[GUIDE][FIX] GPS finding satellites, but not connecting - Galaxy S II General

tl;dr version:
1) Switch data on. (not wifi, data. Has to be data.)
2) ? ? ?
3) PROFIT.
looong version:
I kept wondering why GPS would find many satellites, but would often not lock onto them, or would take a very very long time to lock (around 10 mins or so). Then I noticed that it works fine when data is switched on, and locks within a few seconds.
You should get a lock as soon as you're "fully connected to Google", and "go green" for people who have that enabled.
This is the a part in agps at work Assisted GPS. Click to check the wikipedia article on it.
Accuracy is still a problem, and testing with a friend's DHD, I was getting around 10-6m accuracy, and he generally got 2-4m.
And Samsung's GPS software sucks too. glgps daemon's internal smoothing algorithms are still there, and it's annoying.
~Rawat

Rawat said:
tl;dr version:
1) Switch data on. (not wifi, data. Has to be data.)
2) ? ? ?
3) PROFIT.
looong version:
I kept wondering why GPS would find many satellites, but would often not lock onto them, or would take a very very long time to lock (around 10 mins or so). Then I noticed that it works fine when data is switched on, and locks within a few seconds.
You should get a lock as soon as you're "fully connected to Google", and "go green" for people who have that enabled.
This is the a part in agps at work Assisted GPS. Click to check the wikipedia article on it.
Accuracy is still a problem, and testing with a friend's DHD, I was getting around 10-6m accuracy, and he generally got 2-4m.
And Samsung's GPS software sucks too. glgps daemon's internal smoothing algorithms are still there, and it's annoying.
~Rawat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go to the Location Settings, and Untick "Use wireless networks" and Untick "Use sensor aiding"
You will get a GPS lock even without DATA. BUT, it will take longer.

Not on my Sgs... with those unchecked and cold start I still get a lock within 10 secs. So something funky in Sgs ii his stuff.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

So does the SGS2 have similar GPS issues to the original? I'm currently on the Samsung Captivate and have a preorder in for the SGS2. One of the big reasons I'm looking to spend 800 bucks to upgrade is to be done with GPS issues on my phone. If this won't be the case maybe I need to give up on Samsung and wait for HTC to release a dual core beast on AT&T bands...

TheSopranos16 said:
So does the SGS2 have similar GPS issues to the original?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no experience with the earlier Galaxy's but I can compare it to a G2 and G2X. There are three GPS settings: Use wireless networks (cell and Wi-Fi), use GPS satellites, and use sensor aiding. With "use wireless networks" checked and Wi-Fi off it just locked and loaded for me in Google maps in less than a minute from a poor location. With only "GPS satellites" checked it took closer to 2 minutes. It was accurate down to my street address both times. In order of speed from "activation" to "usable" I'd rank the phones in this order: G2, G2X, SGS2. While a bit slower to lock than the others it's fine (accuracy, holding lock) for me. Someone from the EU uses Tracks to measure his walks and was complaining about the street-level accuracy. You might want to check out that thread.

I personally never ever would use the WiFi- and Sensor functions as GPS replacement.
Why?
1) It is responsible for the collection of the location data and sending it to Google.
2) It costs battery power.
3) Why using when the GPS fixes fast enough? What's the problem with waiting for 10 seconds for a fix?
The fix can be made quicker by DL'ing the "GPS Status & Toolbox" app and using it for DL'ing the actual valid GPS sat vectors. That helps the GPS to fix quicker.
Cheers
Zap

Mine is very slow to lock, despite having plenty of sats visible with good strength.
This is compared to 4 different ZTE Blades that showed me how quick locking can be, even indoors.
There is a tool on the market called GPS Aids which was developed for the Galaxy and I'm keen to discover whether this can improve the SGS2.
However, it requires rooting and I'm reluctant to do so as I may decide to replace my phone if it can't be sorted.
Is anyone who is rooted willing to carry out some tests using that or other tools to see whether performance can be improved? I'd really appreciate it.

TheSopranos16 said:
So does the SGS2 have similar GPS issues to the original? I'm currently on the Samsung Captivate and have a preorder in for the SGS2. One of the big reasons I'm looking to spend 800 bucks to upgrade is to be done with GPS issues on my phone. If this won't be the case maybe I need to give up on Samsung and wait for HTC to release a dual core beast on AT&T bands...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used GPS a few times, and it works fine. Accuracy is a bit weak sometimes (compared to other phones) but it's fine for navigation, and even using mytracks or similar. (although when it goes off on mytracks it'll take a while to get back due to Samsung's inane smoothing)
prusling said:
Mine is very slow to lock, despite having plenty of sats visible with good strength.
This is compared to 4 different ZTE Blades that showed me how quick locking can be, even indoors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure why it's like this, but you have to have data enabled for it to get a quick lock on SGS II, otherwise it'll take a few mins.
I'll give GPS AIDS a test later on. Maybe.

My gps has been spot on from day one-locks in seconds and google maps always puts me in right room of house or parking space etc. The blue accuacy circle is bigger on sgs2 then sgs1 but the reall accuacy is tons better.

--deleted--

Hi everybody.. i have downloaded an app called GPS aids v 2.0 and this has helped me in getting a lock in under 15 secs after which i fire up Sygic and it hardly takes 10 secs to lock my position.
Do put in a thanks if it helps somebody

Related

I might be on to something for the GPS issue.

Well like everyone I had the GPS issue and it was frustrating. I do run an app killer and I always notice many apps (especially the preloaded ones) Keep launching themselves. It got rather irritating. Specifically Telenav.
I noticed with Telenav my GPS would be very flaky. Once I got "killed" it the gps seemed to improve. I thought to myself maybe I'm just being paranoid.
Did a bit of research and found an app called "Start UP Auditor" which completely kills an app and restricts it from every starting up again. My gps seems to be working much better now.
I drove a few miles and on the Verrazano Bridge here in NY and the GPS was super percise. When I was at the end of the block it was at the end of the block as well at the same time. Not like it was before.
Now I can launch google maps and it will find me exactly in front of my house and not 200 feet away.
Takes a solid minute to lock on. Not more but not less unfortunately. So there still is a bit of a problem but for me at least it has exponentially gotten better. Versus it not even locking on previously.
I think I might be on to something. I cannot give all credit to me because I saw on a Tmobile forum someone say that they think the problem might be with the self launching apps so that's where I started to draw conclusions.
EDIT: Scratch that one min thing. It seriously just now took me 10 seconds to lock on and the GPS to start talking to tell me where to turn inside my house. Issue fixed?
I completly removed TeleNav and I still have GPS issues... It is not any software causing this problem. It is a Hardware / Firmware / Driver issue.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
gravis86 said:
I completly removed TeleNav and I still have GPS issues... It is not any software causing this problem. It is a Hardware / Firmware / Driver issue.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, one of the first things I did after rooting was remove all the bloatware, and Telenav was one of them.
gravis86 said:
I completly removed TeleNav and I still have GPS issues... It is not any software causing this problem. It is a Hardware / Firmware / Driver issue.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm... Interesting.
My GPS issues seem to have disappeared after killing Telenav.
This just takes me back to the drawing board once more. I just do not understand...
I would like to see others responses. Does there happen to be vibrants with different firmwares?
So what happened to me?
Was it some magical stroke of luck?
Wow.
Initially, disabling TeleNav gave me a significant improvement in GPS performance. Indoors, I went from having 50-60ft. of accuracy (with multiple locks), to 12-15ft. of accuracy with a single lock. Initial accuracy was in the upper 40s, but quickly dropped to the highest accuracy I've seen with the device (the 12-15ft. figure) - indoor or outdoor - within a minute. Crazy.
Outdoor, on a perfectly clear sky, the best I've achieved was previously 25ft. of accuracy.
I rebooted (the phone froze, wheee!), with TeleNav still selected as disabled, and now, I'm only getting 30-52ft. of accuracy with a single lock. This took about two minutes to come down from 170ft. or so.
GPS settings have been switched to 'Automatic', from the stock supl server, for all of these tests.
Maps still shows me in Issaquah, initially (incorrect data), but quickly updates my position my exact location (within a few seconds). Previously, Maps would take at least a half hour to place me in even the correct city! Margin of Error: ~50ft. or so (shows me on the street, rather than on my property), within seconds.
Compass, as expected: still totally ****ing broken and ****ty.
I can confirm that - besides not being able to lock onto more than a single sat - I'm seeing drastic improvements. Thanks for pointing this out.
Still, I'm not sure the improvement will be enough to convince me to hang onto the device while we wait to hear from Samsung. :/
Jon C said:
Wow.
Initially, disabling TeleNav gave me a significant improvement in GPS performance. Indoors, I went from having 50-60ft. of accuracy (with multiple locks), to 12-15ft. of accuracy with a single lock. Initial accuracy was in the upper 40s, but quickly dropped to the highest accuracy I've seen with the device (the 12-15ft. figure) - indoor or outdoor - within a minute. Crazy.
Outdoor, on a perfectly clear sky, the best I've achieved was previously 25ft. of accuracy.
I rebooted (the phone froze, wheee!), with TeleNav still selected as disabled, and now, I'm only getting 30-52ft. of accuracy with a single lock. This took about two minutes to come down from 170ft. or so.
GPS settings have been switched to 'Automatic', from the stock supl server, for all of these tests.
Maps still shows me in Issaquah, initially (incorrect data), but quickly updates my position my exact location (within a few seconds). Previously, Maps would take at least a half hour to place me in even the correct city! Margin of Error: ~50ft. or so (shows me on the street, rather than on my property), within seconds.
Compass, as expected: still totally ****ing broken and ****ty.
I can confirm that - besides not being able to lock onto more than a single sat - I'm seeing drastic improvements. Thanks for pointing this out.
Still, I'm not sure the improvement will be enough to convince me to hang onto the device while we wait to hear from Samsung. :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea like I said in the OP the fix is better but there definitely is a problem that needs to be addressed. That might be either hardware or firmware, All thats left is to wait for sammy to fix it up. However my GPS performance for my needs is more than exceptional.
I have noticed that while running GPStest, Google Maps starts to work. Something is wrong with the API.
If anyone is getting black screen freeze ups, disabling GPS will clear that right up.
And, we're back to square one. So much for that.
Location services can no longer locate me, and show that I'm in a neighboring city. Nothing I adjust fixes this for more than a short period of time.
Oh, Samsung...
dattaway said:
I have noticed that while running GPStest, Google Maps starts to work. Something is wrong with the API.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems to me that it is definitely a software problem. I don't think the hardware is bad. (The gps chip?)
heygrl said:
If anyone is getting black screen freeze ups, disabling GPS will clear that right up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I drove for miles and had nothing. Though if I am not using GPS I always turn it off to conserve battery.
Jon C said:
And, we're back to square one. So much for that.
Location services can no longer locate me, and show that I'm in a neighboring city. Nothing I adjust fixes this for more than a short period of time.
Oh, Samsung...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if they can't even find the issue yet. It will probably be fix in the 2.2 update.
I removed TelNav within 4days of owning my phone and it really for me hasn't changed a thing.
What helped me was turning off the wireless location feature. From what I noticed it looks for your location based off the cell towers first then it looks for your location via GPS. If its slow to find you via wireless then well its slow to find you via GPS too.
I didn't really tried the GPS when I saw the threads saying there was a problem with it and I read somewhere about "how to fix it" so I applied the fix before even using the GPS before, so I have no clue if I had problems or not, but after the fix, the GPS locks in about 10 to 15 seconds and gest my location on the spot, even indoors.
just change the GPS settings to google servers
Directly after rebooting my gps/navigation seems to work much better.
To make it more clear... I'll be using my phone throughout the day and then i'll try to use navigation. Usually it will just keep trying to find the route but it never actually finds it. I'll reboot the phone and it'll find my location and the route in <10 seconds.
kizer said:
I removed TelNav within 4days of owning my phone and it really for me hasn't changed a thing.
What helped me was turning off the wireless location feature. From what I noticed it looks for your location based off the cell towers first then it looks for your location via GPS. If its slow to find you via wireless then well its slow to find you via GPS too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe the wifi and GPS share the same antenna. Anyone know which antennas do what for sure?
Our cellular antenna is at the bottom under the bump. The one at the top next to the antenna port does the rest.
heygrl said:
If anyone is getting black screen freeze ups, disabling GPS will clear that right up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this tip, I hadn't caught this in the other GPS threads.
I ran and used My Tracks but forgot to turn on GPS. When I tried nav it could not get a fix until I restarted. Next time I'll try killing conflicting apps.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I just deleted the Tel-Nav app and now my GPS locks on in about 10 seconds and is dead on accurate. I even drove 165 miles today and never dropped a GPS signal. I could never do that before.
Does anyone know why the times are off one the gps sensors? My local time is 10:51, but gps test has it as 18:51 that is about 8 hours off.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

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.)

Should I give up on i9000? GPS will NEVER work! Can't we sue them or get a recall?

I actually need gps quite a bit in my line of work. I bought this phone because of it. But, it just does not work. Some claim it works fine, but at the same time they are saying they get 5-10m lock! (thats off by 30ft!) With a borrowed motorola atrix i was getting 4.9 feet accuracy (thats like accurate by 2 steps!). I think I have come to the conslusion that it will never work, and samsuck doesn't even care! Why else would they keep releasing newer phones with the exact same problems? I'm gonna jump ship...everything else about this phone is awesome. Any ideas if HTC has good gps/reception? I am thinking about the incredible S. (and i'm not a troll, I have lived with this phone's gps issues for almost 1 year now).
Get a real GPS receiver, and don't expect it will be cheap if you want a real 4.9ft accuracy.
and for i9000 is about 15ft~30ft accuracy, quite good when compare to my garmin unit.
Samsung should get sued for that piece of hardware ****... but the i9000 is still the best phone
You should try Darkys 10.1 with Darky Core and JVO Modem. GPS works okay but no perfectly !
i do like this:
android market : gps toolbox , in settings has 2 options - download agps satelites and reset gps
1st i download the satelites data
2nd i reset gps
and after closing this app , i open my gps soft and it works , i use iGO
Why do i always hear people with problems my gps works fine since day one. even on the old roms. only with these newer ones i get real fast lock.
never had any problem with navigation software and driving my car
i a using sygic mobile maps because i dont wanna waste data with google maps.
And if your unit performs worse than everyone else's SGS, then you might consider bending the contacts that connect the GPS antenna inside. Seems they don't make good contact on many units.
There is a thread about it somewhere.
Mike
Garbled meaning induced by swype when posting from XDA app on SGS I9000.
at the beginning gps was not very good but after android 2.2 and newer fw gps is totally fine for me. outside and in car it works very good. btw data network is activated for me and it helps for faster fix...
I gave up on the Internal GPS after a few Months.
Purchased an External Bluetooth GPS Receiver and now have accuracy to around 5 meters at times.
Also easier as the GPS Receiver can be turned on the get Satellite lock then connected to the Phone.
GPS on JVO ROM is all you can get. It's not enough to lead you driving on a city. GPS antenna is too small, does not update position often enough, keeps using guessing instead of real GPS position (your previous speed is used to calculate the supposed position, something very bad when you're turning around many times).
It's good enough to use it walking outside the city (main reason for me), or in highways (smooth curves and slow change of direction), but the GPS on the Galaxy S is real ****. Worst than the one in my previous two phones, and worst than the one in many current phones.
I really don't understand why having a phone that big we keep having to deal with so much unuseful plastic. 1.5 cm above an below the screen. Just make the phone the same size as the screen. The speaker can go in the top, like in many Motorola models. The battery could be bigger. If they have to make an GPS antenna that's 5 cm long, make it, running along one side.
It's like the phone hanging after a call. I would not advise this device for anyone depending of his phone to receive critical calls at any time. This **** just hangs radomly and you have to force a reboot.
Just to let people know that I've spent all afternoon trying 3 different ROMS, 2 times each, and the GPS sensivity is better on XXJVO.
I flashed the deodexed versions from Ramad, and used GPS status app to test. Just flash the ROM, install GPS status, see how many satellites it detects.
JVJV9 and XXJVP detect 1 or less while on my desk
XXJVO detects 4 and gets a fix, and sometimes it mantains the fix
Next to a window, JVJV9 and XXJVP detect 5 or 6 satellites, get a fix but lose it, most of the time 0 satellites in green.
XXJVO detects 8 satellites, 7 in green all the time
Accounting for the fact that satellite positions change between one test and another, I repeated tests twice.
I tried XXJVP on the field last weekend and was unable to get a fix while on the car.
Phone is sitting now on my desk, and has 4 satellites in green and intermitent fix. Much better than the other ROMs that see 0 or 1 satellites sitting on the same spot.
SKeijmel said:
Why do i always hear people with problems my gps works fine since day one. even on the old roms. only with these newer ones i get real fast lock.
never had any problem with navigation software and driving my car
i a using sygic mobile maps because i dont wanna waste data with google maps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gmaps 5.x and above has cache option...I'm finding very useful. Plus offline navigation should be coming this summer
Personally, I've given up on the GPS.. Samsung should honestly be sued, but it is too expensive to do so.
It has gotten better with newer ROM's, but, the sensitivity still appears to be a joke compared to my years old garmin forerunner. It may be good enough for some people who use it for navigation (because, I'd imagine there are plenty of algorithms which can probably be employed). However, the track quality produced seems semi-laughable, and the GPS appears to be nowhere near the quality of a dedicated unit.
People also need to stop checking programs like "gps status". They don't tell you if the location is correct (because it wont show you on the maps). So the accuracy value means nothing (the accuracy value means nothing without RAIM/FDE anyway regardless of unit).
GPS doesn't work at all on my SGS.
I tried that 'push the upper part of the rubberplastic thingy' trick, no result.
Whenever I try to find my location in Google maps, it can only find the WIFI center about 1km away from here. I think that's thanks to the Use Wireless Networks setting. but the GPS in my own SGS has never ever succeeded in locking any satelites.
Must be a hardware fauly I guess?
I bought it in October IIRC.
I don't mind though, never had the need to use GPS.
But it just bothers me that I got a somewhat malfunctioning device.
No big deal though!
Its been working fine on mine.. The only time i had issues was with 2.2/2.2.1
Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk
Some data points:
The signal to noise levels reported by the test tools seem reasonable.
All GPS systems use averaging to get a lock.
All GPS systems use Kalman filtering, which filters and connects location and speed, to make the system work at all. The stronger the filter, the more stable the position. But this gives bigger problems in turns.
Dedicated receivers have a much bigger antenna and thus need less averaging to get a stable position.
Receiver software has 'modes' - for example walking and driving mode. In driving mode, movements at low speeds are suppressed.
GPS is still a work in progress; there must be a reason Samsung renamed LBStestMode into AngryGPS!

GPS not working on 2.3 ROMs

hi.
It seems now that every 2.3 based ROM supports GPS, and people say they get a very fast lock.
But I was never able to get a lock with any ROM, I have tried several versions of MIUI and several versions of CM7.
The only ROMs I am able to use GPS in, are Froyo based.
Even there, it takes around 5 minuted to get a lock.
I did the hardware fix half a year ago, it helped very much because I was using Froyo then (it took only 5 minutes vs 15 minutes to lock) but now it doesn't lock at all.
Any solution?
Thanks.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1370910
i applied that fix and noticed no improvement, unfortunately. i had great hopes for it from reading the comments others had left about success using it.
the gps on my vibrant (running CM7) is quite odd.. it seems to 'know' where i am, but won't ever get off of the 'searching for gps' message, and of course, won't switch gears to the point where it actually tells me where to go. but if i want to look at my location on my phone and follow the 'map' it displays, or read the directions, it sort of works, in a hinky sort of way.
Try a program called GPS Aids from the market - Ive had mixed results with it.
the gps on my vibrant (running CM7) is quite odd.. it seems to 'know' where i am, but won't ever get off of the 'searching for gps' message, and of course, won't switch gears to the point where it actually tells me where to go. but if i want to look at my location on my phone and follow the 'map' it displays, or read the directions, it sort of works, in a hinky sort of way.
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Click to collapse
I think that you are using the AGPS function, which uses the WiFi and mobile network to determine your location. It is much less accurate than GPS, which doesn't work.
About the GPS fix and GPS AIDS, I will try later and post the results, thanks!
romitkin said:
I think that you are using the AGPS function, which uses the WiFi and mobile network to determine your location. It is much less accurate than GPS, which doesn't work.
About the GPS fix and GPS AIDS, I will try later and post the results, thanks!
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that makes sense.. its just getting rough position with the mobile network.. (i usually have wifi antennae off)
last night i downloaded a gps test tool from the market... ZERO satellites... and mine worked perfectly when i was running Axura. i'll probably be going back there very soon.

[Q] My Nexus 7 can't get a GPS fix at all

Hi,
I've recently aquired a Google Nexus 7. One of its great uses, I believed, would be as a driving aid, w/ cached Google Maps or with an alternative driving/location app, such as CoPilot. But, after testing it for two days I see that the device can't get hold of a GPS signal at all.
What the problem seems to be:
- The device is stuck at "searching for GPS". It never actually gets a response; no GPS at all.
What I've tried so far:
- Resetting the device to factory settings -- since it's brand new and I only had a couple of apps installed, I thought that a fresh start would be a good idea just in case.
- Moving to various locations and checking whether it was a location problem. I've tried both "on the go" -i.e. in a car- and static. No GPS at all cases.
- Downloaded GPS Status. It's always at "Looking for GPS location". My longest record so far is 10 minutes of it -- still, no GPS.
- Checked with a couple of other apps just to see if I'd find more information related to the problem, none helped. It seems that if a GPS fix isn't found, they can't offer much help.
- Disabling Google's Location Services and disabling Wi-Fi access, in case it messes up with the GPS receiver. No luck.
- Rebooting the device. Nope, doesn't do anything.
- Using GPS Doctor's -a paid-for app- auto-fix and manual fix features. Tried aquiring a GPS signal for 10+ minutes, nothing happens.
- Leaving the device for more than 30 minutes under clear sky and more than an hour next to the window, trying to find a signal. Nada. No workie.
- Dancing naked under the stars next to twelve lit black candles. No luck, but it felt great.
Things to note:
- It's running Android 4.2.1
- I'm in Greece ATM, maybe this is a country thing? I'd bet against this, just pointing it out.
- AFAIK, the device hasn't aquired a GPS signal at all so far.
- The device is brand new, never operated before I opened the box.
- It has not been rooted, messed with etc. etc. at all.
Any ideas welcome. Thanks in advance for your help!
The reviews of GPS Doctor indicate that it MIGHT solve your problem. It's a paid for app at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.epekware.gpsdoctor&hl=en
peterk-1 said:
The reviews of GPS Doctor indicate that it MIGHT solve your problem. It's a paid for app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. Since it was only 1,5 euros I gave it a try -- no luck. After using both auto-fix and the manual fixes and searching for a GPS fix for 10+ minutes, it doesn't seem to work.
Sorry I've just re-read your initial post and saw you had tried GPS Doctor.
You've tried it outside. Is there any indication that signals are being received - satellite number and a bar graph that changes colour when a satellite has been "resolved". Is this a Greek model? - If it was for a different market then it may be that it is trying to resolve the satellites to give a location in the intended market (once a location has been fixed the GPS will quickly get a fix when powered up again within say 100km using the data it stores, the almanac etc you can clear in GPS Doctor). Before returning the unit I'd give it a try by leaving it with a view of the sky for at least 30mins
peterk-1 said:
Sorry I've just re-read your initial post and saw you had tried GPS Doctor.
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Click to collapse
It's actually not your fault -- I've added GPS Doctor to my initial post *after* you've suggested it & I've tried it, for bookkeeping and so that other who try to help see at one place what I've tried doing so far.
peterk-1 said:
You've tried it outside. Is there any indication that signals are being received - satellite number and a bar graph that changes colour when a satellite has been "resolved". Is this a Greek model? - If it was for a different market then it may be that it is trying to resolve the satellites to give a location in the intended market (once a location has been fixed the GPS will quickly get a fix when powered up again within say 100km using the data it stores, the almanac etc you can clear in GPS Doctor). Before returning the unit I'd give it a try by leaving it with a view of the sky for at least 30mins
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I've tried it outside. It's a Brittish model, not a Greek one, but I'm trying to use it in Greece ATM. There's no indication whatsoever that it has resolved a connection to a satellite when I'm trying, so I guess it'd be reasonable to say that it hasn't reached one so far.
I'll try your suggestion. 30 minutes of straight satellite-searching it is -- thanks again!
*Update*: 30 mins doesn't seem to do the trick. I'll keep trying, then, until a better suggestion comes up.
There is an app called GPS Test or GPS Test Plus which will show the strength of each satellite signal received. My Nexus 7 often gets a lock inside a wood frame house but going outside with a clear view of the full sky works fastest. Hope you are not using a conductive case as the antennas are on the rear of the tablet.
jinx100 said:
There is an app called GPS Test or GPS Test Plus which will show the strength of each satellite signal received. My Nexus 7 often gets a lock inside a wood frame house but going outside with a clear view of the full sky works fastest. Hope you are not using a conductive case as the antennas are on the rear of the tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, thanks for the suggestion. I've tried GPS Test -it's under the "couple of other apps" that I've mentioned trying in my OP- but it seems that my Nexus 7 doesn't even get a satellite signal to begin with -- thus GPS Test displays no information.
I'm not using a case and I've tried leaving it for about 30 minutes under the clear sky. No signal at all. I have it by the window, ATM, just searching & on charge.
Okay, after quite some time out in the open sky and next to the window, I'm quite sure it's not about finding the time to contact satellites or anything of the such. The device simply cannot find my location.
Any new ideas?
Send it back if possible,sounds like a faulty GPS.
There are location setting hidden in accounts,see if they are on.
Sent from my A100 using xda app-developers app
My problem with the GPS is that it will SEE the satellites (according to several GPS test apps), it just won't lock on to any - no matter how strong the signal or whether or not I'm indoors or out.
Kodiack99 said:
There are location setting hidden in accounts,see if they are on.
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Click to collapse
Hi, thanks for the reply -- do you mind sharing more info on this one?
Try faster fix, its free but requires root.
Sent from my GT-I9100
alferret said:
Try faster fix, its free but requires root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure of what you mean by that, could you please elaborate? Thanks!
Sino316 said:
Hi, thanks for the suggestion. I've tried GPS Test -it's under the "couple of other apps" that I've mentioned trying in my OP- but it seems that my Nexus 7 doesn't even get a satellite signal to begin with -- thus GPS Test displays no information.
I'm not using a case and I've tried leaving it for about 30 minutes under the clear sky. No signal at all. I have it by the window, ATM, just searching & on charge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If Settings - Location access - location access ON and GPS checked yet you still receive no satellites then your GPS function is defective. Return it to the seller.
Same GPS issue with N7
Hi OP, did you get any solution for your problem?
I am facing a similar issue, I am trying to use GPS on a US bought N7 in India.
Is this a common problem, i have tried many gps apps, but none shows my location.
If your N7 is new and GPS never worked properly and your various location settings are correct, you might want to return & exchange it for a different unit as it could be a hardware problem, beyond any software or Apps-based solutions here. If you are using a weather app, does it find & use your location info?
I had a similar issues with GPS and eventually returned that malfunctioned unit locally to exchange it, upgraded from 16GB to 32GB unit as it was also having the random touch-screen key-pressed issues, etc. It either won't find the location and/or is off by a few miles to as much as a thousand plus miles, sometimes putting the N7 in the middle of the ocean, LOL. The new 32GB unit is flawless.
What I recommend is to try to download from Google "Play Store" - GPS Status by MobiWIA (v 4.0.1 is what I'm running on mine - has been using this for 2 years on multiple devices and it worked for us here - USA) Basically, it download & update, refresh and give assisted hand to the built-in GPS receiver - it run in the background and will turn on to track/lock on to various GPS satellites, inititially showing 5 to 7 sources indoor and at many as 8 to 12 sources within 60 seconds. Outdoor and clear view of open sky, it will lock faser & find more satellites. It is ad-supported and free, not a metered trial-ware
With a WiFi signal, Google Maps open quickly and zoomed it quickly to my locations in 15 seconds - very accurate and as good as when I'm using it on our HTC devices - same is true when I use Nav(free) USA - free off-line GPS software with preloaded maps as it does not drain the battery quickly.
I like the giant 7" screen for "cool" naviagation but until I'm comfortable with a solid & secure mount inside our Honda CRV, I'll stick with the smaller 4" screen of our HTC smartphone with unlimited 3G data access, as a drop will risk breaking the fragile glass lens that's prone to cracking.
similar issue but...
Had already tried Faster Fix (which gave error) and Faster GPS (which managed to reset GPS.conf) but still couldn't get Google Maps to lock in GPS. Was wondering if problem was GMaps or N7.
I googled 'nexus 7 can't get GPS lock' and ended up here. Decided to try GPS Status which showed everything working as it should ('copy location to clipboard' option lets you verify the location via browser). Went back to GMaps hoping GPS Status might help it along, but still got the same 'your location is temporarily unavailable.'
So not hardware must be software. Didn't have to look far checked 'other apps' in the GPS Status program and discovered Orux Maps, free. Upon starting and clicking GPS button didn't take it more than a few seconds to get the lock.
OP issue might still be hardware but thought I'd post here in case someone else ends up here.
i know its an old post but i am facing the same issues here! at the beggining i thought i have got a faulty device. Thats why i bought a used one and tested it before purchase live. The GPS was working just fine. I installed Cyanogen 13 opened GPS Status again and found Satelite. I thought everything was working like it should be. After 10 Min. i went to the car and drove to a friend without any issues. After 3 hours i went home again without any problems. But as the tablet restarted i never got a satelite signal again... always looking for my position.
I am pretty sure thats a software issue. Went back to stock firmware. Problem remains.

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