What are your GPS Test results? - Acer Iconia A500

Download 'GPS Test' from the marketplace if you have not done so already and let it run for a while. What kind of snr numbers are you getting?
Right now I'm in my house on the second floor and the tablet is laying on my bed. The snr numbers are as follows. Of course they are a bit better outside, but this doesn't seem to bad. BTW, the case is a a RIOT folio case. I had to cut out a section at the top right because the light sensor was covered.
Rob

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does your digital compass work?

after doing the 8 thingy, i get north... but when i change orientation, the earth's north pole shifted LOL
i don't get what you mean with the earth's north pole shifted, but yes, mine works pretty good
try gyrator2 and rotate to 180 degrees
north and south will switch places then
that was a joke in a bad way ! what i meant was my North will not be at the right position accurately... it is off each time i switch my phone..
well if you have a case with a magnetic closure like I do, that will give you this effect...
whats that? is there any way to reset the compass or upgrade the software or something...
it is no where near accurate...
for example north is being shown to my right... i change the orientation of my phone by 90 degrees.. now north becomes my front / front right.. but never right again..
no one knows how?
It's crap in comparison to those on other devices. For example, my friend has a Nokia N900 and when he was around my house a few weeks back he had his maps application running in my front room and it was turning smoothly and instantaneously in real time depending where he pointed it. I couldn't even get the HD2 compass to get past the 'figure of 8' request without going outside the house, it simply doesn't work indoors.
It's not very good in my opinion.
ITT: People learn about "magnetic interference".
Pagnell said:
It's crap in comparison to those on other devices. For example, my friend has a Nokia N900 and when he was around my house a few weeks back he had his maps application running in my front room and it was turning smoothly and instantaneously in real time depending where he pointed it. I couldn't even get the HD2 compass to get past the 'figure of 8' request without going outside the house, it simply doesn't work indoors.
It's not very good in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe you don't know what a figure-8 pattern is.
Mine always works inside, actually never even tried it inside.
Plus, there is an app available that will give the exact same possibility with nav software.
Come on guys,get real...the compass "feature" is purely a typical iphone app and thats all it'll ever be...if you need serious accuracy you'ld be map relying on any electronic compass thats small and affordable enough to hold in your hand. If you need accuracy get a real compass and make sure its calibrated and nowhere near a magnetic field...
terrytpot said:
Come on guys,get real...the compass "feature" is purely a typical iphone app and thats all it'll ever be...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, but it is fairly useful for remembering where I parked the car while at the mall
terrytpot said:
Come on guys,get real...the compass "feature" is purely a typical iphone app and thats all it'll ever be...if you need serious accuracy you'ld be map relying on any electronic compass thats small and affordable enough to hold in your hand. If you need accuracy get a real compass and make sure its calibrated and nowhere near a magnetic field...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The compass hardware can be used for a lot more useful stuff.. Like a more accurate 'direction' in navigation programs.
BLAST3RR said:
Maybe you don't know what a figure-8 pattern is.
Mine always works inside, actually never even tried it inside.
Plus, there is an app available that will give the exact same possibility with nav software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very droll. Maybe you live in an empty house.
My point was that, unlike the N900, it wouldn't work in my living room.
I compared the HD2 compass directly to the app on an iPhone 3GS. The 3GS app was way more responsive, but both showed the EXACT same directions and were diverted the same way by magnetic interference.
The only problem I see is, that the app is quite slow, but other than that its not worse.
I compared it with the iPhone 3GS as well, and found both to have approximately the same accuracy and the same responsiveness.
Also both are heavily influenced by computers and other magnetic objects. Best results are obtained when outside without any electronic or metal objects around
If you guys want to combine the compass direction with gps navigation, have a look at GpsModDriver.
barty22 said:
both are heavily influenced by computers and other magnetic objects.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=571266
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remind me again exactly what the HD2 is,oh thats right,exactly what you need to keep the compass app away from...how you gonna manage that then?
(I've only used your post barty as it nicely sums up the problem with this sort of app...nothing personal intended before anyone tries to start the flames a burnin)
btw how does a digital compass works?
so is it true that our HD2 DC is FuBar
My digital compass also does not work other than with Google Earth! I just want it to show me my approx location and height for even in places without wireless signals. I've been doing the 8 thing all over with no success. Any solutions?
ara1 said:
My digital compass also does not work other than with Google Earth! I just want it to show me my approx location and height for even in places without wireless signals. I've been doing the 8 thing all over with no success. Any solutions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=639828

Passive Fractal Antenna 3G Boost 1 to 4 bars

I got frustrated only getting 1 bar and slow connections inside my back office?, so I made a "Passive Fractal Antenna" 3G to Boost from 1 to 4 bars, my dslreports.com Mobile Speed Test went from 228kbit/sec to 2976kbit/sec. the antenna is easy to build and more importantly! it$ Cheap! total cost $20.00, The only thing to keep in mind is that since its a passive antenna it works better when you have the HTC HD2 laying on the Base input and in front of the reflector, The further you are from the base the less the affect? I put the Antenna as high as possible in my closet with one side 90 degrees perpendicular facing the closest Cell Tower (Find Cell Tower) and with the grounded reflector facing directly to the Cell Tower with a 10ohm transformer for matching.
The Antenna I made is purposely tuned for wide band but you can fine tune it for greater reception if needed, but the frequencies we are working with makes it too directional?
If people are interested I will put up a simple schematic with parts and description build list.
hd2shadow said:
If people are interested I will put up a simple schematic with parts and description build list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would you have done that from the start? Of course people are going to ask to see exactly what you did. I know my office is down in the basement and would like to have a better signal while down here.
would be awesome if you post a how-to on this...may give this a try.
T-Mobile USA recently boosted coverage in my area. I actually called in after experiencing better signal quality / speeds to give them kudos. Shortly thereafter, speeds dropped by two-thirds to around 0.3mbps. I have sneaky feeling they thought I was enjoying the newfound speeds too much.
Yes. Interested on how to do this!!
hd2shadow said:
I got frustrated only getting 1 bar and slow connections inside my back office?, so I made a "Passive Fractal Antenna" 3G to Boost from 1 to 4 bars, my dslreports.com Mobile Speed Test went from 228kbit/sec to 2976kbit/sec. the antenna is easy to build and more importantly! it$ Cheap! total cost $20.00, The only thing to keep in mind is that since its a passive antenna it works better when you have the HTC HD2 laying on the Base input and in front of the reflector, The further you are from the base the less the affect? I put the Antenna as high as possible in my closet with one side 90 degrees perpendicular facing the closest Cell Tower (Find Cell Tower) and with the grounded reflector facing directly to the Cell Tower with a 10ohm transformer for matching.
The Antenna I made is purposely tuned for wide band but you can fine tune it for greater reception if needed, but the frequencies we are working with makes it too directional?
If people are interested I will put up a simple schematic with parts and description build list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is pretty interesting...but aw man..you screen protector is not so hot!!
Interesting...
I would have preferred that you did a series of speed tests and looked at the averages, since I have seen wild swings from one test to the next. But 228kbit/sec to 2976kbit/sec? That's pretty amazing.
I can basically see the concept of your antenna - so I guess the biggest question is: What wire did you use, and what does it do between the desk spiral and that diagonally zig zag in the closet. I sure hope your wife isn't tripping over it when she heads to the laundry room, LOL! +1 on the screen protector... Dude, the screen is hardened glass, and while I would cry if mine got scratched, I would be downright embarrassed walking around with that bubbled mess on top of my beautiful HD2.
+2 on the screen protector. Remove or replace it! NOW!!
SmartAs$Phone said:
Dude, the screen is hardened glass, and while I would cry if mine got scratched, I would be downright embarrassed walking around with that bubbled mess on top of my beautiful HD2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+3 on the awful screen protector he has.
But, that amazingly hardened glass CAN scratch. I watched the Youtube video of a guy trying to scratch it with a razor blade, and felt pretty confident I didn't need a screen protector. I had a half inch scratch in the center of the screen 2 days later. NO idea how it happened, but it my have been my keys the ONE time they were NEAR the phone.
Logically, I upgraded shipping on a couple PhantomSkinz so I'll never have to worry about that again.
Keys can scratch the absolute hell out of glass. My friend's ipod touch has a scratch running the entire diagonal of the screen.
service sucks in my basements im interested
I'd love to see the plans/schematics too, I know these types of antennas can work wonders, if implemented properly.
I will post pictures and plans/schematics as well very soon, next day or so, I just got back and need to do a few things first, Passive Fractal Antenna is not anything that is hard to do? you just need a roll of wire and patience.
toreone said:
but aw man..you screen protector is not so hot!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a gem. Had to take a second look. Lol this is hilarious.please wait 2 seconds for an uncompressed image, or press Ctrl+F5 for original quality page
Think this would work to get a better WiMax signal?

OMG! HD2 has same grip reception flaw as iPhone 4

If you hold the phone in your left hand - just like the iPhone 4's "wrong" grip (your skin presses against the lower left side of the phone) watch reception bars go down 1 or 2 bars. The longer you leave your hand there, the more the bars go down. Release and they are up again. Tried it with and without a case. Same issue.
Just because it happens to HD2 does not necessarily become a problem.
I could also reproduce that on my iPhone 3GS and 3G in some location but not in all locations. I didn't even realise this until people start complaining about iPhone 4. To reduce the signal, i have to grip it (without using a case) very tightly without lettting go for a long time. If I periodically relax my hand as I would in normal usage, then signal won't go down. As this is not the way I normally grip, and the fact that I've been using my phones for so long without even knowing there is a "problem" probably means that I have nothing to worry about.
Then, I searched the youtube and found out that it is also happening to Nokia phones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi1gHDa7-X0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ7t75Uo6qQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amPG52DVQuk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Zsuxbd0L0g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyLrFY3mI0M
Nokia is trying to fool everyone by saying that users can hold their phones in anyway they want, but this is simply not true. See this:
http://www.appleinsider.com/article...at_iphone_4_death_grip_gets_called_on_it.html
Haven't got an iPhone 4 yet, but my impression is that this issue is more pronounced with it. IMO, although it can be easily fixed by using a case, applying a sticky tape or nail polish over the lower left half of the antenna, Apple would definitely need to address this issue so that out of the box the extent of signal strengh reduction is minimized.
I didn't say it was a problem. I was just shocked to find it out after all this time I had it and never knew. Hence the OMG!
I think the phenomena is likely to exist with every phone, in certain locations, with certain hand type, but owners of the phone may not notice it unless they deliberately test it out. I could only produce that phenomena is one part of my house but not in another. Just like half the iPhone 4 owners were not able to reproduce this problem while about half were able to. My guess is that it has nothing to do with manufacturing defects, but simply a case of the location, orientation, and body type.
There have been discussions about that at the beginning on the HD2. The antenna is in the bottom part of the phone, between the bottom and the start of the metal cover, i.e. where your hand is (as stated in the manual).
The end word is that pretty much every phone on the market will have its reception drop a bit when you hold it.
FCC only allows the antenna to be located at the bottom of the phone, away from the user's brain. Also, the level of signal strengh must not exceed what's allowed. So, even if the manufacturer want to relocate the antenna to the top part of the phone so that user's hand could not touch it so easily, it would not be approved. Simiilary, even if the manufacturer could increase the signal strength, it would not be approved.
eaglesteve said:
Haven't got an iPhone 4 yet, but my impression is that this issue is more pronounced with it. IMO, although it can be easily fixed by using a case, applying a sticky tape or nail polish over the lower left half of the antenna, Apple would definitely need to address this issue so that out of the box the extent of signal strengh reduction is minimized.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard that the fastest and cheapest way to solve teh Iphone 4 reception problem was to put a condom over it. They are cheaper than the bumper and are available in a varitey of colors and textures. The added plus is that you always have a condom handy should you need one
Classic Apple!
Let HTC and Nokia work tirelessly for years upon years only to one-up them with a bigger shinier version of a feature EVERY smartphone has had since 2003.
Sheesh.
wineds said:
I heard that the fastest and cheapest way to solve teh Iphone 4 reception problem was to put a condom over it. They are cheaper than the bumper and are available in a varitey of colors and textures. The added plus is that you always have a condom handy should you need one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your recommendation would suit youself my friend. I'll use a nice looking case.
Basically every phone has way to hold it which will lower signal strength. With most smartphones it is rather easy. Most phones also have picture in manual how to hold it correctly. It's nothing new.
The HD2 issue your mentioning is a normal reaction to covering an antenna. This SHOULD happen in all phones since you are partially blocking the antena.
The iPhone 4 issue is not similar, if you go through this post:
http://gizmodo.com/5571171/iphone-4-loses-reception-when-you-hold-it-by-the-antenna-band
you'll see that the signal loss is due to connecting the left side of the antenna with the bottom by touching the left side and the bottom (left) portion of the phone. If you put a "Bumper", apple's term for cover, and then hold the iphone in exactly the same way, you will not lose the signal.
omar302 said:
If you put a "Bumper", apple's term for cover, and then hold the iphone in exactly the same way, you will not lose the signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing is I have a black rubberised case around my HD2 and even WITH the case the bars still drop.
tboy2000 said:
The thing is I have a black rubberised case around my HD2 and even WITH the case the bars still drop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as long as you are not brothered, it cannot be called a problem.
tboy2000 said:
The thing is I have a black rubberised case around my HD2 and even WITH the case the bars still drop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, thats because the singal has to go through your hand, so it might lose a bar or two.
All phones get this.
The Iphones problem is not the same thing, it just hast he same result.
if i leave any phone I've ever had in pretty much any spot in my house the signal flutuates.
sod all to do with holding it.
just use a BT headset
anyone cares for some duct tape?
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apples-latest-conundrum-duct-tape-2010-07-12?dist=countdown
lol... Snapperheads...
If you watch the iphone vid on youtube showing the 'making of' the phone you'll notice the alloy frame is the antenna... Covering it will help not to drop the reception... But having to have a cover to not lose reception is a joke...
As for the HD2, all phones held in a hand will have variance in reception... I tried the left hand thing on mine and it didn't drop a bar...
i have no problem with mine........may be the signal/reception from my carrier is really great unlike that in US.....
LOL good thing i'm not left handed

Anyone noticed their barometer seems to not be working?

I have some meteorological and aviation training and so I downloaded PressureNet, but when I look at my readings history it is not corresponding to the pressure measured by actual NWS equipment. My barometer seems to be stuck between 28.88 and 28.90. Right now the airport 1.5 miles away from my house is measuring 30.19 but mine still says 28.89.
I have verified the reading that PressureNet is displaying with several other barometer apps and they are all the same. I'm thinking I may have defective barometer.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? BTW my phone is a second batch 8GB made in Korea.
ChrisDTC said:
I have some meteorological and aviation training and so I downloaded PressureNet, but when I look at my readings history it is not corresponding to the pressure measured by actual NWS equipment. My barometer seems to be stuck between 28.88 and 28.90. Right now the airport 1.5 miles away from my house is measuring 30.19 but mine still says 28.89.
I have verified the reading that PressureNet is displaying with several other barometer apps and they are all the same. I'm thinking I may have defective barometer.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? BTW my phone is a second batch 8GB made in Korea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to also consider that you are comparing a phone's barometer to professional-grade equipment.
ihakim said:
You have to also consider that you are comparing a phone's barometer to professional-grade equipment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The range of barometric pressure is basically only 28.00 to 32.00, so for it to be off nearly an inch and half means it not doing anything at all. And the historical logging is no better, it only stays between 28.8 to 28.9, when it should be changing with the weather.
I noticed mine to be inaccurate too, but it's on it's way back to LG due to rear glass breakage. I too work in Aviation, and was wondering if phone could be of use, but like yours, mine read low.
What altitude are you guys at? Note that atmospheric pressure reported in aviation and weather are corrected for source altitude, and the phone is not. If you are not at sea level, it will always read low.

Spring contact not touching metal back

Hey, quick question. Is anyone else's spring terminal in the bottom-right-most corner too low to make contact with the back? Mine is and my gps seems a little inaccurate compared with other phones ive had in the past. Just wondering if this could be it.
There's lot of them. Bend then slightly up with a plastic knife something. Took my galaxy note 4 apart and did same thing to all the contacts. Got improved reception and GPS working again.
Yeah, I probed a little with a little pick tool but they're so small I need something even tinier like a sewing needle. And it looks like ill have better luck if I remove the back shell as there isnt much room to get at it as is. It is so low I wondered if it was intentional. Hence the reason I asked on here. When I look across the edge of the phone I can see the others peek above the plastic but this one shows nothing. Hope that makes sense, it is an awkward visual to describe.
I'm disappointed that I even have to consider opening my brand new expensive phone. But I also
dont want to fork over $20 to Tmobile to swap it. I've owned the G2 and the G5 before this and both of them had faults requiring replacement as well.
Mine is too, leave it
Hmm...strange. I just tested mine without my case or the battery cover, and my GPS locked on faster and better than it ever has since getting this phone. Seeing how recessed that connector is, I'd have to say it was intentional, though I'm not sure why it was made that way since there is a contact pad on the battery cover in that spot. I'm going to have to agree with wing_addict_usa, and say leave it as it is.
My gps sucks with just a simple plastic case on the phone. It goes bonkers. I swear it's the gyro/compass thing in the phone.
Did you calibrate it? And I didn't lay it on the camera lens. Just a flat surface with camera lens hanging off the edge.
Thanks for the replies, glad to know my spring comtact is normal. At least I can look elsewhere for the cause.
I've done the figure 8 calibration while in Google maps with no change. Using the "GPS Test" app it was struggling to stay under 35ft of accuracy.
The problem seems to be a little inconsistent though. After posting I was able to eventually get between 15 and 20 feet of accuracy. I wonder if it is emf noise while data polling or noise while charging that could be interfering with the reception of gps signal.
The poor reception occurred with my phone on a magnetic holder attached to my windshield driving on interstate highway. Other phones of mine normally get pretty good signal in that situation.
Ill keep an eye on it and post any new findings but for now I'm kinda stumped. GPS worked fine up until the day of my posting.
To be honest, I completely forgot about calibrating the GPS. It has been so long since I've had to do it since my last few phones had great GPS radios, and were accurate out of the box. I calibrated mine last night after having to look up how to do it again, and it seemed better this morning. Still not as accurate as the M8 I upgraded from, but now it's not all over the place like it was.
How do you calibrate it?
Just an update to my situation. I seem to be getting better reception now but not as good as my alcatel idol 3 5.5" . I can get down to 15ft of accuracy on the v20 and 10 ft accuracy on Idol 3 in same location.
Btw, The GPS antenna is located in the top plastic piece which has metal tabs that make contact with more of those metal springs. I removed mine and put it back on to see if I could get a better connection. It seemed pretty snug though and not much chance for a weak connection.
I'm not totally convinced that was the issue but I'm happy for now as the navigation seems to be more reliable.
Oh and the calibration is not the gps but the gyros so that the maps orientate correctly to the position your phone is in. Its done by moving the phone in a figure 8 pattern. There is also a leveling calibration in the menu somewhere that has you set the phone on known level surface and then press calibrate to zero the level to the phones position.
The figure 8 is the one I was referring to though and now that I think of it, not much use for GPS reception.

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