[FIX] GPS Fix per Verizon Rep for S3 - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S III

I posted this for a new member who could not post on his own. Welcome and thank Silver1882 for this potentially great find if it can be proven out by the senior members that have documented this problem with GPS. If it can't be proven we will pull it down and/or the mods can move it as a potential fix to general.
"My gps wasn't working on my phone. I took it to the Verizon store after I had flashed back to stock, they messed with it for a little while and then ordered me a refurbished one. I received it the next day and when I powered it on guess what the gps didn't work. So I called tech support and to my surprise the person that answered the phone actually knew what she was talking about.
She told me the gps issue is a Samsung issue, (even though is only effects Verizon and sprint phones) they are working on an update to fix it. But in the mean time she told me how to do a work around to get it working. Here is what she had me do."
Go to Settings
Application manager
click all at top
go to Google services framework
clear data
go to settings
Application manager
click all at top
go to maps
clear data
uninstall updates
Go to location services
turn off VZW Location service(leave it off to)
Power cycle phone
update maps from android market
now the gps should be working.
"After she walked me threw that I went back to my original phone and tried it on that one to and my gps started working on that one also so I sent Verizon there refurbished one back.
I hope this helps others and they will quick blaming the ROM for the problem."
Thanks Silver. I will bookmark this one as I have seen this reported on all rom thread.

wonder if everyone should do this after flashing a ROM, because I had this problem when I went to Cleanrom. back to stock using clockwork nandroid and no GPS issues.

devilchrist said:
wonder if everyone should do this after flashing a ROM, because I had this problem when I went to Cleanrom. back to stock using clockwork nandroid and no GPS issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is what we are trying to find out. Much better than flash unknown configuration files and such. If this works it looks to be much safer and actually looks like a benign solution that if it doesn't work can't make the problem worse. If it is a known issue by Samsung/Verizon there will be an upcoming fix and this could be a safe work around until then.

A VZ rep tells you to leave off VZ location services, I love it! I've actually never enabled it and never had a GPS problem between flashes. I guess paranoia pays off sometimes.
--
Sent on the fly.

azumandias said:
A VZ rep tells you to leave off VZ location services, I love it! I've actually never enabled it and never had a GPS problem between flashes. I guess paranoia pays off sometimes.
--
Sent on the fly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HaHa. I hear ya. But should be able to turn back on after reboot for the noobs that want the feds to know where they at.

Yeah, they need to do something about this. I always have people report this problem. Im gong to direct theme here and see if it works.

Just tried it. Took a little longer for lock, but 15/25 satellites after 45 seconds and 3m accuracy on JellyWiz indoors.

Well I just happen to have my original phone and a refurbished phone sitting in front of me because the GPS was crap on my original. With the refurb the GPS works great.
I hate to report this because I wish it was true/worked but i just followed the instructions on my original phone but it is still sitting here 2 minutes (now 5) with no lock indoors.
I still don't believe the gps issue can be fixed with any software tweaks. The only way the gps finally started working on the original samsung galaxy s (after trying everything) was from a kernel fix. Once a dev fixed it, everyone's phone had great gps (which works better than the gs3 gps). Too bad JT1134 turned on some people's offer for a bounty phone to get him working on this.
Besides if this did fix the GPS wouldn't a factory reset fix the GPS?

I must be lucky but i have great GPS in stock based ROMS (not so good in AOSP). Get first lock in 2s and less then 4s max. Quickly get to 3 meters and fast lock in Google maps, Waze, etc... Can post some screens if need be.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

what if you don't use google maps for GPS? (what if it's not installed in the 1st place?)
it seems like the fix is based on gmaps data?

Nnyan said:
I must be lucky but i have great GPS in stock based ROMS (not so good in AOSP). Get first lock in 2s and less then 4s max. Quickly get to 3 meters and fast lock in Google maps, Waze, etc... Can post some screens if need be.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree. Mine is the same. Get auto lock as soon as app is opened and shows me in this chair in front of my laptop. What we need to find out is how many this works for. So far by polling threads against posts in this thread it is about even for and against. It is early but you always have people on both sides and those that refuse to believe and think it is the devs fault. We supposedly have Verrizon/Samsung saying it's their fault and have to see where it goes. We have too many on different roms including stock unrooted that are having the same problem to tie it to the rom devs.

dvaderx said:
what if you don't use google maps for GPS? (what if it's not installed in the 1st place?)
it seems like the fix is based on gmaps data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android and Samsung/Verizon unless it is a dev phone did not not design the phone to be used without Google Maps. They have to have a reference for them to test and calibrate. Google Maps is a standard that most 3rd party apps work off. Just my thoughts and may be baseless but have to have a standard to calibrate to which is latitude and longitude. That being said without the maps you would not know if it was right or wrong. If their modem calibration is off it is off on all apps. The main thing is do you acheive lock on multiple satellites. Basically what I read on this fix is to turn off other radios and towers so GPS can get a fix without tower triangulation interference. Does it work. I have no idea since mine works fine. Is it worth a shot if you can't get a lock. I would think so.

Sorry for the noob question, but what exactly does "power cycle phone" mean? Isn't that just a restart?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

jus flashed synergy rom and cant get my gps to work. even with google selected the navi wont start up..i tried the first step but Google services framework isnt even listed

sams27 said:
Sorry for the noob question, but what exactly does "power cycle phone" mean? Isn't that just a restart?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reboot/restart
cdiesel said:
jus flashed synergy rom and cant get my gps to work. even with google selected the navi wont start up..i tried the first step but Google services framework isnt even listed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on Synergy and it is listed same as stock rom.
Homescreen>Menu button>Settings>Application Manager>All> Scroll down to Google Services Framework

Tried this thrice. No GPS lock. Bummer.
Sent from a SYNERGIZED GalaxySIII

prdog1 said:
Reboot/restart
I'm on Synergy and it is listed same as stock rom.
Homescreen>Menu button>Settings>Application Manager>All> Scroll down to Google Services Framework
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
after a bunch of factory wipes it finally showed up but my gps still isnt working.. whenever i start the navi the drop down box will only disappear when standalone gps service is selected..even when i click the gps icon in the pull down standalone is what is chosen.. dont know what to do
edit.. there isnt an uninstall update for me either just uninstall google maps

Didn't work for me, on jelly wiz
Sent from my SGH-I535 using xda app-developers app

nice, thanks.

On jellwhiz, i used gps status and was coming around with it and it funked up my orientation and resetting Google services framework, clearing data, uninstalling updates to map and clearing data followed by a reset fixed my gps calibration
Beamed via NFC through the local store to the internet from my SGS3.

Related

Is there a reason why the GPS sucks so bad?

Is it just because of the 4G? I owned the OG Droid and Droid X before this. Both of them would get a lock within 5 seconds. The TB takes at least a 45-60+ seconds to lock on, and even then it's not always very accurate. I tried the newer radio but it didn't help. I started getting random reboots so I'm now back to the stock radio.
I love my TB but the ****ty GPS is really disappointing.
Noticed some people have issues with BAMF ROM gps signal...as I tended to have issues with stock. Try a different ROM as some have different tweaks and settings.(Would suggest Liquid Thundersense) Kernel's and Radio's also affect the GPS which could also be the issue.
Id do a search in the development threads. I remember I few discussions on how to improve that. One that works for me is to disable the Google gps services in settings, and only use the Verizon and the other gps option (i forget which one it was )
Sent from my super duper deluxe rooted re-romed Thunderbolt. ( and yes, it can also wash my car AND do the dishes)
I had horrible GPS issues until I did the GPS Status fix - now it is crazy fast.
boingboingbilly said:
I had horrible GPS issues until I did the GPS Status fix - now it is crazy fast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing the GPS fix. I appreciate it.
dbisch said:
Is it just because of the 4G? I owned the OG Droid and Droid X before this. Both of them would get a lock within 5 seconds. The TB takes at least a 45-60+ seconds to lock on, and even then it's not always very accurate. I tried the newer radio but it didn't help. I started getting random reboots so I'm now back to the stock radio.
I love my TB but the ****ty GPS is really disappointing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sympathize. My BlackBerry would lock very quickly, whereas, without the GPS Status fix, my ThunderBolt took ~60 seconds. Not anywhere near as bad as cold-starting a GPS that doesn't have location-assistance.
In the GPS.conf file, chandelier north-america to us
There is a fix that involves downloading the GPS Status app from the market, let it receive a full lock, then reload your map application and it should lock quicker. I have no idea why this works but it worked wonders for my phone. And if its a placebo effect, I dont care because I got some fast locking GPS now
Beastclaw said:
There is a fix that involves downloading the GPS Status app from the market, let it receive a full lock, then reload your map application and it should lock quicker. I have no idea why this works but it worked wonders for my phone. And if its a placebo effect, I dont care because I got some fast locking GPS now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, Don't work for me. I'm on stock not rooted. I can't seem to actually get a fix period sometimes.
The GPS Status app has done wonders for the GPS lock. Before it took about a minute to lock on, now, about 5 seconds and I get an accurate lock.
The fix I mentioned deff seems to be kinda hit and miss then but I have heard it help a few people in the thread that mentioned it. There are other fixes you can find by searching throughout the forums, there are some in the General section as well as the Development forum. Just keep searching until you find a method that works for you.
gizzymo said:
Nope, Don't work for me. I'm on stock not rooted. I can't seem to actually get a fix period sometimes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can take 5 minutes for it to finally lock on weith the app, you know when it does when it shows how accurate in feet it is. Restart maps and the lock is very quick from then on.
Yeah - but how long does it take the GPS Status app to get a lock? It seems like that app takes just as long as the Google Navigator to get a lock so what's the advantage? Right now, I'm going on 5 minutes and still can't get a lock on my location.
yatman60 said:
Yeah - but how long does it take the GPS Status app to get a lock? It seems like that app takes just as long as the Google Navigator to get a lock so what's the advantage? Right now, I'm going on 5 minutes and still can't get a lock on my location.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kind of misrepresented in a way...the app helps get a quicker gps lock by downloading data assistance much like a-gps. You might need to clear your gps cache data from that applications settings then let it try to lock on....I also noticed the fastest lock is with all 3 gps options selected.
KDKobes said:
Kind of misrepresented in a way...the app helps get a quicker gps lock by downloading data assistance much like a-gps. You might need to clear your gps cache data from that applications settings then let it try to lock on....I also noticed the fastest lock is with all 3 gps options selected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon lbs does nothing unless you use vz nav.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
What I do is:
- Download and Install GPS Status App
- Open the App and go to menue > Toos > Manage A-GPS State > Reset
- Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Applications. Find Maps and Clear Data.
Then when I reopen Maps I get a very fast lock.
It's hard to say HTC rushed it out after all those delays, but HTC rushed it out. The thing lags more than it should, the battery isn't all that, the GPS sucks, and no GB. I regret my purchase every time I see that LTE pricing hasn't gone up!!! I bought this thing first day because of that unfounded rumour... Now the next LTE phone is in the B&M stores and the pricing is still unchanged.
I love using workarounds on a stock device... I cant even get a good version of CM7 on this thing!!!!! It's sad when "the phone after that" isn't even as good as my 2 previous phones. (vPhone 4, D1) I actually reactivated the vPhone and use it exclusively since its battery can last longer than 6 hrs of moderate usage...
awwilson21 said:
It's hard to say HTC rushed it out after all those delays, but HTC rushed it out. The thing lags more than it should, the battery isn't all that, the GPS sucks, and no GB. I regret my purchase every time I see that LTE pricing hasn't gone up!!! I bought this thing first day because of that unfounded rumour... Now the next LTE phone is in the B&M stores and the pricing is still unchanged.
I love using workarounds on a stock device... I cant even get a good version of CM7 on this thing!!!!! It's sad when "the phone after that" isn't even as good as my 2 previous phones. (vPhone 4, D1) I actually reactivated the vPhone and use it exclusively since its battery can last longer than 6 hrs of moderate usage...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We regret your purchase as well.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
adrynalyne said:
We regret your purchase as well.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
(ten chars)
Beastclaw said:
What I do is:
- Download and Install GPS Status App
- Open the App and go to menue > Toos > Manage A-GPS State > Reset
- Go to Settings > Applications > Manage Applications. Find Maps and Clear Data.
Then when I reopen Maps I get a very fast lock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have to do that every time you use GPS though, right?

[Q] HTC Inspire 4G GPS issues

I am having trouble with the GPS receiver on my phone. I don't think it's an app-specific issue, as I've tried several different apps, including one called GPS Status, and none of them can give me an accurate GPS location anymore.
Brief history: I've used the GPS function before with no problem. Using Google's Map app, it previously worked perfect. I could get a satellite lock almost instantly, and the accuracy was superb. Using the navigation app, I was getting equally superb performance. I have used that app several times over the last 4 months since I've owned the phone.
More history: I rooted it and put a custom ROM on it about a month after getting the phone. I put LeeDroid on it (v2.2.3, IIRC), along with the recommended kernel, and the recommended radio (12.39.60.19x_26.06.04.06_M). The GPS functions worked both before and after the initial flashing of the ROM. I've been on LeeDroid v2.2.3 for about 3 months or so. I took a road trip to Atlanta with my wife, and all of a sudden, the google map app couldn't give me an accurate location. Navigation also wasn't working, so initially I thought there must be something wrong with the updated version of the app. So I uninstalled updates, relaunched the app, still no luck. Thinking perhaps the app was broken, I removed it completely, reinstalled, and still nothing. So, I tried different apps: Mapquest, GPS Status, GPS Tracker, all to no avail. I then rebooted the phone. Again, no dice. Then I disabled the location services, restarted them, and that didn't work either. So I tried a hard reset (pulled battery while phone was powered on). No luck with that, either. Then, I figured perhaps something went wrong with the ROM/Kernel/Radio, etc. (I'm sort of a n00b when it comes to android hacking). So, I figured it wouldn't hurt to update to the latest LeeDroid version, updating the kernel and the radio (probably the most pertinent here is the radio, right?) while I was at it. And then, after all that, GPS STILL won't work right. I even went so far as to delete and restore the location services app itself, to no avail.
My current software is LeeDroid v3.3.1 ROM, LeeDroid v3.2.0 kernel, Radio = 12.39a.60.19x_26.06.06.30_M (the latest radio update from AT&T that I could find). I've also tried the recommended radio from LeeDroid thread, and that didn't help, either.
Could the GPS receiver itself have gone bad? It's strange, the only location data I get inside Google Maps is from the cell towers, which is not accurate at all. I know this, because if I disable "Use wireless networks" under Settings -> Location, I don't get any location at all. And, if wireless networks is on, it's terribly inaccurate, showing me several blocks away from where I really am (standing outside w/ clear line of sight to the sky). Under GPS Status, the status bar just scrolls and scrolls, never giving me a reading or satellite lock.
FYI, most of these tests were done standing outside with clear skies (maybe a few clouds or whatever, but no buildings or trees nearby). A few were done in my car on the road, but that has never hindered my GPS signal/performance before, both on this device, and my previous phone (iPhone 3GS).
I'd take it to an AT&T store, but I'm afraid if the store clerk looks in my phone data, he'll see my software #, realize I've hacked the device, notate my account, and I won't be able to get any warranty support at all. The only thing I can think of is to restore to factory ROM, and then test it and take it in to the store if need be, but I figured I'd give the great folks at XDA forums a shot first, in case you guys have any ideas I haven't thought of yet.
Thanks.
You could try doing a full wipe and re-install as a last resort. But I have read MANY posts in this forum from people who had to return an Inspire because of faulty GPS, so that could very well be your problem.
Thanks for the insight, Jake. I forgot to mention that when I flashed the newer version of LeeDroid I did a full wipe. I didn't wipe Dalvik cache. I'm not sure if that would make any difference. It certainly helps to gain the knowledge that I'm not the only one with this issue...
Try to flash the gps fix that angeldeath created
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
dooyoo222 said:
Try to flash the gps fix that angeldeath created
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. Link to AngelDeath fix is in my signature.
Thanks guys. I will give that a try today.
Tried the angeldeath GPS fix. No luck. Still no satellite lock. I sat outside (it's pretty clear today) for 10 minutes trying.
dvsone79 said:
Tried the angeldeath GPS fix. No luck. Still no satellite lock. I sat outside (it's pretty clear today) for 10 minutes trying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a case on the phone, take it off. Some cases cause interference with the gps.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
dooyoo222 said:
If you have a case on the phone, take it off. Some cases cause interference with the gps.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought of that, and tried it once. It didn't make a difference. Not to mention, I've had the same case since the day I got the phone (I'm particular about cases and screen protectors on touch-screen phones), and it wasn't interfering during the 2 or 3 months where the GPS functionality was working great.
I restored to the stock ROM found in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1058042
No dice. It seemed to work for a moment immediately after booting post-flash, but now it is not getting any sat locks. I am going to take it in to the store and see what they say...
Hey guys just wanted to stop by and ask if you ever thought it was not rom or hardware related? The US government will from time to time take sats out of commission for repairs and tests. Not to mention they can kill any sats they feel like without telling anyone. Just a thought
Yeah, but your gps usually connects to 5-10 sattelites at once, I'm sure they wouldn't all be out at once.
http://www.google.com/m?hl=en&gl=us...uncher&action=devloc&q=htc+inspire+gps+issues
I suggest you Unroot and run the ruu after calling att to get your replacement on its way. Myself and others have had to do it due to faulty hardware.
I thought I was having issues with my GPS but here's what I did:
Use GPS Status and reset and download the agps information.
Let phone sit near window or outside with screen timeout set to never.
After 5min or so I had a lock on 8 satellites. So now that the device has had it's initial lock it should be able to lock quickly from there on.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
zelendel said:
Hey guys just wanted to stop by and ask if you ever thought it was not rom or hardware related? The US government will from time to time take sats out of commission for repairs and tests. Not to mention they can kill any sats they feel like without telling anyone. Just a thought
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, not a bad thought. However, this problem had been ongoing for 2 or 3 weeks, and several of my tests involved another device (iPhone 3GS, a different HTC Inspire, and a few others) side by side, with one working and getting a sat lock, while the HTC continued to fail, so it's safe to say I ruled out the possibility of no satellites available.
akira02rex said:
I thought I was having issues with my GPS but here's what I did:
Use GPS Status and reset and download the agps information.
Let phone sit near window or outside with screen timeout set to never.
After 5min or so I had a lock on 8 satellites. So now that the device has had it's initial lock it should be able to lock quickly from there on.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also tried to re-install the agps information. No luck for me.
Tx Redneck said:
http://www.google.com/m?hl=en&gl=us...uncher&action=devloc&q=htc+inspire+gps+issues
I suggest you Unroot and run the ruu after calling att to get your replacement on its way. Myself and others have had to do it due to faulty hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I finally got my issue resolved. After my 2nd trip to my local AT&T store, speaking with the same rep, I was able to get a warranty exchange in-store. I refused to do that XBM (Exchange by mail) thing. That gets you a refurb, and I would have sent mine directly to HTC to let them repair it before I exchanged my phone for a refurb model. I unrooted and returned completely to stock before I went in. So, I've got a new Inspire, and sure enough, GPS is working. It had to be a hardware failure.
Thanks everyone for the ideas and feedback!
Wow, I just ran across this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1101066
Looks like the hardware issue I was having could have been fixed myself, using the instructions found there. I will keep this in mind if I have any issues with my new phone...
dvsone79 said:
Wow, I just ran across this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1101066
Looks like the hardware issue I was having could have been fixed myself, using the instructions found there. I will keep this in mind if I have any issues with my new phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had to thank you for sharing that link. I was having GPS problems on multiple roms and tried every fix I could find on this forum. I did the hardware trick 2 days ago and (due to tinkering) had to flash my rom 3 times of the last couple of days. Each time though I tested the GPS and it's working perfectly.

GPS Troubles on Nexus S 4G

I have tried running a few different ICS roms and had very bad luck with the GPS working. Is there something I should be doing prior to flashing a a new rom or after flashing that would help get the gps to work?
I have tried GPS Status, GPS Test and GPS Fix but nothing seems to work.
I have read tons of posts and nothing seems consistent in gettting the gps to work.
I have used AOSP 4.0.3 and 4.0.4 and vhgomez roms.
jziggy101 said:
I have tried running a few different ICS roms and had very bad luck with the GPS working. Is there something I should be doing prior to flashing a a new rom or after flashing that would help get the gps to work?
I have tried GPS Status, GPS Test and GPS Fix but nothing seems to work.
I have read tons of posts and nothing seems consistent in gettting the gps to work.
I have used AOSP 4.0.3 and 4.0.4 and vhgomez roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this will be moved into a different forum. dont post questions in development...but to answer your question, if you use those gps apps you sometimes gotta wait a while for it to pick up gps, u cant just hit clear agps data, redownload agps data and boom gps works. sometimes u gotta wait a little for it to find a signal. I've never in my whole history of owning an android phone have had gps issues that i couldnt fix by using those programs. and i've run the aosp oICS rom and had perfect gps.
If your GPS is not working at all, and you've tried everything. Try un-rooting your phone, go back to stock rom, see if that gets GPS to work. Then try to root again. I read on a Google forum that this guy did not have GPS working at all. He though he had a bad GPS chip or something. He un-rooted to return phone to Sprint and for some odd reason the GPS started working again. My GPS does not work also. It did prior to rooting. Im wating for the official OTA to un-root then root in hopes of getting it to work. I dont use GPS much so its not a issue for me at the moment. Good luck.
GPS seemed to be off for all the ROMs I was using, mostly in apps outside of the Maps app. I went back to 2.3.7 stock since I figure ICS OTA should be arriving soon.
Good to know I'm not the only one. I love ics too much to go back. But at least its a known issue. Anyone have any idea why?
How bad of GPS are we talking about here? This was done indoors just now...
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
Dialer: *#*#GPSCLRX#*#*
enter MSL when prompted
Try the QBANIN GPSFix app if you haven't already, otherwise try using your GPS in different areas.
For the longest time I would rage because I had no GPS (or so I thought) when I attempted to use google maps or anything. Tried all the GPS fixes with zips and various apps, unrooted, same thing.
A month later I was on a trip out of state, opened up google maps and got a lock instantly! When I got back home checked gps again, still wouldn't lock.
Turns out for whatever stupid a** reason... about a 1/2 mile radius around my house GPS will not work but as soon as I get out of that area, its almost instant haha. Hopefully you have the same issue as I did
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
try this. this worked for me. I was having the exact same issues as you
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=22088356#post22088356
JohnCorleone said:
How bad of GPS are we talking about here? This was done indoors just now...
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What GPS app is that your using? Looks like GPS Status but not quite.
strung said:
Dialer: *#*#GPSCLRX#*#*
enter MSL when prompted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I will try that next time.
At the moment I have a working GPS all the time again.
On another thread a user indicated he shut all the location services off, then used GPStest or Status to clear the GPSA and then request a GPSA download. They he went back and turned all the location services back on. Sounds strange but it got my GPS working.
onovich said:
try this. this worked for me. I was having the exact same issues as you
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=22088356#post22088356
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did try this and thought it didn't work but once I waited longer on the first gps fix now its working all the time.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Try messin with this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1165482
jziggy101 said:
Thanks I will try that next time.
At the moment I have a working GPS all the time again.
On another thread a user indicated he shut all the location services off, then used GPStest or Status to clear the GPSA and then request a GPSA download. They he went back and turned all the location services back on. Sounds strange but it got my GPS working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How long did you wait? I've tried this several times to no avail.

Anyone with GPS problems????

I've searched the threads for are Verizon variant of the SGSIII. If this has been discussed , mod please remove.
I'm not a noob by any means. My GPS is driving me up a freaking wall. I've tried from on a pure stock ROM, yes out the box and both rooted .img's. Plus all available ROM'S .
Here is where my adventure begins. It takes forever if at all , to get a lock. If I do get a lock it will stick but that is about 1 out of ten times. I've tried to modify the GPS.conf , with known general tweaks and NTP servers to pull from with no luck, also a few general build.prop tweaks. Then I turned to the market and we all no how that goes , thousands of apps claiming to give you the world with a click of a button. Nada , nothing. I've done full restores, formatted system, efs etc ect, a clean start. Still no luck. Now I thought at one point that maby my GPS is fubared, I highly doubt this. I can see all satellites in my region and it connects to about one or two at the most. When I just look at my maps on my location it is close , it will show me about 100 ft away from the road I'm on or the next road over, or show me on the road but riding along side it. If I'm in navigation it just says follow route , searching for GPS. So I no its close.
This is frustrating cause I'm a self employed contractor and I depend on my phone for everything. So if anyone can confirm some of the problems I've been having or any links or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
(EDIT) After some reaserch and tinkering with the gps.conf I have made my GPS 50% better. See page 2.
DirtyDroidX
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913
I've had the same problem. My GPS takes forever to lock on (if I try to start it up while navigating, it usually doesn't lock at all). And when it does lock on, the accuracy is terrible.
I haven't tried any of the tweaks, apps, or different ROMs or anything, but I shouldn't be really have to. GPS worked great on my now 2.5 year old HTC Incredible, and works fine on the Rezound I play with a lot. This was one of the things I was worried about when I bought this phone... HTC phones are known for having the best radios around... and Samsung radios are known to be ****. Well, this has only reinforced that for me.
For a comparison to the Rezound, see the attached screenshots taken at pretty much the same time, in pretty much the same spot. In fairness, I was moving (although coming to a stop) when the SGSIII one was taken, but the results that came out were actually one of the better ones. Around the time I took the screenshots, I was getting measurements similar to this as well as much worse than this, while both moving and stopped. Hell, you can even see that the 3G signal is weaker on the SGSIII.
I've seen these same issues discussed in a number of forums on here, and I recognize that not everyone has this problem. Most people's GPS locks on instantly and the accuracy is great. But there are still a lot of people who do have this problem, so it's definitely not just a couple isolated cases. I realize that I can take it in for a warranty replacement, but then I get a refurbished phone back, and those usually come with even more problems... which is the thing that pisses me off about the Verizon warranty program... I buy a brand new phone... it doesn't work... I get a refurbished phone in it's place. Samsung needs to just stop making shoddy hardware and it won't be a problem.
Don't get me wrong, I'd still take this phone over the Rezound any day. It's sexier, has a way better processor, camera, and battery life, and has a bigger screen. I just miss Sense and having radios that actually work well
For whatever reason, the old GPS issue thread disappeared. Initially I had no problems on stock, but when I flashed Invisiblek's JB 8-10 build, I wasn't able to lock on.
What I did was download FasterFix from the PlayStore. With GPS off, I launched it, set the region to my region, closed, and then turned on GPS, waited a minute and launched navigation again. See if that works for you. I think FasterFix calibrates your region or something if it's trying to find you somewhere in the world and is taking a while.
xmrlazyx said:
For whatever reason, the old GPS issue thread disappeared. Initially I had no problems on stock, but when I flashed Invisiblek's JB 8-10 build, I wasn't able to lock on.
What I did was download FasterFix from the PlayStore. With GPS off, I launched it, set the region to my region, closed, and then turned on GPS, waited a minute and launched navigation again. See if that works for you. I think FasterFix calibrates your region or something if it's trying to find you somewhere in the world and is taking a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FasterFix seems like it might fix the lock-on time but not the accuracy, which is the (much) bigger problem.
I hope I don't. S2 had a POS GPS at first that took forever to fix.
Yea I can get a lock faster with a few play store apps. The thing is like said before, the accuracy is ****ty. Plus the navigation won't function cause of this. I hope someone with in depth knowledge can see what the problem is. I have not given up hope yet lol. I have a few things I want to test out and then I might throw my hands in the air. I need to get ahold of nitroglycerin33 on talk and ask him a few questions.
Jmo. I flashed the radio before Verizon got there ignorant hands on it. I forget what the version name is . I live on a fringe area and I was dropping calls left and right ,bad 4G conection. Now I would say its 60% better.
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913
You should exchange the phone if you can. Mine was terrible before and now its perfect on the new phone.
ChrisNee1988 said:
You should exchange the phone if you can..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, GPS not working in these phones seems to be a hardware problem.
My G3 GPS works perfectly (better than my old Rezound in side by side comparisons, it locks almost instantly even inside where I work), but my boss had one that didn't work for ****.
VZ replaced his & now it works great.
My wife's S3 does something entirely different. GPS locks on fine and fast, but it says she's in Clintwood VA, about 500 miles off. First noticed it in the weather widget, but if she opens maps it starts in Clintwood, but locks on correctly in just a few seconds. Weather can be changed manually, but goes back to Clintwood after a while.
Never been to Clintwood, may need to see if there's anything worth seeing there.
johnnyvol said:
My wife's S3 does something entirely different. GPS locks on fine and fast, but it says she's in Clintwood VA, about 500 miles off. First noticed it in the weather widget, but if she opens maps it starts in Clintwood, but locks on correctly in just a few seconds. Weather can be changed manually, but goes back to Clintwood after a while.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is just a bug in the [email protected] stock weather app, mine does the same thing. It always puts me in NYC which is a 6 1/2 hour drive away.
I use weather & toggle widgets flip clock/weather instead in Nova Launcher & that weather app always locates me perfectly no matter where I am.
Just got it and this is one of the best GPS's I have seen yet. Better than my S2 and my Razr.
My last GS3 had a similar issue too on top of the lock taking forever and it being a bit off. At one point it thought I was in Florida but I really live near DC. My friend noticed it when I was chatting with the FB app and it included Geotags and was wondering what I was doing in Florida.
johnnyvol said:
My wife's S3 does something entirely different. GPS locks on fine and fast, but it says she's in Clintwood VA, about 500 miles off. First noticed it in the weather widget, but if she opens maps it starts in Clintwood, but locks on correctly in just a few seconds. Weather can be changed manually, but goes back to Clintwood after a while.
Never been to Clintwood, may need to see if there's anything worth seeing there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm leaning toward a hardware issue myself cause I'm adjusting the NTP servers as we speak. I've used about 6 different ones . No change. I'm going to try some prop tweaks now.
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913
dirtydroidx said:
I'm leaning toward a hardware issue myself cause I'm adjusting the NTP servers as we speak. I've used about 6 different ones . No change. I'm going to try some prop tweaks now.
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could be misinterpreting what you are trying to do, but why would the NTP servers have anything to do with your GPS problem? NTP simply delivers UTC time....
GPS works prefer for me. Takes about ten seconds at most to lock
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Beemer533 said:
I could be misinterpreting what you are trying to do, but why would the NTP servers have anything to do with your GPS problem? NTP simply delivers UTC time....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what the problem is that's why I'm trying to distinguish between hardware or software. Just exploring all options. Can't hurt.
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913
OK might be on to something
If anyone wants to try it out I will post it here in a little bit. From tweaking the GPS.conf file I got this>>>
When I started the day I got not one lock on a satt !
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913
dirtydroidx said:
I'm not sure what the problem is that's why I'm trying to distinguish between hardware or software. Just exploring all options. Can't hurt.
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it certainly can't! I was just wondering, as NTP just delivers time, and has no positional information...
Agreed the lock does take forever UNLESS you turn on Google Location Services (which I usually have off), and it is accurate as all hell even indoors. I wonder if turning that on with Standalone GPS will solve your issues.
Edit: GPS lock was great with Maps indoors, but switching to Navigation it never locked onto GPS even though it had my location perfectly!
OK if you want to prove my concept feel free to . Let me no if it works for you. Go out side or be in a car while locking on!
1) Download new gps.conf file>>>
http://db.tt/5xvFneRt
2) Replace it in /ect . Rename the original one from .conf to .bak. using a file explorer with R/W enabled , so yes you have to be rooted!
3) Download GPS toolbox https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2
4) Reboot.
5) Enable standalone GPS and Google services NOT Verizon services.
6) Open GPS status select options/tools/reset . Then options/ tools/download
7) Reboot
8) Open GPS status and wait for lock . Mine took 5 min a friends took 3. Then open up navigation .
9) Profit
Sent from my SCH-I535 or XT913

[Q] gps issues, copy/paste issues, OTA fix?

whenever i copy/paste, the app crashes.
whenever i try and use GPS and a run tracking program, it takes a LONG time to find a lock. sometimes it will work, sometimes it won't. then, sometimes mid-run i will lose the signal, when my Droid Incredible would be strong in the GPS area during the same running route.
Will Verizon's newest OTA fix any of these issues?
funkpod said:
whenever i copy/paste, the app crashes.
whenever i try and use GPS and a run tracking program, it takes a LONG time to find a lock. sometimes it will work, sometimes it won't. then, sometimes mid-run i will lose the signal, when my Droid Incredible would be strong in the GPS area during the same running route.
Will Verizon's newest OTA fix any of these issues?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bump, on cm10, but can't post there. My phone will often show me running parallel to the highway I am on. Or jump around g maps randomly.
UberSuber said:
Bump, on cm10, but can't post there. My phone will often show me running parallel to the highway I am on. Or jump around g maps randomly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use gps test to clear your agps and let it resync will probaly fix the gps issue. As for the others I dont know.
As for the latest OTA, it corrected the "no sim" issue, added remote connection for support, and a new radio iirc. No gps tweaks.
x714x said:
You can use gps test to clear your agps and let it resync will probaly fix the gps issue. As for the others I dont know.
As for the latest OTA, it corrected the "no sim" issue, added remote connection for support, and a new radio iirc. No gps tweaks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I tried GPS Status & Toolbox and cleared/redownloaded the aGPS data. Should be the same thing, right? It didn't help. I flashed Bean's ICS ROM last night, so I'm going to give it a GPS workout on the highway tomorrow to see if it makes a difference. If not, isn't it likely the phone itself? Can a software GPS issue follow you across ROMS?
UberSuber said:
Thanks. I tried GPS Status & Toolbox and cleared/redownloaded the aGPS data. Should be the same thing, right? It didn't help. I flashed Bean's ICS ROM last night, so I'm going to give it a GPS workout on the highway tomorrow to see if it makes a difference. If not, isn't it likely the phone itself? Can a software GPS issue follow you across ROMS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been paying close attention to this issue and this is what I have come up with... On a stock (non-rooted) Verizon galaxy S3 I can lock indoors and even after rooting I can lock indoors. It is always after I unlock that damn bootloader that I start getting the gps issues... It still works but it is flaky! Gotta have the thing in clear view of the sky almost always... I say this cause I have had 3 different refurbs for the VZW S3 and so I tested my theory and to back it up I also have an at&t S3 and a T-mobile S3 and they don't require you to unlock your bootloader and I NEVER have had any issues with those models...? I really think it has something to do with unlocking our Verizon bootloader.... IMO Like I said, I have done extensive gps testing and this has been my only idea of what is borking the I535's gps signal strength or lack thereof! I can lock in my brick house with both of my other S3's but the Verizon model is **** as soon as you unlock the bootloader... I have played with just about EVERY app on the appstore and different mods on xda and some have made it better but nothing compared to the others.... Can anyone else chime in and let me know what you think...?
well, I installed the ota, but no fixed on the copy/paste and GPS. Went on my run and it didn't find a lock until the 3rd mile. I guess they will be sending me a New one. Maybe I'll try to root it and unroot Just to preserve my game data, etc. Can I still root it with this new ota? Never rooted before.
I might not root, in which case is have to transfer everything from the internal storage to a Harris data hard drive?
funkpod said:
well, I installed the ota, but no fixed on the copy/paste and GPS. Went on my run and it didn't find a lock until the 3rd mile. I guess they will be sending me a New one. Maybe I'll try to root it and unroot Just to preserve my game data, etc. Can I still root it with this new ota? Never rooted before.
I might not root, in which case is have to transfer everything from the internal storage to a Harris data hard drive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, mine took a long time to lock this morning. But it has been accurate all morning, which is improvement. I was having trouble with getting a lock before putting a ROM on, but I can't recall Having any issues before rooting, which I suppose does mean I pit a ROM on, really. But then, I rooted before I really had it long enough to test the GPS. Please post back if you try rooting the ota. Because if I keep having issues with GPS, that is my next step too.
UberSuber said:
Well, mine took a long time to lock this morning. But it has been accurate all morning, which is improvement. I was having trouble with getting a lock before putting a ROM on, but I can't recall Having any issues before rooting, which I suppose does mean I pit a ROM on, really. But then, I rooted before I really had it long enough to test the GPS. Please post back if you try rooting the ota. Because if I keep having issues with GPS, that is my next step too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First post on XDA!
Now to the GPS issue...My S3 had the same type of issues being described in this thread. My gps would take a LONG TIME (5-20+mins) to lock in and if it did lock in then sometimes it would have me driving along a road parallel to the road i was on and i would hear it trying to get me back onto the road i was already on. I talked with Verizon tech support in this issue and the person i talked with just took me step by step to try to nail down the issue. i told him i already tried GPS Status app with resetting AGPS and downloading a new file but that never really helped. So he had me hard reset the phone with holding power, home, and volume up after the powering off. We opened the Maps app that came stock with the phone and it didnt lock in in the few mins that i had it open. Then we downloaded the newest Maps app and tried locking in again...no luck. I was also not receiving the OTA update (phone was always stock and not rooted) so we checked for that through the setting on the phone and i still couldnt receive it. Before all this happened I already talked to Verizon support and they had send me a refurbished S3 a few days before i made the call to tech support. So i told the guy that the refuribished phone that i had received got the OTA update as soon as i put my SIM card in the first time i powered the phone up and i havent had an issue with the GPS on it. He wanted me to just double check the firmware and the GPS signal on both phones and he said there was definatley something wrong with my original phone so that phone was sent back.
So i would suggest just calling the carrier and have them send out a new phone for you if your having GPS issues.
they're sending me a new one, the tech service guy on the phone has a gs3, and he didn't have any of these issues, so they are replacing it.
hopefully it doesn't have this issue...
now i gotta find a way to save all of my game data...
I had this same GPS issue and I found a post that seemed to fix the issue.
Go to Google Services Framework in application manager and clear all data. Then go to Google in application manager and clear data plus uninstall updates. Reboot, installed google update, and now my GPS locks on within seconds. Good luck, hope this fixes your issues as well.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
I saw the post on this and tried it but it didn't help my phone.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
thanks, i tried clearing those places, and while i couldn't find "google," i cleared "google maps" and hoped it would work, however, it did not.
Verizon is sending me a new phone, hopefully this phone will be better...
Fwiw, mine seems better now on beans ICS rom

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