GPS problems thread - Thunderbolt General

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).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"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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Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.

Related

[Q] Did v2.2 fix your GPS?

I was really hoping it would, but after installing Cognition v2.2 BETA5.5. my GPS is no better. I really miss this feature.
If others are having this fix theirs than I need to see about getting new hardware. If not, then ... I don't know.... Start shopping for another (not a Samsung) phone?
Phredeee said:
I was really hoping it would, but after installing Cognition v2.2 BETA5.5. my GPS is no better. I really miss this feature.
If others are having this fix theirs than I need to see about getting new hardware. If not, then ... I don't know.... Start shopping for another (not a Samsung) phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2.2 helped my GPS immensely though it was already decent before hand.
and not to be a PITA but the really shouldn't be in the dev forum, shoulda posted it in the Q&A one.
This belongs in general.
That aside, froyo is better than stock but not fixed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
cropythy said:
This belongs in general.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I put it here since froyo is not official yet. Thus a development topic.
Thanks for the response.
Phredeee said:
I put it here since froyo is not official yet. Thus a development topic.
Thanks for the response.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google maps still can't get a fix very well, but its a software issue, my tracks shows that my gps has near perfect accuracy, sensor assist in settings does not work, it only makes the run on arrow, and driving through the woods worse.
Once you get a good fix in google maps you should then get fixes faster but the initial fix may take a while. Getting a fix with other software first seems to help, but may be coincidental.
Before you go trading in the phone make sure you do a clean install, master clear in odin one click, then odin flash jf6, then upgrade, either with odin or via clockwork mod recovery.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
Didn't really fix it for me. It takes a long time to get a fix and once I get it, it would lose the fix within a few seconds.
I'm not using a window mount so the GPS signal has to go through the roof of my car. That may or may not affect it.
Didn't fix it at all for me. Very frustrating.
-Can't get a lock while moving
-Can't get a lock inside
-When I do get a lock it will lose it If I start moving
-Accuracy is waaay off.
2.2 broke my GPS It pretty much worked fine before I updated... now I cant even get a lock!!!
Mine will lock fine if I'm not moving but will not work once I'm moving, so still no navigation. I've heard it works for some so I wonder if there are just alot of hardware issues or what
My advice to you guys is to learn how to tweak lbstestmode settings. You can make your gps a lot better or a lot worse with these settings. Read up on the best settings and apply them to your phone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I gave up on my gps ... I am now "hoping" that the official release fixes it for everyone
update, i previously reported that it had more or less fixed my gps, that was with beta 4. beta 5.5 cant seem to get a fix, bad install im guessing. any number of things could be responsible. and no lbs test mode settings do not fix the gps. i almost wonder if it has something to do with titanium backup which i did not use before. its all purely speculation though.
Using Cognition Froyo 2.2 b5, GPS works almost 100% out of all the apps, google (Nav mostly)is the one with issues but very few now. It just looses me sometimes, usually when going under 20 mph but it does find me again in seconds.
I don't have a dash mount yet (due to questionable GPS) so it sits on the seat next to me in a truck, not the best. My trick is to run GPS test for a minute before I use Nav, seems to work every time. I lock on 7-10 sats in 6 or 7 seconds and they stay locked which never happened before, A lot of the time I'll be locked on 9 to 10 while moving with gps test reporting my speed within 1 mile an hour. I've also noticed that I get very few mistakes from Nav if I turn on the satellite layer, don't know why but works solidly for me when I do that.
This phone couldn't do a thing with gps before I flashed Cog's froyo and I had flashed a lot of different fixes, files, and roms almost bricking the phone a few times but nothing worked like the cognition froyo. I haven't used the jupiter v 006 files neither, no need with the gps working well.
GPS
I'm hoping that there was some parallel development going on and Samsung hasn't included a GPS fix in the leaked Froyo ROM. The GPS is pretty bad now - it's taking forever to obtain a fix again.
With 2.2, mine works fine. It takes a full minute to get a lock that status solid while in motion, but it gets a usable lock in twenty seconds. It's not as good as an iphone, but it's usable. In eclair, it's useless. Most of the time I can't get a lock at all, even if I let it try for a half hour. It will see 8 satellites and not lock a single one. In short, 2.2 has fixed my gps.
Mine has yet to have the GPS functioning well enough to use it.
No
........... 10 chars.
No, not at all.
My old ancient TMO G1 running Edge on ATT had lock on GPS 100% of the time. It was dead accurate and GPS was always on point. Can't say the same about my Captivate.
I'm on my second Captivate. I exchanged my first one thinking it was a hardware issue but alas I've given up. I flashed my phone with a couple different versions of ROMS (but not before trying the OTA Official fix before flashing any customs or rooting) it updated successfully but the GPS was still hella slow.
I'm not sure what's going on but these workarounds and everything absolutely do not work for me at all.
The only time the GPS works is when I turn Wi-Fi on, which defeats the purpose of having a wireless device in my opinion since you won't ALWAYS be around a Wi-Fi network (especially on a highway connected between the middle of nowhere) ...
I drove 450 miles with the GPS on my Captivate using Google Nav. It was pretty darn accurate. Only lost me 3 times the entire trip and by that I mean it went off onto the sideroads that ran parallel with the highway and then immediately came back. I'd have to say that 2.2 definitely fixed my GPS without a doubt.
I recently was having the crazy compass issue where it jumps back and forth. But my gps had always worked well as long as I wasn't moving to fast... I know I know. But cog 5.5 fixed my compass and improved my gps as well. Note I said improved not fixed, lol.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

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!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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 finally works!

I just updated my google maps and all of the sudden my GPS works! Just went on a 25 mile ride and tutn by turn worked flawlessly with no hiccups and it locks in a mtter of seconds.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Confirmed
I was skeptical of your claim, we've heard this before, but dang, something IS different! I've put countless hours into the GPS issue, tried everything, and I'll be darned, the phone does something now that it never has before. Sitting in my same desk position as always, after a fresh reboot, Google maps locks incredibly quick, inside the house, where it never would before, never. Time to lock is probably somewhere in the 15 seconds with 4 out of 8 sats found. Inside! Something most certainly changed with this version of Google maps. I'm running stock ROM (JH7) and only GPS change was to use supl.google.com
I want to try this but I'm worried if by some chance out messes up ill be worse off. If I back it up using titanium she it doesn't work as well, titanium will restore it just as b4 right?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Well I was just exploring through the Market and noticed I had an update for google maps. So I updated it. As I type this, my phone is locking in a matter of 10-15 seconds inside my house. I posted a few times talking really bad about this phone a few times and was very disgusted . I dont know, it must have been software all along. And now after 4 months I am satisfied!
designgears said:
Thats funny, I just picked up copilot and gps is fine with it... maybe there is something something funky with how the gps works that google maps wasn't designed to handle...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope this is true.
I've noticed that with each google maps update, my GPS gets better, but then goes back to crap. Don't get too excited.
Edit: BTW... with wifi and GPS off, the phone has me in Germany. I'd hope that I'm using a cell tower closer than that.
UPDATED,still not working,such a cool phone,i love the movies and music,i love this phone,,just hoping the koreans wont forget the captivated,prisoners? damnit.we should BE getting ginger,they want to feed souryougurt,****YOU
My GPS worked well before. I saw this post and decided to try it, since I updated GMaps recently. And there IS a difference. It locked even faster and seemed to track movement better. I'm pleased.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I read this just a little while ago and updated mine. It certainly locks much faster with stock settings for gps. I locked on here at work under 30 seconds next to a 21 story building...something it would never do before.I'll try it out and see how it tracks tomorrow while driving around.
Mac
Come back here in 3-5 days and tell us it still works. Every single fix to date stops working after a period of time. I strongly suspect it's an issue of the cached GPS Sat positions going out of date. Every time I clear the data in libtstmode, I get a better working GPS.
Read the OP and searched for an update. Low and behold, there it was. I had GPS lock within 15 seconds at 35mph driving through town. We'll see if it keeps up; I was among the worst in terms of GPS performance.
With WiFi and aGPS on, GMaps always used to put me about 5 miles away when I was in my house, now it puts me close to my actual position (less that 100 ft away, but within the circle of ambiguity), so the new version is definitely better.
Not that this has anything to do with the slow lock for the actual GPS . . .
settings
what are you using for Supl/CP Settings
and Applcation settings?
I'm using all the default settings except I have Skyhook on.
This is definitely better. GMaps puts me almost spot on inside my house. However, whatever they are doing may be smoke and mirrors because I still have the same GPS issues with applications like MyTracks and GPS Status (major inaccuracy and drifting).
When you all are getting locks indoors, do you have 'Use wireless networks' turned on or off in the Location and Security settings?
I have AGPS off.
GPS still sucks for me with new maps update. No lock at all after waiting like 10 min
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897
hopefully this is hte answer we are looking for!
SiL3nTKiLL said:
hopefully this is hte answer we are looking for!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not. You've only changed the front end interface.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

The real cause of nonworking gps!

so this is my 3rd G2X, my first was a horrible rebooter so i exchanged it for a second, which was pretty good but i could never get the GPS to work. so i just got my 3rd g2x sent to me, and everything was working, including GPS. Then i downloaded GPS status and toolbox. when i opened the app it told me GPS assistance downloaded, and from then on my GPS won't work. i tried a factory reset and it is still broken, so i think i have found the cause of the problem. Anyone agree?
also is there a fix, or do i need to get a 4th g2x sent to me?
I have GPS status on my G2X and my GPS works perfect.
slowpig38 said:
so this is my 3rd G2X, my first was a horrible rebooter so i exchanged it for a second, which was pretty good but i could never get the GPS to work. so i just got my 3rd g2x sent to me, and everything was working, including GPS. Then i downloaded GPS status and toolbox. when i opened the app it told me GPS assistance downloaded, and from then on my GPS won't work. i tried a factory reset and it is still broken, so i think i have found the cause of the problem. Anyone agree?
also is there a fix, or do i need to get a 4th g2x sent to me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You, sir, should work as a journalist. What a wonderfully sensationalist headline!
'This is the absolute truth!! I think...'
Why would an app that a lot of us don't use be the cause of such a widespread problem?
Man, there is no need to be rude. He is just trying to figure out what is going on with his gps.
Slowpig, I highly doubt it's the program making the gps nonfunctional. You have several options though. You could try rooting and flash EaglesBlood (froyo) and see what that does. I like it a lot better than the stock, and everything works just fine. Also, try searching before you post, as there about a million gps fix threads. Here are a few I found doing a quick search....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1092016&highlight=gps+fix
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1079304&highlight=gps+fix
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1085664&highlight=gps+fix
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1078750&highlight=gps+fix
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1049370&highlight=gps+fix
Anyway, do some reading, and see what you come up with. Again, I'd give a new rom a shot and see what that does for you. Hope this helps.
before you guys go off calling me retarded, know that this is my 3rd g2x and my second one ahd a faulty gps, and i tried all of the fixes on the forum to fix it. when i aquired my new one it worked out of the box, but after the instalation of the app in question it stopped. when i went into the hidden menu and deleted all aiding data it worked perfectly again. see why i might be led to my conclusion? it mightve been a bit rushed, but i was very upset that my brand new G2X's gps had suddenly stopped working after only an hour of use.
slowpig38 said:
before you guys go off calling me retarded, know that this is my 3rd g2x and my second one ahd a faulty gps, and i tried all of the fixes on the forum to fix it. when i aquired my new one it worked out of the box, but after the instalation of the app in question it stopped. when i went into the hidden menu and deleted all aiding data it worked perfectly again. see why i might be led to my conclusion? it mightve been a bit rushed, but i was very upset that my brand new G2X's gps had suddenly stopped working after only an hour of use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that is the reason then can you explain why I have those apps on my G2X and the GPS still works better than any other GPS I've ever used?
It seems its just random, some g2xs have problems while others don't. Its just poor QC by LG
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
I finally got around to try the gps. Maps, earth, gps status all work fine, except for the speedometer apps.
Are you not getting a lock at all, or is it just taking FOREVER to get a lock. There was a fix I flashed for mine (mine took forever to lock), and now mine locks almost instantly! I'll try to see if I can search and find the thread, but the thread had different files to flash with cwr and each had it's own region. (ie south east, west coast, etc).
Mine works now. I just had to do a factory reset
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
Mine finds satellites but takes forever to lock. Even on stock ROM with a factory reset.
Like n 1-2 seconds it find 6 satellites, but lock takes 10 to 20 minutes at least.
ce3jay said:
I finally got around to try the gps. Maps, earth, gps status all work fine, except for the speedometer apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem with speedometer apps!
It acts like it only wants to display speed in increments instead of the actual speed.
strung said:
Mine finds satellites but takes forever to lock. Even on stock ROM with a factory reset.
Like n 1-2 seconds it find 6 satellites, but lock takes 10 to 20 minutes at least.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine was taking a long time until I flashed this fix. Give it a shot, it worked for me. I get locks in a few seconds. Here is the link...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1085354
Hope this helps!
This is my third G2X and all have had gps issues. Currently I applied the download fix (southeast region fix) last night and I saw an immediate transformation. Very quick locks and much improved accuracy.Unfortunately this morning I am back to either no locks or locks after 30 seconds to 5 minutes and the accuracy is horrible. Right now where last night I got almost instantaneous locks and 16 to 39 ft accuracy I am getting very very slow locks and 37209 ft accuracy. I was elated last night but now I am as confused as ever. I have tried every gps fix I can get my hands on and I am right back where I started.
Mine works pretty well. Glad a factory reset fixed your problems.
slowpig38 said:
It seems its just random, some g2xs have problems while others don't. Its just poor QC by LG
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed!
I love my android phone but coming from an Iphone 3gs to a vibrant to a g2x. The phone(s) on paper are Superior to Iphone (specs are amazing and way faster) But apples qc is far superior to lgs and sammys I hate waiting over 7 months for an os upgrade so they can bloat it up with crap, What I hate even more is when you spend your hard earned cash on a phone that looks amazing, and a standard feature (GPS) don't work. Despite apples ass raping when it comes to hardware and its lack of software features(android is an will always be king) They put out solid phones (other than that iPhone 4 antennagate crap). Androids strength and most detrimental weakness is its partners. Google Does not get that if a person is disappointed over and over they will jump ship! This is my second disappointment after my vibrant (GPS not working correctly). But i'm quick to forgive, others are not... If I were a regular customer and not a geek who loves tech and i switched from Ios (iphone) to android (vibrant, G2x) and had all these issues screen bleed, gps,freezing etc. id switch back after the first week, and androids image would be tarnished.

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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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

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