I know that there's plenty of evidence that the metal caseback may be (most likely is) a cause of poor GPS and WiFi reception. However, it cannot be the only cause, and I think there's a good chance that even with the metal case, the proper software could make this tablet run pretty well. Check out this photo:
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That photo was taken at the end of January, in my house, after about two minutes of satellite acquisition. Two 32 Gb Primes, both BCOK# series, .11 firmware. Since the WiFi on both was about the same and the GPS on the left one was great, I sent back the one on the right (I got the HHGregg $399 mistake deal on the left one).
Fast-forward to yesterday. Since the .13 firmware didn't change the GPS build number, I hadn't even bothered to test GPS since updating. On a whim, I tested it yesterday. Zero satellites. Even after five minutes of scanning. Zero. The only thing that changed was the firmware -- same hardware as before. In my car, outside on a clear day, I managed to pick up 3-4 birds sporadically but never for long and I never got a single location lock, in ten minutes.
I know it's easy to blame hardware and I know that there are a number of design choices that might have been made differently, but I guarantee you that software is playing a huge part in this as well.
I made this same argument when the .11 firmware completely borked the GPS on my prime - it had been working reasonably well before that. I ended up returning that one to best buy. The replacement I got works much better.
slybarman said:
I made this same argument when the .11 firmware completely borked the GPS on my prime - it had been working reasonably well before that. I ended up returning that one to best buy. The replacement I got works much better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oddly enough my GPS was working before (6-9 birds 5-6 locks) albeit weakly with the .11 update but I just retested it yesterday since the .13 update and 1-3 birds but no lock.
slybarman said:
I made this same argument when the .11 firmware completely borked the GPS on my prime - it had been working reasonably well before that. I ended up returning that one to best buy. The replacement I got works much better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I wish we could get a consensus of users who have had similar results. I feel like most of the discussion is just a knee-jerk regurgitation of the "metal caseback" or "damn pogopins" talking points and nobody is really looking into what these firmware updates may be effecting. I'm somewhat hopeful on the one hand -- if firmware can completely screw up GPS that was working as well as this one was, then perhaps the next update could fix it and improve it if they really get a bead on the problem.
It is the hardware, can't you guys just accept this.. please..
JoeyLe said:
It is the hardware, can't you guys just accept this.. please..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can only assume you're being ironic and wanted to post your neat Picard picture. There is absolutely NO WAY that this could be blamed completely on hardware. I tested the exact same device in the exact same spot in the exact same house under basically the exact same environmental conditions (clear night, around the same time). The picture shows my GPS before the update, and I can assure you that last night I got no satellites at all. That's after soft resets, cold reboots, and two factory resets. Software was the variable in this equation.
I was surprised to note the same with my 32GB Gray Prime as well. Prior to .13, I was able to get as many as 8/10 birds locked indoors, and 12/14 locked outdoors--both WITHOUT wifi turned on. I didn't test it while driving because that's not a concern of mine, but I was happy to know that the Prime could serve as at least a stationary GPS device.
I tried it yesterday, however, on a whim, and I got the same results as the OP. Took FOREVER to lock outdoors, and never got more than 7/10 for a second or two. Indoors, I get nothing. And that was with wifi turned on. This was the first time I'd tested it since installing .13.
Clearly, this has something to do with software. I have no idea if the Prime will ever serve as a navigational device, but I can absolutely testify that GPS on my Prime was MUCH better prior to .13.
dcAndroidFan said:
I can only assume you're being ironic and wanted to post your neat Picard picture. There is absolutely NO WAY that this could be blamed completely on hardware. I tested the exact same device in the exact same spot in the exact same house under basically the exact same environmental conditions (clear night, around the same time). The picture shows my GPS before the update, and I can assure you that last night I got no satellites at all. That's after soft resets, cold reboots, and two factory resets. Software was the variable in this equation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After having owned many android devices, sometimes it can be software. the Prime could be a combo of both...
I remember when I had the HTC Mogul and people were saying it didn't have GPS.. they even opened it up and one guy swore up and down that it doesn't even have an antenna for GPS. A few months later, a firmware comes out and it enables GPS and it worked pretty well
http://gizmodo.com/365925/confirmed-sprint-mogul-gets-rev-a-and-gps+enabling-rom-update
Not saying this is the same case as the Mogul's shell was plastic, but there could be some software that's hindering the operation of it as there are folks that seem to have had a weak but working GPS.
(God I miss my Mogul)
Its probably not all software, its probably not all hardware. It's 99% likely to be a combo of both. Erusman's thread shows there obvious hardware flaws including PCB boards and pogo pins, RF signals ect. I think it'll be at least another 2 months before this gets sorted out totally, unfortunately by then I may have jumped boat completely. I'm trying to have faith but staples has stopped stocking the prime yet again, due to complaints, and if I cant continue returning for the product I'll have to just get a refund and wait to see what MWC brings. Mostly because I have $300 staples rewardS
jyan_osu said:
... there could be some software that's hindering the operation of it as there are folks that seem to have had a weak but working GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly -- I was one of those people, only mine wasn't "weak". I think 12 birds with 7 locks inside a house is pretty good. In my car, I got 11+ locks and accuracy to 20 feet sometimes. For a WiFi tablet that's pretty good. I'm trying to figure out how many more of us there are out there. If there's a substantial group, I'd like to see if we can get a dedicated effort from the fix-it guys like the random reboot, unknown serial #, and BT dropout issues got.
slybarman said:
I made this same argument when the .11 firmware completely borked the GPS on my prime - it had been working reasonably well before that. I ended up returning that one to best buy. The replacement I got works much better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I concur.
I went from 13 sats in view and 9 locked on .11 to 0/1 in view and 0 locked on .13.
JoeyLe said:
It is the hardware, can't you guys just accept this.. please..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is the hardware, on SOME Primes, it is the software on most Primes however, can't you guys just accept this.. please..
It's not hardware! How can it just break then fix its self! I have told you guys before it has something to do with the tegra 2 power saving feature or something along the lines of AGC or something else! Hardware is not an issue!
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
dcAndroidFan said:
I can only assume you're being ironic and wanted to post your neat Picard picture. There is absolutely NO WAY that this could be blamed completely on hardware. I tested the exact same device in the exact same spot in the exact same house under basically the exact same environmental conditions (clear night, around the same time). The picture shows my GPS before the update, and I can assure you that last night I got no satellites at all. That's after soft resets, cold reboots, and two factory resets. Software was the variable in this equation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah sure, explain why people suddenly get a better signal by just pushing hard on the side of the tablet (yes, this also is hardware). It is just a combination of the backplate, pogopinns and other hardware. Accept it.
JoeyLe said:
It is the hardware, can't you guys just accept this.. please..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Give it up. Too many of us have the same hardware and NO issues!
I bought mine knowing there were GPS issues, and my box doesn't say GPS at all. It came with Honeycomb and I didn't bother testing GPS at the time, and have since upgraded to ICS (.11) and I get no satellites, even outside.
I let it sit for about 20 minutes and from time to time it'd have one or two satellites in view, but they quickly disappear.
I tried the "squeeze the bezel" trick with no luck at all as well.
The .13 update is not yet available to me OTA, and reading about other's issues with it I'm reluctant to update, especially considering my prime has been utterly amazing on .11. If an update comes along that no one is having issues with I'll give it a whirl and test GPS again to see.
JoeyLe said:
Yeah sure, explain why people suddenly get a better signal by just pushing hard on the side of the tablet (yes, this also is hardware). It is just a combination of the backplate, pogopinns and other hardware. Accept it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because like I've said, sometimes it can be chalked up to hardware. Yes, like the pogopins. But I've made sure my pins connect, and after doing so on one s/w version I had almost decent GPS, and on another s/w version have no GPS.
Did my chip suddenly just die or something? My backplate somehow assimilated another layer of aluminum?
I doubt it...
BTrack said:
Give it up. Too many of us have the same hardware and NO issues!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have any idea what hardware you or anyone else has.
JoeyLe said:
Yeah sure, explain why people suddenly get a better signal by just pushing hard on the side of the tablet (yes, this also is hardware). It is just a combination of the backplate, pogopinns and other hardware. Accept it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Instead of challenging me to explain your question about the magic nerve pinch, please focus on the point of THIS thread. The GPs on my Prime, and apparently many others, actually worked pretty well. Without pinching it, or taking it apart and attaching foil, and without running wires through the HDMI port, and without clipping external GPS receivers on it. And it had the metal caseback, and the pogopins of death. And the GPS worked. Pretty darn well, in fact.
Then the SOFTWARE got updated. Now the GPS doesn't work, and no amount of shaking, pinching, or coddling will fix it. Address THAT TOPIC instead of making ridiculous assertions about how hardware is the problem with all of them.
clackity said:
You don't have any idea what hardware you or anyone else has.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know what aluminum feels like. And I know what plastic feels like. And I can assure you that my hardware has an aluminum caseback. As to what's INSIDE there, yes -- there may be some variation and I'm not going to open mine up to find out -- but I can assure you it worked a lot better on GPS and Wifi before the .13 update. And the caseback didn't change.
Prior to the .11 update on 1/17, mine saw about 15-16 birds driving in my car (its a soft top). After that update, I get nothing. Same exact thing happened to my Dad's too.
BTW. I know this because since my GPS was weak to begin with, I tested it before and after that update, since that update was to fix the GPS. I did not move the table during the tests or the update.
Related
I did my due diligence and my searches have come up with no threads that covered this yet.
Here is the screenshot for what I am referring to.
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"lightbox_share": "Share",
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"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
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...and here is the story.
I noticed that while streaming data/audio over bluetooth the wifi performance (the already pitiful performance) drops to essentially nothing and often times out.
IE: I first noticed something was wrong and the wheels began turning when I had been watching Netflix and decided to pair with my Bluetooth speaker so I didn't have to keep cupping the side of the tablet for decent audio. Netflix timed out every time I paired.
While testing this I didn't notice any difference with Bluetooth "on" but only while it was transmitting something. For the purpose of my speed tests I was playing white noise over a Bluetooth speaker from an app in the background.
I know slim to nil about the real nitty gritty of hardware in tablets but I can only suspect that they share the antennae or in the worst case I have a lemon and need to RMA.
Has anyone else noticed this?
also obligatory:
"wifi sucks" "SD/Internal Memory writes are absurdly slow" "stock browser is bad, use opera"
Edit: post title clarified and pun-ified
Oh my!
I have bluetooth on about 75% of the time because that is how I text from my tablet (paired with my phone) I haven't noticed any changes in my wifi at all when BT is on/off. However I realize that is NOT the same as streaming audio/data.
Since I do have it on so often, I'll check it out and see what happens with mine.
slugbug2010 said:
Oh my!
I have bluetooth on about 75% of the time because that is how I text from my tablet (paired with my phone) I haven't noticed any changes in my wifi at all when BT is on/off. However I realize that is NOT the same as streaming audio/data.
Since I do have it on so often, I'll check it out and see what happens with mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did notice that it only occurs while data is being continuously sent.
While doing my test I had a white noise app sending audio to a bluetooth speaker.
(gonna add that to the OP so other people dont get confused)
i just bought a bluetooth keyboard and mouse today, and i can tell you that my wifi signal while these devices are active have dropped greatly... instead of getting half wifi bar in my living room i now get 1 bar.
I have also noticed that my bluetooth mouse has some pretty bad lagg, pretty sure its not the mouse because it works find on all my other tablets. Im guessing its all due to the metal case. GO ASUS!
jzen said:
i just bought a bluetooth keyboard and mouse today, and i can tell you that my wifi signal while these devices are active have dropped greatly... instead of getting half wifi bar in my living room i now get 1 bar.
I have also noticed that my bluetooth mouse has some pretty bad lagg, pretty sure its not the mouse because it works find on all my other tablets. Im guessing its all due to the metal case. GO ASUS!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good Lord, man, just return it already. You have posted in every single possible bug thread saying that you have that bug. I'm waiting for the guy to post that his tablet is giving him metal splinters so you can post in that thread saying yours is too. Or the my tablet is making me go bald because the metal case is holding all of that radiation in, and you posting mine is too!
Exhausting, I tell ya.
Semantics said:
Good Lord, man, just return it already. You have posted in every single possible bug thread saying that you have that bug. I'm waiting for the guy to post that his tablet is giving him metal splinters so you can post in that thread saying yours is too. Or the my tablet is making me go bald because the metal case is holding all of that radiation in, and you posting mine is too!
Exhausting, I tell ya.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you even have a prime? I'm guessing not, otherwise you would know that all these issues I speak of are true. I wanted it to be a great tablet but in the end... almost every feature it has is flawed and no miracle version of ICS will fix it. Every problem with the device (except screen bleed) all comes down to one major design flaw (the metal case).
Crap wifi, crap gps, crap bluetooth and deciding to copy apple with a metal case was an epic fail because they did not use their heads.
Now, you can cry, kick and scream like a baby or make fun of me all you want, but I guarantee after you have spent a week or two with the prime you will go back and read my words of wisdom and know that I was not joking, or just making it all up.
If ICS or an update from Asus somehow fixes these issues I will give everyone on the prime xda forum $100 bucks (it will never happen, its a defective device pawned off onto us so Asus could make a quick profit.).
I have only posted in the prime forum to warn others of how bad the Prime really is, its just a shame that most of you are too ignorant or embarrassed to admit the truth. Take the word of someone who knows tablets, the prime is the definition of fail.
If you don't mind having crappy wifi, no gps and bluetooth that makes the crappy wifi even crappier then by all means go out and spend the $500 on the prime (you deserve it for not having a brain.). As for me and other intelligent users, we will either return it or just chuck it on CL or Ebay and wait for the real next gen tablet to comeout from a company that is not looking to screw over their customers for a quick profit.
This forum is filled with all kinds of problems the transformer prime has. And most of them cannot be fixed with a simple software update. These people are not trying to ruin your day, they are just trying to warn you of the many problems you will face if you decide to get this device now.
jzen said:
Do you even have a prime? I'm guessing not, otherwise you would know that all these issues I speak of are true. I wanted it to be a great tablet but in the end... almost every feature it has is flawed and no miracle version of ICS will fix it. Every problem with the device (except screen bleed) all comes down to one major design flaw (the metal case).
Crap wifi, crap gps, crap bluetooth and deciding to copy apple with a metal case was an epic fail because they did not use their heads.
Now, you can cry, kick and scream like a baby or make fun of me all you want, but I guarantee after you have spent a week or two with the prime you will go back and read my words of wisdom and know that I was not joking, or just making it all up.
If ICS or an update from Asus somehow fixes these issues I will give everyone on the prime xda forum $100 bucks (it will never happen, its a defective device pawned off onto us so Asus could make a quick profit.).
I have only posted in the prime forum to warn others of how bad the Prime really is, its just a shame that most of you are too ignorant or embarrassed to admit the truth. Take the word of someone who knows tablets, the prime is the definition of fail.
If you don't mind having crappy wifi, no gps and bluetooth that makes the crappy wifi even crappier then by all means go out and spend the $500 on the prime (you deserve it for not having a brain.). As for me and other intelligent users, we will either return it or just chuck it on CL or Ebay and wait for the real next gen tablet to comeout from a company that is not looking to screw over their customers for a quick profit.
This forum is filled with all kinds of problems the transformer prime has. And most of them cannot be fixed with a simple software update. These people are not trying to ruin your day, they are just trying to warn you of the many problems you will face if you decide to get this device now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go make another thread for your personal vendetta.
For all its faults, the prime is still fantastic. It works great with a few minor quirks that will likely be ironed out with ICS or a patch down the road.
I made the thread to clarify this bug in particular so I could determine if it was my device that was acting up, or a reproducible problem with other primes as well.
That being said, I would not recommend the prime, as it is, to anyone without moderate-advanced android knowledge because they would not understand the difference between potential and current iteration.
Good day sir.
I really wish people would only post if they know what they are talking about. 90% of the problems with the tablet are software related. Hardware pretty much works or it doesn't. Software is what has random results with stuff not working, or working poorly. Just like the update that came out fixed GPS. Updates dont fix hardware issues, so that means the GPS issue was software.
I will be able to test this tomorrow when my Prime finally arrives, I plan on using my tried and trusty Bluetooth Rocketfish headphones with my Prime while I test out it's Youtube/Netflix functionality.
dabbill said:
I really wish people would only post if they know what they are talking about. 90% of the problems with the tablet are software related. Hardware pretty much works or it doesn't. Software is what has random results with stuff not working, or working poorly. Just like the update that came out fixed GPS. Updates dont fix hardware issues, so that means the GPS issue was software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhm, last time I checked radio interference wasn't a s/w problem. With all the threads on Wi-Fi and GPS I was kind of wondering how BT would perform. With everyone's conditions being so different, it would be intersting to see if others streaming to external speakers or moving data had similar issues. OP, does moving the position of the BT device relative to the Prime have any impact?
BarryH_GEG said:
Uhm, last time I checked radio interference wasn't a s/w problem. With all the threads on Wi-Fi and GPS I was kind of wondering how BT would perform. With everyone's conditions being so different, it would be intersting to see if others streaming to external speakers or moving data had similar issues. OP, does moving the position of the BT device relative to the Prime have any impact?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No sir.
I tested this in multiple locations in my home with 3 different devices at varying distances with consistent results. +-10%
Logitech bluetooth speakers
Belkin x51 bluetooth receiver
Jawbone earpiece
jfortier777 said:
No sir.
I tested this in multiple locations in my home with 3 different devices at varying distances with consistent results. +-10%
Logitech bluetooth speakers
Belkin x51 bluetooth receiver
Jawbone earpiece
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if BT & Wifi don't work well together (as with my current Android tablet), then I think this will be the 'final' thing that is going to get me to cancel pre-order (I'm in the UK) until things are sorted
A shame
Verified here. My experience with a set of Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth headphones is:
1. Run Speedtest, strong 24Mb/s speeds.
2. Connect headphones and play music.
3. Wifi drops to about 4Mb/s for a few seconds.
4. Wifi stays connected but stops transmitting/receiving.
5. Any app that tries to connect to the Internet fails.
6. Turn off Bluetooth and connection is restored.
Definitely a problem. However, I don't know of any reason to assume it's not fixable in a firmware update, so I'm not going to knee-jerk react to it.
Hmmm....
Very interesting, I thought it was just my phone's mobile hotspot acting up yesterday when I took the 3 year old to the park. My Prime was connected to my phone running relatively smooth and after I connected my bluetooth headset to my Prime, my Prime's ability to load images on forum boards was very inconsistent. Didn't pay it much mind.
On a somewhat related note, the bluetooth range for prime seems to be pretty damn good.
wynand32 said:
I'm not going to knee-jerk react to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no sport in that.
BUYMECAR said:
On a somewhat related note, the bluetooth range for prime seems to be pretty damn good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like a software update needs to take the BT radio strength down a peg.
You think? I was pushing the kid on the tire wheel which was like 20 steps away from where the prime was sitting on a table with my roomie and was still getting stable playback from the Prime.
I also noticed when first pairing the headset, there was a listing for "Ken's phone" but the closest person to us was a family sitting about 4 tables away and each table probably had 4 feet between.
BUYMECAR said:
You think? I was pushing the kid on the tire wheel which was like 20 steps away from where the prime was sitting on a table with my roomie and was still getting stable playback from the Prime.
I also noticed when first pairing the headset, there was a listing for "Ken's phone" but the closest person to us was a family sitting about 4 tables away and each table probably had 4 feet between.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats what I mean, do you really need bluetooth to reach 30 feet and thereby killing your wifi.
I was thinking maybe tune the BT's power down to half and perhaps give Wifi a lil breathingroom?
Just a thought.
wynand32 said:
Verified here. My experience with a set of Motorola S9-HD Bluetooth headphones is:
1. Run Speedtest, strong 24Mb/s speeds.
2. Connect headphones and play music.
3. Wifi drops to about 4Mb/s for a few seconds.
4. Wifi stays connected but stops transmitting/receiving.
5. Any app that tries to connect to the Internet fails.
6. Turn off Bluetooth and connection is restored.
Definitely a problem. However, I don't know of any reason to assume it's not fixable in a firmware update, so I'm not going to knee-jerk react to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Certainly no knee jerking planned, but now that I know it's universal I can comfortably await an update that fixes it... and an unlocked bootloader.
I'll test this and respond. I have been having problems with my prime, while tethered to a Galaxy Nexus, failing to stream after 2-3 minutes. I did a side by side with the OG Transformer without fail. Thanks for pointing out bluetooth
EDIT: First let me point out my current testing. Transformer and Transformer Prime, side by side tethered to a Galaxy Nexus. Streamed an episode of Farscape via Netflix for 20 minutes without a problem. Pressed Home, opened Subsonic and tried to stream an episode of One Tree Hill. The Prime doesn't resolve the page with the flash video at all, while the OG Transformer loads the page just fine. I disabled the bluetooth, which was enabled but not connected to any devices. I disabled and enabled WiFi on the Prime, still no dice. Then I connected the Prime to my home WiFi, and it works. Connected the Prime to the Galaxy Nexus again, and no dice, but the OG Transformer is still surfing the net. Bluetooth is disabled right now, but it wasn't disabled when the prime's WiFi to GN broke.
Now as I write I toggled tethering on the GN off and on. Disabled wifi on the prime and re-enabled. Connected Prime to GN and internet is working again. I am commencing a stream of One Tree Hill. BT Disabled. In 5 Minutes I'll enable Bluetooth and see what happens.
---------- Post added at 03:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:20 PM ----------
Looks like I can confirm this. Was streaming just fine, speedtests and all that fun stuff. Not more than 4 minutes after enabling BT the internet went kaput. Interestingly.. I enabled bluetooth in the middle of a speedtest upload, and the speedtest immediately stopped.. at about 150kbps as opposed to the 5000 it should have reached. The second speed test recovered though. I went back to streaming video though, and the problems came back. I need bluetooth, so this is unacceptable.
I posted this in a different forum as well, thought I post here to see if others get the same result.
Not sure if its coincidence or not but i accidentally turned wifi off with out knowing, before doing a GPS test. An after a few minutes my prime had a GPS lock. Needles to say I never could get one in my house before. Just wondering if anyone else can check to see if GPS works better with wifi off? Also I had Bluetooth off as well. I attached a screenshots below.
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Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
"GPS works better with wifi off?"
no sir
Many of us can get signals inside and with no wifi.. but is it "better" with wifi off.. not
I have posted many screenshots with wifi off and many signals... but it is no "better" this way as I think you think it is
MY Prime gets excellent GPS signal in my space shuttle and on the moon kinda sucks here know earth.
Mine still hasn't been able to grab a signal but then again I haven't really tested it any suggestions on how to test/?
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201
put it in the car, drive and try and navigate somewhere
corban227 said:
Mine still hasn't been able to grab a signal but then again I haven't really tested it any suggestions on how to test/?
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Software I used was GPS Test, and basically had Bluetooth and WiFi off. Before I ran the software. It took a minute or two before I saw any GPS satellites in view in the beginning. With WiFi on before I wouldn't even see one satellites, waiting 15 minutes or more. Now I'm able to get a GPS lock, whatever the case may be I'm a little bit happier.
stephen44 said:
put it in the car, drive and try and navigate somewhere
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will be heading out shortly and will give it a shot. Last time I tried it in the car I kept getting Lost GPS message quite frequently, will see what happens this time with WiFi off.
Mine had no problems too after I took it outside..
I almost never get more then one Sat... The first few times I used it I had a lock in my living room with wifi on. After about the first week all I was getting was one Sat flickering off and on with no lock. I have just given up for the moment. Maybe there will be some sort of fix in the future, but for now if I want to use gps just going to attach a seperate unit or use my phone...
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
Gps on the prime truly is a downfall for the device..thankfully my galaxy nexus has fully function gps so its not much of an issue but for those needing gps in a tab it really bites that u need a bt gps device to use with the prime
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
LMAO I turned off wifi and turned on the GPS... before when I opened GPS Test it showed absolutely nothing...
Now i get this!! WTF I guess the bluetooth messes with wifi; wifi messes with GPS? damn why cant they all work at the same time....
NEVERMIND. Just tried turning WIFI back on with GPS on and both work! GPS signal is pretty low but the navigation is working
I have yet to have my Prime even show a single satellite. Tried home (live in a condo), work and on the commuter train. Was even running GPS Test on the Prime and my Galaxy S glide beside each other. My phone picked up 7 sats and my prime still read 0.
I was getting two sat's outside and nothing inside and no sign of a lock, now I can get 4 inside and I even got lock inside lol. Wifi off and channel 1 on my router works. Thanks.
Hey guys just got back from Costco trip. Tested the GPS with no wifi. Check out the video I made! All I can say is that I'm happy with my GPS!
Edit: One thing I did do differently was replace the GPS.Config with the one from my Galaxy tab 10.1 It seems to be getting better locks and more sats. I'll test it out more tonight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPQFB1dN1CE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
What you are all failing to notice is that your signal strength on those GPS Tests are extremely low, borderline non-existent. What may work one hour/day might be zero the next. That's the way it works with signals. It's affected heavily by your environment, and not just what you can see either. There is even varying levels of interference in the atmospshere!
The best the engineers at any company can do is make it so normally you get great reception so that during the times when the signal is bad you are still able to get enough signal to achieve a lock.
All these, "omg lawls it workz!!" threads just mean you were able to find the moment when the stars aligned just right and the crap worked the way it should ALL, or at least - most of the time.
Thanks for the video. Did you, or can you do one with the Galaxy 10.1 for comparison?
tdp252 said:
What you are all failing to notice is that your signal strength on those GPS Tests are extremely low, borderline non-existent. What may work one hour/day might be zero the next. That's the way it works with signals. It's affected heavily by your environment, and not just what you can see either. There is even varying levels of interference in the atmospshere!
The best the engineers at any company can do is make it so normally you get great reception so that during the times when the signal is bad you are still able to get enough signal to achieve a lock.
All these, "omg lawls it workz!!" threads just mean you were able to find the moment when the stars aligned just right and the crap worked the way it should ALL, or at least - most of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone who has a phone would use the phone as a GPS and not the tablet. If you have a $500 tablet, but can't afford a smartphone, then your money management is off.
All these "omgz the Prime suxz it haz nO gPs" posts are getting annoying. If we took a poll on how many people would actually use a tablet gps. It would be
90% yes
10% no
Looking at a tablet while driving is ridiculously unsafe and would probably cause car crashes anyways.
To wrap up my counter-rant, go troll another device's forums Mr. December 2011.
xAnimal5 said:
Anyone who has a phone would use the phone as a GPS and not the tablet. If you have a $500 tablet, but can't afford a smartphone, then your money management is off.
All these "omgz the Prime suxz it haz nO gPs" posts are getting annoying. If we took a poll on how many people would actually use a tablet gps. It would be
Looking at a tablet while driving is ridiculously unsafe and would probably cause car crashes anyways.
To wrap up my counter-rant, go troll another device's forums Mr. December 2011.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean:
90% no
10% yes
right?
I'm sorry you are having an allergic reaction to facts. Asus has already said the metal is causing poor reception, the gps tests only confirm that..
GPS now working out of nowhere
Have an early replaced GS gray prime GPS never worked on either. Got the ICS update still no satellites visible for weeks now. Tonight saw 10 sats locked on 7 without wifi on what the hell. I`d keep trying it maybe you will see something soon too. I got a perfect one
thomslik said:
Thanks for the video. Did you, or can you do one with the Galaxy 10.1 for comparison?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure. I'll figure out a way to do it this time in a safer manner.
xAnimal5 said:
Looking at a tablet while driving is ridiculously unsafe and would probably cause car crashes anyways.
To wrap up my counter-rant, go troll another device's forums Mr. December 2011.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah one I won't repeat. I'll plan it out better next time so I can just focus on driving.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Well, damn it ASUS! I had a vague GPS thing going on when I first got ICS. Since I got the update for GPS it's killed it
I left the prime in the window bay for 25 mins and this is what I got
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Nothing. I presume this has nothing to do with root etc? Would a system erase make any difference? Is it even worth a try?
It's not like I use it often, but it used to lock from here fine and now it doesn't.
Meh!
No difference for me, no satellites before or after the update. But...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1459356
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA Premium.
jonboyuk said:
Well, damn it ASUS! I had a vague GPS thing going on when I first got ICS. Since I got the update for GPS it's killed it
I left the prime in the window bay for 25 mins and this is what I got
Nothing. I presume this has nothing to do with root etc? Would a system erase make any difference? Is it even worth a try?
It's not like I use it often, but it used to lock from here fine and now it doesn't.
Meh!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should get some satellites if you turn the device around. Right now the metal back possibly blocks all potential signals. Aluminum back cuts down about 50% of GPS signal performance compared to smartphone like Galaxy Nexus (which also does not have ideal GPS, though does work).
kristovaher said:
You should get some satellites if you turn the device around. Right now the metal back possibly blocks all potential signals. Aluminum back cuts down about 50% of GPS signal performance compared to smartphone like Galaxy Nexus (which also does not have ideal GPS, though does work).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good idea and thanks - I tried this, flat, next to a window and left for an hour. Still nothing How can an OTA update that claims to fix GPS break it?! Lol!
Yeah, I got the same - absolutely nothing despite over an hour face up completely flat.
My phone (Dell Streak) gets locks immediately in the same place.
The only way I've managed to "see" a single satellite on my Prime is after BT tethering to my Streak!
Very disappointing, not that it's crucial to have GPS, but there's a principle involved here.
jonboyuk said:
Good idea and thanks - I tried this, flat, next to a window and left for an hour. Still nothing How can an OTA update that claims to fix GPS break it?! Lol!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do yourself a favor change the power modes while in the GPS app!
See that little circle notification if it is not flashing it is not trying to lock so all you gotta do to get it to start locking is expand than minimize the notification bar!
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
green750one said:
Yeah, I got the same - absolutely nothing despite over an hour face up completely flat.
My phone (Dell Streak) gets locks immediately in the same place.
The only way I've managed to "see" a single satellite on my Prime is after BT tethering to my Streak!
Very disappointing, not that it's crucial to have GPS, but there's a principle involved here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't agree more. I had mine picking up sats in my car with Honeycomb...then ICS came along (second ICS OTA) and decided to take it away from me. Disappointed. Now, where's that Mr.Gary Key? Ha!
Ditto - this last update killed my previously acceptable GPS performance. Mine will see as many as 8 birds with decent SNR, but will not lock on any of them.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Wordlywisewiz said:
Do yourself a favor change the power modes while in the GPS app!
See that little circle notification if it is not flashing it is not trying to lock so all you gotta do to get it to start locking is expand than minimize the notification bar!
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I knew that trick!! It was the first thing I tried before running a full reset :/ Thanks though
slybarman said:
Ditto - this last update killed my previously acceptable GPS performance. Mine will see as many as 8 birds with decent SNR, but will not lock on any of them.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ooops I should have multiquoted! Anyway, clearly it's happened quite a lot....gutted.....
Wow guys, this sounds really bad. I thought that the flaw is simply that the signal is weaker by half (as it is on my tests), but apparently it doesn't get any locks at all for some of you.
This is definitely not a metal casing problem, GPS antennae seems messed up. GPS, by design, should get some locks after just a few minutes, no more than 10 or 15 minutes.
All of my tests show the flaw of metal casing weakening the GPS signal, but it still finds satellites (though cannot be used for navi as a result) without WiFi.
Try going to some open space and hold the tablet skyward and see if there's any change. Indoors is not an ideal testing condition (depends on where you live), because it still might be the metal-back issue.
It not purely a hardware issue though as my GPS was on par with my cellphone before this last update.
I am also getting no gps lock in gps test since the last update. I got my prime to lock onto about 15 satellites prior to the update driving in my car(its a convertible) Now I can't get it to see a single one, let alone get a lock. I love my prime, but this is a real bummer.
I agree....if this was a pure hardware related issue, then it wouldn't have worked before then suddenly stopped working post drivers/software update. This clearly highlights that there is a software related issue going on. Obviously the aluminium backplate still reduces from the overall signal quality but it don't completely prevent it from working. If this was the case, no one would get a lock ever, on any unit!
Your move Asus...
Likewise. Signal before update. No sats found following update.
Same problem here. I did not originally have an advanced GPS app or anything, but services were able to locate me in GPS (when Wifi and location via Wifi turned off). Since the update, I get nothing. I download several apps to test GPS and all are the same: No Sats.
I don't really use GPS all that much, but I tested this before installing the update and the update did definitely break it for me.
Seems like the update was 50/50. Either it makes everything brilliant or just takes it away!! How do we approach this best? We can all contact ASUS individually but that never seems to work. I wonder if Gary Key accepts PM's?
Asus meet NASA, NASA meet Asus...
How Do Global Positioning Systems, or GPS, Work?
HAHAHAHA!! JoTeC that cracked me up!
jonboyuk said:
HAHAHAHA!! JoTeC that cracked me up!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL, I couldn't resist.
This guide is aimed at people who have just bought/recieved their New prime. What to look out for, what to test to make sure you have a decent device.
This isnt a "Fixit" thread, so i'll try to steer away from how to fix issues you have, there are plenty other threads on fixes.
If you manage to tick all these off your list without issue, then Congratulations ! You have a Good device.
Good should mean normal, unfortunatly at the moment at least, there are many with manufacturing issues!.
Light Bleed
Check the screen for Light bleed round the edges. You more than likely will have a small degree of light bleed, but it should not be obvious in normal display view. On a solid black/blue background its easier to spot.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
^^ Picture from an iPad2 (couldnt find a prime example <-- Yeah i did say that ) but its the same idea.
Dead Pixels
You may have a dead/stuck pixel or two, and most places refuse to accept a device as faulty unless it has a significant amount of dead pixels. 1 or two is generally acceptible
------[Ok]-----------------------------[ Not Ok ]--------------
You can also use the Dead Pixel app to test for dead pixels
Dead Pixel Test QR
Serial Number - not found
Check that your prime has its serial number in Settings > About Tablet
If "UNKNOWN" is shown instead of the serial number your not alone! However, dont worry .. there is now an unofficial fix for this issue (and not from Asus i might add !! ) This fix may void warranty as you need to root
Serial Not found fix! (Ratchet)
GPS Reception
Asus has taken the GPS functionality off the specs for the prime, however its still there, if you want to test yours, download GPS Test from the market GPS Test
Turn WiFi off, take your tablet outside (some report it working indoors but outside is the only real way to test) and check to see of you can get any. Testing GPS with WiFi on gives false results as the GPS function uses assisted GPS through Wifi location.
Alt app GPS Status
GPS Test QR
Wifi Reception
Wifi has been reported to be weak with the prime (wasnt with mine) so to test yours, download WiFi Analyser from the market and check the reception in different rooms round your home, if possible compared to another device your used to.
If Wifi is dropping out a few meters from the router/AP, its reported that Wireless N could be the cause, try enabling Wireless G mode only on the router.
Wifi Analyzer QR
Dock/Keyboard connection
The newer Champagne models have had a few reports (mine included) of faulty docks. The keyboard will not function 90% of the time. Plug the prime into the keyboard dock and check its status says connected and that it can type. for example ... the top row of keys sometimes worked on mine but none of the keys below would work, including the trackpad. Serial numbers
C10KAS are the newer batch
Gyroscope
Gyroscope functionality was also faulty on my model, Its probs worth while checking to see if yours is ok too.
For me i couldnt use autorotate on the normal desktop, it always just sat in landscape mode despite rotating the tablet all ways. Glowball game wouldnt respond to any movements and riptide wouldnt respond either.
Battery Conditioning
When you first get your tablet, a charge period of 8Hrs is recommended, which should calibrate the battery sensors and condition the battery to achieve maximum life/power.
You can use the tablet while its charging.
Haptic Feedback
You hopefully notice when you turn the TFP on that it has a slight vibration (haptic feedback), some people report either very week vibration/no vibration or very loud vibration, almost sounding like a duck! Double check that its working as it should.
Youll feel the vibration when turning the TFP on or off.
Firmware Updates
When the tablet is connected to wifi and after a while an update notification will be displayed at the bottom right, there may be a couple of updates to apply ( eg The new Ice cream sandwitch update then the camera update) You can normally postpone updates a maximum of 3 times before they have to be applied.
Once started, allow the update to finish, Do NOT interupt by turning off. Always try to make sure you have 50%+ battery life before applying an update, best idea is to connect the AC adapter.
More to come ... Suggestions welcome.
Images robbed from google image search
Excellent work Danny.
I was going to do this myself when I found a bit of spare time.
I'll add my support to this topic.
What Beards said! Thanks indeed.
Danny-B- said:
GPS Reception
Asus has taken the GPS functionality off the specs for the prime, however its still there, if you want to test yours, download GPS Test from the market GPS Test
Take your tablet outside (some report it working indoors but outside is the only real way to test) and check to see of you can get any.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because you can lock on to some satellites while stationary and connected to WiFi means nothing.
As a personal preference, I can't stand GPS Test. It looks like it was drawn with crayons to me.
Good alternatives to GPS Test are GPS Status and GPS Essentials, though you'll have to build the screen you want in Essentials.
To properly test the GPS, and someone correct me if my memory is bad here;
Bring up your Prime with WiFi and GPS on.
Turn off WiFi and reboot your Prime
See how long it takes to get a lock on 4 or more satellites, it shouldn't be long even with a "bad" GPS
Hop in your vehicle and go for a drive/ride while having the non-driver keep an eye on the number of satellites tracked
Beards said:
Excellent work Danny.
I was going to do this myself when I found a bit of spare time.
I'll add my support to this topic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers !
Thought it was needed
I'm sure we'll find more info to pack in this thread
Col.Kernel said:
What Beards said! Thanks indeed.
Because you can lock on to some satellites while stationary and connected to WiFi means nothing.
As a personal preference, I can't stand GPS Test. It looks like it was drawn with crayons to me.
Good alternatives to GPS Test are GPS Status and GPS Essentials, though you'll have to build the screen you want in Essentials.
To properly test the GPS, and someone correct me if my memory is bad here;
Bring up your Prime with WiFi and GPS on.
Turn off WiFi and reboot your Prime
See how long it takes to get a lock on 4 or more satellites, it shouldn't be long even with a "bad" GPS
Hop in your vehicle and go for a drive/ride while having the non-driver keep an eye on the number of satellites tracked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Edited the GPS section slightly.
GPS Test seems to be the standard app, and for a noob its quick and easy to see a status. i'll add the links in for the alternative apps though cheers.
Thanks for taking the time to make this post Danny! I bet all the noobish threads(mine included =D ) finally pushed you to do it
Very well done =P
This should be stickied
Thank you very much!
Can you please add some information on rooting if needed and backup if needed also and how to make it and what is it realy for[sorry for the noob questions].
About Gyroscope is it only to try rotate it ? thats it ?
but again big thanks
<TROLL> This checklist is a testimony to a shotty device </TROLL>
None the less, the list is good. Thanks OP!
Might want to add something about Haptic Feedback.
Good list !
No # of dead pixels should be acceptable on a brand new device.. not atleast the first 365 days of usage.
Excellent thread.
I would also test for the Vulcan Nerve Pinch : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1473272
And I would also encourage new owners to run benchmarks on their systems brand new and after each update (and maybe report their numbers back to xda-dev forum): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22060756&postcount=574
Good stuff but am I missing something or did you forget the biggest one? Lockups with ICS issue......
I think that would be a very hard one to miss once user updates to ICS
This thread is basically the same as the other one called "Things you need to know about Tf-201". Except the other one is more extensive n further along with more info n links.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1444084
Good thread, thanks!
Quick question - is the gyro problem either it will be completely dead or partly? i think mine is ok, tried glowball seemed to be ok, and auto rotate works but maybe a bit sluggish, maybe its just set like that?
fro5tie said:
Good thread, thanks!
Quick question - is the gyro problem either it will be completely dead or partly? i think mine is ok, tried glowball seemed to be ok, and auto rotate works but maybe a bit sluggish, maybe its just set like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me it didnt work at all. I havnt seen any other reports of the gyroscope not working properly except from people recieving the newer batch.
Auto rotate is always a little sluggish to be fair, never was as fast as the ipad.
curreyr said:
Might want to add something about Haptic Feedback.
Good list !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good idea!
Haptic feedback on mine seemed to be fine, wasnt noisy and feedback was fine, but i've seen the reports of issues with it.
I would also like to add some things too
-Camera lens clarity, all 3 of my Primes that I bought had a fogged lens on the inside/specs or air bubbles in them
-LED screen alignment, my third Prime had a crooked display
Though these are just aesthetics, I still returned mine. I want a perfect Prime for the money I'm spending.
Here is my Prime with backlight bleeding..
Specially the right seems to have a lot of bleed, that is not only with mine but with a lot of people.
remics said:
I think that would be a very hard one to miss once user updates to ICS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree but since this seems to also be an instructional thread telling newbies how they should go about remedying the issues you might run into the ICS lockup should be included.
JoeyLe said:
Here is my Prime with backlight bleeding..
Specially the right seems to have a lot of bleed, that is not only with mine but with a lot of people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Left side is no big deal. Right side does have alot. But most bleeds, unless major ones, aren't even noticeable during regular use. Only noticeable on bootups or by people who sit in a dark room with a black wallpaper staring at it looking for bleeds..lmfao
They won't repair for minor bleeding or one or two dead pixels. I think you have to have more than 5-6 dead pixels in one area to qualify for warranty. Its in the warranty info. Ipad2 at launch suffered alot worse from bleeds than pictures posted here from various people. So this is a common issue throughout all devices with displays like these.
I believe 100% that GPS is a Software/Firmware issue. I also know that there have been threads about this before.
That being said I had GPS working fine on my tablet when I got it and performance has gone down with every update. I am now on .14 and I have no GPS at all. Inside, outside, vertical, horizontal, with a phone, without, clear skys, rain, etc. The only 2 things that I haven't tried is taking off the back of the tablet and using gps tether, reason being that it worked before and now it doesn't and tethering has nothing to do with the internal GPS.
I'm almost thinking that they disabled the GPS in one of the last updates 13 and 14 for sure.
EDIT: What do you know it must be like going to the doctor. It hurts until you go there then everything is fine again.
My Prime is seeing 4 satellites in view right now however the gps has not "locked" yet.
The weirdest thing is that I left GPS on for a couple of hours with the screen sleep turned off and got nothing and now in the time that it took to edit this I got some satellites in view. I'm at a loss.
Has anyone else had similar experiences?
@Gary Key any input on this? Other than GPS my tablet is 100% functional, I haven't experienced any of the other problems wifi, reboots, etc.
it is hardware, it's been proven. the GPS and wi-fi antennas are connected via pogo pins and in some primes te pogo pins are touching, giving you great performance and in others they are not touching giving you no GPS.
GPS works on mine with .14, but doesn't lock to as many satellites as with .11, nor does it maintain as consistent a signal.
Personally, I believe the GPS issues are a combination of hardware and software.
cordell507 said:
it is hardware, it's been proven. the GPS and wi-fi antennas are connected via pogo pins and in some primes te pogo pins are touching, giving you great performance and in others they are not touching giving you no GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't buy the pogo pin theory. However the aluminum back might have something to do with it.
And how exactly has this been proven? Not to start a flame war but nobody has replaced the pogo pins with solder and put the prime back together. They have only added antennas to the device and/or removed the back plate. Lets get with the scientific method here. Change one variable at a time.
In my case the only thing that has changed is the version of the software on the tablet. The newer the software/firmware the worse the performance.
l33tlinuxh4x0r said:
I believe 100% that GPS is a Software/Firmware issue. I also know that there have been threads about this before.
That being said I had GPS working fine on my tablet when I got it and performance has gone down with every update. I am now on .14 and I have no GPS at all. Inside, outside, vertical, horizontal, with a phone, without, clear skys, rain, etc. The only 2 things that I haven't tried is taking off the back of the tablet and using gps tether, reason being that it worked before and now it doesn't and tethering has nothing to do with the internal GPS.
I'm almost thinking that they disabled the GPS in one of the last updates 13 and 14 for sure.
EDIT: What do you know it must be like going to the doctor. It hurts until you go there then everything is fine again.
My Prime is seeing 4 satellites in view right now however the gps has not "locked" yet.
The weirdest thing is that I left GPS on for a couple of hours with the screen sleep turned off and got nothing and now in the time that it took to edit this I got some satellites in view. I'm at a loss.
Has anyone else had similar experiences?
@Gary Key any input on this? Other than GPS my tablet is 100% functional, I haven't experienced any of the other problems wifi, reboots, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a multipage thread about this already (GPS performance acceptable, then degrades after .13 or .14 updates). Here's what's going to happen: You'll probably get flamed, a bunch of people will insinuate that you're an idiot for even SUGGESTING that it's not completely a hardware issue, and a few will mock your methods as unscientific. Debate may or may not go back and forth for a while, and then the thread will slowly die. And one day, .15 or .16 will come out, and maybe your GPS reception will magically improve again. Who knows?
I don't think that GPS will ever be GREAT (lots of birds with green-bar signal strength) but I do think that software updates are effecting the ACCEPTABLE GPS that a number of these units seem capable of achieving.
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10charsnow
l33tlinuxh4x0r said:
I don't buy the pogo pin theory. However the aluminum back might have something to do with it.
And how exactly has this been proven? Not to start a flame war but nobody has replaced the pogo pins with solder and put the prime back together. They have only added antennas to the device and/or removed the back plate. Lets get with the scientific method here. Change one variable at a time.
In my case the only thing that has changed is the version of the software on the tablet. The newer the software/firmware the worse the performance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has been pretty extensively discussed in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1474391
The aluminum case is definitely a major problem for GPS and Erusman "solved" that problem by attaching external antennae to his Prime so that the GPS can get a relatively clear signal. He experimented with several different types of internal antennae, hard wired the GPS antennae to replace the Pogo Pins, etc all with very poor GPS results until he ran an antennae out the back of his Prime.
To me (and most people who followed Erusman's testing), this indicates that the GPS's main problem is a hardware one, that hardware being the aluminum backplate of the Prime.
I have had varying GPS performance with the different firmware updates, which indicates that software can be a factor. However since I have also had generally poor GPS performance regardless of which formware I have been running I am pretty sure that software isn't as much of a factor as encasing the GPS antennae in what amounts to an aluminum faraday cage .
Not another one of these. I posted this on another forum. To the OP, if this is software please explain my results. Now even though it was picking satellites it wasnt really that useful as it didnt really track me on the spot when doing turn by turn.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22657457&postcount=65
What HE said...
dcAndroidFan said:
There's a multipage thread about this already (GPS performance acceptable, then degrades after .13 or .14 updates). Here's what's going to happen: You'll probably get flamed, a bunch of people will insinuate that you're an idiot for even SUGGESTING that it's not completely a hardware issue, and a few will mock your methods as unscientific. Debate may or may not go back and forth for a while, and then the thread will slowly die. And one day, .15 or .16 will come out, and maybe your GPS reception will magically improve again. Who knows?
I don't think that GPS will ever be GREAT (lots of birds with green-bar signal strength) but I do think that software updates are effecting the ACCEPTABLE GPS that a number of these units seem capable of achieving.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I pretty much agree. I doubt it will ever be truly accptable to the level of say, a TF101 - though I was told that my replacement C1 Serial Number Prime would be "At LEAST as good as a TF101" by a tech support manager. Seems that where the Prime is concerned NOTHING is a "given" Some days I get some GPS activity, some days not so much. What is apparent with my current unit is, GPS is EXTREMELY inconsistent, and not just from session to session, I mean from minute to minute. I can have 11 sats in view, using 5, and 10 seconds later lose half of them,or ALL of them, all without even moving the Prime so much as a millimeter.
I guess I will never be able to use my Prime as a "professional GPS device" Or as an unprofessional GPS device, or as a GPS device of any type. Sucks... and will continue to irk me for as long as I have and use a Prime. Probably for a long time after as well. I suspect that any mention or thought of Asus will no doubt bring the Now you see it, Now you don't GPS screw up to mind.
Know what would be great? Not having to see ONE MORE comment like "I didn't need the GPS anyway" or the classic: "If I want GPS, that's what my phone is for." That's terrific! Then if you buy a new car and the $1800 Navigation doesn't work, and the manufacturer decides to just stop supporting navigation in that model, you will be all set with your phone.
Don't TELL me how a tablet doesn't NEED GPS, and don't TELL me that the iPAD 2 WiFi doesn't HAVE GPS. I didn't BUY an iPAD 2. I bought a device that said "GPS" on the box and on the web. My GPS doesn't even work for LOCATION, never mind navigation.
Tell me again how I can just return it if I don't like it. That's the Problem... I do LIKE IT... I FREAKING LOVE IT, all the more reason why I want it to work properly. And I don't want to return it, I want to exchange it, or fix it. If it will never work, well, then I will never be completely happy, but that doesn't mean I can go get one of the many "Comparable" devices (Like Best Buy offered me when the oversold Pre-orders. There ARE no Comparable devices.
SO I am stuck using an add-on Bluetooth GPS Tethering device. Works ok. Bug me that there is GPS hardware right here in the Prime that doesn't work. Bugs me a lot. I am an engineer. Crap that doesn't work, or works poorly bugs me.
It's like the "Real Feel" weather people. Telling me that it's 60 degrees, but "feels like" 63. Not to ME! To ME, it feels like 66. Don't TELL me how to FEEL!
No one can tell me how to feel about this either. It feels like I got ripped off. Rant over (for today)
I think its the software too.
I was sent a c model that works perfectly in every way except the gps which will not lock on to any sats. BUT using free nav usa I can lock on to sats and stay connected. IT IS NO GOOGLE MAPS BUT it does work. Sooooo is it software ?
Ok, so I'm only marginally tech savvy, but lets say i wanted to set up optimal GPS conditions for my prime (which has never seen a satellite). How would I do that and what programs do you recommend.
So far I've tried putting my prime next to a window running GPS Test and letting it sit there for uo to 10mins.
Thanks
@SmartAs$Phone:
I know exactly how you feel. My prime's box didn't have GPS listed, and I was aware of the issues going in, so to me I knew ahead of time and I was okay with that. Bestbuy, on the other hand, was still advertising GPS as a feature at the time (End of January) and last I checked on their site they're still advertising it.
But for the folks that bought thinking "Yes! Full on GPS!" and it didn't deliver I can certainly understand the frustration. Double so, considering that when it didn't work they came here and found many others with the same problem, and they realized that had the done more searching up front they would have known about the issue.
In the end, however, no software is going to fix this problem as has been proven by the various hardware mod threads. For those willing to mod, that's a fine solution. For those not willing to mod, well, I don't know what the solution is.
Well, my C1 model had relatively OK GPS with .11
At my front door I could get 11 sats and four locked and it said about 48 feet accurate. BUT, use maps and my location jumped around and was typically 200 yards or more off.
With .14, I get a lot more sats, more locked, and 36 feet accurate. And on maps is locks dead on to where I am.
Can firmware improve GPS? Clearly. Did it get better from .11 to .14? Clearly.
Now the good part. If I was lucky I got a few sats intermittently indoors (1 to 3) after a few minutes. NOW, I get 7 sats and a lock with 72 feet accurate, and the map is about 100 feet off, but on the right street.
Say what you will. I don't have anything special. Same metal back.
*grabbing popcorn*
shinzz said:
*grabbing popcorn*
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Dont forget the large size soda.
Clevatreva lol, all treva did was play with birds by the door. Other more tech people opened their primes and proved to themselves its Purley hardware..... Sillytreva
Sent from my GT-I9100
snakeybidder said:
Clevatreva lol, all treva did was play with birds by the door. Other more tech people opened their primes and proved to themselves its Purley hardware..... Sillytreva
Sent from my GT-I9100
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dcAndroidFan said:
Here's what's going to happen: You'll probably get flamed, a bunch of people will insinuate that you're an idiot for even SUGGESTING that it's not completely a hardware issue, and a few will mock your methods as unscientific.
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Seems like I pretty much called this one.
I am also thinking that gps issue is mostly software problem. When I bought tfp there was android hc. I had seen 15 sats and connected to 13. Whith .11 it dropped to max 6 visible but I was able to get a fix. Now with .14 I can see max 4 sats with no fix. I`ve got no problems with reboots nor wifi.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
l33tlinuxh4x0r said:
I believe 100% that GPS is a Software/Firmware issue. I also know that there have been threads about this before.
That being said I had GPS working fine on my tablet when I got it and performance has gone down with every update. I am now on .14 and I have no GPS at all. Inside, outside, vertical, horizontal, with a phone, without, clear skys, rain, etc. The only 2 things that I haven't tried is taking off the back of the tablet and using gps tether, reason being that it worked before and now it doesn't and tethering has nothing to do with the internal GPS.
I'm almost thinking that they disabled the GPS in one of the last updates 13 and 14 for sure.
EDIT: What do you know it must be like going to the doctor. It hurts until you go there then everything is fine again.
My Prime is seeing 4 satellites in view right now however the gps has not "locked" yet.
The weirdest thing is that I left GPS on for a couple of hours with the screen sleep turned off and got nothing and now in the time that it took to edit this I got some satellites in view. I'm at a loss.
Has anyone else had similar experiences?
@Gary Key any input on this? Other than GPS my tablet is 100% functional, I haven't experienced any of the other problems wifi, reboots, etc.
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I agree with you 100% I'm an Avionics Tech I work with GPS rx's all day. We have a GPS generator and with the unit right under the gen it shows about the right -dbm however is unable to obtain a constant lock. If I pad the signal down it gets better and locks on solid. IMO its an AGC problem which is a software setting for this chipset. I have been temped to open my prime up and solder smb connectors to the main board and hook it up to a good GPS antenna, but I know it still wont work. People here dont seem to understand RF and how antenna's are a specific length ect. I'm not bashing people but a clip lead isn't an antenna nor a valid test.
I am having the exact same problem. At times I get no love, no birds, like right now. Zippo, nada, But last time I checked, I was getting lots of satellites. Very inconsistent and I can't find any reason for it..
l33tlinuxh4x0r said:
I believe 100% that GPS is a Software/Firmware issue. I also know that there have been threads about this before.
That being said I had GPS working fine on my tablet when I got it and performance has gone down with every update. I am now on .14 and I have no GPS at all. Inside, outside, vertical, horizontal, with a phone, without, clear skys, rain, etc. The only 2 things that I haven't tried is taking off the back of the tablet and using gps tether, reason being that it worked before and now it doesn't and tethering has nothing to do with the internal GPS.
I'm almost thinking that they disabled the GPS in one of the last updates 13 and 14 for sure.
EDIT: What do you know it must be like going to the doctor. It hurts until you go there then everything is fine again.
My Prime is seeing 4 satellites in view right now however the gps has not "locked" yet.
The weirdest thing is that I left GPS on for a couple of hours with the screen sleep turned off and got nothing and now in the time that it took to edit this I got some satellites in view. I'm at a loss.
Has anyone else had similar experiences?
@Gary Key any input on this? Other than GPS my tablet is 100% functional, I haven't experienced any of the other problems wifi, reboots, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse