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Hi All,
Has anyone tried testing the GPS on a Captivate in an area with no cell coverage?
I discovered my wife's Solstice actually can't use the GPS unless she has cell service.... Kinda stupid if you ask me but that's the way it works. I'm hoping the Captivate does not suffer this same condition. Kinda pointless not be able to use the GPS unless you have cell service...
Thanks,
bja
What app are you using to show the GPS? If you're using something like Google maps, the maps has to have 3g coverage to download the maps to view on your screen. The GPS probably is working fine, but since the maps can't load, it won't show you where you are. Maps are not saved on your device.
radi0chik said:
What app are you using to show the GPS? If you're using something like Google maps, the maps has to have 3g coverage to download the maps to view on your screen. The GPS probably is working fine, but since the maps can't load, it won't show you where you are. Maps are not saved on your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
true dat. lol
dsjr2006 said:
true dat. lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What part do you LOL at?
Google maps can be and are saved locally on this Solstice... Multiple apps were tested, the Solstice cannot get a lock without coverage whether you are using a mapping app, or just an app showing position and speed. Other users have come to the same conclusion.
I'm just hoping someone can tell me if the Captivate can get a GPS lock with no cell service.
Thanks,
bja
Im sure it can, just like almost every other phone that has an actual GPS chip, but it's cold lock time without AGPS assistance could take 30 seconds or more.
I can't say for sure though since I don't have mine yet.
Yeah AJerman, you'd think it would would since it has a gps chip, but the Solstice and Eternity have gps chips and don't work without cell service.
I guess we'll find out Monday for sure, but I would almost bet it won't work without cell service.
bja
The A-GPS tries to get a rapid fix by getting Assistance from Cell data. The algorithms used by the software on some phones allow you to avoid getting hung up in the cell tower acquisition process by turning the phone and data OFF, turning the device off, then restarting. The IPhone 3GS, for example, then does not get hung up in a non cell environment, and works reliably offshore in a boat. This is very important to someone who relies on GPS. for Marine Navigation, like using Navionics software offshore.
I do not know about Galaxy S algorithms, but please try!!!!
Looking foreward to hearing solutions to the offshore GPS problems before I buy.
hmose said:
The A-GPS tries to get a rapid fix by getting Assistance from Cell data. The algorithms used by the software on some phones allow you to avoid getting hung up in the cell tower acquisition process by turning the phone and data OFF, turning the device off, then restarting. The IPhone 3GS, for example, then does not get hung up in a non cell environment, and works reliably offshore in a boat. This is very important to someone who relies on GPS. for Marine Navigation, like using Navionics software offshore.
I do not know about Galaxy S algorithms, but please try!!!!
Looking foreward to hearing solutions to the offshore GPS problems before I buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ill test this out right now. Do i just need to turn off the radios and then try to get a gps fix?
Yeah, make sure the cell radios are off then try finding yourself on the map. You could even pull the sim to be really sure (as long as it will still let you use it without sim).
I think it may be important, after you have pulled the sim card, turned off the cell radio (Flight mode?) and any other steps, that you completely RESTART so that the GPS software reinitializes and starts off knowing it is on its own and should not refer to cell system, otherwise it may repeatedly hang up. That was my experience in the Bahamas with the 3gs. Galaxy will probably differ in the details but there should be a way.
Here goes... Wish me luck
GPS does work with no cell service. I live in a complete dead zone and the gps was able to acquire lock. Also, if I were in range of my wifi, it would update the maps from the wifi... Note, I was able to lock sat's with wifi off and no service also. This is good news because I was worried it would be like my wife's Samsung Solstice which requires cell signal for the gps to work. Not very good for boating or riding quads off the beatin' trail.
Thanks,
bja
Ok i turned all radios off and engaged airplane mode then reset the device. I was unable to get a gps lock with Google maps. I was indoors for the test and i am worried that gps may be turned off when airplane mode is on? Ill try again outside tomorrow
Don't use Airplan mode or turn off cell radio. The A-GPS chip on most phones are tied to cell radio chip. Not that it requires cell radio to work, but if you turn off the cell radio, you got GPS off as well.
I learnt this when I was using Samsung BlackJack 2. When I turn off the cell radio, the Garmin Navigation software can't locate the GPS hardware anymore. So I know the GPS hardware was off.
Systoxity, google maps requires access to online data, but your GPS does not. test your GPS with another app that just reads out Lat Lon.
foxbart, can you walk me through to what settings i should leave on for this test? And hmose shoot me a suggested app and ill dl it
systoxity said:
foxbart, can you walk me through to what settings i should leave on for this test? And hmose shoot me a suggested app and ill dl it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPSTest is a good app to try.
I tested already and it will lock on without cell service.
I live in a dead zone so I don't have to worry about turning off the
radio, etc.
bja
oh well nice. no need for me to test then
Keep testing, some dead zones are truly not dead. Some are deader than others. I'll check it out with a captivate when I get one. Do not want to get surprised out on the briney. I believe if we can get a IPhone to work, you probably can with those other android phones you mentioned.
I just tried gps test in flight mode with gps enabled and it works just fine...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Hi there,
I'm using Revolution HD 3.6.1 with its radio and relative RIL (which becomes with the rom by default). Obviously I have S-OFFed and rooted.
I'm experiencing some hiccups in 3G data connections. I don't know if it's due to the carrier (Wind Italia) or something in the phone (maybe the radio doesn't support it at all?). I'm in Europe, precisely in Italy.
Maybe should use an european version of radio? Or what?
In detail:
I activate data connection. The phone shows 3G before, and quickly goes in H (HDSPA). Then I use many apps that needs internet connection. Within a short time it goes again in 3G and i have absolutely NO data connections. After a delay of 5-10 sec it goes again in HDSPA and everything works. When it goes again in 3G i have no data, then again H and data working.
What's the problem?
EDIT: Problem solved! See in this post.
P.s.: Sorry for my bad english
I was going to ask about something similar to this, so rather than start a thread I will post it here. I too am running the 3.6.1 with its radio, S-OFF, & rooted.
What I am seeing on boot up is the standard progressive upgrades of data networks (just bars, then 2G, then 3G, finally H). The H only stays for a few seconds then drops to 3G and basically stays like that. However, as soon as I open an internet requiring application, it jumps to show H and typically stays that way as long as a data connection is active. My Speed Test results show its 4G speeds (same as stock ROM and radio) when its showing the H, so obviously its working, I'm just wondering if its intentional that the display only shows 3G? Or maybe its set so the ROM "relaxes" on 3G, but switches to 4G when data is actually being sent/received?
~T.J.
Maybe you used to have a 'background' app updating constantly.
The G, 3G and H usually depends on the signal in your area, the H is usually for high data transfer. If you're not using the internet,downloading anything or updating anything on your phone, then why would you need it on all the time?
3g is usually the norm, so I wouldn't worry!
For my issue, my stock ROM showed me what was available in the areas as I moved around, including showing 4G all the time if I was in a coverage area (which pretty much everywhere around me is). If I moved out of the 4G area for instance, it would drop to show me 3G.
This one just shows 3G all the time, even when I'm in areas I KNOW are 4G; UNTIL I use the data connection, then it switches and shows the H. I know its silly, but I liked actually gauging my providers service by being able to see what kinds of connections were available in various areas.
The fact I have to actually open the browser or run a speed test to see if 4G (H in this case) is available in that area is a little odd to me, why doesn't it just show the connection that's available?
~T.J.
Guys, I found a solution to my problem, googling around. That's awesome.
FYI I'll post here:
1. dial *#*#4636#*#*
2. Go to phone information
3. Toggle ciphering so it's off
4. Turn off radio
5. Turn on radio
6. Toggle ciphering back on
It seems to be working to me. An half hour without hiccups till now.
I have had this problem ever since my hd2 two years ago. I thought it was normal. I'm about to try the fix. If it fixes it you are a life saver.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Aww man same thing. Maybe its supposed to be like this.
Basically for me its for example on the xda app when ill refresh something it will always say processing as soon as the 3g symbol turns to h with both arrows on simutaneously.
Maybe that's how its supposed to be idk.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Glad its not only me!!!! This is a problem. I am in the U.S and i have it also. Ive been trying to figure it out. I have radio 10.15.9035.2_2 and bricked kernel 1.2 i can not figure out if this started happening from when i flashed the lastest radio or when i went with bricked kernel above 0.91 i am still trying to figure it out. *#*# 4636#*#* is only a brief temp fix i know that much. But lets try and put our heads together and get to the bottom of it. Cause its been slowly pissing me off daily. Let me know what you guys hear. And i will keep you updated as well. Please pm me if you here anything on the issue. Thanks!!!!!
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e
Xx12thANG3LxX said:
Glad its not only me!!!! This is a problem. I am in the U.S and i have it also. Ive been trying to figure it out. I have radio 10.15.9035.2_2 and bricked kernel 1.2 i can not figure out if this started happening from when i flashed the lastest radio or when i went with bricked kernel above 0.91 i am still trying to figure it out. *#*# 4636#*#* is only a brief temp fix i know that much. But lets try and put our heads together and get to the bottom of it. Cause its been slowly pissing me off daily. Let me know what you guys hear. And i will keep you updated as well. Please pm me if you here anything on the issue. Thanks!!!!!
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only a brief temp fix? Are you sure?
I'm not having the same problem as before, now. I hope it remains still as it is.
I am overseas and can not get a gps lock. I am using stock ep3h. I didn't think this phone was tied so closely to agps. anyone had this issue or solved the problem
If u can get to the market, download faster fix, and set the region to the country you are in.... requires root
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
fasterfix offers no help. any other suggestions
Faster fix will change your region if you can't use GPS after that you must have a different problem,
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
yes I have another problem. does anyone have any other suggestions
Airplane mode will turn off all radios including gps.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
unless the charge is different gps is not tied to airplane. I have a few other phones that work in airplane. I have also tried in non airplane but I still have no cdma service. can anyone confirm that there gps has worked overseas with no cdma service?
doesnt gps work with wifi or 3g/4g? cuz phone need to upload the map where u at it..
soondolee said:
doesnt gps work with wifi or 3g/4g? cuz phone need to upload the map where u at it..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not if you're using offline maps that are completely stored on your phone. There's no need for a data connection for those.
I also use the GPS in airplane mode all the time while I hike in the mountains where there are no cell towers or wifi, so I understand where you are coming from. I use google MyTracks all the time while running and hiking.
I am not sure how to fix your issue, but I have a few ideas for you to try.
First, when you move over 100 miles with a gps off and then turn it on generally you will need 45 minutes to 1 hour for the gps to realize it is somewhere new.
Download GPS Test and GPS Status. Give them each a try for 15 minutes outside. These apps have some strange magic that has fixed several of my phones just by running them for a bit.
Let me know how this works out.
Dave
I have had it outside for 2 hours with no lock. gps test is no help
any other suggestions
Lets get a little further into the issue then... You stated no lock. But did the GPS ever pick up any sats? If so what were the sat numbers?
I have seen 6 satellites only once without lock. I normally see 0 to 3 with zero most of the time. it is seeing some of the same satellites my other phone with a full lock is seeing but this phone will never lock. I just think the agps feature is so embedded that the receiver is lost without it's data. which sucks because I center still the offline gps features on this that my cheap world phone doesn't have.
Last week I flew from the U.S. to Germany for a month-long business visit. I brought my Nexus S 4G (Bugless Pete's ICS ROM/kernal) knowing that I wouldn't be able to use the phone, but figured I'd still be able to get wireless and GPS.
The GPS worked fine in the U.S. but has been terrible here. I was able to get a single lock on my location the first day, but ever since have been unable to get anything. I also have an HTC Flyer which doesn't have any problems with GPS, so it's not the signal.
Is there any reason why the NS4G specifically would have poor GPS in Europe? Any tweaks that can be made?
I wonder if Hitler had something to do with it
I found some stuff that might help. One app is FasterGPS. It works by changing your region for a faster lock, so it should help...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ult#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsIm9yZy5mYXN0ZXJncHMiXQ
Another app I use is QBANIN GPSfix, which I activate after turning GPS location on but before actually using the Navigation or Maps app.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=12406555&postcount=11
Someone said this worked too:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22088356&postcount=1534
fwald said:
Last week I flew from the U.S. to Germany for a month-long business visit. I brought my Nexus S 4G (Bugless Pete's ICS ROM/kernal) knowing that I wouldn't be able to use the phone, but figured I'd still be able to get wireless and GPS.
The GPS worked fine in the U.S. but has been terrible here. I was able to get a single lock on my location the first day, but ever since have been unable to get anything. I also have an HTC Flyer which doesn't have any problems with GPS, so it's not the signal.
Is there any reason why the NS4G specifically would have poor GPS in Europe? Any tweaks that can be made?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the US it's able to use wifi and cell tower A-GPS triangulation data to help get the initial location determined. When that data is factored in, the lock is a lot easier to get.
If you can happen to hop on a wifi network out there, I bet you'll be able to get a lock pretty quickly too.
gullu101 said:
I found some stuff that might help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'll give those a shot.
superm1 said:
In the US it's able to use wifi and cell tower A-GPS triangulation data to help get the initial location determined. When that data is factored in, the lock is a lot easier to get.
If you can happen to hop on a wifi network out there, I bet you'll be able to get a lock pretty quickly too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you're absolutely right. When I did get the lock, I was on wifi.
And now that I think about it some more, Google Maps and Navigation must need an active data link to work, right? The map info isn't stored locally.
fwald said:
Thanks, I'll give those a shot.
I think you're absolutely right. When I did get the lock, I was on wifi.
And now that I think about it some more, Google Maps and Navigation must need an active data link to work, right? The map info isn't stored locally.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a lab setting that lets you cache map tiles for like 10 mi square areas I think. I've never actually tried it. I expect it will just get you map information but not actually get you directions and navigation working though. Those I think will require an active data link.
superm1 said:
There is a lab setting that lets you cache map tiles for like 10 mi square areas I think. I've never actually tried it. I expect it will just get you map information but not actually get you directions and navigation working though. Those I think will require an active data link.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I've tried it, it's pretty useful. You can download the maps via WiFi and it'll save them to your phone
I have been having this problem with both of my Nexus S 4G ever since I got them 2 months ago.
My data drops out frequently and takes a while to get back up. If I have 4G enabled, then I have to manually reconnect it as it will not do it on it's own. This happens inside AND outside. Driving down the road or just standing in one spot.
I've tried all of the radios (basebands) and about 7 different ROMs and versions.
I've refreshed the data profile, PRL, and even tried the roaming Verizon PRL and Hybrid PRL.
Gone back to stock and tried everything from scratch. Still the same problem.
Dallas/Fort Worth Area
Network: Sprint
Baseband: D720SPRKE1
PRL Version: P:40447
I contacted Sprint and they just told me to update the profile & PRL.....
Any suggestions?
I'm not familiar with the CDMA nexus s, but are you able to change APN's? At one point I'd be able to connect to 3g (I have an I9020A), but every minute or so it would drop, so I fixed up the APN's for my carrier.
iv had a few data issues
forcing PRL and account updates has fixed it a couple of times
i'v bought used phones that iv had
to have sprint force update
im on LC1
[altho i cant tell any significant difference here]
and my prl is 61086
[a business account]
im currently on slim
make sure your mobile network
is set to roam
is not set to home only
Am I the only one with this problem? As I'm typing this I lost data but still had 3 bars. I never drop calls but only data.
Help please. This is driving me nuts.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
andrewddickey said:
Am I the only one with this problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no
i go thru periods of it acting bizarre
try disabling wifi and reboot
this USUALLY fixes mine till wifi is re-enabled
and i drop the sprint connection a few times
riding around
it then fails to re-acquire the IP address.
look in your status and see if you still have an IP
when your data fails
fwiw
I never use Wi-Fi. Ever.
Happens while using both 3G and 4G.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
4G is worthless here...
i dont even bother with the switch
does it do the same thing if you disable 4G?
I almost always have to use 4G (if possible) since 3G speeds are slower than dial-up.
I've tried rebooting and leaving 4G off, and still the same. Even tried going back to Gingerbread.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
andrewddickey said:
I almost always have to use 4G (if possible) since 3G speeds are slower than dial-up.
I've tried rebooting and leaving 4G off, and still the same. Even tried going back to Gingerbread.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If going back to GB doesnt help, maybe it is hardware related?
---===:::Greetzz, jojoost:::===---
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
This is happening with BOTH of my NS4G.
Possibility that BOTH have hardware defects?
Do a profile and prl update
Hit the thanks button if i helped
R0M CHEF said:
Do a profile and prl update
Hit the thanks button if i helped
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the original post, I stated that was one of the things I've done.
have you checked to see if you have an IP address
when data fails?
mine shows "unavailable" when it's wonky
and wont re-aquire till i reboot.
i'v seen this on 2 phones
off and on including on oem 2.3.7
fwiw
andrewddickey said:
Am I the only one with this problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problems. From what I understand, its a problem with the hardware. I can confirm that's probably the case, because I've tried many different ROMs (stock, cm, etc...) and they all have the same radio issues (3g/4g and wifi)...
I have an NS4G in the DFW area and haven't seen the issues you're reporting. I'm currently on 4.0.4 with D720SPRLC1 baseband. Maybe I'm just lucky and have a good signal at work and home. It's very rare that I find an area of DFW where I don't get any data signal at all. Not sure what to suggest.
I get random drops too and i hate it. My 3g speeds are fairly good even above 1 mbps. Highest i ever got on 3g was 1.51 mbps
Mine will lose data if I'm in a coverage free area for an extended period of time, when I'm back in range 3g icon will show up just never reconnect. A reboot fixes it
Certain Areas
There are certain areas where I live that data just disappears. Although this is just a network thing I believe. It's weird though when I am driving it's like a 10 second drop and then all is good. Hope you get a solid fix!:victory:
Backup 4g Partition
REMOVED - was a bad idea.
I've actually replaced BOTH of the phones with brand new NS4Gs and they shipped with ICS.
Still the same problem.
This is driving me nuts. I was driving and trying to download Maps for the new phone from the Play Store and it took 6 tries. Kept saying RETRY.
What I've come to believe is happening is:
When 4G connects, 3G disconnects. When 4G drops (which is does frequently), 3G has to reconnect.
***Is there a way to keep 3G "on" in the background while 4G is connected?*** Maybe a way for the radio to transition back and forth?