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Captivate with JH7 GPS testing

Just loaded the official JH7 release and took my scooter for a ride. Captivate in my left front pants pocket, so it sits face down on my thigh, back (battery) side facing up toward the sky. Actually, it looks very good. Before the ride, lock was very good, lots of satellites and all locked very quickly. And the track looks excellent. I'll be curious how this works in a week... whether it degrades as the other one appeared to. But at the moment I am tentatively happy. Note the scooter ride averaged 20.82 mph, max speed of 38. So this was not a slow walking track. And yes I went up and down those blocks making a pattern to test the GPS. ;-)
Please post your test results of JH7 in this thread so we can compare.
Carl

I am in no way trying to be disrespectful, or an a$$ even though the following may seem like I am:
Did you search the forums before posting this? I started a thread similar to this not 20 minutes ago. I personally do not care to be the OP but I am posting here to explain that this is the reason we 2312 different threads about the same dang thing (today's update). It is impossible to search for information because everyone seems to feel the need to post their own thread.
Again no disrespect, I am not trying to dampen your enthusiasm for this but just would like some organization so that people (me ) won't have to read 30 different threads to get some information. I will ask the XDA gods to merge our threads maybe???

ptc62 said:
I am in no way trying to be disrespectful, or an a$$ even though the following may seem like I am:
Did you search the forums before posting this? I started a thread similar to this not 20 minutes ago. I personally do not care to be the OP but I am posting here to explain that this is the reason we 2312 different threads about the same dang thing (today's update). It is impossible to search for information because everyone seems to feel the need to post their own thread.
Again no disrespect, I am not trying to dampen your enthusiasm for this but just would like some organization so that people (me ) won't have to read 30 different threads to get some information. I will ask the XDA gods to merge our threads maybe???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was looking for a thread like this not 15 minutes ago. Finding it in this cluster of posts isn't easy.

ptc62, Maybe if you had named your original post usefully, or had actually posted some test data yourself, I would have noticed it. Was I supposed to search for "million dollar question"? I understand your frustration as I HAVE kept up with the other threads and its a lot of work. But it's true I don't read the ones with ambiguous titles. As it is, your comment only disrupts an otherwise useful thread. Oh well. Sorry for any angst I have caused you.

ptc62 said:
I am in no way trying to be disrespectful, or an a$$ even though the following may seem like I am:
Did you search the forums before posting this? I started a thread similar to this not 20 minutes ago. I personally do not care to be the OP but I am posting here to explain that this is the reason we 2312 different threads about the same dang thing (today's update). It is impossible to search for information because everyone seems to feel the need to post their own thread.
Again no disrespect, I am not trying to dampen your enthusiasm for this but just would like some organization so that people (me ) won't have to read 30 different threads to get some information. I will ask the XDA gods to merge our threads maybe???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your "Million Dollar Question" topic tittle is very misleading. I wouldn't blame Vintage for not being able to find it and starting a new thread. You should have been more specific. "Today's update" can mean anything in the title.
Vintagephone, thank you for making a thread with a proper title. Thank you for your test results. Now I can stock you because I know your scooter route , lol jk. I use to live in Irvine, kinda close by. I'm glad the GPS looks like it's working kind of well in CA.

This is a useful thread. Don't worry. It's very specific to JH7 -and- GPS. Plus, the thread TITLE is perfect. Great post.
My test... using the GPS Test app, it took about 45sec to lock on the first try. After it locked, I rebooted the phone. The next time it locked, it took only about 15sec.
On a sidenote, I'm still having problems with the Use Wireless Networks triangulate my location. I have that checked and Use GPS unchecked. I had Google Maps (the latest version) try to use the wireless networks to get My Location but it says "Your current location is temporarily unavailable." Something is up.
On a much side(r) note, PC Connection (for tethering) is gone. Accessing GPS settings via phone dialer is gone. YouTube widget has rotating feature videos, and the screen brightness settings that used to be the dimmest possible became much dimmer.

I did a track using My Tracks for my ride home from work and it was pretty bad, actually. It was an 8 mile ride, and it completely lost my location (stopped recording on default settings) 3 times. There were times when it worked flawlessly, but other times when it just connected the dots taking me off the road... So far, I am not very impressed. However, it is functional enough to use location-based apps and do some navigation (but I wouldn't rely on it completely, you'll end up in a ditch).

Here's a track I recorded this afternoon. 7.52 mi, 31.62 mph average speed, 61.04 mph max speed. Blame afternoon traffic. There is one inexplicable gap, and one spot where the track veers off to the center of the freeway. The latter was while driving next to/under a raised expressway, so perhaps it's sort of excusable? I dunno.
Overall, though, the GPS worked GREAT on this drive. It's not perfect, but it's about 500 times better than it ever was before this patch. Previously, it would show me going completely off the road, and making loops at intersections. Not usable at all. But for now, I am tentatively impressed with this fix. Only time will tell if performance will degrade as in the past, but right now it's working so well it's astonishing.
The only distressing part is that the GPS got a 10 meter, 7 satellite lock on me... in the bathroom with no windows... on the... toilet.

OK, here are my real world GPS test results after installing the new update:
Just drove home from work, about 24 miles. I drive through residential, heavily wooded, congested business and open highway areas. The GPS locked on within seconds of me starting up Google Navigation. It was spot on for almost the whole trip. Only when I was stopped for a period of time (i.e. at a traffic light) would it cause a hiccup when locating me. For example, at one stop light, it located me about 30-50 yards to my right on the road perpendicular to me. But as soon as I started moving, it picked me up correctly. Overall, it appears that the GPS issues have been improved. Probably not completely fixed, but it was a good experience compared to before the update.

Thanks everyone with your test results! May I ask you to add where you had your GPS? Direct view of the sky? Through windshield? Hidden under under your dash? Locked in your trunk? ;-)

I was holding it for a little while, but then placed it in my cup holder by my shifter, then on the passenger seat. Either spot, it didn't lose its GPS lock.

Has anyone with the knowhow attempted to see what it is exactly that was changed?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

vintagephone said:
Thanks everyone with your test results! May I ask you to add where you had your GPS? Direct view of the sky? Through windshield? Hidden under under your dash? Locked in your trunk? ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was sitting on the passenger seat during my drive. I don't have a car mount for it yet.

Tested mine today on my drive home after flashing JH7. It worked great (though mine worked decent on JF6). It found 8 satellites instantly after opening my gps test app, and locked on to 6 in under a minute. I drove home on the freeway for about 30 minutes with the phone in a car dock doodad and it never lost a single satellite lock.

I had flashed the vibrant files onto my captivate before and GPS worked amazing. I updated and yes it could find me indoors and outside, but the actual GPS lock was pretty much a street away from my actual location. It also lost lock multiple times. I am restoring my phone back to the way it was before the update. My GPS could get a lock indoors with no circle around me and it was 10x more accurate than it is after the update.

I tried to do the update earlier today, and it said it failed. I didn't think much of it. I went for a walk in the park later, and turned on My Tracks, thinking it would be a good 'control' to see how much better the new update would be once I got it working.
It took <10 seconds to lock, but I was outside in a park. After it got a lock, I hit record, put the phone in my pocket, and walked around the park.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...68140665381380.000490e8a97287c8ebf1b&t=h&z=18
It's pretty much dead on, off by no more than a couple of meters anywhere.
When I got home, I checked back at the forums, where it was pointed out to me that for some people, the update claimed to fail, but actually updated. I checked my About screen, and sure enough, it updated.
So, while I don't recall it being particularly "bad" outside before, with the new update, it worked just fine in my pocket.

If your GPS seems fixed, please post your GPS settings. My update didn't complete successfully and GPS now is worse than before.

Here are some examples of errors from my track. It got me thinking: could the Body Glove case be getting in the way? I'll test it naked this afternoon.
[/IMG]

alkiter If your GPS seems fixed, please post your GPS settings. My update didn't complete successfully and GPS now is worse than before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
won't let me link to another thread because I'm new but....
Settings:
Session Type - Tracking
Test Mode - S/W Test
Operation Mode - MS Based
Start Mode - Hot Start
GPS Plus - On
Dynamic Accuracy - ON
Accuracy - 50 (Able to alter/update)
Use Skyhook - OFF
Use PC Tool - OFF
Server FQDN Type - Auto Confi
Server - h-slp.mnc410.mcc310.pub.3gpp (Which is now locked down and unable to overwrite)
Server Port - 7275
SUPL Secure Socket - ON
AGPS Mode - SUPL
I have not updated after seeing the problems everyone is dealing with. I DID change my gps settings to this and have noticed a significant improvement. Thanks!
EDIT
Of course I had to change "Server FQDN Type" from auto to custom in order to keep the new server.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

This was a quick walk from my car to work this morning using My Tracks. It should show straight lines along the aisles but apparently the GPS still thinks I jump back and forth 30 feet at a time. The phone was in my front pants pocket, battery side out. JH7 was applied successfully yesterday. I'd say GPS isn't fixed.
I have to add I haven't had many problems with Runkeeper and GPS. The paths it records are almost perfect. Why My Tracks and most other GPS programs have such a big problem I have no idea.

GPS story

So I spent 3 hours on the phone with AT&T last week while their warranty department did everything they could to not just honor the warranty (I can go into detail of anyone cares). But after the long grueling battle I was finally able to get my 1008 replaced with a 1009. Now the gps on my 1008 was shotty at best. I received the new phone, fired up Srendipity 6.3 and installed the free TeleNav GPS program and received instant results. Before, I was getting 3-4 sats after 30 seconds and it would barely hold. Now, I instantly get 7 or more sats and was able to lock up to 11 and hold them. My gps works spot on and I couldn't be happier. Morale of the story.. if you have spotty GPS at best, try exchanging the phone.. but be for warned about AT&T honoring the Gps capability for the Captivate with out a lot of legwork.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

I was having a GPS problem and the warranty people sent out a replacement with a 15 min phone call. got one that works ok, but with the right modem it gets 10-11 sats in under 5 seconds.
might be who you get and how willing they are to try and figure out your problem without just jumping to it being a hardware problem.

The captivate gps is way to random to guarantee a replacement will fix anything as no one knows all the details of the problem. Part of it is obviously software as several tweaks work wonders for most people. No one knows what the combination is for sure.
A standing lock shows nothing for actual driving navigation performance.
Your results will vary but do we really need a new thread from everyone who warranty replaces their phone for bad gps performance
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Remember too, almost all "new" Captivates' GPS work great for a few weeks. Post back in about a month and let us know how your new Captivate is working. Also, it seems as though the GPS will work great for a few weeks after loading a new ROM, then it goes bad again. Tells me there is s file the GPS must process avery time you turn it on. As the file grows in size, the GPS program can't process the file in a timely manner resulting in the interpretation of the GPS data being slow and off-course.

I'll do that. I like using my GPS for looking things up (don't use navigation that much since I don't do much traveling) but I'll definitely keep an eye on it and see how it handles aftera week or so and then after that.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

just got a 1007 replacement for the 1007 i have. The GPS works out of the box for stock froyo. it actually trasks every single turn and is able to catch up when i am driving 75-80 on the freeway. So ya... if anyone fail to get their gps working by software tweaks, you should go ahead and use the random shut down execuse to get a replacement phone. the 1007/8/9/... thing doesnt really matter i guess. The one I got works like a charm beside the sticker behind the battery look crappy without a SN number and the samsung logo.( oh well probably a refurb , but at least it works~)
It's like a gamble, but hey at least exchange it while u still can with warranty is better than hoping for a software fix that we are still not sure about if it's the real issue. Honestly it could be software for some people, but after u tried couple Roms and fixes, a bad gps is a bad gps.

The "batch number" on my phone is 1008. The phone came with Eclair, of course. The GPS was poor at best. I updated the phone to Froyo. The GPS was not perceptibly different; still darn poor. I remember one miserable night where I was forced to find my destination using the Biblical System. The GPS never did lock during my one-hour ordeal.
For a totally unrelated reason, I ending up doing a master clear and reset. After I got everything reloaded I "tested" the GPS. Wow! It locked, well, instantly, or so it seemed.
An app available in the Market called GPS Status has two nice features. You can set it to automatically download the A-GPS file at start up. And, it reports on screen how long it takes to get it's first lock. With GPS Test (and others) you can see when the phone locks but GPS Status reports the time-to-lock information in seconds, no stopwatch or counting required.
Fascinated at the new-found capability of my Captivate, I have repeatedly checked how long it takes to get a lock. I would say, under widely varying conditions, the lock time is almost always less than 20 - 25 seconds.
YMMV but you might try a master clear and reset if you have a phone you undated from 2.1 to 2.2. Except for the time it takes to rebuild your phone, you have little to loose and you might find, as I did, the Captivate's GPS is excellent. Had I not "discovered" this "solution" I would have abandoned my Captivate--even though I think it's great phone overall--as I routinely depend upon my PDA's GPS capability.
FWIW, I do a lot of Geocaching so I have an understanding of how a GPS should perform. I had an AT&T Tilt which I'd made usable with a Sakajati HyperDragon IV ROM. The GPS in that phone was excellent. The first few days with the Captivate was a real downer. But, the now-functioning GPS makes the Capitvate a keeper.

For those not wanting to try getting a replacement. Plumbobs gps fix worked great for me. Check it out.
Sent from my SGH-I897 Captivate cog 4.3 using Xda app

My Xoom locks on in 4 seconds, indoors, straight out of the box. This whole thing is stupid.

So I've been using my gps for a few days now and it's still working just as well when I got the replacement. IMO there may be 3 types of phones out there which is why we all get different results..
Captivate with working GPS right out of the box
Captivate with 'meh' GPS that is fixable with software tweaks
Captivate with GPS so bad that it doesn't work at all.
This could all be hardware related in just how the manufacturing process worked. Some could have just been bad apples.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

10 meter lock inless than 20 seconds. Running JVE modem on Continuum v4, and I have a 1008 build number.
Sent from a place my wife doesn't know about

[Q] should i swap my g2x because of GPS, is it worth the risk

i have been unable to get the gps on my g2x to achieve a lock in under 10 minutes, and i have tried krylon's tweak , and some other mods/tweaks i found here on XDA. Do you guys think it is worth sending the phone in to t-mobile/LG? I have seen a lot of threads about some people having problems with their replacements and having to wait weeks for a new phone? Has anyone had a good experience getting a replacement? any feedback would be appreciated

Go ahead and exchange it. The vast majority of phones don't have GPS issues. At least not on the stock ROM.

Today is my last day, and i'm debating returning it as well because of the GPS not being able to get a lock on a stock rom.

bighulk666 said:
Today is my last day, and i'm debating returning it as well because of the GPS not being able to get a lock on a stock rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Id exchange it, I get a lock in seconds...

Lol go ahead and swap it I bet you the next one will have same gps issues. Use a different way rom or wait for lg to release a baseband fix
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

Every rom I run can't get a lock
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

Suprah said:
Lol go ahead and swap it I bet you the next one will have same gps issues. Use a different way rom or wait for lg to release a baseband fix
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock rom gps is the best man... If he can't get a lock on stock its probably hardware.the gps in this phone is top notch on stock...

This is surprising. First major great impression walking out of the Tmo store this week with this phone was how fast my GPS lock was. 2-3 seconds. Of course, I came from a year of tweaking my Captivate to finally get it to a satisfactory 100 meter lock in 15 secs.
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

Mine sometimes locks in seconds and sometimes takes a bit of time to lock, or I may have to retry sometimes shutting down navigation and opening again... I think its because navigation is in beta, otherwise not much of a problem
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

I think there must be a bug in the hardware driver for the GPS.. sometimes it works instantly for me, and other times I never get a lock.

There's clearly something funky about the integration of the GPS with the software on this phone. If you look at GPSTest, for example, all the signal-to-noise values are off the scale, running into the text above the graphical area; in GPS Status, the area of the circles representing the satellite positions is supposed to be proportional to the S/N ratio, and they're all huge, much larger than the (presumably normal) sizes in the screenshot in the market. To me, that indicates a units error, where the GPS is reporting in a smaller unit than the software is expecting. That suggests that other facets of the interface between the GPS and the software may be out of kilter and responsible for the erratic behavior.
There may be other factors in play, also. I often get a pretty quick lock, 10-15 seconds. Last week I opened Google navigation and waited for 20 minutes (5 stationary, 15 driving) to get a lock without success. I power-cycled the phone, and when it came back it got a lock essentially as soon as I opened the application. (Which is not dissimilar to other things on this phone -- I find it runs much more smoothly and reliably if I reboot it every couple of days. I'm thinking there's probably some bug in the memory management with fragmentation or leaks.)
I'm running stock everything, BTW.

I get a decent 3G, 4G and GPS signal at my house.
Right down the street I get a GREAT signal.
It's odd cause I can launch Maps or Navigation while driving, and it will take a few minutes to "lock on".
But if I set my destination at the house before leaving, it is almost instant.

wmm said:
There's clearly something funky about the integration of the GPS with the software on this phone. If you look at GPSTest, for example, all the signal-to-noise values are off the scale, running into the text above the graphical area; in GPS Status, the area of the circles representing the satellite positions is supposed to be proportional to the S/N ratio, and they're all huge, much larger than the (presumably normal) sizes in the screenshot in the market
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen this issue too. It's a bug in the GPS firmware.

well i took the plunge, my new g2x is on the way. I really hope it isn't a bleeder/rebooter.

GPS fix for Captivate- Share experience

Hi all,
I found out that Captivate has GPS chip problem when it is COLD.
If you can warm it up it will work fine.
You can try it in warm environment.
While it is working, try to turn on AC in your car to cool it down and you will see it say GPS signal lost.
Turn off the AC and turn on the Heater to warm it up, GPS signal will be OK.
Good luck.

Interesting. Thanks for the tip. Will try it out in my friends cappy. He has issues with his GPS but mine has always been fine. Never had a problem even once.

I installed effingps.zip and went from no signal to 7-9 satelite locks in 10 seconds INDOORS.
great fix
knighted4

knighted4 said:
I installed effingps.zip and went from no signal to 7-9 satelite locks in 10 seconds INDOORS.
great fix
knighted4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you post a link to the file or post the zip file.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

It's in Trusselo's EFFIN EH ROM thread #140
A simple search for effinGPS.zip found it.

ctrclckws said:
It's in Trusselo's EFFIN EH ROM thread #140
A simple search for effinGPS.zip found it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will that work on CM based roms? I'm guessing no, but I haven't been able to find an answer anywhere.

And here's a link, for those who want it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=19631418&postcount=140
Good luck. I haven't flashed this yet, but will soon.

Well....i get a lock now!!!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S Captivate on Blue Apex

Temperature doesn't seem to affect mine. And no 'fix' has ever worked for me.
I don't care how long it takes to lock as long as it doesn't drift.
I did notice though, that the time is off by 24 hours when I do get a lock (according to GPS Test and GPS Status).
When I connect to my external Bluetooth receiver it is spot on.
Has anyone else had this experience? My guess is that the firmware is returning the wrong time, and that is making the positioning calculations impossible.

can someone explain why temperature would effect the GPS in any way? thanks..

zinkoxyde said:
When I connect to my external Bluetooth receiver it is spot on.
Has anyone else had this experience?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if you mean time, or GPS being spot on. I haven't paid any attention to time when using GPS. But I have an external one, and it works MUCH BETTER, pretty much what I would call spot on.
However, the last couple times I"ve used it my phone has locked up. I am thinking it is the BT program I am using in order to use the external GPS. What blue tooth program are you using?

Will this work for my Captivate running mosaic 9?
Sent from my Captivate running Gingerbread

ewingr said:
Not sure if you mean time, or GPS being spot on. I haven't paid any attention to time when using GPS. But I have an external one, and it works MUCH BETTER, pretty much what I would call spot on.
However, the last couple times I"ve used it my phone has locked up. I am thinking it is the BT program I am using in order to use the external GPS. What blue tooth program are you using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both the time and the GPS location are correct when I use an external BT receiver (Delorme BT-20), but the time is exactly 24 hours off. That could definitely cause drift after initial lock (not to mention cause problems locking in the first place).
I use "Bluetooth GPS Mouse" by Argotronic. There is also a problem with the Captivate's Bluetooth implementation from what I've read. My bluetooth headphones, gps and obd-ii car scanner tool tend to lock up my handset from time to time. It seems to have a problem with sustained serial data communications over bluetooth.
Bluetooth GPS Mouse seems to be pretty stable as opposed to the other BT programs I've used, I guess you get what you pay for. It's a real hassle to drag around two devices on the off chance of needing directions.
I seem to remember stock AT&T Eclair being pretty good with GPS.
---------- Post added at 08:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 PM ----------
grndnl said:
can someone explain why temperature would effect the GPS in any way? thanks..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some electronic components are sensitive to temperature. Temperature changes conductive properties, among other things (for example, metal expands when heated). Heat dissipation could also be a factor. Electronic boards can warp, components can separate from the board or the solder can crack. More likely in this case, it just looks like it's working. I've seen tons of people claiming different things have fixed the GPS. Until I can get a lock in standalone mode, and keep it, I'm not calling it fixed.
---------- Post added at 09:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 PM ----------
Seems I wasn't crazy about the time thing, but apparently it has only manifested since 2012 rolled around:
code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail? id=24000
This article is about the Tab, but it looks like it is across the board.

Hm i never really thought temperature could affect the gps chip, might have to do some testing.

expansion and contraction of metals possibly fouling the antenna connection is the only real thing I can think of. Anyway, for me there never was a real fix. moving to GB really helped but not enough to make the GPS really reliable. I finally got a replacement phone moving to a build 1101 and that has a pretty good gps that is useable in most circumstances and probably as good as a phone without dedicated antenna can get. Captivates all should have been recalled due to bad gps hardware in my opinion..of course that would have cost samsung a fortune. The phone is great otherwise.
brentett said:
Hm i never really thought temperature could affect the gps chip, might have to do some testing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

did think heat could affect the gps chip, might have to do some testing thanks!

Is it true?So unbelievable!

Sounds like confirmation bias to me... I have had equally crappy GPS in both warm weather and cold.

BeowulfShaeffer said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=19631418&postcount=140
Good luck. I haven't flashed this yet, but will soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did anyone else have luck installing effinGPS.zip?

crazyjerm1 said:
Did anyone else have luck installing effinGPS.zip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Installed. Didn't help a worth a damn.

Simple Fix for your GPS - Samsung Galaxy S III

Hi,
I have a simple GPS fix that worked for me. After posting and sharing in other forums this fix has also worked for many others who were frustrated with their GPS' not working, not locking onto satellites, and their phones acting erratically while navigating. Although this method seems too easy to be true, trust me it works and many people have confirmed that this method worked for them too and are now happy that their phone has a functional GPS and in some cases improved call quality.
I as well as many others performed many of the other fixes such as flashing back to stock, performing numerous battery pulls, using aGPS patches, making numerous edits to the gps.conf file, reprovisioning our phones, checking different ROMs, uninstalling/reinstalling Google Maps, clearing data for Google Maps and Google Service Framework, and so on. So before you do all of that please give my method a try.
I discovered this simple fix when I was trying to perform one of the other GPS fix procedures. The procedure required me to pull my battery. I noticed that when I removed my back cover the back frame that has all the screws (10 total) was slightly loose on the left side. Once I tightened them all my GPS worked immediately! Like I said, this method has been tested by many people and most of them report great success just by tightening their screws. If this method works for you you'll also notice that in addition to getting faster locks your navigation will work and won't drop your GPS signal.
Like I said it may not work for everyone but I would recommend that if you have a Samsung Galaxy S III definitely check the back frame of your phone and make sure you tighten the screws and make sure everything is secure. You too should now be able to achieve GPS locks consistently.
I hope this helps. If it does, as it has many others, please click thanks.
Cheers,
Syintiphic

Re: Easy Simple Fix for your GPS on your Samung Galaxy S III
The fix worked for me.. Night and day difference in getting satellite locks after tightening the screws..
Edit: In case anyone wants to know my theory behind why it works..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=39570338
Edit2: If you find the screwdriver fix doesn't work for you, or you find yourself tightening screws all the time, you can try this simple mod..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=44725977
Sent from my Commodore 64..
READY.
load"*", 8,1

Re: Easy Simple Fix for your GPS on your Samung Galaxy S III
I was skeptical as most would be about this fix. Boy was I a doof for believing that. This made 2 SGS3's (wife and mine) Gps go from inconsistent frustration to pure perfection. Cheers OP and thanks for sharing!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Re: Easy Simple Fix for your GPS on your Samung Galaxy S III
It works People!!!!! Believe it! Thanks again for sharing this!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Re: Easy Simple Fix for your GPS on your Samung Galaxy S III
I don't have any issues yet but I have this bookmarked in case I ever do. Thanks.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

I was pulling my hair over this issue. I replaced the phone with another one through T-Mobile for $20 and it had the SAME PROBLEM! All I ever did was flash the root injected version of the latest stock firmware. No upgrades to a 4.2.x rom. I tried reverting to the 4.0.4 rom. I tried a different gps.conf file. I was just about to do another warranty replacement when I found this thread. I almost wasn't going to attempt it because I thought it was a placebo. BOY WAS I WRONG! This fixed my phone. I'm still in shock!
EDIT: Well, I also discovered one more thing that was causing me grief with GPS. My wife's case! The case was interfering with the signal.
http://imgur.com/r7KPygA

Definitely works.... Instantly. I was standing outside of my house, with 0 locked out of 23 found (using GPS status), tightened screws (with GPS status still running) turned phone around and was locked onto 13/23.
My GPS stopped working about a month ago to the point that I could only get 1 or 2 locks wherever I was at. Thank you so much for posting such a simple fix.
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Worked for me!
I have been battling this GPS issue since I got the phone, and it has been very annoying since September - November. But it really hit me this week traveling 300 miles out of state when using Navigation, I would randomly fly off the highway and into the streets with the navigation program throwing a fit about where to turn. It just couldn't hold a solid lock for anything. Luckily I had my Nexus 7 packed with me, and it's GPS is always spot on.
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But after I saw a random post a few days ago about tightening the screws, I was at first skeptical, and had to wait until I was back home to get to my small screwdriver, but once I tightened all 10 screws, viola! It worked instantly! :laugh:
I now get a lock within a few seconds, and even indoors. Saved myself a trip to VZW too. Thanks guys!

Thanks! Sounds crazy but seems like multiple people got it to work.

wow
For MONTHS I've been dealing with BAD GPS. Never less then 35feet lock with all satellites in Yellow (mediocre reception)
I just did this, and most of my screws seemed like they were pretty tight already but i found the perfect philips head bit and really tightened everything max. Went outside and ran same test. 10 feet accuracy lock with majority of satellites in GREEN.
WHAT SORCERY IS THIS!??? Wow Samsung, im a bit disappointed
BUT grateful for OP
thanks!

Re-tighten?
I posted in another thread that this helped my gps lock significantly. I was getting around 10/21 locks with fluctuating accuracy, but after tightening the screws, I got 21/21 lock at 9 feet accuracy.
However, for me, it seems like I have to loosen and retighten the screws every 2-3 days because I notice my gps getting worse. But as soon as I retighten them, it's back to being great.
Does anyone else have to keep retightening the screws?

dmudd said:
I posted in another thread that this helped my gps lock significantly. I was getting around 10/21 locks with fluctuating accuracy, but after tightening the screws, I got 21/21 lock at 9 feet accuracy.
However, for me, it seems like I have to loosen and retighten the screws every 2-3 days because I notice my gps getting worse. But as soon as I retighten them, it's back to being great.
Does anyone else have to keep retightening the screws?
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Not yet on 2 GS3's. Hope I don't have to.
I did pose the question in another thread where this threads talked about beginning began : wonder what is happening when we tighten these screws....
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Well here is my take on what I think the problem is and why the screw fix works.. Understand I'm not making any assertions that this is the cause or that I know what the hell I'm talking about..
The back of the case (not the battery cover) appears to have an antenna.. This area has a copper contact point which sits in the area where the GPS of the phone is located.. If this part of the phone is loose, it doesn't make a solid contact with what I believe is the GPS antenna..
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Thanks Hypnosis for your insight. Makes sense to me! Appreciate you posting this
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

Thanks Hypnosis for sharing, this makes sense to me too.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Amazing. I saw this link in another thread. Intermittantly I have decent GPS with some serious issues where it won't work or doesn't work well. So last night right before I went to be I tried it in our basement. Normally I don't see more than 1 or 2 satellites when in the basement but last night I got lock on 13/18 in 20 seconds or less repeatedly. I checked my wife's s3 against mine as hers is usually better but it was still only getting 3-4 and no lock. So I quickly tried the same fix and again her phone could suddenly see more sats and got lock.
this was also an issue on the fascinate and some of the original galaxy's iirc.

Well thank you very much sir/madam! This worked like a charm!!!!
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syintiphic said:
Hi,
I have a simple GPS fix that worked for me. After posting and sharing in other forums this fix has also worked for many others who were frustrated with their GPS' not working, not locking onto satellites, and their phones acting erratically while navigating. Although this method seems too easy to be true, trust me it works and many people have confirmed that this method worked for them too and are now happy that their phone has a functional GPS and in some cases improved call quality.
I as well as many others performed many of the other fixes such as flashing back to stock, performing numerous battery pulls, using aGPS patches, making numerous edits to the gps.conf file, reprovisioning our phones, checking different ROMs, uninstalling/reinstalling Google Maps, clearing data for Google Maps and Google Service Framework, and so on. So before you do all of that please give my method a try.
I discovered this simple fix when I was trying to perform one of the other GPS fix procedures. The procedure required me to pull my battery. I noticed that when I removed my back cover that the back frame that has all the screws (10 total) was slightly loose on the left side. Once I tightened them all up my GPS worked immediately! Like I said, this method has been tested by many people and most of them report great success just by tightening their screws. If this method works for you you'll also notice that in addition to getting faster locks your navigation will work and won't drop your GPS signal.
Like I said it may not work for everyone but I would recommend that if you have a Samsung Galaxy S III definitely check the back frame of your phone and make sure you tighten the screws and make sure everything is secure. You too should now be able to achieve GPS locks consistently.
I hope this helps. If it does, as it has many others, please click thanks.
Cheers,
Syintiphic
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This is the funniest thing in the world!!!!! I was having problems with my weather apps not locating me and I did this and it took a whopping 1/2 sec and it locked. Who know that this would be a fix to GPS. LOL
Thanks for the share!!!

Did anyone ever figure out how or why this works?

soohyunk83 said:
Did anyone ever figure out how or why this works?
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http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=39570338
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