So yesterday I decided to use my G2 for driving directions for the first time using google maps. Unfortunately, this was not my car, and this borrowed car did not have a phone holder on the front dash or windscreen, so I placed the phone on the console (where gear shiftier is). Well, then the navigation with G2 was truly horrible. Google maps would work, but then announce one minute later that "GPS signal was lost". Some people told me that the phone "needs to see the sky to make GPS work, therefore you should place it on a suction cup holder under windscreen", which I did. After that, the G2 navigation seemed to work. Anyways, this incident surprised me because I was able to use GPS navigation from inside of car cabin on my old iPhones.
You're not alone - the g2 has notoriously bad gps. Some say it's a hardware issue, some say it's software. Apparently the vs980 is particularly susceptible to weak antenna contact points so it would be worth a try to fix it. The way to do it is to take the back cover off and put something the thickness of a playing card under all the antenna contact points. There are a bunch of youtube videos on doing it. On the software side, people are messing with the gps config file but it looks to be hit and miss.
I find on my d803, that the kitkat roms are much better at gps than the lolipop roms. Might be an idea to try.
Solution
Look at this: https://youtu.be/jLuOz0W2A50
Related
I bought my G1 used off of eBay about 9 months ago. From the beginning the GPS never seemed to work that good. I didn't use it very much until recently when I got a 2600mAh battery for it and upgraded to CM6.0.0. I decided to investigate the GPS problem further as I wanted to be able to use the navigation feature on it in my car & work van. I was trying to find out where inside the phone the GPS antenna was so I knew which position it would get the best reception in the car. That's when I found this pic:
(sorry, won't let me post links due to being a new account! This was a pic of the antenna tape on the outside of the case next to the camera lens)
And when I looked closely at that area of my phone this is what I saw:
(sorry, won't let me post links due to being a new account! This pic was 2 little tabs sticking out from the original antenna tape, looks like it had been cut off!)
The antenna tape was missing! I can't believe I have been without proper GPS operation all this time. It seems the only location service I was getting was triangulation from the cell phone towers. It makes me wonder if the person I bought the phone from may have intentionally removed the antenna so he couldn't be tracked?
Anyway, I made my own temporary antenna out of aluminum foil:
(sorry, won't let me post links due to being a new account! Just imagine a piece of aluminum foil cut to fit where the original antenna tape goes and taped to the case over top of the original antenna tabs)
Went outside to test it and picked up 8 satellites right away using GPS Test app. Oh I was so happy and mad at the same time! I used the navigation most of the day yesterday. A few times it lost signal, probably due to poor contact between the aluminum foil and the tabs from the original antenna.
So now my question..........Where can I get a new proper antenna from? Does it come attached to the case if I buy a new case or is it a seperate part? So far in searching for G1 repair parts I have not been able to find the antenna as a seperate part & cannot tell if a new case comes with the antenna tape attached.
Thanks for any help!
Jeff
I can't answer the question about where to get parts, aside from looking around for broken parts phones (i.e. cracked screen)... Gotta say -- that's a funny story... and a good thing to keep in mind for others having GPS issues.
It is also why I don't buy stuff like that used.
Does anyone happen to know what the 4 connectors on the back of our phones are for? They look like antenna hookups for WIFI like laptops have.
I have 4 labeled as follows
When looking at the back of the phone
top left - R2/G
Top Right - W1
Top Right Middle - W2
Top Right Lower - R1
Let me know if you have any info!!
Thanks!
Antenna Connections. Possibly wifi 1/2, 3G, 4G
Bump for more information, I'd be interested in finding out if they are external antenna connections, and then what equipment I'd need to hook up an external antenna to get better signal in my apt since my Airvana's on the fritz.
I was hoping one was for GPS, since we have weak GPS reception.
I'm curious about this as well.
It's not the reception that's poor, it's how the phone stores and handles the gps information. It's a software problem not a hardware problem.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
I instantly loose gps reception when I sit my phone down in my cup holder when navigating. If I hold the phone up by the window it will instantly start working again.
Simple reception issue. The cache is another issue. I have to use the ##GPSCLRX# from time to time.
Quicksand Jesus said:
I instantly loose gps reception when I sit my phone down in my cup holder when navigating. If I hold the phone up by the window it will instantly start working again.
Simple reception issue. The cache is another issue. I have to use the ##GPSCLRX# from time to time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You wouldn't happen to drive a Benz would you? Benz windows have a coating on them that reflects radiation.... it's intended to cut down on the heat and noise but also effect radar detectors, toll passes... and.... wait for it... cell phones....
I've learned that when I know I'm about to go through a "black hole" in Sprint's coverage.... I hold my phone up to my sun roof and I'm typically able to keep signal through the bad spot. Some other cars have this problem as well. Take a look at:
https://www.sunpass.com/problemWindshields;jsessionid=71440B65E27410873DFC8E681D8637FDhttps://www.sunpass.com/problemWindshields;jsessionid=71440B65E27410873DFC8E681D8637FD
hahaha, I drive a Blazer. And my Samsung Moment works fine in the same spot.
ROFL I drive a Blazer, but sometimes I lean to the side and pretend I'm in a Benz!
no one has more info on this? im looking to extend the wimax range
They look like voltage testing points to me.
OK, after being so annoyed with the Navigation on this phone not working, I finally found a fix that is working for me and I am in shock that what I did produced a working GPS. First, anyone who doesn't know how to take apart the black cover (not the battery cover) do a search. Next, after removing the cover, the GPS Antenna without a doubt is one right next to the power button. I found this out by putting a piece of electrical tape over every gold connector that touches an antenna, then closing the black cover, turning on the phone, running gps test, and after trying different spring connectors, I noticed I had the correct one when the app GPS Test couldn't locate any satellites. Next, I also noticed that on the inside of the cover that I took off, the one that requires six screws, there is a silver looking strip that is supposed to make contact to the connector that has a full metal top part, so when the cover goes back on, the silver strip must make contact to this negative grounding harness top. I added a bead of solder to the silver strip on the inside of the black cover so that I knew it was making contact. I believe that this is a source of everyone's problems with navigation. That strip must be a shield and the design doesn't look like it makes good contact to the connector's ground metal plate. You'll see what I mean when you open the cover.
Next, while I had the cover off, I wrapped a 30 gauge wire around the gold spring pin that connects to the GPS antenna and ran that wire down the side of the phone right along the PC Board in hopes that it extends the antenna. I just ran it like 3 inches and remember, I ran it down, not up. The GPS antenna already goes up. I put a tiny bead of solder on the wire where it contact the gold spring contact that is attached to the PC Board so that it does not come off accidentally. And believe me, it is really simple. You cannot mess anything up. Just a dab of solder is all it takes.
I put the black cover back on, and then ran the GPS test app and at one point I had 12 satellites read and used with a 7 foot accuracy!!! Next I went to the Navigation app and started playing around with different addresses and my navigation WORKED!!! I am still in awe three days later. I drove from New Jersey to Rhode Island yesterday and had the Nav running for the entire trip. Only one time did I get a small circle about the size of a half inch which lasted for 4 seconds. At that point, I was driving though a forest type side road with limited sky view.
Please try this fix for anyone who has Navigation issues with their Nexus S and let me know if it fixes it.
Dan
Awesome. Samsung should have hired you before they released the Nexus S and 1st-gen SGS phones. My Captivate never had reliable GPS. I might as well have had Ray Charles giving me directions.
Funny thing is Google nexus phones are bugged...
Nexus one multi touch bug
Nexus s compass not working...
I think the issue here is with whoever was choosing and picking the hardware that would have powered a nexus...
HTC and Samsung do not surprise me... But Google not testing the compass on a flagship phone before releasing scares me :-\
Luckily my gps works fine (i9023 here) but the broken compass create a lot of troubles with gps navigation as very often the phone thinks to be driving in the reverse direction...
The nexus one digitizer wasn't a bug. Just a crappy digitizer. It worked as it meant to. It sucked but wasn't a bug.
The GPS and compass issues for the nexus s are different as well. Some devices have crappy ones and apparently don't work. My GPS and compass works perfect on the other hand. Always has
evcz said:
Funny thing is Google nexus phones are bugged...
Nexus one multi touch bug
Nexus s compass not working...
I think the issue here is with whoever was choosing and picking the hardware that would have powered a nexus...
HTC and Samsung do not surprise me... But Google not testing the compass on a flagship phone before releasing scares me :-\
Luckily my gps works fine (i9023 here) but the broken compass create a lot of troubles with gps navigation as very often the phone thinks to be driving in the reverse direction...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have problems with navigation, even tho i hardly ever use it. However, this compass thing; I downloaded an app called Smart Compass and it works really well... Where I know it's north, the compass points north and so on. but mind you, I got my phone after companies stopped selling it so I might've gotten the last of the good batch
Could you post a photo of the finished fix so I can check if I'm going to fry something ? Thanks !
@VOLTAGEROCK:
post some photos for better help if it's possible, before and after modifications please
thanks in advance
I will but gimme a day or two. All I know is I'm on day five and its still working!
wow
Sent from my
RESSURECTED Nexus S
CM10 NIGHTIES
DmA81 said:
Could you post a photo of the finished fix so I can check if I'm going to fry something ? Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should have at the time of doing it, but I didn't know what i was doing was going to work!! Now I have to take the phone apart again, but you give me a reason to hook up my Touchstone from the Pre while the phone is open and accessible. I will do my best to put the pics up in a timely manner and in the meantime, if there's anyone out there, go to the iteardown fix it (i think that's what its called) and look at the video or pics of the Nexus being taken apart.
Again, I have no reason to believe that I didn't fix the problem as it's working everytime, when it wouldn't work at all before the mod. When you're looking at the phone from the back, the GPS antenna location has a letter G engraved into the black cover after the battery cover has been taken off. It's right below the electrical type tape that covers the antenna FYI.
*#*#gpsclrx#*#* always fixed my gps woes and i had a lot. no hardware mod required.
Sputnikk23 said:
*#*#gpsclrx#*#* always fixed my gps woes and i had a lot. no hardware mod required.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What does that do by the way.? Because my mod works everytime and you never have to use the code you just put up. Even though I appreciate you putting that there. Also, what type of problems were you having with your navigation? Did it work periodically? Did it never work like mine? Just curious as to the problem you had with your navigation. Thanks
Dan
I can confirm this hardware mod fixed voltages gps. He's gone thru 2 nexus s phones and both GPS would constantly lose the position every few minutes then reacquire, and show a huge circle for his position. Somehow this hardware mod fixes some design issue with the nexus s where a shielding isn't properly grounded. And also he extended the GPS antenna with a wire for good measure.
By the way it was the sprint nexus s 4g he modified.
Please post pictures to go with your narrative. I would like to try this!
O
RogerPodacter said:
I can confirm this hardware mos fixed voltages gps. He's gone thru 2 nexus s phones and both GPS would constantly lose the position every few minutes then reacquire, and show a huge circle for his position. Somehow this hardware mod fixes some design issue with the nexus s where a shielding isn't properly grounded. And also he extended the GPS antenna with a wire for good measure.
By the way it was the sprint nexus s 4g he modified.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the clarification nation, Podact.
VOLTAGEROCK said:
What does that do by the way.? Because my mod works everytime and you never have to use the code you just put up. Even though I appreciate you putting that there. Also, what type of problems were you having with your navigation? Did it work periodically? Did it never work like mine? Just curious as to the problem you had with your navigation. Thanks
Dan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wipe gps data. not the same thing as the gps status wipe (which didn't work for me). try it, doesn't really hurt anything. seems a software code is worth a shot then opening up the phone you know?
Some ROMs it never worked. Other ROMs it was sporadic. When I would get it to work, it always eventually "lost" its ability to lock, etc.
But hey.. if you want to get all hyper-sensitive over your mod.. go for it. Was just throwing another method out there for the faint of heart.
Sputnikk23 said:
wipe gps data. not the same thing as the gps status wipe (which didn't work for me). try it, doesn't really hurt anything. seems a software code is worth a shot then opening up the phone you know?
Some ROMs it never worked. Other ROMs it was sporadic. When I would get it to work, it always eventually "lost" its ability to lock, etc.
But hey.. if you want to get all hyper-sensitive over your mod.. go for it. Was just throwing another method out there for the faint of heart.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sensitive as I cried at your remark, and then I got really hyper and started running in circles with joy that my nav works. So I guess you're right, I am hypersensitive! Btw, I was being nothing but nice to your reply. Its OK. I forgive you.
Pics requested
Check out the pics. One of them shows some solder on the silver shielding so it makes better contact with the connector when they close back up. The other shows a 30 gauge red wire soldered to the gps pin and running down the phone. Hope this clears up what you guys need to do to get the gps to finally work on this dag gone phone.
.I've been using navigation and never had such a problems.my gps always locking under 10sec and doesn't loosing signal.
Btw i live in UK and using nav in big city.
Do a search for Nexus S 4g on sprint nav problems and you'll see a whole slew of people with problems.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda app-developers app
Anyone having trouble with their GPS? I can't get mine to find any satellites. GPS Status and Toolbox is not helping. I have the US996 version. Any fixes?
Thanks.
I'm not having that issue. Are you running stock?
Yes, stock
ww15 said:
Anyone having trouble with their GPS? I can't get mine to find any satellites. GPS Status and Toolbox is not helping. I have the US996 version. Any fixes?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Gps reciver working perfectly....if you cant find satellites then your devive need service or replace...you dont need 3d party apps...Im using Igo and sygic and both ran excellent...
Mine is acting weird as well. Mine is tmobile version. I found that toggling location off and back on helped but we shouldn't have to do that. I'm probably going to have mine replaced if it persists.
I thought that maybe I was having an issue but now I think it has something to do with the pipes and towers, and blast resistant buildings where i work. Wasn't an issue with the Notes i had. but outside driving its fine.
I guess I will try a factor reset and if that doesnt help, I guess its time to figure out how to get a replacement.
I was having issues where it keeps thinking I'm home when I'm not
I'm still having frustration with gps. I have an Alcatel idol 3 that gets much better gps signal than the v20 running "gps test" from app store. I still get "searching for GPS" message in google maps from time to time in locations my other phones have performed flawlessly. I had a similar issue on the g5 and had to trade it for refurb which fixed the issue. I really dont want to do that with the v20.
The antenna is in the plastic trim at top which you can remove with 4 screws. It could be ours have a weak connection there or it could be a lousy solder joint on the underside of bga (ball grid array) chip.
Major problems with a two month old V20.
LG says they will not honor warranty because phone was sold as an "unlocked" ATT.
Also say that they show IMEI as activated two years ago!
This was brand new from newegg.com. How could it be activated two years ago?
Tremendously frustrating.
The top plastic cap in the H918 contains multiple antennas. Other models of the V20 which work on other frequency bands often have different antennas in this endcap, so when you replace it you need to select one for your particular model. Unfortunately the ebay sellers don't seem to know what cap to supply so often list the wrong models for the caps they are selling. The end cap connects to the phone's sprung metal contacts with either metal or conductive plastic pads, six in total for the H918. When I replaced my endcap GPS stopped working completely and picked up no satellites, on examining the replacement cap two contacts were missing which must be for the GPS - everything else seems fine (or I haven't noticed if some of the frequency bands are missing). I have attached a photo of the contacts in my phone and the replacement cap so you can see the problem.
I am now having difficulty finding a seller of the endcaps who can supply the correct part - I will keep on trying.
Been a loooong time since I've visited XDA....ah the memories, anywho, I have ATT LGV20 (keep it for removable battery and 2nd screen), The oreo update totally borked my GPS, it it always turning off and on, on its own and I get annoying location accuracy pop up which I have to agree or disagree to a lot.
It could just be big brother spying on me too I guess...
Any thoughts without doing a factory reset? I do NOT have root, though I wish I did. It is a refurb that was working fine before Oreo. Maybe an app that will monitor what is turning it on without root?
Thanks guys, happy holidays.
I am currently running google maps 9.42.3. Android 6.0.1 Kernal 3.10.49-g6d40c12.
Last night, while taking my grandson to a soccer game, navigation would not update my position or take the next turn. I rebooted and that did nothing. As in the other thread, my GPS is not great. However, I could hit the location button on the map and it would get reasonably close to where I was at. Certainly close enough to suggest the next turn.
I know this has worked on this phone in the past. Is it possible that I "broke" it by turning off Google Play services access to my contacts? I now get messages saying that maps won't work properly because play can't access my contacts. I could understand why maps may not be able to navigate to a named contact if it didn't have access to my contacts but why would little ole me affect navigation? What could my limited contacts possibly have to offer to bring what used to be a great app to the point of being non-functional?
Thanks,
Wade
For what it's worth, Play Services needs access to pretty much your entire phone to work at all. And contacts is also tied to things like your Dialer, which is tied to your cell antenna... you get the picture. I found out the other day that if Google Maps can't get a fix from GPS, it takes a fix from whatever cell tower you're connected to, even if that tower is 10 miles away. More towers in your area, the better chance you won't notice the difference.
I am having navigation issue.
I don't know very much about the problem but you can fix navigation issue by just touching to the Harpia GPS device by removing the back cover of your mobile. It actually works for me every f***** time.
10 Seconds GPS Redneck Fix
Using @ashishwebmail touch tip I devised a 10 second solution for my XT1609 G4 Play. Sort of a temporary redneck fix but it works.
(Next I'll probably be experimenting with very thin conductive tape that might fit within the back of the phone.)
I straightened a paperclip except for the end with the bend upward. Took off the case and phone back. Put the paperclip in my case with the upward bend flush in the case corner so it contacts the GPS antenna. Replaced phone in case without phone back. Voila!
Getting a GPS fix every time in 2-6 seconds using both GPS Status and GPS Test, indoors with WiFi on or off!
Unable, as a newbie to this board, to post a link to the case I'm using. It's my favorite smartphone case ever, and cheap.
It's the one on eBay with the title "Slim Shockproof Rugged Hybrid Soft Silicone Case Cover For Motorola Moto G4 Play"
Conductive Tape GPS Fix Confirmed
Removed the case and phone back. Laid a 2 mm wide strip of aluminum tape from the top GPS corner, along the edge of the battery compartment, to the bottom corner, careful to keep it away from the phone back notches. Doubted the adhesive was electrically conductive as I think it's just cheap construction flashing tape, so I folded it back on itself on top of the GPS antenna to be sure it made electrical contact with it. Replaced phone back and case.
Getting GPS fix in 1-3 seconds indoors every time in 20 tries! (This is with WiFi on or off.)
I had an issue with the GPS not working for navigation on the Moto G4 Play and I ended up having the phone replaced under Motorola warranty, it was a bad GPS. This seems to be a fairly common issue for this model.