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Strange error I haven't noticed until a few weeks ago.
I've tested in both Damage Control v1, v2.05, and Fresh 2.0d (current ROM i'm running)
With google maps/nav it always places me about 50 feet+ to one side of the street. It moves with the vehicle just fine, but always puts me on a side street, so if I'm traveling down a 2 lane highway it's constantly saying "turn right onto hwy xxx"
My GPS is always DEAD ON accurate though. I mean even inside my house if I'm at the front of the house it puts that dot within 5 feet, if I goto the back of the house (bedroom) it puts me RIGHT OVER that spot. The movement however is not so great. My phone while in the GPS mount has a clear view of the sky through the windshield.
Am I the only one experiencing this?
Google NAV is basically useless, because of the annoying constant re-routing.
I had this on Thursday when I was traveling for the holiday. I was using DC2.0r2 at the time however. I didn't have the same experience with my last install of DC2.05. I will repost after my trip today. Might be some time.
Bump...
10char
Same here.gps problem with 2.1?
Yes I have this problem. It's been mentioned in the main damageless thread and the bug thread so I think people are aware of it.
I was having the same issue with the dcr2 but it went away when I wiped and went over to freshes. Might be cuz It's based off the latest Sprint leak?
Works very well for me on dcv2. I think it's almost as good as co-pilot with the directions. It's so easy to start by going "navigate to 123 fake st". I usually had to restart my phone every time I wanted to use co-pilot otherwise it couldn't find a gps signal.
Also seeing this issue.
When I fired up navigator it started telling me to make the first turn (down the street) before I even got in my car -- so I had to use maps instead. Using maps, my marker was always a bit off. For example, it was showing me consistently North of the road (not on any road) when I was traveling West. Not sure exactly when this started, but I am currently running Fresh 2.0d, just for the record.
EDIT: Also, just FYI, this is with a good and proper GPS lock. It does follow my every move and turn, and is entirely responsive, but it seems as though my location is consistently mis-calibrated somehow, and always by the same amount/direction.
Anyone tried pushing one of the 1.5 gps.conf files to a 2.1 rom and seeing if it makes a difference?? I remember that was a fix in the early 2.1 roms from flipz that came out. Try it and see.
All seemed to be working OK today for me. This is like my third/fourth flash of a 2.1 ROM that seemed to have done it for me. No more flashing for a little while. Not that it is a fix at all, but I've had it both not work and work after switching out a few different ROMs.
I was going to make a thread on this. It was off for most of my trip. I muted the audio and just watched for my exit. After awhile it moved me on top of the road and it was ok, but it did it again a few other places.
It was a really odd bug. DC2.05
It worked for me in D1. But it's off in D2. GPS seems to be fairly accurate when just finding my location in maps. It's when I start to nav that it goes off.
It actually started doing that thing today where it can't find a GPS signal until it's restarted again, so I guess it's not unique to the ROM or nav software. My phone just seems to be bad with GPS if it's been a while without a fresh restart.
Has anyone tried using the Sprint Navigation on this or is it just Google's beta Navigation application? For me I never did actually try the Sprint nav, just stuck in the Google one. I knew where I was going the whole time, so instead of trying things I just shut it off.
Okay so now that I have my vibrant I tested it out (only a few times) but I did test it in different applications, websites, and maps and navigation. Yes in the gps and compass apps it doesn't pick up at all compared to my slide BUT in every other application, on google where it finds your location, on yelp, movie phone, maps, and navigation it finds my location each and every time. It doesn't get me lost, it doesn't show me going in a different direction, and it doesn't show me somewhere else.
What if the configurations or settings are different with samsung, what if the third party app is not completely accurate? Why else would every other program find my location if the app says I am not found by even 1 satellite? I think the"fix" is just a change of setting that helps the app not the gps or the phone.
Time will tell but for me it us working fine for now.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Well you can do gps tests within the os that say basically the same thing...
Ive used my gps with google navigate nermous times with no problem. in fact, it guided me on a 160mile trip just fine... What problems are people having with their gps?
Well, I've only had the phone for a day, so I'm still getting used to the quirks coming from a G1. GPS so far is the biggest disappointment. Android has been pushing location based stuff since the beginning, so the lack of a solid GPS is really screwing up some of my favorite apps. Locale for instance, it's worthless. It can't ever find me. The G1 always worked fine with it on Donut, Eclair, and Froyo.
Google Maps is the ONLY app I have that seems to even be able to get a rough idea where I am, and even then its circle is pretty big, about 4 city blocks. That's not GPS, that's network location, and it's fine for what it is, but not good enough when there aren't a lot of cell towers around. At home, it puts me out in the middle of a corn field. All the time I'm in maps, the GPS icon is up there blinking at me, telling me it can't lock. I've seen it work a couple times, for a short while. In GMaps and in GPS Test. But it takes a LONG time. The G1 could get a lock indoors in about 10 seconds. The Vibrant takes minutes, even with the A-GPS turned on in the test menus. That's insane. And it's not any better outside with a clear sky view. That might be acceptable, if it could hold the lock, but it doesn't.
Even stranger, in GPS Test, I get a single colored bar saying it's using that signal. There are 6 more with the same or higher signal strength being ignored. Very odd. Something is wrong with this GPS. It could very well be software, but Samsung needs to get on this and fast. If I can't find a way to get acceptable GPS performance within my 14 day period, I will likely return it. That will really suck, as otherwise I really like the device, but I need a decent GPS.
ttabbal said:
Even stranger, in GPS Test, I get a single colored bar saying it's using that signal. There are 6 more with the same or higher signal strength being ignored. Very odd. Something is wrong with this GPS.
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This has been my experience as well, and I found the same thing when trying a friend's phone. If only T-Mobile/Samsung would acknowledge that there is a problem and say they are working on it...
No problem here
But as I came from the G1 I use Google Maps exclusively. I haven't had a single problem with it. Inside my house I can get a fix on my location on the map, exactly where it should be. Are you guys using the TeleNav?
ttabbal said:
Even stranger, in GPS Test, I get a single colored bar saying it's using that signal. There are 6 more with the same or higher signal strength being ignored. Very odd. Something is wrong with this GPS. It could very well be software, but Samsung needs to get on this and fast.
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I have the same issue... I can only ever lock on to 1 sat. This is not right. My G1 would lock on to many birds.
zoid_99 said:
I have the same issue... I can only ever lock on to 1 sat. This is not right. My G1 would lock on to many birds.
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I wonder if GPS Test is either wrong about that, or more likely, getting bad data from the OS or GPS driver. IIRC they are just parsing the NMEA data from the GPS driver, so "garbage in, garbage out". You don't get 20ft accuracy with 1 satellite being used.
I fooled with the settings in the "GPS fix 101" thread and got the thing working decently. Took a number of tries, and we'll see if it keeps working over time.
This really is something that TMO and Samsung should acknowledge and at least promise a fix for. Preferably with a close release date. And we shouldn't have to wait for Froyo either, get us a fix for JUST the GPS and a lot of people would be VERY happy. Well, that and the compass, that thing is even more worthless than the GPS before the fixes.
For the poster with Google Maps working, did you try with network locations disabled? Is the GPS icon in the status bar flashing or solid? If it's flashing, you DON'T have a GPS lock. Maps seems to be really good at using the network location stuff. I also enabled Skyhook in the GPS settings screen and Maps really seems to like that. Doesn't help with GPS performance though.
This thread is idiotic.
cashless said:
This thread is idiotic.
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Wow.. that statement was idiotic. Maybe you aren't having the GPS issues that others are having but this thread is helping me debug and decide weather or not I'm keeping the Vibrant or returning it.
You guys are not alone. There is obviously something wrong with either the hardware, or the software. Either way, the buyer's remorse period is halfway through, and neither company has said so much as a peep.
I will definitely be returning my device by the time the remorse period expires. What a shame that would be, because I really love this screen. All it would take is for T-Mobile and Samsung to acknowledge the problem, and state that a fix is on the way.
Here's my post, detailing my contact and findings with the two companies.
It's been a few days now, and I've heard nothing back. Never a good sign.
EDIT. Got it working
Care to share?
Hey guys I am new to the community and just recently picked up a vibrant for being a loyal T-Mobile customer haha.
Anyways I just wanted to point out something that I noticed while trying yo fix my GPS issue or non-issue. I have detailed my steps exactly so please read below:
1. Got vibrant out of the box and after 5 tries connected it to mini kies and updated to 2.2.
2. Applied GPS restore from market. It did not work at first, but after stepping outside it worked.
3. Tested the GPS and it works, I am amazed and thought the issue is fixed.
4. Went to my other residence 50 miles away, tried GPS, big fail.
5. A week later I remember the GPS issue and try it again at my place, fail again.
6. I became curious and tried Google sky, with GPS on. Google sky reported longitude and latitude. I am in shock because I thought the GPS was broken. I turn on Google maps and bam, location is found again.
7. I become more curious and try the same approach 50 miles away at my other residence, bam location is found again.
My conclusion is something is up, can any of u guys explain and/or try my method?
Thanks!
I've found that google maps doesn't like a cold GPS start, that is, the first time used after changing locations or waiting a few hours. But if I use another gps program, like gps test, wait for it to lock (which is usually pretty fast), then close out and open google maps I'll get a near instant gps lock since it's a warm start. Something about google maps doesn't seem to want to convince our phones that it should get a gps lock.
Google Maps is terrible with cold starts. The solution is to use GPS Test to lock into more than 4 satellites and then open Google Maps. You were basically doing the same thing with Google Skymap, but Mike Lockwood's GPS Test is better because it keeps polling the GPS while you check Maps.
Mannymal said:
Google Maps is terrible with cold starts. The solution is to use GPS Test to lock into more than 4 satellites and then open Google Maps. You were basically doing the same thing with Google Skymap, but Mike Lockwood's GPS Test is better because it keeps polling the GPS while you check Maps.
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+1 I found this to work the best as well. I use Ulysses Gizmo though
Either way, with the New KB1 modem (you can flash that by itself) this REALLY improved the GPS
thanks guys your input helped me clarify alot because i always thought my GPS was broken because of google maps didnt show my position.
The iPhone I had and my mytouch 4g and g2 both do not have this problem, this is vibrant isolated, correct? I mean the cold start to the GPS from Google Maps.
oka1 said:
Either way, with the New KB1 modem (you can flash that by itself) this REALLY improved the GPS
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Plus 1 - KB1 has great GPS.. I did however have the hardware problem. So the combination of fixing the hardware problem and KB1 has my GPS running better then ever.
Hey all,
First off, I'm very excited to start working with everyone here at the Iconia A500 forum! Secondly, is anyone else having issues with the GPS? I went into Google Navigation and it constantly said "searching for GPS." I never got a result. Thanks!
Same issue, I eventually got a brief fix but its not good.
I did a test, with GPS Status.
2 android, my nexus one and my acer A500.
nexus one 8 satellites
A500 3 satellites
Yeah, so far it looks like the a500 is as bad or worse than the vibrants before the devs got hold of the source and fixed it.
same problem only get 2 satellites
fasrerfix from market
this improves the speed.i think it works bye membering or knowing the sat in your view
so less time guessing on best ones
FYI, returned my A500 for a different on, same issues with GPS as the old one...
Make sure all GPS settings are enabled or won't work. I have tried it and works even without wi-fi connection
Required:
Root access
Fasterfix app from market
read all of this post so you don't screw yourself.
Instructions:
To speed up google maps nav: Install "Fasterfix" app from market, open app, accept super user permissions, pick region (!!!never change this) then test via google maps navigation. Should speed it up $hit load, just as fast as my incredible when it was new. Hope this helps
Honestly until android comes up with a fix for the maps app I'm going to use WASE GPS found in market you won't get a search for signal b.s. unless you close app and come back to a recent destination.
FYI!!!!!!!! DONT REPICK or you will have to do the steps
It appears I was having some issues cingularly in the davlik cache because I changed my region because I figured what the fnck, and that screwed up my speed so when you pick your region stick with it or you will slow the crap out of navigation plus to fix it you will have unistall fasterfix, delete" [email protected]@[email protected][/email]" under davik-cache, reinstall pick region, test via navigation.
Info:
Sorry about last post: you will only need to open Fasterfix app once.
Misc:
It appears that fastfix is server based location finder, what ever that means
I did a quick test earlier.
Got a fix from the driveway then set a course in Navigation - left the house and it wasn't until a few minutes into the drive that the signal was strong enough that I had a pretty good real-time representation of my status on screen. Meaning, after a few minutes, I could see the blue arrow moving along the road as I drove, while initially, it was still and would pop around for a bit.
When I got to my location I check the satellites and I was connected to 7 of them from 10 it could see.
It took about 5 minutes to find and connect to any sats from the driveway. As stated, it was another 2-3 minutes after initial connection that the signal was consistent enough to show me a real-time loc as I drove.
I figure, if you can see/connect to at least 1 sat, then it's fine. Once connected, and you're in motion, it will find and connect to more if there are any available.
I rarely, if ever, can connect to any satellites while indoors. I don't see this as a limitation of the a500, but gps in general. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't. It's not something you should rely on.
To properly test your gps, standing still in the backyard isn't going to cut it, regardless if your other devices do or not. Do a proper test. Make sure you have a connection to wi-fi (with location aware on) set a course in Navigation and wait until you connect - head out.
While I don't discount the possibility of there being a hardware issue with some people's tablets, I don't believe there is an inherent flaw in the a500 gps.
The fix has been posted please search for it.
Thread closed.
The fix has been posted please search for it.
Thread closed.
Hi Folks
I did search for this before posting..
I have a SGS andriod v.2.3.3. My phone is set up:
Using Stock samsung SMS, MMS and dialer interfaces.
GPS and WiFi Off (except when i need Wifi)
Background data and auto-sync OFF
Latitude Signed Out.
Yet for some reason Google Maps is always running, even if I force kill it, it still reboots after about 2 mins and its using 45% of my battery resources. My battery only lasts about 36 hours of casual light use and is on standby when im in bed.
I have been thinking of turning off "Use WIreless Networks", but do i need to?.
I dont use Google Maps, as i dont drive and dont really travel many places beyond work or friends. I very rarely if every use Pyont or latitude.
I do love this phone and I know Google like to know where and who you are, but is there any way of dumping or swtiching off google Maps and maybe switching to better Mapping, because even though i dont use GPS today, Im not saying I never will.
Many Thanks
Night
very strange. its not normal for google maps to do that. maybe you should try a new rom like jvq.
you can get rid of google maps entirely if you have root, just delete it from the system/apps folder. but i don't really reommend this. Im sure there must be another way to fix ur problem.
Ya i had the same problem since i last updated maps. Uninstalling the update did the trick
Download the Autostarts app. It can kill and app from staring up in various states, like just afer start up, switching connectivity (like wifi to 3G) and many others. You'd be surprised at what's running on your phone and when it starts up.
Many thanks for both replies...
Ill remove the update and report back., but give me a few days though .
There are many threads all over the web about this Google Maps problem, but ill have a look at the ROMs Thanks.
I did buy this phone pre-owned and just replaced the battery (official Samsung 1500mah one), but its still drinking it.
My HTC Wildfire got 5 days out of its battery with the settings above, to be fair, now that SamsungApps are buying up android apps such as Angry birds, accuweather & clock, Sms widgets & news.. I wonder if I need android at all.
A few questions..
Do I need "Use Wireless Networks" switched on for the phone itself. I have read of folk using GPS ON instead.
I do realise that google android powers the phone so dumping their maps may affect the phone & sms itself, but Is there an alternative to Google Maps, which whern active might deactivate theirs.
Thanks
Night
Thanks Devenblue4u.... sorry, you were typing as I was replying.. hehe. Will definetly try this because ReChild App Killer isnt that good.
Night
Ok, Ran a few battery tests and using the settings in my OP, I also turned off "Use Wireless Networks" and got the Battery to 3days, 17hours, which is good.
I did try the Autostarts app as well, but it kept locking uyp and resetting my phone.
I uninstalled Googles update, but that didnt help.
TO test I.. Force stop all the 3 instances of google Maps > Clear maps Cache > Turn off Wireless Networks, and this seems to stop Maps from searching my position.
Although this solves my battery issue, which is great.. It does just become a Samsung Wave, which means, I have to turn it all back on again to do any of the Galaxys good stuff, which makes me wonder if im not crippling my phone.
Any thoughts from anyone would be great
Cheers
Night
As suggested m8, flash another rom, look for something that has good reports in the thread comments, jvq as mentioned.
NightOrchid, there's nothing wrong with your phone. It's a bug in Google Maps since 5.4.0. If you check the user reviews on Android Market, you'll see that many people have the same problem. Mine also uses a chunk of the battery when I don't even use it. The phone reports that it keeps using the GPS with Latitude turned off. I have to force-stop it twice after restarting the phone.
Uncheck the network location and kill the Map's Network Location Service from running apps.
This worked for me on JVQ, Maps 5.7 (modded version for world navigation)
Try Autorun Manager if Autostarts failed. In Advanced mode, you can search for Maps and disable event triggers like startup, application removed, replaced and installed. And if it's running as service, don't kill it by task killer, use the built-in one, just force stop and you'll be okay.