hey im wondering if this would work for us or is there some porting needed and is this somthing that would help gps and if im in the wrong section please move.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=881941
Very interesting post indeed.
From his findings, I'm also wondering if we have Auto Rotate Screen (the accelerometers) turned off, if that hinders the ability for our GPS to accurately detect location and movement. He suggested that it goes into low-power mode when it isn't detecting movement via the sensors, but didn't say what happens if the sensors are turned off.
...I'm going to have to test this out tomorrow.
Are people still having issues with GPS on the fascinate? Since we more or less had the issue fixed I've had as good or better GPS performance than on my other smartphones.
Da_G is a good buddy of mine, trust me, if anyone knows wtf they are talking about, it would be him....
lane32x said:
Very interesting post indeed.
From his findings, I'm also wondering if we have Auto Rotate Screen (the accelerometers) turned off, if that hinders the ability for our GPS to accurately detect location and movement. He suggested that it goes into low-power mode when it isn't detecting movement via the sensors, but didn't say what happens if the sensors are turned off.
...I'm going to have to test this out tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im just wondering if this is safe to flash to our phones or does it need to be ported to fascinate
yep still having issues with gps...sometimes doesn't lock. sometimes takes forever. sometimes...omgsh...it actually locks!
not reliable.
I applied the d101 gps fix to eb01 and my gps locks in around 20sec. Auto rotate or not my gosh never locked on eb01 without the d101 fix.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
Just tested my gps a little. Mine is locking within 5 meters in a brick building with auto rotation on or off. Not in a car currently but I took a little jog and it seemed to follow my direction and location very accurately in both.
So I guess my GPS is pretty good.
Regardless... I wanted to say thanks for reposting that because it was a really interesting read!
It should just work, even though EB01 stock should just work too.
Just don't flash the AT&T-specific version...
The Fascinate doesn't seem to have the same layout concerning the gps jupiter files (I don't see them anywhere, at first glance). Either I am missing something or it's a completely different setup.
There are some settings in his /data/gps/secgps.conf (just a text configuration file) that are different than the stock fascinate file. These might be worth looking into to see if they help improve the signal without using his modified binary. You don't need to flash the file using CWM, just use adb to push a modified file (or root explorer and edit it on the phone itself).
Since this is a CDMA phone, I don't know how many people this would affect, but here is a general Android GPS tip for those who don't live in North America:
In /system/etc/gps.conf, change the address to the server that corresponds to your country:
Code:
NTP_SERVER=[COLOR="Red"]north-america[/COLOR].pool.ntp.org
I usually can't get an accurate lock or any lock at all unless I reboot with gps already enabled. Then I will get a good lock instantly... If I reboot the phone with gps off then I will get no signal/lock again.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Let me share my experience with GPS on EB01, it's GREAT, you just have to turn on GPS "correctly."
If I turn on GPS using the Notification switch, GPS takes FOREVER to lock, if it even does so. Gone several minutes with no lock.
Now here's the thing, if you turn on GPS in the Settings > Location settings, I always get super fast, under 5 second GPS locks. ALWAYS. I've tried this out repeatedly over several days, and it really makes a difference. Once you turn on GPS using Settings, you can leave your phone on, reboot, whatever, and GPS will still be responsive. If you turn it off, wait a while and use the Notification switch to turn on GPS and you're trying to get a cold lock, it'll be slow again, just be sure to use the Setting option and it'll be back to being responsive.
That's my experience.
CrushD said:
Let me share my experience with GPS on EB01, it's GREAT, you just have to turn on GPS "correctly."
If I turn on GPS using the Notification switch, GPS takes FOREVER to lock, if it even does so. Gone several minutes with no lock.
Now here's the thing, if you turn on GPS in the Settings > Location settings, I always get super fast, under 5 second GPS locks. ALWAYS. I've tried this out repeatedly over several days, and it really makes a difference. Once you turn on GPS using Settings, you can leave your phone on, reboot, whatever, and GPS will still be responsive. If you turn it off, wait a while and use the Notification switch to turn on GPS and you're trying to get a cold lock, it'll be slow again, just be sure to use the Setting option and it'll be back to being responsive.
That's my experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice observation...just worked for me too!!
By golly... He's right, although it took me about twenty seconds to lock.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Hmm... I remember this from a different android device I have. The stock power control widget for wifi would take 45 seconds longer for the network to connect then if I would go to the wifi menu and turn it on myself. I found out that there were two methods for turning on the wifi programmatically, and that some widgets used one method and the other widgets used the other.
If I remember right, the fast method changed the setting by calling the wifi menu and emulating the menu press, while the slow method attempted to power on the wifi directly.
$10 says that if you started decompiling, you'd find a similar situation here.
Related
Let me start by saying my Mogul (Bell) has ALWAYS LOCKED (found satellites) with ALL of DCD's ROMS from the day he started creating the ROMs for the GPS. All the "GPS" radio's have worked and am lucky never to have a problem except one: Not Finding GPS/Satellites after the Mogul Sleeps or being able to get it working again without a soft/hard reset everytime!!!
I have been using only DCD's ROMS and currently have radio 3.35.04 and DCD 3.01 installed. I am using Garmin XT and GPS Tuner. I get the same results with every GPS software I have tried.
Here are brief details:
After hard/soft reset - if its within a few seconds and I catch it quickly, there are no problems, both the AGPS and the software are working fine.
After 2-? Minutes - if I let the unit go to sleep, and awake it via the Power button, the gps program is looking for satellites. Sometimes it finds them, most of the time not. It wont find them in ANY program, even GPS Viewer and/or any other navigation program.
After Many Minutes - not only are the satellites gone, but now the navigation software cannot find the AGPS with any program OR method.
Sometimes a soft start fixes it, sometimes only a hard start will do the trick.
I have tried as much of the "forced start" software that I could find, but to no avail.
I also changed the com port to 5 thinking that there maybe is a conflict with 4, (you have to make sure the com port setting in all of your GPS software is also changed unless the software does this automatically) but the SAME issues stated above occur.
I have loaded and reloaded probably 20 different configurations of my software even to the point where all I had loaded was the bare DCD rom (no options or unnecessary OEM's) and JUST my Navigation software. Same issues......
I hope I am not the only one and hope that the contributions to this thread will fix this issue.
Please.....Keep this thread focused on this issue only - Keeping the GPS alive!!! ( no Where did you get this or that program? How did you install it?)
keeping the gps alive will kill the battery.
yea, i have teh same issue as you. soft reset is the only way i get gps working.
thecalip said:
keeping the gps alive will kill the battery.
yea, i have teh same issue as you. soft reset is the only way i get gps working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe a better way to phrase it would have been to make the GPS available without having to do a soft reset every time.
We don't want to keep GPS alive indefinately! We just want so if we accidentily press power button while navigation is happening, we not have to reset the phone.. because this is a little inconvenient. If I am driving down the road and I hit my power button, now I have to pull over and reset my Titan because otherwise I have no GPS navigation ability and that's not a good happening, you know? We just want so if navigation software is active, not kill GPS, then when shutdown GPS navigation software, shut down GPS gate properly so when want to relaunch GPS navigation software, not need to reboot Titan.
I'm sorry to post in a rather old post.
But I'm having the same problem with my Samsung i780.
When I already used my GPS after turning on my phone and put it back to sleep, it can't find a valid GPS signal when waking it up.
After a soft reset, the GPS signal is found very quickly.
Any fix for this?
yeah, the fix is GC's aGPS fix. I never have to soft reset my device to get a lock ever.
I don't use aGPS, just the internal GPS receiver.
Will it also fix the problem then?
>> edit:
It's not that the GPS doesn't work after accidentally pushing the power button. It's more like when I use the GPS the first time after turning the phone on, everything works fast and good. But when I close the Navigator software and turn it back on in -let's say- two hours, it doesn't get a signal from the GPS. I don't use aGPS.
I only use Google Maps and TomTom7. If I make sure the phone doesn't go to sleep while Google Maps is tracking GPS all is fine. However, if the phone goes to sleep while Google Maps is using the GPS it will not work again, in any program, until I soft reset. If I bring the phone out of sleep fast enough, it's fine. If the same happens with TomTom though it takes a few seconds to fix itself and then everything works just like it did before.
I'm not sure why it works fine with TomTom and not Google Maps though.
I found that if I use the GPS toggle program and leave it on. It finds the GPS signal after sleep mode. It is a small today screen plugin. I also have attached the latest version of Google maps. If i am using the GPS with Google maps it doesn't stop when the phone goes into sleep mode. See if this helps.
i use the same gps toggle program that tommvee suggested using and it works great. i wasn't originally having problems finding GPS satellites after waking from sleep mode, but was having to wait up to 5 minutes before garmin xt could find my location. after installing the gps toggle .cab, doing a soft reset, activating the gps toggle and letting it run in the background for a few minutes, both garmin xt, and googlemaps can now find me in about 30 seconds. i do believe however, that you'll have to reactivate the gps toggle after restarting the phone but it will stay running while your phone is in sleep/standby mode.
tommvee said:
It finds the GPS signal after sleep mode. It is a small today screen plugin./QUOTE]
Is there anyway to activate the program without the today screen plugin?
I'm using the default Samsung Home plugin and it takes the whole screen...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kflipproductions said:
yeah, the fix is GC's aGPS fix. I never have to soft reset my device to get a lock ever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also using aGPS but still have problems if I accidently hit the power button in Google Maps and forget to turn it back on. My power button is very sensitive so even brushing it as I set the phone down will put it to sleep. It doesn't click anymore like the other buttons do :/
As for the battery usage, I only use GPS in my car where I have the phone plugged in 90% of the time.
Where can I get GC's GPS fix?
RedRamage said:
Where can I get GC's GPS fix?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think there's a link to the How To in the Titan wiki.
Any pointers on shutting down the gps gate? I could try a utility for doing the shutdown manually.
stock rom
If i leave gps on.... and all the apps i have that may use gps (travel, voucher etc) do not run in the back ground,
except google maps.... will this really drain random battery throughout the day.
The reason I ask this is when using google maps...i see the gps symbol on the top of my phone, but once i back out of it...the symbol disappears, and when i go back into it to resume what i was doing the symbol turns back on and the gps has to find my location all over again.
Hence I come to the conclusion that the gps is not 'always on' when you don't need or (given you don't have any dodgy apps)
Then I could turn off googles location sharing thing, because if I am correct you need that on if you want to use location services without gps?
SGS2 uses sirfstar IV
http://www.sys-con.com/node/1822443
http://www.csr.com/products/25/sirfstariv-gsd4t
This is a modern GPS chip, it don't think it uses much battery. I've always GPS on and I've no battery issues. And I agree that it seems that the chip is set to some kind of standby when not in use so turning off the GPS in the settings (or notfication pull down) seems more like a privacy thing than power related.
Thanks for confirming. Will now try leaving gps on and location services off and see what happens. sometimes gps on its own takes a few extra seconds to locate you...might be annoying with certain apps
If you refuse location sharing you will not be able to use WIFI positioning service, but can still use cell tower positioning if your GPS is off. Personally I never use WPS since WIFI use a whole lot of power so I always keep it off. There are situations where it's useful (i.e. inside downtown can't get a GPS signal), so you can decide if you want it or not.
I usually keep my GPS off too, since when I open maps I just want to look at map, I don't need to know my exact location (and use the extra power).
My Galaxy S2 GPS sucks the battery life when I keep it on. My partner keeps his Galaxy S2 GPS on and the icon only comes on when something like Maps loads but immediatly goes away when you you exit Maps. Mine seems to stay on all the time and I can't see any obvious process running all of the time (except Maps). I monitor the battery usage with a tool and GPS is certainly running my battery down far quicker than if I turn it off.
Anyone else experiencing the same?
marklyn said:
My partner keeps his Galaxy S2 GPS on and the icon only comes on when something like Maps loads but immediatly goes away when you you exit Maps. Mine seems to stay on all the time and I can't see any obvious process running all of the time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the GPS setting turned on all the time, but my GPS only really turns on when I open an app that uses GPS, like Maps or Facebook. Just like your partner.
I actually want to keep it on all the time... like yours
Can you send me your /etc/gps.conf and /etc/sirfgps.conf ?
I'm not sure if that's what control this behaviour.
Noed said:
I have the GPS setting turned on all the time, but my GPS only really turns on when I open an app that uses GPS, like Maps or Facebook. Just like your partner.
I actually want to keep it on all the time... like yours
Can you send me your /etc/gps.conf and /etc/sirfgps.conf ?
I'm not sure if that's what control this behaviour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only had the gps.conf, not the sirfgps.conf file. Attached here.
I have to turn on GPS only when I need it for something and turn it off, otherwise it clearly drains my battery, in pretty quick fashion.
I had to rename it gps.txt to upload it.
Keeping GPS on is not draining your battery, because its realy turning on, only on application requests. Battery drain may come from some buggy app, which not close it GPS connection. You can easily see this by your GPS indicator. No indicator - no app using GPS atm - no battery drain, flashing indicator - GPS trying to lock ur position, indicator on - GPS is used and got lock on sattelites.
incident404 said:
its realy turning on, only on application requests
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to keep GPS always on, independent of an application request?
I want to control it on/off manually
I leave GPS on all the time. Only works when apps request / need it. No battery life issues for me.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Hey guys, first off, I have searched for no less than 2 hours for an answer to this question, and while there are lots of discussions, none of them seem to replicate what I am seeing.
Can anyone confirm this, and does anyone have a fix?
GPS will not lock a single satelite in Airplane Mode. I'm in American Samoa without cell coverage, and using the GPS Status app to test. Here's my findings:
First, I turn off Airplane mode, turn on WiFi (connected), turn on GPS. I do not get a cell signal. I open GPS Status, GPS locks onto the first satelite within a minute, and locks position in 10 seconds after that. I turn Airplane mode on which turns WiFi off. Interestingly enough, GPS is not turned off. I turn GP Soff, and then turn it back on (have read suggestions to do so, and have also tried not switching it at all). I then turn Wifi on and verify connection. I open GPS Status, and let it sit for up to an hour outdoors, not a single satelite ever appears. I turn Airplane mode off, and within a minute I have a locked location.
So, two questions, is it possible to get GPS to work when in Airplane mode, or is it possible to disable the cell radio some other way (possibly keeping GPS enabled)?
Here's my stats:
Phone: Moto Razr Maxx
Rooted: Yup
Carrier: Verizon
Sys Version: 6.12.181.XT912.Verizon.en.US
Android Version: 2.3.6
Baseband: CMDA_N_04.07.01R LTEDC_U_07.1F.00
Purchased about a month ago
Playing around a bit more, I noticed that when I have airplane mode off, and GPS on, and GPS Status open, if I quickly hit the home button, turn Airplane mode on, and go back into GPS Status, a lock remains for about 3-5 seconds, and then satelites slowly start disappearing until there's none left. Airplane mode is definitely disabling GPS on my phone.
Anyone? Bueller.... Bueller... Bueller...
I can post video if you don't believe me...
I have read that the GPS needs a data connection to make a lock. I don't remember where I read that, but I had the same problem when I was in Europe trying to use my phone primarily as a GPS device with cached maps. There was maybe once or twice that it actually locked, out of many many many many attempts.
I have airplane mode on, wifi and blutooth off, then turn on gps, I get gps lock on my Droid Razr with stock gingerbread for a short period then lose all satellites. It appears that you can't use gps with airplane mode on.
bump i have been wondering about this also. airlines often expressly allow gps. after all, gps RECEIVES, it doesn't transmit.
droidmo said:
I have read that the GPS needs a data connection to make a lock. I don't remember where I read that, but I had the same problem when I was in Europe trying to use my phone primarily as a GPS device with cached maps. There was maybe once or twice that it actually locked, out of many many many many attempts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually GPS doesn't need data connection to make a lock. But with data connection it helps make lock much faster.. that's the features called A-GPS (Assisted-GPS), google around about A-GPS for more detailed info how it works.
I always turn off my data connection every time i use my razr for navigation. I only turn data connection sometimes to make the GPS locked and after i got a lock i always turn off the data connection (I'm not on data plan) and even i didn't turn on my data connection I still can get a lock as long as i am outdoor. So far i never had razr GPS lock problems. This phone's GPS never disappoint me.
My guess is maybe it's some kinda bug on the airplane mode or maybe that's intentionally for some safety reasons.
Same here. I did:
- open maps, locate my position. ok.
- turn off wifi and data
- go back to maps, position ok.
- longpress power, turrn on airplane
- gps starts blinking, position lost
- turn off airplane, but data remains off
- gps position found in 2 seconds
(also tried with "GPS Test" app - same result)
I have MAXX AsiaRetail stock 2.3.6
Sent from my XT910 using XDA
Thanks guys, nice to know it's not just me! Just to clarify some other posts, GPS works with or without a data connection as long as airplane mode is off.
So, seeing as though airplane mode kills GPS, does anyone know of a way to disable the cell radio (to save battery life) without turning on airplane mode?
And just to comfort those who worry about flying, I'm just using the phone for directions and what not (American Samoa doesn't have street addresses believe it or not, and 2 houses past the third palm tree doesn't cut it ). I download the directions while at the hotel on wifi, then go about my way, but if I can't use GPS in airplane mode, it kills the battery searching for a cell tower.
kreez said:
So far i never had razr GPS lock problems. This phone's GPS never disappoint me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't agree more, while in the states with cell reception, this phone's GPS is fantastic! Unfortunately, if you have to keep airplane mode off to have it work, it's useless in the back country, or 3rd world countries. Maybe today's ICS release will fix the bug!
I don't think it's a bug. My droid X did the same thing.
risslerp said:
I don't think it's a bug. My droid X did the same thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah yes, feature not bug. :cyclops:
Moved To Q&A
Please Post questions in the Q&A section
On my Razr Maxx I also have no gps in airplane mode. I'm running the official 4.04.
I'm going to guess this is because the droid radio chip has gps integrated along with the cellular radios. Here's my evidence:
Turning off the radio with the LTE OnOff app (it just opens the radio service menu, same as dialing the service number), and pressing "Turn radio off": Gps Test would never see any satellites and would never get a gps lock.
Setting the "preferred network type" to "GSM only" (this has no service in Seattle with Verizon): Gps Test immediately sees satellites and I get a gps lock.
I wish there was an option to turn off all the cellular radios but to leave the gps radio on. I use my razr maxx hiking with offline topo maps and OruxMaps, and it lasts about 8 hours recording tracks every 1 minute.
Possible solution?
My findings are that when using my Razr Maxx still on 2.3.6 stock settings, If I run the GPS Test application with GPS, 3G data and cellular on (airplane mode off) it acquires my location accurate of 10 feet, using 8-12 satellites in approximately 10 or so seconds. If I exit, toggle Airplane mode on, relaunch GPS Test, it will acquire my location in the same time, accuracy and with again 8-12 satellites. But If I exit, toggle GPS off and then Airplane mode on, Toggle GPS on, relaunch GPS Test, it will not be able to locate any satellites.
Now, with that said, if I go into my data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ directory and open the settings.db file, in the "system" entry, I do not have gps listed in either the "airplane_mode_radios" or the "airplane_mode_toggleable_radios" values. I do have "cell,bluetooth,wifi" under the airplane_mode_radios value, and "bluetooth,wifi" under the airplane_mode_toggleable_radios value.
I do not know how this looks in ICS for the Razr (4.0.4). I also do not know if gps is even able to be included here. Just a theory.
I might be on to something that may work and you will need to be rooted.
I warn you, that I have not tried modifying this myself, so I cannot verify it will work. Do not try this if you aren't comfortable with attempting it without it being verified to work first.
What I'm thinking is to use an app like Root Explorer and navigate into the data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ directory. Open and edit the settings.db file with an app like SQLite editor. Then open the "system" database entry. Check to see if on around lines 21 and 22 there are entries named "airplane_mode_radios" and "airplane_mode_toggleable_radios". Once located, check to see if their values include gps among the other available radios. If the airplane_mode_radios value includes gps, then long press, tap edit field, remove it and save. If gps is not listed under the airplane_mode_toggleable_radios then long press, edit field, add gps and save. Exit and reboot.
I think with doing this, it should not turn GPS off when airplane mode is toggled on and it should allow you to toggle GPS on and off while airplane mode is on.
If anyone else knows of an easier or proven way to do this then let us know.
If you know this will not work, correct me and let me know.
Ryco26 said:
My findings are that when using my Razr Maxx still on 2.3.6 stock settings, If I run the GPS Test application with GPS, 3G data and cellular on (airplane mode off) it acquires my location accurate of 10 feet, using 8-12 satellites in approximately 10 or so seconds. If I exit, toggle Airplane mode on, relaunch GPS Test, it will acquire my location in the same time, accuracy and with again 8-12 satellites. But If I exit, toggle GPS off and then Airplane mode on, Toggle GPS on, relaunch GPS Test, it will not be able to locate any satellites.
Now, with that said, if I go into my data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ directory and open the settings.db file, in the "system" entry, I do not have gps listed in either the "airplane_mode_radios" or the "airplane_mode_toggleable_radios" values. I do have "cell,bluetooth,wifi" under the airplane_mode_radios value, and "bluetooth,wifi" under the airplane_mode_toggleable_radios value.
I do not know how this looks in ICS for the Razr (4.0.4). I also do not know if gps is even able to be included here. Just a theory.
I might be on to something that may work and you will need to be rooted.
I warn you, that I have not tried modifying this myself, so I cannot verify it will work. Do not try this if you aren't comfortable with attempting it without it being verified to work first.
What I'm thinking is to use an app like Root Explorer and navigate into the data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ directory. Open and edit the settings.db file with an app like SQLite editor. Then open the "system" database entry. Check to see if on around lines 21 and 22 there are entries named "airplane_mode_radios" and "airplane_mode_toggleable_radios". Once located, check to see if their values include gps among the other available radios. If the airplane_mode_radios value includes gps, then long press, tap edit field, remove it and save. If gps is not listed under the airplane_mode_toggleable_radios then long press, edit field, add gps and save. Exit and reboot.
I think with doing this, it should not turn GPS off when airplane mode is toggled on and it should allow you to toggle GPS on and off while airplane mode is on.
If anyone else knows of an easier or proven way to do this then let us know.
If you know this will not work, correct me and let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to confirm that I'm having the same issue of having no GPS connectivity when in airplane mode even though the GPS has been toggled on. Numerous other forums have stated that this is a hardware issue with Motorola phones. I'm curious if the above quoted solution has worked for anybody.
Thank you!
This is the response that I got from Motorola after asking the general question about having GPS turned on when airplane mode is on:
"When airplane mode is enabled, this will automatically disable all wireless and radio communication on the device including the GPS receiver. Because the phone, in order to determine location, takes readings from both GPS satellites and nearby cellular base stations (towers), with the help of a location server on the network. In other words, the phone relies on the network for help in determining location. Although the phone does receive GPS signals directly from the satellites, it can't determine actual location without help from the cell network."
Therefore, you can't use the GPS radio by itself.
hantav said:
This is the response that I got from Motorola after asking the general question about having GPS turned on when airplane mode is on:
"When airplane mode is enabled, this will automatically disable all wireless and radio communication on the device including the GPS receiver. Because the phone, in order to determine location, takes readings from both GPS satellites and nearby cellular base stations (towers), with the help of a location server on the network. In other words, the phone relies on the network for help in determining location. Although the phone does receive GPS signals directly from the satellites, it can't determine actual location without help from the cell network."
Therefore, you can't use the GPS radio by itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But the GPS still works fine when I am far away from any cell towers of any kind...
I think whoever responded to you was trying to justify airplane mode turning off GPS. There must be a way to force it to stay on.
It has certainly frustrated me that I can't use airplane mode to save battery while using GPS.
I'm by no means an expert on this issue but I think the GPS and cellular radios are physically connected (on the same chip??) inside most Motorola phones. So even though you might not be near a cellular tower, and if airplane mode if off, you should be able to get a GPS signal. But if airplane mode is on, then both the cellular and GPS radios will be turned off.
Basically, the interwebs is pointing to a hardware issue rather then an a software issue. However, I hope a software solution is available.
MrCavity said:
But the GPS still works fine when I am far away from any cell towers of any kind...
I think whoever responded to you was trying to justify airplane mode turning off GPS. There must be a way to force it to stay on.
It has certainly frustrated me that I can't use airplane mode to save battery while using GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd give $20 for a software solution to this problem. I am an avid hiker. Using a cell phone in Airplane Mode you get 4x, 5x, 6x the battery life. If I can use GPS while in Airplane Mode, I can hike a very long time, but if I'm forced to leave the cell radio on merely to use GPS, the battery won't last a full day's hike. It is ridiculous that we can't (yet) use GPS in Airplane Mode. I have been using ViewRanger offline navigation app for years. I download to the phone before I leave home all of the topo maps that I need for a hike, so I have no need for data when I'm hiking.
Did anyone ever try editing the systems.db file in data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ directory? I can't tell that the guy that wrote that post ever tried it himself.
EDIT: I found here documentation of these two settings.
AIRPLANE_MODE_RADIOS -- A comma separated list of radios that need to be disabled when airplane mode is on.
AIRPLANE_MODE_TOGGLEABLE_RADIOS -- A comma separated list of radios that should to be disabled when airplane mode is on, but can be manually reenabled by the user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My XT912 is rooted and I have System set to read-write. I tried to use SQLite to edit the value of AIRPLANE_MODE_TOGGLEABLE_RADIOS in the System table of /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/System.db to change it from "bluetooth,wifi,nfc" to "bluetooth,wifi,nfc,gps" but even though I have write permissions to the file, when I tried, I received this error:
Update Failed - Error Code 5. Database is locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went searching for how to edit settings.db and found this thread and this other thread, but I don't fully understand the instructions.
Bottom Line: if this is truly a hardware problem, then editing this file won't fix the problem (but likely won't cause any harm either), but if this is merely a software problem, then this may finally give us GPS use while in Airplane Mode.
I've had this issue for a while now, but I'm wondering if it's just me or if this is something common.
Every once in a while, my Player (5.0 US) will show the GPS trying to acquire a signal icon, but it won't go to lock. I've been in places where I have good GPS signal normally, and it will stay that way for hours.
To add at my confusion, it sometimes comes up even if the GPS is turned off. In these cases, I've turned on a GPS reporting tool, and it can see that I've got a good connection with several satellites. I turn the GPS officially on, and it gets the lock (thanks to the program). Close the program and the GPS goes dormant again.
The only thing I can remotely think of is Google location services trying to pin point where my wifi is, but that doesn't explain why it can't get a lock.
Anyone else seen this or know what it is?
Hi there,
I have exactly the same problem as you. GPS is turned off but its symbol is flashing in the notification bar. I noticed this problem tomorrow morning wondering why my battery is low although I charged it yesterday afternoon.
Are you using gingerbread?
Sorry for the late reply. Yes, stock setup right now
I've noticed using Waze I'll see GPS go in and out, and occasionally I try to post pictures to Instagram and find out there's no GPS tagging in them. Anyone else seen this?
scottricketts said:
I've noticed using Waze I'll see GPS go in and out, and occasionally I try to post pictures to Instagram and find out there's no GPS tagging in them. Anyone else seen this?
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YES! Install a GPS Test and you can actually see the amount of Satellites seen go to zero. I can sit in the same place for 5 minutes and it will go from 21 to 0 every 10 - 60 seconds with a clear sky. I am wondering if this is a software or hardware issue. It is noticeable when using Gmaps to navigate, you will see your arrow simply stop when driving down the highway for 5 seconds at a time.
btothec said:
YES! Install a GPS Test and you can actually see the amount of Satellites seen go to zero. I can sit in the same place for 5 minutes and it will go from 21 to 0 every 10 - 60 seconds with a clear sky. I am wondering if this is a software or hardware issue. It is noticeable when using Gmaps to navigate, you will see your arrow simply stop when driving down the highway for 5 seconds at a time.
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Im sitting at my desk and watching it not get a fix. The location icon in the status bar never goes white, and the GPSTest just sits there not getting a fix. I've tried disabling the low power GPS option in settings with no luck.
btothec said:
YES! Install a GPS Test and you can actually see the amount of Satellites seen go to zero. I can sit in the same place for 5 minutes and it will go from 21 to 0 every 10 - 60 seconds with a clear sky. I am wondering if this is a software or hardware issue. It is noticeable when using Gmaps to navigate, you will see your arrow simply stop when driving down the highway for 5 seconds at a time.
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Same here I've noticed on my t-mobile version.... Hmm...
---------- Post added at 09:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:09 PM ----------
scottricketts said:
Im sitting at my desk and watching it not get a fix. The location icon in the status bar never goes white, and the GPSTest just sits there not getting a fix. I've tried disabling the low power GPS option in settings with no luck.
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Sometimes indoors GPS has more difficulty. Has it worked there before with other phones?
EDIT:
Worked with my GPS navigation a bit more... definitely see the GPS lose tracking every few minutes. Turned off the iZat, didn't make a difference. Plugged in a power source, thought it might help a little, but nope, GPS lost every once in a while. Bah, just when I thought I had received a problem-free unit
Any more information on this? As of April 1st, my LG G5 seems to be way off on GPS. I noticed it using Runkeeper. I thought maybe it was a Runkeeper issue, but then used MapMyRun and got the same I looked in history and saw that since getting this phone (traded in my G4 for the G5) I had one successfully tracked run, then it all went haywire. Never had a problem with the G4 - so it can't be signal issues (IMO). And since this phone got it right once... that is strange to me.
To give an idea... I ran about 10 miles and it told me 18. When I looked at the runkeeper map it looked like I was running down side streets, into fields, crazy stuff. Like it never got a real lock on my location.
I'm wondering if I need to return this phone??
bdogi said:
Any more information on this? As of April 1st, my LG G5 seems to be way off on GPS. I noticed it using Runkeeper. I thought maybe it was a Runkeeper issue, but then used MapMyRun and got the same I looked in history and saw that since getting this phone (traded in my G4 for the G5) I had one successfully tracked run, then it all went haywire. Never had a problem with the G4 - so it can't be signal issues (IMO). And since this phone got it right once... that is strange to me.
To give an idea... I ran about 10 miles and it told me 18. When I looked at the runkeeper map it looked like I was running down side streets, into fields, crazy stuff. Like it never got a real lock on my location.
I'm wondering if I need to return this phone??
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I have only used the G5 in the car a few times and it seems to work fine - using google maps, not waze.
I use a couple apps to track biking and they work fine. However, when I use them I use an app called GPS keeper pro to keep the GPS running all the time. It seems to help with apps for fitness. I started using it with the G3 and just kept right on with the G5. You might want to try GPS Keeper for your running apps.
I use GPS only in the location settings. That may help. At least my apps that rely on GPS open much faster with that setting.
Sent from my LGLS992 using XDA Free mobile app
My specific GPS issue was that it would lose lock a minute or so into a perfectly normal navigation lock while using Gmaps. It would relock after several seconds, only to lose lock again. This repeated over and over.
I was using the app GPS Status to monitor this. However, it hasn't surfaced in a few days, so I don't know if there was some rogue app or former setting that was interfering with GPS holding lock. I've hypothesized maybe it was GPS Status itself which was interfering. I uninstalled and reinstalled it, and so far *knock on wood* it hasn't popped up again.
This sounds a bit different from some of the problems listed here. The run tracker not getting a good track might be related to this, if it is never able to consistently keep GPS lock. Try monitoring the GPS satellite lock icon when the app is running. Does it go from lock (white) to not lock (grey)?
Mine is actually grey most of the time but when I'm connected to wifi calling it's constantly white. Weird. This thing needs an update for a few different reasons. Coming from the note 4 I notice differences in the software obviously but somethings seem like they don't quite work right. Example being when I used wifi calling on the note 4 it would grey out the regular signal but on this it's still active with the bars going up and down. I'm pretty sure it should cancel the network out all together but maybe this is just different. I don't know.
Sent from my LGLS992 using XDA Free mobile app
Maybe it's using the wifi connection hotspot to determine your location? So does your GPS really work at all then?
waylo said:
Maybe it's using the wifi connection hotspot to determine your location? So does your GPS really work at all then?
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Well I do have it set to GPS only in location settings but until I get out and try to use maps I guess I really won't know. It does find me in maps or other weather apps though.
Sent from my LGLS992 using XDA Free mobile app
Well - I got my second LG G5 hoping that would solve the problem. Doesn't seem to be any different
I've tried this so far:
High Accuracy - Was Already Set
Turn off WiFi location
Tried GPS Keeper to keep signal alive
Tried GPS Status Utility - NOTED: Takes a long time to lock and still will start 'searching' for long periods of time.
Tried with no cover on
New phone seems the same I love the LG phone itself, but I can't handle this. I should have returned it for a Samsung. Are there any other tricks I am missing?
bdogi said:
Well - I got my second LG G5 hoping that would solve the problem. Doesn't seem to be any different
I've tried this so far:
High Accuracy - Was Already Set
Turn off WiFi location
Tried GPS Keeper to keep signal alive
Tried GPS Status Utility - NOTED: Takes a long time to lock and still will start 'searching' for long periods of time.
Tried with no cover on
New phone seems the same I love the LG phone itself, but I can't handle this. I should have returned it for a Samsung. Are there any other tricks I am missing?
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Do you perhaps have greenify on? I have a theory that the aggressive doze may be affecting GPS lock duration.
waylo said:
Do you perhaps have greenify on? I have a theory that the aggressive doze may be affecting GPS lock duration.
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I don't think I have greenify loaded? I searched in Google Play and it only says 'install', so can't be on my phone.
bdogi said:
I don't think I have greenify loaded? I searched in Google Play and it only says 'install', so can't be on my phone.
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Correct, you don't have it installed then. Have you tried disabling iZat? It's the low power GPS addition, at the bottom of the GPS settings page.
Also, just to cover all the bases, you are outdoors when you're searching for GPS, right?
I have a stock T-Mobile G5, I've also noticed inconsistent GPS. Acts as if it's stuck. I'll open Google Maps and it'll show my location from 90 minutes ago. Won't update until I turn on airplane and then off again. Once the radios come back up GPS updates. Hoping for an update to fix this ASAP.
waylo said:
Correct, you don't have it installed then. Have you tried disabling iZat? It's the low power GPS addition, at the bottom of the GPS settings page.
Also, just to cover all the bases, you are outdoors when you're searching for GPS, right?
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The low power GPS is turned off, yes. When I run the test I am running it right next to my window indoors. I run it on my HTC One (not activated) and my LG G5 (activated - new phone). HTC locks immediately (2-5 seconds) with 14/20 satellites, G5 does not lock for at least 3 minutse with anywhere between 18-26 satellites (I gave up after 3 minutes). I tried turning off/on airplane mode like the previous post - didn't change anything for me.
Even though the GPS doesn't show lock on the LG G5, I can get google maps working. It isn't very accurate, though. It sometimes shows me stuck in a location for about 1-2 miles. It also shows me off the roads, typically.
I found a way to replicate the GPS issue! I was having it behaving really intermittently on my car mount (vertically), and then I decided to tilt it horizontal and suddenly it got a lock! I've verified it by GPS test apps and it's super obvious that in a vertical orientation, the GPS doesn't get a proper lock.
Any of you guys wanna validate this?
I'm having this issue as well, sometimes takes a couple minutes or more to obtain initial lock when I get in my car every morning and start Waze (although it guesstimates my location based on last lock / WiFi), plus then it drops out 2-3 times per drive, which is incredibly frustrating and has caused me to miss turns. I lose lock with WiFi both enabled and disabled during my drive
As a couple people already said, I use the T-Mobile G5. I'm curious if all of us experiencing the problem use the T-Mobile version and it might be a carrier ROM issue. My network and GPS settings are how they were out of the box, although now that I know it exists, I'll try disabling IZat low-power location just to see if there's any improvement.
hot_wired13 said:
I found a way to replicate the GPS issue! I was having it behaving really intermittently on my car mount (vertically), and then I decided to tilt it horizontal and suddenly it got a lock! I've verified it by GPS test apps and it's super obvious that in a vertical orientation, the GPS doesn't get a proper lock.
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My phone is always horizontal in my car dock, with the top of the phone facing left, but I'm still losing GPS lock. Do you use yours horizontally the other way?
I can tilt mine any way I want and it won't lock I ran a test this morning while taking my kids to school. I took out my old HTC One and turned on Runkeeper (running app). Turned Runkeeper on LG G5 (separate Runkeeper account to be sure nothing got screwy). G5 couldn't lock enough to map anything, HTC mapped perfectly to the roads. I then used VZ Navigator (Verizons map system - this was done at Verizon's request). The maps trailed me by about 1/2 to 1/4 mile and showed me about 200 yards off the road. Then - GPS lost. All the while - HTC mapped me out with Runkeeper perfectly mapped to the roads.
Since this is my second LG G5 with GPS issues... I think there is a problem with the phone or maybe the Verizon version of the phone. Sounds like T-Mobile also, though, so could just be some LG software screwing things up.
Either way - I'm probably getting the S7 now. I really like the G5 with the rear fingerprint scanner... but I need a GPS that works out of the box.