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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?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^ x2
Wow, just did this while watching tv ... instant lock !!!
Sent from my SCH-I500
Network time protocol.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA Premium App
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
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
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.
i just got my Fascinate and having the gps issues of nock locking in. I am seeing a few fixes but very spotty as to wether they are really working or not. anything definate? why was this not fixed in the FROYO update if it was a known issue?
do you have google location services and VZ location turned on?
having those on makes a difference in my ability to lock on quickly.
also, get GPS status from market.. handy tool to download Adata and see how many sats you have connected
I seem to have the same thing. It takes forever or doesnt lock on without both Google & VZW Servies enabled for my GPS.
But once they are both on as well as the stand alone gps it locks on very quickly.
update
elarson006 said:
do you have google location services and VZ location turned on?
having those on makes a difference in my ability to lock on quickly.
also, get GPS status from market.. handy tool to download Adata and see how many sats you have connected
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
once i got outside it seems to be good. i ran gps status and it found 8 sats and locked on all 8. but i have question as to when gps is actually running, as it shows in the notification area. i will post a bew thread on this now.
I have been using GPS Status for a few months, but it stopped working for me after Froyo. Just downloaded one called "GPS optimisation" from the market, and it worked like a charm. I'll keep using it until it stops working for me.
I cant ever get gps to lock in by itself aswell. I just leave google services on and gps/verizon off... navigation/google maps locks in instantly.
Edit.
Just installed gps booster, now gps locks in by itself and is alot more accurate...Yay lol!!
Also Fwiw I tried "gps fix app" and "gps optimization", neither one worked.
droidstyle said:
I cant ever get gps to lock in by itself aswell. I just leave google services on and gps/verizon off... navigation/google maps locks in instantly.
Edit.
Just installed gps booster, now gps locks in by itself and is alot more accurate...Yay lol!!
Also Fwiw I tried "gps fix app" and "gps optimization", neither one worked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NICE . GPS Booster got me an instant lock as well . Thanks so much for that . I have never had my gps work as it should until now .
Don't know if is just luck or maybe the area I'm in. I'm running 1.3 with the ED01 modem and use only GPS, Google location and VZW settings unchecked and have no GPS issues.
I did originally use EC01 with CommRom and the GPS didn't work as well as the ED01 does on my device.
I must be in the minority because from day one I've never had an issue with my gps. I usually open Google Maps, then activate my gps, and without fail it locks on in about 5 seconds and shows my position correctly on the map. I do have the Vzw & Google location enabled also. I did a comparison with a tomtom gps I have, and my phone locked on way faster than the tomtom.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA Premium App
ive been only been able to get a lock if i turn off both vzw and google services and only leave on standalone gps. if i have either of the other two on as well, i cant get a lock.
did gps booster give you an instant locck with google or verizon services on as well?
Hello again. Recently I created a topic dealing with low call volume in CM7 and fortunately that has been fixed with the help of pcpark(numbers?) and myself. Unfortunately, I cannot for the life of me get the GPS to work. It was working in previous build but the latest July 4th build does not seem to want to lock. I am using the official ED04 modem because of the missed calls issues due to EC09 and I previously used ED01 but without result. Google Maps puts me relatively close to my home address and with Wifi it's pretty much exact but the GPS symbol never stops flashing, indicating that it's still locking. Navigation is completely broken, as it says at the bottom "Searching for GPS" but most of the time it never locks or if I get lucky it will lock for the duration that I'm using it but when I try to open it again, it won't lock. GPS Status displays that my phone's GPS is working correctly but it too has the flashing, not locked icon. Is there anyone who has been having similar issues or does anyone know of a fix? This ROM is so close to perfection and GPS is hardly a huge issue but it irritates me because it worked previously.
Try downloading GPS Aids and GPS Tests to see how many satellites you see and how many you lock on. I couldnt get a lock after 30 seconds on my fascinate ran aids and literally went from seeing 5 to 11 and from locking to 1 to 9 in under two seconds
Holy crap it worked!! Thanks a lot
Np, glad it helped.
Thread started by neh4pres might provide some additional tips:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=15300206#post15300206
I remember reading something about using GPS Status to "wake up" the GPS and I have always used it but I did not know you could reset the GPS. Thanks for the help!
Hello,
This is nothing new - this device has GPS problems with custom firmwares. However, I wanted to share my experience and thoughts and clarify a thing or two. Tried different ROMs, radios etc. with no success to get stable GPS for daily use with latest ROMs. So I discovered that GPS on older ROMs works differently than on newer ones. For example:
On CM 7.2 - GPS Status&Toolbox gets green even with one sattelite (fix/sat - 1/1) - it can get fix to 10+ sattelites but will never get a lock no matter how much time I'm waiting on it.
On CM 6.1, B 0.8.4, and probably stock - GPS Status&Toolbox firstly discovers sattelites (yellow), it needs at least 4 or more sattelites (yellow) to get a fix. Once it gets a fix (for example 4/4) it changes to green color and gets immediate lock. This is also how it works on my Hero and usually is pretty fast.
So could this be a GPS driver/software problem in the ROM and why can't we get it to work on CM 7.2 the same way it's on 6.1?
I really want to be able to use newer, beautiful custom ROM like HomICS, AOPK, but since there is GPS problems on them I'm stuck on 6.1 or stock.
Cm 7.2 is one of the few roms were GPS actually works properly for me, I've written much about my GPS experiances in quite a few threads and some of my own threads, have a look around, they might be worth a read.
Sent from my Legend using xda app-developers app
ranger4740 said:
Cm 7.2 is one of the few roms were GPS actually works properly for me, I've written much about my GPS experiances in quite a few threads and some of my own threads, have a look around, they might be worth a read.
Sent from my Legend using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I did read some threads even yours and tried practically everything mentioned there but without any luck. I've got a few locks with CM 7.2 but it was couple of times when I first flashed it (mobile network was active (3g), however, I dont use it, ever) and the next day it would fix to 10/10 or more but without any lock.
Even today I got practically immediate locks with 6.1. in 10 to 20 seconds. Frustrating that this is not working the same way on 7.2.
How about you, in GPS Status&Toolbox, is your device fixing to satellites one by one (becoming green) without getting a lock? Or it needs couple of yellows before it gets a fix?
TheNamesQ said:
Yes, I did read some threads even yours and tried practically everything mentioned there but without any luck. I've got a few locks with CM 7.2 but it was couple of times when I first flashed it (mobile network was active (3g), however, I dont use it, ever) and the next day it would fix to 10/10 or more but without any lock.
Even today I got practically immediate locks with 6.1. in 10 to 20 seconds. Frustrating that this is not working the same way on 7.2.
How about you, in GPS Status&Toolbox, is your device fixing to satellites one by one (becoming green) without getting a lock? Or it needs couple of yellows before it gets a fix?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have found that GPS status and toolbox doesn't fully work with the legend, mainly using the clear GPS data and for downloading a-gps data. I used quite a few different apps and basically pulled my hair out through shear frustration till I found something that seamed to actually work.
I use GPS test by Mike Lockwood from the market, this seams to work for clearing GPS data and download a-gps, but generally don't use it as my primary GPS app,I use AndroiTS GPS test free from Alessandro Bonetti also from the market, but for some reason is very hard to search for.
Personalty on my device these apps are the only 2 that give me constantly good results were all the other GPS apps I've tried didn't.
Sent from my Legend using xda app-developers app
ranger4740 said:
I have found that GPS status and toolbox doesn't fully work with the legend, mainly using the clear GPS data and for downloading a-gps data. I used quite a few different apps and basically pulled my hair out through shear frustration till I found something that seamed to actually work.
I use GPS test by Mike Lockwood from the market, this seams to work for clearing GPS data and download a-gps, but generally don't use it as my primary GPS app,I use AndroiTS GPS test free from Alessandro Bonetti also from the market, but for some reason is very hard to search for.
Personalty on my device these apps are the only 2 that give me constantly good results were all the other GPS apps I've tried didn't.
Sent from my Legend using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I did read your thread and tried these apps too. With AndroiTS I was getting elev azim data but no success in getting it to lock.
What about your lock time in daily use, seconds/minutes/ tens of minutes?
I use cm 7.2 (latest nightly) out in the open my lock time can be any where between a few seconds (maybe like 10 seconds) and a few minutes (2-3).
Sent from my Legend using xda app-developers app
To make things a bit more complicated, after using GPS once, I have to restart the phone. Otherwise, it will not lock again. The first time it will lock in under 1 minute.
On CM 6.1, B 0.8.4, and probably stock - GPS Status&Toolbox firstly discovers sattelites (yellow), it needs at least 4 or more sattelites (yellow) to get a fix. Once it gets a fix (for example 4/4) it changes to green color and gets immediate lock. This is also how it works on my Hero and usually is pretty fast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I´m still using BlaY0´s ROM, I need GPS!
gpsfix works good for me!
As the title says, my GPS will turn on and will lock fine but in google maps it says im about half a mile away, actually on the road i lived on when i first got the G1 like 7 years ago, if that makes any difference.
Instago says im elsewhere but keeps moving erraticly as if Im teleporting to places instantly but still within a half mile from me,
OsmAnd will get my location but only if connected to data, even though it has downloaded offline maps.
Offi travel will give me directions but from the afforementioned half mile away address. which for both apps doesnt move or change even when im moving.
I flashed an aGPS patch from on here recently which may have caused this, i dont use gps much so this may have started because of this or before, i dont know. Any ideas on ways to solve this or some things i could try?
Try
robneymcplum said:
As the title says, my GPS will turn on and will lock fine but in google maps it says im about half a mile away, actually on the road i lived on when i first got the G1 like 7 years ago, if that makes any difference.
Instago says im elsewhere but keeps moving erraticly as if Im teleporting to places instantly but still within a half mile from me,
OsmAnd will get my location but only if connected to data, even though it has downloaded offline maps.
Offi travel will give me directions but from the afforementioned half mile away address. which for both apps doesnt move or change even when im moving.
I flashed an aGPS patch from on here recently which may have caused this, i dont use gps much so this may have started because of this or before, i dont know. Any ideas on ways to solve this or some things i could try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try flashing an new rom,or the same to try deleting and restore /system or if you have any backup through CWM o TWRP restore /system, if i helped you thanks button bellow :good:
Cheers for the reply, but I only have a backup of this same rom as apart from this issue, which I only noticed today, it all works well. I can live without it being accurate, I hardly use it to be homest. Just wondering if it was a known issue with a simple fix?
4.4.2 AOSB if that matters, on dorinmax.
robneymcplum said:
Cheers for the reply, but I only have a backup of this same rom as apart from this issue, which I only noticed today, it all works well. I can live without it being accurate, I hardly use it to be homest. Just wondering if it was a known issue with a simple fix?
4.4.2 AOSB if that matters, on dorinmax.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would try GPS Status from the market. load it, press menu button and select tools/Manage A-GPS State/ reset for a cold start and see if that helps.
You can also use it to download assistance data from the net. That app is pretty good for monitoring what is going on with your GPS. It also has a few other tools for calibrating sensors.
Thanks, but there are 2 apps with the same name, is one better than the other?
robneymcplum said:
Thanks, but there are 2 apps with the same name, is one better than the other?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I didn't realize....GPS Status & Tool box by eclipsim I believe...
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Tried that one, and nothing was happening. was just stuck doing this:
robneymcplum said:
Tried that one, and nothing was happening. was just stuck doing this:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
0 fix and only 4 satellites looks like weak GPS or just a bad spot.. Have you tried outside and going to a different location to try to get it to fix?
I just went through this the other day myself with 2 of these phones after flashing a few different ROMs. It just wouldn't pick up SATs or fix until I did a reset (cold start) with that app and drove around a little...After that it would lock even in my house...
It worked for me so I thought I'd suggest it...If you didn't know, When your GPS actually gets a fix your GPS icon in status bar should stop flashing and if it starts flashing again it has lost the fix and is searching for SATs again.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
This was done in my conservatory with a glass roof, I dont have mobile data but if I go right outside, IE, with no wifi, would that make a difference? Do i need wifi/data/internet to get a good gps lock or for this app to work?
robneymcplum said:
This was done in my conservatory with a glass roof, I dont have mobile data but if I go right outside, IE, with no wifi, would that make a difference? Do i need wifi/data/internet to get a good gps lock or for this app to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You only need internet to download A-GPS data (gps assistance) and to download map info if you use Google maps and so on...going out side should help even though you have a glass roof there could be other interference maybe?
I'm no expert, it just seemed like after I moved around (went for a drive with one and wandered my back yard with the other) while using the app and got a bunch of SATs and fixes, It would then find and fix from inside when it wouldn't before.....I just tried again and got 6 SATs and 2 fix in 60 seconds inside. It wouldn't find more than 1 sat before I did the cold start reset and did the above....In maps it puts me across the street sometimes but its close (100ft.)
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Thanks,
Did as you said, reset GPS, went outside with the app running for about 40 minutes and was continuously 7 satellites found, 0 connected. Then just as I was nearly home it connected to 4 satellites. I kept it running and opened OsmAnd (offline) maps and it found where I was perfectly. Kept both running til I got home and got connected to my wifi. GPS status still has me connected, as does OsmAnd but google maps wont connect or find me. Now...... do I just leave/close the GPS status app as it is or do I need to now download aGPS data? Is there some way to 'store' the settings/locks it has now or do I just leave it and thats it now? As I dont have data outside, and my offline maps worked ok I dont really care about google maps to be honest, would just be nice if it did work.
But do I just leave it as it is now? or can I save something? or will downloading the aGPS remove the locks that just took me 40 odd minutes to find?
Thanks.
robneymcplum said:
Thanks,
Did as you said, reset GPS, went outside with the app running for about 40 minutes and was continuously 7 satellites found, 0 connected. Then just as I was nearly home it connected to 4 satellites. I kept it running and opened OsmAnd (offline) maps and it found where I was perfectly. Kept both running til I got home and got connected to my wifi. GPS status still has me connected, as does OsmAnd but google maps wont connect or find me. Now...... do I just leave/close the GPS status app as it is or do I need to now download aGPS data? Is there some way to 'store' the settings/locks it has now or do I just leave it and thats it now? As I dont have data outside, and my offline maps worked ok I dont really care about google maps to be honest, would just be nice if it did work.
But do I just leave it as it is now? or can I save something? or will downloading the aGPS remove the locks that just took me 40 odd minutes to find?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like the GPS might just be on the weak side, I'm not sure..maybe if your using a case try without it?.....All this being said, I myself have noticed a weaker GPS since I've been using KK roms compared to to stock firmware. Thought it was the weather around here though, maybe not...
As far as the app goes, I'm pretty sure it loads in the background when you use the GPS, google maps and so on. I'm not sure it is doing anything to help at that point but it shows its icon in the status bar along with the gps icon. The icon animates when it finds sats and when it gets a fix as opposed to the GPS icon that just stops flashing when you have a fix....
I just set the app to get A-GPS info every day when I'm traveling. Anytime I have a problem with getting a fix for my nav app I just reset with the GPS Status app and it starts finding sats before I even re-download A-GPS data....
rmntruexjr said:
It sounds like the GPS might just be on the weak side, I'm not sure..maybe if your using a case try without it?.....All this being said, I myself have noticed a weaker GPS since I've been using KK roms compared to to stock firmware. Thought it was the weather around here though, maybe not...
As far as the app goes, I'm pretty sure it loads in the background when you use the GPS, google maps and so on. I'm not sure it is doing anything to help at that point but it shows its icon in the status bar along with the gps icon. The icon animates when it finds sats and when it gets a fix as opposed to the GPS icon that just stops flashing when you have a fix....
I just set the app to get A-GPS info every day when I'm traveling. Anytime I have a problem with getting a fix for my nav app I just reset with the GPS Status app and it starts finding sats before I even re-download A-GPS data....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never even thought about the case.... I shall try without it on. If that makes no difference I'll go back to a stock backup I have which I know worked perfectly, just to check its not hardware related as mine too was better on non kitkat roms. And if all else fails, I'll just do what you say and set my phone to download aGPS every morning at home before I get up.
Ta.
It seems that you have the same issue I am facing. I suggest you to look at my post and follow it :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s2/help/weak-gps-signal-hardware-fix-t2685439
You can try to follow the link attached on my post, where a small hardware modification is explained. Maybe this will help you.
For now, I'm planning to change a part (HP/antenna part) and will probably replace it this week-end (if received !). I will post news about that as soon as possible in my post
Good lock