Hey guys,
Here's a quick rundown of my situation: I've had my GPS connector replaced per the instructions in the "Correct Hardware Fix" thread. I've been running tests using both the integrated gps test menu and the Chartcross gps test app.
For starters, I've found something quite curious about the Chartcross app. Despite the fact that I have "Use Wireless Networks" disabled in location & security settings, the Chartcross app does appear to use network assisted gps.
Chartcross Tests
Test 1: Place phone in airplane mode, restart, run test. Finds 3-5 sats, maybe connects, takes forever nevertheless. In other words, sucks.
Test 2: Re-enable wireless data. Restart. Run test again. Immediately sees 13 sats, connects to 7 fairly quickly (inside even). Again, this is despite having "Use wireless" unchecked.
My GPS is obviously working (and working well), so why the hell will it not connect while data is off? I'm totally stumped...any advice would be much appreciated.
P.S. I've tried Nero v5 (awesome, by the way) and stock 2.2. Pretty sure my phone is a July 2010 model, if that helps.
I had some slow connect issues with Nero v5 as well. I got mine resolved by flashing a newer (KA7) modem.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=868774
I'm getting awful gps with the ka7 modem. How was your gps before hardware fix?
Get a clue people, read the Vibrant advertisement. The Vibrant has GPS assist NOT GPS. That means without the Cellular connection just relying on the Sats for the connection, the GPS will be sucky and slow, but it will work without the Cell/wireless signal.
i am using KA7 and i am getting 11-14 in view and 5-7 lock, fast locate.
Without Cell signal i get 5-8 view and 3-5 lock takes 45sec-1min
But this could because of where i am and most likely why people have different performance of the GPS
oka1 said:
Get a clue people, read the Vibrant advertisement. The Vibrant has GPS assist NOT GPS. That means without the Cellular connection just relying on the Sats for the connection, the GPS will be sucky and slow, but it will work without the Cell/wireless signal.
i am using KA7 and i am getting 11-14 in view and 5-7 lock, fast locate.
Without Cell signal i get 5-8 view and 3-5 lock takes 45sec-1min
But this could because of where i am and most likely why people have different performance of the GPS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry man, I didn't realize the distinction.
So let me get this straight:
An assisted GPS uses some sort of wireless data regardless of whether or not the "Use Wireless Networks" box is checked in Android settings?
GET A CLUE PEOPLE! lol
ferhanmm said:
GET A CLUE PEOPLE! lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah...
Related
i was wondering why my gps will only work when my wifi is off, or if it is on but not connected to a network. does anyone have an answer?
Sorry to bump this thread, but I've narrowed my GPS problems on stock 2.2 to my wifi. Not sure if it involves my wifi network being secure or not, but having wifi active seems to be stopping the phone from correctly using the "assistance" in aGPS. It's very strange----when I use GPS Test, the Edge network icon appears, but no packets are sent or received...my "Satellites in view" number thus never goes up to the normal 9-12.
When I turn wifi off, the phone actually sends/receives data over Edge, and the "Satellites in view" number almost immediately shoots to 9-12. It locks shortly thereafter.
Team Whiskey shockingly seems to have fixed this in later Nero/Bionix-V ROMS...anyone have idea how to fix it on stock?
EDIT:
Figured out my problem! Examined Team Whiskey's gps settings---looks like they have MS BASED selected as GPS mode.
Went into LbsTestMode, selected MS Based and changed SUPL setting to Google (just for good measure). GPS now works like a charm with Wifi active. (Assuming I have network, that is.)
inconceeeivable said:
Sorry to bump this thread, but I've narrowed my GPS problems on stock 2.2 to my wifi. Not sure if it involves my wifi network being secure or not, but having wifi active seems to be stopping the phone from correctly using the "assistance" in aGPS. It's very strange----when I use GPS Test, the Edge network icon appears, but no packets are sent or received...my "Satellites in view" number thus never goes up to the normal 9-12.
When I turn wifi off, the phone actually sends/receives data over Edge, and the "Satellites in view" number almost immediately shoots to 9-12. It locks shortly thereafter.
Team Whiskey shockingly seems to have fixed this in later Nero/Bionix-V ROMS...anyone have idea how to fix it on stock?
EDIT:
Figured out my problem! Examined Team Whiskey's gps settings---looks like they have MS BASED selected as GPS mode.
Went into LbsTestMode, selected MS Based and changed SUPL setting to Google (just for good measure). GPS now works like a charm with Wifi active. (Assuming I have network, that is.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you need gps to get around your house? That's one big house lol
When you use aGPS your phone is connecting to the providers trusted server. Since you are connecting using Wi-Fi the server in question cannot validate your phone as a valid device. Work around:
1. Do not use Wi-Fi when using GPS or
2. Use supl.google.com for your aGPS server.
Krzysiek_CK said:
When you use aGPS your phone is connecting to the providers trusted server. Since you are connecting using Wi-Fi the server in question cannot validate your phone as a valid device. Work around:
1. Do not use Wi-Fi when using GPS or
2. Use supl.google.com for your aGPS server.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I'm an idiot. Figured this out earlier in the morning. Realized that changing the server is what fixed it. Thank you so much though! Your explanation of the security/validation makes perfect sense now.
And yes, I've got OCD. I need mah GPS everywhaarrr
So I got my self to thinking; What is the best way to handle connectivity for my devices?
I have a rooted/rom'd Evo Shift, and will have my gTab soon (hopefully). I generally leave BT on my phone on all the time, and it is currently paired with my Car's head unit to stream audio and hands free calls.
Do I pair my table to my phone via BT and tether?
What are the consequences of leaving that on all the time? How would that affect the battery life of the phone and tablet? I know in the old days when you used the PAM (phone as modem) your phone didn't get any internet connectivity. Is that the case with BT tethering?
Do I pair my tablet with my head unit? I don't know if it can be paired with more then one device. I doubt it though. Maybe just pair hands free from my phone and a2dp from the gtab? Not sure if that is possible, have to read the head unit's manual.
I apologize for the incoherent ramblings. I'm trying to figure out what other people have done along with what works well, or what doesn't work at all.
Thanks,
So I've read up a little more and found some answers.
Looks like I can get GPS information from my phone via blue tooth. This will be awesome in the car. Any one who has done this, is it possible to get internet tethering via blue tooth from the same phone at the same time?
Using wifi to tether data while i use blue tooth for GPS information is possible, but doesn't seem very elegant.
It doesn't look like my head unit can have multiple BT pairings active at the same time. Guess I will have to use an aux cable for the tab and BT for my phone.
An ideal solution would be for my tab to use wifi for internet if available, and tether via BT to my phone if a wifi network is not available. It would be nice to leave the tethering open all day, but I think that would drain my phones battery something fierce. My over all concept it to have a personal network of interconnected devices with my phone acting as their connection to the internet.
Any advice, comments, death threats or criticism (constructive or not).
Bluetooth GPS sharing is very doable. There are several threads dedicated to setting this up. Looks like you may have found a few of them.
Tethering BT data to your phone is also very doable. Again, there are several threads on this, and I'm pretty active in most of them. Been working on this for a bit.
Start with this one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1001496
Wifi tethering is much easier. The issue I've had is mostly around BT and Wifi signal conflicts. I don't see it much in just using BT GPS and WiFi Data, but if I receive a call (I use a BT headset when on the road), the quality of my call is in the toilet for at least a minute or so. My guess is that the Tab is trying to get WiFI data from the phone (which it won't be able to because I'm on the phone - VZW CDMA - can't be on the Net and on phone at same time). After about a minute or so, it calms down. Unacceptable solution though.
So, I've now been mostly doing GPS & Data through Bluetooth to the phone. The problem with this hookup is again when I take a call, of course my Data drops on the tab (no way around that). But even worse, the GPS signal gets degraded too. I'm thinking just not enough Bluetooth bandwidth to support Headset, Data, and GPS at the same time?
So my most recent setup (just tried it for a bit today) is to use an external Bluetooth GPS (got one on Amazon for about $25.00) and then Bluetooth Tether to the phone for data. It's a little bit complicated, and involves yet another 'gadget', but I am getting the best results from this setup so far.
Thanks for the info.
I'm on sprint and know the "no data and voice" problem all to well. Even when using maps for navigation on my phone, if a call comes in, the GPS becomes retarded and inaccurate. Once the call ends, all is good.
with getting data from your phone via bluetooth, is that something you leave on all the time or do you have to turn on BT tethering when you want data?
grandebob said:
Thanks for the info.
I'm on sprint and know the "no data and voice" problem all to well. Even when using maps for navigation on my phone, if a call comes in, the GPS becomes retarded and inaccurate. Once the call ends, all is good.
with getting data from your phone via bluetooth, is that something you leave on all the time or do you have to turn on BT tethering when you want data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't been using that often to be honest. So when I do, I turn on BT tethering at that time.
I also use Co-Pilot for Navigation. It doesn't need data, just GPS. Map data is downloaded to the sdcard. Just depends on how I feel at that moment. Both nav systems have their advantages/disadvantages.
I'll have to check out co-pilot. storing maps for offline use sounds like a good idea, as long as they don't get stale.
OK, so I've kind of got blue tooth GPS data working. Using an app called "ShareGPS" on my phone and "BlueToothGPS" on my gtab, I've successfully gotten gps data to my tab. Using the BlueToothGPS app on my tab, i can see satellites and GPS data flowing. Unfortunately maps doesn't seem to get location data, and there doesn't appear to be a way to enable GPS data in any of the settings.
Running TnT lite. Any one know how I can get maps to see the GPS data?
I just got my Tab last night and while at work, decided to download a book that I'm in the middle of (Amazon archive). Our wifi at work is weak (to say the least) and I couldn't keep a connection long enough to download one book. It finally dawned on me that my rooted Evo has wireless tether. It worked like a champ! It's the first time I've used it and I gotta tell you, that alone made my day. Nice strong connection and I was able to websurf to my heart's content. I'm running TnT Lite 4.40.
I know that somewhere around there is probably an answer to my question, but I'm just 'lazy' to go through the 700+ pages on the cm7 thunderbolt thread.
I'm running cm7 the latest version on thunderbolt and the only thing to complain about is the gps not getting a fix.
I use the gps navigation on a daily basis and this is what's keeping me from using cm7 for the daily driver on my phone. Anyone have a fix for this i would greatly appreciate.
(P.S. i remember there was a fix for the evo back in those days with the msn reader app and some number calling, anything like that for the thunderbolt?)
thanks in advance!
Laziness isn't really an excuse considering it's talked about on nearly every page in the thread.
First of all, note in the OP by slayher it says "gps slow to get locks" (not experienced by all btw).
That said, suggestions depend on whether your gps just can't lock or isn't even trying.
Anyway, a few in no particular order are:
Backup CM7 -> Load Sense Rom->Get GPS Fix->Restore CM7
Enable Wifi (whether connected to AP or not)
toggling cdma/lte in mobile network settings
resetting a-gps in GPS Status and downloading data
unchecking use wireless networks in location settings
Hi all im trying to use my GPS on navigation and it doesnt seem to be working one bit i even downloaded a gps app and that wasnt picking it up also any idea's what's wrong?
TipTopFlipFlop said:
Hi all im trying to use my GPS on navigation and it doesnt seem to be working one bit i even downloaded a gps app and that wasnt picking it up also any idea's what's wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT: the only real GPS dead zones are underground and on a very rare occurence when your time and date aren't synchronized with that of the GPS sattelite. Other then that, have you tried to enable GPS in settings (would be weird if it was disabled by default). It also matters if you have a data connection when using some apps (I have never gotten google maps to show me where I am when I have no data).
Hope some of this is useful to you
Dyskmaster said:
EDIT: the only real GPS dead zones are underground and on a very rare occurence when your time and date aren't synchronized with that of the GPS sattelite. Other then that, have you tried to enable GPS in settings (would be weird if it was disabled by default). It also matters if you have a data connection when using some apps (I have never gotten google maps to show me where I am when I have no data).
Hope some of this is useful to you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank's for the reply the GPS is enabled still no luck,you cant get data on the Galaxy Player anyway i think.
Other people must be having this problem too the thread has had about 200 view's does anyone know anything about this problem?
TipTopFlipFlop said:
Thank's for the reply the GPS is enabled still no luck,you cant get data on the Galaxy Player anyway i think.
Other people must be having this problem too the thread has had about 200 view's does anyone know anything about this problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By data connection he means a wifi connection.
GPS uses data always. So it needs a data stream to get and use location services and maps.
On a phone it uses cellular or wifi but on an ipod style device or the galaxy player it needs wifi.
Without wifi it will never work unless your gps config files are modified; which is something i learned when trying to get the Acer Iconia GPS to work. And even then its probably not going to work.
Turn on wifi. I bet it works.
You now may be thinking "then what good is gps when i do not have a data connection!!?" - and my answer is exactly!!!
Gps on these devices is a gimmick and really only works when wifi is available.
True gps like a tom tom device doesnt need a wifi connection because it uses the gps link iyself for the limited data it needs plus the maps are built in.
On the galaxy player and phones the maps are downloaded at needed because they are hundreds of megs .
v_lestat said:
{snip}
True gps like a tom tom device doesnt need a wifi connection because it uses the gps link iyself for the limited data it needs plus the maps are built in.
On the galaxy player and phones the maps are downloaded at needed because they are hundreds of megs .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Galaxy Player works fine as a standalone GPS without need of a wifi connection if you have the right kind of app. I use Sygic but there are several others. You download maps from Sygic to your player so they are available on your device. Works fine on my 5" Galaxy Player. Also there are apps like speedometers which use the GPS and work fine without a wifi connection.
I use Sygic. And also use pre recorded areas in Google Maps when I need it. No need to WI-FI, etc..
It is a good GPS 5 ".
In fact, very good.
Until now no problems experienced with GPS. If you do not connect may be related to your area.
v_lestat said:
By data connection he means a wifi connection.
GPS uses data always. So it needs a data stream to get and use location services and maps.
On a phone it uses cellular or wifi but on an ipod style device or the galaxy player it needs wifi.
Without wifi it will never work unless your gps config files are modified; which is something i learned when trying to get the Acer Iconia GPS to work. And even then its probably not going to work.
Turn on wifi. I bet it works.
You now may be thinking "then what good is gps when i do not have a data connection!!?" - and my answer is exactly!!!
Gps on these devices is a gimmick and really only works when wifi is available.
True gps like a tom tom device doesnt need a wifi connection because it uses the gps link iyself for the limited data it needs plus the maps are built in.
On the galaxy player and phones the maps are downloaded at needed because they are hundreds of megs .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The GPS technology works perfectly fine without data connection. To speed up the first fix, aGPS was developped and uses a data connection when available, but data connection is not mandatory. It's what is used in most if not all smartphones (search for "assisted gps" in wikipedia).
Data connection are required by some navigation software because they need to download the maps or for some obscure reasons. It's the case with google navigation for example.
But you can use a software that doesn't require data connection and store all its map on the device and only uses the GPS signal to do the fix, as gotok pointed out correctly. An android device with a good navigation software is no different than what you call a "true gps like tomtom".
I think you just don't make the difference between GPS (the technology) and navigation software.
I agree that the samsung S wifi's GPS capabilities are not very useful "out of the box" with the limitations of google navigation, but it can work perfectly fine with a good software. Don't blame this device (or any other one) for the shortcomings of google navigation and some other software.
MervinMinky said:
I agree that the samsung S wifi's GPS capabilities are not very useful "out of the box" with the limitations of google navigation, but it can work perfectly fine with a good software. Don't blame this device (or any other one) for the shortcomings of google navigation and some other software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The software is definitely an issue. The SGP i got for christmas couldn't utilize its GPS at all. Regardless of what app tried to use GPS location services, i always got a location error (E.G. Location unavailable at this time.) After doing a little searching, i found that someone had an app that fixed a similar problem. I downloaded "GPS Status & Toolbox" and let it run. Its primary use is a compass and getting information about location, but after i opened it and let it download GPS configuration information, everything worked perfectly. Maps showed where i was, Facebook gave me nearby locations and so on.
Dont know if everyone figured this out already or not, but after reading over most of the thread, i didn't see a definitive solution. Just thought I'd share what i had found.
MervinMinky said:
The GPS technology works perfectly fine without data connection. To speed up the first fix, aGPS was developped and uses a data connection when available, but data connection is not mandatory. It's what is used in most if not all smartphones (search for "assisted gps" in wikipedia).
Data connection are required by some navigation software because they need to download the maps or for some obscure reasons. It's the case with google navigation for example.
But you can use a software that doesn't require data connection and store all its map on the device and only uses the GPS signal to do the fix, as gotok pointed out correctly. An android device with a good navigation software is no different than what you call a "true gps like tomtom".
I think you just don't make the difference between GPS (the technology) and navigation software.
I agree that the samsung S wifi's GPS capabilities are not very useful "out of the box" with the limitations of google navigation, but it can work perfectly fine with a good software. Don't blame this device (or any other one) for the shortcomings of google navigation and some other software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Data connection is never "mandatory" but with some GPS chipsets, it effectively is.
Some chipsets are so crippled they are almost never able to get a lock without assistance.
See the original GalaxyS phones as one example.
The Infuse is improved but not much better.
The Galaxy S II is VERY good at standalone operation.
Galaxy Players - ???, no clue
The GPS works fine, without wifi, on the Galaxy Player 5.0. To test it, get GPS Test (free). Of all the devices I have ever had with GPS (including Nokia phones, LG Android and HTC phones, Garmin) the GPS is the fastest I have experienced. Locks indoors and on moving trains very fast.
I use CoPilot mapping and navigation program and it works great.
I use "Mapdroid" (Free) and "Navdroid" (purchased) and both work great as stand-alone apps. The maps are open source maps and can be had for pretty much anywhere in the world.
Just like a real stand-alone GPSr the accuracy and speed of start up depends on a clear view of the sky, enough time to builds it's almanac of Sats and how far you are from the location you last accessed the app ( moving great distances between uses is almost the same as being turned on for the first time). The same can be said if too much time has gone by between use (such as months).
The Sat almanac gets built when your gpsr is turned on for the first time and is used as a predictive way identifying which Sats should be overhead at the current time you turn your GPSr on. Four or more Sataltites locked in gives you a higher degree of accuracy.
John
Google Now gave me a rather interesting message: For better location, please enable Wifi. This works even when not connected to a network.
How can the phone figure out my location by using the Wifi antenna without connecting to any networks?
Here's how I originally thought it worked: The phone sees what cell towers are available, then uses data or Wifi to look them up in a database and determines a likely location. But now the app is telling me it really just wants the wifi antenna on. Why?
Because its like when you turn on your Bluetooth it scans near by devices..you connect with them or not its not the question but you can know that how many devices are in your range got it..
Same like when you turn on wifi it searches near by connection you connect or not Google find out your near by wifi networks.. By using that nearby wifi network already registered they find you approximately locations..
we all should be polite enough to press thanks for anyone who helped US.
Oh. Then Google records the location of Wifi networks, so visible networks can be used for location lookups?
Actually, that makes sense. I remember a couple years ago they got in trouble for wardriving and said it was unintentional. It could have been related to an effort to record the location of all visible networks.
That makes sense, but I'm running JellyTime on an Inspire, and it doesn't have the biggest battery. I don't want to leave wifi on all the time. Would it make sense to use Tasker to turn wifi on for a few minutes every hour, or would Google Now even be able to gather enough location info in such a short time?
Longstreet said:
That makes sense, but I'm running JellyTime on an Inspire, and it doesn't have the biggest battery. I don't want to leave wifi on all the time. Would it make sense to use Tasker to turn wifi on for a few minutes every hour, or would Google Now even be able to gather enough location info in such a short time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not test it without Wifi? Leave google maps open with Wifi/GPS disabled while you're traveling. If that looks reasonably accurate, just leave them off.
As for timing, the phone can tell your location pretty quickly, but I don't know how Google Now is written. It would probably need to have specific logic that says "check location whenever wifi gets enabled". I'm not sure whether it does.
fenstre said:
Why not test it without Wifi? Leave google maps open with Wifi/GPS disabled while you're traveling. If that looks reasonably accurate, just leave them off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I've been doing. It works so far, I was just wondering if there was a better way.
It just doesn't seem to do much beyond weather and sports. Maybe I haven't used it long enough. Or maybe my life is so freaking boring it doesn't have a lot to work with!:laugh:
As for timing, the phone can tell your location pretty quickly, but I don't know how Google Now is written. It would probably need to have specific logic that says "check location whenever wifi gets enabled". I'm not sure whether it does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm wondering. There's a lot of info out there on what it does and how it does it. But I'd be interested in the nuts and bolts, finding out exactly what it's doing and when and how.
It is kinda neat. But kinda unsettling too.