Finally a working GPS fix solution after 1.5 years S2 - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

>> A working GPS on the S2 i9100. Finally - after feeling to tried 1000 times to find a solution – a fix for the bad gps fixing times.<<
Background
Since I got my S2 1,5 years ago I always had many troubles to get a gps position fix:
I tried to flash many modems, in my history had been on many ROMs (resurrection remix several versions, rootbox several versions, neat CM 10.1 nighties, now on Carbon 1.7)
Nothing, absolutely nothing helped me to get a quick and reliable gps fix. Tried within this years also many apps on each ROM, faster fix, SIRFIV, GPS Status, GPS fix) and additionally tried many A-GPS patches out of forums…. Last week I got serious lost in Paris (holiday) and was so frustrated that I cannot get a GPS fix within 10 minutes, so that I’m really disassembled my i9100 yesterday, to look if all contacts, and antennas are connected. (Didn’t helped also, here described finding was made after checking that).
I do not know, what made the trick definitely this is a solution for all who are pained by the bad, bad GPS fix of the S2. Who has time – and developers are highly appreciated!! – let us find out together, which is the most critical part of this solution or is it the combination? … I would highly appreciate, if these things get investigated and speculate also about a necessary step to update the code bases for all AOPK and CM ROMs.
[B]Finally ONE combination which is working (< 2 min cold start, then 5-10 sec)[/B]
1) A Patch which disables static navigation:
StaticNav-1.0.zip http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=38603894
That patch can be run in recovery by flashing. It detects three different gps.exynos4.so files inside your rom, which are taken as binaries from the Samsung stock-ROMs (blame Samsung for not open all sources). Because there are mostly these libraries in use in all custom ROMs, it should be able to patch yours too. Otherwise go to the thread “GPS SirfIV Tool Development - Disable Static Navigation” and get you working version of these gps hw-library.
2) Two Apps (not sure which did the trick):
2.1) "GPS booster"(a very very tiny 44 kb service in background) got from Playstore. Install, start once and fine.
2.2) And the app “angry gps” which is also not designed for our i9100. But it works fine. It is hard to get it. In some threads the people have made a copy, because it is out of the Playstore since month/years. Google hard; don’t give up! Or one copy at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=32240488 (see update 20130510 below)
After applying the flash-able patch (obvious has to be applied every time you flash your rom) (THANK the Dev!) and starting the small service “gps booster” (THANK the DEV) and start any gps testing app. and then changing just the two following settings in “angry gps”:
- Operation Mode: „MSASSISTED“
- Accuracy: „0“ (see update 20130510 below)
I get a fix after reboot within 1 minute (Germany), every new fix whenever you turn of your GPS is now really within 5-10 secs there.
I’m so glad that there is finally one solution to this problem which is bothering me since 1,5 years.
All invited to test!!! We should find out what is the detailed trick and give ROM Devs input to patch
I would be very happy if others can confirm this, let us find the problem together. Is it the static navigation? Is it GPS booster service (I don’t can debug this app, to see what it is doing (maybe increase some gps acquiring rates?))? Or is it the “angry gps” which is able to apply the right settings?
Advanced comments:
Interestingly the “angry gps” app seems to set values, which should be also be influenced by the gps.conf. Before I got this solution. Also a gps.conf file like following did not the trick (note the “ACCURACY_THRES=0”. – This is confusing. But I think there is something really messed up in the lib gps.exynos4.so since years. – Definitely the described way did the trick for me, but it would be great to open the way for all ROM devs to find the failure and patch their ROM. As far as I know the gps.exynos4.so is not open source, so it or other hw-libs would need to be patched, if we find out, why this app/patch combination is working so GREAT. – Never be ashamed of your S2 again, when anybody else got already the position in the unknown city!
Good working example gps.conf for me.
NTP_SERVER=de.pool.ntp.org
AGPS=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_1=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_2=http://xtra2.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_3=http://xtra4.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
DEFAULT_AGPS_ENABLE=TRUE
DEFAULT_USER_PLANE=TRUE
DEFAULT_SSL_ENABLE=FALSE
INTERMEDIATE_POS=1
ACCURACY_THRES=0
QOS_ACCURACY=50
QOS_TIME_OUT_AGPS=95
QOS_TIME_OUT_STANDALONE=80
QosHorizontalThreshold=1000
QosVerticalThreshold=500
SUPL_HOST=supl.google.com
SUPL_PORT=7276
SUPL_SECURE_PORT=7275
SUPL_NO_SECURE_PORT=3425
SUPL_TLS_HOST=FQDN
SUPL_TLS_CERT=/etc/SuplRootCert
REPORT_POSITION_USE_SUPL_REFLOC=1
AssistMethodType=1
AgpsUse=1
AgpsServerType=1
AgpsServerIp=3232235555
AgpsMtConf=0
AgpsMtResponseType=1
CURRENT_CARRIER=common
PHONE_TYPE=UMTS
ENABLE_WIPER=1
Note that we lowered the ACCURACY_threshold=0 (most use 1000). So one can get some position jumps and position moving of gps coordinate within 50-15 m. But better this, as no fixing at all.
State of Investigation:
Modem: Could be one factor, but I doubt
ROM: Should not have too much influence since most use the same gps.exynos4.so because of same sources or binary sources)
Kernel: This has for sure no influence
Update 20130510:
Rebooted sometimes and excluded the angry gps app. it also overwrites your custom gps.conf.
for now, it seems that either the modem, and/or the gpsboost app and/or the lib-patching and/or the gps.conf is responsible for the huge improve. So it seems the app `angry gps` is out this game and can be excluded.
Update 20130517:
Meanwhile I changed a lot the ROMs and kernels and modems and apps. Not at Carbon_21030516 and Dori 9.17, but this does not matter. But the switching of settings show, that the two things, which do the trick are: gps.conf (you can also use app NTPtop) and most important, the patching with the mentioned StaticNav-1.0.zip make the trick for fast GPS fixes. - I think this is the final finding.
Update 20130605:
Meanwhile I did a lot of other investigations. Now I got my S2 fixing position in 10s - also after 2 days after the last gps use (without a reboot). I found that each boot requires a long initial GPS fix of approx 30s.
The guide will be updated if I have time (at the moment 6 days/week work). - For the impatient a short, short guide:
1) apply the staticnavigation patch from cwm
2) use above gps.conf. (new slightly changed and sirfgps.conf will follow by time)
---- must be repeated after each reboot ----
3) use angrygps after each reboot to set the operation mode to MSASSISTED. - Change just that setting, and exit the app.
4) settings --> apps --> all --> google.serviceframework. ------> clear data
---- for daily gps position fixing ----
4) the use 2 GPS apps seeking for satellites seems speed up the fixing. - If I need a quick fix, I start "GPS Test" (not closing, just switch away) and afterwards "GPS status".
--> I get a TTF of approx 30s if a reboot had been made. All following gps fixes less than 10-15s! By the way: the Modem_NELS1_CWM.zip model is very, very good. Much more satellites than all other modems I tried before
------------------
Other conditions:
Modem: Modem_NELS1_CWM.zip
(over the years had been before on SGS2-M250K-UB23.zip, ModemRIL_XXMS2.zip, I9100_radio_XXLS6_CWM.zip, XXLPX-CWM.zip, Modem_XXLQ6-CWM, tested-ModemRIL_XXLS6, tested-ModemRIL_XXLS9)
Actual ROM/kernel: Carbon 20100510 nightly / Dorimanx 9.16

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Fantastic thread Thanked & 5 starred, even tho I personally have never had GPS problems. You're right, many many people on here over the 18 mths I've been here have had frustrating problems with GPS that seem almost impossible to fix, hopefully this helps some.

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Thread bookmarked.
Thanks for sharing! :thumbup:
"To err is human, to forgive is divine"
Sent from my SGS II

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Impressive thread, you have done pretty deep experimenting, currently gps is working great, but during my phone's GB, ICS era it would take a lot of time to lock, personally my solution was @Chainfire GPS Patch which was pretty rad it worked great for me.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

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a small update: rebooted sometimes and excluded the angry gps app. it also overwrites your custom gps.conf.
for now, it seems that either the modem, and/or the gpsboost app and/or the lib-patching and/or the gps.conf is responsible for the huge improve.
so `angry gps` is out this game.
Sent from my GT-i9100 using xda app-developers app

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GNUDroid said:
a small update: rebooted sometimes and excluded the angry gps app. it also overwrites your custom gps.conf.
for now, it seems that either the modem, and/or the gpsboost app and/or the lib-patching and/or the gps.conf is responsible for the huge improve.
so `angry gps` is out this game.
Sent from my GT-i9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recommend you edit the first post and mention the changes, or just correct it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

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Did you try the aGPS patch also that can be found in the dev area here?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

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I subscribed to this thread.
I also find myself waiting 10 minutes for a fix. Most of the time I need to be in an open space to get any fixes at all.
Together with the closed source hml driver, I find this to be the only things that stop me from using this magnificent smartphone at full potential. I hope at least this issue gets fixed.
Good work so far. Thank you!

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Hello. Is it possible to enable static navigation, because is it necesery for turistics navigation, or geocaching. Ofcourse that the device is Samsung Galaxy S2.

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Working fine
I flashed this fix,
and SGSII catch signal on hot after few seconds
I usually moves across my country and it really really helps
gr8 job!

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kiler_pl said:
I flashed this fix,
and SGSII catch signal on hot after few seconds
I usually moves across my country and it really really helps
gr8 job!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it could be true. When you use clasical car navigation. Samsung havn´t problem to find satelites. But I talking about gps navigation when you move speed under 5 km per hour. When you run or walk. You try find geocaches and so on. And you move only a few meters, step by step. GPS signal jumping, for example you are in a place, final destination and your device are still showing, that you have 20 or more meters to the end. This device you can´t use for turistic, geocaching. I am lazy root it. I am not sure that this problem rooting and installing Sirf Star IV Control application help, especially in ICS.

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I find some solution. There is a problem only when you start car navigation. Like is Sygic, Igo etc. This sw disable static navigation. After that when you start geocaching, or turistic navi, gps signal jumping. When you start only geocaching, or turistic navi. Everything work correctly. It looks like applications changing some configuration file.

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Some doubts
Hi there!
I live in Brazil (South America), and my gps.conf file is like this:
NTP_SERVER=north-america.pool.ntp.org
XTRA_SERVER_1=h t t p: // xtra1. gpsonextra. net/xtra. bin (spaces cause I´m new in the forum)
XTRA_SERVER_2=h t t p: // xtra2. gpsonextra. net/xtra. bin
XTRA_SERVER_3=h t t p: // xtra3. gpsonextra. net/xtra. bin
SUPL_HOST=supl.google.com
SUPL_PORT=7276
I believe I should chance the NTP_SERVER to =south-america. pool. ntp. org right?
My XTRA_SERVERs are different from yours also. Should I change them and leave as yours?
The other lines I don´t have in my file: should I write them as they are in yours too or there are some other differences between German (de?) and Brazil?
Thank you very much for the post and your help!
I want to get everything clear before trying to fix my GPS problem.
I have a spanish official 4.1.2 ROM at my S2: I9100XXLS8, Kernel Version 3.0.31-816988, Buid number JZO54.I9100XWLSD

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I have solved my problem by disabling A-GPS:
Settings> Location Services> Use wireless networks (unchecked).
Now it fixes inside my home also.

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RIL?
GNUDroid said:
>> A working GPS on the S2 i9100. Finally - after feeling to tried 1000 times to find a solution – a fix for the bad gps fixing times.<<
Other conditions:
Modem: Modem_NELS1_CWM.zip
(over the years had been before on SGS2-M250K-UB23.zip, ModemRIL_XXMS2.zip, I9100_radio_XXLS6_CWM.zip, XXLPX-CWM.zip, Modem_XXLQ6-CWM, tested-ModemRIL_XXLS6, tested-ModemRIL_XXLS9)
Actual ROM/kernel: Carbon 20100510 nightly / Dorimanx 9.16
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What RIL are u using?

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Where is it located, the Xtra.bin file
Does anyone know:
Every time the xtra.bin file is downloaded, where is it located in the I9100 ?
Thank you so much if you have the answer.

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Hi there,
I have same problem about gps. This is my ROM:
Paranoid 3.68 jellybean 4.2.2
Modem:XXLPS
Kernel:3.0.64-CM
After i flashed this Rom and modem i cant get any satellite, i use gps status, the AGPS not automatically refresh, and icon GPS on the navbar isn't blinking. Only icon one circle without dot in the center of that icon.
If I'm lucky i only get one of two satellite and impossible locked. I have try to flashing static navigation. But there's no hope. I try app like Gps control Sirf, but the app said my phone isnt gt-i9xxx.. I have no idea after i followed all of your instruction. By the way, angry gps can't install in my ROM and gps booster always . Is it compatible for jelly bean?
I attached a screenshot
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Sent from my GT-i9100 using Tapatalk 2

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some update of current problem solving
fadli1987 said:
Hi there,
I have same problem about gps. This is my ROM:
Paranoid 3.68 jellybean 4.2.2
Modem:XXLPS
Kernel:3.0.64-CM
After i flashed this Rom and modem i cant get any satellite, i use gps status, the AGPS not automatically refresh, and icon GPS on the navbar isn't blinking. Only icon one circle without dot in the center of that icon.
If I'm lucky i only get one of two satellite and impossible locked. I have try to flashing static navigation. But there's no hope. I try app like Gps control Sirf, but the app said my phone isnt gt-i9xxx.. I have no idea after i followed all of your instruction. By the way, angry gps can't install in my ROM and gps booster always . Is it compatible for jelly bean?
I attached a screenshot
Sent from my GT-i9100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some help and update again after so long time: Oh sh*** it is already september again...
Still GPS seems to be a problem for our old friend the i9100. Many roms and different android versions of each build partly seem to use different hardware-libs. Additionally GPS seems to be sensitive to
gps.conf, sirf.conf and the google.framework and/or the google location settings (e.g. just gps, gps+network location).
Most important are:
1) a good/patched gps.exynos.so lib in system/lib/hw/
2) good gps.conf and sirfgps.conf in system/etc/
3) Concering google.framework:
If 1 and 2) are adjusted still sometimes I experience troubles with an fast gps fix. The influcence is odd but sometimes it helps:
3a) to play around with the toggles of location setting (-->settings-->location acess). Switch the toolges some times and try combinations of just gps and gps+network location. 4) under settings-->apps-->all: clean “Google Services Framework”. This sometimes also can help by gps problems after my findings.
Since my initial post here I changed a lot of kernels and roms. From Android 4.1.2, 4.2.2 to 4.3. Still the speed of a GPS lock is varying from rom to rom: It seems that there had been one gps.eyxnos.so from 4.1.2 which was very fast.
--files and toolbox-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attached you can find some files which are my recommendations for the points 1) and 2)
--files and toolbox-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Normally you need just to flash a script which patches your installed gps.exynos.so to aenable static navigation (which highly improves the gps locking speed).
1) Attached:
The original thread “PS SirfIV Tool Development - Disable Static Navigation. All credits to the original people!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1324219
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1324219&page=11
StaticNav-i9100-v1.1.zip - [Click for QR Code] (143.3 KB, 47 views)
2) Attached:
If your gps.exynos.so is not found to be patched by this script, you can also try to flash my personal gps.exynos.so (already patched) which worked fine under my installations of slimbean 4.2.2 and 4.3. (also some time ago under carbon and rootbox 4.2.2)
3 and4) attached/text:
Additionally you can find my personal gps.conf and sirf.conf files which you copy over your /system/etc/ directory (or merge parameters in your files)
my gps.conf
NTP_SERVER=de.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=ntp.derekgordon.com
NTP_SERVER=pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER=0.sg.pool.ntp.org
AGPS=http://derekgordon.com/gps-files/bin/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_1=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_2=http://xtra2.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_3=http://derekgordon.com/gps-files/bin/xtra.bin
AGPS=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
DEFAULT_AGPS_ENABLE=TRUE
DEFAULT_USER_PLANE=TRUE
DEFAULT_SSL_ENABLE=FALSE
INTERMEDIATE_POS=1
ACCURACY_THRES=0
QOS_ACCURACY=50
QOS_TIME_OUT_AGPS=95
QOS_TIME_OUT_STANDALONE=80
QosHorizontalThreshold=1000
QosVerticalThreshold=500
SUPL_HOST=supl.google.com
SUPL_PORT=7276
SUPL_SECURE_PORT=7275
SUPL_NO_SECURE_PORT=3425
SUPL_TLS_HOST=FQDN
SUPL_TLS_CERT=/etc/SuplRootCert
REPORT_POSITION_USE_SUPL_REFLOC=1
AssistMethodType=1
AgpsUse=1
AgpsServerType=1
AgpsServerIp=3232235555
AgpsMtConf=0
AgpsMtResponseType=1
CURRENT_CARRIER=common
PHONE_TYPE=UMTS
ENABLE_WIPER=1
ENABLE_XTRA=TRUE
DEBUG_LEVEL=3
START_MODE=WARM
my sirfgps.conf
#CSR SiRF plc
#PROJECT_NAME : white Space is not allowed
#UART_DRIVER : Uart Driver Path
#RESET_GPIO : Reset GPIO Driver Path
#ONOFF_GPIO : OnOff GPIO Driver Path
#EXTERNAL_LNA : 1 - use External LNA, 0 - use Internal LNA only
#REF_CLOCK_26MHZ: 1 - use 26MHz TCXO, 0 - use 16.369MHz TCXO
#UART_BAUD_RATE : 0 - 115200bps 1 - 230400, 2 - 460800, 3 - 57600
#FREQUENCY_AIDING : 0 - Disable, 1 - Enable
#SENSOR_AIDING : 0 - Disable, 1 - Enable
#SET_ID_IMSI : 1 - Use IMSI for SET ID, 0 - Use MSISDN for SET ID, especially for Japan Network Operators
#DEBUGGING_FILES : 0 - no log file, 1 - log files enabled
#SSL_ENABLED : 0 - SSL Disabled, 1 - SSL Enabled
#CERTI_VERSION : 0 - TLSv1 , 1 - SSLv3 , 2 - SSLv23
#CP_RESPONSETIME : 0 - no priority, 1 - resposne priority time, 2 - resposne priority position ,3 - resposne priority use entire response time
#REAIDING=20
#CONTROL_PLANE : 1 - CP Enabled, 0 - CP Disabled, for MP3 player or PND
#ATT_NETWORK_OPERATOR : 1 - for AT&T, 0 - for other network operator
PROJECT=SAMSUNG_S5PC210
UART_DRIVER=/dev/ttySAC1
RESET_GPIO=/sys/devices/virtual/sec/gps/GPS_nRST/value
ONOFF_GPIO=/sys/devices/virtual/sec/gps/GPS_PWR_EN/value
EXTERNAL_LNA=1
REF_CLOCK_26MHZ=1
UART_BAUD_RATE=2
FREQUENCY_AIDING=1
SENSOR_AIDING=1
SET_ID_IMSI=1
DEBUGGING_FILES=0
SSL_ENABLED=0
CERTI_VERSION=0
CP_RESPONSETIME=3
CONTROL_PLANE=1
ATT_NETWORK_OPERATOR=0
ICS_NETWORK_OPERATOR=0
SGEE=1
CGEE=1
EMC_ENABLE=1
CIQ_ENABLE=1
LOG_PATH=/data

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GPS Issue
Hi GNUdroid,
I really need your help down here
I can't solve the issue
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45404559#post45404559

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great fix...thanks