Just got my Droid 2 the other day, first Android phone or smart phone for that matter.
Was wondering if anyone knew why google maps or anything that uses my GPS location is always slightly inaccurate?
For instance I work on a main road through a strip of restaurants and shops and it showed my location as across the main road and down a side road a few blocks, it clearly showed the nearby streets and was close but where it put the icon I was obviously not there.
Same thing happens with my weather app, every now and then it says I am in the next town over from where I really am.
Whats up? Anyone else have this problem?
yes unfortunately, my navigation app is next to useless. Always end up walking a block.
Would really like some input on this!
An update:
I deliver pizza (still in school okay ) and I used my maps to just show the location of a house that was pretty far away at the farthest point of our range. I put in the address correctly and it showed the house about 5 miles off from where it really was, but somehow still on the same road.
This is pretty unacceptable to me as a driver, I was hoping to be able to put my phone and GPS to good use, but for now it is far from working correctly.
Hi
Mine works great it's right on you have to turn on the sats not just the cell towers.
Okay, so after some intense Googlage, it seems like there are THREE different ways a modern android froyo device can get your position...
It triangulates GPS satellites, Cell Phone towers, and WIRELESS networks...
I believe Google has a database of known wifi hotspots from driving around in the street view truck.
Apparently the phone trys to average a position between all three? Either way, the WIFI triangulation is known to be inaccurate and throws the phone off.
Anyways, if you use the stock froyo power switch widget do the following to get best results:
1. enable WIFI and GPS via the widget
2. navigate to main settings screen
3. select Location & Security settings
4. DISABLE "Use wireless networks"
5. ENABLE "Use GPS satellites"
6. ENABLE "Assisted GPS"
If you still have issues, try calibrating your compass before you set off for a trip or are trying to use Google maps to get an exact location.
After changing these settings, you can go back to the power switch widget and disable GPS and WIFI if you'd like. anytime you need to use a location based app, just enable GPS via the widget and launch your app!
Anyone else have problems using the GPS toggle widget? (Either Froyo stock or the Moto one)
When I turn off GPS, it disables all three options under Location & Security. Weird, but not too big of a deal as long as it would restore them when I power it back on... but it doesn't. When I re-enable GPS, ONLY the "Use GPS satellites" option is re-enabled, regardless of the state the other options were in originally. Both aGPS and "wireless networks" options stay disabled and I have to manually get back to settings and re-enable them...
Am I special or do other people get this with the D2?
I was sitting the Hospital the other day, wondering where I was so I turned on my maps & sure enough it showed I was right in the middle of the building, even showing the building! Found out where I was!
teeBOMB said:
Okay, so after some intense Googlage, it seems like there are THREE different ways a modern android froyo device can get your position...
It triangulates GPS satellites, Cell Phone towers, and WIRELESS networks...
I believe Google has a database of known wifi hotspots from driving around in the street view truck.
Apparently the phone trys to average a position between all three? Either way, the WIFI triangulation is known to be inaccurate and throws the phone off.
Anyways, if you use the stock froyo power switch widget do the following to get best results:
1. enable WIFI and GPS via the widget
2. navigate to main settings screen
3. select Location & Security settings
4. DISABLE "Use wireless networks"
5. ENABLE "Use GPS satellites"
6. ENABLE "Assisted GPS"
If you still have issues, try calibrating your compass before you set off for a trip or are trying to use Google maps to get an exact location.
After changing these settings, you can go back to the power switch widget and disable GPS and WIFI if you'd like. anytime you need to use a location based app, just enable GPS via the widget and launch your app!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This fixed it for me, thanks! For some reason I thought the GPS would always be on, I suppose I do like that I can turn it off now though.
Wanted to add that if you leave all that GPS on even when your charging you'll get an email alert that you have it on, another words you are being monitored. Caught me by surprise so I turned it off for a few minutes of privacy.
anonymous-x said:
Wanted to add that if you leave all that GPS on even when your charging you'll get an email alert that you have it on, another words you are being monitored. Caught me by surprise so I turned it off for a few minutes of privacy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh, no.
You get an e-mail when you enable Google Latitude, which is completely separate from the GPS system itself. Google Latitude can be turned on and off from "inside" of Google Maps.
Yes & I have no complaints using those apps but when I'm home it should know & turning them off saves battery & I also charge it.
I used to trust Flexilis which changed it's name to Lookout but when I tested that last night & today it's locating my phone at either the west or east tower which are more than 5000 meters away (but they are a good free back-up).
I've got some questions about Location settings. This thread basically has the exact same question as me but it was never really answered properly I think. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2147755)
As of now I have Location reporting set to automatically update, whilst leaving 'Report from this device' unchecked. Will any of Google Now's services be hindered by leaving this unchecked?
I have created this thread to help the people who have experienced the android os battery drain and excess mobile data use.
After sometime of research and testing I have found that the battery and mobile data drain by the android os (google networking/services) is caused by excessive connecting to servers to download data. This overrides STAMINA mode.
To fix the issue the best thing to do is to block the connection in the first place (switching off location did not help + I need sync on), so not only does the data usage stop but so does the battery drain. To do so follow the steps below (note: you need root, as non-root firewalls did not work for me)...
1) Install AFWall+ (Android Firewall +)-it is free.
2) Find Network location (scroll down the list) and check the box in the mobile data column (refer to attached screenshot).
3) Tap the 3 dot menu save this and enable the firewall.
Now the excessive downloading of data will stop preventing the battery drain as well. :good:
Note: The major drawback is that services such as Android Device Manager and MyXperia will not be able to locate the device but you can still share location with apps.
If this helped, press thanks!
if you simply disables the syncronisation , it's the same no ?
taywin13 said:
if you simply disables the syncronisation , it's the same no ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends, I personally prefer sync being on as I need it. I keep my mobile data on 24/7 this firewall prevents the explained problems whilst allowing me to use apps like CityMapper, WhatsApp etc... outside home. I can't remember but the problem may still occur with sync off.
To be honest I just want to sell my Xperia SP, outdated os, annoying bugs etc... but I just don't see a worthy replacement yet.
I posted last week in a slightly different context but didn't see any responses. However I think there may be something happening here that Sprint doesn't want to talk about, or that Tech Support doesn't know about, and would really appreciate any insights.
I'm data roaming on European networks and my Wi-Fi switches itself on whenever (and only when) I am actively connected to the GSM networks here. I've booted in safe mode, verified all settings, disabled/killed Connections Optimizer, turned off location services, etc.
I started a Reddit thread to ask about similar behavior and a few other users confirmed seeing the same whenever data roaming (even domestically).
It seems like Sprint (or Samsung?) might have put in a "feature" to save data usage when possible in a roaming situation, but it is instead A) killing my battery, and B) causing my phone to connect to certain networks at times I don't want to connect to them.
Is my phone just being glitchy, or is this something else?
Samsung have included something called 'download booster' in their firmwares. It allows faster downloads by being simultaneously connected to wi-fi and 3G/4G networks.....
Have you checked to see if this option is enabled?
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
keithross39 said:
Samsung have included something called 'download booster' in their firmwares. It allows faster downloads by being simultaneously connected to wi-fi and 3G/4G networks.....
Have you checked to see if this option is enabled?
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has been enabled; I just tried force stopping and then disabled it, then turned my Wi-Fi off. However, ~30 seconds later, the Wi-Fi has switched itself back on again. I appreciate the thought and getting something new to try! But does not look like that is the culprit.
Might it have something to do with location settings? Select the 'mode' option within location settings and see if you are set for (I think) high accuracy which uses wifi as part of the connection system....
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
keithross39 said:
Might it have something to do with location settings? Select the 'mode' option within location settings and see if you are set for (I think) high accuracy which uses wifi as part of the connection system....
http://i.imgur.com/rVnFwJM.jpg
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, I've already set location to low-accuracy and also turned off location services. Also disabled all the "always scan for networks" settings, disabled/killed connections optimizer, and went into the *#0011# menu and disabled WiFi Power Saving mode, which some people have listed as a potential solution for similar problems.
Also talked to Sprint Tech Support, who went through most of these same steps and ultimately decided it must be a software glitch and advised a factory reset; I just have a hard time believing that a "glitch" could have such a "convenient" outcome. (Then there's also the fact that I got two other data points from people who experienced the same thing while roaming - and a third that's questionable - so I don't think it's just me.)
Is there any sort of logging feature I could enable that would show the source of the Wi-Fi is being triggered?
The location services do not work on my phone, despite it is enabled. What should I do?