Database Users

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
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pablo2m said:
Try to use the GPS while connected to wi fi and have not had luck. There fix something?
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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?
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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!

Desire hd - no gps at all

Hello. I have had the phone since xmas, I don't know if it came with Android 2.1 or 2.2, anyway I am now with the latest update, default Rom with adw launcher ex for the home screens. recently I needed the gps, it's been weeks now, and I could nevEr use it. I got the signal only once and it took such a long time and it found only 3 satellites. At least I know the gps hardware receiver works.
I have already used status gps, agps function with WiFi and 3g, mysatellites, gps test. Didn't try a hard reset, since I know there can be an easier and more comfortable solution.
Which one is it?
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

The phone has been bought in Switzerland...forgot to say.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

GPS is of very low quality on android phones and it really depends on AGPS service. IPhone has the best GPS of them all connects in 7 seconds without AGPS
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

Desire HD has a gps chip/sensor built in and can find a GPS signal on its own without network signal but it take a while. Try using an app such as GPS Test. A-GPS will provide faster signal because it will use network triangulation.

If the GPS is so bad as you say, why does GPS Test find the sattelites in about 5 seconds and locks on in about 10 seconds? (with 3g/ wifi off)
The lock on time has a lot do do with the radio firmware. Which one are you using?
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

@niks_5in you are wrong and your answer was incorrect. What should you say then if I say that with my touch HD and windows mobile I had a gps fix in 3 seconds? we don't need a winner in this thread, we just need to solve the GPS problem I have.
@karthics4 I did write that I already used gps test, status gps, mysatellites....fix doesn't happen. I can find maybe 3 satellites after half an hour, the next day is the same story. Even with AGPS, refreshing position and everything...I also have a 3G connection when I am outside...i can find my position with AGPS but of course it is not as precise as the normal GPS position....it just cannot get the fix on the satellites. even if I download the latest AGPS data before searching the satellites.
@Flussen I don't know which radio. How do I check that? I have read about people having no problems with GPS on desire hd...and then after some updates of android system they started losing signal or even never getting a fix on the signal....i cannot say it is what happened to me. I should maybe hard reset and see if before the updates the gps worked fine. But I really don't want to hard reset since I have many applications, and games with saved datas...
Isn't this GPS problem with desire hd a common problem? I thought many people had those issues with the gps...

rogermorse said:
Hello. I have had the phone since xmas, I don't know if it came with Android 2.1 or 2.2, anyway I am now with the latest update, default Rom with adw launcher ex for the home screens. recently I needed the gps, it's been weeks now, and I could nevEr use it. I got the signal only once and it took such a long time and it found only 3 satellites. At least I know the gps hardware receiver works.
I have already used status gps, agps function with WiFi and 3g, mysatellites, gps test. Didn't try a hard reset, since I know there can be an easier and more comfortable solution.
Which one is it?
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
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Is your phone rooted? Because if it is, then the easiest way if all else fail is to flash a new Radio version.

I occasionally have issues with the gps which are solved by the gps status app, with the newer radio and roms haven't had an issue for a while now. Fixes in around 5 seconds
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

do u use any casing for ur DHD.. I've had hard time on gps locking when using silicon case..

I am not using any Rom I have not rooted my device. But as far as GPS goes my old Nokia n82 locks faster than DHD. DHD will lock in 5 to 15 seconds using AGPS. Without AGPS forget the GPS. It will take ages
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niks_5in said:
I am not using any Rom I have not rooted my device. But as far as GPS goes my old Nokia n82 locks faster than DHD. DHD will lock in 5 to 15 seconds using AGPS. Without AGPS forget the GPS. It will take ages
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
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I can get a lock using HTC Locations in around the same time with just GPS and quite accurate to boot.
I can say the GPS/AGPS of the DHD is better than the E71, at least.

Fix
I am not sure if you found a solution or not but i just managed to fix my own gps that has been broken for almost a year. Here's how I did it:
Remove the cover for the LED-light. The GPS-antennae hides behind it. Check the connectors for dirt and the circuits to make sure they are whole. Mine wasn't. I managed to solder them back to shape and can now get a lock in a few seconds, even while indoors.

Gps issues

Anybody else have issues with gps signal? I've been in nyc for a week and haven't picked up signal once. Doesn't matter if I'm in a hotel, on the street or in central park. Then I have my buddy picking up gps perfectly on his ipad and I can do the same on my droid x.
Should gps work regardless on cellular data? I tried with various settings including airport mode with no luck. Very frustrating experience and I'm wondering if I got a defective unit.
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sooner2k1 said:
Should gps work regardless on cellular data? I tried with various settings including airport mode with no luck. Very frustrating experience and I'm wondering if I got a defective unit.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
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Yes and no. If you are just trying to follow yourself then yes. If you are trying to search for stuff or get directions then no.
Sent from my EVO

Sounds like a GPS a-gps thing.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Try downloading GPS Status & Toolbox by ECLIPSIM. You can watch along the bottom as it picks up satellite signals, one by one.
That should help you isolate the problem.
As bwcorvus says, the GPS only spits out your geographic location.
You need Internet access before any program can take those coordinates, place them on a map, and guide you to a new location.

What app are you trying to use the GPS with?
Google Maps and Navigation need internet access.
Apps like CoPilot do not.

GPS

Hi Guys,
Lucky me, I've got 2 devices as gift from 2 different persons on an occasion. One being Tab 7.7" and the other being Tab 7 Plus
Obviously I love the 7.7 for the brilliant screen. I thought I will use one of the 2 devices in my car just for navigation but just to my shock I've found that the GPS lock is taking longer when compared to other devices (Okay, My wife has a iPad and an iPhone) ....
As far as difference in time to lock in to the satillites like the Tab 7.7 sometime take more than 5 mins (Once it took close to 10 mins) even while I am in a road with clear sky but the Tab 7+ is a bit faster may be 2 - 5 mins for the same which is still longer than acceptable.
Edit: SIM card on.
Car Navigation Application : Sygic (Singapore & Malaysia)
This application is a charm and it work beautifully on my HTC Desire HD (<5 sec for lock) and iPhone 4 (2 - 5 secs) even on a cold start. So it surely is not an issue with the version of the app in android but the problem with the device.
I am still very happy with the tab 7.7 after all what more can I ask for something that I've got for free but just curious about others experience as it could be a HW issue for me.
Let Us all share our GPS experience here wrt issues and accuracy (both good and bad) with which we can create an repository of information for others to refer with.

I have noticed that my GPS won't lock on unless I have a sim card or when I was thetering to my Samsung galaxy s phone. Also noticed that it is not really accurate its off by quite a bit. Any suggestions on how to get it to be as accurate as possible.
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium

I got the same problem, on my p1000 i can get a lock for 2-5 secs using copilot, i used the same on my 7.7 and it takes forever to lock..
Another this, using this as a gps device might not be a good idea, it could cause burn in issues that AMOLEDS suffers from.
Just my two cents

when i bought my 7.7 tab it has no sim in it for about a week but the GPS locks very quickly (i precacached google maps and used it as GPS device when driving), initial lock takes about <1min while succeding GPS locks <10secs, as far as the specs indicate it has the same GLONASS GPS capability as the GNote

On android, I'm pretty sure GPS is useless without a data connection. My 7.7 takes a few seconds to lock on at the most, using a sim card. Even locks on inside buildings. When I took the simcard out once, it then took forever to lock on..
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium

I can confirm that my 7.7 takes only a few seconds to lock on with sim inside. Haven't tried without it yet.

Just tried mine for the first time. Enabled satellite + Wifi location tracking. Locked on within a few seconds.
I am in Muscat, Oman and Wifi isn't as eponymous as in US cities.
Edit: Just to be clear, I have a sim card with an active data plan in the device.

I got problem, on my p1000 i can get a lock for 5-10 secs using copilot, i used the same on my 7.7 and it takes forever to lock..

Guess it suffer the same problem as asus transformer prime. because of the metalic back it cause the GPS to suffer.
can anyone try GPS track program? see how many GPS satellites being lock ?

Mine locked within 10 sec for the first time while riding in a cab (it was down to 5m accuracy)

How can we increase accuracy?
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quizesilver said:
Guess it suffer the same problem as asus transformer prime. because of the metalic back it cause the GPS to suffer.
can anyone try GPS track program? see how many GPS satellites being lock ?
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When I used my GPS in Germany and France my data roaming was DISABLED, so I guess it only used GPS to lock on within the 10 seconds that it did so?

I have noticed that the GPS only works if you have some form of data on the tab ( either sim or wifi ) if not the GPS will not lock on and it says "data connection lost", why would this be? Is this normal or a bug?
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adinis78 said:
I have noticed that the GPS only works if you have some form of data on the tab ( either sim or wifi ) if not the GPS will not lock on and it says "data connection lost", why would this be? Is this normal or a bug?
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
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The tab's GPS unit probably requires AGPS data, which is downloaded from the internet. Some GPS units don't require the data but I assume this one does.

teiglin said:
The tab's GPS unit probably requires AGPS data, which is downloaded from the internet. Some GPS units don't require the data but I assume this one does.
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Ahhh OK, thanks for the info. Actually then how do the wifi only version work? Guessing by what you mentioned it does not require AGPS
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium

The Wifi only version would use AGPS as well. Basically AGPS is assisted GPS. It uses cell towers (for 3g models) and/ or wifi hot spots to provide location data, hence assisting the GPS unit in your phone or tablet. Try removing your sim from your phone and switching off wifi, the same thing will happen. It will take awhile to lock.
I have a galaxy S, which is notorious for poor GPS reception. I use a bluetooth GPS unit (check out apps in the market) with my phone, and it works a treat.

Mine 2-5 seconds with SIM and using fasterfix for my region (China) -- accuracy is TIGHT (5m)

MrWulf said:
The Wifi only version would use AGPS as well. Basically AGPS is assisted GPS. It uses cell towers (for 3g models) and/ or wifi hot spots to provide location data, hence assisting the GPS unit in your phone or tablet. Try removing your sim from your phone and switching off wifi, the same thing will happen. It will take awhile to lock.
I have a galaxy S, which is notorious for poor GPS reception. I use a bluetooth GPS unit (check out apps in the market) with my phone, and it works a treat.
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Hi Mate,
Can you let me know the Bluetooth GPS device name/price so that I can give a little life to my Galaxy S I9000 ?

[Q] GPS trouble?

Just picked up this tablet yesterday. I can't seem to get location services to work at all for it. Just times out any time I try getting a location, like in weather or maps. Anyone else have similar problems of a possible solution? I'm using the 7" wifi version.

Not sure if this will help you, but I also had GPS problems with my tab 4 7 wifi only. I purchased the tab in CA., worked fine. Downloaded some maps and used it to navigate, no problem.
When I got home to Brazil, the GPS did not work. Downloaded several apps to check the satellites I was picking up, l was getting 1 maybe 2, with very low signal.
I then found an app Faster GPS, this allowed me to change the satellite search location to South America, Brazil. Major difference, l now pick up 14 satellites and the GPS even works downstairs.
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