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[Q] Completely Non-functional GPS - Help Needed!

Hey guys, I just got my Captivate during Black Friday, and the GPS was working pretty well in the stock ROM.
It's now running Axura CE RC1 with the RedSoul theme, and I noticed that the GPS doesn't work at all. The Samsung GPSRestoreApp keeps failing to get a position fix, and although I tried a whole bunch of GPS fixes, my phone doesn't get a position fix at all, even if I leave the GPSTest app running for more than 10 minutes.
Is there anything I can do to get a working position fix?
Please help me out, and thanks in advance!

Try a differnet rom, Axura is dead anyway. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=848671

cappysw10 said:
Try a differnet rom, Axura is dead anyway. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=848671
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually axura has returned from the dead.
for whats its worth i experienced nearly the opposite.
With stock i generally got decent locks (seeing 9-12 sats and usually locking 6-7). Tracking was useless and did not work other than following a straight line and it was often pathetic in even tracking straight line position/progress.
Axura 5 is the only rom that has improved my devices tracking/turn by turn navigation to a usable and actually pretty damn good state (also improved my locks....could still usually see 9-12 but was usually getting 10/10 or 9/10 consistent locks). Right now i am back on stock jh7 though...had done so preparing for the official froyo release to at least take it for a test drive. Have it set up pretty much how i wanted and alot of apps so i am gonna hold out for a bit before flashing back to a custom but if i do axura will be on my list of choices due to the gps performance i got with it.

You can look for the file GPSJM9.zip on the XDA forum, I applied on my Captivate and since then my GPS works fine (10 sec for a lock)

Flash with CWM

Thanks for the zip, i'll try flash it when i have time

[Q] Rom Suggestions (with a good GPS) and CM9

Hello,
I've been MIA on these forums for quite some time so I'm very rusty and out of date on the ROM scene. I flashed a ROM back in March or so and and haven't touched my phone since, despite the fact that my GPS after I flashed has been horrendous; my phone cannot and will not keep track of where I am for more than 10 to 15 seconds and takes up to 5 minutes to re-locate me. Sometimes it will work continuously, but rarely.
So with that said, how is CM9's GPS? Also, is there a list of issues that have not been resolved since the Beta 1 release?
Or can anyone suggest a ROM (ICS) that they use where their GPS works like on stock?
Thanks!

The GPS I use a lot is either Google's Navigator or Navigon (by Garmin) and I used it a lot all last week and I'm using CM9, it finds me really quick. Someone on the forums linked me to this as well and it patches the GPS to use more satellites so you can try that one as well and it helped me when my GPS was sluggish.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1438129

Try Sky ICS UCLF6 Att official by seanzscreams. Great rom all around. I use Google nav and it works great
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

Is GPS on captivate good enough on ICS

My current phone got stolen, so I need something on a budget for the meanwhile. I was thinking of getting a captivate since it has lot of development with stable ICS builds..
My only concern is the GPS ? I had heard there were problems initially with early galaxy S units, resulting in poor GPS performance. Do they still exist in ICS roms or were they fixed ? Also if anyone know were these on hardware side or if they were just software bugs?

Mafioso said:
My current phone got stolen, so I need something on a budget for the meanwhile. I was thinking of getting a captivate since it has lot of development with stable ICS builds..
My only concern is the GPS ? I had heard there were problems initially with early galaxy S units, resulting in poor GPS performance. Do they still exist in ICS roms or were they fixed ? Also if anyone know were these on hardware side or if they were just software bugs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are several threads on the gps problem and it's not related to rom, per se. I am on GB and changing the etc/gps.conf file has made my GPS reliable. The position of the GPS antenna inside the phone is far from ideal and samsung didn't ship it with best settings in the gps.conf file.
if you search for 'gps.conf' you will find the threads. it is pretty simple to replace the gps.conf file or edit it.
Some ROMs include the gps.conf fix.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897

I love many things about my captivate, but the GPS is not one of them. There are fixes that help some, but it still seems too unreliable. If I'm driving it loses signal all too often.

Gps
For a decent gps signal I flash H3llstorm GPS Fix after flashing a Rom... Still Doesn't compare to other devices signal strength, but makes gps usable
It works on CM9, AOKP and MIUI
-Sorry for bad English

GPS, also, depend on your baseband version.some baseband firmwares consumes more battary charge, but gives better GPS signals. I use XXJVT modem and have no issues with GPS signal.

I figured out something cool. If I hold my captivate up to the windshield it will lock on nicely, whereas if it's in my lap when driving it won't. Then I have a windshield mount where I keep it. It's been working better. This has been true on AOCP and jelly bean.

Running aokp kang build 4 GPS locks normally < 30 sec
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda premium

After flashing to latest stable Cyanogenmod 9.1 my GPS is very good. I get 8 out of 9 satellite lock in about 5 seconds where it used to take 30-40 seconds with stock ROM and about 20-30 with 2.3.5 ROM I used for a while. That's in exactly the same spot right in front of my house.

that's the only thing i hate about Captivate @@
GPS is unbelievably weak, it has to combine with gps from mobile network, i can never use pure gps with only satellites @@

The GPS is my least favorite component of my Galaxy S.
I do use my Captivate as my GPS while geocaching.
I find that for best reception I have to hold the phone so the back is pointed up. To do this is is slightly over my head and I have to look up at it. Going though some trees and leaning over the phone it will loose connection. In the car driving I only find occasionally it will loose connection. In the mount on the dash it is in the ideal orientation.
My Transformer Prime tablet has an even worse GPS but the update external GPS add-on improves the GPS to be much better than the Captivate.
If it realy matters you can get a blue tooth GPS that can work with this and probably any phone you might upgrade to in the future.
I am running ICS on my phone and under Location Services there is GPS source to select different GPS. I just tried to connect using bluetooth to my Garmin car GPS but the only bluetooth functionality it has is to send sound to car stereo. and I could not even pair the Garmin with the Captivate.
Lots of bluetooth GPS receivers to choose from on eBay.
This thread might give you some more information of some of the units others have tried.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1122688
I am going to stick with the GPS in my phone. It has worked good enough for two years and will be updating my phone in Feb or March.
Jim

Honestly, you don't choose the Captivate for its GPS. Although, many ROMs have GPS fix and makes it usable. I can't say I had much issue with mine, it does the job it needs to do but depending on your connection, it might not be optimal. I did lose signal for a few seconds while driving but never lost signal to leaning over it tho eh

I almost want to say that the Captivate has the worst GPS out of most phones but I don't have much experience with other phones. The captivate is decent though and I think with the latest versions of JB, it seems to operate much better.

Hi all, I have a question. Why my GPS get fix fast and strong in gpstest apk and dont get a good fix running the google Navigator?
Enviado do meu SGH-I897

^
Try this... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19422197
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda premium

4-2ndtwin said:
^
Try this... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19422197
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is It works for CM10 stable (JB 4.1.2)?

^
Sorry, but nope. Just good for samsung stock gb roms or those based on that. Should have mentioned that before. My bad.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda premium

igorgomez said:
Hi all, I have a question. Why my GPS get fix fast and strong in gpstest apk and dont get a good fix running the google Navigator?
Enviado do meu SGH-I897
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've noticed that the google nav app maybe sensitive to the accuracy of the system time. When the clock is off by more that a few seconds, it seems to consistently report my position incorrectly, by 50 meters or more, in the same direction.
For example, when driving southbound, it will show me driving south, but 100 meters off the road to the east and this offset will persist until the clock is corrected.
I've installed clocksync app and set it to sync time every hour. It seems to help: Google nav doesn't give the persistant offset, but it does lose lock sometimes. I just toggle gps enable in the status bar and it recovers.
My gps.conf file uses the hellstorm fix. I am running GB debloated stock rom with Corn 7.06a kernel.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897

Stable ICS

Is there a stable ICS out for T959v? Stable as in GPS and wifi calling for t mobile is functional.

knicks791 said:
Is there a stable ICS out for T959v? Stable as in GPS and wifi calling for t mobile is functional.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol no.

I wouldn't consider WiFi calling a factor in a roms "stableness". Its more of a feature. Cm9 is stable and GPS does work

Yeah forget about wifi calling. I think cna 2.0 is great. Cm9 release 8 and well for as early as it was released beam is fairly stable.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2

ICS AOKP is stable.....

Stable as in normal human definition, yes. Stable as in Wifi calling, no.

Wifi hotspot?
Theraze said:
Stable as in normal human definition, yes. Stable as in Wifi calling, no.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about stable as in wifi hotspot? I don't use it often, but when I do I need it to work well (business). Works fine on my Vibrant, but I also have SGS4G that I'd like to see if I can get better signals on cell (especially), gps and wifi. I had been sticking with GB ROMs since they seemed the best for GPS/wifi, but would like to move to ICS if possible.

The ICS hotspot has worked basically always worked fine unless you screw with services. My wife used AOKP when we were out of town a few weeks ago. I used Barnacle and Wifi tethering for root users while on JB.
Both ICS and JB worked fine for tethering.

Theraze said:
The ICS hotspot has worked basically always worked fine unless you screw with services. My wife used AOKP when we were out of town a few weeks ago. I used Barnacle and Wifi tethering for root users while on JB.
Both ICS and JB worked fine for tethering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good. Is there a "best" for GPS? Seems most JB have issues and several ICS as well from what I've read so far.

JB doesn't have GPS yet. That's its issue, but airfluip1 thinks he might have some ideas on how to fix it. Hopefully he'll get it working, or Erik will, or someone else maybe. But for now, skip JB if you need GPS.
ICS has 3 different options for GPS, and it's not always apparent which is better.
1) Assisted GPS. This requires having a build.prop file that tells your phone how to use GPS for this. Most of our ROMs want to do this, but end up in number 3 instead. There are directions on how to fix this if you aren't using Ultragen, or just use Ultragen which comes with this properly configured from the start. First connection to GPS may take 15-30 minutes, but it should be much faster after that.
2) Non-assisted GPS. This comes from flashing YAGF. It disables the assisted GPS and just uses the satellites fresh every time. This CAN be much faster, but won't work well in clouded/wooded/indoor areas.
3) Bad GPS. This is when 1 or 2 fail, generally number 1. The phone is told to use AGPS but it's disabled in the build.prop, or any of a wide variety of other issues. GPS will work... sometimes... but it's highly irregular.
Best option? Start with Ultragen (remember... 1.0.1, not 1.0, which had several major issues) and see if the AGPS is good for you. If you don't like it, flash YAGF and go to unassisted. Decide it's worse and hate it? Wipe the ROM (to get out the modified system files) and reflash Ultragen.
Or start modifying your own files, but be careful that your phone boots up. Don't use Microsoft Word or Notepad or Wordpad or any of those tools. Use a proper hex or *nix editor.

Theraze said:
JB doesn't have GPS yet. That's its issue, but airfluip1 thinks he might have some ideas on how to fix it. Hopefully he'll get it working, or Erik will, or someone else maybe. But for now, skip JB if you need GPS.
ICS has 3 different options for GPS, and it's not always apparent which is better.
1) Assisted GPS. This requires having a build.prop file that tells your phone how to use GPS for this. Most of our ROMs want to do this, but end up in number 3 instead. There are directions on how to fix this if you aren't using Ultragen, or just use Ultragen which comes with this properly configured from the start. First connection to GPS may take 15-30 minutes, but it should be much faster after that.
2) Non-assisted GPS. This comes from flashing YAGF. It disables the assisted GPS and just uses the satellites fresh every time. This CAN be much faster, but won't work well in clouded/wooded/indoor areas.
3) Bad GPS. This is when 1 or 2 fail, generally number 1. The phone is told to use AGPS but it's disabled in the build.prop, or any of a wide variety of other issues. GPS will work... sometimes... but it's highly irregular.
Best option? Start with Ultragen (remember... 1.0.1, not 1.0, which had several major issues) and see if the AGPS is good for you. If you don't like it, flash YAGF and go to unassisted. Decide it's worse and hate it? Wipe the ROM (to get out the modified system files) and reflash Ultragen.
Or start modifying your own files, but be careful that your phone boots up. Don't use Microsoft Word or Notepad or Wordpad or any of those tools. Use a proper hex or *nix editor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a suggestion, but the Pimp My Rom application https://play.google.com/store/apps/...sMSwxLDYsImNvbS5hbmRyb2d1aWRlLnBpbXBteXJvbSJd under GPS Tweaks will download the proper GPS files for location, or alternatively, you can install the GPS Status and Toolbox App https://play.google.com/store/apps/...wsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5lY2xpcHNpbS5ncHNzdGF0dXMyIl0 which you can set to download the newest AGPS File when you open it.
I am using AOKP ICS and have no issue with GPS. Was getting like 120 sec TTL for like 12 Satellites according to GPS Tools, which is not terribly life affecting for me.

Which... is irrelevant if your build.prop doesn't use those files. As I said. You can tell GPS Status to update every hour, but if the phone isn't set to use them, they're helping you as much as throwing the phone up 20 feet into the air (without twisting it). Slightly less, since they're using up storage and not getting your phone closer to the satellites.
That being said, the TopNTP app did have GPS modifications as one of its options. Not sure if it does the build.prop flag we need, but...

Wow, it seems the SGS4G may actually be worse than the Vibrant for GPS.

LoL
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using xda app-developers app

Theraze said:
Which... is irrelevant if your build.prop doesn't use those files. As I said. You can tell GPS Status to update every hour, but if the phone isn't set to use them, they're helping you as much as throwing the phone up 20 feet into the air (without twisting it). Slightly less, since they're using up storage and not getting your phone closer to the satellites.
That being said, the TopNTP app did have GPS modifications as one of its options. Not sure if it does the build.prop flag we need, but...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is gps. It just no worky right! It will take a lil more then downloading a * "NIX" EDITOR and edit build.prop
Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk 2

hechoen said:
We'll call this one hidden in plain site.
I've been testing a new kernel for Beastmode lately and was trying to get GPS to work. I flashed 3.1 google specific build and still no lockie. So I did what cryptic mentions in the OP and READ the notes. Well that note that I quoted up above is the thing that needs to be done for this phone to make GPS work. After I added that line to the build.prop and rebooted I got a lock in about 10 seconds indoors to an accuracy of 6 meters. Not bad for this phone at all.
Most of are ICS ROMs use CM as a base. So after going through and looking at most of their props NONE of them have that line. I don't know how it's escaped notice as long as it has. I've only tested it on CM9 8-29 build with Beastmodes yet to be released kernel. I doubt that it matters though. Flash the zip, add that line, reboot and you should be good to go.
So thanks to cryptic for this fix and one of the most detailed OP's I've ever had the pleasure of reading. And too erikmm(aka Beastmode) for the incentive to actually look into this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said...

Theraze said:
Best option? Start with Ultragen (remember... 1.0.1, not 1.0, which had several major issues) and see if the AGPS is good for you. If you don't like it, flash YAGF and go to unassisted. Decide it's worse and hate it? Wipe the ROM (to get out the modified system files) and reflash Ultragen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks ! Where can I download YAGF for a T959v ? Is Ultragen v1.8 also good or only 1.0.1 ?

Remember that you have to flash something that actually works on our phone, unless you're making your own franken-build.
Ultragen 1.01 is available in post 4 of the Ultragen thread. There is no Ultragen 1.8... at least, not here on XDA for our phone.
Regarding the GPS, it's the same YAGF2 from the Vibrant forums... it's just a generic-ish fix that may or may not placebo you.

Unfortunately, I don't understand the technical jargon regarding all the GPS options...maybe I'm better off not knowing.
However, I'm running CM9 with Proton kernel & LB6 modem and everything works (except, of course, for wi-fi calling).
No problems whatsoever with GPS. Battery drains a little fast but I have a zillion chargers laying around the house,
office, & car...no big deal.

[Q] GPS and JB Roms issues

I am using AOKP rom, and my GPS is not working properly. The particular issue, however, is somewhat different from what I could find on this forum. In my case, the GPS cannot keep lock on the satellites for more than a couple of seconds. It can lock to 7-10 satellites quite quickly, but then it loses lock on them and then has to spend several seconds relocking. This cycle goes on while the GPS is being used. So, I can find my current position without a problem, but the lack of permanent lock makes it very hard to use navigation.
I have tried many "fixes" mostly dealing with gps.conf modification, but none of them could solve my short-lived lock problem. When I reverted back to stock Gingerbread, the GPS could keep lock without a problem, so I could track my continuous movements within 3 meters accuracy. I tried using gps.conf from Gingerbread in AOKP, but the problem was still there. So, I can only assume that the problem lies with the kernel itself.
So, my question is what 4.1.2 Jelly Bean kernel would you suggest me to try? I really like AOKP rom, but as far as kernel goes, I am open to any suggestions. I really want to be able to use the navigation again I would appreciate any inputs.

E107946 said:
I adeading AOKP rom, and my GPS is not working properly. The particular issue, however, is somewhat different from what I could find on this forum. In my case, the GPS cannot keep lock on the satellites for more than a couple of seconds. It can lock to 7-10 satellites quite quickly, but then it loses lock on them and then has to spend several seconds relocking. This cycle goes on while the GPS is being used. So, I can find my current position without a problem, but the lack of permanent lock makes it very hard to use navigation.
I have tried many "fixes" mostly dealing with gps.conf modification, but none of them could solve my short-lived lock problem. When I reverted back to stock Gingerbread, the GPS could keep lock without a problem, so I could track my continuous movements within 3 meters accuracy. I tried using gps.conf from Gingerbread in AOKP, but the problem was still there. So, I can only assume that the problem lies with the kernel itself.
So, my question is what 4.1.2 Jelly Bean kernel would you suggest me to try? I really like AOKP rom, but as far as kernel goes, I am open to any suggestions. I really want to be able to use the navigation again I would appreciate any inputs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As development on 4.1.2 is dead, you could try a 4.3 rom since theres a few to try. If not i would simply revert back to gb. Idk how accurate you need it to be, but i use my navigation on carbon 4.3 without a hitch.

Well, anything you can suggest from 4.3 that would be as stable as AOKP 4.1.2? I have been using it for almost a year, so I can't really go back to GB. If it was not this GPS issue, I would be using my current 4.1.2 until I get a new phone. Just like I will be using Ubuntu 12.04 until I need to buy a new laptop

E107946 said:
Well, anything you can suggest from 4.3 that would be as stable as AOKP 4.1.2? I have been using it for almost a year, so I can't really go back to GB. If it was not this GPS issue, I would be using my current 4.1.2 until I get a new phone. Just like I will be using Ubuntu 12.04 until I need to buy a new laptop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These 4.3 ROMs are moving towards stable at tremendous speeds. Take your pick
I'm not saying they have no bugs at all, but I've been using 4.3 daily for about a month now with no serious issues
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T769 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app