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Hi All,
Has anyone tried testing the GPS on a Captivate in an area with no cell coverage?
I discovered my wife's Solstice actually can't use the GPS unless she has cell service.... Kinda stupid if you ask me but that's the way it works. I'm hoping the Captivate does not suffer this same condition. Kinda pointless not be able to use the GPS unless you have cell service...
Thanks,
bja
What app are you using to show the GPS? If you're using something like Google maps, the maps has to have 3g coverage to download the maps to view on your screen. The GPS probably is working fine, but since the maps can't load, it won't show you where you are. Maps are not saved on your device.
radi0chik said:
What app are you using to show the GPS? If you're using something like Google maps, the maps has to have 3g coverage to download the maps to view on your screen. The GPS probably is working fine, but since the maps can't load, it won't show you where you are. Maps are not saved on your device.
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true dat. lol
dsjr2006 said:
true dat. lol
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What part do you LOL at?
Google maps can be and are saved locally on this Solstice... Multiple apps were tested, the Solstice cannot get a lock without coverage whether you are using a mapping app, or just an app showing position and speed. Other users have come to the same conclusion.
I'm just hoping someone can tell me if the Captivate can get a GPS lock with no cell service.
Thanks,
bja
Im sure it can, just like almost every other phone that has an actual GPS chip, but it's cold lock time without AGPS assistance could take 30 seconds or more.
I can't say for sure though since I don't have mine yet.
Yeah AJerman, you'd think it would would since it has a gps chip, but the Solstice and Eternity have gps chips and don't work without cell service.
I guess we'll find out Monday for sure, but I would almost bet it won't work without cell service.
bja
The A-GPS tries to get a rapid fix by getting Assistance from Cell data. The algorithms used by the software on some phones allow you to avoid getting hung up in the cell tower acquisition process by turning the phone and data OFF, turning the device off, then restarting. The IPhone 3GS, for example, then does not get hung up in a non cell environment, and works reliably offshore in a boat. This is very important to someone who relies on GPS. for Marine Navigation, like using Navionics software offshore.
I do not know about Galaxy S algorithms, but please try!!!!
Looking foreward to hearing solutions to the offshore GPS problems before I buy.
hmose said:
The A-GPS tries to get a rapid fix by getting Assistance from Cell data. The algorithms used by the software on some phones allow you to avoid getting hung up in the cell tower acquisition process by turning the phone and data OFF, turning the device off, then restarting. The IPhone 3GS, for example, then does not get hung up in a non cell environment, and works reliably offshore in a boat. This is very important to someone who relies on GPS. for Marine Navigation, like using Navionics software offshore.
I do not know about Galaxy S algorithms, but please try!!!!
Looking foreward to hearing solutions to the offshore GPS problems before I buy.
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Click to collapse
ill test this out right now. Do i just need to turn off the radios and then try to get a gps fix?
Yeah, make sure the cell radios are off then try finding yourself on the map. You could even pull the sim to be really sure (as long as it will still let you use it without sim).
I think it may be important, after you have pulled the sim card, turned off the cell radio (Flight mode?) and any other steps, that you completely RESTART so that the GPS software reinitializes and starts off knowing it is on its own and should not refer to cell system, otherwise it may repeatedly hang up. That was my experience in the Bahamas with the 3gs. Galaxy will probably differ in the details but there should be a way.
Here goes... Wish me luck
GPS does work with no cell service. I live in a complete dead zone and the gps was able to acquire lock. Also, if I were in range of my wifi, it would update the maps from the wifi... Note, I was able to lock sat's with wifi off and no service also. This is good news because I was worried it would be like my wife's Samsung Solstice which requires cell signal for the gps to work. Not very good for boating or riding quads off the beatin' trail.
Thanks,
bja
Ok i turned all radios off and engaged airplane mode then reset the device. I was unable to get a gps lock with Google maps. I was indoors for the test and i am worried that gps may be turned off when airplane mode is on? Ill try again outside tomorrow
Don't use Airplan mode or turn off cell radio. The A-GPS chip on most phones are tied to cell radio chip. Not that it requires cell radio to work, but if you turn off the cell radio, you got GPS off as well.
I learnt this when I was using Samsung BlackJack 2. When I turn off the cell radio, the Garmin Navigation software can't locate the GPS hardware anymore. So I know the GPS hardware was off.
Systoxity, google maps requires access to online data, but your GPS does not. test your GPS with another app that just reads out Lat Lon.
foxbart, can you walk me through to what settings i should leave on for this test? And hmose shoot me a suggested app and ill dl it
systoxity said:
foxbart, can you walk me through to what settings i should leave on for this test? And hmose shoot me a suggested app and ill dl it
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GPSTest is a good app to try.
I tested already and it will lock on without cell service.
I live in a dead zone so I don't have to worry about turning off the
radio, etc.
bja
oh well nice. no need for me to test then
Keep testing, some dead zones are truly not dead. Some are deader than others. I'll check it out with a captivate when I get one. Do not want to get surprised out on the briney. I believe if we can get a IPhone to work, you probably can with those other android phones you mentioned.
I just tried gps test in flight mode with gps enabled and it works just fine...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
I am overseas and can not get a gps lock. I am using stock ep3h. I didn't think this phone was tied so closely to agps. anyone had this issue or solved the problem
If u can get to the market, download faster fix, and set the region to the country you are in.... requires root
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA App
fasterfix offers no help. any other suggestions
Faster fix will change your region if you can't use GPS after that you must have a different problem,
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
yes I have another problem. does anyone have any other suggestions
Airplane mode will turn off all radios including gps.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda premium
unless the charge is different gps is not tied to airplane. I have a few other phones that work in airplane. I have also tried in non airplane but I still have no cdma service. can anyone confirm that there gps has worked overseas with no cdma service?
doesnt gps work with wifi or 3g/4g? cuz phone need to upload the map where u at it..
soondolee said:
doesnt gps work with wifi or 3g/4g? cuz phone need to upload the map where u at it..
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Not if you're using offline maps that are completely stored on your phone. There's no need for a data connection for those.
I also use the GPS in airplane mode all the time while I hike in the mountains where there are no cell towers or wifi, so I understand where you are coming from. I use google MyTracks all the time while running and hiking.
I am not sure how to fix your issue, but I have a few ideas for you to try.
First, when you move over 100 miles with a gps off and then turn it on generally you will need 45 minutes to 1 hour for the gps to realize it is somewhere new.
Download GPS Test and GPS Status. Give them each a try for 15 minutes outside. These apps have some strange magic that has fixed several of my phones just by running them for a bit.
Let me know how this works out.
Dave
I have had it outside for 2 hours with no lock. gps test is no help
any other suggestions
Lets get a little further into the issue then... You stated no lock. But did the GPS ever pick up any sats? If so what were the sat numbers?
I have seen 6 satellites only once without lock. I normally see 0 to 3 with zero most of the time. it is seeing some of the same satellites my other phone with a full lock is seeing but this phone will never lock. I just think the agps feature is so embedded that the receiver is lost without it's data. which sucks because I center still the offline gps features on this that my cheap world phone doesn't have.
Last week I flew from the U.S. to Germany for a month-long business visit. I brought my Nexus S 4G (Bugless Pete's ICS ROM/kernal) knowing that I wouldn't be able to use the phone, but figured I'd still be able to get wireless and GPS.
The GPS worked fine in the U.S. but has been terrible here. I was able to get a single lock on my location the first day, but ever since have been unable to get anything. I also have an HTC Flyer which doesn't have any problems with GPS, so it's not the signal.
Is there any reason why the NS4G specifically would have poor GPS in Europe? Any tweaks that can be made?
I wonder if Hitler had something to do with it
I found some stuff that might help. One app is FasterGPS. It works by changing your region for a faster lock, so it should help...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ult#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsIm9yZy5mYXN0ZXJncHMiXQ
Another app I use is QBANIN GPSfix, which I activate after turning GPS location on but before actually using the Navigation or Maps app.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=12406555&postcount=11
Someone said this worked too:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22088356&postcount=1534
fwald said:
Last week I flew from the U.S. to Germany for a month-long business visit. I brought my Nexus S 4G (Bugless Pete's ICS ROM/kernal) knowing that I wouldn't be able to use the phone, but figured I'd still be able to get wireless and GPS.
The GPS worked fine in the U.S. but has been terrible here. I was able to get a single lock on my location the first day, but ever since have been unable to get anything. I also have an HTC Flyer which doesn't have any problems with GPS, so it's not the signal.
Is there any reason why the NS4G specifically would have poor GPS in Europe? Any tweaks that can be made?
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In the US it's able to use wifi and cell tower A-GPS triangulation data to help get the initial location determined. When that data is factored in, the lock is a lot easier to get.
If you can happen to hop on a wifi network out there, I bet you'll be able to get a lock pretty quickly too.
gullu101 said:
I found some stuff that might help.
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Thanks, I'll give those a shot.
superm1 said:
In the US it's able to use wifi and cell tower A-GPS triangulation data to help get the initial location determined. When that data is factored in, the lock is a lot easier to get.
If you can happen to hop on a wifi network out there, I bet you'll be able to get a lock pretty quickly too.
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I think you're absolutely right. When I did get the lock, I was on wifi.
And now that I think about it some more, Google Maps and Navigation must need an active data link to work, right? The map info isn't stored locally.
fwald said:
Thanks, I'll give those a shot.
I think you're absolutely right. When I did get the lock, I was on wifi.
And now that I think about it some more, Google Maps and Navigation must need an active data link to work, right? The map info isn't stored locally.
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There is a lab setting that lets you cache map tiles for like 10 mi square areas I think. I've never actually tried it. I expect it will just get you map information but not actually get you directions and navigation working though. Those I think will require an active data link.
superm1 said:
There is a lab setting that lets you cache map tiles for like 10 mi square areas I think. I've never actually tried it. I expect it will just get you map information but not actually get you directions and navigation working though. Those I think will require an active data link.
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Yeah I've tried it, it's pretty useful. You can download the maps via WiFi and it'll save them to your phone
I know the nexus 5 on T-Mobile does not have the WiFi calling feature. I don't know if that is due to lack of hardware or software. With that, I was wondering if it was possible being rooted by means of a ROM or kernel or some sort of mod?
If so, could you kindly point me in the direction of it?
Thank you,
Whiteice
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
There's no mod for this at the moment. Not sure what the restriction is but I've seen it asked many times here. You may learn the restriction if you search
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
rootSU said:
There's no mod for this at the moment. Not sure what the restriction is but I've seen it asked many times here. You may learn the restriction if you search
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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there's alot of stuff that tmobile has to add to the phone for it to be able to work. some framework, APIs, and special RIL.
its not possible since none of this information is known.
WhiteiceDMSTech said:
I know the nexus 5 on T-Mobile does not have the WiFi calling feature. I don't know if that is due to lack of hardware or software. With that, I was wondering if it was possible being rooted by means of a ROM or kernel or some sort of mod?
If so, could you kindly point me in the direction of it?
Thank you,
Whiteice
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
I just purchased my N5 from T-mo last month here in the states. One of the features that sold me on it was the ability for it to do calls over wifi. I have tested it as I was in Canada and when calling my v-mail it did not recognise my caller-id so it prompted me for a password. So long story short, it should be able to call over WiFi natively.
This is just my $0.02
It can't
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
the_candyman said:
I just purchased my N5 from T-mo last month here in the states. One of the features that sold me on it was the ability for it to do calls over wifi. I have tested it as I was in Canada and when calling my v-mail it did not recognise my caller-id so it prompted me for a password. So long story short, it should be able to call over WiFi natively.
This is just my $0.02
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the nexus 5 doesnt have the software nor, very importantly, tmobiles framework for wifi calling to work. the great thing about owning nexus devices is that carriers do not have access to them to install all their carrier crap on them, wifi calling being one of those. its not as simple as just installing an app to have it work. it needs tmobiles framework built into it as well.
Hello,
I live in Europe and received verizon samsung s3 sch-i535 as gift from USA. Its a nice phone but the GPS isnt working - i tried tightening screws, using various gps applications but still e.g. GPS Essential sees 0 satellites. I only get a lock on using wi-fi but In my everyday usage I cant always relay on that and need satellites.
The question is if the problems stems from malfunctioning hardware or it could be something caused by the fact that im using a branded us phone in europe? (there is a permanent notification that sim card is from unknown source)
Would changing rom to non-branded help? or should I just seek to fix hardware? ( if I cant do that myself I dont know if it wouldnt be too expensive compared to phone price to let specialist do that)
Thanks in advance for advices.