So this is the first GPS device I'm using so bear with me.
Google Maps seems to get my location even without GPS. Cell network triangulation I guess. It says accuracy upto 100m.
Then if I switch GPS on, then I see the blinking GPS icon at the top. Does this mean GPS is locked? Or does it mean it's in the process of locking? It never seems to stop blinking. Anyway, I get around 'accuracy upto 70m' with GPS, and it never seems to update it's position if I'm say, going in my car.
Maybe I'm using it wrong, I dunno. Any help will be appreciated.
A blinking GPS icon signifies that GPS is not locked on. Try turning on GPS and then going outside. GPS lock insides can be a problem.
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Hmm I can't ever seem to get a gps lock.
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Try using navigation and driving around for a bit
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I also had problems with the GPS and i discovered that when I could not do a "lock" the phone has to be restarted.
After that i was able to do a "lock " quickly.
(using google translator, patience please )
Related
For those of us that are not getting better gps on EC01 or various Rom's like me this fix is for you.
Instructions: With Root Explorer (or similar app) go to /etc/gps.conf
In Root Explorer long press on the file and select open in text editor
Change the first line from: NTP_SERVER=north-america.pool.ntp.org to NTP_SERVER=us.pool.ntp.org
Then Download GPS aids from the market and run that for even better results
Save changes and reboot
ENJOY
What exactly is an NTP server, and why would this edit make it more accurate?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
I sort of want to try this...
Is there any way this can mess up GPS even more?
tripacer99 said:
What exactly is an NTP server, and why would this edit make it more accurate?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^ x2
Wow, just did this while watching tv ... instant lock !!!
Sent from my SCH-I500
Network time protocol.
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I think it might be time to just face the fact that the Fascinate's GPS chip sucks.
Would like to try this, but when i try to open in text editor
in root explorer, it says read-only.
Top center, there's a gray button. click that to go to r/w.
I tried this inside, in the basement while it's storming outside. Haven't turned on GPS all day and it seemed to work. GPS lock w/o Wifi TTFF in 12 seconds. GPS lock w/ Wifi TTFF in 2 seconds (Using GPS AIDS GPS status test).
Time before was around 30 seconds and 10 seconds respectively.
Ahhh of course. Thank you!
DirgeExtinction said:
Top center, there's a gray button. click that to go to r/w.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it's the chip, it's how the nav or map app tries to access the information and turns the chip on that's the issue. When I turn on Gmaps, it sometimes sits for a full minute before locking. But sometimes, it takes a second or two. Its got to be because the communication already happened between the app and the reciever.
Here's why this is my opinion. Reboot the phone and start the GPS Test app from the market(sometime within seconds even indoors), watch it find satellites and lock. Usually does it much much faster than maps. After you do this open maps, voila instant position. Theres some kind of issue with how maps initiates the GPS reception on this phone. So I keep GPS Test installed, and when I know I need to know where I am, I turn it on for 5 seconds, then open maps.
If anyone who actually knows what the hell they are doing knows how to edit the commands that Gmaps uses, you could be immortal.
Well wow, gps lock beat me before I even opened up
gps test. Amazing. Thank you!
No luck for me (everything in GPS Test just ramains at '0' or equivalent... no sats even detected!).
north-america.pool.ntp.org seems to have a fair bit higher latency than us.pool.ntp.org, but that shouldn't really make too massive of an impact. This isn't, though, gonna change your GPS from not working at all to suddenly working, just increase the lock speed a bit.
Interesting, I thought that GPS only used the satellite clocks!
GPS has almost always been livable with my Fascinate. I don't know if I am just very lucky, or if it's because I leave it on all the time.
Sent from my SCH-I500
Yeah the fascinate chip does not suck this fix is great even when I reboot my phone still locks great everytime any time you change roms re do this fix
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Yeah I know GPS is based on time delays between satellites, not entirely sure how it works so it would make sense that using a different time server might help? Just chiming in so people can hopefully understand what NTP has to do with GPS.
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Global_Positioning_System#Basic_concept_of_GPS for reference.
dangerismymiddlename.com said:
Interesting, I thought that GPS only used the satellite clocks!
GPS has almost always been livable with my Fascinate. I don't know if I am just very lucky, or if it's because I leave it on all the time.
Sent from my SCH-I500
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You and i need to knock on wood, I am in the same boat as you. Never had serious issues with it and really worry about that the most when I flash something new...
Tried this with EA28 and EC01, no luck on it for me, my GPS is fairly good, other then it my condo. Just a little frustrating when my Eris worked fine, and my wife's Droid works fine.
This cut the time to lock in half for me. Thanks.
Still not instant but noticeably faster.
Sent with my thumbs.
Hi there,I'm in mexico celebrating my honeymoon and I'm getting huge waits for gps connection,i can't upgrade to a different rom being away from home,i was wondering if the gps fix had been singled out into one fix update. I've had a search via xda app but can't find much other than whole roms
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Try gps status and toolbox from the Market. it donwloads gps assistance data that reduces lock time and gives you more gps info. It might help.
Happy Honeymoon!
Regards
Nuno
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
are you using network assistance to get a gps lock or are you trying to do it without using data? try to get a lock when you are connected to wifi (use wireless network and use gps satellites both checked in settings). next time you go out you should get a faster lock as it will remember roughly where you are
No GPS fix in any rom as no GPS problem reported to Samsung .
jje
I use my phone to track me while I run, and I have been very disappointed with the GPS accuracy of this phone. When I look back at the maps (I use Google My Tracks app), there are obvious mistakes and inaccuracies. Does anyone have any idea if there is specific information regarding the specs of the GPS used in the phone. There are settings I can tweak in the app I am using regarding GPS accuracy, but I need the specs of the phone's GPS to make sure I use the correct settings.
Thanks.
I use MyTracks for my job without issue and is about as accurate as it can get. You're never gonna have pin point accuracy with any GPS phone. It will get you within around 3 meters.
My advice is to make sure the GPS icon in the status bar is on and not blinking. If its not there it's using wireless to best guess your location. I've always had problems with GPS not activating properly with any ROM. Turning GPS off and on or even rebooting is the quick fix.
A good app to test GPS is called "GPS Fix" and its free in the Market.
Sent from my MB870 using Tapatalk
Thanks dude...
I went out today and it was better than in days past, so perhaps there was some anomaly the last time. I did turn location by wireless networks off with the phone, and I bet that was the biggest difference. I also changed the polling frequency to automatically adjust for best accurracy.
Sent from my MB870 using XDA App
Having issues getting smart actions to come on with location settings. I am trying with leaving gps on as well. Any tips? For example I wanted to turn wifi on at home but I can't seem to get it to recognize "home" location.
I found that you must leave wifi and gps on for location based rules to work correctly.
Sent from my XT910 using xda app-developers app
therm0 said:
I found that you must leave wifi and gps on for location based rules to work correctly.
Sent from my XT910 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I will give it a try. Seems the GPS isn't very accurate as well, however I am in a heavily wooded area and low signal.
If you intend to save some juice by disabling WiFi, don't use a location-based SmartAction to do this. It will eat as much battery as leaving WiFi on, a Motorola location services will keep your WiFi on regardless of your system settings.
Sent from my XT910
bond32 said:
Having issues getting smart actions to come on with location settings. I am trying with leaving gps on as well. Any tips? For example I wanted to turn wifi on at home but I can't seem to get it to recognize "home" location.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try Llama app. It uses mobile phone towers to ascertain location so no extra battery drain. And it has many more options than smart actions.
Sent from my Razr machine
I have caught it happening a couple times now, seemingly at random.
I am not running Maps, or any other app that needs GPS... I hit the power button to wake the phone, swipe to unlock, and notice the GPS icon in the notifications.
Taping the notification just takes you to GPS location settings. Checking battery use shows no apps running that need GPS. No other direct indications that I have found in settings as to what is polling the GPS.
Anyone know what app/service is opening it in the background?
The weather clock updates itself when you unlock causing gps to hit for a couple seconds.
I checked that first... the "last updated" message said a couple hours prior. (I have it set to update every 3 hours) So I ruled that out. But I guess I could be wrong.
Seems to me, using GPS is a bit of overkill for weather location.
Marine6680 said:
I checked that first... the "last updated" message said a couple hours prior. (I have it set to update every 3 hours) So I ruled that out. But I guess I could be wrong.
Seems to me, using GPS is a bit of overkill for weather location.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How else does it figure out what city you are in at any given time?
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Its TwiX said:
How else does it figure out what city you are in at any given time?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Network location service...
It can tell where you are by knowing what cell tower you are connected to... as it knows the cell towers physical location due to a database.
This is actually how the GPS in our phones can lock on to positions in seconds rather than a couple minutes.
Cell phones have aGPS (Assisted GPS) where the cell tower info is used to get a rough position fix and speed up GPS lock.
Marine6680 said:
Network location service...
It can tell where you are by knowing what cell tower you are connected to... as it knows the cell towers physical location due to a database.
This is actually how the GPS in our phones can lock on to positions in seconds rather than a couple minutes.
Cell phones have aGPS (Assisted GPS) where the cell tower info is used to get a rough position fix and speed up GPS lock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
VZW location services (network location services) could be used, but it isn't for weather. Which is why I asked my question...
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Its TwiX said:
VZW location services (network location services) could be used, but it isn't for weather. Which is why I asked my question...
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most apps that use location can use network location services... including weather apps... though maybe not the Samsung app. Which is why I am curious as to why it uses GPS vs network.
I never have the "Verizon location services" turned on, never have on other phones either, and other apps can use network location just fine... as "Google location services" can provide that.
Google Now checks when I'm away from home and tells me how long it takes to get back with traffic, probably using the GPS. Have you activated Google Now?
I've noticed this as well. It's not every time I unlock but I will see it come up randomly. I think it's the weather for my clock widget. I'm not too worried though since my battery life has always been fantastic.
No Google Now...
If its the weather... seems silly to use GPS over network location.