Find my phone - Map it - Windows Phone 7 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Is there a way to use Map it function on phone without having Location on all the time?
Having Location on drains battery pretty much and having Map it function available is important.

Can't have one without the other... just make sure you untick the "Get results faster" if you wanna save on the battery.

Is it just me or Find my phone doesn't work without "Get results faster"?
Using Omnia 7

Interesting...first I never managed to open the page to ring, erase or find the phone. I always get that "ooops..." error. Also, once I checked that option to get it faster and closed the settings it disappeared and now I only have on/off switch in find my phone settings? Does anyone else have those issues? BTW, I have an Omnia 7 with Mango.

xDomsx said:
Is it just me or Find my phone doesn't work without "Get results faster"?
Using Omnia 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't get it to work correctly without the it on. By the same token, I haven't really seen any adverse affects on battery life with the option turned on.

I can't make that thing to work. Map would show position of my phone from 3-4 hours ago. When I click on "Refresh" says it can't find the phone at this moment. I'm not sure how this works but problem might be with my data plan.

Related

connectivity idea, curious if it is even possible

I am curious, but the only way I can think of to ask this question is to provide an example or two, so bear with me.
You decide you need directions. Fire up Google maps, click my location and it says you need to enable data...DOH!, back out to the menu (or follow the prompt), enable either GPS or Data, and go back into maps. Get what you need, and then leave Maps. Dont forget to turn the GPS or Data back off!
Wouldnt it be better if when you enter Google Maps, it would fire up the GPS or Data connection automatically? And when you back out or have a period of inactivity, disable it.
Same thing with the internet, I know Locale and others can turn on and off the wifi depending on where you are, but, for example, when I am home I rarely need wifi. However, when I open the internet it would be great if it looked for a friendly wifi signal and tried to connect if possible. That way you are always connecting the fastest possible method for your application and doing the least amount of work. If the disconnect would be an issue (since none of the programs has an exit button) maybe a variable timer could be set, or maybe base it off of inactivity.
Like I said, they are just ideas, and I have never understood why nobody (WM for example) has ever implemented anything like this. It seems like it would help conserve battery power and at the same time greatly simplify things.
When you put the G1 to sleep it shuts off the wifi connection automatically, then when you turn it back on, it reconnects to the network if you're still near it.
I have always wondered why Google Maps doesn't turn on GPS when it needs it. It does on the iPhone as far as I know. I have really wanted this to happen for awhile but I just figured Google would be the ones to add it.
rascal00 said:
I have always wondered why Google Maps doesn't turn on GPS when it needs it. It does on the iPhone as far as I know. I have really wanted this to happen for awhile but I just figured Google would be the ones to add it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I wonder why also, maybe they were in a rush or some battery issue. also iphone doesn't have gps just the cell location I usually keep that on.

A couple fixes for some of our problems

Lets face it. All devices have bugs upon release that the normal person won't care about nor think of it as a bug. This device has it's share but as a reminder. There is no software bug that can't be fixed. By the way, make sure you don't skip the initial setup and if you did just wipe and restore.
1) Some are having a problem when using WiFi. There 4G or 3G data is not turning off and instead of your device using WiFi to exchange data it is using your 4G or 3G data. If you turn WiFi on and don't see a 4G/3G icon in the notification area then your device is working properly in this department.
The Fix: There is three "My Account" apps on our devices and there causing a conflict when 2 or more is running at the same time. To fix this you need to delete all of them (I used Root Explorer). If you use "My Account" you can download the current version from the market. Next, freeze or delete WiFi calling and the T-Mobile app pack. After you have deleted everything you have to reboot your device. Note: While deleting or freezing some of these, you might get some looping force closes. Just simply remove your battery to reboot the device and once it reboots the force closing will be gone.
2) Some are having a problem when moving from cell tower to cell tower. If you are losing a data signal every once in a while but the 4G/3G icon is still showing in the notification area, you need to do the fallowing.
The Fix: Go into your Mobile Network settings and make sure your device is setup to automatically use GSM/WCDMA. Then click on search for networks and at this point you will see T-Mobile UMTS, T-Mobile GSM and ATT GSW. After they appear click on select automatically. While your at it go ahead and click on data roaming since T-Mobile has contracts with other providers so your able to roam on there towers. Don't worry, you won't be charged for roaming since T-Mobile only charges for international roaming. After all this do a reboot.
Some of you think that there is a problem with your battery if your device is showing your "cell standby" above 30%. This is not a problem. Every time you charge your G2X it will reset usage percentages as you know. Well if you emediatly start using your phone and don't put it down for 2 hours than I promise you that your display will be at the top of the list. Obviously if your device stays off for a little bit and upon waking it you look at your battery statistics your going to see Cell standby and Phone idle at the top since the display was off. If your wandering why Cell Standby is using more juice than WiFi it's because when you turn your display off it automatically sleeps your WiFi.
The percentages in your batter statistics need to add up to 100%-105% and something is going to use more than the rest depending on what your doing with your device after removing it from charge. Ask yourself this. If my G2X is in my pocket for 1 hour after removing it from it's charger. What would I like to see using most of my battery? I can tell you right now. Certainly not your display since it's been off the entire time.
There's only one MyAccount app on the phone. I looked myself in the System/app folder. If you see multiple MyAccounts in a task manager it is just another instance of the same application.
Also there's NOTHING wrong with Wifi Calling or My Account. I have both on and use them extensively. My phone has gone now 26hrs without a reboot or hitch of heavy usage. Wifi works, 3G/4G works perfectly. I don't have any issues right now...until the next reboot
Want to give people another perspective since you don't have to give up MyAccount or Wifi caling to have a usable phone.
jrwingate6 said:
Ask yourself this. If my G2X is in my pocket for 1 hour after removing it from it's charger. What would I like to see using most of my battery? I can tell you right now. Certainly not your display since it's been off the entire time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cell standby of course
mobilehavoc said:
There's only one MyAccount app on the phone. I looked myself in the System/app folder. If you see multiple MyAccounts in a task manager it is just another instance of the same application.
Also there's NOTHING wrong with Wifi Calling or My Account. I have both on and use them extensively. My phone has gone now 26hrs without a reboot or hitch of heavy usage. Wifi works, 3G/4G works perfectly. I don't have any issues right now...until the next reboot
Want to give people another perspective since you don't have to give up MyAccount or Wifi caling to have a usable phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats WHY you don't have any problems. Because you only have 1 "MyAccount" application. Those of us that had 2 or 3 have the problems. By the way I had 3 and no they weren't showing in task manager. They were all deleted using Root Explorer.
Where did you see them? They were all in system/app??!?
Odd how they could all exist together - were they named differently?
mobilehavoc said:
Where did you see them? They were all in system/app??!?
Odd how they could all exist together - were they named differently?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, different version numbers and branding included in the apks. I had 2, version 1 and version 5.x.
OP, for some reason when I try Search Networks I get: "Error while searching for networks." Any ideas?
mobilehavoc said:
Where did you see them? They were all in system/app??!?
Odd how they could all exist together - were they named differently?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They all existed in the system folder. It seemed like instead of the new versions updating the existing app, they were just creating new files. Your right, it is odd but I can see how that would create a problem.
rfm2113 said:
OP, for some reason when I try Search Networks I get: "Error while searching for networks." Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the same thing. I had to enable wifi, then shut off wifi calling. Then it worked.
OP, for some reason when I try Search Networks I get: "Error while searching for networks." Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the same thing. I had to enable wifi, then shut off wifi calling. Then it worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worked perfectly, thanks!
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

[Q] Strange inaccurate recordings in location history

Hi guys,
I run PA 4.4 for like 10 days now. Since a week ago I have strange locations in my Google location history - constantly, when not moving - and rather accurate when I am outside (maybe has something to do with the wifi connection when stationary at home or at work?)...
One interesting part of it is: the first days of my new PA experience everything was fine. So probably it does not have anything to do with it. That first day I had the issue my phone crashed earlier while I was outside and I had to do a reboot. Maybe some settings were changed during that!? Or... maybe it doesn't and it's just a coincidence after some apps where updated (Google Search or so)...
I tried quite some settings to figure out what happens here - and it is not trivial - to my mind:
I did another clean install of the ROM; had the same issue again
I changed between "high accuracy" and "battery saving" mode in the location settings; no change
I went to the developer settings and unchecked "accept mock locations" (is that how the option is called in English?); no change
I have a Nexus 10 also running Android 4.4.4 and started to record my location history from that device with different settings: all are fine and accurate! When I record from both devices I can actually see my history jumping in 5-minute-mode...
Any ideas, any suggestions?
Please...
Two more findings, which make this issue even stranger:
When I move in the house - e.g. 2nd instead of ground floor - I get different locations, some 100 or 200 meters away, but both far from home.
I turned wifi off for one and a half hour - that resulted in perfect locations!! Locations were inaccurate after turning wifi on again...
What is wrong here?? So I get more inaccurate locations when connected to wifi!?
i always run straight gps and never wifi. imo its a conflict of interest.
gps is dead accurate, so the only time you could benefit from wifi is when you are in a building with no gps signal, and frankly, why would i need 100% accurate gps if im already in the building.
again imo, what is happening is, it can only reference wifi that it knows the exact location of. it has no way to tell how far from that wifi you are, so its guessing based on a limited gps signal and known wifi points.
i think its a waste of battery to be scanning wifi points all the time any ways, unless you have a constant use for it.
bweN diorD said:
i always run straight gps and never wifi. imo its a conflict of interest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the answer! And I sort of agree...
But the question is:
what did change that day when my location started to be different? I never had problems for more than two years of using the location history. Even after moving in April everything was fine with the wifi locations. I get one accurate reading like every one to three hours - so the location jumps from time time. Why is that? Is that a gps reading?
Plus: how could I change the settings? The only thing I can chose from is: "battery saving" (cell towers and wifi) or "high accuracy" (the same plus gps). I selected the second option but obviously still the Google location service does not really use it. When I turn off wifi it can only use cell towers plus gps... but obviously I want to be connected to the wifi when being at home.
I can't say why it started acting up.
If you use WiFi you are kinda stuck.
I only have GPS on and denied anything that wants to use WiFi for any reason.
I don't know where the option is found, but I remember it asking if I wanted to use WiFi to help results or something like that, I chose no.
Sent from my LG-VS980 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
bweN diorD said:
I don't know where the option is found, but I remember it asking if I wanted to use WiFi to help results or something like that, I chose no.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that option is the "use wifi for location detection although wifi is turned off" which can be found in the wifi advanced options. But I turned that on and off, no change.
But one more test from myself:
I let wifi on but disconnected from my home network. The result is: accurate locations! So the problem is not the wifi itself but a connected wifi!? And it is not only the home network because I had the same issue at work.
Plus: we just had a thunderstorm, that could have been the reason why cell towers and/or gps reacted differently: my location was at some new place about more than a mile away. The worst thing is: accuracy of that location point was about half a mile -- which means: my real location was not inside the accuracy cycle (that blue cycle when using location history)!!
The accuracy cycle is always very small when I get the real readings at home and always about half a mile in radius when somewhere else...
that is basically the problem with using wifi to help. there are too many variables. location needs to know the location of the wifi, but then there is a broadcast radius that decreases accuracy. there is also the question, what does it do when you are connected to a wifi it doesnt know the location of?, that could cause inaccuracy. maybe it makes an uneducated guess, who knows. there is also the issue, what if it thinks it knows the location but its actually wrong?
the list of possible scenarios could go on and on as to why it isnt reporting correctly.
the only way to truly know why it is wrong is to find out why exactly it thinks you are where you are when its wrong. there has to be some exact source of information its using to base your wrong location on. unfortunately, i doubt there is any way for the common user to get this information, let alone take corrective action so its not inaccurate in the future.
wrong locations only when wifi is connected, only on one device
OK, what do we already know?
I have the problem for some 8 to 10 days now. Never had it before, only have it on one device.
Maybe a coincidence but this behavior started on a day where my phone crashed and I had to reset.
I made a clean new re-install of the PA 4.4 and recently received the update to PA 4.42. There are no changes in the behavior.
It is only my phone (running ParanoidAndroid based on KitKat 4.4.4), my tablet (Nexus 10 running stock KitKat 4.4.4) does not have this problem (so it's no wifi relocation because of moving or such general problem).
I have the problem with more than one wifi! Have already seen these false locations when connected to the home and when connected to the work network. Problems with both networks started the same day...
Wrong locations are constantly there when my phone is connected to a wifi.
It's not always the same location, sometimes I get different readings, but it's 90% a position ~430m west of my home.
The correct locations have high accuracy (a few meters), the wrong locations have very low accuracy (~1000m or even more).
When I start Google Maps (i.e. probably when the phone uses gps) I can see my position moving towards the correct location.
When I switch off wifi or when leave wifi on but disconnect my phone from the network, then I get the correct location constantly.
Roughly every 1 to 3 hours there is one correct location within the list of false locations.
I tried virtually every combination of settings, "high accuracy" and "battery saving" for the location service, "no mock locations" in the advanced developers settings, "use wifi for location detection although wifi is switched off" in the wifi settings, ...
Is there some sort of cache that might be corrupted!?
Is there a possibility to force using gps?
What else...
Tho-D said:
OK, what do we already know?
I have the problem for some 8 to 10 days now. Never had it before, only have it on one device.
Maybe a coincidence but this behavior started on a day where my phone crashed and I had to reset.
I made a clean new re-install of the PA 4.4 and recently received the update to PA 4.42. There are no changes in the behavior.
It is only my phone (running ParanoidAndroid based on KitKat 4.4.4), my tablet (Nexus 10 running stock KitKat 4.4.4) does not have this problem (so it's no wifi relocation because of moving or such general problem).
I have the problem with more than one wifi! Have already seen these false locations when connected to the home and when connected to the work network. Problems with both networks started the same day...
Wrong locations are constantly there when my phone is connected to a wifi.
It's not always the same location, sometimes I get different readings, but it's 90% a position ~430m west of my home.
The correct locations have high accuracy (a few meters), the wrong locations have very low accuracy (~1000m or even more).
When I start Google Maps (i.e. probably when the phone uses gps) I can see my position moving towards the correct location.
When I switch off wifi or when leave wifi on but disconnect my phone from the network, then I get the correct location constantly.
Roughly every 1 to 3 hours there is one correct location within the list of false locations.
I tried virtually every combination of settings, "high accuracy" and "battery saving" for the location service, "no mock locations" in the advanced developers settings, "use wifi for location detection although wifi is switched off" in the wifi settings, ...
Is there some sort of cache that might be corrupted!?
Is there a possibility to force using gps?
What else...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess you shouldn't rule out that it is an issue caused by the ROM some how.
On my phone I can force it to use GPS only, I have the option anyways.
Under location I have device only or something like that, it says it only uses GPS when that option is selected.
Sent from my LG-VS980 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
bweN diorD said:
I guess you shouldn't rule out that it is an issue caused by the ROM some how.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought about that, too. Means to installiert something else, CM11 vor so...
There's the option "device only".
That option does not record the location history, afaik.
Which means: Google Now does not work. So that's not an option...
Tho-D said:
There's the option "device only".
That option does not record the location history, afaik.
Which means: Google Now does not work. So that's not an option...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ohh OK, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info
Sent from my LG-VS980 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Tho-D said:
There's the option "device only".
That option does not record the location history, afaik.
Which means: Google Now does not work. So that's not an option...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so i did a little test today on the way home from work, as i took a different route than normal to avoid traffic.
when i started "maps" i had to allow google location services to navigate. so im pretty sure you can use device only as long as you allowed google location for apps, as it said something about my google now functionality when i turned it off after navigating.
last week i navigated a 3 hour trip, on a different rom, with no issues. today, maps couldn't seem to start gps to find my location to start navigating. so i turned on "high accuracy", more to test than anything else, and it found my location and we were navigating home .
i knew where i wanted to go but at some points that varied from where maps wanted me to go. for a while it did good at making quick corrections to my path. about 20 minutes in, i didn't follow its directions again. well this time, it didn't recognize that i didn't turn, then advised me to make a subsequent turn onto a road that was off the road i didn't turn onto. now, the road i am on is about 1/4 mile from the road it thinks im on, the 2 roads are parallel. well it took maps over a mile, after i made another turn towards the road it thought i was on, before it realized it was wrong and made corrective instructions. after that, i made a quick stop to grab some liquid refreshment for the night and turned off navigation, as i was close to home.
this really goes to prove nothing more than "high accuracy" is not always highly accurate. i traveled across 3 states last week for 3 hours on "device only" and never once was it wrong about my exact location.
just wanted to share my experience, really doesn't help or fix your problem, but may shed some light on the possible inaccuracies across multiple devices.
bweN diorD said:
so im pretty sure you can use device only as long as you allowed google location for apps, as it said something about my google now functionality when i turned it off after navigating.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this and yes, Maps works with the "device only" setting. But when using Now it said that location-based cards (weather, traffic, ...) only work with "high accuracy" or "battery saving". So for me this setting is useless.
I guess I'll do another clean install and try CM11 or so...
it's not ROM related
I trid to install CM11 M8 today. For some reason I wasn't able to, received these strange "Unfortunately process ... has stopped" messages all the time and was not able to complete the initial setup. The only hint I found online is to make sure CWM recovery is up to date. I use v6.0.5.0 which I assume is up to date.
So I made another clean install of PA 4.42. Then I downloaded another ROM: did a clean install of SlimKat. This went smoothly, but I have the same location problems, both times!!!!
I guess we can be sure my location problems are not related to the ROM.
One thing I saw that seems noteworthy: I had correct locations for some time and then the wrong locations started again. Maybe this has to do with the system restoring backed up settings or installing / updating all the apps!?
Any ideas?
Tho-D said:
I trid to install CM11 M8 today. For some reason I wasn't able to, received these strange "Unfortunately process ... has stopped" messages all the time and was not able to complete the initial setup. The only hint I found online is to make sure CWM recovery is up to date. I use v6.0.5.0 which I assume is up to date.
So I made another clean install of PA 4.42. Then I downloaded another ROM: did a clean install of SlimKat. This went smoothly, but I have the same location problems, both times!!!!
I guess we can be sure my location problems are not related to the ROM.
One thing I saw that seems noteworthy: I had correct locations for some time and then the wrong locations started again. Maybe this has to do with the system restoring backed up settings or installing / updating all the apps!?
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only way to rule out the rom's is to return to stock and check it there.
its not uncommon to have similar issues across multiple rom's.
im not saying you are wrong, changing from one rom to another is just not a good way to check an issue.
bweN diorD said:
the only way to rule out the rom's is to return to stock and check it there.
its not uncommon to have similar issues across multiple rom's.
im not saying you are wrong, changing from one rom to another is just not a good way to check an issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, is that the case?
Then I should install the stock Samsung ROM and check. Probably will do it in a few days since I am busy the next days.
BTW: I installed SlimKat and then PA again. After installing SlimKat I now have TWRP instead of CWM recovery and the settings of 5x5 Icons on the home screen plus smaller font size and probably a few other settings remain in PA although I did factory reset, format cache and so on...
The thing is: how can I change this back!?!? Didn't find it in the settings. It'not font size (which is set to 100%).
Tho-D said:
Oh, is that the case?
Then I should install the stock Samsung ROM and check. Probably will do it in a few days since I am busy the next days.
BTW: I installed SlimKat and then PA again. After installing SlimKat I now have TWRP instead of CWM recovery and the settings of 5x5 Icons on the home screen plus smaller font size and probably a few other settings remain in PA although I did factory reset, format cache and so on...
The thing is: how can I change this back!?!? Didn't find it in the settings. It'not font size (which is set to 100%).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is another partition thats not normally wiped with a factory reset. i believe its called "data/media". the official cwm's that i have used have an option to wipe this separately, but i havent seen this option in twrp, or know if it wipes it by default. my guess would be no, but i could be wrong.
anyways, some settings and/or app data is stored in this area. you likely need to wipe this to fix the problem. that would be my best guess anyways.
bweN diorD said:
there is another partition thats not normally wiped with a factory reset. i believe its called "data/media". the official cwm's that i have used have an option to wipe this separately, but i havent seen this option in twrp, or know if it wipes it by default. my guess would be no, but i could be wrong.
anyways, some settings and/or app data is stored in this area. you likely need to wipe this to fix the problem. that would be my best guess anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just rebooted into recovery and was surprised its CWM again!? Anyways, good its back!
The one option I always used is "wipe data/factory reset" (plus of course "wipe cache"). Under "mounts and storage" there's an extra option "format /data". Should I try this one?
Tho-D said:
Just rebooted into recovery and was surprised its CWM again!? Anyways, good its back!
The one option I always used is "wipe data/factory reset" (plus of course "wipe cache"). Under "mounts and storage" there's an extra option "format data". Should I try this one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure it says data/media. I don't have cwm on right now or I would check, but I think it is under mounts and storage. It was in the same dir where you can format system and such if I remember correctly.
Its also possible someone removed that option from your version, but I don't know why they would unless your phone doesn't have that partition.
Sent from my LG-VS980 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

[Q] Why is Quickboot using my data?

I use My Data Manager to monitor my data. 3 days back, I noticed my data was being used rapidly so I went into the app to find who the culprit was. I have attached screenshots of it.
First off, what exactly is Quickboot and secondly, why is it using my internet!? I have it on wifi right now and its still using up my bandwidth but I'm not concerned about that. I went into Settings>Apps to try and disable it and I also rebooted my phone to see if that would fix it. It did not.
Anybody have any ideas on how to counter this?
additional info
Here is a screenshot of my Data Usage in Settings.
Also, I checked Developer Options and the Quickboot option is NOT enabled.
Quick boot is a setting in the developers options(settings->about phone -> tap 5x on build-number) which enables the phone to go in a much lighter standby mode and by this it will boot faster...
And I have no clue why it drains your mb's[emoji53]
erdal67 said:
Quick boot is a setting in the developers options(settings->about phone -> tap 5x on build-number) which enables the phone to go in a much lighter standby mode and by this it will boot faster...
And I have no clue why it drains your mb's[emoji53]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should read his comment above.... It's not hard.
He said he did not have it enabled. And by knowing how to activate it, he should know what it does.
Further research
I looked into a bit more and it turns out that it uses 7 MB every single hour. That exact number of megabytes, every single hour. Doesnt matter if its on Wifi or Data. So odd, I cant figure out why...
The answer is: clean flash lol
I dunno either I never bothered to look into it, but I week grab that app and see what it says
Sent From Lollipopified Bacon Goodness!
Solution (-ish)
I ended up rooting my phone, which required a factory reset (to unlock the bootloader). So my problem is gone but never found an actual solution to it.
what you can do is setup hotspot on computer. disable mobile data and try to repreoduce. If reprodicable install wireshark and catch the traffic on the hotspot network adapter then analyse what it is. it should give younsome idea by whois ip lookup on the destination ip. maybe even some info in the packets.
iff ssl try fidler instead of wireshark with decode ssl.
Sent from my A0001 using XDA Free mobile app

How to track a run with GPS?

So I went for my first run with just the watch - no phone. I started the S Health run tracking on the watch as I left. Initially it said it couldn't find location but then this message went away. Throughout the run the location icon on the watch was flashing grey to white. I don't know if this meant actively tracking or trying to find location?
When I came back the data synced over to S-Health on my phone, but there is no map.
I don't know if the distances and speeds have been tracked based on steps and cadence or by GPS?
How is this supposed to work? I presumed the watch GPS data would produce a map when synced with the phone?
It should show you a map in s health. You have to click on the specific run activity though to see it. If it isn't there then maybe GPS wasn't working for some reason. Did it show you the map on the watch in the completed workout summary?
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
photojonny said:
So I went for my first run with just the watch - no phone. I started the S Health run tracking on the watch as I left. Initially it said it couldn't find location but then this message went away. Throughout the run the location icon on the watch was flashing grey to white. I don't know if this meant actively tracking or trying to find location?
When I came back the data synced over to S-Health on my phone, but there is no map.
I don't know if the distances and speeds have been tracked based on steps and cadence or by GPS?
How is this supposed to work? I presumed the watch GPS data would produce a map when synced with the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had this happen with other watches and with a Gear Fit 2. I did a run this morning and had the map show up instantly on my watch at the completion of my run (LTE version). When you have the watch in S Health Run mode and hit the start button you will see a small icon at the top left that looks like a balloon, it is the icon for your GPS. It will be flashing. Once it is always on it means you have a GPS lock. Sounds like you never got a lock.
I recommend 2 things. Go outside with your phone and put the watch in run mode. Watch for the GPS icon, it should lock very fast since you have your phone working with the watch. Now put your phone inside or turn it off so you can try a stand alone test. Put the watch into run mode and see if you get a quicker GPS lock.
Good Luck
cdd543 said:
It should show you a map in s health. You have to click on the specific run activity though to see it. If it isn't there then maybe GPS wasn't working for some reason. Did it show you the map on the watch in the completed workout summary?
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Click to collapse
Thanks. No map, it's appears it failed to get a lock over the whole run.
Bladder61 said:
I have had this happen with other watches and with a Gear Fit 2. I did a run this morning and had the map show up instantly on my watch at the completion of my run (LTE version). When you have the watch in S Health Run mode and hit the start button you will see a small icon at the top left that looks like a balloon, it is the icon for your GPS. It will be flashing. Once it is always on it means you have a GPS lock. Sounds like you never got a lock.
I recommend 2 things. Go outside with your phone and put the watch in run mode. Watch for the GPS icon, it should lock very fast since you have your phone working with the watch. Now put your phone inside or turn it off so you can try a stand alone test. Put the watch into run mode and see if you get a quicker GPS lock.
Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I'll try this but a bit concerned it failed to get a lock over the whole run. I hope the GPS chip isn't faulty after the hassle actually getting hold of it.
Edit: I should say I'm in the UK so this is the non LTE version. Don't know if that makes a difference.
I don't think the non LTE has GPS. It would only acquire GPS from your phone.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
cdd543 said:
I don't think the non LTE has GPS. It would only acquire GPS from your phone.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it does.
Fozzee1970 said:
Of course it does.
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Click to collapse
You don't need the phone. But if you have the phone connected, the connection will be faster as it uses the phone for GPS locking
Sent from my SGP521 using XDA-Developers mobile app
Fozzee1970 said:
Of course it does.
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Click to collapse
Yep you're correct. My bad.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
photojonny said:
So I went for my first run with just the watch - no phone. I started the S Health run tracking on the watch as I left. Initially it said it couldn't find location but then this message went away. Throughout the run the location icon on the watch was flashing grey to white. I don't know if this meant actively tracking or trying to find location?
When I came back the data synced over to S-Health on my phone, but there is no map.
I don't know if the distances and speeds have been tracked based on steps and cadence or by GPS?
How is this supposed to work? I presumed the watch GPS data would produce a map when synced with the phone?
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Click to collapse
Check your location settings on your Gear. You should have GPS+ wifi not only wifi.
Sent from my SM-G935F using XDA-Developers mobile app
Bladder61 said:
I have had this happen with other watches and with a Gear Fit 2. I did a run this morning and had the map show up instantly on my watch at the completion of my run (LTE version). When you have the watch in S Health Run mode and hit the start button you will see a small icon at the top left that looks like a balloon, it is the icon for your GPS. It will be flashing. Once it is always on it means you have a GPS lock. Sounds like you never got a lock.
I recommend 2 things. Go outside with your phone and put the watch in run mode. Watch for the GPS icon, it should lock very fast since you have your phone working with the watch. Now put your phone inside or turn it off so you can try a stand alone test. Put the watch into run mode and see if you get a quicker GPS lock.
Good Luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I've tested this out and either I have a faulty device or the S3 is useless. I repeatedly tried to get a GPS lock on a long walk today - in open countryside with no buildings around and under clear skies. The watch connects instantly when using the phone GPS via bluetooth. When I disconnect bluetooth the watch will not connect on it's own at all despite repeated attempts. It will try for around a minute and then say 'cannot connect, move to a more open area' - this is whilst I'm stood in a field k's from the nearest building under a blue sky.
After the hassle I had getting hold of this I'm tempted just just get a refund, but if this is just a faulty unit and they generally work I guess I'll give one replacement a go - though I suspect I'll be waiting weeks for one.
photojonny said:
So I've tested this out and either I have a faulty device or the S3 is useless. I repeatedly tried to get a GPS lock on a long walk today - in open countryside with no buildings around and under clear skies. The watch connects instantly when using the phone GPS via bluetooth. When I disconnect bluetooth the watch will not connect on it's own at all despite repeated attempts. It will try for around a minute and then say 'cannot connect, move to a more open area' - this is whilst I'm stood in a field k's from the nearest building under a blue sky.
After the hassle I had getting hold of this I'm tempted just just get a refund, but if this is just a faulty unit and they generally work I guess I'll give one replacement a go - though I suspect I'll be waiting weeks for one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had carried out similar test this evening, the built in GPS worked when the bluetooth of my phone was off.
RayHK said:
I had carried out similar test this evening, the built in GPS worked when the bluetooth of my phone was off.
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Click to collapse
I tried a factory reset and it's now working. I found a thread on a Strava forum where someone had the same problem and switching the watch on and off worked. Must reset the GPS.
It takes around 30-60 secs to get a lock but it has worked since the reset.
photojonny said:
I tried a factory reset and it's now working. I found a thread on a Strava forum where someone had the same problem and switching the watch on and off worked. Must reset the GPS.
It takes around 30-60 secs to get a lock but it has worked since the reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But if you are going for a run do you just stand there for 30-60 after the 3,2,1 countdown? If so, isn't that going to throw off your average mile times?
awilson181 said:
But if you are going for a run do you just stand there for 30-60 after the 3,2,1 countdown? If so, isn't that going to throw off your average mile times?
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Click to collapse
Yes, a significant design flaw seems to be the inability to get the GPS lock before you start the run as you do with all dedicated running watches. I'm not sure what happens if you start the run then immediately pause it - whether it will continue to try and get the lock. There should be an option to set the lock then start the run. It's far from perfect.
photojonny said:
Yes, a significant design flaw seems to be the inability to get the GPS lock before you start the run as you do with all dedicated running watches. I'm not sure what happens if you start the run then immediately pause it - whether it will continue to try and get the lock. There should be an option to set the lock then start the run. It's far from perfect.
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Click to collapse
Yes definitely not a well thought out design of the software. Did they really test it with someone that actually runs?
It was the major reason I returned my Gear Fit 2 and went with a Garmin. I love my Gear S3, and I di exactly what you mentioned, I start the run program and when it counts down 3,2,1 I immediately hit the pause. I then wait a minute and resume it and make sure I have a locked GPS signal.
I went on too many Gear Fit 2 runs only to get back and find out I didn't have a GPS lock so info was estimated and no map info. Maybe Sammy will do a software update to the run program to fix this. Again, did Sammy have any real runners test the watch and give them feedback?
Bladder61 said:
Yes definitely not a well thought out design of the software. Did they really test it with someone that actually runs?
It was the major reason I returned my Gear Fit 2 and went with a Garmin. I love my Gear S3, and I di exactly what you mentioned, I start the run program and when it counts down 3,2,1 I immediately hit the pause. I then wait a minute and resume it and make sure I have a locked GPS signal.
I went on too many Gear Fit 2 runs only to get back and find out I didn't have a GPS lock so info was estimated and no map info. Maybe Sammy will do a software update to the run program to fix this. Again, did Sammy have any real runners test the watch and give them feedback?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah It doesn't seem like they did as it lacks some basic functionality you would expect as a runner. I'm finding pace to be off as much as 20-30 seconds per mile compared to strava. I no longer have my fenix or I'd compare that.
Make sure Location is turned on in the settings
I started a thread on XDA comparing the G3 to my Garmin 620. In addition to the GPS issue, the HR wasn't consistent day to day either. I wasn't as concerned with that as I was the GPS. No way did they have somebody actually run with this watch. The lack of lap/split times in the run summary says it all.
Seems like an easy fix to just disregard that whole countdown timer and take you to the run screen so you can see if/when you get a GPS lock. My Garmin has a little satellite that turns solid when it locks. I'd probably get the watch, again, if they resolved this run issue.
After firmware updated today, the built-in GPS locked within 3 to 4 sec (after the count down) without a phone.
awilson181 said:
I started a thread on XDA comparing the G3 to my Garmin 620. In addition to the GPS issue, the HR wasn't consistent day to day either. I wasn't as concerned with that as I was the GPS. No way did they have somebody actually run with this watch. The lack of lap/split times in the run summary says it all.
Seems like an easy fix to just disregard that whole countdown timer and take you to the run screen so you can see if/when you get a GPS lock. My Garmin has a little satellite that turns solid when it locks. I'd probably get the watch, again, if they resolved this run issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll stick with it for now but it seems 5 mins with an actual runner and some of the problems would have been avoided. How are you supposed to time a race with a 3 2 1 countdown? And does the first part of the run not count whilst it's finding the GPS? If they are going after Garmin's market these are bad oversights.
RayHK said:
After firmware updated today, the built-in GPS locked within 3 to 4 sec (after the count down) without a phone.
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Click to collapse
I saw there is an update out. Haven't been able to push it to my device yet. Hopefully it'll show up soon.

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