Database Users

GPS Inaccuracy while in car?

Strange error I haven't noticed until a few weeks ago.
I've tested in both Damage Control v1, v2.05, and Fresh 2.0d (current ROM i'm running)
With google maps/nav it always places me about 50 feet+ to one side of the street. It moves with the vehicle just fine, but always puts me on a side street, so if I'm traveling down a 2 lane highway it's constantly saying "turn right onto hwy xxx"
My GPS is always DEAD ON accurate though. I mean even inside my house if I'm at the front of the house it puts that dot within 5 feet, if I goto the back of the house (bedroom) it puts me RIGHT OVER that spot. The movement however is not so great. My phone while in the GPS mount has a clear view of the sky through the windshield.
Am I the only one experiencing this?
Google NAV is basically useless, because of the annoying constant re-routing.

I had this on Thursday when I was traveling for the holiday. I was using DC2.0r2 at the time however. I didn't have the same experience with my last install of DC2.05. I will repost after my trip today. Might be some time.

Bump...
10char

Same here.gps problem with 2.1?

Yes I have this problem. It's been mentioned in the main damageless thread and the bug thread so I think people are aware of it.

I was having the same issue with the dcr2 but it went away when I wiped and went over to freshes. Might be cuz It's based off the latest Sprint leak?

Works very well for me on dcv2. I think it's almost as good as co-pilot with the directions. It's so easy to start by going "navigate to 123 fake st". I usually had to restart my phone every time I wanted to use co-pilot otherwise it couldn't find a gps signal.

Also seeing this issue.
When I fired up navigator it started telling me to make the first turn (down the street) before I even got in my car -- so I had to use maps instead. Using maps, my marker was always a bit off. For example, it was showing me consistently North of the road (not on any road) when I was traveling West. Not sure exactly when this started, but I am currently running Fresh 2.0d, just for the record.
EDIT: Also, just FYI, this is with a good and proper GPS lock. It does follow my every move and turn, and is entirely responsive, but it seems as though my location is consistently mis-calibrated somehow, and always by the same amount/direction.

Anyone tried pushing one of the 1.5 gps.conf files to a 2.1 rom and seeing if it makes a difference?? I remember that was a fix in the early 2.1 roms from flipz that came out. Try it and see.

All seemed to be working OK today for me. This is like my third/fourth flash of a 2.1 ROM that seemed to have done it for me. No more flashing for a little while. Not that it is a fix at all, but I've had it both not work and work after switching out a few different ROMs.

I was going to make a thread on this. It was off for most of my trip. I muted the audio and just watched for my exit. After awhile it moved me on top of the road and it was ok, but it did it again a few other places.
It was a really odd bug. DC2.05

It worked for me in D1. But it's off in D2. GPS seems to be fairly accurate when just finding my location in maps. It's when I start to nav that it goes off.

It actually started doing that thing today where it can't find a GPS signal until it's restarted again, so I guess it's not unique to the ROM or nav software. My phone just seems to be bad with GPS if it's been a while without a fresh restart.

Has anyone tried using the Sprint Navigation on this or is it just Google's beta Navigation application? For me I never did actually try the Sprint nav, just stuck in the Google one. I knew where I was going the whole time, so instead of trying things I just shut it off.

Google maps update fixes compass and GPS issues

Hey so I just installed the update for google maps and now the GPS and compass finally seem to be working properly. Anyone else seeing this?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Yes and no. The pointer turns a little smoother in maps but if you go to street view and activate compass mode you will see that the XY axis lags terribly. The vertical axis is fine and very responsive but horizontal is slow like molasses. Compass is IMO still broke.

I installed it, and things seem to be somewhat improved. However, I still consider them to be broken.
Hopefully, this isn't the 'fix' Samsung and T-Mobile was talking about. Spotted nine satellites again, but can only lock onto a single one. The cycle continues.
The Compass is still slow to update and not at all 1:1 with my movement. GPS reception is still poor, and Google Maps still can't decide if I'm in Seattle or Issaquah (hint: I'm not in Issaquah).
Slight improvements, but not fixed.
Thanks for the heads up, though. Anybody else tried it?

I'm pretty sure you're imagining things. The compass problem is strictly a hardware/firmware issue. Simply updating a single app like GMaps isn't going to fix it. But don't take my word for it.
To see the raw sensor data, go to the dialer, and type in *#*#1472365#*#* then press Test Application, then Show Sensor Data. Look at the compass and tell me it's functioning correctly.

My GPS connects faster than heck, but being 30meters off really sucks. I mean my G1 would be 3-9meters off not 30

My vibrant isn't even connecting to a satellite tonight. This ain't no G1.

[Q] Faulty Compass

I just bought my first droid: a wildfire.
I wanted to run orbot (TOR) deperately so I rooted the device the second day after I got it... (using rEVOked)
Well orbot didn't work but I didn't care that much since I had already found many interesting app to play with. I was generally pleased by android. It is by far the best OS i've tried on a mobile. I does what I expect it to do even though I had never used it before.
At some point I noticed that my compass was useless... I could find some specific headings where pointing it less than 5 degrees to the left would turn the shown heading by 180 degrees.
So I though it just needed calibration. I tried all possible ways found on the internet to come to this strange results:
1. Calibrating the compass with the fast 8-like motion would almost fix the compass. It wasn't perfect though. For example turning it 180 degrees would change the heading 185 degrees. I has also found a 90 degree turn which changed the displayed heading by 100 degrees, even after a calibration, which is pretty inaccurate for augmented reality apps like layar (which btw rocks).
2. Even after the calibration, just closing the compass app and reopening it would result in the compass being completelly uncalibrated. For example I placed the compass on my table over the edge, perfectly aligned. It shows 255 before the calibration, 265 after the calibration, 255 again after restarting the app. When I say "app" I mean ANY app that uses the compass, from google maps (which don't show arithmetic heading of course) to Super Compass and Wigle.
I then decided to return my phone back to the shop (I bought the device without any plan) but I read that rooting probably voided the warranty. I still don't understand WHY people argue about rooting voiding or not the warranty when they haven't tried it. I've never read about a single HTC user that tried to return the mobile and it being rejected by HTC because of rooting. Has anybody got personal experience about that matter????????
In deperation I restored my mobile to factory defaults. After the reset, the compass was almost perfect. Only minor mistakes like +-4 degrees over a 180 degree turn. After 2 days the compass is again useless. WHY??? Why doesn't it store the calibration data? Why HTC neglected to check the compass before releasing the phone? And why do they consider rooting harmful to hardware? Is there even a slight chance that rooting messed my compass up?
What do you suggest I do? Is there a way to unroot the phone and return it for service? Will installing the 2.2 update take me back into the warranty?
I have a second Wildfire with exactly the same firmware as mine. It's not mine but I can take it for a few days, so, is there a way to transfer the firmware from it to mine? (because it's a Greek firmware, which I haven't find the "unrooting wildfire" thread)
I accept condolences, advice, tips, donation or whatever you've got for me.
Please guys, I need your advice here. I really don't want to keep the phone in this condition...

gps fixed without hardware changing. located in 10s

make sure your wifi/apn work well.
it works great on NERO V3 and V4.1
method:
dial *#3214789650# into lbs
first choose:app setting
1:Sessing Type
(Tracking)
2:test mode
(H/W Test)
3p mode
(H/W Sensitivity Test)
4:start mode
(Cold start)
5:GPS Plus
(ON)
6:
(ON)
7:
(50)
8:
(OFF)
second choose supl/cp setting
1: FQDN type
(Custom Config)
2:
supl.nokia.com
3ort
7275
4:SUPL security
ON
5:AGPS mode
(SUPL)
then back to home and reboot your device.
after it, get into lbs again
1.choose delete gps data
2.get position test
3.after located, change 1st "cold start" into "hot start".
completed.
get more detail from
bbs.gfan.com/android-503202-1-1.html

I had 3 and now running 4.1. GPS picked up within 3 - 4 seconds with v3. With 4.1 my GPS picked up in 2 seconds. I did not have to modify any files.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Here's the best fix:
1.) Install Nero 4.1
2.) Leave it alone.
The end.
If that doesnt work:
1.) Install Nero 4.1
2.) Do the hardware fix
3.) Leave it alone.
The end.

my solution: get a new phone once a suitable 4" replacement comes out on t-mobile.

it works!
this by far is the best solution!
I get 10m accuracy now whereas i used to get 1200m before...

Let me try it a bit more, but it seems it works!
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

HOLY ****?
i got 10 satellites in 5 seconds, then they all started connecting and now my accuracy is 12 meters???

I think your all connected to wifi, maybe thats why your getting good locks. Disable it and try again.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

I was out walking my dog this morning (no wifi) and while yes I was in a clearing, I turned on GPS Status for the first time since installing the new rom so it came up with the default html page explaining GPS Status, but I read it before so I closed it immediately and was already locked onto 8/11 birds. 2 seconds maybe. 7m accuracy.
On the flip side when I first got my phone I tried to use it as a GPS to navigate and drove around for 30 minutes without ever locking onto a single bird.
I understand and do believe there is a hardware problem with many Vibrants however I also believe that there has been a HUGE software problem as well.

iwillkillyou said:
I think your all connected to wifi, maybe thats why your getting good locks. Disable it and try again.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been using OP's "fix" for 3 days and so far it's working very well. I typically get locks in 10s or less, and accuracy 15-30 ft, inside. I nearly always disable wi-fi when I test GPS, but I've tried it both ways with this setup and it's working virtually the same either way.
At this point my only reservation is I've seen so many similar suggestions to tweak some setting that don't really pan out over time. This one may do the same, but so far so good.

I have done nothing but installed axura rom.ine locks in couple of seconds and works flawllesly. Even the accuracy is fantastic.

My gps went from bad to worst, 600 metter accuracy, maybe its the rom, ill try teamwhiskey. i been crying for a working gps lately.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

I do see a improvement will check it out for a few days to see if it holds

Not perfect but now I actually can get a GPS signal, which is a plus

adiprince1 said:
I have done nothing but installed axura rom.ine locks in couple of seconds and works flawllesly. Even the accuracy is fantastic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had applied both the hardware and software fixes while using many versions of Nero and my GPS would never get quick locks, usually it wouldn't lock at all.
Flashing Axura fixed my GPS too. Locks within seconds and has 7-9 meter accuracy.
Axura also fixed my fiance's GPS (with no hardware fix). She had the same issues with every other rom, slow/no locks. So I know it wasn't only my device.
I don't know what method Devs4Android used to fix the GPS, but it works perfectly. They need to sell the fix to Samsung so customers can get functioning GPS out of the box.

never had a problem with the gps locking on to sats and getting 20-40 foot accuracy. the problem is the drifting and staying locked once you start moving or just standing there. that is the problem i have. driving down the highway and bam your on the other side going the wrong way, or in the middle of the field a mile away. that is problem i have

fioricet said:
never had a problem with the gps locking on to sats and getting 20-40 foot accuracy. the problem is the drifting and staying locked once you start moving or just standing there. that is the problem i have. driving down the highway and bam your on the other side going the wrong way, or in the middle of the field a mile away. that is problem i have
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thankfully, Axura fixed that for me as well. Not only does it lock fast, but its accurate too.

After 2 days.
Last 2 days, I've tested my GPS in some different scenarios. In every one it has been quick and accurate enough.
I got 8 satellites in average, and the accuracy was of around 7-8 meters, something that has never happened before. I did the hardware fix, and it helped with the SNR values, but this is the definite best solution yet!
I'm still testing, but I've got a very good feeling about this method.

The only difference I see between this "fix" and other "fixes" is changing the SUPL server to supl.nokia.com. Since the original thread came from a Chinese forum, I'm guessing the SUPL server might work well in China. Not sure how effective this would be in the US or other countries.
That said, this isn't really a fix. All it does is change the SUPL server, which for most of us (using supl.google.com) works just fine. The Cold Start -> Delete GPS Data -> Lock -> Hot Start method will work just once because it clears bad cached GPS data if you've moved, but it's old news (dozens of other threads on this one) and it's not really a "fix."
The hardware fix is still one of the few real fixes out there.

jamesyl said:
The only difference I see between this "fix" and other "fixes" is changing the SUPL server to supl.nokia.com. Since the original thread came from a Chinese forum, I'm guessing the SUPL server might work well in China. Not sure how effective this would be in the US or other countries.
That said, this isn't really a fix. All it does is change the SUPL server, which for most of us (using supl.google.com) works just fine. The Cold Start -> Delete GPS Data -> Lock -> Hot Start method will work just once because it clears bad cached GPS data if you've moved, but it's old news (dozens of other threads on this one) and it's not really a "fix."
The hardware fix is still one of the few real fixes out there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I take it you haven't tried this. I agree with what you say, however, I've been using OP's suggested settings for 4 days and see a significant improvement in lock times (only exception is I leave it set to Coldstart). I've been turning my phone off at night and after booting yesterday morning it locked in 14s first time, this morning in 7s. I know lock times can vary depending on where the sats happen to be at that moment, but this performance is much better than I was getting previously, which was in the 1-4 min range on first lock of the day. It's so simple to try there's no real reason not to see if it helps, unless you're already getting lock times like this. Only time will tell if it lasts, but so far so good.
(Running pure stock JI6, and I've also done the HW fix posted in the sticky, which definitely improved my SNRs.)

Gyroscope issue on nexus 7

Has anyone had any issues with the gyroscope? Is there anyway to recalibrate it?
When playing games I notice it veers to the left, for example temple run on a flat surface, character is running along left wall. I guess this could be an app issue.
Anyone else experience this?
Thanks

Does it use the accelerometer at all? If so, completely close the app, hold the tablet in the perfect "Centered" position, and re-launch. This will re-calibrate the app to the accelerometer.

I get an issue in Modern Combat 3 were within about a minute of play the character ends up looking at the ceiling very annoying. Tried recalibrating in app etc. but to no avail. Anybody else experiencing this?

Similar issue, I have to hold my device completely straight up before the screen rotates. Problem with the gyroscope maybe? But when I play games like Rip Tide GP, it works perfectly, senses every single movement, no matter how slight. I'd hate to have to return it, since this unit has no other issues .

flexwong said:
Similar issue, I have to hold my device completely straight up before the screen rotates. Problem with the gyroscope maybe? But when I play games like Rip Tide GP, it works perfectly, senses every single movement, no matter how slight. I'd hate to have to return it, since this unit has no other issues .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having the same issue!
Everything works fine except the screen rotation, which I have to hold the device completely vertical (or toward me) to make it rotates.
In games, it seems to work fine though.
I have no other issues, and would hate to return it back too.
Is there anything we can do to calibrate this?

satanicsurferz said:
I'm having the same issue!
Everything works fine except the screen rotation, which I have to hold the device completely vertical (or toward me) to make it rotates.
In games, it seems to work fine though.
I have no other issues, and would hate to return it back too.
Is there anything we can do to calibrate this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto here.
My case with stand sits at angle of 15-20 and when a new app is launched it fails to detect that it should be in Landscape mode?
Here's a demo of the issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIYzn54uN9Y

I had to recalibrate my compass to make it work right. There are instructions on youtube -- open an app that uses compass, etc. and spin it three times around on three different axes.
Don't know why, but some apps seem to have compass issues when others do not.

BaronInkjet said:
I had to recalibrate my compass to make it work right. There are instructions on youtube -- open an app that uses compass, etc. and spin it three times around on three different axes.
Don't know why, but some apps seem to have compass issues when others do not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But it's not a compass issue. I downloaded a compass app for my N7, it works perfectly. Just can't get the screen to rotate unless it's held at a perfectly vertical angle.

I don't know if this is just me, but I'm so used to just kinda giving the device a little shake to point the gyro in the right direction (for landscape or portrait), so I haven't noticed anything weird.

flexwong said:
Similar issue, I have to hold my device completely straight up before the screen rotates. Problem with the gyroscope maybe? But when I play games like Rip Tide GP, it works perfectly, senses every single movement, no matter how slight. I'd hate to have to return it, since this unit has no other issues .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have this. I've gotten used to the fact that I need to just quickly hold ot vertical. On a positive, I find my phone is too sensitive, and when I lay it flat on the table it sometimes switches orientation when I don't want it to, but obviously my Nexus 7 does not have this 'issue'.

I'd say mine rotates automatically at anything beyond say 30-40' from horizontal and while very slowly tilting it to that angle. I definitely do not have to bring it to anything near 90' for this to happen. I am not sure that I'd call it not rotating at 15-20' an issue other than one of sensitivity, and if it becomes overly sensitive it has a tendency to flip at the smallest movement/vibration, which occurs in a number of phones on different roms.

if anyone else is still having this problem I figured out how to fix it. Close the app/ game, then restart with tablet flat on a table or surface. That should reset it at center.

I have been having this problem since day 1. In temple run if i hold my nexus straight he runs down the right wall, i have to hold it about 25-30 degrees to the left to center it. Other games and apps exhibit the same problem. I have yet to find a solution. I have tried all the tips suggested here and even flashed back to stock. No luck yet.

I had an issue where the gyroscope endlessly turns towards one direction. Going to erase the tablet and see if that fixes the issue. Will report soon.
--update
erase and reset resolved the issue for me

I got my new one today (already have one with bad screen) and it has this problem.
Have to hold the tab directly facing me to rotate, games veering off to the right etc.
Calibrating with compass makes everything work until I remove it, then all screwed up again.
Been on to Google for a replacement

i'm developing a 3d augmented reality app and i tried it on my nexus 7 and after a few other apps that i tried that use the gyro it looks like google swapped the x and y axis or something. so it's not really a hardware error, but more on the software side...
edit: or maybe not. but there's definitely something going on with the gyro.
edit2: on further research it seems that the timestamp of the gyroscope sensor is broken, somehow i end up always getting the same timestamp. on my other android devices (galaxy nexus and galaxy s 2) this is not the case. if this is true (and my findings are correct) then this is definitely a bug that needs to be filed to google. can some other developer confirm this?

Hi,
I just started having this problem :crying: :crying: very sad with it.
It worked perfect since I received it a few days ago, then I locked (on the top bar) to use in an app and after I unlocked it it stopped working.
The behavior/test goes as follows:
- on the home screen, click on Chrome (or any other app that is supposed to rotate freely)
- turn landscape CCW, the app turns
- turn it back to portrait, the app does not turn
- back to home screen, open the app again
- opens in portrait
- turn landscape CW, the app goes landscape but upside-down (to be viewed as if it was turned CCW)
- tries rotating the app, it doesn't ever rotate again.
I would hate having to return it, but if it stays like that, I don't have other option.
------
edit:
I've just checked for games that uses the gyro:
Temple Run: the character is always on the right-hand side of the screen.
Highway Rider: although it's possible to turn the moto left, if I center the screen it will go to the right hand side

that's it,
just gave back to Carphone Warehouse (UK) and now I have to patiently wait for them to receive a new one so I can go pick it up.
I installed this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=imoblife.androidsensorbox app that left me without any questions that the accelerometer was not working horizontally on the screen (if you holding in portrait) :crying:
let's just hope that the replacement doesn't have any of the faults that we've been reading around the forum.

I found a "workaround". I installed the "Compass" application from Google Play and use the "Calibrate" option... and it solved the problem.
However, I need to re-do the same steps when I shut down and start my tablet again.
That's the best I found so far...

There is an app called GPS Status & Toolbox https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2&feature=search_result
It has a calibration tool and I had to run it a few times but once it got things working, it did stay that way even after shutting down the Nexus 7.
It even stayed that way after removing the app altogether but after altering the DPI to try tablet mode, it knocked the gyro off again so had to reinstall the app.
Such things really are just workarounds though and I certainly wouldn't consider keeping the device and having to keep messing like that.
Fortunately, my replacement has a perfectly working gyro.