It took me several weeks to understand that my new and expensive CaseMate BarelyThere is killing my GPS reception.
The phone acquires less satelites and accuracy is terrible. Having the case on, means GPS is almost unusable...
I've removed it now, and will be complaining to CM's customer service...
gb
Unfortunately this is not the only brand of case that causes these problems.
I bought an expensive otterbox case and get the same problem, although strangely other people with the same case apparently get no problems.
There are other threads in the DS forum with more details of this subject.
Buyer beware!
baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw.
Case is fine, I was testing my GPS earlier this evening, locked on within 15 seconds to 5m. Even then, you should do research before you buy things, as if you had done some research you would have found this issue was quite common for some people.
Also case-mate promise it will protect your phone with a slim profile, it doesn't say it won't affect GPS signal ;-).
Mates....
1. It is depending on what firmware you are! Wether you use testing ROMs or nightly builds etc...
2. It is depending where you live (or test the gps): if i move 20 meters away from my house, i rapidly get a gps signal without changing any settings or so...
3. It is depending on the case you are using: for instance, whe i am putting on my silicon case, i almost get no longer ANY wifi and gps signal...
4. It is depending which gps connection you are trying to get: Are you using A-gps or are you trying to get a fix with the inbuilt module... The desire S has no great gps inbuilt compared to other phones like iPhone e.g. and so you almost need to connect either via wifi or mobile network on the go.
5. it is depending on what ntp server you have configured. Htc has got sometimes a wrong code in their firnwares and the servers sometimes need to be set manually to get the best fix!
Cheers
Using Case Mate Tough Case, which is a chunky dual layer case. Silicone AND plastic outer shell. No problems at all with wifi or gps. A friend has the Otter box commuter. Also no problems.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium
never knew these could affect gps n wifi...thnx all...
I've also GPS related Problems with this case. Didn't use it anymore.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App
I am also using this case but there are no problems with GPS. It depends more on a kind of application you are using. For example Sygic has a very fast fix, Google Nav takes more time. GPS status app has also fast fix, GPS fix takes more time. I have tried all this apps with and without and believe me, case has got nothing to do with it... And if you have this idea in your mind that case is blocking GPS, you will find all evidence to proof it. Just look around not only on this forum but whole internet, there is nothing so unpredictable and different to measure as GPS signal.
mx5_white said:
I am also using this case but there are no problems with GPS. It depends more on a kind of application you are using. For example Sygic has a very fast fix, Google Nav takes more time. GPS status app has also fast fix, GPS fix takes more time. I have tried all this apps with and without and believe me, case has got nothing to do with it... And if you have this idea in your mind that case is blocking GPS, you will find all evidence to proof it. Just look around not only on this forum but whole internet, there is nothing so unpredictable and different to measure as GPS signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that different applications may affect availability of initiation and position data which affect GPS acquisition (lock-up) time. I also agree that the GPS signals are relatively unpredictable (well, they are moving round all the time!)
However, I have proven beyond any doubt that the case I bought significantly affected GPS reception quality.
In fact, you can have the GPS test application working with (say) 12 satellites consistently visible, then as you offer up the rubber case near the GPS antenna panel you can observe the signals falling in real time and half the satellites are lost. I estimate the signal-to-noise ratio is degraded by more than 12dB. It's either due to signal attenuation by the rubber case material, or dielectric effect de-tuning the GPS antenna.
Incidentally, I am trained and qualified in the technology areas of RF communications and the evaluation of satellite link budgets. I design this kind of stuff.
The only thing I can't work out is why some people find that a particular brand of case makes their GPS almost unworkable, while others seem almost unaffected with the same brand of case. What I have noticed is that some people describe getting a map fix "by GPS" when actually they have no GPS signal whatsoever and actually the phone is getting its approximate positional information exclusively from the phone base station.
- Steve
It's weird there are so many differents feedback on this case.
I had a barely there last year with my Galaxy S and it was fine. I'll try to get one and try it.
I myself own a case and don't find much difference in the quality of wifi aswell as gps lock.
WiFi remains the same where as the gps signal fix has always random.
I was testing gps today with new casemate barelly there, no problems at all.
Fast fix, strong signal.
As a side note, only minus is that my case is a bit loose (can move my desire s slightly up/down, less than a milimeter), but fixed it with double sided tape.
Case mate tough. Got it recently and its the best case ever. I don't really use GPS but WiFi hasnt been degraded
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium
Using a case mate tough no issues here
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App
tanks, and i dont like case things...
I also own this case.
No problems with Wifi or GPS here.
Smudo
Thanks
From Russia with love by my HTC Desire S
using this case, not having any issues with it, gps and wifi signal good
That's not true. It's quite a good case which does enhance the grip a lot. Signal reception has not been a problem till date.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA App
GPS Signal i my cars
Hi all
I have the Silicon CaseMate skin and i works fine with both GPS and WIFI
But when im in my car there is no GPS signal because of the windshield that is coted.
When i drive my wifes car wich is the same model but without the coted windshield i get full signal with no problem...
Related
Has anyone else noticed the drop in WiFi signal when you cup the phone in your hand? Put the phone in your left hand so your palm is on the left side with your fingers on the right. Watch the WiFi signal tank.
It's not a big deal nor do I know if it affects anything - just a funny observation.
Just confirmed this with WIFI Analyzer. I would lose about ~10 db whenever I cupped the bottom and the second I released it went back to normal. Must mean that the WIFI antenna is on the bottom of the device. Not that it matters much as 10 db is a minimal drop.
Very interesting, when not cupping the device returns to normal. This was with my case off. The second I put my case on my WIFI signal plummeted while not even touching it. I use a silicon case that just wraps around the device. After removing the case the signal shoots back up.
Weird, huh? Mine will drop from four WiFi bars down to one.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA Premium App
That's crazy. Works everytime without fail. Lucky for me I never hold it like that.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
I experience the same thing, but does not seem to affect performance.
-sent via 1.21 giggawatts of android.
It's not happening for me. Weird.
I know that the antennas on the TB run through the back cover. If you open the Battery/SD/SIM compartment cover, you will notice some contacts that are in different spots and corresponding contacts on the cover. These are antenna extensions. Thusly, covering the back of the phone will drop your signal pretty good. Try holding it in a gapped grip (fingertips only instead of cupping) or hold it at the bottom (near the kickstand) and it will alleviate it.
Why it attenuates so much when you have a silicon cover on boggles my mind. I have a soft interior and hard edge silicone/plastic two piece case on and maybe a small attenuation of WiFi and Cell signal. One bar max, a few DB in stats. Dropping from full bars to one is crazy for just the cover.
You think cell phone manufacturers would have learned from Apple....
the desire s has this issue really bad. my nexus one does it too. i've been able to cup my phone and drop cellular AND wifi bars on pretty much every phone i've owned, nokia n95, n97, etc. some just have it worse than others so you may not notice it on certain devices. but its always existed.
if you are standing next to your router, than the signal will over power any attenuation you try to impose on the device. so in the same room you wont notice, but far away with weaker signal and you will attenuate for sure.
Breezer23 said:
You think cell phone manufacturers would have learned from Apple....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apple wasnt the first and wont be the last...
moosez3 said:
Apple wasnt the first and wont be the last...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Though they did make one of the biggest errors.
That's true but Apple made Antennuation a household term.... Kinda lol.
Apple had a problem with signal? AT&T, aka A Fee & Fee, had users too dumb to know they were using too much data? It was an iBlame issue. My daily rant quota.
Seriously, though, with internal antennas, this can be an issue. I have not verified if my signal attenuated or not, nor has it affected call quality or data transmission that I am aware of.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
ryocoon said:
Why it attenuates so much when you have a silicon cover on boggles my mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Silicone cover made in china and full of lead????
kendive said:
Silicone cover made in china and full of lead????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol. But do not make too much fun of them, they may cash in our country's debt..real trouble then.
Ok after the previous journey with hd2's thermal problems and since i got a new htc sensation, i found myself a little bored until either devs or htc gives us some s-off for our phones. So i've heard of this death grip issue and want to give it a try to find a hardware fix for it. Some of you may know me for the geeky technical approaches, so i'll try to get some stuff working here.
Anyway, i have the Sensation from about 4-5 days. I'm yet to determine the seriousness of this issue and how much wireless transmissions are affected.
After inspecting the device construction, it's simple to assume that the reason for the death grip is an interference between the antenna emissions and the EM interference from the human body (hand).
I'll be conducting a series of measurements using some hardware tools to find out the exact cause. Only after this i can begin to work for a fix.
So far this future fix must comply with these conditions:
1. NOT to void the warranty. The fix have to be removable and the phone brought to it's original condition.
2. More easier and safe then my hd2 reheating thread . The solution must be clear, simple and must make use of generic household materials.
3. The death grip issue must be solved in a satisfactory way so that the fix itself is worth the trouble.
This is the start of a new project, it may take a while for some real results to come and the first thing to be determined is if the issue is really user solvable.
So, wish me luck.. i guess i'll be starting tomorrow and post some pictures/things i find during the process.
Good luck, I'm also tempted to start some experiments. BTW it might be worth having a extra Back cover to due testing with. You can get one from HTC.
well, that's the idea. the method must be non invasive for that back cover and must also present no risk in damaging it.
I was so annoyed by the touchscreen issue I never got round to this one :\
I wanted to test if the problem could be "reduced" by simply adding a strip of aluminium foil along the cover... You can probably come up with something better
Thank you for helping!
Thanks! If you can even slightly improve things, you'd be a god. I love this phone, but the WiFi dying (in landscape) is the one issue that constantly nags. [:
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Xlythe said:
Thanks! If you can even slightly improve things, you'd be a god. I love this phone, but the WiFi dying (in landscape) is the one issue that constantly nags. [:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's funny, mine doesn't die on any orientation about the wifi.
2003evo8 said:
That's funny, mine doesn't die on any orientation about the wifi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've yet to experience this also...
Sent from my Htcclay's SuperCM7 G2 using XDA App
Ditto...I haven't experienced this either. *knocks on wood*
2003evo8 said:
That's funny, mine doesn't die on any orientation about the wifi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it really depends on where your router is and how strong is the signal... I've tested mine with wall between it dropped significantly and even disconnects, while next to it only a bar or more but return to normal state after a few moments. But it shouldn't do that, and I've got asus wl520-gc router.
MerLinh said:
Well it really depends on where your router is and how strong is the signal... I've tested mine with wall between it dropped significantly and even disconnects, while next to it only a bar or more but return to normal state after a few moments. But it shouldn't do that, and I've got asus wl520-gc router.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's true but he was saying he looses it in landscape mode.
FOTA reduced the death grip issues for me..
i will be making some physical measurements on how the phone's transceiver produces and handles 2.43 Ghz ISM type signals. At this moment i haven't tested my device for the death grip but like i've said, i have some spare time and want to help on this.
By using an oscilloscope i will try see what's happening to the signal level in real time.
2003evo8 said:
That's true but he was saying he looses it in landscape mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's my hand touching the top of the phone when I hold it in landscape. Sorry if there was confusion. Light touches cause dramatic losses in signal on my phone.
Edit: WiFi only.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Looking forward to results. Godspeed.
I hate to sound like an Apple fanboy but I was not able to replicate this "accidentally."
Now it might have to do with the different frequencies of the Bell verison of phone, or my signal strength.
I watched a video of someone placing the phone flat on their hand and the signal strength completely dropping off. While I was able to drop a bar of cellular signal, it was far from the video.
I did not get any noticeable drop in wifi.
I went to 3 different tmobile stores and had 3 replacement phones. They all had death grip.
also don't think its EM. I lose wifi signal by covering with single sheet of paper.
joon82 said:
I lose wifi signal by covering with single sheet of paper.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cover what with a single sheet of paper, the back of the phone? You lost the wifi signal completely? I get no effect by putting a piece of paper on my phone. Never heard of lead paper.
any updates ?
is it possible to solve it with hard cover... i read smowhere that with a silicone one won't solve it.
Xlythe said:
It's my hand touching the top of the phone when I hold it in landscape. Sorry if there was confusion. Light touches cause dramatic losses in signal on my phone.
Edit: WiFi only.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have the same problem
I received my replacement back cover today in hopes that it would resolve my signal strength issues.
It doesn't. My sensation loses signal if I hold it normally. It gets reduced signal from using any case/cover as well. I get 1-2 bars and if I leave it in my pocket at my house, I lose signal all togther.
My father has one and the same issues as well, and my cousin has the same issues.
With other phones, MyTouch 4g, Motorola Cliq, etc, We have 3-4 bars all the time, no matter what.
The antenna on these is poorly designed, and it could be complicated by software/radio configuration.
Just wanted to let people know that getting them to send you a back cover may not solve your issue.
I think I'm going to send it back for service/testing, but I'll bet it passes and they send the phone back. If it only works 10% as well as you think it should, but 10% is 100% of their spec's, then 10% it will be... HTC may have lost a customer..
Have minimal WiFi antenna attenuation, and it hasn't affected my usage, at all. And I mean :::zero::: You will be okay. None of the Sensation handsets have 'better' casings than others. Honest.
you're pretty lucky. considering I haven't had this issue ever since I got my sensation. but its the unbranded one.
Id guess something is wrong with your hardware, inside the phone. I hold my phone funny and still have great reception. Heck, I even put thick lead sheet in the way of the antennas and still had good reception!
Id do an exchange.
Matt
It's not the back. I had a sensation with dust under the screen. Got a warrant replacement (just the front), and now I have the death grip issue.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App
Maybe.
I think I'm going to send it out, but if it's all 3 (purchased at different times from different places) then what is the issue? It drops some bars if you hold the phone. Even when you don't it is lower bars than my Motorola cliq)
I'm pissed. If they tell me nothing is wrong, it will be my last HTC.
Uhmm daaa.. Do you read instruction mannual? Dosent read shh... and posting dumb things.. EVERYTHING about anntena is written there.. the operator antenna is at the bottom of the phone! (there are little holes at the back cover) so avoid covering the holes and it should be fine! - Because as you probably noticed the wifi & operator antenna is the little gold plates on inside of the cover... and thats why you get 'death grip' when you cover them... - Basicly 1/3 of the cover WORKS AS AN ANTENNA! So no replacements will fix this.. it is just the way it is!
When I cover the antennas one bar dropes for me, but thats it... Of course when i pull the cover out i almost have no coverage(because no antenna is connected)
I was rather disappointed in the GPS performance of my shiny new Desire S...
It was so erratic, I loaded GPS Test app to check out the signal-to-noise ratio.
Then, just out of curiosity I took the aftermarket outer case that I had bought (rubber+plastic) off.
The GPS signal increased dramatically and many more satellites appeared. This effect IS consistent.
I was thinking of modifying the case by cutting a hole in it to improve GPS reception, but I'm not sure where the GPS antenna is located.
I know that phone and WiFi antennas are in the battery cover, but I would suspect that the GPS antenna probably is not.
Anyone know where it is positioned ?
Thanks,
- Steve
Not sure about the Desire S, but I had Legend before and the GPS antenna was behind the camera cover. It was connected to the plastic cover in a similar way the WiFi/phone antenna connects to the battery cover using small metallic terminals. I used elimination to determine which was the GPS.
Interestingly enough, I do not suffer from poor or erratic GPS performance on the Desire S. I get quick fixes from plenty of satellites even in less than ideal conditions, eg, a moving subway train.
Slightly off topic, what I did notice though (using GPS Test) that even with 12 strong satellites, the highest accuracy ever achievable on the Desire S is 9 feet, whereas every other HTC phone I've tried (Legend, and even the very budget Tattoo) goes down to 6 feet accuracy. Wonder why that is?
Oh, maybe it is build into the cover, then. I'm used to seeing ceramic block GPS antennas which never look thin enough to be built into a battery cover.
At least my GPS works quite well too until I add the flexible case on.
I was annoyed that the case attenuates the signal, because it was a particularly expensive and otherwise beautifully made one.
If nobody knows where the antenna is, I might have to do some experiments too.
As for the ultimate accuracy of 9 or 6 feet.. Well I suspect that it's just a subtle difference in the firmware. I don't believe that kind of accuracy is reliably achieveable anyway unless you use Differential GPS techniques - And I presume Qualcomm doesn't add that kind of luxury to their phone chipsets.
- Steve
An update :
I got a GPS lock, and observed satellite signals using GPS Test.
Then I put the DS into airplane mode so no radios were active to mess things up.
Covering the lower part of the case all over (including battery cover and screen) with foil has NO EFFECT.
Covering the upper part of the case around the speaker causes GPS signals to fade away.
The hard plastic cover supplied with my case kit has NO EFFECT.
As soon as I apply the rubber part of the case kit to the upper part of the DS, the GPS signal fades.
Conclusion:
The GPS antenna must be in the upper part of the case
It's the rubber part of my case kit that reduces the GPS signal.
Hope this is if interest!
- Steve
So the GPS suffers from the death touch as well like the wifi since the antenna is at the same place.
amonrei said:
So the GPS suffers from the death touch as well like the wifi since the antenna is at the same place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
erm.. I thought that the WiFi antenna was in the battery hatch with all the others ?
I reckon that the GPS antenna is probably the other end of the phone up near the camera lens. I've never had a problem with it being obstructed by hand, only by my damn expensive case!
Wifi antenna is at the top too but i thought people already knew this from the famous wifi death touch/grip?
I have only 4 statelite sinal so poor, i cant do anything by this. I only hate my DS because it
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Premium App
hi all
same issues with GPS here (Portugal).
but also tryed removing the (expensive) hard cover I bought and it started working ok
it catches a lot of satelites and gets a lock real quick...
so try removing the cases!!
edit: getting 10 sat / 10 used in fix - acc-5.0 from GPS... in my attic window...
poppy8x said:
I have only 4 statelite sinal so poor, i cant do anything by this. I only hate my DS because it
Sent from my HTC Desire S using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm so sorry to hear about your problem.
I have many years of experience with different types of GPS and although the DS is not the best I have ever seen, it is not too bad (without the extra case, that is!) Only dedicated GPS units like SIRFstar seem to beat it, and that is understandable.
Do you only get about 4 satellites with the DS out in the open air with no buildings around? It can not work well indoors or sometimes if there are large buildings around.
Have you tried using "GPS Test" or a similar application to clear the AGPS data then load it fresh again?
If all else fails, perhaps your DS is faulty?
- Steve
fasty said:
I'm so sorry to hear about your problem.
I have many years of experience with different types of GPS and although the DS is not the best I have ever seen, it is not too bad (without the extra case, that is!) Only dedicated GPS units like SIRFstar seem to beat it, and that is understandable.
Do you only get about 4 satellites with the DS out in the open air with no buildings around? It can not work well indoors or sometimes if there are large buildings around.
Have you tried using "GPS Test" or a similar application to clear the AGPS data then load it fresh again?
If all else fails, perhaps your DS is faulty?
- Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for help me
I tried everything i can do i checked outside and on my house. i used gps test, gps stattus, gps-fix. And still problem
I think my DS is faulty. so sad.
My friend have one, and it work better.
An update :
I emailed the manufacturers of my rather expensive case explaining the problem.
They seem to have a good customer service department - I got a speedy reply but they claimed that they were not aware of any issues with cases affecting GPS reception. They say that all their cases are made from the same materials so they would have thought that if there was a problem, it would affect other phones too.
They have promised to pass my information to their engineers - I hope they might get in touch with me!
In the meanwhile, if I can find out precisely where the GPS antenna is on the DS, I might try cutting a gap in the rubber for it. I'm sure that would help.
- Steve
Look into the picture of this post:
http://www.android-hilfe.de/htc-desire-s-forum/133629-schlechte-gps-genauigkeit-verbessern-2.html#post1884901
It must be on the right site.
old.splatterhand said:
Look into the picture of this post:
http://www.android-hilfe.de/htc-desire-s-forum/133629-schlechte-gps-genauigkeit-verbessern-2.html#post1884901
It must be on the right site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, Very good indeed !
I don't speak German so I could never have found that.
I shall take a sharp scalpel blade to my rubber case and report back later.
Thanks very much for the information.
- Steve
Case
I use a Case Mate Barely There Case and it doesn't affect GPS, wifi or phone as far as I can tell.
Rick Ohlendorf
I use the Case Mate Barely There Case too, but I doesaffect the GPS for me.
When the case is on, getting a location lock in Navigation is impossible.
When I take it off, I get a lock within seconds.
if you look at the back of ds, upper portion there is 2 small holes, ive always thought that its a hole for wifi and gps. one hole below the flash led, another on right side of speaker.
then on my capdase alumor case, it also has a hole for those 2 hole, so it might confirm my theory that those are antenna holes thats why capdase also made holes for them.
I use a case-mate tough case, a much thicker dual layer heavy duty case, and I get a gps lock just fine with it on.
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium
I would like to extend the GPS antenna.. I just can't open the cover, how to do? I only managed to scratch it a little..
I have no case,but the signal is very bad.I turn on airplane mode and GPS,it often takes half an hour to get my location...
Best accuracy is about 5 meters.
The cover needs a stick.HTC used some glue.
Hi guys I'm having problems getting my GPS working on my Desire S.
My current environment is:
Kernel 2.6.35.14-uninity v9-gdfc9a05-dirty
OS: VirtUnity 2.39.0
Radio: 20.4801..30.0822U_3822.10.08.04_M
It's S-OFF, Rooted
* * * * * * * * * * *
When I bought it (second-hand) I've noticed that my gps was very slow and then when it would locate it would be with accuracy of 50m or so.
I started investigating and in the end ended up doing:
- Using GPSStatus app - refreshing the assistance data
- using the GpsFix app - the fix that changes the servers,
- AGPS PATCH
- Manually changed the gps.conf to spanish, german, europe servers, but with no luck...
- and few other fixes that were basically dealing with gps.conf
The result of all these tries is that GPSStatus fixes to 6 or 7 satellites, but then again in GMaps my accuracy is quite low (20m) which doesn't allow me to use the navigation really stably. For me the weirdest part is that it locks to 7 satelites and the accuracy is still 20m?
I remember my HTC Tatoo gps fixing in few seconds with accuracy cca. 0m
I had read that flashing the radio might help, I tried it (current vession), but with no major change...
Maybe I should try with another radio? Which one? I read it has to be newer than the current one? Where to find it?
Please, could you give me some hints what could be the problem or next steps to try...
I even spent one afternoon on my balcony pressing the phone case near the top part, near the low part, everywhere
to see if it was the antena connection problem or something
Thanks in advance,
Luka
Radio has nothing to do with GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, or anything of the sort.
If you tried SW solutions and nothing helped, guess what? Yes, the HW might be to blame. What HW exactly? GPS antenna, or actually its connections to the main board.
use the AGPS patch, works for me
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1442032
If you had read it, you'd know he had already tried that.
Are there people who have good working gps? My experience is that it takes ages for gps fix and it is never stable. The roof of a car is enough to cut off the signal.
HelixH said:
Are there people who have good working gps? My experience is that it takes ages for gps fix and it is never stable. The roof of a car is enough to cut off the signal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found that applying an external case (e.g. TPU gel) absolutely crippled my GPS signal. I tried 2 different types of case, expensive Otterbox and a cheap chinese one, both had the same effect. Oddly, some people find the same problem, yet others say it makes no difference for them.
I am convinced that the presence of the case "de-tunes" the GPS antenna on my phone. Making the phone body predominantly out of metal certainly introduces chalenges for the antenna designers.
With no added case, my GPS performance is, well, "OK". It works OK for me in my car despite it having a metal roof (!) and the kind of athermic windscreen that is known to block GPS signals.
Suffice to say, if you are using a case, try removing it. Keep all objects away from the upper plastic panel around the camera lens and flash.
There are other threads with more in-depth information about the Desire S GPS, including mods for the antenna which have helped some people.
The antenna is molded into the plastic case panel, and makes contact with the main phone circuit board via sprung pins. If your GPS simply won't work properly despite all good software fixes, it is possible that there is a bad connection there.
fasty said:
I found that applying an external case (e.g. TPU gel) absolutely crippled my GPS signal. I tried 2 different types of case, expensive Otterbox and a cheap chinese one, both had the same effect. Oddly, some people find the same problem, yet others say it makes no difference for them.
I am convinced that the presence of the case "de-tunes" the GPS antenna on my phone. Making the phone body predominantly out of metal certainly introduces chalenges for the antenna designers.
With no added case, my GPS performance is, well, "OK". It works OK for me in my car despite it having a metal roof (!) and the kind of athermic windscreen that is known to block GPS signals.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly my wife's experience. I was genuinely surprised to find out that a plastic case could affect GPS reception, but it seems too consistent to be false. Tried it right now, near the window. With case on, 2-3 satellites and no lock, taking off just the top of the case - within 10 seconds going to 8-9 satellites and quality lock.
I'm not sure if the effect is done by case pressure on the upper side of the phone (seems unlikely to me - this metal doesn't seem to bend even a slightest bit), or just by proximity of the plastic to the GPS antenna (likely). I'll try to cut a larger hole around GPS antenna area and see if it changes anything, in the worst case - I'll spend $4 on a new case.
---------- Post added at 12:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:23 AM ----------
I think I just figured out, where exactly is the antenna imprinted in the plastic, and what cut needs to be done in the case to allow GPS to function normally.
___
Auke11 said:
Have you read the topic where they are taping one of the connection in the plastic back cover. It seems to fix some problems.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1564000
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda app-developers app
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Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda app-developers app
Tried, still can't decide if it helped any.
Jack_R1 said:
Radio has nothing to do with GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, or anything of the sort.
If you tried SW solutions and nothing helped, guess what? Yes, the HW might be to blame. What HW exactly? GPS antenna, or actually its connections to the main board.
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It took me a while to get it that SW/HW were abbreviations for software/hardware
It seems it's case opening time
This was my last resort, but it seems that there's nothing else that looks promising... Thanks