Database Info

GPS Fixed!

So the past few weeks since getting my captivate, I've been a but depressed that my captivates gps couldn't even get a lock, and was ready to just deal with it until today. I've got a doctors appointment way out in lala land, a place I've never been before. So when I got in my car, I felt compelled to give my gps a shot and see if I could somehow miraculously at least get an inaccurate lock like a lot of other people seem to be getting. So since I was already in the maps app getting directions, I flipped on my gps, and in 5 seconds, got a lock! Then within 2 more seconds it had me down to the most accurate pinpoint possible and the damn gps guided me all the way to my destination that's 1 hour 45 minutes away with the best and most accurate pinpoint I've ever seen in a gps, and zero delay for most of the ride here.the biggest delay I experienced was about 1.5 seconds from the time I passed something until my gps showed me passing. Quite impressive, especially on a cloudy day!
Anybody elses gps suddenly working perfectly?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

PMad said:
So the past few weeks since getting my captivate, I've been a but depressed that my captivates gps couldn't even get a lock, and was ready to just deal with it until today. I've got a doctors appointment way out in lala land, a place I've never been before. So when I got in my car, I felt compelled to give my gps a shot and see if I could somehow miraculously at least get an inaccurate lock like a lot of other people seem to be getting. So since I was already in the maps app getting directions, I flipped on my gps, and in 5 seconds, got a lock! Then within 2 more seconds it had me down to the most accurate pinpoint possible and the damn gps guided me all the way to my destination that's 1 hour 45 minutes away with the best and most accurate pinpoint I've ever seen in a gps, and zero delay for most of the ride here.the biggest delay I experienced was about 1.5 seconds from the time I passed something until my gps showed me passing. Quite impressive, especially on a cloudy day!
Anybody elses gps suddenly working perfectly?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine has been working better since flashing to JH7, did you flash?

PMad said:
So the past few weeks since getting my captivate, I've been a but depressed that my captivates gps couldn't even get a lock, and was ready to just deal with it until today. I've got a doctors appointment way out in lala land, a place I've never been before. So when I got in my car, I felt compelled to give my gps a shot and see if I could somehow miraculously at least get an inaccurate lock like a lot of other people seem to be getting. So since I was already in the maps app getting directions, I flipped on my gps, and in 5 seconds, got a lock! Then within 2 more seconds it had me down to the most accurate pinpoint possible and the damn gps guided me all the way to my destination that's 1 hour 45 minutes away with the best and most accurate pinpoint I've ever seen in a gps, and zero delay for most of the ride here.the biggest delay I experienced was about 1.5 seconds from the time I passed something until my gps showed me passing. Quite impressive, especially on a cloudy day!
Anybody elses gps suddenly working perfectly?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPS is always hit or miss. yours isn't suddenly "fixed." sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I've personally never had a problem except for the very first time I used it. Location matters, signal strength matters, and just location of satellites matter... so many factors, but your GPS wouldn't suddenly "fix itself" without an update of some kind

Well I started off with the stock JM6, and I flashed SRE 1.2.3 I believe, the one that was up just before 1.3, before and after that it didn't work at all, I could never even get a lock.
I know it can't just fix itself, but I also don't know if its possible for samsung and/or att to release an OTA patch, I'm really thinking that's not a possibility, but somehow its working. All my other phones gps always worked really well at all times of the day no mater where I was at, so one could only assume something else is up rather than satellite position.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

Mine did pretty much the same thing. A few days ago I couldn't get a lock without standing in the parking lot for ten minutes. I was on the verge of returning the phone. Then out of nowhere, it just started working, every time. Its been a few days now, and I sure hope I don't jinx myself, but it's been performing perfectly in every conceivable situation.
So you are not alone! And my joy in this phone has been restored.

I've actually noticed a difference on the speed of locks the past few days but accuracy is still abysmal. I think the issue is still far to flighty to say its ever really working right.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

The first time I ever used my GPS, about a week or two ago, it worked incredibly fast, perfect lock, all the way down to a few feet, the dot was on the same part of the house that I was in. My first impression was, "Wow! I guess I got lucky and got one that actually works!". I was so excited that my GPS actually worked. Never once have I been able to get a lock after that.

My gps its also suddenly working for the past few days. I think it started when I updated google maps, though I can't say for certain it's that.
Anyone else?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897

Mine is working too... I only noticed after I updated my firmware though..... Maybe that's only a coincidence?

Haha I was going to make this exact thread. GPS has been working great for me. I haven't flashed or done anything other than rooting. It sucked so bad when I first got the phone, but now its pretty much perfect. Used it to drive 1.5hrs ish on i-95.

[Q] Is my GPS chip defective ?

Hello,
I'm encountering some issues with my Samsung Nexus S GPS. I got the i9023 (Europe/SLCD) version of the phone, which is running default rom (stock), freshly updated to 2.3.4 (via official OTA!).
I couldn't figure why, when using Maps, my position would usually be around 1 km away from where I am. I found out later, this time using Navigation, that it is desperately searching for a GPS signal, that it can't find. Sometimes I manage to get a lock, when I keep it running for like 30 - 40 mins, but it immediately disappears. GPS Statuts keeps showing 0/5 sats.
I was convinced that my GPS chip was defective.
But today, I was hanging out in the city and tried running Navigation. I got a lock, for the first time, within a 15 sec delay. That was the first time that I managed to get live GPS tracking. I've walked a bit around, and the tracking was really, really accurate.
Back home, in my apartment, again I can't get any signal. I live in the 3rd floor, walls aren't that thick and, as for an anecdote, in the same room, my iPhone 3Gs instantly finds my position.
I've bought this phone 6 days ago and therefore still under warranty. Question is, can we say my GPS chip is defective ? Is it worth requesting a replacement ?
Thanks !

1st) You cannot expect to get gps reception inside even with professional equipment. When your iPhone gets a fast fix it's most likely WLAN triangulation. As Apple uses a different database than Google, it may work on on your iPhone and not on your Nexus for a paticular place and vice versa.
2nd) It's unlikely that your gps is broken if you can connect to GSM/UMTS/CDMA2000 networks as gps is processed using the same chipset.
3rd) That 1km-off-fix might be celltower based location, 1km sounds quite plausible.
4th) Try _NOT_ to move until you get GPS fix.
5th) Keep internet access while trying to get a fix. The Nexus S as most phones on the market use assisted gps, where your phone contacts a server that provides data which enables your phone to track its position more easily.
6th) Good luck.

Yes, well, I had 2 friends which came to my place, in my room, and just activated GPS on their iphones and it located them straight away, to our exact position. So it was definitely the GPS tracking and not triangulation.
Indeed, when MY phone locates me off 1 km, this is definitely triangulation or cell-towers.
Of course, when I try to get a fix in my apartment or on my balcony, I just put it on a table and must wait for at least 30 mins to get a lock, and it disappears quickly. Doesn't seem normal to me ...
Finally to answer your 5th point, I got 3G, so a perfect fast & smooth inet connection.

GPS testing should always be done outside, you are not supposed to use it indoors.
What is probably happening there is that the other devices are more sensitive and can still get a lock. You might be able to get a lock if you place your phone very close to the window.
I got a Nexus S recently and noticed that the GPS is quite weaker than the one on my old HTC.
Although the Nexus is faster to get a lock (if you let it use 3G) the GPS itself is less sensitive and accurate.
It looses signal easier, for instance, if i go under some trees, and it takes more time to get signal back after loosing it, for example, if you go under a bridge, the old HTC would get the lock back in 2 seconds after leaving the bridge, the Nexus took half a minute.
Having said that, i think it's good enough for driving navigation, i have done some tests and on the road it behaves well enough.
You shouldn't be surprised, this phone is very similar to the Galaxy S and that had terrible GPS issues, this nexus is better, but still weak.

Thank you for your feedback, temp9300 !
I guess the Nexus S can't compete with iphone's. But it's ok, as long as it works fine outdoors, this is what matters.

Anyone having GPS issues...did a new device help?

I've had me Infuse for about 2 weeks now and really did not believe the GPS issues people were talking about from the Captivate. This weekend I went on a 6 hour drive to my in-laws house and had the worst time ever { not including my time with them.} The GPS signal was lost every 2-5 minutes, which led to missed roads, waiting for it to connect again, or just starting the search over. Sometimes, it would not connect again for 10-20 minutes. I don't use GPS that often, and I am not going to retry that same journey any time soon. I have been reading that newer devices have been working much better if not perfect. I have never had an issue like this with any other phone, and it did not help that my wife was in the car saying " well, my iPhone is working just fine...what's wrong with that thing?" Anyway, I will say that this was over the Arizona desert, but once again the Iphone was working much more accurate. So I am asking if anyone has had a return and seen a major difference in newer devices here.

+1
i had GPS issues. Returned it got a new device working like a charm.

Yes return it while you can
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App

[i9003]GPS under cloudy sky not locking at all.

Since I bought i9003 phone this is my 1st rainy season hence cloudy & last few days I am not able to get gps signal at all, it just refuses to lock on as hardly 2 satellites are visible with poor signal.
I traveled 2hrs on road with angled sunlight but under heavy cloud (overhead) cover today & gps refused to lock.
Is there a a way out or our phone gps is useless under cloud cover, I am wondering what happens under dense fog which we face in winters?
Does that happens to dedicated CAR GPS too?

At this weekend I traveled under storm clouds and GPS worked well. May be because I did the following:
1. With help of GPS Aids I took LTO data
2. Before going by car I stay while GPS was taking signals.
Then I was going for more then 300 km without GPS loosing.
I noticed with Nokia 5800 that taking position in moving car is harder than when you are staying.
Sent from my GT-I9003

Strange mine is not working past few days now since we have monsoon clouds or may be some hardware problem has occurred need to test it thoroughly.

[Q] GPS troubles

Hi guys. I've been using Sensation 4G for well over a year and modded roms for almost as long. I use GPS functions extensively and have always had good results but in the past week and a half my GPS is having trouble getting a lock or even keeping a lock once it has enough satellites to position within 10 feet or less. I'm in NYC area and I don't know if it's related to the UN summit and the military is scrambling GPS signals to keep us "safe" or is it another solar flare that's messing things up? One thing that I did do, is to reformat the external SD card because I was getting some weird errors when apps tried to access the card to store data.
Is anyone else experiencing anything similar?
I'm on insertcoin 2.4 currently.
Going to try to re-apply GPS fix to see if it fixes the issue.
Thanks!

amelnik said:
Hi guys. I've been using Sensation 4G for well over a year and modded roms for almost as long. I use GPS functions extensively and have always had good results but in the past week and a half my GPS is having trouble getting a lock or even keeping a lock once it has enough satellites to position within 10 feet or less. I'm in NYC area and I don't know if it's related to the UN summit and the military is scrambling GPS signals to keep us "safe" or is it another solar flare that's messing things up? One thing that I did do, is to reformat the external SD card because I was getting some weird errors when apps tried to access the card to store data.
Is anyone else experiencing anything similar?
I'm on insertcoin 2.4 currently.
Going to try to re-apply GPS fix to see if it fixes the issue.
Thanks!
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Click to collapse
If it's a military issue every GPS device would be effected. You can rule that out by grabbing any other phone or Garmin device and testing it.
Alternatively, go elsewhere if you can and see if the problem fixes. There are weird dead spots in the GPS network. I get one on the way to work every day. GPS drops out in the exact same spot for about 2000 feet of highway.

Skipjacks said:
If it's a military issue every GPS device would be effected. You can rule that out by grabbing any other phone or Garmin device and testing it.
Alternatively, go elsewhere if you can and see if the problem fixes. There are weird dead spots in the GPS network. I get one on the way to work every day. GPS drops out in the exact same spot for about 2000 feet of highway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, after applying agps fix v3.1 it's much better now.
It still looses signal while in Manhattan sometimes but most gps' do, other than that, gps fix is usually done in under 10 seconds.

Glad you got it worked out. When I first started flashing the Sensation, from ICS to MIUI stuff, along with random kernels, I had all types of GPS issues. Because of that, I was involved with a few betas for gps 'fix' testing by another member here and a small group of people with different phones/devices.
What I found out is that in ICS anyway, that the kernels play a big part in the functionality of gps. Next is the gps.conf file. Depending on how many servers on that file, will depend on how many servers you can connect to depending on your local.
When I was living in NY, I had decent coverage as well. GPS like you worked for the most part in NYC.
What I do whenever I see that my gps is not connecting within a minute, I check to see if there is any supl.cert in your system/etc. That file is not needed really (Im on tmo).
Then check to see which kernel you are using. Are you using a custom kernel? Or a stock one? Rule of thumb is to revert back to the bundled kernel/stock kernel if I have any GPS problems.