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JI6 no more GPS lock

Upgraded to JI6 via ODIN, a while back from JI7 that I got over the air. Anyways, now waiting official froyo now from sammy. The rare time I need a gps came the other day. Apparently my phone no longer locks any satellites. Haven't played with the LBSTestMode Settings but shouldn't the gps at least be usable with the default settings? What programs do you guys use to workout and test the gps. Google maps doesn't even use my gps when its on. What should I try or should I downgrade to JH7 and call samsung?

I'm not very savvy with my phone yet but I found a couple tricks to make my gps work better. I downloaded an app off the market called GPS Status and toolbox and changed the settings to update gps assistance every time I open the app. It sometimes takes a minute but does better than it used to.
Also, how long are you waiting? Just curious. Another trick you may use is something I found off the forums. Take off your battery cover. Seriously. It helped me get a signal quicker and stronger. I have a phone case that keeps my battery in pretty well without the cover, so I don't have my cover on half the time.
These are both really annoying issues, hardware and software, but I haven't given up yet.let me know if this helps you or if you find something that works better.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

If you want Froyo and don't want to wait for Samsung's crap stock version, I just loaded the newest Cognition. GPS works great.
Swyping...please read slowly!

cappysw10 said:
If you want Froyo and don't want to wait for Samsung's crap stock version, I just loaded the newest Cognition. GPS works great.
Swyping...please read slowly!
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Oh yeah! I just tested gps on Cogv2.3b4, it really rocks, took 20 seconds for the first fix, and get fix in 3 sec for the next time~~~
It's the best performance I've ever seen! on Cogv2.4.1 it never get a lock, so I believe that maybe the problem of that Vibrant rom.

Ive been usig gps status, i left my phone outside with a clear sky view for about 15 minutes and gps status never even finds a satellite let alone a fix on it
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

updated to Cognition today. It actually finds satellites after a few minutes now, still can't lock any. It was pretty cloudy today but that shouldn't have affected it much.

Is it GPS Status from EclipSim? Try going to settings - gps & sensors - auto download AGPS data, and set it to update if older than one hour or six hours... And seriously try taking off the metal battery cover. If only as an experiment for my sake. I want to know if it's just my phone. Other than that, be patient. The first fix of the day always takes the longest. And GPS Status has a help and release note section for more info. Take two and call me in the morning.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

GPS problems thread

I know this has been discussed some, but i can't seem to find a solution. This is a great phone, but the gps really makes me mad.
My OG Droid and inc would get a position lock pretty fast. about 15 seconds. the thunderbolt on the other hand sucks... Never have i even seen before the shrinking (or sometimes not) circle around your position arrow in google maps.
This is a big deal to me because i use the gps as the main navi in my truck, i assume lots of others do too. I also use it for marking fishing spots so pinpoint accuracy is a must.
I know and for those who don't, you can download GPS status and see the fix its getting and also reset or update your GPS. This kind of works for a while, but still doesn't get the most accurate fix (but ok for driving) and is a PITA. Also takes a minute.
I have a feeling this is software/radio related, and hopefully can be fixed. But just a hunch as i know nothing about the matter.
Anyone have any other ideas??

I should add i just got 12/12 in gps status. not too bad. and maybe the circle around the position arrow was MAYBE just added in a new version of maps. but still it takes multiple trys when i hit navigate to find my position.

GPS is awful on both my and my wife's Thunderbolts too. Can't get a lock standing outside even after 5 minutes; completely unusable. And, we shouldn't have to download another (non-official) app just to get GPS to work.

Glad it's not just me. My GPS takes forever to lock (has taken up to 10min before).

ntguru said:
Glad it's not just me. My GPS takes forever to lock (has taken up to 10min before).
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my pgs sucks as well. I didn't use it much before rooting and flashing roms, so I can't really compare pre and post ROM flashing. Either way, it sucks, can't lock on my location, it get "waiting on location" then "location unavailbale at this time". However, it seems to work when I on pgs navigation after waiting for a while. Hopefully we can get a fix for this soon.

i didnt try GPS much before root either. Don't think that would make a difference. I was on the stock rom just until yesterday and was having the same problems with it.
BUMP

I'm having the same issues. I love my phone but this is very aggravating. I would like to know if this is just isolated to a few of us( ie our particular phones are defective) or is the a phone wide issue.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

GPS issues..
I've been having the same issues with GPS. I posted about this in another thread but i'll post again.
I get three different locations from three different apps using GPS. Google maps is off by a few blocks, but at least it shows me in downtown houston (my actual location). My time widget pulls the time based on location, and currently, its somewhere near a lake in Russia right above mongolia. Foursquare thinks i'm on the coast of Lithuania and gives me locations in that area to check into.
I called VZ tech help and breezed through to the L2 support. The lady put me on hold to grab a thunderbolt phone to help me troubleshoot. When she came back on the line, she said her google maps was showing her location as blocks away from where she really too!!
Long story short - she gave me a call back later that day and said HTC is aware of the problem and is currently working on a fix for the issue , but gave no timeframe for when it would be fixed

My thunderbolt is fine. Just did a maps test and it found me in about 10s. I have two thunderbolts and the other one took about 1 minute to lock. Both tests were done from inside my house.

having the same problem with my gps...im going head to a verizon store today!

magnafides said:
GPS is awful on both my and my wife's Thunderbolts too. Can't get a lock standing outside even after 5 minutes; completely unusable. And, we shouldn't have to download another (non-official) app just to get GPS to work.
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"non official"
you shouldn't be on this forum, if you don't like "non official" stuff, btw if you use GPS status you can clear the cache, and download the assistance data. maybe that'll help you guys

Mine gets a lock indoors, away from all windows, under 2 minutes. Not the most accurate, 60ft, 6 satellites. But hey I'm in the frikkin house. Outdoors I get a lock instantly. 12+ satellites.

Gps status helps, but doesn't fix it. So chill dude.
But I just downloaded das bamf 1.3.1 and now its working like normal! In the change log it says edited some gps settings in the build prop!
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

Damn my gps doesn't work at all...
Das bamf 1.3.1

Varelse said:
Damn my gps doesn't work at all...
Das bamf 1.3.1
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Sucks. I assume you tried updating thru gps status? Maybe it will work after awhile or a reboot.
Anyways since mine works good now I am at ease cause I know its not HW. I'm sure there will be a patch one of these days.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

I am using Das Bamf 1.3.1 and have no gps problems

Running Das BAMF 1.3.2. No problems at all with GPS, indoors, outdoors, or in car -- pre- and- post-root.

headcheese said:
Sucks. I assume you tried updating thru gps status?
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
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Dumb question, but where do I find this option?

So it's just not me, mine takes minutes to lock on, after that it's no problem, but that initial lock is a PITA, 3-5 min...

I've also noticed subpar gps performance compared to my incredible from the first day I got the phone.
The Gps status app seems to have helped and the time to get a lock has improved even more with bamf 1.3.2. Even still it doesn't seem to get a lock as quick as I was used to with my incredible. Takes anywhere from 30s to 2min, but on the lower end of that.
Would still like to see this addressed by HTC/vzw. I'm sure there's other people out there having this issue and I know they can do better.

Droid Charge GPS?

Howdy all?
I don't know WHAT I was thinking but on impulse bought the LG Revolution last night. It's a decent and I do want to emphasize just decent, however it has an AMAZING GPS capability.
Well I am going to right my wrong and get the Charge, hence how is the GPS on it in comparison? I need a device that locks fast and can get below 20 meters (long story with crap phone at AT&T)!
Any guidance/perspective would be appreciated.
Angieutc

gps is great. Locks quickly. Much better than the fasciante was. I wouldnt regret buying the revo...its a great phone too.

Doesn't the Revo have Bing by default for search engine? I thought about getting the Revo but I hate Bing.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA Premium App

sir2545 said:
Doesn't the Revo have Bing by default for search engine? I thought about getting the Revo but I hate Bing.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA Premium App
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Exactly why I am taking it back. I did not know how deeply intergrated bing was into the phone. I thought it was just to higlight the search engine.
Plus there is not excitement about the phone. Verizon reps weren't excited to talk about it and there is not support on XDA.
On thing -- GPS and call quality were some of the best i have had on a phone.
I made a mistake and thankful I can fix it within my 14 day period.

sir2545 said:
Doesn't the Revo have Bing by default for search engine? I thought about getting the Revo but I hate Bing.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA Premium App
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Easily removed.

suzook said:
Easily removed.
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True. However, I would feel better with a Samsung or HTC model. Something is nagging in my mind that I would regret the LG purchase down the line. Just a feeling.

angieutc said:
On thing -- GPS and call quality were some of the best i have had on a phone.
I made a mistake and thankful I can fix it within my 14 day period.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you will maybe regret making the change. There WILL be roms, with debloat. And make the phone what it should be.

GPS on the Charge is okay. Doesn't lock nearly as fast as other Moto devices that I have had.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App

Gps rocks under 5 meter accuracy and fast lock times. Way better than the captivate I used to own
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App

im very unimpressed by ALL of its wireless network capabilities, the gps can take minutes to lock on its fairly accurate but sometimes i'll go threw 2 songs and pass 4 exits before it locks and i find out im going the wrong way. on top of that i had the HTC TB and it had great 4G signal all around my area but my charge is maybe 1/2 to 3/4 as strong in the same places, also the bluetooth will NOT stay connected to anything which is a HUGE problem at least for me because i have a tablet and the entire reason i bought the charge was for th 4g hotspot to share with my transformer but as of right now that is nothing more than a pipe dream. I'm hoping that some of these issues will be ironed out because i can't take this phone back now and i have to wait for something newer to come out.
sadly i'm slightly disappointed in this phone so far but i do understand that in time problems will be addressed.
as far as another phone to get its hard to suggest ANY of verizons 4G phones as they all kinda suck....

So far, the GPS on my Charge has been awful. I love the phone to death, but every time I try to use the GPS, it just laaaags. Doesn't matter what program I'm using to access the GPS.
Thankfully, there are very few reasons I need GPS and most of those reasons, I really don't need GPS, I just need a location, which I can get with cell tower triangulation or whatever.
...Ok, I just opened my phone, flipped on GPS, opened Google maps and it is working perfectly. Eh... so I guess I'll amend "awful" to "spotty with a chance of awesome."

The GPS in my Charge works. It is not nearly as fast as my Droid X was, and it struggles to get a lock indoors, but I only rely on it for 1 app and can make do.
My DX would have a lock within 2 seconds max, and the Charge will take up to 10 seconds for an initial lock. That being said, I have not experienced any latency/accuracy issues once locked on to 5+ satellites.
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Sent via the combination of 4G airwaves and a Samsung device, using the full featured version of Tapatalk, better known as Forum Runner.

GPS has been terrible for me. I have had to use additional testing apps to get it to lock at all on occasion and it has been slow in those instance. Prior to EE4 it was excellent, but since it has been horrible.

My GPS completely blows, just like the Fascinate.

For those with the GPS issues, download GPS Test by Chartcross and fire that up one time. It should get a signal within 15 seconds. After opening that one time, my other GPS apps lock a signal very quickly.
It sounds strange but that solved my GPS issues...

robstamack said:
For those with the GPS issues, download GPS Test by Chartcross and fire that up one time. It should get a signal within 15 seconds. After opening that one time, my other GPS apps lock a signal very quickly.
It sounds strange but that solved my GPS issues...
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I have taken to using that app as well. For me it means the difference between not being able to lock and being able to lock in a minute or three. Now, I have taken to modifying my gps.conf .. so we'll see how that goes.

My wife's takes literally over five minutes to lock the first use each day or so, but sped up with a the testing app. It seems like Samsung has issues with pull GPS data off the net/cell towers to speed the initial connection. Just a theory.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App

My GPS has also been very awful since ive gotten my charge last week. It takes forever to lock and mostly it doesn't even lock accurately on my location kinda disappointing coming from a BB that locks on almost instantly on my exact location.

I remember it working real well but then yesterday I went to use Navigation and got nothing. Since then I've tried to clear the DV cache, clear the GPS data, reinstall Maps. Nothing has worked. Through the testing apps, I can see it is getting some gps signal but they are mostly weak and it never locks on to anything. I am thinking about wiping my phone to see if maybe that will do the trick. Might be a good time to start getting into Roms.

I've only used mine twice, but it seems to consistently position me about .25 to .5mi away to the south from my actual location. (Both times I was using it indoors.)

GPS sucks

Anyone know why the gps takes forever to lock on when in navigation
Sent from my htc_jewel using xda app-developers app

No idea. The GPS signal is almost instantaneous on my phone once I open up Navigation.

Yea its spotty with me. It'll connect quickly, but ill be driving on the highway, then itll think im on some side road, and be really confused. I rebooted, and happened again, three times in a row. Also tried disabling GPS services and everything.
I would recommend taking it to Verizon to get a replacement. GPS isn't one of those things that's that fixable, its kind of hit or miss.
I'll probably take mine to VZW this week and demand a replacement for a faulty GPS.

Mine excellent has not seen this issue with others...if not rooted I would update to the newest radio...well you do not have to be rooted to do that but update for the latest radio to see if that helps...but I had no issues with the old...

You could try downloading an app called FasterGPS which supposedly helps lock on faster.

mine keeps putting me in the wrong place

Im coming from the droid charge and that and this phones gps is garbage. The only way i can get it to work is to turn on gps 5 minutes prior to opening maps/navigation and hope it will lock. That works about 30% of the time. Other than that no gps for me
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

SFniner415 said:
Im coming from the droid charge and that and this phones gps is garbage. The only way i can get it to work is to turn on gps 5 minutes prior to opening maps/navigation and hope it will lock. That works about 30% of the time. Other than that no gps for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The GPS in the Droid Charge I had was virtually useless half the time, but I am finding the GPS in my G3 works perfectly (it works so well I never use my Garmin portable GPS anymore)

Anyone with GPS problems????

I've searched the threads for are Verizon variant of the SGSIII. If this has been discussed , mod please remove.
I'm not a noob by any means. My GPS is driving me up a freaking wall. I've tried from on a pure stock ROM, yes out the box and both rooted .img's. Plus all available ROM'S .
Here is where my adventure begins. It takes forever if at all , to get a lock. If I do get a lock it will stick but that is about 1 out of ten times. I've tried to modify the GPS.conf , with known general tweaks and NTP servers to pull from with no luck, also a few general build.prop tweaks. Then I turned to the market and we all no how that goes , thousands of apps claiming to give you the world with a click of a button. Nada , nothing. I've done full restores, formatted system, efs etc ect, a clean start. Still no luck. Now I thought at one point that maby my GPS is fubared, I highly doubt this. I can see all satellites in my region and it connects to about one or two at the most. When I just look at my maps on my location it is close , it will show me about 100 ft away from the road I'm on or the next road over, or show me on the road but riding along side it. If I'm in navigation it just says follow route , searching for GPS. So I no its close.
This is frustrating cause I'm a self employed contractor and I depend on my phone for everything. So if anyone can confirm some of the problems I've been having or any links or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
(EDIT) After some reaserch and tinkering with the gps.conf I have made my GPS 50% better. See page 2.
DirtyDroidX
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913

I've had the same problem. My GPS takes forever to lock on (if I try to start it up while navigating, it usually doesn't lock at all). And when it does lock on, the accuracy is terrible.
I haven't tried any of the tweaks, apps, or different ROMs or anything, but I shouldn't be really have to. GPS worked great on my now 2.5 year old HTC Incredible, and works fine on the Rezound I play with a lot. This was one of the things I was worried about when I bought this phone... HTC phones are known for having the best radios around... and Samsung radios are known to be ****. Well, this has only reinforced that for me.
For a comparison to the Rezound, see the attached screenshots taken at pretty much the same time, in pretty much the same spot. In fairness, I was moving (although coming to a stop) when the SGSIII one was taken, but the results that came out were actually one of the better ones. Around the time I took the screenshots, I was getting measurements similar to this as well as much worse than this, while both moving and stopped. Hell, you can even see that the 3G signal is weaker on the SGSIII.
I've seen these same issues discussed in a number of forums on here, and I recognize that not everyone has this problem. Most people's GPS locks on instantly and the accuracy is great. But there are still a lot of people who do have this problem, so it's definitely not just a couple isolated cases. I realize that I can take it in for a warranty replacement, but then I get a refurbished phone back, and those usually come with even more problems... which is the thing that pisses me off about the Verizon warranty program... I buy a brand new phone... it doesn't work... I get a refurbished phone in it's place. Samsung needs to just stop making shoddy hardware and it won't be a problem.
Don't get me wrong, I'd still take this phone over the Rezound any day. It's sexier, has a way better processor, camera, and battery life, and has a bigger screen. I just miss Sense and having radios that actually work well

For whatever reason, the old GPS issue thread disappeared. Initially I had no problems on stock, but when I flashed Invisiblek's JB 8-10 build, I wasn't able to lock on.
What I did was download FasterFix from the PlayStore. With GPS off, I launched it, set the region to my region, closed, and then turned on GPS, waited a minute and launched navigation again. See if that works for you. I think FasterFix calibrates your region or something if it's trying to find you somewhere in the world and is taking a while.

xmrlazyx said:
For whatever reason, the old GPS issue thread disappeared. Initially I had no problems on stock, but when I flashed Invisiblek's JB 8-10 build, I wasn't able to lock on.
What I did was download FasterFix from the PlayStore. With GPS off, I launched it, set the region to my region, closed, and then turned on GPS, waited a minute and launched navigation again. See if that works for you. I think FasterFix calibrates your region or something if it's trying to find you somewhere in the world and is taking a while.
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Click to collapse
FasterFix seems like it might fix the lock-on time but not the accuracy, which is the (much) bigger problem.

I hope I don't. S2 had a POS GPS at first that took forever to fix.

Yea I can get a lock faster with a few play store apps. The thing is like said before, the accuracy is ****ty. Plus the navigation won't function cause of this. I hope someone with in depth knowledge can see what the problem is. I have not given up hope yet lol. I have a few things I want to test out and then I might throw my hands in the air. I need to get ahold of nitroglycerin33 on talk and ask him a few questions.
Jmo. I flashed the radio before Verizon got there ignorant hands on it. I forget what the version name is . I live on a fringe area and I was dropping calls left and right ,bad 4G conection. Now I would say its 60% better.
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913

You should exchange the phone if you can. Mine was terrible before and now its perfect on the new phone.

ChrisNee1988 said:
You should exchange the phone if you can..
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I agree, GPS not working in these phones seems to be a hardware problem.
My G3 GPS works perfectly (better than my old Rezound in side by side comparisons, it locks almost instantly even inside where I work), but my boss had one that didn't work for ****.
VZ replaced his & now it works great.

My wife's S3 does something entirely different. GPS locks on fine and fast, but it says she's in Clintwood VA, about 500 miles off. First noticed it in the weather widget, but if she opens maps it starts in Clintwood, but locks on correctly in just a few seconds. Weather can be changed manually, but goes back to Clintwood after a while.
Never been to Clintwood, may need to see if there's anything worth seeing there.

johnnyvol said:
My wife's S3 does something entirely different. GPS locks on fine and fast, but it says she's in Clintwood VA, about 500 miles off. First noticed it in the weather widget, but if she opens maps it starts in Clintwood, but locks on correctly in just a few seconds. Weather can be changed manually, but goes back to Clintwood after a while.
.
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That is just a bug in the [email protected] stock weather app, mine does the same thing. It always puts me in NYC which is a 6 1/2 hour drive away.
I use weather & toggle widgets flip clock/weather instead in Nova Launcher & that weather app always locates me perfectly no matter where I am.

Just got it and this is one of the best GPS's I have seen yet. Better than my S2 and my Razr.

My last GS3 had a similar issue too on top of the lock taking forever and it being a bit off. At one point it thought I was in Florida but I really live near DC. My friend noticed it when I was chatting with the FB app and it included Geotags and was wondering what I was doing in Florida.
johnnyvol said:
My wife's S3 does something entirely different. GPS locks on fine and fast, but it says she's in Clintwood VA, about 500 miles off. First noticed it in the weather widget, but if she opens maps it starts in Clintwood, but locks on correctly in just a few seconds. Weather can be changed manually, but goes back to Clintwood after a while.
Never been to Clintwood, may need to see if there's anything worth seeing there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I'm leaning toward a hardware issue myself cause I'm adjusting the NTP servers as we speak. I've used about 6 different ones . No change. I'm going to try some prop tweaks now.
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913

dirtydroidx said:
I'm leaning toward a hardware issue myself cause I'm adjusting the NTP servers as we speak. I've used about 6 different ones . No change. I'm going to try some prop tweaks now.
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913
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I could be misinterpreting what you are trying to do, but why would the NTP servers have anything to do with your GPS problem? NTP simply delivers UTC time....

GPS works prefer for me. Takes about ten seconds at most to lock
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Beemer533 said:
I could be misinterpreting what you are trying to do, but why would the NTP servers have anything to do with your GPS problem? NTP simply delivers UTC time....
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I'm not sure what the problem is that's why I'm trying to distinguish between hardware or software. Just exploring all options. Can't hurt.
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913

OK might be on to something
If anyone wants to try it out I will post it here in a little bit. From tweaking the GPS.conf file I got this>>>
When I started the day I got not one lock on a satt !
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913

dirtydroidx said:
I'm not sure what the problem is that's why I'm trying to distinguish between hardware or software. Just exploring all options. Can't hurt.
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913
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No, it certainly can't! I was just wondering, as NTP just delivers time, and has no positional information...

Agreed the lock does take forever UNLESS you turn on Google Location Services (which I usually have off), and it is accurate as all hell even indoors. I wonder if turning that on with Standalone GPS will solve your issues.
Edit: GPS lock was great with Maps indoors, but switching to Navigation it never locked onto GPS even though it had my location perfectly!

OK if you want to prove my concept feel free to . Let me no if it works for you. Go out side or be in a car while locking on!
1) Download new gps.conf file>>>
http://db.tt/5xvFneRt
2) Replace it in /ect . Rename the original one from .conf to .bak. using a file explorer with R/W enabled , so yes you have to be rooted!
3) Download GPS toolbox https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2
4) Reboot.
5) Enable standalone GPS and Google services NOT Verizon services.
6) Open GPS status select options/tools/reset . Then options/ tools/download
7) Reboot
8) Open GPS status and wait for lock . Mine took 5 min a friends took 3. Then open up navigation .
9) Profit
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913