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Nexus S GPS

Hi guys! New to the forum and the Android OS. I've just purchased the Nexus S a couple of weeks ago and the phone is great except for a couple of minor details, but one thing really bothers me is the GPS. When I'm connected to wi-fi, Google maps is able to tell me my location fairly accurately. However, outdoors with no wi-fi, I try to have the settings to locate me based on satellite, but that always give me a "your current location is temporarily unavailable" message. I'm basically completely outdoors with view of the clear blue sky and it will always give me this message. Is something wrong

I've searched on the forum but nothing that answers my question. Anyone?

Hi,
Based on your question I am not shure if you are aware of the following:
GPS is only one of several location detection methods used by your phone. Another one is based on WIFI hotspots in range. Basically the phone scans the wifi frequencies to look for ALL hotspots in range and then sends this list of hotspots to google (only if some kind of internet access is available to the phone!). When this combination of hotspots is known to google, your phone gets an estimated location back from the google server. So from what you write, it is possible that you never had a gps fix, even when you got a (fairly good) location based on wifi.
I suggest you install some gps software other than google maps to check the functionality of your device. I use "GPS test", should be on the market. All it does, is scanning for satellites and displaying the list of discovered satelites. When the signal is good enough, you get a "U" in the column "flags" for the locked satellites.
Attention! You must start the scan manually from the apps context menu.
cheers

Yeah you gotta turn on your GPS for a more accurate reading if you're using maps or other navigational app
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

Just an update. I haven't needed to use the GPS lately, but this week I decided to try again, and before, I have gotten a GPS fix with the GPS Test app. But that signal never lasts very long and it also takes a really long time for the app to use the satellite to lock on to my location. The GPS indicator on the top left of the app is usually yellow and only after a long time does it turn green, but sometimes it never turns green even with 7 or 8 satellites in view. Is this just a limitation of mobile GPS in cell phones?
I don't have a data plan so I can't connect to the internet while on the road, hence the need for GPS without having internet access.

As long as you have the SIM inserted, not on airplane mode and gps is turned on, and nothing is wrong with your phone hardware I don't see why it shouldn't get location fix outdoor.
There are some good offline maps like Osmand and MapDroyd.

[Q] Does China Phone Hero H7000 has GPS?

Hi there!
I just bought China Phone Hero H7000 about two months ago, and I tried everything to make GPS work. But I got no success so far.
I googled all arround the internet, and I can't get much information about GPS on this phone, or people who actually bought this phone and tried to use GPS.
I bought my phone on dealextreme. You can google for it and search for h7000 if you want to see the specs.
As I said, I tried everything to make GPS work, but it seems that only A-GPS works, and for that I need to be using a data connection such as Wifi.
I used a lot of application from Android market, for testing GPS function, and to fix GPS satellites position, to fix gps.conf, and file permissions. My phone is rooted.
Also tried some other ROMS for this phone, and I always got the same issue. GPS doesn't work without A-GPS turned on, and using a data connection.
With some applications from android market I can update satellites position, and I can see about 13 satellites, but I just can't connect to any of them.
Tried to connect with full view of the sky, and I live on the country side, so buildings and clouds and other stuff shouldn't be a problem. I tried it for hours, outside and I can't connect to any satellite. I'm from Portugal, and I already used the gps.conf settings for Europe, and also for Portugal. But no luck...
If I'm using A-GPS I can see my location on the map, but I can't get any coordinates. WIthout A-GPS nothing works at all.
I tried google maps, nDrive, Navigon and some other free and paid GPS softwares for Android. All of them (appart from google maps) just show "waiting for location" or "searching for GPS", even using A-GPS and a data connection.
I don't know anymore what I can try to make it work... Any ideas?
Does anyone bought this phone? Anyone with the same problem?
Does this phone has GPS? Or does it have A-GPS only?
Sorry for the huge post. Can someone help?
Thanks in advance.

Any guesses?

[Q] AGPS over WIFI on Android?

Hi all,
I'm going on holiday and would like to use my Android (Galaxy Tab) for offline navigation. I'd like to keep my GSM module switched off all the time to avoid data roaming charges. I'll do my surfing etc over WIFI where available.
I'd like to use AGPS for a quick satellite fix.
Can I download AGPS satellite data over WIFI, or does this require a GSM (GPRS/UMTS) connection?
How do I manually trigger AGPS download on Android?*
Help is much appreciated!
N.
* On the Windows Mobile devices of old there used to be a program calles "QuickGPS" or similar that would download AGPS satellite data, but I don't see any such option on Android - - ?

Android GPS requires a LIVE data connection to function with realtime navigation, if u are just using Wi-Fi this won't work.
On the other hand, assuming u have a hefty sdcard in your tablet, u could use "sygic GPS" from market, that WILL allow offline GPS.

icenight89,
I'm using Navigon, which keeps map data on board, no data connection required there. Sygic is another option. Google Navigation does require a live connection, but Navigon, Sygic and others do not. Storage required for on-board map data is not all that massive btw, my Navigon maps of Europe require ~ 2 GB.
My question was more on the point of assisted-GPS satellite data. How do I download current satellite data so that my GPS knows where to look (thus getting a quicker satellite fix) if I want to avoid a mobile data connection via GSM?
Once I have a GPS fix, offline satnav is no problem.
Any ideas there?
N.

Android downloads agps data automatically, there is no way to "force" an update. U could try connecting to wifi and then running android nav (google maps/navigation) with GPS enabled, that would cache the new data I presume. That's your only option really
On a side note, I consider 2gb for one sole app a lot, whether its maps or not lol

Um, GPS Test software lets you do this.

syl0n said:
Um, GPS Test software lets you do this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Five years later, google lands me on this thread because I too was asking "can I update AGPS over wifi?". (Empirical evidence: I can, because at the trail-head I get a lock in about 10 seconds. On the other hand, maybe it didn't update, and the GPS hardware/antenna is just that good. )
And since answers were given without answering the question, I will keep looking.
But as for GPS Test, it is essential. Prior to using any nav app, I open GPS Test and watch it get a lock, or not, because the satellite display shows me exactly what is going on, as opposed to the nav apps, which just sit there maybe getting a lock maybe not and you have no effing idea why.

Gps issues can't find a single sattelite with GPS

Hey Guys
I am using now my Desire s for 1.5 year. Before i rooted my Desire s. The gps just Works fine... No issiue or anything wrong. After root gps won't work... I tried every custom and stock rom but still my gps wont show my possesion in sygic or Any gps app. Iam looking for a sulotion. Could someone please help...
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium

Location Acsess
Make sure that location access is ON in the settings.
Also this patch might help you. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1442032&highlight=gps+patch

tech_gooner said:
Make sure that location access is ON in the settings.
Also this patch might help you. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1442032&highlight=gps+patch
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed the patch but the gps still won't work

Maybe this helps
:
Kingdomds said:
I flashed the patch but the gps still won't work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try this thread,it has the same problem.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1442032
hope it works on your DS
sorry gor my english. :silly:

Nope.... the problem is it can't find any satellites....
And i want offline gps works. not online AGPS.
tried this one twice but still my gps can't find any satellites

I am in the same situation. My GPS used to work and then it stopped. I can't even remember what I flashed or whether it stopped straight after rooting.
I've tried a whole lot of different ROMs (JB/ICS/GB, AOSP/Sense) so its not a ROM issue. I've used the AGPS patch and all those other GPS apps that are supposed to diagnose and fix the GPS, non have worked. I have eventually put it down to a hardware fault and conceded that my GPS will not work.
I'm not wondering about flashing another radio. Will that make any difference ?

No, radio has nothing to do with GPS. If it's faulty - it might just be a disconnected antenna.

Enable data
I know its not the perfect solution but by enabling mobile data and the GPS you do get a precise fix on your location and it barely drains your allowance.

Mobile data doesn't affect GPS. All it does - it enables downloading almanac and ephemeris (satellite path charts, that tell the GPS where to look and for which satellites) instantly from the dedicated internet servers, and it also allows more precise clock synchronization - all that to make the lock faster. It doesn't help maintaining the lock.
And even without mobile data, at least 1-2 satellites should be visible almost immediately.

Nokia 3 GPS won't fix

Hello all, I got a brand new Nokia 3 couple of days ago and today I enabled the location but it doesn't work. The location in the map is jumping like crazy. Even in the country with open sky I am not able to get the accuracy better than 50 metres. The location sometimes improves for couple of seconds but then seemingly resets to the original large error of 100 metres. Battery saver is always off, Location mode: High accuracy.
I tried the following steps:
1) turn Location off and on
2) turn Airplane mode on and off
3) turned the phone off and on again
4) updated Google maps, cleared Google maps cache
5) installed GPS Test app and it shows that the satellite s get poor signal 13 visible, 6 used but only orange quality, no green. Even outside city on flat terrain. An the satellites occasionally disappear.
6) turned of Battery optimization for GPS Test app, Google maps.
Are there any steps you would suggest before I take it back to the shop? Any help is appreciated!

Reply to myself
frant.dobrota said:
Are there any steps you would suggest before I take it back to the shop? Any help is appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I tried some more steps following the guide at "Technobezz - How To Fix Android GPS Issues" but with no sucess:
7) run Google Maps in Safe mode
8) clear GPS related apps cache data
9) clear all apps cache data
10) wipe cache partition using recovery mode
None of these additional steps led to success. The GPS position is still hopping like crazy.
I got pointed to a wider problem on another Android forum. The issue is likely due to the use of the Mediatek MT6737 chipset. Mediatek chipsets are infamous for GPS problems for several years. I was not aware of that when buying Nokia 3 as it is my first Android phone. There are many Youtube videos suggesting fixes for various Mediatek based phones, but none of these actually work on my phone or they require root access.

I am confused by the fact that NONE of the reviews I have read had ANY complaint on the GPS performance, except the one at "Trusted Reviews":
GPS proved wildly innacurate, often pinning my location a few streets away in Google Maps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The quoted behavior is basically what I am seeing with my Nokia 3.
This is especially worrying because I had absolutely no issue with my previous budget windows phone. There are no complaints on the GPS quality whatsover. Are the reviewers even trying the GPS outside? Or is this a "standard" behavior on Android phones?
Can any Nokia 3 owner confirm their GPS works flawlessly? There is no hopping, the get GPS FIX quickly and don't lose it?
Am I the only one with my Nokia 3 being defective and should I return it back to the shop? My Nokia 3 GPS (Mediatek MT6737) is constantly getting weak GPS Fix losing it in a few seconds just to get it back for a short period of time rendering it useless!

Hi,first sorry for my English.
I have the same issue with GPS, I return my phone back to customers service, now i recovered it, ans they said "problem solved" . I try the gps 5 min later with google map, and they solved nothing...i have the exact same issue, it is hopeless. I plan to go back again to the customer service.

I had this issue wit nokia 8. On the Nokia forum ( link below ) there are other cases ( at least for Nokia 8 ).
Unfortunately, I returned my phone.
In addition, there is no Nokia response up to this moment regarding this issue that seems to be cross model.
GPS issue on Nokia 8 ( Nokia Forum )
community.phones.nokia.com/support/discussions/topics/7000011883

Hi, I'm having the EXACT same problem on my new Nokia 5. Worse is that I'm a surveyor by profession, so imagine using a phone with messed gps. I've tried all "fix gps issues" suggestions I can find, still not working. I'm definitely returning the phone!
P.S: there is also the really annoying LOUD push message beep at the end of calls. It's so LOUD and ANNOYING, like wth?! Turned off sound notifications I can find, still there.

UPDATE: Nokia GPS Issue FIXED!!
So I did some more digging around and I found this Nokia Forum discussion topic on the same GPS issue: (oops, I'm new on XDA, seems I can't post outside links. No link to Nokia forum then). Anyway, thanks to user1511570178684 who somehow traced the problem to Android 7.1 Battery Optimisation settings. In his/her words: "...Yesterday I disabled battery optimization for LocationServices which seems fixed the issue. Also earlier I disabled optimization for Maps. The Optimization menu is a drop-down in the top right corner under the Battery... One or the other had fixed the problem."
Basically, go to Settings > Battery; from drop-dwn menu at top right, select Battery Optimisation. You'll likely be shown "Not Optimised" list first; change the list to "All Apps" (from drop-down menu), then look for 'LocationServices' and 'Maps'. Change their options to "Don't Optimise". That's it, GPS issue fixed!
My GPS (on Nokia 5) is now working ok. GPS test still takes a minute or two to locate satellites, but accuracy is much better ( up to <5m in open sky), and no more jumping around like Mikey mouse.
I also changed my Location settings to Device Only, so it uses only GPS signals in positioning (instead both GPS, WiFi, network signals, etc, which may introduce errors - never mind that "High Accuracy" nonsense).

kay9 said:
UPDATE: Nokia GPS Issue FIXED!!
Basically, go to Settings > Battery; from drop-dwn menu at top right, select Battery Optimisation. You'll likely be shown "Not Optimised" list first; change the list to "All Apps" (from drop-down menu), then look for 'LocationServices' and 'Maps'. Change their options to "Don't Optimise". That's it, GPS issue fixed!
My GPS (on Nokia 5) is now working ok. GPS test still takes a minute or two to locate satellites, but accuracy is much better ( up to <5m in open sky), and no more jumping around like Mikey mouse.
I also changed my Location settings to Device Only, so it uses only GPS signals in positioning (instead both GPS, WiFi, network signals, etc, which may introduce errors - never mind that "High Accuracy" nonsense).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also facing the GPS problem with my two-months-old Nokia 5 - the phone doesn't see any satellites. I sent it to Nokia Mobile Care to fix the problem, they returned the phone after a week as "Returned unrepaired - fault not found"
NOT FOUND? Have they even tested it? I doubt that...
Now I tried what you wrote here but it still isn't working I will never buy a Nokia phone again. Two months and no GPS