GPS Workaround for GPS Locking Issues. - ONE General

After awhile starting on Android 8 i think, gps not locking has been haunting me and most of us (base on my observation of course). This is a workaround for anyone can try.
Please pay attention this is a workaround. There will be a hit & miss for few people and even for me. If anyone can provide a better workaround & solution, feel free add your solution here.
All credit to the apps developer. Im just sharing my workaround.
Anyone with gps issue can try this workaround. This is not the perfect solution for someone with gps locking issue like me but at least this workaround ia working for me.
1st install gps fix/optimization & gps locker from playstore (link below). Make sure you're outdoor before perform this. And root os required for the 1st part of my workaround.
Part 1 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobiledirection.GPSRepairFix
Open gps fix/optimization and tap on fix gps button.
Next click center to your location (the square buttonon top right) to test whether the gps will lock on your current position. This is optional btw. Click next button to proceed.
Perform the gps compass calibration and proceed.
You will enter the gps server optimizer. Select your country and click on optimize gps for this country.
Reboot.
Part 2 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.silentlexx.gpslock
Open gps locker (the apps will automatically will try to lock the gps)
Next open menu and force update a-gps data.
Wait for a moment until gps lock.
Once lock, without kill the apps, open any navigation apps to test.
Make sure turn off auto update a-gps data on settings.
You also can apply navigation apps once the gps is locked with this apps.

Related

The dreaded GPS - it just quit working all together

I haven't done any mods besides changing the SUPL settings and switching it to MS-Based with Skyhook enabled, and I did that back in July when I got my phone.
Now a month later, the GPS will launch sparadicly when enabled with google maps or gps status.
Anyone is seen the same issue?
I am on the stock firmware, lag fix was applied and removed, but I am still rooted.
lqaddict said:
I haven't done any mods besides changing the SUPL settings and switching it to MS-Based with Skyhook enabled, and I did that back in July when I got my phone.
Now a month later, the GPS will launch sparadicly when enabled with google maps or gps status.
Anyone is seen the same issue?
I am on the stock firmware, lag fix was applied and removed, but I am still rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you elaborate? So far you haven't described anything abnormal. GPS (I assume you mean the icon in the notification bar) is supposed to show up when an app that uses gps is launched, ie maps or gps stats. It just means that an app is trying to get location data through GPS.
...also some apps or widgets will request location data in the background, so if you have GPS enabled you may notice that icon showing up from time to time. Weather apps/widgets are notorious for doing this.
When I enable GPS either from the status bar or a widget, and launch google maps or gps status, the gps radar icon does not show up in the status bar.
Whereis google maps relies on the skyhook location, the GPS status app is just a blank black screen.
The issue is sporadic though, I am trying to ID it... Will try to adb into the device and get the logs ASAP.
I see. I would just stop messing with your phone until an official fix comes out and better more stable roms are released. Wait for cm6 or froyo. Revert back to stock.
I am basically stock with only superuser.apk, hopefully the updates come soon.

i9000m GPS: Working theory

So we all have issues with the i9000m and GPS (Or many of us do).
After I got my replacement hardware with a Dec date on it and when it was running 2.1 and was using whatever the version of Google maps was out at that time (Dec 24th), my phone was getting GPS lock really snappily.
After updating to JL2 of 2.2, it became unpredictable but when it was working, it was VERY fast. Two weeks later, my friend got his back and they had only replaced his mobo but he was unable to get a GPS lock in Google Maps or any Google app that used GPS.
Today, on break, after I had fiddled with my phone some this week, we tested what I was thinking of, that being: Google Maps or something with how it and 2.2 interacts is broke on our phones.
Here is what I did that was also tested and is doing the exact same thing on mine and my friends phone:
Install the Tricorder app
Reboot the phone (Either battery pull or power switch, same result)
Try to get a GPS lock in Google Maps (Our phones would time out to power save before it would get a lock)
Start Tricorder, go to the GPS/Compass section and wait for the satellite bars to turn blue
Exit Tricorder and then start Google Maps or any other Google app, the GPS lock will occur in less than 10 seconds every time
If anyone else could test this on the newer hardware or on a phone that had its mobo replaced, it would be nice to see if this is happening on more than these two phones.
And note that once I started and exited from Tricorder after it locked, all GPS apps now locked super fast.
Both our phones are running official JL2 2.2 with no rooting or whatnot.
Thanks,
Jason.
It is well known that you sometimes need more than 30 seconds (default screen off delay) to get a lock.
But if you start an application that can run in the background such as google navigation or my tracks (recording on), your GPS won't shut down when the screen turn off and you will finally get a fix if you wait long enough.
It is also well known that once you get a fix, if you loose it (by turning off your GPS app) you can get it back really quickly.
You didn't find anything special. Just leave google maps open (by pressing on the screen at least once every 30 seconds) and you will get a lock just as fast as with your tricorder app. There is no magic. You only need to leave your GPS on for long enough.
From my experience, I sometimes waited 2-3 minutes with JL2. But I don't care, as long as the GPS is accurate.
I have exactly the same lock on with Eclair > JPY > JPX > instant to about 30 seconds .
This is about the hundredth supposed fix posted .
jje
Very well...
I shall fade back into the shadows...
Very well...
I shall fade back into the shadows...
Dont do that you may be the one with a solution for those that need a solution .
jje
JJEgan said:
Dont do that you may be the one with a solution for those that need a solution
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And how is waiting in Tricorder for a GPS fix instead of Google maps a solution?
Exactly zorxd..
ok, so what if since either (can't say for sure cuz don't use gps much at all) rooting, or flashing speedmod k13e, when i pull down the tool screen and click on gps to turn it green, the gps icon does not appear at the top of the screen - i don't think it's on at all. apps like maps, gps navigator etc that use the gps don't work.
what's that about?

To anyone having gps issues

To help most people with gps locking issues
1) download gps status from the market
2) turn gps on
3) open gps status
4) hit menu button, tools, manage a-gps state, then select reset
5) hit menu botton, tools, manage a-gps state, then select download
6) give the phone a clear view of the sky, when you get signal you will see the middle row fill with info and satellites in green on the bottom.. Back out and open gps app of choice.
How this helps
Sent from my Rocking dj05, themed superdark w/o swype mod, voodoo 5, with custom boot and shutdown.. With premium xda app.
check this post in the htc desire, it helped me out tremendously
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=11342772&postcount=1
I will try this my gps never locks on and I cant use google navigation it sear,hes for signal for e er
3 Easy Fixes for GPS
neh4pres said:
To help most people with gps locking issues
1) download gps status from the market
2) turn gps on
3) open gps status
4) hit menu button, tools, manage a-gps state, then select reset
5) hit menu botton, tools, manage a-gps state, then select download
[...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just want to list out the 3 tips that really helped with GPS locks (for me):
1. d/l "GPS Status" and aGPS reset/download (this thread);
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=11872531
Thanks to neh4pres!
2. use "GPS Status" d/l to recalibrate magnetic compass;
http://forum.androidcentral.com/verizon-fascinate/97732-gps-probs-check-your-mag-compass.html
Thanks to j32driver!
3. modify /etc/gps.conf entry (requires root/temp root) changing NTP_SERVER=north-america.pool.ntp.org to NTP_SERVER=us.pool.ntp.org.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1038649
Thanks to calebv2!
Sadly, these fixes will not fix issues related to bad satellite coverage/visibility/interference. And won't fix EC09 fried SD cards, either.
Thanks for all the links and help here. My GPS has always been sub par. While it will still not lock on when I'm in my living room, it gives me fairly accurate locks when outside.
Rush
Glad to see this helped people.. For really stubborn gps locks, follow my original instructions after a fresh boot.
Sent from my frozen yogurt filled fascinate
Bingo. I had updated to ED01 and was getting nuthin' at all from the GPS. Did the reset/update AGPS, adjusted the NTP server, and within 5 seconds or so had 8+ satellites and 14-foot accuracy. Sweet.
I had tried all listed suggestions above and still could not get a lock without a 2+ minute delay (and only using GPS Status could i finally get a lock)
I updated my radio to EC09 last night and Instant GPS!!
So excited about that I can even pull GPS without cell signal which i have never been able to do before.
Editing the GPS.conf work perfectly. I went from no locks to locking in 2-3 seconds.
as soon as vzw comes out with a dual core lte that i like, i will dump my fassy bc of the gps lock issue. i have tried every "fix" i could find since i got the phone over 1 year ago, and still have issues. whats odd is that i can have a perfect lock and use gps to arrive at a destination, but when i leave the building cant reaquire! sometimes a battery pull solves the problem, sometimes just 20+ min of waiting. uggg!
Helped me !!!
took just 1 minute in total LOL.
god bless mate .
I now use "gps aids" from market.. It seems to work little better.. Next time im at a computer I'll update op
Sent from a beautiful miui fascinate
The GPS.conf thing, I looked in mine and I have:
NTP_SERVER=us.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=north-america.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=0.north-america.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=1.north-america.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=2.north-america.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=3.north-america.pool.ntp.org
so do I win?
Sent from my MIUI SCH-i500
Gps booster from market works wonders

how to make GPS persistently lock on?

how to make the nexus 4 GPS persistently lock on to satellites? because on the nexus 4, GPS would lock on only if you are in a maps app, but if you exit, say if you press home or go check your music player, then it would lose the lock. it would have to re-lock when you re-enter the maps app. this is very annoying. on the iphone, once the GPS is locked on, then it's persistently locked on, regardless if you are in home screen, maps app, or whatever. it only loses lock if you turn off gps. how to fix this on the nexus 4?
You do realize this will nail a battery in 2 or 3 hours right?
Oh, you mean the app in suspended state, uhmmmm, not sure lol
jinjin12 said:
how to make the nexus 4 GPS persistently lock on to satellites? because on the nexus 4, GPS would lock on only if you are in a maps app, but if you exit, say if you press home or go check your music player, then it would lose the lock. it would have to re-lock when you re-enter the maps app. this is very annoying. on the iphone, once the GPS is locked on, then it's persistently locked on, regardless if you are in home screen, maps app, or whatever. it only loses lock if you turn off gps. how to fix this on the nexus 4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think there is an Option for that. To reduce Battery usage, GPS is paused when an app is no longer actively using it.
If you were in Navigation app, then the GPS would stay on.
skezza said:
You do realize this will nail a battery in 2 or 3 hours right?
Oh, you mean the app in suspended state, uhmmmm, not sure lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i guess you only read the title and didn't even read my post. even so, if you just read the title then you misunderstood my title. i said keep gps "persistently lock on", NOT "persistently on". there's a difference. that's means when i turn on gps, i want to to keep locking on to satellites once it's gets a signal. but like i said, right now, it will only keep the lock on if you stay on a maps app, if you switch apps, like to check your music, then it loses the signal and when you switch back to the maps app, then it has to relock on. this is very annoying and often relocking to satellites take a long time. on iphones, if you turn on gps and it locks on to satellites, then the gps stays locked on until you shut if off, irregardless of whether you are in a maps app or not. this is very useful, since you don't have to re-lock everytime when switching between apps and maps apps.
If you're rooted, try the app FasterGPS which allows you to amend your NTP pool which might improve your GPS locking times.
It also had some advanced settings but I can't tell if any of those can fix your main issue of getting persistent locks.
UberSlackr said:
I don't think there is an Option for that. To reduce Battery usage, GPS is paused when an app is no longer actively using it.
If you were in Navigation app, then the GPS would stay on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
see that makes no sense from a user perspective. poor implementation from google IMO. i mean if you turn on GPS, then it's already expected that you want to use it, so it should be kept locked on. sure sometimes you want to switch between apps while using a map to say change music or etc, but that should be no reason to turn of the GPS lock. i mean if you turned it on, then means you're going to use it for a while, so that's poor judgement on google. it's not like someone is going to turn on gps and forget to turn it off the whole day. also relocking is a pain, especially if it took a while for your GPS to even lock on in the first place. also wouldn't trying to relock waste alot of battery anyway, i don't see the point it...very inconvenient.
jinjin12 said:
see that makes no sense from a user perspective. poor implementation from google IMO. i mean if you turn on GPS, then it's already expected that you want to use it, so it should be kept locked on. sure sometimes you want to switch between apps while using a map to say change music or etc, but that should be no reason to turn of the GPS lock. i mean if you turned it on, then means you're going to use it for a while, so that's poor judgement on google. it's not like someone is going to turn on gps and forget to turn it off the whole day. also relocking is a pain, especially if it took a while for your GPS to even lock on in the first place. also wouldn't trying to relock waste alot of battery anyway, i don't see the point it...very inconvenient.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well from a different users perspective its makes sense. I use GPS.. via Navigation, via Google Now, and etc. But I don't want it on all the time when I don't need it, and I certainly do not want to have to Enable and Disable it every time I need it. If I need to do a quick search for a store/restaurant/etc, all I have to do is Ask it... if I had to Enable it every time I wanted to do that, it would require another step..
And from your other post, about Persistently On verses Persistent Lock, they are essential the same thing is this case. To have a Persistent GPS Lock that would require the GPS to be ON... therefore Persistently ON.
Note sure why you are having so much trouble getting a GPS Lock. The Nexus 4s GPS works pretty well in my experience (better than other phones I've had) - It even locks on to my location when I'm inside my Metal Workshop.. all other phones I had to step outside before GPS would lock on.
UberSlackr said:
Well from a different users perspective its makes sense. I use GPS.. via Navigation, via Google Now, and etc. But I don't want it on all the time when I don't need it, and I certainly do not want to have to Enable and Disable it every time I need it. If I need to do a quick search for a store/restaurant/etc, all I have to do is Ask it... if I had to Enable it every time I wanted to do that, it would require another step..
And from your other post, about Persistently On verses Persistent Lock, they are essential the same thing is this case. To have a Persistent GPS Lock that would require the GPS to be ON... therefore Persistently ON.
Note sure why you are having so much trouble getting a GPS Lock. The Nexus 4s GPS works pretty well in my experience (better than other phones I've had) - It even locks on to my location when I'm inside my Metal Workshop.. all other phones I had to step outside before GPS would lock on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
again you're misunderstanding the problem. and persistently ON is NOT the same and Persistent Lock ON . you can turn on GPS via location access and the GPS would be on but never not locked on to anything, thus nothing about the GPS would show up in the status bar, but the GPS would still be on, just at a low power state. on the other hand, the GPS can be on and actually be locked on to satellites, which happens only when you enter nagivation apps, and it would show up in the status as searching for location, this would require more power. just cause you don't see anything in the status bar about GPS does not mean it's off. if you turn on it GPS in location settings, then the device is on, only difference is if it's in lower power state or actively searching for satellites. exiting out of NAV apps put GPS in lower power state, similar to a standby mode.
i never said to keep it GPS on all the time. i only said to keep it location locked on when you turn on GPS.....huge difference. who actually leaves there GPS on all the time?
btw you said you don't want to enable/disable GPS when you need to use it but also you said you don't want it on all the time. so that's already a contradiction. because right now, in order to get GPS, you would already have to go to settings>location access then turn it on. so idk what' you talking about. and the only way to not have to enable/disable it all the time, is to leave it on all day, thus you've contradicted yourself.
and not i'm having any trouble getting a GPS lock, i never said that was the problem. i said i'm having trouble keeping it locked on when switching apps. after doing some research, it seems this is the default behavior of android, which is to remove active satellite lock when you go away from a NAgivation app.....very annoying. there are some apps in the playstore that claims to keep the lock on persistent, but they haven't worked for me
jinjin12 said:
again you're misunderstanding the problem. and persistently ON is NOT the same and Persistent Lock ON . you can turn on GPS via location access and the GPS would be on but never not locked on to anything, thus nothing about the GPS would show up in the status bar, but the GPS would still be on, just at a low power state. on the other hand, the GPS can be on and actually be locked on to satellites, which happens only when you enter nagivation apps, and it would show up in the status as searching for location, this would require more power. just cause you don't see anything in the status bar about GPS does not mean it's off. if you turn on it GPS in location settings, then the device is on, only difference is if it's in lower power state or actively searching for satellites. exiting out of NAV apps put GPS in lower power state, similar to a standby mode.
i never said to keep it GPS on all the time. i only said to keep it location locked on when you turn on GPS.....huge difference. who actually leaves there GPS on all the time?
btw you said you don't want to enable/disable GPS when you need to use it but also you said you don't want it on all the time. so that's already a contradiction. because right now, in order to get GPS, you would already have to go to settings>location access then turn it on. so idk what' you talking about. and the only way to not have to enable/disable it all the time, is to leave it on all day, thus you've contradicted yourself.
and not i'm having any trouble getting a GPS lock, i never said that was the problem. i said i'm having trouble keeping it locked on when switching apps. after doing some research, it seems this is the default behavior of android, which is to remove active satellite lock when you go away from a NAgivation app.....very annoying. there are some apps in the playstore that claims to keep the lock on persistent, but they haven't worked for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm not going to sit here and argue with you all day. But regardless of what you believe, if you go to settings>location and enable GPS, its not Constantly On... There is no "Power Save" mode it falls into. At times apps like Google Now will access the GPS to get a location, this is why it will tell you the time of travel from work to home... the toggle in settings>location is simply to allow or disallow apps access to the GPS. The GPS is not actually "On" unless its called via an app... GPS is only running when you see the GPS Icon in the notification bar. When I get home I'll find the page where Google explains this change since android ICS.
GPS on my phone stays enabled via settings>location all the time... But its only used when I open Maps, Facebook, Google Now, etc. Check your battery stats (press the graph) and you will see when the GPS is actually used.
So again, to have Persistant LOCK ON your WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE GPS PERSISTENTLY ON - MEANING YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN APP THAT IS GOING TO PERSISTENTLY CALL THE GPS .. YOU CAN NOT HAVE A GPS LOCK UNLESS THE _____ THING IS ON and GOOGLE APPS DO NOT DO THIS
I think he's getting confused. He's saying that the data from the GPS is stored so the lock speed is quicker, but it already is. On GB, it was retained and it is too on JB, so he's wrong.
My GPS never has to relock when I switch apps.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
AS was said, GPS enabled is not the same as GPS ON. Enabled just means apps have access to the API to call GPS functions. ON means it's actively searching or locked to sats.
The implementation Google uses is the same as everyone. Your phone should pull down AGPS data via your data connection once every so often so when apps go for more detailed location they the phone will calculate the sats position and lock in 2-3 seconds. Without AGPS data the phone has to do a WARM lock (or a COLD lock which can take up to 2 minutes if your phone has been rebooted since the last lock).
So your phone is not functioning correctly if you haven't blocked AGPS data. I can switch from Maps to Facebook to GPS Test apps and they all lock instantly after the initial lock with Maps (or whatever app is first). The first lock takes only 5-10 seconds also (inside my house), outside is 2-3 seconds.
shotta35 said:
AS was said, GPS enabled is not the same as GPS ON. Enabled just means apps have access to the API to call GPS functions. ON means it's actively searching or locked to sats.
The implementation Google uses is the same as everyone. Your phone should pull down AGPS data via your data connection once every so often so when apps go for more detailed location they the phone will calculate the sats position and lock in 2-3 seconds. Without AGPS data the phone has to do a WARM lock (or a COLD lock which can take up to 2 minutes if your phone has been rebooted since the last lock).
So your phone is not functioning correctly if you haven't blocked AGPS data. I can switch from Maps to Facebook to GPS Test apps and they all lock instantly after the initial lock with Maps (or whatever app is first). The first lock takes only 5-10 seconds also (inside my house), outside is 2-3 seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you have a data plan? cause i don't so i'm relying purely on the GPS itself when i'm outside. i know using mobile data, it can lock on really fast, my sister has a data plan on the note 2 and GPS locks on fast due to that cause of a-GPS.

GPS issue can't lock a signal at all or really slow an inaccurate

I've read a lot about people having issues in KitKat 4.4.2 and I'm having the same. Which is the GPS not locking a location. I've tried many things like apps such as GPS Fix and even flushable zips. I don't know what caused the problem but I have gone back to stock and still nothing. As of right now I'm running PA Beta 3 along with the latest Franco Kernel #206. Please I'm hoping someone has a fix
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
If you haven't already, try the "GPS Status" app.
There you can hit the menu button, press "Manage A-GPS State" and reset the AGPS cache. Then go to "Manage A-GPS State" again and download new AGPS data in place of the cache you deleted. Make sure you have a working data/wifi connection when you do this.
Note the number of sats fixed (they show up as visual green bars, you can also find the number on the left side of the "/"). You generally need more than 5 in order to get a steady lock, though that admittedly is tough if you have any overhead obstacles. This app will also tell you the "time to fix" so you'll know if it takes too long.
If you want, you can set it up to have a constant notification whenever the GPS is in use, and that way you could pull down the notifications bar while you're on the Maps app, then hit the "GPS Status" notification to pull out the app and get you a faster lock. At that point you just press the back button to return to Maps, whence it has fixed a location for you, and voila! You can even calibrate the compass.
Also, another thing you could do is set it to automatically download new AGPS data for every given length of time. I personally set it to every 6 hrs; that way if the GPS starts acting up, you'll automatically get new AGPS data within the day to help it lock faster.
Hope this helps!
~LightYearGears

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