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Will GPS ever work like it should

Iv had this phone since the day it came out... this phone is awesome in every aspect expect GPS... I had the blackberry bold 9000 and that had an excellent GPS never gave me any issues I'm really thinking of trading my captivate for a torch 9800 ... what I want to know it that is there any hope for this GPS? And when should. We expect it

In a word No. This really seems like a hardware issue. otherwise this would have been taken care of in the subsequent updates. Cappy is a great device but the gps is very hit or miss. Line of sight is very important if that is lost gps loses fix. It seems like a hardware issue no matter what software fix or setting you can use.

No
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Am I the only one that believes it will with froyo? I'm not giving up!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

If you guys really want your gps to work there are a couple ways I have found to improve it greatly. This is as close to a fix as i can find out there, and I am somewhat happy with my gps now. I say somewhat because it really should have been totally fixed by now. I am running a i9000 rom with my lbstestmode setting stock except accuracy set to 250 which IMO only makes it lock faster and doesn't affect accuracy. I can usually get a lock accurate to 10-15 m in about 5 sec outside. Navigation tracks well I usually only have one or two hiccups on a 30 mile trip. I have been running this set up for about a month and a half so I am pretty sure it will stick. And btw my gps never got a lock stock no matter what I did if I wasn't using wireless networks. Hope this helps.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

I don't think its a hardware issue. I am in Canada and the GPs has been working pretty much flawlessly on the Rogers Captivate. You can see other threads and everyone who has had a Rogers Captivate and flashed other ROMS (ie. AT&T) has noted that their GPS turned to crap.
I have had this phone for a month and the GPS has been stable and I get an accurate reading down to (5-10m) in 10 seconds or so.

I believe that it is a driver issue and how it tries to communicate with the software on our phones. Sure each ROM means different software settings, which I think helps tweak the software to work a bit better with the driver, but until they fix the communication between the broadcom chip and Samsung's (or AT&T) software, it won't work like it is supposed to. Samsung so far has only tried to fix it in their software, not the driver.
This explanation also helps explain why some GPS's are better than others. No two phones have the exact same files and settings, even from stock, which can explain variance of GPS.
However, hasn't anyone else noticed that the more we move away from Samsung/AT&T software on our phones and unlock it, the better the GPS seems to get, little by little? I believe there will be no solution from Samsung, but it will just appear in the Dev section here one day, when one person stumbles upon the real communication culprit when messing around on their system.

On perception build three rom. Did juniper fix. I get a lock in under 10 seconds even with heavy cloud cover. Tracks very well too. It can be fixed. But you have to bee willing to mess around a bit.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

I'm with the OP. I love every single aspect of my phone except the GPS. I LOVE google maps and location based services on the phone. But having them all be crippled is a daily annoyance for me. One person mentioned that the Rogers Captivate works well. Has anyone tried loading a Rogers rom on an AT&T phone?
We all know that GPS issues have affected every initial launch variant of the Galaxy S phones. Is there any version of the phone out there that has gotten an update that fixed the GPS issue for EVERYONE, including TRACKING? If there is, we should be looking into that rom for a fix. If there isn't, I'd say we should be very concerend that a fix will never come.

The GPS will never ever work.

Really too bad for those out there that have GPS not working as expected...I wouldn't be happy either, but since I chgd the supl server to google I've had no problems obtaining a lock-accurate as well..

gmanunited said:
In a word No. This really seems like a hardware issue. otherwise this would have been taken care of in the subsequent updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol
You're making the giant false assumption that Samsung cares about updating.
mcord11758 said:
juniper
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It's JUPITER, as in, the planet. I tend not to nitpick spelling or grammar but in this case it's really annoying as the first time I heard about this fix I wasted some time searching in vain for JUNIPER (which is a genus of plant), which produces no helpful hits.

I was a non-believer.... The best I ever got was on Stock JH7...
But My GPS is perfect and locks in under 3 seconds on google navigation and tracks perfectly with the Axura Rom.
Last one i tried beta4 worked perfectly. Gonna flash beta5 in the morning and test that out with a long drive tomorrow.
With Axura I have officially left eclair 2.1 in the dust and won't go back due to the over sophistication of Axura. I give it a week or two before it is clearly the most used rom on the Galaxy S line.

I will take a video of my gps and google nav with my wifes blackberry 9700 running os6.
I know my post is unbelievable.. just wait for the video footage.

Krad said:
I will take a video of my gps and google nav with my wifes blackberry 9700 running os6.
I know my post is unbelievable.. just wait for the video footage.
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Click to collapse
Anything that incorporates the Jupiter v006 files seems to have significantly improved GPS, including Axura (I'm not 100% sure it uses the Jupiter v006 files but it sure seems like it) and Perception.
I haven't really read of anyone having significant GPS problems once they have any ROM with the Jupiter v006 tweaks or applied it manually themselves, but we'll see as time goes on.

A couple days ago I was in Perception snooping around, and found a GPS settings file in the system that had different settings than in the Jupiter006 file. The Jupiter file was in there, but this file was named something different and a different location, and it used a different supl. I was looking for something else at the time, so I mentally noted it to go back and check it out for testing, but I can't find it now, I looked for it for an hour today. :/

Hmmm..... The GPS locking on is not the problem i get locks with in seconds , what is the problem is accuracy, the gps works NEARLY flawless in locking and accuracy when on a highway or interstate but when driving in the city were streets are close to each other my location jumps around like crazy, im using AXURA beta 5 and ive tried supl.google.com with no luck thanks for all your help everyone, ill look up the Jupiter fix and see if it helps ....I'm not to good with any tweaking other then flashing and lag fix's so if someone can lead me to a tutorial on the Jupiter fix that would really help

JPS81 said:
Anything that incorporates the Jupiter v006 files seems to have significantly improved GPS, including Axura (I'm not 100% sure it uses the Jupiter v006 files but it sure seems like it) and Perception.
I haven't really read of anyone having significant GPS problems once they have any ROM with the Jupiter v006 tweaks or applied it manually themselves, but we'll see as time goes on.
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Click to collapse
with perception 4 i had my worst gps problems. I have had good lock times with just about ever rom including stock but with perception 4 i had difficulty acquiring locks period.
Tracking is a bigger issue. I don't believe the gps will ever track perfectly or even close to the performance that it should. Someone claimed their device tracks perfectly with auxura which i haven't tried but will....but again i am skeptical and would be curious exactly how much real-time driving navigation they have tested.
Anytime someone brings up the notion of this being at least partially a hardware issue people say that it just speculation. Asserting that it isn't is no less speculation.
With some of the beastly devices coming (as soon as january...im looking at your terminator aka olympus) not address the serious gps flaw is not good business. So i believe if it could be fixed with firmware it would have been and you wouldn't hear them use words like OPTIMIZE instead of fix/repair. Am i the only one the thinks it seems they realized they can't fix it and are just trying to hold on and sell as many as they can (several places had them free with 2year contract yesterday and this weekend) before the next serious contender hits.
I really don't care for IOS but mapquest + wife's iphone 4 is a good example of how the gps on a phone can and should function in regard to locks and excellent tracking.

Krad said:
I will take a video of my gps and google nav with my wifes blackberry 9700 running os6.
I know my post is unbelievable.. just wait for the video footage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
would love to see this. please make sure to use a route with plenty of turns..and some portion of city navigation. I am skeptical that it will track you through every turn as a gps should. Straight line tracking isn't using a problem except for the occasional lag. The tracking problem is it has a serious issue being able to track you accurately enough to know when you had turned 50% or more of the time.
UPDATE
just flashed axura 5 so will give it a brief nav test shortly.
The aesthetics of the settings menu is very nice in this build. I wish they would give up on 3d app drawer though UGLY and SLOW.
Haven't had much time to play with it yet but will report back.

limited testing but might have to eat crow.
FRESH FLASH of AXURA 5
only a 10 mile drive but did incorporated 12-15 turns.
Lock time and accuracy when stationary was great.
Best tracking and turn by turn navigation i have had yet.
Only missed one turn and it corrected itself to actual location much quicker (before when i would turn nav would continue through the intersection and start giving verbal reroutes thinking i was on a different street and then when it would finally think it had correctly re-rerouted it would actually be running parellel to me 1 or 2 blocks off).
Taking this with a grain of salt further testing necessary as i have had promising results with fresh flashed roms before only to have them quickly go to crap within a few days testing. But this is one of the more promising so i will be staying with Axura for now.
The only gps issue that really stood out was a little bit of a lag after you had been completely stationary. Slight Lag pinpointing me on road after i pulled out of driveway and same thing when leaving grocery store parking lot.
PS - are you using the stock gps settings that came with the flash or did you modify anything.

GPS + Battery (2 Problems)

There are a bunch of GPS problems on this forum, but...
HTC Inspire, got in March of this year, ATT obviously.
GPS absolutely sucks. Is it really a hardware defect? The location toggle is checked. I'm using Maverick.
Phone's rooted, and if i were to get warranty service, I guess it would suck.
Any tips?
Also, my battery has been terrible since Sunday. I didn't really change anything since then except maybe open Maverick and the Geocaching app.
What's wrong? It's not usually this bad

acmys said:
There are a bunch of GPS problems on this forum, but...
HTC Inspire, got in March of this year, ATT obviously.
GPS absolutely sucks. Is it really a hardware defect? The location toggle is checked. I'm using Maverick.
Phone's rooted, and if i were to get warranty service, I guess it would suck.
Any tips?
Also, my battery has been terrible since Sunday. I didn't really change anything since then except maybe open Maverick and the Geocaching app.
What's wrong? It's not usually this bad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could try the gps fix AngelDeath created (check the development sub thread).
In your location settings, have only "use gps satellites" option checked.

acmys said:
GPS absolutely sucks. Is it really a hardware defect? The location toggle is checked. I'm using Maverick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're referring to my topic, you can see the things I've tried to determine if it's a hardware problem or not. Maybe you should as well.
Backup your ROM/Radio/RIL, and play around with different ROMs, different Radio/RIL combinations. If all fails to fix your GPS issue, than it's hardware issue.
And it doesn't "suck" to bring your phone back to stock. Took me less than 30 minutes, and that includes the download time for the stock ROM, and the rooting ROM (~500MB both).
Good luck trying to convince AT&T to give you a replacement though... read my thread for some laughs. [<-- 2 different links]
acmys said:
Also, my battery has been terrible since Sunday. I didn't really change anything since then except maybe open Maverick and the Geocaching app.
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Click to collapse
"I didn't really change anything" doesn't fly here, because you did change things. Geocaching app is probably what's doing it, since that means the app has to be running full time, with fine measurement chips turned on, which require more power.
Just disable things you don't really need, and prevent non-reoccuring apps from running in the background (like get a Task Manager, but selectively remove apps that should shut down after you're done with it (for example, a game); note that shutting down apps that should be running in the background (like mail, news, etc) would only do harm, as they would automatically start again, and the act of starting an app = takes more battery)).

Printerscape said:
If you're referring to my topic, you can see the things I've tried to determine if it's a hardware problem or not. Maybe you should as well.
Backup your ROM/Radio/RIL, and play around with different ROMs, different Radio/RIL combinations. If all fails to fix your GPS issue, than it's hardware issue.
And it doesn't "suck" to bring your phone back to stock. Took me less than 30 minutes, and that includes the download time for the stock ROM, and the rooting ROM (~500MB both).
Good luck trying to convince AT&T to give you a replacement though... read my thread for some laughs. [<-- 2 different links]
"I didn't really change anything" doesn't fly here, because you did change things. Geocaching app is probably what's doing it, since that means the app has to be running full time, with fine measurement chips turned on, which require more power.
Just disable things you don't really need, and prevent non-reoccuring apps from running in the background (like get a Task Manager, but selectively remove apps that should shut down after you're done with it (for example, a game); note that shutting down apps that should be running in the background (like mail, news, etc) would only do harm, as they would automatically start again, and the act of starting an app = takes more battery)).
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Click to collapse
Except I only ran both apps for maybe 30 minutes on Sunday and then turned them off ever since.

[Q] GPS Issues and a small rant...

Hello All,
I have a Nexus S from T-mob and the GPS is not working really. I have Android 4.0.4.; stock. When I go to my MAPS app, it will sometimes show my current location. But what's weird, is that the circle in my notification bar for my GPS does not blink. No blinking dot in the middle of the circle. Then, let's say I want directions somewhere, it will usually show those but when I want to navigate with the navigation app, it won't do turn by turn directions. It will just keep saying "searching for GPS." The circle never blinks...This is what I've done:
factory reset
clear app data
went to best buy and t-mob for help
tried GPSFIX app and this did get the dot blinking but still didn't work
I don't know if this is a software issue (maybe with ICS) or a hardware issue (I have insurance on this phone with Best Buy). I haven't tried going back to gingerbread and trying, or rooting and trying which will be my next objective if no one can help here. Any ideas? I will root again and if that doesn't work, I'll get a new phone from best buy which sucks because I've done this once already (different issue) and I have to wait a week and a half for my new phone and best buy only has a feature phone to let me borrow and so I get really annoyed. I have an old G1 but still....they should hook me up with an SII or something until I get mine back but they won't.
Now for the rant...While I was sitting at T-mob waiting to hear what their tech people on the phone were going to try (cause the rep didn't know what to do for this situation) I realized that it can suck to own a Nexus device. I doubt T-mob will ever sell one and the manager there didn't think they would. Now back to why it sucks...you don't have true support. T-mobile is not going to hand me a new phone right there or go all out to help me because they don't sell the Nexus S. They don't even have a picture of it when I go to my online profile on T-mobile.com. If it's a network problem maybe, but honestly, they don't have to help. And then best buy...well they don't even really support T-mobile too much these days anyway and they aren't specific to one carrier for me to get the true help I need. I just wish Google was a carrier and had stores or somewhere I can get immediate help. Not Google forums or me having to send off my phone through best buy. I'm glad XDA is here but then I feel bad because I don't always contribute much...Okay....done.
Thanks everyone!

Are you rooted?

I'm running stock right now. I will root soon if no one has any ideas.

try going back to gingerbread and see if it works!

I've never had problems with a stock ROM and GPS (despite ever being on 2 stock ROMs..), though a common problem for GPS woes seems to be the /system/etc/gps.conf file. Give it a new, local ntp server, let it redownload xtra.bin (either delete or use gps status or something like that). Give it an internet connection for 2 mins and all should be well.

Same thing happening to me
Hey there,
Wow, glad I found this thread! I am having the exact same issue as callison.168. The only difference that I can see is that I have had my Nexus S for a year and a half and have never had any problems with the GPS. But at the beginning of last week, the GPS just disappeared, and my phone has been looking for it ever since. The two apps that use it are Google Maps and Waze. Both provide turn-by-turn navigation, and both present with the same issue: Searching for GPS.
Now here's the kicker: my wife has the Nexus S as well (we got them at the same time) and HER PHONE ISN'T WORKING EITHER right about the same time mine stopped!
Both of our phones are stock, ICS 4.0.4, and they are not rooted. I called T-Mobile to check to see if there were any GPS outages in my area, but there were none.
Harbb, how do I go about doing what you suggested? I have GPS Status, but I don't see an option to get a new local NTP server. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
- Pete

I usually use fasterfix after every rom I flash, but it needs root..
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

You'll need root to do what i suggested above. GPS Status may also be of help just by deleting some basic data which you can probably do without root but i'm not sure on this one. GPS satellites essentially don't have any kind of outage problems we need to worry about.
One thing you can do is turn on a gps app, let it look for a signal with the GPS on and let it sit outside looking for 15 mins, or turn data on too and let it help get a signal for several minutes. Let it refresh all of the time specific GPS information sent through GPS. If data doesn't work, turn data off and try GPS only a few hours later, remember for about 15 minutes (gps signals have very low-speed data transfer speeds..).

Harbb said:
I've never had problems with a stock ROM and GPS (despite ever being on 2 stock ROMs..), though a common problem for GPS woes seems to be the /system/etc/gps.conf file. Give it a new, local ntp server, let it redownload xtra.bin (either delete or use gps status or something like that). Give it an internet connection for 2 mins and all should be well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use maps and Waze daily and don't have this issue. There are drops of course but it reconnects. I would root and do what @harbb suggested above, about the server. This is better service and tech support than what you'll get at Best Buy.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

Try the google apps: FasterFix and GPS Status. Just recalibrate/reset the GPS. This may help if it is a type of software issue. There are more issues you may want to take in mind.

Personally, I've done all of this - no luck. If I sit outside on a clear day with GPS Status running, it eventually gets a signal from ONE satellite after 10-15 minutes. The GPS icon might occasionally blink, and show "Searching for GPS" - otherwise it shows an empty GPS icon in the status bar.
It worked great until about 3 weeks ago.
edit: for what it's worth, I used michaelpeerman's One Click Return to Stock, which put stock Gingerbread back on. Immediately got a GPS lock in Google Maps, indoors even. Just flashed CM9 back on and GPS is now working.

Will not download anything on mobile data

I have had the Galaxy S 3 for almost 2 weeks now, and I noticed it will not download anything over my mobile data. Wifi works like a charm, but at work, I need credentials to use the wifi, so I just dont bother with it. I was going to install an app off of the play store and it would not go. It said downloading and the bar was constantly moving, but no numbers telling how far done. It sat like that for 10 mins and nothing happened. This has happened before to me when trying to download pics off of the internet. Live browsing works fine though. Facebook app works great, google chrome browser works unless you try to download.
I am unsure if this is a setting thing, or verizon blocking downloading off of mobile data or what? The app was under 2Mb so it wasn't a big one at all. I have my mobile data on (4G), power saving off, airplane and driving mode off, and sync on. For sync on my main account I only have gmail and internet set to sync though... I dont want all the other BS syncing its just annoying.
If someone could shed some light on this topic because I am so confused as to what is going on.

Is this a re-occuring problem or was it the one time in the play store/picture download? I know sometimes when you download or update from the play store, it gets stuck. You just have to cancel it and restart it. As for the picture download, it may have just been the hosting website.

Vorfidus said:
Is this a re-occuring problem or was it the one time in the play store/picture download? I know sometimes when you download or update from the play store, it gets stuck. You just have to cancel it and restart it. As for the picture download, it may have just been the hosting website.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I remember this is not the first time. I believe I was in a hurry trying to download an app and it wouldn't go so i just quit it and gave up. I have tried a couple different apps and tried one about 5 times after resetting the phone and trying different settings and nothing I could do would get it to work.

I have nearly the same issue, except, speeds are just exceptionally slow. I get tons of "network not available" type errors. 22+ hours on the phone with Verizon tech support, 4 SIM cards and 6 total hours on the phone with Samsung and all they can tell me is it's "either the network or the phone!?" They told me my phone was DOA and swapped it out. My new phone suffers the same problems, slightly worse. Verizon won't admit the phone could have a flaw directly to me but others on this website say their reps have told them the issue is well known and they are looking into it. The issues seems to be; Long latency, dropping signal with no indication, slow network speeds over 3g/4g as compared to other devices on the same network, at the same time (not always the case though..), long periods when text messages come in, dropped calls, etc.
VZW is supposedly checking into my local network now. I'm supposed to be updated on their status, but I know what they're going to say.. "Network's fine!"
The only thing left is the device. Others, including yourself seem to be having similar issues. There's alot of talk about "Samsungs radios suck" or "You should have known buying a samsung that it's radio could maybe not work that great.." I dunno.
Seems to me a radio should be kinda a priority in a mobile device. My apologies for not being born with the innate knowledge of samsungs less than stellar radios.
Some are hopeful for an update. That update apparently never came to the Nexus. I don't think it's reasonable to expect it here either.
I flashed the Synergy Rom and it seems to have helped immensely. It's not as reliable or consistent as the ole X2 over the same network but then again, it is a Samsung, I guess.

ancashion said:
I have nearly the same issue, except, speeds are just exceptionally slow. I get tons of "network not available" type errors. 22+ hours on the phone with Verizon tech support, 4 SIM cards and 6 total hours on the phone with Samsung and all they can tell me is it's "either the network or the phone!?" They told me my phone was DOA and swapped it out. My new phone suffers the same problems, slightly worse. Verizon won't admit the phone could have a flaw directly to me but others on this website say their reps have told them the issue is well known and they are looking into it. The issues seems to be; Long latency, dropping signal with no indication, slow network speeds over 3g/4g as compared to other devices on the same network, at the same time (not always the case though..), long periods when text messages come in, dropped calls, etc.
VZW is supposedly checking into my local network now. I'm supposed to be updated on their status, but I know what they're going to say.. "Network's fine!"
The only thing left is the device. Others, including yourself seem to be having similar issues. There's alot of talk about "Samsungs radios suck" or "You should have known buying a samsung that it's radio could maybe not work that great.." I dunno.
Seems to me a radio should be kinda a priority in a mobile device. My apologies for not being born with the innate knowledge of samsungs less than stellar radios.
Some are hopeful for an update. That update apparently never came to the Nexus. I don't think it's reasonable to expect it here either.
I flashed the Synergy Rom and it seems to have helped immensely. It's not as reliable or consistent as the ole X2 over the same network but then again, it is a Samsung, I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well thanks for bringing that to my attention and letting me know I am not the only one with this issue. I just wasn't sure if it was known as a problem or a setting I had turned off or something stupid like that. Because I know there are ways to disable mobile data so it doesn't suck it all away.
Doesn't seem like a radio issue in my case, as everything works fine, its just when downloading from mobile it doesn't work. Regular browsing is fine and so is internet use in apps, its just the downloads. Wasn't sure if it was a verizon policy to lockout downloads, as this is my first smartphone, or if it was a phone issue itself.
I am not going to use ROMs on my phone, or anything like that. Ill just put up with it until there is a possible fix. Its not too big of a deal, it just helps when you need something and theres no wifi around.

XXchocolatetouchXX said:
Well thanks for bringing that to my attention and letting me know I am not the only one with this issue. I just wasn't sure if it was known as a problem or a setting I had turned off or something stupid like that. Because I know there are ways to disable mobile data so it doesn't suck it all away.
Doesn't seem like a radio issue in my case, as everything works fine, its just when downloading from mobile it doesn't work. Regular browsing is fine and so is internet use in apps, its just the downloads. Wasn't sure if it was a verizon policy to lockout downloads, as this is my first smartphone, or if it was a phone issue itself.
I am not going to use ROMs on my phone, or anything like that. Ill just put up with it until there is a possible fix. Its not too big of a deal, it just helps when you need something and theres no wifi around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You take it better than I do, that's for sure.

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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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.
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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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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