My 2nd day with the TF.
With that said, I don't think I'm fully understanding the GPS functionality on this tablet. When I'm connected via WIFI, on Google Maps it'll show my location pretty accurately.
But right now I'm at work without WIFI and Google Maps is unable to determine my location.
I thought that as long as I have an offline map, I should be able to navigate and pinpoint my location with it's built-in GPS.
Or is it maybe just at the moment it's unable to get a good satellite signal?
You can use "GPS Test" to test your GPS. My TF gets no signal inside my office building either. But it works fine outside.
GPS is generally useless indoors. However, if you go close to a window it will often see enough signal to function. It might still take it a few minutes to lock on to enough satellites to get a fix.
I find the location accuracy with WiFi only quite amazing. It's pertty much as accurate as GPS.
Bye.
If you can't get a clear view of the sats, GPS will not be of much value. The WiFi location is based on a look up where most wifi routers have their coordinates stored in an online database and that is just accessed when wifi is available. If you own the hot spot, you can change the GPS coords. Note you are actually getting the location of the router but that is close enough.
Related
Hi guys,
I thought I would share what I discovered today. If this solution has been found, I apologize. Most users have been trying to get their Fuze GPS to lock on to satellites. Having used several GPS phones and many Bluetooth GPS pucks, I would say I'm somewhat experienced with using GPS on the PPC platform.
I have no issues with getting a lock on my Fuze. My issue is with Fuze's GPS chip randomly stop streaming data to my GPS applications. This usually happens after the initial lock. So for example:
a) Get a lock using any GPS application (GPS Test for example)
b) Exit GPS application
c) Launch GPS application again. Fuze will take several seconds to regain lock.
d) Fuze will take several seconds again to lock in, THEN it just stop streaming data to the GPS application!
I was able to reproduce this consistently. If you're using Garmin or TomTom, they will indicate that GPS lock is lost or something to that effect.
THE SOLUTION: Turn OFF aGPS!
a) Start->Setting->System->AGPS Settings
b) Uncheck BOTH "Enable AGPS" and "Enable AGPS location information..." (under the Privacy tab)
I was able to show that this consistently resolved my GPS data stream stopping problem. I'm using the .28 radio, but try it on the stock radio to see if that works and let the community know. What about QuickGPS? AFAIK, it's not causing any problem at all.
I hope this is helpful.
After standing on my deck for 20mins last Friday waiting on locks, I follow above and get a lock in 10secs(in my living room).
Turned off AGPS was the only change
It looks like without AGPS, the GPS would just stream whatever info it had cached even if it lost signal.
AGPS would clear last state instead and so become highly sensitive to signal-loss on the next poll. It doesn't help that this device is weaker in picking up GPS signals.
Yes, turn off AGPS.
NuShrike said:
It looks like without AGPS, the GPS would just stream whatever info it had cached even if it lost signal.
AGPS would clear last state instead and so become highly sensitive to signal-loss on the next poll. It doesn't help that this device is weaker in picking up GPS signals.
Yes, turn off AGPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, that would be exactly how I like my GPS to behave (use the cached ephemeris data). In fact, that was how all Bluetooth GPS puck works before the advent of AGPS. I guess AGPS is a good concept, but its implementation needs to be further tweaked.
If you have not used your GPS in a week or so, then AGPS is an advantage. Daily use, perhaps not so much.
Hi,For some odd reason my quick GPS does not work anymore. My TomTom is non functional as well. I have checked my data connection and it is active. Can somebody help please.
Thanks in advance.
Can somebody please assist? I have checked my data connection and it is working. I have internet connection, for some strange reason Quick GPS and TOMTOM is not working. Is there a setting somewhere to activate this?
Thanks
Can somebody please assist, I really would appreciate a fix to this issue.
THANKS
I am having an issue with my GPS, except I got my unit 2 days ago, and can not get the GPS to work at all, with OEM rom or with any other custom rom. (it wont work with garmin xt, google maps, HTC GPS, or GPS tweak tools).
I hope I dont have a bad unit.
Strange thing, mine worked fine for about three weeks and all of a sudden it stopped working.
did either of you notice the unit getting *really* hot just before it went out? ...as in I-stuck-it-in-my-pocket-and-now-I-have-crotch-scars kind of hot?
zahbaker said:
Hi,For some odd reason my quick GPS does not work anymore. My TomTom is non functional as well. I have checked my data connection and it is active. Can somebody help please.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say that quickGPS is not working, what do you mean? It doesn't display the page with the "Download" button? You press the "Download" button and it can't connect? It connects but never finishes downloading the data? What are the specific symptoms you're seeing?
I see the quick gps download button, when I click download, the message that I get is connection failed. My tomtom as well does not work anymore. I do have inetrnet connectivity, it's just the quick gps and tomtom that is not working. Please assist. Thanks
Patience
equinox2355 said:
I am having an issue with my GPS, except I got my unit 2 days ago, and can not get the GPS to work at all, with OEM rom or with any other custom rom. (it wont work with garmin xt, google maps, HTC GPS, or GPS tweak tools).
I hope I dont have a bad unit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had my TP for 3 days now. As with the Kaiser and my hermes Holux bluetooth device it takes approx 5 - 10 mins to get the initial fix on satellites after that it appears to be working fine. Google maps, my old TTv6 all working fine. Takes about 30secs from startup to pickup Sats and shows about 5-7 sats everytime.
So just be patient with the initial startup. It should come.
zahbaker said:
I see the quick gps download button, when I click download, the message that I get is connection failed. My tomtom as well does not work anymore. I do have inetrnet connectivity, it's just the quick gps and tomtom that is not working. Please assist. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are the values of the registry keys HKLM\Software\HTC\QuickGPS\SNTP\Server1, Server2, and Server3? (I have values like xtra1.gpsOneXTRA.net.) What happens if you type that address into Internet Explorer or Opera?
When I type the address in internet explorer I get to the RX Networks webpage.
My internet is working fine, it's the gps thats not working.
Thanks
zahbaker said:
When I type the address in internet explorer I get to the RX Networks webpage.
My internet is working fine, it's the gps thats not working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, QuickGPS is an Internet app, not a GPS app. All it does is download a week's worth of satellite ephemeris data from one of those servers. When you reported "connection failed" as the problem you were seeing in QuickGPS, that seemed to indicate that you weren't able to connect to the server.
So if you can get to the server, as it appears, maybe the message is about connecting to the GPS unit (to transfer the ephemeris data? Not sure about the architecture of the GPS here). What values do you have in the "External GPS" pages on the System settings tab? Have you tried the GPSTest tool? Is it able to connect to your GPS unit after you put the appropriate values into its "GPS Settings" page?
If GPSTest isn't able to connect to the GPS unit, then I think you probably have a hardware fault and should exchange your phone for a new one.
Can Someone tell me what is the exact job of the Quick GPS which is in Programs ? for me was expired and i just update through gprs and then show me some valid days remaining.
is it help to connect to satellite faster or something else ? and what happen if i don't update it? thanks.
When using WiFi, QuickGPS seems not to work if it's the first program to use the connection. If you make an Internet connection with some other program first (e.g. PIE), QuickGPS will work over WiFi. At least that's my experience with the stock AT&T ROM.
This problem doesn't seem to occur with GPRS/3G/HSDPA connections, only with WiFi.
P525Lover said:
Can Someone tell me what is the exact job of the Quick GPS which is in Programs ? for me was expired and i just update through gprs and then show me some valid days remaining.
is it help to connect to satellite faster or something else ? and what happen if i don't update it? thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, QuickGPS reduces the wait for getting your position when you first start up a mapping program.
The way GPS works is that the GPS receiver uses the positions of the satellites and the distance to those satellites to calculate its own position on the Earth. That requires knowing very precisely where the satellites are at any given time. The satellite position information is called the ephemeris.
Each satellite, in addition to broadcasting time signals (which enable the GPS receiver to determine the distance to the satellite), transmits its own ephemeris. A GPS receiver starting up from scratch has to receive the ephemeris data from each satellite it will be using before it can figure out its own position.
QuickGPS eliminates the need to receive the ephemeris data from the satellites by sending a week's worth of ephemeris data over the Internet. The GPS receiver can use that immediately instead of getting it from each satellite in turn. That significantly reduces the TTFF (time to first fix), i.e., the initial wait before you can start using a GPS-based map program.
The "expiration date" is simply the last point in time that is covered by the ephemeris data sent by QuickGPS. After that point, you have to get more data, either from QuickGPS or from the satellites.
wmm said:
Yes, QuickGPS reduces the wait for getting your position when you first start up a mapping program.
The way GPS works is that the GPS receiver uses the positions of the satellites and the distance to those satellites to calculate its own position on the Earth. That requires knowing very precisely where the satellites are at any given time. The satellite position information is called the ephemeris.
Each satellite, in addition to broadcasting time signals (which enable the GPS receiver to determine the distance to the satellite), transmits its own ephemeris. A GPS receiver starting up from scratch has to receive the ephemeris data from each satellite it will be using before it can figure out its own position.
QuickGPS eliminates the need to receive the ephemeris data from the satellites by sending a week's worth of ephemeris data over the Internet. The GPS receiver can use that immediately instead of getting it from each satellite in turn. That significantly reduces the TTFF (time to first fix), i.e., the initial wait before you can start using a GPS-based map program.
The "expiration date" is simply the last point in time that is covered by the ephemeris data sent by QuickGPS. After that point, you have to get more data, either from QuickGPS or from the satellites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow, interesting, lots of new and useful information for me that i didn't know that before. thanks man.
Not seeing any 10 minute delay like you saw. Are you updating current sat location data with QuickGPS? I notived using GPStest and MS Pocket Streets that Sat connections go up and completely down all the time. Nice thing is, GoogleMaps ignores the quick downs so it LOOKS like a good connection that never disapears. don't know if this is intentional on Google's part, but it works, even standing still/walking (once connection is made). Lovin the Sat view whilst I use GPS for directions.
Same here: Quick GPS cannot connect... What is this? Maybe a server fault, or do I need to Hard Reset?
LE: Fixed it: I just run Connection Setup again, then it suddenly worked.
i just did a hard reset and quickgps will connect only after i open up a browser and googlemaps sits at seeking gps sats. i had it working 2 days ago and then my battery died and it hasnt worked since. i did notice that the phone was really warm though.
quickqps hasnt worked for me for a couple of weeks now...and i still havent fod anything to fix it
Samsung just wrote that apparently the use wireless networks, which is the option above use gps satellites must be selected to get proper locks.
I was skeptical because i just assumed that when I went exploring I selected it, but it actually wasn't.
Put it on, and agreed to the disclaimer and then right away the maps got my location and the live wallpaper map got my location.
you'll get an email saying google knows where you are and yeah its pretty ****ty that you have to do this, but it does work. at least for me.
not a real fix, I've had that on forever and still dont get a proper lock
Confirming that this does seem to work. It might merit mentioning that I've also messed around with my GPS settings quite a bit as well.
Regardless, I got a lock within two seconds after opening Google Maps. Cheers!
-deuX`
The phone used networks to locate you. Not GPS.
PuffinNugz said:
The phone used networks to locate you. Not GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, good to know. Thanks for the info!
-deuX`
This is to assist in the GPS lock. This is not a fix.
True it isn't a real fix, hence the "quick" fix in the title.
it's just another way to help maps get a lock.
obviously this won't help in no service zones but if you're using the data anyways might as well use it to help.
plus it unlocks all the fun location based services, and that maps live wallpaper is pretty freakin sweet!
This will only give you the location of the nearby cell tower. Unless you live under the cell tower all the time, I don't think this is useful. It might be useful for things like check the nearby stores and attractions. But will not give you navigatable fixes and does not speed up your GPS lock. If you're using Google maps, try to zoom out, and you will notice a big circle. Your location is anywhere inside that circle.
That's Samsung tip is pure BS and Engadet should be ashamed to even believe in that BS.
I not only allowed the use of wireless networks for location, but also changing the GPS setting to MS Based to allow for simultaneous use of triangulation and assisted GPS... before this change I NEVER got a successful GPS lock...after I changed the settings I finally can get a GPS lock after about about 3 minutes with direct line of sight outdoors.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
foxbat121 said:
This will only give you the location of the nearby cell tower.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not quite. its actually doing cell tower triangulation, using the signal of all nearby towers your phone sees. In the city, this can be pretty accurate and is rarely off by more than a couple blocks. To see the accuracy, turn off GPS and click 'locate me' in google maps. The blue circle around your location shows the margin of error. The more towers you are in range of, the more accurate the fix.
As far as helping GPS, all this location can really do today is help you grab the most appropriate gps almanac/ephemeris info - if youve got an internet connection. I suppose it could possibly also be used in conjunction with the gps error in some kind of a filter to improve accuracy, but as far as I know that is not being done.
I actually started getting quicker locks with just using the GPS and having the wireless networks unchecked
Just an update:
I changed the SUP/LCP setting to Auto-config and the Operation mode to MS Based. I tend to get a gps lock within a minute or two with it sitting on my dashboard. I also tried it with the"Use wireless networks" setting turned off and it worked the same.
Also, I did try out the MS Assisted SUP/LCP setting and I was able to get GPS signal while indoors, but it was less accurate all around.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I'm not saying it's completely 100% accurate, but much in the same vein that an iPod Touch can get a location using just the wi-fi this is using much the same.
it uses whatever a-gps it can and then it helps with the cellular data. triangulation. it's useful and if it keeps getting me a signal then its all good
Hi guys! New to the forum and the Android OS. I've just purchased the Nexus S a couple of weeks ago and the phone is great except for a couple of minor details, but one thing really bothers me is the GPS. When I'm connected to wi-fi, Google maps is able to tell me my location fairly accurately. However, outdoors with no wi-fi, I try to have the settings to locate me based on satellite, but that always give me a "your current location is temporarily unavailable" message. I'm basically completely outdoors with view of the clear blue sky and it will always give me this message. Is something wrong
I've searched on the forum but nothing that answers my question. Anyone?
Hi,
Based on your question I am not shure if you are aware of the following:
GPS is only one of several location detection methods used by your phone. Another one is based on WIFI hotspots in range. Basically the phone scans the wifi frequencies to look for ALL hotspots in range and then sends this list of hotspots to google (only if some kind of internet access is available to the phone!). When this combination of hotspots is known to google, your phone gets an estimated location back from the google server. So from what you write, it is possible that you never had a gps fix, even when you got a (fairly good) location based on wifi.
I suggest you install some gps software other than google maps to check the functionality of your device. I use "GPS test", should be on the market. All it does, is scanning for satellites and displaying the list of discovered satelites. When the signal is good enough, you get a "U" in the column "flags" for the locked satellites.
Attention! You must start the scan manually from the apps context menu.
cheers
Yeah you gotta turn on your GPS for a more accurate reading if you're using maps or other navigational app
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App
Just an update. I haven't needed to use the GPS lately, but this week I decided to try again, and before, I have gotten a GPS fix with the GPS Test app. But that signal never lasts very long and it also takes a really long time for the app to use the satellite to lock on to my location. The GPS indicator on the top left of the app is usually yellow and only after a long time does it turn green, but sometimes it never turns green even with 7 or 8 satellites in view. Is this just a limitation of mobile GPS in cell phones?
I don't have a data plan so I can't connect to the internet while on the road, hence the need for GPS without having internet access.
As long as you have the SIM inserted, not on airplane mode and gps is turned on, and nothing is wrong with your phone hardware I don't see why it shouldn't get location fix outdoor.
There are some good offline maps like Osmand and MapDroyd.
when on wifi the location is 100% accurate on my infuse(google maps) but when on 4G it's way off. Is it just my set or is it a common problem, any help??
sounds like Google's location service giving inacurate results on cellular. try going into location and security and turn off "use wireless networks " this option doesn't actually use gps, it is a backup for gps. it can cause tracking problems if gps is weak because it will swap between the two so I keep it off.
junooni.1980 said:
when on wifi the location is 100% accurate on my infuse(google maps) but when on 4G it's way off. Is it just my set or is it a common problem, any help??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not GPS accuracy, that's netloc accuracy. Netloc on wifi will almost always be significantly more accurate than cellular netloc.
The exception is when someone moves a wifi access point after the Street View truck drives by. Now if your phone sees that AP it'll think it is in the old location.
but how come it varies form phone, ive used moto atrix before infuse and its gps is probably the most accurate and fastest ive ever used..
junooni.1980 said:
but how come it varies form phone, ive used moto atrix before infuse and its gps is probably the most accurate and fastest ive ever used..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it depends on the way the manufacturer sets things up and how you set it.
what you are experiencing is that you.have "use wireless networks" selected in settings>locaion and security. this is not using the gps chip. the samsung rom will always start with the google location based on network location which is based on your ip adress mostly. then atempt to get a gps lock after. but the infuse gps doesn't work good indoors so it may never lock. or it may timeout and start all over again.
the atrix you tried may have had "use wireless networks" disabled or the location service may have had a stronger preference for gps than network location. we know the atrix has better gps reception that the Samsung so it is more likely to get a true gps lock indoors.