stock rom
If i leave gps on.... and all the apps i have that may use gps (travel, voucher etc) do not run in the back ground,
except google maps.... will this really drain random battery throughout the day.
The reason I ask this is when using google maps...i see the gps symbol on the top of my phone, but once i back out of it...the symbol disappears, and when i go back into it to resume what i was doing the symbol turns back on and the gps has to find my location all over again.
Hence I come to the conclusion that the gps is not 'always on' when you don't need or (given you don't have any dodgy apps)
Then I could turn off googles location sharing thing, because if I am correct you need that on if you want to use location services without gps?
SGS2 uses sirfstar IV
http://www.sys-con.com/node/1822443
http://www.csr.com/products/25/sirfstariv-gsd4t
This is a modern GPS chip, it don't think it uses much battery. I've always GPS on and I've no battery issues. And I agree that it seems that the chip is set to some kind of standby when not in use so turning off the GPS in the settings (or notfication pull down) seems more like a privacy thing than power related.
Thanks for confirming. Will now try leaving gps on and location services off and see what happens. sometimes gps on its own takes a few extra seconds to locate you...might be annoying with certain apps
If you refuse location sharing you will not be able to use WIFI positioning service, but can still use cell tower positioning if your GPS is off. Personally I never use WPS since WIFI use a whole lot of power so I always keep it off. There are situations where it's useful (i.e. inside downtown can't get a GPS signal), so you can decide if you want it or not.
I usually keep my GPS off too, since when I open maps I just want to look at map, I don't need to know my exact location (and use the extra power).
My Galaxy S2 GPS sucks the battery life when I keep it on. My partner keeps his Galaxy S2 GPS on and the icon only comes on when something like Maps loads but immediatly goes away when you you exit Maps. Mine seems to stay on all the time and I can't see any obvious process running all of the time (except Maps). I monitor the battery usage with a tool and GPS is certainly running my battery down far quicker than if I turn it off.
Anyone else experiencing the same?
marklyn said:
My partner keeps his Galaxy S2 GPS on and the icon only comes on when something like Maps loads but immediatly goes away when you you exit Maps. Mine seems to stay on all the time and I can't see any obvious process running all of the time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the GPS setting turned on all the time, but my GPS only really turns on when I open an app that uses GPS, like Maps or Facebook. Just like your partner.
I actually want to keep it on all the time... like yours
Can you send me your /etc/gps.conf and /etc/sirfgps.conf ?
I'm not sure if that's what control this behaviour.
Noed said:
I have the GPS setting turned on all the time, but my GPS only really turns on when I open an app that uses GPS, like Maps or Facebook. Just like your partner.
I actually want to keep it on all the time... like yours
Can you send me your /etc/gps.conf and /etc/sirfgps.conf ?
I'm not sure if that's what control this behaviour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only had the gps.conf, not the sirfgps.conf file. Attached here.
I have to turn on GPS only when I need it for something and turn it off, otherwise it clearly drains my battery, in pretty quick fashion.
I had to rename it gps.txt to upload it.
Keeping GPS on is not draining your battery, because its realy turning on, only on application requests. Battery drain may come from some buggy app, which not close it GPS connection. You can easily see this by your GPS indicator. No indicator - no app using GPS atm - no battery drain, flashing indicator - GPS trying to lock ur position, indicator on - GPS is used and got lock on sattelites.
incident404 said:
its realy turning on, only on application requests
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to keep GPS always on, independent of an application request?
I want to control it on/off manually
I leave GPS on all the time. Only works when apps request / need it. No battery life issues for me.
Sent from my GT-I9100
Hi everyone
I've just got my player but I can't get the device to lock on with the gps, has any one had the same problem?
Have you try doing it out door with an open sky? It will still take a while to get an initial lock. If you have a wifi connection, it will be faster because Google will use the wifi access point location in estimating your current location.
Get the program GPS test. Turn on your GPS (you do not need wifi at all). Go outside. You should get a lock in less than a minute. The program will show you the satellites it sees and when you are locked. When locked it will give the latitude and longitude coordinates and the UC time.
First time I turned on the GPS indoors the samsung "saw" 9 satellites, and locked in less than 30 seconds. The GPS is the fastest I have seen on any device. I have locked on in a moving train as well.
Ive found a fix for the problem
All is now working fine
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1304259
"Ive found a fix for the problem."
Mine worked without this so-called fix. My device is running Gingerbread, and the GPS worked and I got a fix the first time I tried it.
Hello all!
Since yesterday, when I updated the firmware of my phone, the GPS icon has been shown constantly in the notification bar. It did not use to happen before. I am afraid it might be draining more battery than needed but I don't want to turn off GPS completely as I wanted it to be "ready to use" whenever I need to use, for example, Google Maps.
Is there something I can do? How can I control which app's might be using GPS connection in every moment?
Thank you!
+1
Every once in a while I see the GPS icon light up for a couple of seconds without apparent reason. I have no auto geo locating widget or so running, which might be an obvious guess.
Edit: just noticed I had weather information enabled on the lock screen so that may be the cause.
I've noticed using Waze I'll see GPS go in and out, and occasionally I try to post pictures to Instagram and find out there's no GPS tagging in them. Anyone else seen this?
scottricketts said:
I've noticed using Waze I'll see GPS go in and out, and occasionally I try to post pictures to Instagram and find out there's no GPS tagging in them. Anyone else seen this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES! Install a GPS Test and you can actually see the amount of Satellites seen go to zero. I can sit in the same place for 5 minutes and it will go from 21 to 0 every 10 - 60 seconds with a clear sky. I am wondering if this is a software or hardware issue. It is noticeable when using Gmaps to navigate, you will see your arrow simply stop when driving down the highway for 5 seconds at a time.
btothec said:
YES! Install a GPS Test and you can actually see the amount of Satellites seen go to zero. I can sit in the same place for 5 minutes and it will go from 21 to 0 every 10 - 60 seconds with a clear sky. I am wondering if this is a software or hardware issue. It is noticeable when using Gmaps to navigate, you will see your arrow simply stop when driving down the highway for 5 seconds at a time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im sitting at my desk and watching it not get a fix. The location icon in the status bar never goes white, and the GPSTest just sits there not getting a fix. I've tried disabling the low power GPS option in settings with no luck.
btothec said:
YES! Install a GPS Test and you can actually see the amount of Satellites seen go to zero. I can sit in the same place for 5 minutes and it will go from 21 to 0 every 10 - 60 seconds with a clear sky. I am wondering if this is a software or hardware issue. It is noticeable when using Gmaps to navigate, you will see your arrow simply stop when driving down the highway for 5 seconds at a time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here I've noticed on my t-mobile version.... Hmm...
---------- Post added at 09:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:09 PM ----------
scottricketts said:
Im sitting at my desk and watching it not get a fix. The location icon in the status bar never goes white, and the GPSTest just sits there not getting a fix. I've tried disabling the low power GPS option in settings with no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sometimes indoors GPS has more difficulty. Has it worked there before with other phones?
EDIT:
Worked with my GPS navigation a bit more... definitely see the GPS lose tracking every few minutes. Turned off the iZat, didn't make a difference. Plugged in a power source, thought it might help a little, but nope, GPS lost every once in a while. Bah, just when I thought I had received a problem-free unit
Any more information on this? As of April 1st, my LG G5 seems to be way off on GPS. I noticed it using Runkeeper. I thought maybe it was a Runkeeper issue, but then used MapMyRun and got the same I looked in history and saw that since getting this phone (traded in my G4 for the G5) I had one successfully tracked run, then it all went haywire. Never had a problem with the G4 - so it can't be signal issues (IMO). And since this phone got it right once... that is strange to me.
To give an idea... I ran about 10 miles and it told me 18. When I looked at the runkeeper map it looked like I was running down side streets, into fields, crazy stuff. Like it never got a real lock on my location.
I'm wondering if I need to return this phone??
bdogi said:
Any more information on this? As of April 1st, my LG G5 seems to be way off on GPS. I noticed it using Runkeeper. I thought maybe it was a Runkeeper issue, but then used MapMyRun and got the same I looked in history and saw that since getting this phone (traded in my G4 for the G5) I had one successfully tracked run, then it all went haywire. Never had a problem with the G4 - so it can't be signal issues (IMO). And since this phone got it right once... that is strange to me.
To give an idea... I ran about 10 miles and it told me 18. When I looked at the runkeeper map it looked like I was running down side streets, into fields, crazy stuff. Like it never got a real lock on my location.
I'm wondering if I need to return this phone??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have only used the G5 in the car a few times and it seems to work fine - using google maps, not waze.
I use a couple apps to track biking and they work fine. However, when I use them I use an app called GPS keeper pro to keep the GPS running all the time. It seems to help with apps for fitness. I started using it with the G3 and just kept right on with the G5. You might want to try GPS Keeper for your running apps.
I use GPS only in the location settings. That may help. At least my apps that rely on GPS open much faster with that setting.
Sent from my LGLS992 using XDA Free mobile app
My specific GPS issue was that it would lose lock a minute or so into a perfectly normal navigation lock while using Gmaps. It would relock after several seconds, only to lose lock again. This repeated over and over.
I was using the app GPS Status to monitor this. However, it hasn't surfaced in a few days, so I don't know if there was some rogue app or former setting that was interfering with GPS holding lock. I've hypothesized maybe it was GPS Status itself which was interfering. I uninstalled and reinstalled it, and so far *knock on wood* it hasn't popped up again.
This sounds a bit different from some of the problems listed here. The run tracker not getting a good track might be related to this, if it is never able to consistently keep GPS lock. Try monitoring the GPS satellite lock icon when the app is running. Does it go from lock (white) to not lock (grey)?
Mine is actually grey most of the time but when I'm connected to wifi calling it's constantly white. Weird. This thing needs an update for a few different reasons. Coming from the note 4 I notice differences in the software obviously but somethings seem like they don't quite work right. Example being when I used wifi calling on the note 4 it would grey out the regular signal but on this it's still active with the bars going up and down. I'm pretty sure it should cancel the network out all together but maybe this is just different. I don't know.
Sent from my LGLS992 using XDA Free mobile app
Maybe it's using the wifi connection hotspot to determine your location? So does your GPS really work at all then?
waylo said:
Maybe it's using the wifi connection hotspot to determine your location? So does your GPS really work at all then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I do have it set to GPS only in location settings but until I get out and try to use maps I guess I really won't know. It does find me in maps or other weather apps though.
Sent from my LGLS992 using XDA Free mobile app
Well - I got my second LG G5 hoping that would solve the problem. Doesn't seem to be any different
I've tried this so far:
High Accuracy - Was Already Set
Turn off WiFi location
Tried GPS Keeper to keep signal alive
Tried GPS Status Utility - NOTED: Takes a long time to lock and still will start 'searching' for long periods of time.
Tried with no cover on
New phone seems the same I love the LG phone itself, but I can't handle this. I should have returned it for a Samsung. Are there any other tricks I am missing?
bdogi said:
Well - I got my second LG G5 hoping that would solve the problem. Doesn't seem to be any different
I've tried this so far:
High Accuracy - Was Already Set
Turn off WiFi location
Tried GPS Keeper to keep signal alive
Tried GPS Status Utility - NOTED: Takes a long time to lock and still will start 'searching' for long periods of time.
Tried with no cover on
New phone seems the same I love the LG phone itself, but I can't handle this. I should have returned it for a Samsung. Are there any other tricks I am missing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you perhaps have greenify on? I have a theory that the aggressive doze may be affecting GPS lock duration.
waylo said:
Do you perhaps have greenify on? I have a theory that the aggressive doze may be affecting GPS lock duration.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think I have greenify loaded? I searched in Google Play and it only says 'install', so can't be on my phone.
bdogi said:
I don't think I have greenify loaded? I searched in Google Play and it only says 'install', so can't be on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, you don't have it installed then. Have you tried disabling iZat? It's the low power GPS addition, at the bottom of the GPS settings page.
Also, just to cover all the bases, you are outdoors when you're searching for GPS, right?
I have a stock T-Mobile G5, I've also noticed inconsistent GPS. Acts as if it's stuck. I'll open Google Maps and it'll show my location from 90 minutes ago. Won't update until I turn on airplane and then off again. Once the radios come back up GPS updates. Hoping for an update to fix this ASAP.
waylo said:
Correct, you don't have it installed then. Have you tried disabling iZat? It's the low power GPS addition, at the bottom of the GPS settings page.
Also, just to cover all the bases, you are outdoors when you're searching for GPS, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The low power GPS is turned off, yes. When I run the test I am running it right next to my window indoors. I run it on my HTC One (not activated) and my LG G5 (activated - new phone). HTC locks immediately (2-5 seconds) with 14/20 satellites, G5 does not lock for at least 3 minutse with anywhere between 18-26 satellites (I gave up after 3 minutes). I tried turning off/on airplane mode like the previous post - didn't change anything for me.
Even though the GPS doesn't show lock on the LG G5, I can get google maps working. It isn't very accurate, though. It sometimes shows me stuck in a location for about 1-2 miles. It also shows me off the roads, typically.
I found a way to replicate the GPS issue! I was having it behaving really intermittently on my car mount (vertically), and then I decided to tilt it horizontal and suddenly it got a lock! I've verified it by GPS test apps and it's super obvious that in a vertical orientation, the GPS doesn't get a proper lock.
Any of you guys wanna validate this?
I'm having this issue as well, sometimes takes a couple minutes or more to obtain initial lock when I get in my car every morning and start Waze (although it guesstimates my location based on last lock / WiFi), plus then it drops out 2-3 times per drive, which is incredibly frustrating and has caused me to miss turns. I lose lock with WiFi both enabled and disabled during my drive
As a couple people already said, I use the T-Mobile G5. I'm curious if all of us experiencing the problem use the T-Mobile version and it might be a carrier ROM issue. My network and GPS settings are how they were out of the box, although now that I know it exists, I'll try disabling IZat low-power location just to see if there's any improvement.
hot_wired13 said:
I found a way to replicate the GPS issue! I was having it behaving really intermittently on my car mount (vertically), and then I decided to tilt it horizontal and suddenly it got a lock! I've verified it by GPS test apps and it's super obvious that in a vertical orientation, the GPS doesn't get a proper lock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is always horizontal in my car dock, with the top of the phone facing left, but I'm still losing GPS lock. Do you use yours horizontally the other way?
I can tilt mine any way I want and it won't lock I ran a test this morning while taking my kids to school. I took out my old HTC One and turned on Runkeeper (running app). Turned Runkeeper on LG G5 (separate Runkeeper account to be sure nothing got screwy). G5 couldn't lock enough to map anything, HTC mapped perfectly to the roads. I then used VZ Navigator (Verizons map system - this was done at Verizon's request). The maps trailed me by about 1/2 to 1/4 mile and showed me about 200 yards off the road. Then - GPS lost. All the while - HTC mapped me out with Runkeeper perfectly mapped to the roads.
Since this is my second LG G5 with GPS issues... I think there is a problem with the phone or maybe the Verizon version of the phone. Sounds like T-Mobile also, though, so could just be some LG software screwing things up.
Either way - I'm probably getting the S7 now. I really like the G5 with the rear fingerprint scanner... but I need a GPS that works out of the box.
So everytime I open Maps or Waze to help me navigate. It always keeps searching for gps, and it will not navigate without gps. Also , my location in both apps are completely wrong. I'm very sure that I've turned on gps in settings. Is it a software problem?
I have had the GPS problem from day one and have never found a solution; I have tried every suggestion located. It is extremely frustrating when I am trying to get somewhere and it has me driving circles: telling me to turn around, stating to turn early (or late), constantly recalculating, etc.
The map shows I am close to where I actually am, but it is off just enough to cause an issue. When I am in my home it shows I am actually up in some farmer's corn field rather than my subdivision. When I drive it shows I am driving through fields rather than on the road.
Im really upset because Ive had returned the mobile 2 times to the store because the GPS problem. Every damn Xperia XA ultra starts working great with the GPS and after 6 months or so it becomes to stop working. Ive used the app GPS test and it shows that the phone wouldn't connect to any Satellite signals. Then I try GPS test in my GF smartphone (Samsung J5 prime) and it connects to 20 or more satellites.
Did you find a solution?