GPS/Navigation issues - G2 and Desire Z General

My phone is a month old and the GPS is ridiculously slow to gain a connection. Does anyone have a solution? Everything is stock and I use the stock navigation on the phone.

Mine works great. Maybe turn on use networks in location settings and try to get clear of any buildings. I get lock in less than a minute outside. Download gps status from th e market and check if it can see the satellites. There's also an option in there to reset the agps data
Sent from my HTC Vision using Tapatalk

try downloading the GPS test app in the market. How many satellite connections are you getting?
Here's the market link:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.chartcross.gpstest&feature=search_result

search for "vision_wipe_efs-signed.zip", it fixed my gps

Related

Using GPS without CDMA signal

Hello:
I try use the GPS of Sprint Hero in Argentina (there are no operators that use CDMA)
and I can not find the satellite signals, what I can do?
Thanks in advance
Gps will not work without a network location first. You may be able to connect to a wifi and it work, maybe.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Try to use the GPS while connected to wi fi and have not had luck. There fix something?
danaff37 said:
Gps will not work without a network location first. You may be able to connect to a wifi and it work, maybe.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pablo2m said:
Try to use the GPS while connected to wi fi and have not had luck. There fix something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using a custom ROM, or just stock 2.1?
Probably nothing you can do. The gps hardware is not powerful enough to work without a network location.
Sent from my Android for Telechips TCC8900 Evaluation Board (US) using XDA App
Today i'm using CM6 but try with the original sprint rom
stayclean said:
Are you using a custom ROM, or just stock 2.1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my thoughts are...
GPS works.. but without data it has no reference.
Maps must be downloaded via some internet connection. Maybe a wifi can help u.
or
you can download a stand alone GPS map app. CoPilot is a good one, but cost $30.
Yeah, but the gps can't even find a lock without a recent network signal to tell it where to start looking. It's not a full on gps antenna.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
I have been traveling around the world recently with my EVO and using the GPS to do so. It's GPS chip is no better than the Hero's I believe.
Things to keep in mind, without aGPS help, it can take these things up to 30 minutes to find your correct location. Usually it takes 4 strong signals to pinpoint it. Download GPS Status from the market and it will show you all of the satellites it is picking up as well as the strengths and you will know when you have a lock. It will also allow you to keep the phone awake and the gps active until it gets a fix. This is probably your main problem. If the phone is not actively using the gps, it turns off the chip and never gets a chance to get a fix.
You need to run GPS status preferably when you are connected to a wifi signal and outside with a clear shot of the sky. It can take anywhere from 10 seconds to 30 minutes depending on if you are on a wifi connection, how far away you are from the last known lock stored in the chip (GPS Status will display this for you) and also how far from the equator you are, etc. If you are very far south in argentina it can be a LOT more difficult GPS to work... I noticed my GPS had waaay more trouble up in sweden than it did down in central europe.
Also, Download mapdroyd and get the maps for the area you are in. It works pretty well for a free locally stored map app. GPS Status also allows you to add pins/labels to gps coordinates and then do a radar type guidance back to them. Between these two tools and now knowing how to connect your phone, you should never get lost again, providing your battery does not die. Luckily I brought 4 extra batteries with me!

GPS calibration

I have found that some apps that are location aware or ask me to pick local servers, often suggest servers on the east coast. I am on the west coast of the US. When I am on wifi this does not happen, it is only happening on 3g. When I toggle on wifi is suggests local servers. I have went into location settings and toggled on and off the settings for GPS as well as the "use wireless" option and it does nothing to help the issue.
The maps app as well as navigation work perfectly fine for locating me, this seems to be isolated to apps.
Thats usually an indication your gps is not working. When you use speedtest app with out wifi does it ask you to connect to kansas?
Speed test isn't a good way to find out as it will connect you sometimes to the least busiest server. Gps needs to lock first on a couple sats first time usage after that should be better.
Xda app via atrix
I wad able to get it calibrated correctly. I went outside and calibrated the compass first. I then did a gps lock from maps and then tapped lock again and let it sit for about 2 minutes. Everything is fine as of now.
Sent from my Atrix using XDA App
GPS in Atrix locks the satellite very quick. It could be comparable to a standalone GPS.

[Q] Anyone Elses GPS Aweful?

I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Nothing wrong with my gps. Have you upgraded to the latest firmware? Downloaded the A-GPS data (you can get this by using an app called GPS status)? Switch OFF wifi after you do, then leave it to get a full signal lock (takes up to 15minutes or so with a clear view of the sky).
toddmp said:
I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you are outside with a clear view of sky when you test. It can take any GPS up to 10 minutes to acquire the ephemeris information (satellite position at a certain time) and lock up. You phone cheats this by using the cellular network to provide a general location of where your are and therefore where to look for certain satellites.
thanks so much for the info guys. I had a feeling it had something to do with no cell phone band helping out. thanks!
GPS works fine here, as other have said the closer you are to the sky/window the better.
yeah..give your TF a few minutes to lock up sat positions (if you've never done this)..
this applies to most pure gps devices..cellphones can use cellular network signal to quickly locate your position but the data isn't really from gps itself.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1088120
Hope this helps
Acid lestitious 2.0. Fugumod 2.4 800 mhz
jerrykur said:
Make sure you are outside with a clear view of sky when you test. It can take any GPS up to 10 minutes to acquire the ephemeris information (satellite position at a certain time) and lock up. You phone cheats this by using the cellular network to provide a general location of where your are and therefore where to look for certain satellites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if it does the wifi cheat like maps for android phones, where it uses the known APs to determine location? I say that because when I first fired up my transformer yesterday, after connecting to wifi, I screwed around on maps and it found me inside my house in less than 30 seconds.
toddmp said:
I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its the reverse for me! in the same room of house i often cannot get a fix on my Optimus 2x. i use GPS Staus app. but i often get fix within 30secs. as a test i have both machines running the app next to each other and the transformer always gets regular fixes.
..... hmm just realised as i type this that i have a phone called optimus and tablet called transformer, and they both run android!!!
I get fixes with no wifi (ie: only GPS) within 30 seconds.
Quite the opposite, mine is extremely accurate. After it gets a fix on maps that little google person is standing right in my front yard in the satellite view! Better than my Droid!
Mine is almost instantaneous. Just tried it at home based on this thread and had a read in probably 5 seconds.
I have not been able to obtain a GPS lock until today when I set my location to use wireless networks. To me this is really stupid because the GPS shouldn't have to use any location settings to obtain a lock in my mind. That is if the GPS chip in the TF is a true GPS chip it should not to rely on a wifi signal to obtain a lock. If the GPS is turned on then it should lock.
I tested sygic gps navigation 11 and signal lock and quality was better than my galaxy s was pretty accurate
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
Works fine for me, apart from one minor detail. When I switch from Google Maps to another app, even for a few seconds, then the tablet has to get a lock all over again. There appears to be no way to set the GPS to keep a lock while Google Maps isn't the active program.
That, for me, makes Google Maps near-useless in a moving vehicle. Hopefully other third-party apps won't have this issue.
Google Maps is prety much useless on the Transformer for GPS navigation as a data connection is need. I have heard of people caching a route before hand but ..... Copilot Live 7 is out for android so that is one option. However if the GPS relies on a wifi signal in order to obtain a lock then it is about useless too.
toddmp said:
I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gps works fine on mine....unlike my icons or Samsung...both returned
gps does use wifi to help gps locate, theres options to turn this off in settings, i went to pick up my dock today and couldn't get a gps lock while in the car with the transformer in my lap(gps status app showed 3 sats but none would lock) just lifting it up 12 inches closer to the windshield made 7 satellites pop up and instantly started getting locks
i think proximity to a window/line of sky is a big factor, and the transformer does have a true gps chip for those who seem to doubt it, also the navigation app keeps running in the background, its better to use that than google maps
No issues with gps here. The bastard finds me every time!
jadesse said:
However if the GPS relies on a wifi signal in order to obtain a lock then it is about useless too.
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Click to collapse
It doesn't rely on WiFi for a lock, it just uses it to allow a faster connection if you don't already have current ephemeris data downloaded. That's a limitation of all GPS receivers -- it takes a fair while to download the ephemeris data if you're out of date or have travelled a significant distance, and without it the device can't get a GPS fix.
You can think of the WiFi location system as analogous to a cellphone being able to use tower locations to help position itself while waiting for GPS ephemeris data.

GPS lock time problem

Hi,When I use my phone for finding my location without using data connectivity - without relying on A-GPS so my phone finds my location after a lot of time or sometimes google maps can't find my location.
How can I solve this?
Thanks.
After day or so it won't get fix at all. Samsung just did something wrong I'm afraid. Looks like the GPS in SG2 NEEDS data to work. I found the hard way on my trip to Japan. I know no solution.
So I cant change my gps settings?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
GPS in the S2 is weird. Some days it locks in seconds other times it takes forever. I never use A-GPS.
Today I couldn't get it to lock but last night it was instant. So I restored a CWM backup from last night, rebooted and it locked instantly.
I played around with MIUI for a couple of days and found lock time much better than stock or custom rom.
Also, changing server with fasterfix makes no difference when its having problems locking.
I just don't get it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
GPS Aids in Market. It will take a bit of time on first lock but from then it will be fast.
sxi200 said:
GPS in the S2 is weird. Some days it locks in seconds other times it takes forever. I never use A-GPS.
Today I couldn't get it to lock but last night it was instant. So I restored a CWM backup from last night, rebooted and it locked instantly.
I played around with MIUI for a couple of days and found lock time much better than stock or custom rom.
Also, changing server with fasterfix makes no difference when its having problems locking.
I just don't get it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
How do you 'never use AGPS' ? Btw. my problem is not time of the lock. But the fact, that without network, I don't get fix AT ALL. With network AGPS reset helps (many apps can do that). But without network GPS works only for some time (AGPS data still valid). After that you just won't get fix. It even looks like wifi connection won't help, it has to be mobile network.
It's because of crappy gps reciever or it can be improved by another rom?
Thanks
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
It seems the problem is that GPS is in mode, where it simply relies on AGPS. In older ROMs there was app called LBSTestMode where you could change the mode to stand alone, or just AGPS based. This application is not in newer ROMs, so it cannot be switched. It clearly is just a software thing. Except it looks that there is no solution which does not involve flashing roms and/or rooting.
Dr.Sid said:
How do you 'never use AGPS' ? Btw. my problem is not time of the lock. But the fact, that without network, I don't get fix AT ALL. With network AGPS reset helps (many apps can do that). But without network GPS works only for some time (AGPS data still valid). After that you just won't get fix. It even looks like wifi connection won't help, it has to be mobile network.
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Click to collapse
Yeah I never use it. I don't tick 'use wireless networks' at all. To me that's fake GPS.
Since my last post, GPS has been perfect. Am able to lock up to 11 satellites sitting on the couch. On average it takes about 10 seconds to lock. Tested it at least 20 times today.
But who knows what will happen tomorrow!!!
Man, if you can only get a lock using wireless networks then I think your GPS might be stuffed.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
sxi200 said:
Yeah I never use it. I don't tick 'use wireless networks' at all. To me that's fake GPS.
Since my last post, GPS has been perfect. Am able to lock up to 11 satellites sitting on the couch. On average it takes about 10 seconds to lock. Tested it at least 20 times today.
But who knows what will happen tomorrow!!!
Man, if you can only get a lock using wireless networks then I think your GPS might be stuffed.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
That does not mean you don't use AGPS. AGPS is method, where data about GPS satellites are not downloaded from those satellites via GPS receiver, but rather from server via. mobile network. So I'm afraid you do use AGPS, unless you disable mobile networking (and wait about day for current data to become obsolete).
One thing I've noticed is that when I run Z-DeviceTest and bring up the GPS status display, it shows that none of the satellites have almanac data, and very rarely have ephemeris data. If that's accurate, that would suggest that if you've turned off AGPS and mobile networking, you could have some trouble.
3waygeek said:
One thing I've noticed is that when I run Z-DeviceTest and bring up the GPS status display, it shows that none of the satellites have almanac data, and very rarely have ephemeris data. If that's accurate, that would suggest that if you've turned off AGPS and mobile networking, you could have some trouble.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice find. First app I know which shows this. Now I can test if that almanac is downloading via GPS satellites or not.
Dr.Sid said:
That does not mean you don't use AGPS. AGPS is method, where data about GPS satellites are not downloaded from those satellites via GPS receiver, but rather from server via. mobile network. So I'm afraid you do use AGPS, unless you disable mobile networking (and wait about day for current data to become obsolete).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. So does that would mean it's impossible to get a GPS lock without data enabled? Or just harder to?
Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned AGPS, but instead wireless networks which show your position even though GPS is not locked.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
sxi200 said:
Ok. So does that would mean it's impossible to get a GPS lock without data enabled? Or just harder to?
Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned AGPS, but instead wireless networks which show your position even though GPS is not locked.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
It seems it may vary with ROM, and it is possible to switch it, at least older ROMs contain service menu module (LbsTestMode) to switch it. But my SG2 seems to be unable to get a fix without network. It simply does not even try do download Almanac or Ephemerides data from the satellites.
Also for AGPS, mobile network must be used, not WiFi. As I understand it, those AGPS server names are virtual, and network provider redirects them based on location .. which is not possible via WiFi.
I wonder WHY there is such option at all. Do mobile network providers want us to be unable to get a fix without them ?
Dr.Sid said:
It seems it may vary with ROM, and it is possible to switch it, at least older ROMs contain service menu module (LbsTestMode) to switch it. But my SG2 seems to be unable to get a fix without network. It simply does not even try do download Almanac or Ephemerides data from the satellites.
Also for AGPS, mobile network must be used, not WiFi. As I understand it, those AGPS server names are virtual, and network provider redirects them based on location .. which is not possible via WiFi.
I wonder WHY there is such option at all. Do mobile network providers want us to be unable to get a fix without them ?
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Click to collapse
Hey Dr, I think you have diagnosed my problem
Every so often I turn off data and use only wifi. One day my GPS locks in seconds then the next it takes forever.
So I have now tested it a couple of times over the last couple of days, when I can't get a lock I turn off wifi and turn on data. All of a sudden GPS locks again. Interesting!!
Hopefully that is it. Will test again the next time it won't lock.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Ha ! Breakthrough. I could get a fix without network ! But ..
I used newer version of 'GPS Status' app. It shows state of unconnected satellites with gray/blue/yellow based on how much data it has - none/almanac/ephemerides. So you can see if there is some progress or not.
So I disabled network (both wifi and mobile), disabled location from mobile network, left just GPS on .. run GPS status and used 'Reset AGPS'.
The connection has few 'phases':
1) you get signals from satellites .. you see it in power meter .. all are gray .. and their dots on the 'sky' view are all in the N. Sure, GPS does not know where the satellites are, and does not know where you are .. so it can't know where on the 'sky' they should show.
2) Some signals/dots turn blue. That means you have almanac data. Rough position of all satellites, which is transmitted by all satellites. That already means your GPS receiver was used to download some data from the satellites. Based on this, GPS can tell very roughly where you are, and will paint dots on the skyview.
3) Some signals/dots turn yellow. That means you successfully downloaded ephemerides data from that satellite, and it can be used in fix. Have enough of them, and you are done.
4) Some signals/dots turn green - you have fix. The error will get better over time as more satellites are used.
I took me over 5 minutes .. but thanks to this tool I could see I'm indeed receiving some data and there is some progress. Also it only worked outside, under open skies. I tried that in a car, in a bus, in a train .. after 10 minutes I did not get over phase 1. With AGPS I get fix in all such situations in few seconds.
It just looks like the data decoding module for almanac/ephemerides is not the same as for the time (which is used in fix itself). While time channel is quite sensitive and fine, data channel seems to have troubles with even slightest disturbances.
Still I'm happy I made it work in the end !
Btw. the fact that AGPS does not work over WiFi still holds.
ayosopov said:
Hi,When I use my phone for finding my location without using data connectivity - without relying on A-GPS so my phone finds my location after a lot of time or sometimes google maps can't find my location.
How can I solve this?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try fasterfix from market
I rarely have the data connection on (just to save battery) and WiFi is only on where I know I have a known connection - thus it is off when outside.
I put on the GPS then immediately run Sygic satnav program. I will have a fix normally within 30 seconds and a worst case of about a minute (that I can remember).
I have just tried switching off and on my phone, putting on the GPS (from the Pull down menu) and run Sygic. From switching on the GPS, I had a lock in about a minute.
KI3 Stock ROM
fred_up said:
I rarely have the data connection on (just to save battery) and WiFi is only on where I know I have a known connection - thus it is off when outside.
I put on the GPS then immediately run Sygic satnav program. I will have a fix normally within 30 seconds and a worst case of about a minute (that I can remember).
I have just tried switching off and on my phone, putting on the GPS (from the Pull down menu) and run Sygic. From switching on the GPS, I had a lock in about a minute.
KI3 Stock ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you try that with AGPS manually reset ? I recommend 'GPS Status' tool to do it, it's in 'tools' menu.
GPS lock time seems much improved in KJ4 firmware for me (i'm on orange 2.3.5)
all three DOP values in GPS Status now show figures (instead of infinity for two of them), and i'm getting reported accuracies of around 5 metres, instead of 14 - 20 metres on the older firmware.

proposed solution for gps issues

Hi guys, I've been working hard for a while trying to track down a work-around to get gps to work properly, I've been testing my idea for about a week now and its been 100% effective for me so far.
Back ground:- I've been messing with every rom and they all exibit the same issue, "no azimuth or elevation data" is being received from the satelites. Without this data no location can be caluclated.
I stopped using Zeubeas ICS for a while as I wanted to use what should be a perfect, stable rom, as good as zeubeas rom is I didn't feel it was stable enough for my testing, so I ended up choosing cyanogen 7.2.0 as my choice.
First thing to note is that I have found that "gps test" by chartcross or gps status & toolbox by mobiwia eclipsim don't seam to work properly, as in they are supposed to have the ability to clear the agps data stored on the phone but from my testing it dosn't work hence why I struggled for so long beleiving those apps worked. So I stopped using them compleatly.
I Did find an app that does seam to work for me, it is also called gps test, but it is by Mike Lockwood, it shows satalite azimuth and elevation data and also seams to clear the agps data correctly.
I also use a really neat gps app called AndroiTS Gps test free, it has a nice gui, shows satalite azimuth and elevation data and more and doesn't seam to cause any conflict with gps apps.
The test condidtions:-
GPS on
3G & wifi off
Open either androiTS or gps test (then menu and start gps)
Wait a while, if you see numbers in the azim & elev other than 0(zero) you should eventually get location lock I have found that it takes no longer than 5 minutes to get lock, outside in the open.
Ok so you don't see azim & elev data, here's what I do to get it going again
Gps on of course
3G and wifi off (don't want any data or anything just yet)
Open gps test
Menu
Select clear aiding data
Close down gps test
3G data on, wifi off (having wifi on doesn't seam to help)
Open gps test
Menu
Start
Hey presto I see azimuth and elevation data again
When I do this I get really quick gps lock
Another thing I have noticed if you do the clear aiding data with 3G data off and wifi off then start gps you won't see azimuth or elevation data.
I hope this helps all the others with gps issues, if your getting gps issues and you can see the azimuth and elevation data but no lock this solution "may" also help.
I have not yet tried this idea on any other rom, so I don't know if it works as it does for me using cm 7.2.0, that is on my "todo list"
Happy Gps'ing
Update to this discussion.
I have now tried zeubeas beta 4 and out of the box I get no azimuzh or elevation data, the method I put forth above unfortunately did nothing to rectify GPS data either.
Sent from my Legend using xda app-developers app

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