Hi,
I have a simple GPS fix that worked for me. After posting and sharing in other forums this fix has also worked for many others who were frustrated with their GPS' not working, not locking onto satellites, and their phones acting erratically while navigating. Although this method seems too easy to be true, trust me it works and many people have confirmed that this method worked for them too and are now happy that their phone has a functional GPS and in some cases improved call quality.
I as well as many others performed many of the other fixes such as flashing back to stock, performing numerous battery pulls, using aGPS patches, making numerous edits to the gps.conf file, reprovisioning our phones, checking different ROMs, uninstalling/reinstalling Google Maps, clearing data for Google Maps and Google Service Framework, and so on. So before you do all of that please give my method a try.
I discovered this simple fix when I was trying to perform one of the other GPS fix procedures. The procedure required me to pull my battery. I noticed that when I removed my back cover the back frame that has all the screws (10 total) was slightly loose on the left side. Once I tightened them all my GPS worked immediately! Like I said, this method has been tested by many people and most of them report great success just by tightening their screws. If this method works for you you'll also notice that in addition to getting faster locks your navigation will work and won't drop your GPS signal.
Like I said it may not work for everyone but I would recommend that if you have a Samsung Galaxy S III definitely check the back frame of your phone and make sure you tighten the screws and make sure everything is secure. You too should now be able to achieve GPS locks consistently.
I hope this helps. If it does, as it has many others, please click thanks.
Cheers,
Syintiphic
Re: Easy Simple Fix for your GPS on your Samung Galaxy S III
The fix worked for me.. Night and day difference in getting satellite locks after tightening the screws..
Edit: In case anyone wants to know my theory behind why it works..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=39570338
Edit2: If you find the screwdriver fix doesn't work for you, or you find yourself tightening screws all the time, you can try this simple mod..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=44725977
Sent from my Commodore 64..
READY.
load"*", 8,1
Re: Easy Simple Fix for your GPS on your Samung Galaxy S III
I was skeptical as most would be about this fix. Boy was I a doof for believing that. This made 2 SGS3's (wife and mine) Gps go from inconsistent frustration to pure perfection. Cheers OP and thanks for sharing!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Re: Easy Simple Fix for your GPS on your Samung Galaxy S III
It works People!!!!! Believe it! Thanks again for sharing this!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Re: Easy Simple Fix for your GPS on your Samung Galaxy S III
I don't have any issues yet but I have this bookmarked in case I ever do. Thanks.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
I was pulling my hair over this issue. I replaced the phone with another one through T-Mobile for $20 and it had the SAME PROBLEM! All I ever did was flash the root injected version of the latest stock firmware. No upgrades to a 4.2.x rom. I tried reverting to the 4.0.4 rom. I tried a different gps.conf file. I was just about to do another warranty replacement when I found this thread. I almost wasn't going to attempt it because I thought it was a placebo. BOY WAS I WRONG! This fixed my phone. I'm still in shock!
EDIT: Well, I also discovered one more thing that was causing me grief with GPS. My wife's case! The case was interfering with the signal.
http://imgur.com/r7KPygA
Definitely works.... Instantly. I was standing outside of my house, with 0 locked out of 23 found (using GPS status), tightened screws (with GPS status still running) turned phone around and was locked onto 13/23.
My GPS stopped working about a month ago to the point that I could only get 1 or 2 locks wherever I was at. Thank you so much for posting such a simple fix.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Worked for me!
I have been battling this GPS issue since I got the phone, and it has been very annoying since September - November. But it really hit me this week traveling 300 miles out of state when using Navigation, I would randomly fly off the highway and into the streets with the navigation program throwing a fit about where to turn. It just couldn't hold a solid lock for anything. Luckily I had my Nexus 7 packed with me, and it's GPS is always spot on.
{
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"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
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"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
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But after I saw a random post a few days ago about tightening the screws, I was at first skeptical, and had to wait until I was back home to get to my small screwdriver, but once I tightened all 10 screws, viola! It worked instantly! :laugh:
I now get a lock within a few seconds, and even indoors. Saved myself a trip to VZW too. Thanks guys!
Thanks! Sounds crazy but seems like multiple people got it to work.
wow
For MONTHS I've been dealing with BAD GPS. Never less then 35feet lock with all satellites in Yellow (mediocre reception)
I just did this, and most of my screws seemed like they were pretty tight already but i found the perfect philips head bit and really tightened everything max. Went outside and ran same test. 10 feet accuracy lock with majority of satellites in GREEN.
WHAT SORCERY IS THIS!??? Wow Samsung, im a bit disappointed
BUT grateful for OP
thanks!
Re-tighten?
I posted in another thread that this helped my gps lock significantly. I was getting around 10/21 locks with fluctuating accuracy, but after tightening the screws, I got 21/21 lock at 9 feet accuracy.
However, for me, it seems like I have to loosen and retighten the screws every 2-3 days because I notice my gps getting worse. But as soon as I retighten them, it's back to being great.
Does anyone else have to keep retightening the screws?
dmudd said:
I posted in another thread that this helped my gps lock significantly. I was getting around 10/21 locks with fluctuating accuracy, but after tightening the screws, I got 21/21 lock at 9 feet accuracy.
However, for me, it seems like I have to loosen and retighten the screws every 2-3 days because I notice my gps getting worse. But as soon as I retighten them, it's back to being great.
Does anyone else have to keep retightening the screws?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not yet on 2 GS3's. Hope I don't have to.
I did pose the question in another thread where this threads talked about beginning began : wonder what is happening when we tighten these screws....
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Well here is my take on what I think the problem is and why the screw fix works.. Understand I'm not making any assertions that this is the cause or that I know what the hell I'm talking about..
The back of the case (not the battery cover) appears to have an antenna.. This area has a copper contact point which sits in the area where the GPS of the phone is located.. If this part of the phone is loose, it doesn't make a solid contact with what I believe is the GPS antenna..
Sent from my Commodore 64..
READY.
load"*", 8,1
Thanks Hypnosis for your insight. Makes sense to me! Appreciate you posting this
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Thanks Hypnosis for sharing, this makes sense to me too.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Amazing. I saw this link in another thread. Intermittantly I have decent GPS with some serious issues where it won't work or doesn't work well. So last night right before I went to be I tried it in our basement. Normally I don't see more than 1 or 2 satellites when in the basement but last night I got lock on 13/18 in 20 seconds or less repeatedly. I checked my wife's s3 against mine as hers is usually better but it was still only getting 3-4 and no lock. So I quickly tried the same fix and again her phone could suddenly see more sats and got lock.
this was also an issue on the fascinate and some of the original galaxy's iirc.
Well thank you very much sir/madam! This worked like a charm!!!!
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
syintiphic said:
Hi,
I have a simple GPS fix that worked for me. After posting and sharing in other forums this fix has also worked for many others who were frustrated with their GPS' not working, not locking onto satellites, and their phones acting erratically while navigating. Although this method seems too easy to be true, trust me it works and many people have confirmed that this method worked for them too and are now happy that their phone has a functional GPS and in some cases improved call quality.
I as well as many others performed many of the other fixes such as flashing back to stock, performing numerous battery pulls, using aGPS patches, making numerous edits to the gps.conf file, reprovisioning our phones, checking different ROMs, uninstalling/reinstalling Google Maps, clearing data for Google Maps and Google Service Framework, and so on. So before you do all of that please give my method a try.
I discovered this simple fix when I was trying to perform one of the other GPS fix procedures. The procedure required me to pull my battery. I noticed that when I removed my back cover that the back frame that has all the screws (10 total) was slightly loose on the left side. Once I tightened them all up my GPS worked immediately! Like I said, this method has been tested by many people and most of them report great success just by tightening their screws. If this method works for you you'll also notice that in addition to getting faster locks your navigation will work and won't drop your GPS signal.
Like I said it may not work for everyone but I would recommend that if you have a Samsung Galaxy S III definitely check the back frame of your phone and make sure you tighten the screws and make sure everything is secure. You too should now be able to achieve GPS locks consistently.
I hope this helps. If it does, as it has many others, please click thanks.
Cheers,
Syintiphic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the funniest thing in the world!!!!! I was having problems with my weather apps not locating me and I did this and it took a whopping 1/2 sec and it locked. Who know that this would be a fix to GPS. LOL
Thanks for the share!!!
Did anyone ever figure out how or why this works?
soohyunk83 said:
Did anyone ever figure out how or why this works?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=39570338
Sent from my Commodore 64..
READY.
load"*", 8,1
Related
So I spent 3 hours on the phone with AT&T last week while their warranty department did everything they could to not just honor the warranty (I can go into detail of anyone cares). But after the long grueling battle I was finally able to get my 1008 replaced with a 1009. Now the gps on my 1008 was shotty at best. I received the new phone, fired up Srendipity 6.3 and installed the free TeleNav GPS program and received instant results. Before, I was getting 3-4 sats after 30 seconds and it would barely hold. Now, I instantly get 7 or more sats and was able to lock up to 11 and hold them. My gps works spot on and I couldn't be happier. Morale of the story.. if you have spotty GPS at best, try exchanging the phone.. but be for warned about AT&T honoring the Gps capability for the Captivate with out a lot of legwork.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I was having a GPS problem and the warranty people sent out a replacement with a 15 min phone call. got one that works ok, but with the right modem it gets 10-11 sats in under 5 seconds.
might be who you get and how willing they are to try and figure out your problem without just jumping to it being a hardware problem.
The captivate gps is way to random to guarantee a replacement will fix anything as no one knows all the details of the problem. Part of it is obviously software as several tweaks work wonders for most people. No one knows what the combination is for sure.
A standing lock shows nothing for actual driving navigation performance.
Your results will vary but do we really need a new thread from everyone who warranty replaces their phone for bad gps performance
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Remember too, almost all "new" Captivates' GPS work great for a few weeks. Post back in about a month and let us know how your new Captivate is working. Also, it seems as though the GPS will work great for a few weeks after loading a new ROM, then it goes bad again. Tells me there is s file the GPS must process avery time you turn it on. As the file grows in size, the GPS program can't process the file in a timely manner resulting in the interpretation of the GPS data being slow and off-course.
I'll do that. I like using my GPS for looking things up (don't use navigation that much since I don't do much traveling) but I'll definitely keep an eye on it and see how it handles aftera week or so and then after that.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
just got a 1007 replacement for the 1007 i have. The GPS works out of the box for stock froyo. it actually trasks every single turn and is able to catch up when i am driving 75-80 on the freeway. So ya... if anyone fail to get their gps working by software tweaks, you should go ahead and use the random shut down execuse to get a replacement phone. the 1007/8/9/... thing doesnt really matter i guess. The one I got works like a charm beside the sticker behind the battery look crappy without a SN number and the samsung logo.( oh well probably a refurb , but at least it works~)
It's like a gamble, but hey at least exchange it while u still can with warranty is better than hoping for a software fix that we are still not sure about if it's the real issue. Honestly it could be software for some people, but after u tried couple Roms and fixes, a bad gps is a bad gps.
The "batch number" on my phone is 1008. The phone came with Eclair, of course. The GPS was poor at best. I updated the phone to Froyo. The GPS was not perceptibly different; still darn poor. I remember one miserable night where I was forced to find my destination using the Biblical System. The GPS never did lock during my one-hour ordeal.
For a totally unrelated reason, I ending up doing a master clear and reset. After I got everything reloaded I "tested" the GPS. Wow! It locked, well, instantly, or so it seemed.
An app available in the Market called GPS Status has two nice features. You can set it to automatically download the A-GPS file at start up. And, it reports on screen how long it takes to get it's first lock. With GPS Test (and others) you can see when the phone locks but GPS Status reports the time-to-lock information in seconds, no stopwatch or counting required.
Fascinated at the new-found capability of my Captivate, I have repeatedly checked how long it takes to get a lock. I would say, under widely varying conditions, the lock time is almost always less than 20 - 25 seconds.
YMMV but you might try a master clear and reset if you have a phone you undated from 2.1 to 2.2. Except for the time it takes to rebuild your phone, you have little to loose and you might find, as I did, the Captivate's GPS is excellent. Had I not "discovered" this "solution" I would have abandoned my Captivate--even though I think it's great phone overall--as I routinely depend upon my PDA's GPS capability.
FWIW, I do a lot of Geocaching so I have an understanding of how a GPS should perform. I had an AT&T Tilt which I'd made usable with a Sakajati HyperDragon IV ROM. The GPS in that phone was excellent. The first few days with the Captivate was a real downer. But, the now-functioning GPS makes the Capitvate a keeper.
For those not wanting to try getting a replacement. Plumbobs gps fix worked great for me. Check it out.
Sent from my SGH-I897 Captivate cog 4.3 using Xda app
My Xoom locks on in 4 seconds, indoors, straight out of the box. This whole thing is stupid.
So I've been using my gps for a few days now and it's still working just as well when I got the replacement. IMO there may be 3 types of phones out there which is why we all get different results..
Captivate with working GPS right out of the box
Captivate with 'meh' GPS that is fixable with software tweaks
Captivate with GPS so bad that it doesn't work at all.
This could all be hardware related in just how the manufacturing process worked. Some could have just been bad apples.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
10 meter lock inless than 20 seconds. Running JVE modem on Continuum v4, and I have a 1008 build number.
Sent from a place my wife doesn't know about
I am strongly considering getting this but don't want to if the GPS isn't great. I use my phone for geocaching and need one that's fairly accurate. It would be a great help if someone would turn on their gps outside and take a screen of the GPS status app so i can see it's accuracy. Thanks in advance.
Chronos2187 said:
I am strongly considering getting this but don't want to if the GPS isn't great. I use my phone for geocaching and need one that's fairly accurate. It would be a great help if someone would turn on their gps outside and take a screen of the GPS status app so i can see it's accuracy. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll do this for you but what's an easy way to do a screenshot without root?
mobilehavoc said:
I'll do this for you but what's an easy way to do a screenshot without root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use a separate camera.
If you find a way to take screen shots without root let me know.
I'm also very interested in GPS performance so any info you can provide (lock times, number of sats seen/locked, accuracy, etc.) would be appreciated.
samnada said:
Use a separate camera.
If you find a way to take screen shots without root let me know.
I'm also very interested in GPS performance so any info you can provide (lock times, number of sats seen/locked, accuracy, etc.) would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I still have my Incredible so I'll take a SS with that later today and post. IMHO it's very fast and solid in GPS performance.
If you have root download the app "ShootMe" you just shake your handset and it takes a screenshot of your phone.
I would like to know this as well. I actually have the g2x but i can't get a lock on the gps..in fact the location doesn't seem to work at all from the gps receiver. it seems its only using the cell towers and wifi to locate me. However when i download gps status it shows ridiculously high gps signals but can't get a lock which makes absolutely no sense at all. I also use my phone for geocaching so this is disappointing but i believe it is just a defective gps module or something.
Another way to take a screen without root is with the SDK. here is a link to an article explaining how if anyone is interested
Chronos2187 said:
Another way to take a screen without root is with the SDK. here is a link to an article explaining how if anyone is interested
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OR
hold down the home and power button... the phone will do the rest........... find screenshot in gallery as you normally would...
(that was not found by me! just posting for your help)
i will upload one also in a min (it is accurate btw alot better than the SGS)
nate420 said:
OR
hold down the home and power button... the phone will do the rest........... find screenshot in gallery as you normally would...
(that was not found by me! just posting for your help)
i will upload one also in a min (it is accurate btw alot better than the SGS)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry battery dead so cant screen right now. but i tested it out earlier and i could tell the gps difference from my computer room to my kitchen with satellite image on. it said within 10 feet and it came in pretty quickly.
eagle1967 said:
sorry battery dead so cant screen right now. but i tested it out earlier and i could tell the gps difference from my computer room to my kitchen with satellite image on. it said within 10 feet and it came in pretty quickly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
about 10 seconds after i use the app
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The GPS is fine. I just drove 52 miles including through downtown SFO using Google Maps Navigation on this phone. Everything was flawless.
nate420 said:
about 10 seconds after i use the app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ty very much for the pic, it looks like it will be great for geocaching. Thanks for your help!
nate420 said:
about 10 seconds after i use the app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for posting that.
It is impressive, possibly too impressive. I'm skeptical that the signal strength is really that high on every sat, so could be a calibration error with GPS Test. The accuracy is pretty good though, so that's encouraging. As long as it locks quickly, like consistently under 30 seconds, is accurate to 20 ft or less, and stays locked without fail while driving, I'd be very happy.
I use GPS heavily and it's seemed to be solid. On NS it took a while sometimes, but then again I've had this phone only one day. I just hope it stays that way.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Please keep the GPS reports coming.
Being a veteran of the Vibrant GPS war I've had many results, and seen many user posts, where everything was working great only to encounter some problem a day or two later. I've had lots of Google Nav trips that were flawless, interspersed with random trips where the signal is lost, my location jumps blocks away, and I'm getting a stream of bogus instructions to turn left, turn right, make a u-turn, etc. Some days my accuracy is 15ft, other days it's never better than 100ft. I'm really hoping the G2x is a big improvement, but only time will tell.
Thanks.
samnada said:
Please keep the GPS reports coming.
Being a veteran of the Vibrant GPS war I've had many results, and seen many user posts, where everything was working great only to encounter some problem a day or two later. I've had lots of Google Nav trips that were flawless, interspersed with random trips where the signal is lost, my location jumps blocks away, and I'm getting a stream of bogus instructions to turn left, turn right, make a u-turn, etc. Some days my accuracy is 15ft, other days it's never better than 100ft. I'm really hoping the G2x is a big improvement, but only time will tell.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
like i said its spot on... i also had a vibrant and went through the gps problems... accurate to 100 meters!!?!?!? lol
here is ANOTHER screenshot ive been driving around eau claire wisconsin using this this (i am kinda new to the area still so a GPS is a must for me)
and this is inside my car while driving.... not many locks but works
STAYS LOCKED trust me...
nate420 said:
like i said its spot on... i also had a vibrant and went through the gps problems... accurate to 100 meters!!?!?!? lol
here is ANOTHER screenshot ive been driving around eau claire wisconsin using this this (i am kinda new to the area still so a GPS is a must for me)
and this is inside my car while driving.... not many locks but works
STAYS LOCKED trust me...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I trust you. I just want to hear this from numerous users on a consistent basis. Yeah, I'm very gun shy, once burned and all that.
FYI, I did some checking and the max theoretical GPS SNR is 58 dB, so GPS Test does appear to have a calibration error, but I don't really care about that. It's time to lock, accuracy, and staying locked I'm looking for.
Thanks for the update...
I don't think this is a "calibration" issue, as GPS test just shows what the hardware reports. I think this means the GPS chip is reporting huge (and erronous) SNR values for all satellites. I don't know why.
What I'm personally interested in is how good the lock is in difficult conditions (moving around in bad weather, under heavy tree cover) with no AGPS (cell antennas and WiFi turned off). Can someone please test this?
Honestly driving around the city and having good tracking is not necessarily a good test of the GPS. It could very well be that the AGPS is keeping you locked the whole time via cell towers and not satellites. Much more interested in how it performs when you really need it (out of service areas, in the bush.)
dasbin said:
I don't think this is a "calibration" issue, as GPS test just shows what the hardware reports. I think this means the GPS chip is reporting huge (and erronous) SNR values for all satellites. I don't know why.
What I'm personally interested in is how good the lock is in difficult conditions (moving around in bad weather, under heavy tree cover) with no AGPS (cell antennas and WiFi turned off). Can someone please test this?
Honestly driving around the city and having good tracking is not necessarily a good test of the GPS. It could very well be that the AGPS is keeping you locked the whole time via cell towers and not satellites. Much more interested in how it performs when you really need it (out of service areas, in the bush.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those SNR values are clearly bogus for whatever reason. I've emailed the GPS Test developer, so they'll at least be aware of it. It is a useful tool to tell how well the HW and SW are working.
For me driving is really the acid test. Geocachers and track loggers may have different priorities, but I want reliable driving directions. That's my wilderness.
the GPS rocks!!! I was able to use mytracks to outline my 50x70 backyard where my vibrant wondered 100's of yards off. Lock times in the clear is instant with 10 all green sats in gps test... My vibrant GPS sucked!
now here's the problem Im having... battery life... i have a feeling that you only going to <3 hours of life while using GPS
Hi,
I am new to the forum and appreciate your help
I did a OTA update to 1.35.707.1 after which i cannot turn on WiFi. It tries to turn on after which it indicates error.
Please suggest a solution for this......is it possible to roll back to the previous software version of 1.28
Try a factory reset. Go to settings, SD & Phone storage and click on Factory data reset. Keep in mind this will erase everything on your phone.
Tried a factory reset...still not successful.
Is it possible to downgrade ROM to version 1.28.....
I experienced this exact same problem today when helping a customer with their HTC sensation. I tried the Factory Data Reset as well and still got the same error. The only solution I found was to tell the customer to contact customer support to get a replacement unit. I'm not sure if it is a software issue of if there is some issue with the wifi antenna in the device itself.
Damn, I have the same issue, how long does the warrenty cover the unit for? Can you just walk into the store for a replacement?
also have one phone here with 1.35.707.1 with same problem trying turn on wifi - Error
vladvertigo said:
also have one phone here with 1.35.707.1 with same problem trying turn on wifi - Error
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bump thread, same issue here, turn on wifi, says error. Very sad
Same issue here, started to show the error just like that. The night before was working fine and the next day could not turn wifi on.
I did a superwipe and installed mike's Revolution HD 3.6.5 but still same issue.
Hope smb will find where is coming from and really hope is not a hardware issue.
bk_25 said:
Same issue here, started to show the error just like that. The night before was working fine and the next day could not turn wifi on.
I did a superwipe and installed mike's Revolution HD 3.6.5 but still same issue.
Hope smb will find where is coming from and really hope is not a hardware issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went back to stock and sent back as a damaged phone
Master Loon said:
I went back to stock and sent back as a damaged phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are lucky you can return it.
I purchased the phone through E-bay, seller in US and I am in europe, no chance for me to return it
Have been experimenting with ROM's and after a superwipe, clear dalvik, installed [ROM]LeeDROiD Sensational V3.1.0 [KERNEL] LeeDrOiD V3.3.0 | 19th Sept | FAST | STABLE , as i read somewhere on the forum that has ROM close to stock and have been cases it fixed the issue (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=16125179&postcount=3)
but did not help me, the wi-fi still doesnt turn on at all.
Will update if i find anything or get any results.
Same issue.
thread : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1302347
That's four threads with the same issue.
someone in the know must see these threads.
HELP.
vladvertigo said:
also have one phone here with 1.35.707.1 with same problem trying turn on wifi - Error
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a fix for my problem. i had another Sensation for repair here for some other hardware issue, so i was playing around with two phones. after all this i figured out the problem.
this flex inside was giving wifi error
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"lightbox_share": "Share",
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"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
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later on did small research, it has a BCM4329EKUBG chip on it which responds for wifi, bt and fm, its not cheap solution to replace a flex, but for somebody this could be only way
Reheating this chip with hot-air fan (it was like 290-300 degrees) helped me, if you want to try this dont blame me if you mess it up !!
vladvertigo said:
I have a fix for my problem. i had another Sensation for repair here for some other hardware issue, so i was playing around with two phones. after all this i figured out the problem.
this flex inside was giving wifi error
later on did small research, it has a BCM4329EKUBG chip on it which responds for wifi, bt and fm, its not cheap solution to replace a flex, but for somebody this could be only way
Reheating this chip with hot-air fan (it was like 290-300 degrees) helped me, if you want to try this dont blame me if you mess it up !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Makes sense, i did once cook a graphics card in an oven on 220 degrees for 20 mins and it brought it back from the dead, still working today, got a video of it somewhere.
So specifically, what did you do please? I'm in a place where i have lots of spare parts lying around from pretty much every phone you can think of, so what do i need please?
Many thanks for having the balls to even contemplate trying this.
dladz said:
Makes sense, i did once cook a graphics card in an oven on 220 degrees for 20 mins and it brought it back from the dead, still working today, got a video of it somewhere.
So specifically, what did you do please? I'm in a place where i have lots of spare parts lying around from pretty much every phone you can think of, so what do i need please?
Many thanks for having the balls to even contemplate trying this.
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Click to collapse
first of all try a software repairs, cause i see a lot of people have similar problem after playing around with different roms
what i did, just disassemble the phone, take out that big flex cable. disconnect all cameras and flex cables you can (unless you want a blurry camera)
on a back of flex there is metal slab covering chip, took it out. after that i heat chip area for minute or so with my soldering heating gun, wait until it cools and install in the phone, after doing this operations it started working.
do it on your own risk
vladvertigo said:
first of all try a software repairs, cause i see a lot of people have similar problem after playing around with different roms
what i did, just disassemble the phone, take out that big flex cable. disconnect all cameras and flex cables you can (unless you want a blurry camera)
on a back of flex there is metal slab covering chip, took it out. after that i heat chip area for minute or so with my soldering heating gun, wait until it cools and install in the phone, after doing this operations it started working.
do it on your own risk
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Click to collapse
Thanks for taking the time to reply and lol @ the paint writing, cheers m8, your a legend, will give it a whirl if all else fails, why not
vladvertigo said:
first of all try a software repairs, cause i see a lot of people have similar problem after playing around with different roms
what i did, just disassemble the phone, take out that big flex cable. disconnect all cameras and flex cables you can (unless you want a blurry camera)
on a back of flex there is metal slab covering chip, took it out. after that i heat chip area for minute or so with my soldering heating gun, wait until it cools and install in the phone, after doing this operations it started working.
do it on your own risk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright! Now where is my soldering heating gun, I will have to try this one. Reverting to stock everything first in case I mess things up
Any luck??
Did you get it to work this way???
I have the same problem. I try installing ICS on the phone thinking it was a software error. I still have no wifi connection. Try *#*#4636#*#* and the status on the Wifi is Unknown (unintialized on Supplicant state)
Did any of you know where can I get this board (where the BCM4329EKUBG chip is located)?
Sent it back for RMA, changed both lcd screen (a single piece of dust) and rigid flex. Comes by air mail tonight!
Sent from my Sony Xperia Arc S LT18i,
using XDA Premium on Arconium 3c, Android 4.0.4.
Thnx a lot I fixed by heating and I send my 1st post from this device I just repaired by this solution after long search thnx alot
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
THANK YOU SO MUCH vladvertigo (caps intended). I tried all the software fixes I could find, even went back to bone stock, S-ON and everything, so this was my last resort before buying a new flex ribbon assembly. I don't have a warranty because I bought the phone on Craigslist.
Anyway, I can confirm that using the heat gun for a minute worked. I made a heat shield out of an aluminum can, with a small square cut in it. Held it right above the bare chip, and the gun right above that. I disconnected the main camera, but not the FFC. Pretty sure I borked it in the process but it's no matter; I'd rather have working WiFi than the FFC. Which I do now, thanks to you! Woo!
So I came across this (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1101066) thread in the DHD forum the other day, and had mixed feelings about it. In theory it makes sense, but in practice it seems kind of scary. Anyway, I've had GPS issues on and off since I got my Inspire, sometimes it would work excellent, sometimes it would kind of work, sometimes it wouldn't work at all. I've tried every software solution I could think of (new radios, gps script, reinstalling locations, wiping EFS partition, etc), and I figured my problem had to be hardware, but I'd never seen a hardware solution offered until I came across this thread. First off I would like to say that I have not tried this fix yet, however I'm inclined to and here's why:
After reading this, I started thinking, "OK, so it's just not getting good enough pressure on the GPS antennae contacts, wonder what would happen if I tried to apply manual pressure?" So I launched GPS Test and watched it find 2 or 3 satellites, but didn't lock after about a minute. So I applied pressure to the battery flash/GPS cover, 1 finger on the top of it 1 finger on the bottom, making sure not to cover the hole. What happened? Immediately it found 9 satellites and locked to 20ft, showing better connections to the satellites than i've EVER seen. I let off the pressure and watched as the signal strength to these satellites dropped intensely, went back to 2 or 3 satellites, and lost the lock. I again applied pressure, got a bunch of satellites back and got an immediate lock.
Before I go about taking my phone apart and trying to fix these contacts from the inside, I wanted to see if applying pressure on the back flash/GPS cover improved anything for anybody else, or if it's just my imagination. Please report back
I havn't had any problems with my gps, but if the problem you are having is what I was having I would be cracking the phone open to fix it...
I dont mind taking things apart
My GPS works, but there's some disconnect between Navigation and the GPS, I sware. If I run Navigation by itself, then I lose signal 2-3 minutes after getting a lock. If I run My Tracks in the background, then it stays locked.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
3 Inspires, no GPS issues at all, but it makes sense and doesn't look difficult at all. Go for it.
Well I tried it. I can't say if it was me applying pressure or me just getting lucky with signal and clear skies...but I locked to 7 very quickly and it found my location with in 20 feet here as well.
Interesting...
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
cwhitney24 said:
Well I tried it. I can't say if it was me applying pressure or me just getting lucky with signal and clear skies...but I locked to 7 very quickly and it found my location with in 20 feet here as well.
Interesting...
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
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cool deal
not bad and it didnt seem that hard to do, keep checking on it to make sure for the next few days
cwhitney24 said:
Well I tried it. I can't say if it was me applying pressure or me just getting lucky with signal and clear skies...but I locked to 7 very quickly and it found my location with in 20 feet here as well.
Interesting...
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
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Um, I just tried applying pressure and got 8 meter lock on inside my house. My GPS usually NEVER locks on, even outside in clear skies. Wtf.
Edit: And now it's working all the time. I love you.
It didn't hurt to apply pressure to the area where you said the gps contacts are. So I opened up gps status in my home. Let it try and find some satellites on its own. Nothing was happening for a few seconds. Then I applied pressure to where the flash is on our phones one finger above the flash and the other below the flash. It then fixes satellites on my phone. And when I let go the fixed satellites dropped and my radius grew. I tried applying again and then it went back and started to drop. So I let go and it went up so I think the contacts are contacting and now I'm just covering up the gps but it seems to work. So now when I want to use gps ill remember this trick.
Thanks
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
I pried out the flash cover and noticed that the antenna contacts on the cover were oxidized except for the part where the corner of the spring contacts landed. I scraped away the oxidation with a sharp object and bent the spring contacts up a little bit to make a firmer connection and I immediately got a boost in GPS reception. I dont' know what metal makes up the antenna in the flash cover but it sounds like oxidation builds back up again after a couple of months. I'll keep an eye on it and post an update.
This is perfect! I just did it, took about ten minutes. After reboot I just locked to under 60ft indoors during Hurricane Irene.
Thanks so much for this, now I can stop reading all these damn gps threads!
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
Another update: just locked to 24ft outside in less than 15 seconds.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
GPS lock
Christ..I dont believe this.. I always have problems with Google Navigation getting satellite lock..and maps is usually like 1500-1600ft +or-... I did the pressure on the spots above and below the flash like you guys said... all of a sudden..boom! GPS lock inside my house..(never happens) and 9 satellites locked..(most I ever saw was 5 before when I was outside in a clear area.)..the GPS nav icon is almost on my house roof!
This issue puts it in perspective how bad the quality is on this device.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Wow can't believe there are this many people confirming this. I'll be adjusting my gps contacts in a a day or two and ill report back. Definitely seems like its gonna help a few of us anyway
signatures annoy me
I have actually noticed the same issues as you were describing. I have pushed on the back and waited and then found the signal got better. Then released the pressure and it got either worse or just stayed the same. Different results every now and then. I have also taken it apart and tried the DHD fixed that your describing and it worked excellent for a little bit then nothing. I'm returning it now to have HTC fix it. Probably the easiest way. Sucks not having a phone but at least they will give me a phone that does everything its supposed to. They were really nice about it too.
eryk4381 said:
I have actually noticed the same issues as you were describing. I have pushed on the back and waited and then found the signal got better. Then released the pressure and it got either worse or just stayed the same. Different results every now and then. I have also taken it apart and tried the DHD fixed that your describing and it worked excellent for a little bit then nothing. I'm returning it now to have HTC fix it. Probably the easiest way. Sucks not having a phone but at least they will give me a phone that does everything its supposed to. They were really nice about it too.
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This is a great thread. I fortunately do not have the issue on my device to where I need to mess with it, but experience tells me living in a somewhat temperate / rainly climate the contacts may oxidize / signal degrades over time. Good to know how to address it...I had an iPhone 3G I took apart at the end of its life. I had noticed the GPS was really sucking toward the end. Sure enough, plain old brown rust was evident on the GPS antenna contacts...
****, I wish I had known about this before I exchanged my Inspire at my AT&T store. I couldn't get GPS lock at all. It was a hassle, and I had all but narrowed it down to hardware, so this really makes sense.
The thread about my particular issues: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1203133
Have had my GSIII for about 2 months now and I'm wondering if something is wrong with my gps. I have taken my phone and compared it to 2 other GSIII's using the app GPS Status & Toolbox. On my phone when the app is opened it says 'Looking for GPS Location' and will quite often never find anything. Sometimes it will lock on however. If I'm outside it locks on quicker but indoors it does not. On the other phones I compare it against they both lock on almost immediately.
The other weird thing about my phone is the compass in the GPS Status app. Mine never sits still it is always bouncing back and forth. The other 2 phones I compare against the compass locks on and never moves unless I move the phone.
Now when it comes to navigation my phone seems to work decent. The only places it does not take me directly to are houses it is usually off by about a block, but businesses it is spot on. I figured the maps app just doesnt have the exact house locations?
I am running stock 4.1.2 on Verizon. After reading many threads about gps problems I have already tried tightening the 10 screws under the back cover of my phone. I also did the whole clear cache and remove Maps updates and reinstall. Would this be enough to call Verizon and try to get a different phone while its still under the year warranty?
I have the same problem. Mine worked great for a few months and suddenly became very unreliable. I can be driving down the freeway at 70MPH and navigation will suddenly freak out and think I'm on some other side street and start giving me directions to get back to the freeway. It will do this constantly and never shut up and it will even show me driving in totally different directions down streets that are blocks away from where I actually am.
I tried the screw thing and cleared the cache and reinstalled the Maps updates but that did not help. The problem has recently become even worse. Sometimes it takes 15+ minutes to get a GPS lock while in my car and in my house where it used to work perfectly it won't lock at all.
Another problem I've had, while I don't know if it's related, is that Google Maps flickers when scrolling and randomly goes blank. Along with that, it will randomly scroll out into the middle of the Atlantic when I'm just trying to zoom in on a particular location near me.
Have you tried a factory reset? That's probably the last thing I'm going to try before going to Verizon and requesting a replacement though I really don't want to go through the hassle of setting everything up again just to do it yet again if I have to replace the phone.
I have not tried a factory reset yet but I should probably give it a try. I posted this on another GS3 forum and a former Verizon support person recommended to not get a replacement from Verizon cause they send out real crappy ones they have laying around. He said to call Samsung and get the phone fixed that way so I will probably try that if the factory reset does not work.
have read where removing battery door and tightening the body screws has fixed most gps problems. It seems that the contacts are very susceptible to the body getting loose. Daily vibration can cause them to slightly loosen and thus the problem. I would give it a try, it only a few seconds work.
Good Luck
See the Galaxy sIII shine via SynergyRom
I just tried the screw thing again. I think there is definitely something to that. Sitting here at my desk I could not get a GPS lock at all. After tightening the screws I get a lock within 1-2 seconds. Maybe I should get some Loctite to keep them from backing off? I'll have to drive around to see if it's really working but this is what fixed it before. The only thing now is the strange flickering/graphical glitches that I see when in maps/navigation.
bbolton_98 said:
have read where removing battery door and tightening the body screws has fixed most gps problems. It seems that the contacts are very susceptible to the body getting loose. Daily vibration can cause them to slightly loosen and thus the problem. I would give it a try, it only a few seconds work.
Good Luck
See the Galaxy sIII shine via SynergyRom
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Tried this and worked for me. Thanks Mine locks on a lot quicker now