Stock Verizon GPS stopped working - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III

So I land in Orlando on vacation, get my rental car, and enter the hotel address into Maps ready to push the navigation button as soon as I'm out of the garage. I do this and gps can't get a fix. I start driving in a random direction assuming it'll get a fix soon. Long story short, it never does!
I've been using gps, maps, navigation all with no issues until now. Had my phone since mid July. Tried restarting, tried battery pull, of course gps on/off a million times. Downloaded a free gps test app - if I was reading it right it seemed to show about 8-12 satellites it was picking up but 0 fixes. It's like the gps hardware is working fine but it won't get a fix on my location.
I'm on stock ROM. Haven't done anything weird or installed any new apps other than a fee games.
Any suggestions? I was counting on having maps/navigation while on vacation.

hollywoodfrodo said:
So I land in Orlando on vacation, get my rental car, and enter the hotel address into Maps ready to push the navigation button as soon as I'm out of the garage. I do this and gps can't get a fix. I start driving in a random direction assuming it'll get a fix soon. Long story short, it never does!
I've been using gps, maps, navigation all with no issues until now. Had my phone since mid July. Tried restarting, tried battery pull, of course gps on/off a million times. Downloaded a free gps test app - if I was reading it right it seemed to show about 8-12 satellites it was picking up but 0 fixes. It's like the gps hardware is working fine but it won't get a fix on my location.
I'm on stock ROM. Haven't done anything weird or installed any new apps other than a fee games.
Any suggestions? I was counting on having maps/navigation while on vacation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing I can think of is reprovision/factory reset. *2767*3855#. You'll lose EVERYTHING on your phone though. Make a backup first. If that doesn't work I don't know of any other way to fix GPS.

It sounds like the GPS receiver is working if it shows satelites, it just needs to download the catalog. You might try going outside and running some GPS software for an hour and getting a good download. Or you should be able to download a program like GPSstatus. then go to menu, tools, manage a-gps. From there do a RESET, then a DOWNLOAD. Then go outside for a while and you should start seeing fixes on satellites.

I like worwig's suggestion. I'm not familiar with GPS fixes, so it's great if what he said will work. Reprovisioning tends to fix anything related to radio problems (if IMEI was never lost)

GPS Woes Continue
Zalithian said:
The only thing I can think of is reprovision/factory reset. *2767*3855#. You'll lose EVERYTHING on your phone though. Make a backup first. If that doesn't work I don't know of any other way to fix GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried this. Problem still persists. Can't get lock in Maps unless I let it go for over a minute. If I use GPS Test or GPS Status, it IMMEDIATELY reports 27 satellites in view, but shows connected to 0 for a good 20~30 seconds, then slowly starts to connect to one at a time.
Again, fully stock, non-rooted, locked bootloader.

try this in the Market:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androidlab.gpsfix&feature=search_result#?t=W10.
its been listed in other forums that it works, and as i haven't used it myself, will go by what others say that works.
if nothing else, its free

goldsmitht said:
try this in the Market:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androidlab.gpsfix&feature=search_result#?t=W10.
its been listed in other forums that it works, and as i haven't used it myself, will go by what others say that works.
if nothing else, its free
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the ONLY app I have not tried on the market and I finally got a working gps on my S3 with Synergy Rom & Unlocked bootloader (of course) ... So thank you for the mention of the app!

Thanks to everyone who's tried to help. I've tried everything here except for a factory reset which was my last resort. So far nothing has worked. The first time I did the GPS Test thing, it worked, but then 5 minutes later when I went to use maps, it wasn't working again. I tried the other app - GPSfix as well - nothing. Also spent an hour on the phone with a Verizon Tech trouble shooting - not that I thought they'd know more than I could find on my own here, but figured it was worth a try.
I'll be factory resetting in a week or so (don't wanna do it now cause I don't have time to reset up everything on my phone right now). When I do I'll report back. Also I did find over on droidforums that there are several people who've had this exact same issue with their S3 - GPS worked fine then suddenly didn't work at all. So it may be a bigger glitch that's triggered somehow in some phones. All I know is I need my gps working and reliable on my phone...
If anyone else has had this issue and figured it out, let us know. Otherwise, I'll report back after the factory reset...

GPS Issue
hollywoodfrodo said:
Thanks to everyone who's tried to help. I've tried everything here except for a factory reset which was my last resort. So far nothing has worked. The first time I did the GPS Test thing, it worked, but then 5 minutes later when I went to use maps, it wasn't working again. I tried the other app - GPSfix as well - nothing. Also spent an hour on the phone with a Verizon Tech trouble shooting - not that I thought they'd know more than I could find on my own here, but figured it was worth a try.
I'll be factory resetting in a week or so (don't wanna do it now cause I don't have time to reset up everything on my phone right now). When I do I'll report back. Also I did find over on droidforums that there are several people who've had this exact same issue with their S3 - GPS worked fine then suddenly didn't work at all. So it may be a bigger glitch that's triggered somehow in some phones. All I know is I need my gps working and reliable on my phone...
If anyone else has had this issue and figured it out, let us know. Otherwise, I'll report back after the factory reset...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hollywood,
Just out of curiosity, were you ever running Synergy?
With my situation, it took three calls to VZW, and an hour-long phone call to Samsung (which resolved nothing) to get a new phone shipped to me. The only good thing that came from the Samsung phone call was that I used it as ammunition when calling VZW the last time ("Look, I was even on the phone with Samsung tech support for an hour today, and they couldn't help me."). The Samsung rep had never even heard of the term "GPS Lock" and didn't understand the concept. She was totally convinced that if the blue arrow came up in Google Maps, that my GPS was working as it should, despite the still-flashing GPS icon and the "Searching for GPS" message in the pull-down screen. Also, she didn't think it was a problem that my positional accuracy never got closer than 3,400 meters.
A complete factory reset didn't help me; I even used Odin to reload stock, non-rooted, locked bootloader OTA ROM with original kernels, recovery, radios, etc.
I also tried the re provisioning dialer code, which didn't help.
I tried the GPS Fix program, GPS Test, GPS Status, and everything else I thought looked promising. Nothing helped.
GPS Fix helped after initial lock, but only while it kept GPS control. Once it released "fix", Maps would go back to having the same problem getting a lock after a while.
Good luck!

Search for the agps patch. Any forum will work. It works on all android. I just flashed it and I'm running beans. It also works for like cm. I used the 3.1 cwm flashable patch. It locks gos on instantly.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

GPS Issues
So now that I have my new SGS3 on the way (should be here in two days) my GPS starts working again out of the blue. No changes to my phone, no new apps. Too weird that after three weeks of it not working right, it suddenly works perfectly again.
At least the issue shouldn't repeat once the completely new phone arrives.

check this link out
http://forum.xda-developers.com/private.php?do=showpm&pmid=8541888
Ryezen said:
So now that I have my new SGS3 on the way (should be here in two days) my GPS starts working again out of the blue. No changes to my phone, no new apps. Too weird that after three weeks of it not working right, it suddenly works perfectly again.
At least the issue shouldn't repeat once the completely new phone arrives.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

My phone is doing something very similar, it's finding various satellites and finding a fix on 3 of them. Although, in Google Maps and Navigation, it will stay stuck on searching for GPS. This phone has been great since day 1 including GPS, strange that it will stop working just like that. I tried clearing data for Maps, running other GPS utilities, and a factory reset to no avail.
Decided to phone Verizion, and they will send me another S3 (refurb).. Hoping the new one works as it should.

Related

Odd GPS issues

OK, so I've dug around the forums and have yet to really find anyone who had a similar issue and wasn't able to fix it with either FasterFix or GPSStatus so thought I'd start a new thread. If anyone knows this answer and knows it's in another thread then let me know and I'll shut this one down...
Anyways, the issue in a nutshell is that Maps refuses to work without "Wireless Networks" being checked (it throws up an error that tells me to turn on My Locations or to turn on either "Wireless Networks" or "GPS satellites" even though GPS sats is checked in the settings) and even then the accuracy is horrible (on tower-based, which is more or less to be expected since it's a triangulation, I believe), Navigation/Locations will both get a location but it appears to be "Wireless Network" based, GPSStatus shows a max of only 3/3 sats even outside on a clear day but no other app sees those even those 3 sats. I basically think my GPS chip is locked up. (Is that even possible?)
The GPS issues started one night on CoreDroid's V5.0 after working for quite some time on CD's various builds, including working on 5.0, so I flashed up to 5.1 and still no-go. Wiped everything, reflashed 5.1 and still nothing. Moved over to RCMixHD 5.9 and it still acts up. It used to be that I could uncheck "Wireless Networks" and it would just bounce off of the GPS sats but now nothing seems to see the chip. I've wiped everything, reflashed numerous times, flashed a new radio (the latest Mar leaked GB radio), gone inside, outside, around the house, around the town, etc etc etc, cleared the Maps cache, uninstalled/reinstalled Maps, reinstalled Locations several times, reset the GPS state with GPS Status, redownloaded the GPS data w/ GPS Status, changed out the gps.spade.so file in CoreDroid 5.0/1 with one from the Inspire Dev Forum (I think, may have been General) that modded files based off of FasterFix files that were supposed to fix the GPS if FasterFix doesnt (the files worked for a whole one test...then everything quit working right again) and I've reset the NTP to North America's server via FasterFix and STILL nothing. I'm getting rather frustrated at this point and any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys!
How about flashing back to stock Rom?
Sent from my calculator
What would the advantage be? I mean I've already flashed different ROMs and gotten the same issue so part of me doesn't care to flash another couple of times but another part of me wonders why it'd help any since it's just going to be overwritten when I flash back to RC or any other custom. Will flashing to stock somehow reset the GPS. I know flashing to stock is generally one of the first suggestions but I've always wondered how it actually helps. Guess I'm off to hunt down the stock on my computer while I wonder lol...thanks
Did you use RUU to get back to stock Rom and radio? RUU does more than just flash the Rom. It flashes the radio to stock. Only reason I'm saying this is cause someone else had Gps issues and when they went to stock unrooted, everything worked as it should.
Sent from my calculator
Do a forum search for inspire RUU. Should come up.
Sent from my calculator
Awesome, thanks. I was unaware that the Inspire had an RUU. Well, most RUU's I've run across have been packaged into a program like ODIN but I think I can do the RUU manually via ADB. Hopefully they have a program out, though. Think all my stock stuff has been done via ADB and the Hack Kit so I'll dig around for an all-in-one program. Thanks!
Sadness...no such luck even on RUU stock.
Just curious, what method did you use to do this?
Is this the same one you used?
http://www.filefactory.com/file/b50...60.19_26.06.04.06_M_release_166557_signed.exe
Sent from my calculator
I have been having similar GPS issues on my stock Inspire. After a long HTC customer service call, I was advised to do a factory reset on the phone. Voila, the problem appears to be solved. I now get 8 or 9 satellites and lock in about 30 seconds. Also, after this reset, my battery life is much better. So, I am not sure what bug I eliminated in the factory reset, but I accomplished something. What would affect both battery and GPS? I know this is not the same as for a rooted phone, but perhaps there is some connection. By the way, just what SNR do users with solid GPS performance get on GPS Test? I never get SNR over 25 on any satellite, whether indoors or out...
HtcOmega,
I helped another person with an inspire, so maybe it might work for you too, Try the link in my sig and see if replacing the gps.conf with one of mine may help you. It has been very successful so far, it might help with your dilema as well. And if your going to ask whats different about mine then fasterfix app, the answer is alot.
Let me know.
AngelDeath said:
HtcOmega,
I helped another person with an inspire, so maybe it might work for you too, Try the link in my sig and see if replacing the gps.conf with one of mine may help you. It has been very successful so far, it might help with your dilema as well. And if your going to ask whats different about mine then fasterfix app, the answer is alot.
Let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was having the same issue as HtcOmega and decided check out your link. I must say that my GPS is working as it should now. Takes at most 30 seconds for a lock without the case on. I flashed the north america zip instead of choosing the north east version. Is there any reason why you wanted people to choose their specific region?
Primarily the reason is I broke up the USA into 6 regions and made a script for 62+ individual countries because I am not using the generic ntp servers from the pool, these are ntp servers specifically for that location, and by narrowing down the location and not using a general ntp it should make lock times faster. If you read the thread for the most part quick reading you will see that the NA script is made primarily for people who travel to many places frequently and do not want to keep changing scripts, as well as people in the common wealth countries would use the NA script.
I am currently testing out 1.2 with a handful of beta testers to see if the new script can be a little more consistent, there are new commands in the new script, which is phase one at least for the HD2 since the HD2 is a prt and lacks the support for true agps.

GPS not working after ICS upgrade.

I have a TF101 with dock, serial number C10 US, stock, not rooted. I did the OTA update to ICS two nights ago. I did not check GPS then. I just did a factory reset and after getting everything set up again I fired up Google Maps and tried to have it get my location. It could not. I installed GPS Test and it showed 0 satellites. I know that GPS was working on HC. Has anyone seen this issue? I think it is some configuration issue rather than weak GPS because I get 0 satellites so it seems like GPS is off. I checked that GPS was on in settings and it was and I toggled it on and off a few times. Wifi assist does work for location but GPS should work on its own. Anyone having this issue or know what I can do? Thanks in advance for your help.
xda-soar said:
I just did a factory reset and after getting everything set up again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that mean you did a factory reset and then restored all your apps and crap from HC?
Anyway, I just downloaded GPS Test and tried it. Works for me.
No I restored from the market and my Google account.
The backup system Google provides doesn't keep the apps individual settings. Those are lost the next time you restore them. The apps installed via Market is saved though and they get installed again.
Thiesen said:
The backup system Google provides doesn't keep the apps individual settings. Those are lost the next time you restore them. The apps installed via Market is saved though and they get installed again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue isn't really about settings of the apps. Most people use default settings anyway.
It's about the incompatibility of the app itself with ICS, which could be causing problems like rebooting, glitching sleep mode, preventing other apps from accessing GPS, and etc.
You should not be restoring every apps you had from honeycomb, especially if you are having problems.
After my update to ICS I tested the GPS with GPS test and it could see satellites biut didn't connect to them. It took several times clearing everything out and eventually it picked and locked on roughly 7-8 satellites and has been working since then.
But it was really slow initially and I didn't have any issues at all with HC.
You may want to edit your GPS.conf file. There are some GPS tweaks for android that I have found to be helpful. You can also download the faster fix app from the market and see if you have any luck.
randolphslim said:
You may want to edit your GPS.conf file. There are some GPS tweaks for android that I have found to be helpful. You can also download the faster fix app from the market and see if you have any luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks randolphism for the helpful post, I will try.
I tested the GPS before I re-installed my apps and it still didn't work. I am not going to run without apps, the whole point of the device is to have apps. There is no evidence that this has anything to do with incompatible apps. The ICS OTA upgrade said it was converting apps to be compatible anyway.
Your advice may be relevant here, but again, your verbal abuse is unwarranted, if I were a mod you'd be on a vacation by now for foul language and disrespecting others. Officially blocking you now..
horndroid said:
I have no reason to speak nicely to a person who continues to call me a troll just because he doesn't like the fact that my suggestions are a "pain in the ass".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you do, it's called the FORUM RULES. If someone hurt your wittle fweewings then PM them, where your drivel isn't clogging the threads and your profanity isn't on display for people of any age to view. Back to ignoring you now- I came out just to remind you the rules exist, but I'm pretty sure jerdog is going to get to you anyhow.
BYE!
Hi guys,
I face the same problem where my Transformer GPS won't detect any satellite at all... Tried to update the GPS.conf under system/etc... but no luck to get it fix still.
Any suggestion to get it fixed?
if you have root try fasterfix app for your location.
Sent from my Xperia X8
was this issue resolved?
upgraded to ice cream sandwich xwlp3 on my galaxy s2.
gps seems to just endlessly search without ever finding anything. tried fasterfix with no luck.
gps test manages to see some but never says in use.
rev1775 said:
After my update to ICS I tested the GPS with GPS test and it could see satellites biut didn't connect to them. It took several times clearing everything out and eventually it picked and locked on roughly 7-8 satellites and has been working since then.
But it was really slow initially and I didn't have any issues at all with HC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what did you clear out?

GPS fix - ICS General

Ive perused several different phone threads and many ics threads regarding the gps bug (even some official nexus gps people are having probs).
Whether this works for all phones Idk. I have the gs2 Touch.
On fc07.
I didnt want to go thru going back to gb.
Tried several gps apps.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/gps-doctor/com.epekware.gpsdoctor
This one did the trick. (not affiliated with them in anyway) I know sounds like spam but Im just happy to find a quick fix.
Gps still says searching but Im getting exact locations on maps and 'places'. Facebook is now showing me places nearby BUT still giving me a not found message. Previously fb would not show me any places in 'check in' and then also give me the not found message.
This is by far the easiest fix Ive come across in the many threads. doctor appears to erase all gps data and then downloads whatever and 'injects' it. You guys likely will know better than I.
Some screens attached. There is 'auto' and 'manual' I did the auto twice. Im attaching the manual screens for those that know what the hell all that is.
peace hope this helps.
(just tried again - turned off gps - back on. Opened maps and the arrow was way off. clicked the little circle button to 'find me' and it said 'locating' then bam snapped to my exact location)
Did this work for anyone else??
I tried it again and didnt have such exact results without wifi. So idk.
This gave me magical results...
Hey there!
Try GpsFix Deluxe, by Android Labs. It costs some $$$ but it hasn't failed me yet. I had an array of problems with fixing my GPS for long journeys, but alas, no more!
I give it the highest of recommendations.
it work for italy too?
I eventually get a gps signal... it takes a lot longer than stock rom... I hope there is more support for that soon
Moved to fc28 and Im all good.
The gps fix I used above never worked Im sorry to say. It seemed like it did. I guess it worked 'better' but didnt really work.
Gps would still be off by a block or so.
With the latest ics its off by feet. And it says 'lock' or w e it says to indicate lock.
woops fc24 not 28.

Google maps navigation not working

I dont know if anyone is having this problem. But since i got my phone i haven't
Been able to use the google maps to navigate. I dont thinkis the gps i think it might be
The gyroscope. My note works great.
I think I'll have to exchange it.
I also erase clear data and everything from google maps but no luck.
you must to do a wipe of phone
garciaop said:
I dont know if anyone is having this problem. But since i got my phone i haven't
Been able to use the google maps to navigate. I dont thinkis the gps i think it might be
The gyroscope. My note works great.
I think I'll have to exchange it.
I also erase clear data and everything from google maps but no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try calibrating your GPS. I had similar issue. Got solved after calibrating. Check you GPS signal using GPS test app.
Not sure if you found a fix but I'm having the same problem.
Used it first today and as I drove down my street I realised my GPS thought I was facing the opposite way and it wasn't moving at all on the screen.
I kept driving because I knew half of where I was going and about 5 minutes later it changed but was showing me still in my street.
It's like it's lagging but when I quit out and hit the find my location button. It found my location?
GPS on and off
I have model SM-G930W8.
Android 6.0.1
Baseband version G930W8VLU2API1
Kernel version 3.18.14-9105000
I had this issue earlier this year. It's any app that uses GPS (Google Maps, Strava etc.). Took it to a Samsung auth repair center. The tech mentioned that this can happen when doing OTA software updates so he basically wiped the phone and re-set up through his computer that he said had the updated software. It worked for a few months but now I'm having the same problem again.
GPS won't lock. I downloaded GPS TEST app and it cannot fix the location of my phone. I've tried resetting the phone, calibrating the gps sensor and none of them fix the problem. Tried pretty much all the workarounds I can find on the internet and nothing works.
I'd hate to have to keep bringing it to a service center for a proper wipe every few months.
Anyone with any thoughts?

GPS not working well

Anybody seem to be having problems with their XZ Premium GPS not working as they should be? Mine is intermittent, sometimes when it works, it works well. But the moment I took a wrong turn and quickly fired up my Google Map navigator, it have problems detecting where I'm at. The Map will show the route, but my location is all over the place. It would pause and stay in that spot for a while, then move me on a lake or off road. I tried "GPS status" app to pin point where I'm at. It doesn't always want to work.
It's getting really annoying, I want it to be reliable when I need it. Lucky I still have my Z3 as backup. So far, seems like the Z3 is the best Sony ever made.
Same problem here...It is hard to start GPS....it shows current position, it lose it. I have to fight for 10 minutes until its stable.
the same issue here. OK after reboot, but problem is back again a after
I had that problem once while downtown... the buildings in that area are all old and packed pretty closely together. It just did not want to update for the life of me. Rebooting it did not seem to help it at all. Especially using the walking directions... forget it. I didn't have time to fuss with a gps app to see if I just wasn't getting any sat connections, but if it happens again I will.
Wow, so it's a known common problem. I hope it's software related so it can be fix by updates. Now I have to open two programs to make sure it always working all the time. Run "GPS Status" app and then open Google Map. Cumbersome.
Dial *#*#7378423#*#*, service test, GPS, Purge Assistance Data
This worked for me!
My use of Purge Assistance Data seemed to help, but I've had a couple of episodes of the problem since then where it didn't help. However, in the past three days the problem has not appeared. I cannot determine what has changed; many apps have updated as usual, and in order to try to determine if this is a hardware problem I ran phone in Safe mode during which problem did not appear. Interestingly (or not) the problem has not occurred during subsequently use of the phone in normal mode. BTW, I'm running the July 1st security update (45.0.A.7.90); the August 1st version has not been offered to me yet by the Software Update).
CyNoob said:
Dial *#*#7378423#*#*, service test, GPS, Purge Assistance Data
This worked for me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very nice. Seem to be working very well. Although I have not put it to full use yet since I'm working at home today. Let's see how it run when I go to work in the office tomorrow.
This won't help? - - https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=73337848
My XZ premium is 4 weeks old and had problems with the GPS since day one. The GPS was very unreliable taking me in the wrong direction and sometimes delays in giving instructions until after passing my turns. Using google Maps and high accuracy settings. Contacted Sony today and they have asked me to contact google first to make sure there is no software issues from their side before they can look at it. Meanwhile I will download a different navigation app and see if the same problem happens.
I did GPS location test but it seems everytime I attempt it the phone seems to take forever in finding anything so I give up normally after 10 mins.
If any one has found a solution to this problem please let me know (other than changing the phone of course)
My GPS problems went away with 45.0.A.7.120
You're not alone!! I always end up going wrong directions. Compass is very way off.
Sent from my G8142 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
+1 here. it's really frustrating as i use my GPS a lot.
I have the same issue. Second time I sent my phone to Sony. I will update the forum.
Was having this issue as well. Purned GPS Assistance data seemed to help. also did the battery trick. maybe sony should give us an update that will not allow gps to "turn off" when using apps that require it.
i searched on my phone some where on the hidden settings. The Destination was 30mins and about 20miles or so. Said the gps was only on for around 10. Cellular data was used too. This has to be a software issue. why it shuts off gps at times.
Is Galileo enabled as Sony's promise?
Stefanos1999 said:
Is Galileo enabled as Sony's promise?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is Galileo? never heard of this. Is it a GPS feature or improvement? Such a fancy name.
CKkio23 said:
What is Galileo? never heard of this. Is it a GPS feature or improvement? Such a fancy name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Galileo is a new GPS system developed by the EU, like GLONASS is the russian GPS and Beidou the chinese GPS.
And to answer the question, yes, our phone supports Galileo.
Artyomska said:
Galileo is a new GPS system developed by the EU, like GLONASS is the russian GPS and Beidou the chinese GPS.
And to answer the question, yes, our phone supports Galileo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, XZP supports Galileo. But it has not been enabled yet. :/
Had the same problem, gps not locking until I purged assistance data and rebooted the device, then it worked fine for about 48 hours until I had to repeat the process.
I completely solved this problem by uninstalling Google play services updates. This was a known issue for other phones some years ago.
Can anyone else confirm this solution?

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