hardware GPS question - Captivate General

Do functioning Captivate GPS units work in stock AT&T configuration (no 2.2/cog/jupiter/suplgoogle etc)?
I've tried a ton of fixes for mine, and want to exchange it. Assuming I get a new one with working GPS hardware, will I have do tinker with settings, or will it work out of the box?
Thanks

If you want to test the hardware GPS, you need to turn off all that trickery. The hardware GPS is where the problem lies and the way to test it is to turn off any location service but the GPS. It will take longer to get a lock and you will have to be outside with a clear view of the sky but that will highlight any problems with the GPS. Most people ignore this though and continue to believe that there are GPS "settings" that will fix the problem.

patrickdo said:
Do functioning Captivate GPS units work in stock AT&T configuration (no 2.2/cog/jupiter/suplgoogle etc)?
I've tried a ton of fixes for mine, and want to exchange it. Assuming I get a new one with working GPS hardware, will I have do tinker with settings, or will it work out of the box?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may get lucky, some people are claiming their refurbished units have great GPS. Of course this could also be the same bug. GPS functions great out of the box for a few days and then goes to heck-in-a-hand basket.
YMMV

My first captivate GPS was erratic, I exchanged it on day 30. My replacement captivate GPS worked right out of the box, still works with JH7 OTA, 1 month later.
Bob

Related

3rd Party Apps for GPS

Hello All,
New to Android. Feel good to be part of the revolution!
I have read many posts concerning the GPS issues in the Captivate. Is there a third party app that works for GPS on the Captivate?
GPS will be one of the main reasons I purchase the Captivate next week. It is a must app for us as thats all we do now is travel. Our BB is great with Google Maps.
Thanks
From what I have picked up, it's a problem in the drivers and firmware, so the GPS won't work for any other applications. I have been told by other people that Samsung is aware of this issue and is working on a fix.
Now if that fix will be released anytime soon is a different story...
Google Maps Navigation is working perfectly for me. I must be lucky, I've seen none of the GPS issues reported thus far.
It sounds like a problem with some and not all devices. For instance, my GPS works extremely well, pinpointing me within 20 meters even while inside my apartment on the ground floor. For other they could be in the middle of an empty parking lot with full reception, and not be able to lock a single GPS satellite.

GPS: Samsung Captivate vs Samsung Focus

Just picked up a Samsung Focus and the GPS in the device is spot on. I tested inside the AT&T store before I purchased the device and got a lock within 5 seconds inside the store and the accuracy was spot on. I used the navigation feature all the way home and it didn't miss a beat. Does anyone know if this is the same GPS chip that is in the Captivate?
Why dont you try to read the settings and maybe we can emulate them in the Cap
Lol, now samsung gets it right I guess. Frustrating, unless it is the same chip, then hopefully it is just drivers.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
No idea but I always change the SUPL settings to Google's servers on my Captivate and the GPS works fine then.
Isn't the Samsung Captivate (Rogers) a better comparison?
GPS Chip
Don't think it's the same if this is correct:
http://www.intomobile.com/2010/02/1...-with-media-playback-and-recording-functions/
EDIT: Sorry, I may have jumped the gun. I can't confirm that the Focus actually uses the chip mentioned in the article.
pretty sure they have different hardware, at least gps wise. no way samsung is that dumb.
I just bought an ATT nexus one. Im sick of the non-working gps and horrid filesystem.
From what I have read, and experienced, a new Captivate's GPS, and perhaps a new Focus' GPS, will work just fine for a couple of weeks and then deteriorate. Also, when I installed the leaked version of FROYO 2.2, the GPS worked fine for about a week and then deteriorated. Tell us what the FOCUS is doing in about two weeks.
I don't believe it's a hardware problem. If it was, the GPS would not work properly right out of the box. The fact that so many people, including me, report that the GPS worked fine for a week to two weeks, tells me that the hardware is okay. It seems as though, the more the software is utilized, the worst the problem becomes.
From what I have read, and experienced, a new Captivate's GPS, and perhaps a new Focus' GPS, will work just fine for a couple of weeks and then deteriorate. Also, when I installed the leaked version of FROYO 2.2, the GPS worked fine for about a week and then deteriorated. Tell us what the FOCUS is doing in about two weeks.
I don't believe it's a hardware problem. If it was, the GPS would not work properly right out of the box. The fact that so many people, including me, report that the GPS worked fine for a week to two weeks, tells me that the hardware is okay. It seems as though, the more the software is utilized, the worst the problem becomes.
glio1337 said:
No idea but I always change the SUPL settings to Google's servers on my Captivate and the GPS works fine then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I finally did that a few days ago and ever since, it's been great. Locks in seconds rather than minutes-which was really the only problem..accuracy has always been fine
Yeah i should have mentioned it but a few weeks ago i was having the same problms as everyone so i kept trying diff options untill i somehow hit gps jackpot and now i get an accurwte lock in under 10sec every time. I just figured that everyone else had dpne the same and just never reported their fix cause i know i am not certain exactly what i did to fix it..but it works great now
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
glio1337 said:
No idea but I always change the SUPL settings to Google's servers on my Captivate and the GPS works fine then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where can i find the SUPL settings at? and what do I need to set them to?
My little brother returned his Captivate and picked up a Focus.
Hopefully it's indeed fixed. I might switch at some point. Dunno.
The problem is an insensitive GPS antenna. The Galaxy Tab has no problems with GPS. The best test for increased sensitivity would be to take it into a big supermarket and get a GPS fix albeit a poor one (Galaxy S phones should fail miserably here). The GPS chip is the same. The weak link is the antenna. It's garbage, easily fixable though for Samsung.
For me the GPS is only poor on extremely cloudy days and inside of buildings with thick walls. Otherwise it's OK now.
Qualcomm's Snapdragon (QSD8x50) platform comes integrated with their own gpsONE chip. It's pretty much a rock solid performer, as it was with the MSM72xx devices also. The Captivate uses a Broadcom BCM4751. Completely different GPS chip.
XGX5309 said:
Qualcomm's Snapdragon (QSD8x50) platform comes integrated with their own gpsONE chip. It's pretty much a rock solid performer, as it was with the MSM72xx devices also. The Captivate uses a Broadcom BCM4751. Completely different GPS chip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No
http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns-Manufacturing-and-Pricing/News/Pages/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-Carries-$205-Bill-of-Materials-iSuppli-Teardown-Reveals.aspx
It has the SAME receiver.
heygrl said:
No
http://www.isuppli.com/Teardowns-Manufacturing-and-Pricing/News/Pages/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-Carries-$205-Bill-of-Materials-iSuppli-Teardown-Reveals.aspx
It has the SAME receiver.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. You have linked a iSupply for a Galaxy Tab, which is a larger version of a Galaxy S. ?
The Samsung Focus is a WP7 device, and therefore has a SNAPDRAGON chipset, with the Qualcomm gpsONE.
XGX5309 said:
Yes. You have linked a iSupply for a Galaxy Tab, which is a larger version of a Galaxy S. ?
The Samsung Focus is a WP7 device, and therefore has a SNAPDRAGON chipset, with the Qualcomm gpsONE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gpsOne is A-GPS, it's not standalone GPS which the Focus has.
So let's correct a few problems in this thread:
1) Some of the signal hardware may be shared between the Focus and the Captivate, but they are running different SoCs (system on a chip). Therefore, even if they have similar/same antennas, signal boosters, etc on board, the chip actually doing the gps signal processing is different. For example, in the focus, the Qualcomm MSM chip has something called "GpsONE" which is their trade name for the aGPS system used. In the Galaxy S, the GPS is handled by a separate chip (not the SoC), which I believe is the Broadcomm BCM4751.
2) The Captivate DOES NOT have an insensitive antenna, at least by phone standards. I've owned a Kaiser (Tilt) and a Rhodium (Tilt2), and the Galaxy S has a MUCH more sensitive GPS receiver. The problem lots of people are having with GPS reception is due to software (in particular the radio/kernel/rom combination).
And finally, I had horrible problems with the GPS in my Captivate. It shipped broken from Samsung (aka, until I flashed custom ROMs, I rarely if ever got a solid lock). However, ever since 2.2, reception/quality has gotten much better, and ever since switching to an i9000 radio/rom/kernel (see my sig for details) I've had ZERO problems with the GPS. I get a solid lock in under 5 seconds, I never lose that lock, and the actual GPS accuracy (not as reported in GPS Status, but what I actually see on the map) is much improved. If it was a hardware problem, how come mine was broken, and now works perfectly?
There's a simple answer for that, your Tilt2 and even older Kaiser has awful GPS.
The DROID X/Various Moto's/Flip phones I have can lock GPS inside of a building with no problem and the Galaxy S will fail to see any sats to lock on. This is the same for FroYo.

Is this the GPS issue Answer? New Radios.

Just ran into this article on Engadget. Is this solid proof that Samsung Galaxy S devices i.e. Captivate have hardware issues with the gps and will not be fixed by firmware update, Froyo, or settings.....I think it will not be resolved until newer devices.....This is proof to me....New Radios all around.
Samsung Devices new radios
Yeah, im betting this is a hardware issue as well. It's seems fishy that we've had updates to adress the issue, and it's still not working. ATT tries to deny there's a problem until you ask them to replace your phone. Once you want a replacement, they admit to the problem, and tell you to **** off.
I'm going to be switching providers soon as this has pissed me off beyond belief.
Uhh... the title of this and the OP are misleading. The article (and FCC letter) mention new antennas (not new radios) and the change is from the original Nexus S to the production model.
Our phones may very well have a hardware issue, but these FCC docs are not the smoking gun.
Yes I do agree that radios will be changed for carriers and different frequencies but they have changed specifically the GPS which tells us that they have looked into the issue and the only resolution is to change the hardware.
I thought it was hardware as well until i tried the Axura 5 rom that has jupiter tweaks.
i have tested 50+ miles about 25-30 turns and the turn by turn navigation is working very well now (never did before)
I never had a problem with locks. Usually took anywhere from 12-30 seconds with good accuracy when stationary but turn by turn navigation was not even an option.
With Axura i ran gps test and my average lock time was 4.9 seconds with accuracy within 25 meters.
Only missed 2 turns so far in turn by turn navigation and it corrected itself within 3 seconds to proper location which it would never do before. Axura has convinced me its not a hardware issue.
gmanunited said:
Yes I do agree that radios will be changed for carriers and different frequencies but they have changed specifically the GPS which tells us that they have looked into the issue and the only resolution is to change the hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not seen the full specs on the new Nexus S - please show what GPS radio they are now using. We know the make and model of the current Broadcom chip in the Captivate.
The articles title "Samsung Nexus S reappears at the FCC with a pair of new antennas" says nothing about radios.
The text of the letter says that the previous Nexus S, has a different antenna from a new Nexus S that was retested:
"The device is identical to the previously certified Cellular/PCS GSM/EDGE and AWS WCDMA Phone with WLAN and Bluetooth except for the BT/WIFI antenna and the GPS receiver antenna."
Again, they are comparing one version of the Nexus S to another version of the Nexus S.
My gps works so well. I'm on the ROGERS version though.
I just went back to stock from the Axura 5 rom as I couldn't get the gps to work at all. With jh7 it like partially works(kinda works while driving but always says searching for gps).
With the millions of devices sold and the identification of a serious defect that prevents advertised features from working this seems to be moving further into class action territory. Lawyers have picked up smaller cases...
Of course, if we get anything out of it it'll probably be a $5 coupon towards our next Samsung 2 year commitment phone purchase.
What's amazing to me is that Samsung knows of the problem and were all ready to ship out a completely new phone with (Nexus S) the defect until Google cried foul. Really shows you how much Samsung cares about their customers.
epoplive said:
I just went back to stock from the Axura 5 rom as I couldn't get the gps to work at all. With jh7 it like partially works(kinda works while driving but always says searching for gps).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search for Jupiter GPS fix, install that and see if it works better. I went back to JH7 from Perception 4 (never had luck with I9000 roms) and installed the JM9 CWM fix from the op in that thread. Works better than stock ever has even while driving. Of course, I also have a windshield mount. YMMV
I see DG removed the zip because it's baked in Perception 5. Added for your pleasure.
Jupiter for me just increased confidence, but not accuracy.
It was really sure I was a block laterally, as opposed to having a big fat blue circle without the Jupiter tweaks. Both sucked.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
My GPS was crappy with 2.1 with 2.1 update 1 it improved a nice amount. With the leaked 2.2 for the cappy. ( the stock Samsung froyo leak) my GPS now works verrrrry well even when driving. Locks instantly starts at 25 meter acurracy then goes to 10
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

[Q] GPS poll anyone?

Im seeing GPS complaints starting to crop up. My two day old Infuse does not get a GPS lock at all. Figured maybe we can start a poll and see what kind of leaning we get towards GPS performance on this device and show it to Samsung should it look like its a major problem.
i've had no issues at all with my GPS...
This is my third infuse. My first one had battery issues. Second woulndnt find a GPS in the vast sky. But this one is near perfection.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
Infuse GPS - Location Difs?
I'm having a lot of trouble getting the Infuse to find the GPS. I keep getting messages that it's searching for the GPS. However, when it does find it, it works wonderfully. I live in Southern CA and having a difficult time here. It's not locating me correctly and is unable to provide navigation more than half the time. However, in Northern CA last week, it was working well. Do you think that the location makes a difference - or is it something with the individual phone?
Can't be I'm in sandy eggo. My second infuse didnt find any signal while my friend two feet away with an infuse had it working in two seconds.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
dont try these side by side comparisons unless you clear nmea data on both devices before hand. it can be difficult for the gps chip to download the data from the satalites directly. another device may have downloded data that is still current at any time. side by side in only side by side if both devices have a cold start and are working in the same mode.
if you have trouble with initial locks go to the phone dialer and type *#*#3214789650#*#* it should take you to lbs test mode. it can also be launched with launcher pro activities. in lbs test mode delete gps data then go to supl/cp settings. write down the supl server and port. try a different supl server like supl.google.com with secure socket set to off and the port set to 7275. or you can set it to auto config. if none of that helps try setting the gps to msbased in application settings. msbased will use cell towers to download nmea data and give the gps chip a head start.
some phones (like my captivate) dont like ms based mode for tracking but my infuse works great with msbased and supl server set to auto config. if none of that helps trade in the phone, you have a defective unit.
there were situations where a factory reset helped on the captivate but mine suffered from a specific bug where the glgps daemon would crash with certain settings, wiping gps data did not solve the problem but a factory reset did. i dont think the infuse suffers from this bug but it couldnt hurt to try a factory reset.
Another GPS post. Fine, 7-8 gps locks no problem between 3 states. I guess if you can't beat them join them.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
Second infuse, first had GPS issues
Even if it only works sometimes, it blows the doors off the Captivate.
MikeyMike01 said:
Even if it only works sometimes, it blows the doors off the Captivate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope these are isolated incidents. I can't believe that Samsung would release another device with GPS issues.
After reading the OP's thread title, I was really hoping for something more exciting, haha
keitht said:
I hope these are isolated incidents. I can't believe that Samsung would release another device with GPS issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that it's likely there's some user issues. As in, "it doesn't lock on in the 3rd basement of my concrete and lead bunker, therefore it sucks".
MikeyMike01 said:
I think that it's likely there's some user issues. As in, "it doesn't lock on in the 3rd basement of my concrete and lead bunker, therefore it sucks".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree. And most people don't understand that the first seek time can take longer. So until the device learns your area it'll take longer to lock the first time in a certain area. I travel all over the world, and everywhere I go that I haven't been before a phone takes a bit longer to lock.
I think people forget about the days of the original GPS units that would take 5-7 minutes to lock on first use in a locale. Now if it takes 30 seconds they scream bloody murder.
EDIT: Why is it whenever there are polls like this people who click a negative, like something doesn't work or doesn't always work they almost never elaborate in comments? If I found this thread and had GPS issues, I'd vote, then elaborate on the problem to see if someone can help. My guess is you're spot on with user error.
My GPS was mediocre from day one. Today, did a factory reset, used tibu to restore all apps except maps, fresh install of maps from market. Had a lock in seconds. Will see what happens in the next week or two.
im not gonna say there arent bad units. and the settings could certainly be better, but i see these threads in every forum about every phone, and my friends complain about there phones. all i can say is that it get blown out of proportion.
i had a captivate and despite limited accuracy and agps that would hinder tracking it never steered me wrong after a few slight tweaks. every time i tried to follow someone elses mods it got worse. da_g's fix fixed the glgps deamon crashing while i was driving, though it only crashed if i used agps settings in the first place, so just changing the supl server and using the most recent modem.bin and setting secgps.conf to standalone to match lbs test mode was all it took to get a great tracking gps even on google maps.and it locked pretty good under cover.
the infuse is way more accurate getting <10meter locks quickly and showing the accuracy to the .01th of a meter rather than using multiples of 5 meters like the sgs. i can typically get 6 meter locks on the infuse sometimes less, with consistant altitude and 11 sats visable. if it gives you trouble i would blame google maps, it is clearly not a hardware issue. changing the lbs settings or secgps.conf may make it better but it is better to have a gps program that doesnt use data so before you complain replace maps with an application that has it's maps stored internally.
10 days in... Not one GPS issue. I just returned home from a 4 day business trip to Washington DC. During that trip, I used the Infuse often and enjoyed comparing it to the Garmin that came with the vehicle. The Infuse won hands down. The one huge triumph was the Google Navigation's ability to properly recognize traffic delays and re-route. I used it and it actually worked like a charm! The Garmin traffic portion didn't work at all. It basically didn't see the traffic that the Google Nav picked right up.
Dani897 said:
im not gonna say there arent bad units. and the settings could certainly be better, but i see these threads in every forum about every phone, and my friends complain about there phones. all i can say is that it get blown out of proportion.
i had a captivate and despite limited accuracy and agps that would hinder tracking it never steered me wrong after a few slight tweaks. every time i tried to follow someone elses mods it got worse. da_g's fix fixed the glgps deamon crashing while i was driving, though it only crashed if i used agps settings in the first place, so just changing the supl server and using the most recent modem.bin and setting secgps.conf to standalone to match lbs test mode was all it took to get a great tracking gps even on google maps.and it locked pretty good under cover.
the infuse is way more accurate getting <10meter locks quickly and showing the accuracy to the .01th of a meter rather than using multiples of 5 meters like the sgs. i can typically get 6 meter locks on the infuse sometimes less, with consistant altitude and 11 sats visable. if it gives you trouble i would blame google maps, it is clearly not a hardware issue. changing the lbs settings or secgps.conf may make it better but it is better to have a gps program that doesnt use data so before you complain replace maps with an application that has it's maps stored internally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you post a link of changing the settings to lock in north America only please.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
Working fine here, just hoping I'm not jinxing myself by saying so
I was using Google navigation yesterday on the Infuse while in Kissimmee and it moved a long with the car 95% of the time, it was great! Took me exactly where I needed to go without an issue. The Captivate couldn't do this at all!!
My GPS still doesn't work, indoors, outdoors, in my car etc. Guess ill need a replacement. Thanks for the input people. Thats what these forums are for. To either uncover or put to rest potential issues, amongst many other uses.. Sorry if i "offended" any internet elitists.. Again i appreciate the useful input though.

GPS Stopped working

Friend of mine recently told me her GPS on her verizon S3 stopped working. she brought it by, i flashed the newest build of cleanrom on it today and sure enough the GPS still doesnt work. everything needed is turned on but it doesnt get a lock. i checked it with the GPS Status app and it shows like 0/20 satellites and doesnt lock to any. only way i was able to actually get somewhat of a lock on google maps was to hook it up to WiFi and let it gather from that.
any suggestions?
Somewhat common problem. I haven't found a fix as of yet. There is a gps fix somewhere in these forums though that sort of helps. my phone had the same problem. Going back to stock or to any custom rom, nothing worked, the gps was just dead. After flashing one of the fixes I finally managed to get it to get locks, but it needs like 7-8 satellites to get a fix, is highly inaccurate, and loses gps lock a few times on every trip.
Here's the gps fix page
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1880411
I use Galaxy s3 test 3 alt, it's the only one that gets any lock for me. The first time and other intermittent times can take up to 10 minutes or more though, and rebooting the phone or trying again another day does sometimes help.
I know it is definitely the phone, as my pantech marauder which has the same SoC which should be very similar for gps location, finds and locks on to 6-8 towers in like 10 seconds or less all the time, even indoors, and gets location accurate to less than 100ft with 4 satellites while the gs3 needs 7-8 satellites to get a lock to 300-600ft
If none of the software fixes work. And the stock unrooted software does not receive GPS lock.
I would highly recommend replacing the GPS antenna just in case.
I'm 90% sure the headphone jack. External speaker. WiFi antenna and GPS antenna are all in one unit.
This piece is sold for cheap on Amazon. Or eBay or whatever.
Replacing is simply a removing a couple screws and popping the old one out.
Here is a link to eBay
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=160890063224
Possibly you could find one cheaper.
Hopefully this is it for you.
Let me know how it goes.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
I too have this problem: the GPS no longer gets a fix w/o a data connection
the phone recently did an update to jb 411 and now no gps fix w/o data.
I do NOT believe its the antenna.
does anyone else with the os in sight have any info?
palm2droid said:
I too have this problem: the GPS no longer gets a fix w/o a data connection
the phone recently did an update to jb 411 and now no gps fix w/o data.
I do NOT believe its the antenna.
does anyone else with the os in sight have any info?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too have the same problems on this rom

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