dropped out on that 2 hour ride ... but it was alot

Xalies said:
Least this problem isn't just me. Always used to track my rides with Endomondo without a hitch but I went out for the first time since KitKat and I couldn't tell you how many times it dropped out on that 2 hour ride ... but it was alot
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Seems to be a very common problem. Read somewhere that this is a software issue and there is a fix if the phone is rooted by flashing a patch on it. But I'm not about to root my phone and lose the warranty. SAMSUNG please release an update quickly that fixes this problem.

koj012 said:
Seems to be a very common problem. Read somewhere that this is a software issue and there is a fix if the phone is rooted by flashing a patch on it. But I'm not about to root my phone and lose the warranty. SAMSUNG please release an update quickly that fixes this problem.
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I am rooted (with knox 0x0 ) and I have looked into that patch - the one that I saw only sets a different AGPS server address and has minimal or no impact - actually I have a strong feeling that there is something in the CSC that overrides it, which explains why the AGPS server only improves things for me when connected only on mobile data and not over wifi.
IMHO that seems to be mostly a firmware / software driver issue - on my old S3 it looked like there was a lot more "caching" of the "GPS almanac" and slightly more pre-calculation of the "GPS ephemeris", possibly on the application CPU on the phone (which has humongous general-computing power compared with the CPU used inside the GPS circuit, which however is highly more specialized). On the Note 3 it seems to work in a "safer" approach in which older (than like 2 hours) GPS almanac data is considered inaccurate and so is the time otherwise used to pre-calculate GPS ephemeris (which time to be honest I have seen WILDLY inaccurate on some carriers, something like 27 seconds away; and of course if the time is not carrier-set the phone time can easily be tens of minutes away ).