[Help] Unusual GPS Issue - Sprint LG G3

My GPS has a bit of a weird issue. If I turn on/reboot my phone and immediately turn on an app with GPS, then I have no problems at all.
However... if I don't do that (AKA my phone has been on for a few mins before I open a GPS based app/I close out of one of those apps and re open at a later time), my GPS does not activate and my accuracy turns to network based, at best (It's not very good). Here are a few screenshots.
I've tried turning the iZat on/off, turning GPS on/off, changing GPS accuracy, turning WI-FI on/off, and stopping each of the apps that are GPS based. However, my thoughts are that the GPS does not activate... for the GPS icon in the notification bar does not turn on when I start having my issues (See the first screenshot). If I turn on the GPS immediately after a reboot/turning the phone on initially, that GPS notification DOES light up and it works just fine. If I'm sitting on a wi-fi network, I have no issues at all. This is only when I'm relying on the network/GPS. What does everyone think? Any chance of fixing this issue? Feel free to ask for more information! Rebooting my phone for navigation is becoming frustrating.
So far my posts have been eerily silent. Thanks!

Before anything.... Have you tried going into maps app(assuming that's the app you use for navigation) settings and clearing cache/data uninstalling and installing again with a reliable WiFi Internet network?

gothikzoul said:
Before anything.... Have you tried going into maps app(assuming that's the app you use for navigation) settings and clearing cache/data uninstalling and installing again with a reliable WiFi Internet network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I have tried that twice. I also tried downloading waze and checking out a few other apps with GPS location features. If I used the GPS feature within the first few mins, no problem was encountered. Anytime after that, GPS wouldn't turn on/lock on.

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one having this issue.
GPS locks for me if I'm not moving but once I move (driving), it's all whack and I get a GPS signal lost from Maps.
Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app

johamsandwich said:
Glad to hear that I'm not the only one having this issue.
GPS locks for me if I'm not moving but once I move (driving), it's all whack and I get a GPS signal lost from Maps.
Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What have you tried so far to fix the issue?

Just changing location to high accuracy to device sensors.
I need to try clearing data and cache, as well as doing a restart to see if those work.
Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app

Got maps to work for me.
Went into apps, and deleted cache, data and Uninstalled updates.
Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app

johamsandwich said:
Got maps to work for me.
Went into apps, and deleted cache, data and Uninstalled updates.
Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad you got yours working! Unfortunately for me, that trick doesn't work. I am continually having the exact same problem and it spans across multiple apps. If you find anything out, let me know!

I have the same problem. My GPS not fix, in any aplication.
Sometimes, lock for fill minutes and again lost signal.
I don´t know what to do.

I've just noticed that my GPS is flakey... even when maps tells me to exit a certain road, sometimes it doesn't track me properly -- thinking maybe I stayed on the highway/etc. In my town we have an upper/lower level for I-35. My HTC One had no problem with this, but the G3 accuracy seems too poor for a lot of these complicated interchanges.

ScrapMaker said:
I've just noticed that my GPS is flakey... even when maps tells me to exit a certain road, sometimes it doesn't track me properly -- thinking maybe I stayed on the highway/etc. In my town we have an upper/lower level for I-35. My HTC One had no problem with this, but the G3 accuracy seems too poor for a lot of these complicated interchanges.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A few people (myself included) have noted the Compass is off. Does the compass point in the right direction as you're moving? I'm wondering if the compass pointing the wrong direction causes tracking issues when navigating...
Edit: To clarify, by "off" I mean the compass generally points 90 degrees or 180 degrees in the wrong direction.

evancg said:
A few people (myself included) have noted the Compass is off. Does the compass point in the right direction as you're moving? I'm wondering if the compass pointing the wrong direction causes tracking issues when navigating...
Edit: To clarify, by "off" I mean the compass generally points 90 degrees or 180 degrees in the wrong direction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is loaded into a dock in my car in the portrait position, however it shows the compass direction exactly 90 degrees to the right... I wonder if GPS toolbox can re-calibrate the sensor?

ScrapMaker said:
My phone is loaded into a dock in my car in the portrait position, however it shows the compass direction exactly 90 degrees to the right... I wonder if GPS toolbox can re-calibrate the sensor?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I (and others) have tried GPS Toolbox, the three rotation calibration, the figure 8 calibration....I don't notice any difference - some say it fixes it for a very short period of time, but then goes back to being off.

evancg said:
I (and others) have tried GPS Toolbox, the three rotation calibration, the figure 8 calibration....I don't notice any difference - some say it fixes it for a very short period of time, but then goes back to being off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed on various custom ROMs for my M7 that I have similar issues with the compass... sometimes completely dead/static, and sometimes off just like this. I had identical problems with maps, where it thought I was jumping lanes. Apparently Maps uses some of that sensor info to figure out where you're at, even while driving.

Under the gesture menu I have use the recalibration there to fix the compass (for a while at least, haven't checked much today at work) but it got the compass to point the right way after finding a proper flat surface.

IM0001 said:
Under the gesture menu I have use the recalibration there to fix the compass (for a while at least, haven't checked much today at work) but it got the compass to point the right way after finding a proper flat surface.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that and it acted like it was going to give me a correct heading for about three seconds then quickly jumped back to being off by 90 or 180 degrees.

I exchanged my G3 in case it was a compass issue with just my phone, and the replacement does the same thing. The ATT and Verizon versions I played with didn't have the same problem (hence why I tried the exchange). Maybe it's related to the newer version of software our version has or something.

Damn, that's not a good sign.

ScrapMaker said:
Damn, that's not a good sign.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it's too bad too. I wound up exchanging the G3 for an S5. Between the compass (which wouldn't normally be a huge issue but I'm traveling on business three times in the next six months to big cities I've never been to before), the screen overheating warning (only happened a couple of times, but still), the lack of root (so far), and the new-ness of the phone and therefore lack of community support (and LG's general lack of quick support), I just don't have time to chance it with a new phone with so many unknowns.
Loved a lot of things about it, and who knows - in a few months when they've worked out all the kinks, maybe I'll sell the S5 and look into the G3 again (of course, by then, who knows what new phones will be announced..).

I can't go with the S5... I had to return it before this phone because it would skip during BT audio playback in my car. I tried 3 of them, all had the same issue :/

Related

Alltel Touch Pro and GPS - are there issues?

Hey guys,
Can you tell me if there is an "issue" with the GPS on the Alltel Touch Pro phones? These are fairly new phones and have only been out for a couple weeks so there may not be a lot of info available but it sure seems to me there are some issues here.
I'm on my 3rd phone. First phone was probably OK but since it was new and nobody in the area was familiar with it, everyone thought the speakerphone speaker was defective... turns out it just sucks but that's in a different thread. On the 2nd phone we noticed at the Alltel store the signal kept dropping out completely and then coming back. Also I dropped a call, looked at the phone and it showed no bars in a very good signal reception area. That coupled with I couldn't get the GPS to reliably work, Alltel swapped out the phone again for me thinking the GPS was defective. Well, third one might be worse!!!???
I have verified I have the 911 location settings turned ON.
I have run QuickGPS and downloaded the data.
On the 2nd phone after several days of trying it off and on and having zero success I decided to get the $9.99 monthly Alltel app. It did indicate a weak signal but eventually picked up my location. Hmm??? I then went into Google Maps and it too was seeing around 10 satellites. Why could I not get it to see any satellites for days then as soon as I paid for the monthly Alltel app it "kinda" worked??? I say "kinda" because after that being able to lock onto satellites even in an open field was very iffy. So, I took the Alltel GPS app off the phone and did a hard reset because I still couldn't consistently get any satellites. After the hard reset I tried again with Google Maps and nothing. I then downloaded GPS Test and it immediately found several satellites??? I then started up Google Maps and then it immediately started working too?!? During all this I installed TomTom Navigator 5 (own that so thought I'd try it) and it too was "iffy" if it would find any satellites but it did connect so long as I had the GPS Test program running in the background. I could live with that but even with the GPS Test program running in the background on the 2nd phone it wasn't at all consistent even outside in an open field. What I find odd though is that the GPS seems to "stick" and the GPS Test program was "unsticking" the locked up GPS... but not reliably.
Now for the 3rd phone. Get the 3rd phone this morning and immediately download Google Maps, turn on location settings, and do the Quick GPS. Do a soft reset and try out Google Maps in a parking lot. NOTHING again after over 10 minutes. CRAP! Downloaded GPS Test and now on this phone I'm only getting "GPS starting up" with one yellow bar. I can't even get GPS Test to work now but it finds the GPS and acts like it is trying to lock on to satellites. On both phones it was defaulting to 9600 baud. Seemed to not make a difference if I select 9600 or 4800... when it works it works and when it doesn't it doesn't.
This is very frustrating. It is not like the programs don't work because I've got them all to work but only sporadically. Is Alltel doing "something" to this phone and the GPS like "half assed" locking it out??? I don't know what else it could be. Could I have got two bad phones in a row? I've read were other Alltel users just download Google Maps and, bingo, works immediately for them.
Any ideas as to what I might be able to try would be greatly appreciated. I love some of the features on the phone but some of the basic items that should work (speakerphone, GPS) on an expensive phone like this don't work worth a darn
Thanks!!!
Drop the Alltel Nav plan...you don't need it. All it did was set your GPS settings to work, which you can do in the settings. Set GPS Hardware Port GPS and GPS Program Port both to none. Set Baud at 4800 and allow automatic managment. Soft Reset just in case and you should be good to go!
-Space
mspace00 said:
Drop the Alltel Nav plan...you don't need it. All it did was set your GPS settings to work, which you can do in the settings. Set GPS Hardware Port GPS and GPS Program Port both to none. Set Baud at 4800 and allow automatic managment. Soft Reset just in case and you should be good to go!
-Space
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only had the Alltel Nav plan for a couple of days... only got it for troubleshooting.
I had tried your settings before and both Google Maps and GPS Test could not even find the GPS. I just tried again and same results... GPS just keeps scanning for the GPS and can never find it. You have an Alltel phone?
The setting that you recommend me changing away from the default setting is the GPS Program Port... if that is set to NONE, the programs can't even find the GPS. When I change it back to COM4, the GPS is found but GPS Test sits at "GPS Starting Up" with either no satellites found or just one most of the time. I did the other day get it to work even on this new phone but then yesterday tried again for 20 minutes sitting still outside and the best I got GPS Test to show was 4 satellites... not even enough to get past the "starting up" message.
It seems like it is defective again but, man, TWO phones in a row with a bad GPS?????
So last night after replying to this thread, I was messing around with the new google maps. This morning...NOTHING works with my GPS. Perhaps the download of alltel nav (although canceled) activated the GPS on my phone for a specified time and now the sub ended. I was sold on this phone by Alltel reps because the GPS was not locked to an app.
-Space
mspace00 said:
So last night after replying to this thread, I was messing around with the new google maps. This morning...NOTHING works with my GPS. Perhaps the download of alltel nav (although canceled) activated the GPS on my phone for a specified time and now the sub ended. I was sold on this phone by Alltel reps because the GPS was not locked to an app.
-Space
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, after screwing around yesterday like I did, I decided to just let it set in my garage (with many sky lights) this morning for a few hours with the GPS Test program running and looking for satellites. NOTHING. Did a soft reset, went outside, started up the GPS Test program and within 5 seconds was locked on to 10 satellites!?!?! I could swear I've done soft resets before and it did no good. Will try a soft reset again if it quits working on me. Also, I'm inside the house now in a room with ZERO windows and it is still seeing 7 satellites. I suspect there is an issue with GPS on this phone but because it seems very "flaky" I'd think a software update may be able to fix it... hope so anyway!
You might want to try a soft reset and see if that works for ya?
I also talked to a smart phone expert guy and he said it doesn't hurt to do the Quick GPS DAILY. He has found that on many phones running a program like this daily helps the phone to connect much quicker. FWIW, I didn't run it today and after the reset it connected in seconds. LOL
Ok, so I tried running Quick GPS and I get an error "Connection Failed". Perhaps this is somehow related to the GPS issue? I will keep trying throughout the day.
-Space
mspace00 said:
Ok, so I tried running Quick GPS and I get an error "Connection Failed". Perhaps this is somehow related to the GPS issue? I will keep trying throughout the day.
-Space
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only ever got that when my 911 location setting was turned OFF when I first got the phone. Turned that on and it worked no problem. Also, of course, you have to be able to get your data connection established. With a data connection and your location settings ON, I don't know why you'd have a problem.
GPS no worky right for me......
Finally someone with a thread for this issue! I too am having the exact same problem. The GPS is very "flaky" at best.... I have had it work sporadically at best in the car and will drop it for no reason and the pick it right back up and then go out for good. I dont really understand what to do, it is all quite a mystery. I have manipulated the settings back and forth trying diffent things to no avail. I hope there is an update soon that straightens this out. It annoys me becasue my old titan got signal in about 10 seconds, 10 satellites, indoors, in any part of my house.... just a bit frustrating. Hopefully we get a fix soon.
Thanks for any advice on this!
Gary
bfranker said:
I only ever got that when my 911 location setting was turned OFF when I first got the phone. Turned that on and it worked no problem. Also, of course, you have to be able to get your data connection established. With a data connection and your location settings ON, I don't know why you'd have a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
This was driving me nuts! Now not only does quickGPS work, so does google maps I remember now changing that setting last night. Who knew?
-Space
After messing with this a bit more, I think there is definitely an issue with the Alltel version of this phone and the GPS. It seems that if I can't get it to work, it WILL work after I do a soft reset. What triggers the "need" to do a soft reset I have not yet figured out. But, I do know that I saw a friend who just got a Sprint HTC Touch Pro and had no idea about the GPS. I downloaded Google Maps on their phone and in less than 5 seconds the GPS was working like a charm.
Looks like the Alltel GPS works but is very sporadic at best and, for whatever reason, requires a soft reset damn near each time you want to use it. Hoping for a real "fix" for this soon!
and how do i change the 911 location settings
The 911 settings are located in the settings for the phone. START->SETTINGS->PHONE then click the Services tab and it is under the Location Setting.
-Space
Ok here is something that may be contributing to my problem. So i have double and triple checked the my location check and looked at the option which has always read "on". the strange thin is that the icon on the phone dialer screen shows my location feature is set to off. I have gone back to check the location setting and verified it was on. So i selected off then back on and then the icon reflected it was "on". I have tried soft resets after doing this and it goes right back to the way it was before I force it on. I am now hinking this is what is contributing to the flaky response of the gps. just wondering if anyone else has had this problem.....
gary
garyr2548 said:
Ok here is something that may be contributing to my problem. So i have double and triple checked the my location check and looked at the option which has always read "on". the strange thin is that the icon on the phone dialer screen shows my location feature is set to off. I have gone back to check the location setting and verified it was on. So i selected off then back on and then the icon reflected it was "on". I have tried soft resets after doing this and it goes right back to the way it was before I force it on. I am now hinking this is what is contributing to the flaky response of the gps. just wondering if anyone else has had this problem.....
gary
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which icon are you talking about? I looked through the online pdf manual and could find no icon that indicated this setting was on or off
Also, while a soft reset sometimes works for this, it doesn't all the time. What has saved me time in this, though, is that I've learned that if it doesn't connect in under a minute, it ain't going to. Mine either works pretty much right away or doesn't work at all. It does seem to help to start up GPS Test first but that doesn't always work either.
After reading a bit more about this on other forums, it doesn't look to be related specifically to the Alltel version like I originally assumed. A number of people with other carriers are also experiencing "flaky" operation of the HTC Touch Pro GPS. The very sad part about this is that, apparently, HTC refuses to acknowledge a problem exists.
Would be nice to know if this is a software/driver issue or hardware issue. If a hardware issue then I'll be stuck using an external receiver most likely. Software, I can hold out hope that somebody will get it figured out!
the icon i am referring to is on you phone dialer. it is a circle that resembles a set of crosshairs. when the location feature is on, you will see the crosshairs. when the setting is off the crosshairs have a diagonal line through them. i am using my phone to send this so i cant attach any pictures right now. the icon is right next to the back arrow at the top of the dialer where the number you dial is shown.
update... spent 30 minutes with alltel smartphone support and they had no solution other than saying they would send this to the group that reports issues to htc to work on a solution. they did offer me to return it but i like this phone too much. i am
sure we will figure it out soon enough.
garyr2548 said:
the icon i am referring to is on you phone dialer. it is a circle that resembles a set of crosshairs. when the location feature is on, you will see the crosshairs. when the setting is off the crosshairs have a diagonal line through them. i am using my phone to send this so i cant attach any pictures right now. the icon is right next to the back arrow at the top of the dialer where the number you dial is shown.
update... spent 30 minutes with alltel smartphone support and they had no solution other than saying they would send this to the group that reports issues to htc to work on a solution. they did offer me to return it but i like this phone too much. i am
sure we will figure it out soon enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh... I see that now and amazingly enough, mine has a line through it. I'll check that next time I can get the GPS to work and see if it changes.
Like you, I really like the phone but it greatly aggravates me that something so expensive doesn't work, as designed, out of the box.
I have had 3 alltel TP phones and all of them once 911 and location was set to on and quick gps was run once then they always got instant locks of 10 satellites. On my mogul the best i would ever get would be 4-6 satellites. Google & Live search use the intermediate driver with default settings with no lag and Iguidance (which is the best voiceprompt gps software) works with no lag when using Franson GPS gate as a virtual com port for the GPS driver.
bruceo said:
I have had 3 alltel TP phones and all of them once 911 and location was set to on and quick gps was run once then they always got instant locks of 10 satellites. On my mogul the best i would ever get would be 4-6 satellites. Google & Live search use the intermediate driver with default settings with no lag and Iguidance (which is the best voiceprompt gps software) works with no lag when using Franson GPS gate as a virtual com port for the GPS driver.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go to your phone dialer, is there a "line" through the crosshair/circle icon?
I haven't been able to get a lock for couple days now. Bummer. I'm going to call Alltel tech support again and see what they say.
Ok, after not even beeing able to get more than a couple satellites being shown in GPS Test which means nothing more than a GPS Starting message, I decided to call tech support to see if they had documented any other issues with the phone since I last contacted them. I was told there are NO known issues with the Touch Pro (not even the problem with the speakerphone or the previously reported GPS issues).
After talking with tech support and they guy telling me that they get a number of calls for "other" GPS software programs but not too many for the Alltel Navagation program that they offer, he told me he can't help me with the other programs and I should contact their vendors. I tried to explain to him that one was a simple GPS Test program and the other was Google Maps but he kept saying that they don't really have problems with "their" GPS subscription program.
Being basically fed up and figuring it was worth the $10 to continue to troubleshoot this problem, I downloaded the Alltel Navagation program again. And guess what... IT WORKED. Guess what else... when I had the Alltel Navagation program working, GPS Test and Google Maps work fine too and I'm even inside a large building right now!!!
Does anybody have any "inside" on what is going on here? I know a number of Alltel people say the GPS on their Touch Pro works just fine using something like Google Maps. On mine, it "sometimes" works. I find it VERY odd that on my last Touch Pro phone I NEVER got even a single satellite to show until I downloaded the Alltel pay program. Now, with this phone, after struggling with it a bit I can "sometimes" get it to work but haven't been able to for a couple days, even after numerous soft resets but now, immediately after activating and running the Alltel program, my GPS starting working just peachy and even inside a large building!?!? I've got a full 5 bars in the Alltel GPS program inside. WHAT GIVES???
I'm going to pay for this Alltel program for a few days and see if I can consistently get a lock. If so, I'd sure like to know why the phone's GPS magically gets "better" so long as you pay for their service
bfranker said:
If you go to your phone dialer, is there a "line" through the crosshair/circle icon?
I haven't been able to get a lock for couple days now. Bummer. I'm going to call Alltel tech support again and see what they say.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am using the regular windows dialer and yes there is a line through the circle/crosshair.
I just went outside and launched Gpsgate/Iguidance and had 10 sattelites instantly, it has been at least a week since I have drove and used the GPS, but I use it all the time with no problems or lag. Inside I almost instantly get 6-7 sats. using Google maps or livesearch without GPS gate, only the MS intermediate driver I get instant locks as well. I ran quick GPS once about a month ago on this unit.

my S3's GPS not working

hi guys i have been testing my galaxy s3's GPS. i am using osmand app as my GPS app. sadly the app could not find any satellites and pin point my current location. even if i leave my S3's GPS active for a more than 5 minutes it could not get any satellites even if i am standing on a open area.
what should i do? how can i reset my GPS?
thanks in advance
Turn mobile data/wifi on and then try to use GPS. If GPS receiver doesn't have fresh AGPS data, cold start will take from 10 minutes to infinity.
YaDr said:
Turn mobile data/wifi on and then try to use GPS. If GPS receiver doesn't have fresh AGPS data, cold start will take from 10 minutes to infinity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree with you. Turn mobile data on. GPS or Glonass receiver use mobile network to fix the signal. When your position is done, you can turn off mobile data.
oh do you really need the mobile data active? was it possible to get your exact location without the use of wifi or mobile data? just your GPS? because osmand can download the maps offline then just use the GPs data to pin point your location. have you guys tried using the osmand app?
thanks
GPS receiver needs to download some (4-5 kilobytes) of data from server. This is called A-GPS, Assisted GPS. Without it, GPS still will lock onto satellites, but it will be 20-30 minutes instead of 2-3 seconds.
bossrobo said:
oh do you really need the mobile data active? was it possible to get your exact location without the use of wifi or mobile data? just your GPS? because osmand can download the maps offline then just use the GPs data to pin point your location. have you guys tried using the osmand app?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U only need data/wifi for first location fix and to dl. extra GPS data.when your location is found,u can turn of data/wifi and never use it again if u got downloaded maps.
Its just to get faster location fix on first GPS fix
I just tested my s3's GPS today in open air and got a lock within two seconds. phone locked 15 satellites. My phone is running completely stock rom and kernel.
So as others suggested, you should turn wifi or mobile data on so that A-GPS could work.
If you are worried about your app downloading more data and cost you money eventually then you may try app named "GPS Test". Its a very simple app and gives you some key info like satellites in view and locked to plus accuracy etc. It doesn't download any maps etc. Once you get locked, you can close the app and open your desired maps app.
samydroid said:
I just tested my s3's GPS today in open air and got a lock within two seconds. phone locked 15 satellites. My phone is running completely stock rom and kernel.
So as others suggested, you should turn wifi or mobile data on so that A-GPS could work.
If you are worried about your app downloading more data and cost you money eventually then you may try app named "GPS Test". Its a very simple app and gives you some key info like satellites in view and locked to plus accuracy etc. It doesn't download any maps etc. Once you get locked, you can close the app and open your desired maps app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey thanks, because last night i was testing my s3's GPS if i have wifi connection my S3 can fix my current location around 2~3 seconds. i also saw my cousin's s3 and he also gets a fix location within 2~3 seconds. but i am not sure if his mobile data is active. that i would like to ask him again.
hehe thanks guys
Hi there,
I also have an issue with my GPS. Navigation is stuck at Searching for GPS.
Also when I run GPS test, it does not see any Satellites. I have my mobile data and WIFI on, and also tried to update the agps data with fastergps.
I have found different threads suggesting to uninstall maps but that did not help either.
Any ideas? (the issue existed on 4.0.4 stock, and also on latest aokp 4.1.1 build 3)
Thanks.
Also the GPS icon flashes briefly (like twice) and then disappears. Watching the notifications the same thing happens - Searching for GPS- appears briefly and then dissappears.
Is this the normal behaviour?
Watching the notifications the same thing happens - Searching for GPS- appears briefly and then dissappears.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That usually means the phone has stopped searching for satellites for any reason, these usually are app-related.
Please download GPS TEST from Play store and report if it can find and lock on any satellites. If not or if it keeps loosing the connections, then something is wrong.
Make sure you don't let the screen turn off during the fix since that will disable the GPS.
d4fseeker said:
That usually means the phone has stopped searching for satellites for any reason, these usually are app-related.
Please download GPS TEST from Play store and report if it can find and lock on any satellites. If not or if it keeps loosing the connections, then something is wrong.
Make sure you don't let the screen turn off during the fix since that will disable the GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried GPS Test and it sees 0 satellites. I have also tried a couple of other apps with no success.
Even with GPS test running, display on, I still observe the same flashing of the icon and notification popping up, then disappearing after 2 seconds and reappearing again...
Have same problem. I tried GPS test. It take about 5-10s to lock the GPS. However, it will dropped after sometimes.
If some of you guys are not running stock ROM, then there might be kernel related.
I tried Temasek's newest kernel yesterday on my AOSP MIUI ROM, but couldn’t get a gsp fix.
Went back to siyah kernel and got fix within seconds.
Also try setting your regional pool with fasterfix
mjolne said:
If some of you guys are not running stock ROM, then there might be kernel related.
I tried Temasek's newest kernel yesterday on my AOSP MIUI ROM, but couldn’t get a gsp fix.
Went back to siyah kernel and got fix within seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the issue on stock Rom 4.0.4 before I flashed aokp build 3. But maybe I'll try a different Kernel then... just to make sure that this is not the problem
slaphead20 said:
Also try setting your regional pool with fasterfix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried that, did not help.
Update:
Tried flashing latest Siyah kernel, but GPS is still behaving the same odd way,
Thanks for the suggestion anyways
manormachine said:
I had the issue on stock Rom 4.0.4 before I flashed aokp build 3. But maybe I'll try a different Kernel then... just to make sure that this is not the problem
I have tried that, did not help.
Update:
Tried flashing latest Siyah kernel, but GPS is still behaving the same odd way,
Thanks for the suggestion anyways
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, me tried syriah and faster fix now. See any improvement
Fasterfix , faster gps and new kernel cant solve the problem.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
pah8000 said:
Fasterfix , faster gps and new kernel cant solve the problem.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then its hardware return to service centre .
jje
Aluminum Case
I thought my GPS was busted as it showed which satelites were available (agps had downloaded) but it woudn't lock.
I then took my aluminum case off the phone and discovered that this was interfering with the GPS lock.
So take your case off before assuming that the GPS is buggered. *sigh*
"My gps wasn't working on my phone. I took it to the Verizon store after I had flashed back to stock, they messed with it for a little while and then ordered me a refurbished one. I received it the next day and when I powered it on guess what the gps didn't work. So I called tech support and to my surprise the person that answered the phone actually knew what she was talking about.
She told me the gps issue is a Samsung issue, (even though is only effects Verizon and sprint phones) they are working on an update to fix it. But in the mean time she told me how to do a work around to get it working. Here is what she had me do."
Go to Settings
Application manager
click all at top
go to Google services framework
clear data
go to settings
Application manager
click all at top
go to maps
clear data
uninstall updates
Go to location services
turn off VZW Location service(leave it off to)
Power cycle phone
update maps from android market
now the gps should be working.

[Q] GPS performance issues Australia

Hey Guys,
Loving my galaxy s3 however something strange is now happening. I used to live in Brisbane and recently moved to Sydney, whilst I was in Brisbane I often used the GPS and google maps navigation (google navigation whatever you want to call it ) and it performed amazing! it locked onto location instantly and would guide me and track my position superbly.
Now I've been in Sydney for 3 days, and I tried to use the navigation several times and it was terrible! It would take a minute or two to lock onto my position but would still be fairly innacurate and would not engage the navigation, just sat in that screen where it is zoomed out and roughly shows the route to take, sometimes it would engage into the navigation but then would stop tracking me and just say it lost GPS location.
Has anyone experienced this problem? or know what I can do to fix it!! Thanks
Couple of suggestions:
Have you changed your Google location? Whenever I've changed ROM's I get asked to let Google use my location - maybe there is something in the Google set up that still thinks you are in Brisbane and has to keep scanning for your new location?
Have you got the map for Sydney - I know you can get maps on your phone but maybe only your home location is auto-downloaded, so you get a zoomed out version for other places? Maybe go into the Maps app and select Sydney and see if it brings down a more detailed version?
Maybe check for Maps/Navigation updates? I got a Maps one a few days back.
I hope this helps - not sure at all if any of them are applicable but it is what I'd be checking...
For the google location, I sort of reset it, I turned it off (the option to let google use your location) and turned it back on. Not sure what else you can do in that department.
Ive got the map for sydney and my maps and navigation are up to date! Thanks for the suggestions but, its just really frustrating as it used to work so well
Use either GPS test or GPS status to see how well your GPS is working. Both are available free in market. They will also download agps data to help with a faster fix.
Check that you do have satellites switched on in settings.
If you are rooted you could try the wildfire agps patch. I think it is posted in the development thread.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
thanks for the suggestion! just downloaded GPS status and one of the reviewers had the same issue that was resolved by clearing and downloading agps data (just like you mentioned). So will try tonight and hopefully problems will be gone, thanks!
AGPS Patch Galaxy In development may be of use .
jje
dk125 said:
thanks for the suggestion! just downloaded GPS status and one of the reviewers had the same issue that was resolved by clearing and downloading agps data (just like you mentioned). So will try tonight and hopefully problems will be gone, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That method always worked for me on the S2 when I was in a different location. Takes seconds to reload the new data.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
I can't really help but my s3 in sydney has almost instant lock, except when in a tunnel.
By a strange quirk of fate I have just experienced the same issue that you faced.
After a lot of frustration I found a simple fix.
Turn off GPS and other location settings in main settings, power of and reboot. Switch everything back on in settings and all should be well again.
Hope this, belatedly, helps.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
If you are on a custom ROM then the first line of the GPS.conf file in system/etc will be set to "north-america.pool.ntp.org". Change the "north-america" part to "au" and restart. Then reset/redownload gaps data.using GPS status. Hope this helps.

[Q] GPS not locking issues

I just got my wife and myself the S4, our first Samsung phones. Everything seems to be great, except GPS and navigation. I am hoping I am missing something simple. I did not see this issue discussed in the S4 forums here, actually there was one about just how good GPS is with this phone. Anyhow my problem, GPS rarely locks in when I start navigation using Google maps. It will accurately show my present location, I am assuming it is using the wireless network to show that. But 90% of the times I use navigation, it will not lock at all. I have found that if I go into settings and uncheck the stand alone GPS services box, then recheck it I will get immediate GPS lock and can navigate. Then the very next time I need to use navigation, same thing, no GPS lock. I downloaded the GPS status app and same thing there, will not lock on a single satellite, I do my uncheck/recheck thing, and instantly I have many many locked satellites. Anything I am missing in settings?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Fred
I have the same issue.
Works fine for me on stock. I get almost instant GPS lock outdoors. I did have some issues on some ROMs, but I think that was ROM specific, because flashing back to my backup of stock fixed it.
Well I am trying to contact Samsung support. See what sort of run around they can give me.
fred114 said:
I just got my wife and myself the S4, our first Samsung phones. Everything seems to be great, except GPS and navigation. I am hoping I am missing something simple. I did not see this issue discussed in the S4 forums here, actually there was one about just how good GPS is with this phone. Anyhow my problem, GPS rarely locks in when I start navigation using Google maps. It will accurately show my present location, I am assuming it is using the wireless network to show that. But 90% of the times I use navigation, it will not lock at all. I have found that if I go into settings and uncheck the stand alone GPS services box, then recheck it I will get immediate GPS lock and can navigate. Then the very next time I need to use navigation, same thing, no GPS lock. I downloaded the GPS status app and same thing there, will not lock on a single satellite, I do my uncheck/recheck thing, and instantly I have many many locked satellites. Anything I am missing in settings?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Fred
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this problem on the GS3...not sure about the S4 yet. Anyway, I found that turning on GPS only when I needed it and turning it off when I didn't made it work correctly. Obviously this isn't ideal but the GPS was 100% using it that way.
I may have found a fix. I tweeted with Samsung support today. They had me boot up in safe mode. In safe mode it only boots up stock apps, nothing that has been downloaded. Well my GPS worked just fine. So it would seem to indicate one of the apps I downloaded was the cause. So I rebooted and began to uninstall any app I had installed. Every two apps I would check the map, still no GPS lock. I had to uninstall every app I installed. Once they were all off the phone, my GPS once again worked perfectly. So I began to re-install the apps one by one, checking the map each time. It kept working. Eventually I had re-installed every app I just took off. GPS, maps and navigation still working perfectly. My wife's S4 had the same issues, so I uninstalled everything, re-installed it, and her GPS works as well. We decided to run some errands and used the navigation for each stop, worked perfectly.
Don't ask me why, I have no clue, but so far my phone is fixed. Will report back if anything changes.
Oh, and if you want to boot up in safe mode and don't know how, power off your phone. Power it back on, when the first loading screen comes up, press the down volume key until the phone reboots. It will be in safe mode. It will be indicated as such in the bottom left hand corner of your screen.
I hope this helps others and is a permanent fix.
GPS not locking, possible solution.
Ok, well I think I have my problem narrowed down to one app. After deleting and re-installing all my apps GPS worked just fine. This morning I opened up Yahoo Weather for the first time since re-installing. Knowing it used GPS location I checked navigation right after. Sure enough I had lost my GPS functionality. Uninstalled the app, all GPS services came back. Check the same issue with my wife's S4, same results.
I am not saying this is the only app causing issues, but seems to be on my phone. Without the Yahoo weather app, all is good. Which is a shame because I really liked the app.
fred114 said:
Ok, well I think I have my problem narrowed down to one app. After deleting and re-installing all my apps GPS worked just fine. This morning I opened up Yahoo Weather for the first time since re-installing. Knowing it used GPS location I checked navigation right after. Sure enough I had lost my GPS functionality. Uninstalled the app, all GPS services came back. Check the same issue with my wife's S4, same results.
I am not saying this is the only app causing issues, but seems to be on my phone. Without the Yahoo weather app, all is good. Which is a shame because I really liked the app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I confirm removing Yahoo weather fixes the issue. Thanks a lot for this solution.
Good, I am glad it help. Not sure if it will help or not, but I did send an email to yahoo support. I am hoping maybe they can come up with an update that will fix the issue.
An easier way of going into safe mode is holding the power button, then when the shutdown menu pops up, hold down the power off button. Might be a little easier
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
Thanks
I've been beating myself up over this. I haven't had the phone a week and thought my GPS was shot. I know this is an old thread, but it fixed me. Thanks again. Darn Yahoo Weather!
Are there still problems with this? The app received an update on august 15th.
I've tried turning on the GPS and Google Maps works ok for now.

GPS working, but im not where it says I am in some apps

As the title says, my GPS will turn on and will lock fine but in google maps it says im about half a mile away, actually on the road i lived on when i first got the G1 like 7 years ago, if that makes any difference.
Instago says im elsewhere but keeps moving erraticly as if Im teleporting to places instantly but still within a half mile from me,
OsmAnd will get my location but only if connected to data, even though it has downloaded offline maps.
Offi travel will give me directions but from the afforementioned half mile away address. which for both apps doesnt move or change even when im moving.
I flashed an aGPS patch from on here recently which may have caused this, i dont use gps much so this may have started because of this or before, i dont know. Any ideas on ways to solve this or some things i could try?
Try
robneymcplum said:
As the title says, my GPS will turn on and will lock fine but in google maps it says im about half a mile away, actually on the road i lived on when i first got the G1 like 7 years ago, if that makes any difference.
Instago says im elsewhere but keeps moving erraticly as if Im teleporting to places instantly but still within a half mile from me,
OsmAnd will get my location but only if connected to data, even though it has downloaded offline maps.
Offi travel will give me directions but from the afforementioned half mile away address. which for both apps doesnt move or change even when im moving.
I flashed an aGPS patch from on here recently which may have caused this, i dont use gps much so this may have started because of this or before, i dont know. Any ideas on ways to solve this or some things i could try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try flashing an new rom,or the same to try deleting and restore /system or if you have any backup through CWM o TWRP restore /system, if i helped you thanks button bellow :good:
Cheers for the reply, but I only have a backup of this same rom as apart from this issue, which I only noticed today, it all works well. I can live without it being accurate, I hardly use it to be homest. Just wondering if it was a known issue with a simple fix?
4.4.2 AOSB if that matters, on dorinmax.
robneymcplum said:
Cheers for the reply, but I only have a backup of this same rom as apart from this issue, which I only noticed today, it all works well. I can live without it being accurate, I hardly use it to be homest. Just wondering if it was a known issue with a simple fix?
4.4.2 AOSB if that matters, on dorinmax.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would try GPS Status from the market. load it, press menu button and select tools/Manage A-GPS State/ reset for a cold start and see if that helps.
You can also use it to download assistance data from the net. That app is pretty good for monitoring what is going on with your GPS. It also has a few other tools for calibrating sensors.
Thanks, but there are 2 apps with the same name, is one better than the other?
robneymcplum said:
Thanks, but there are 2 apps with the same name, is one better than the other?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I didn't realize....GPS Status & Tool box by eclipsim I believe...
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Tried that one, and nothing was happening. was just stuck doing this:
robneymcplum said:
Tried that one, and nothing was happening. was just stuck doing this:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
0 fix and only 4 satellites looks like weak GPS or just a bad spot.. Have you tried outside and going to a different location to try to get it to fix?
I just went through this the other day myself with 2 of these phones after flashing a few different ROMs. It just wouldn't pick up SATs or fix until I did a reset (cold start) with that app and drove around a little...After that it would lock even in my house...
It worked for me so I thought I'd suggest it...If you didn't know, When your GPS actually gets a fix your GPS icon in status bar should stop flashing and if it starts flashing again it has lost the fix and is searching for SATs again.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
This was done in my conservatory with a glass roof, I dont have mobile data but if I go right outside, IE, with no wifi, would that make a difference? Do i need wifi/data/internet to get a good gps lock or for this app to work?
robneymcplum said:
This was done in my conservatory with a glass roof, I dont have mobile data but if I go right outside, IE, with no wifi, would that make a difference? Do i need wifi/data/internet to get a good gps lock or for this app to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You only need internet to download A-GPS data (gps assistance) and to download map info if you use Google maps and so on...going out side should help even though you have a glass roof there could be other interference maybe?
I'm no expert, it just seemed like after I moved around (went for a drive with one and wandered my back yard with the other) while using the app and got a bunch of SATs and fixes, It would then find and fix from inside when it wouldn't before.....I just tried again and got 6 SATs and 2 fix in 60 seconds inside. It wouldn't find more than 1 sat before I did the cold start reset and did the above....In maps it puts me across the street sometimes but its close (100ft.)
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Thanks,
Did as you said, reset GPS, went outside with the app running for about 40 minutes and was continuously 7 satellites found, 0 connected. Then just as I was nearly home it connected to 4 satellites. I kept it running and opened OsmAnd (offline) maps and it found where I was perfectly. Kept both running til I got home and got connected to my wifi. GPS status still has me connected, as does OsmAnd but google maps wont connect or find me. Now...... do I just leave/close the GPS status app as it is or do I need to now download aGPS data? Is there some way to 'store' the settings/locks it has now or do I just leave it and thats it now? As I dont have data outside, and my offline maps worked ok I dont really care about google maps to be honest, would just be nice if it did work.
But do I just leave it as it is now? or can I save something? or will downloading the aGPS remove the locks that just took me 40 odd minutes to find?
Thanks.
robneymcplum said:
Thanks,
Did as you said, reset GPS, went outside with the app running for about 40 minutes and was continuously 7 satellites found, 0 connected. Then just as I was nearly home it connected to 4 satellites. I kept it running and opened OsmAnd (offline) maps and it found where I was perfectly. Kept both running til I got home and got connected to my wifi. GPS status still has me connected, as does OsmAnd but google maps wont connect or find me. Now...... do I just leave/close the GPS status app as it is or do I need to now download aGPS data? Is there some way to 'store' the settings/locks it has now or do I just leave it and thats it now? As I dont have data outside, and my offline maps worked ok I dont really care about google maps to be honest, would just be nice if it did work.
But do I just leave it as it is now? or can I save something? or will downloading the aGPS remove the locks that just took me 40 odd minutes to find?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like the GPS might just be on the weak side, I'm not sure..maybe if your using a case try without it?.....All this being said, I myself have noticed a weaker GPS since I've been using KK roms compared to to stock firmware. Thought it was the weather around here though, maybe not...
As far as the app goes, I'm pretty sure it loads in the background when you use the GPS, google maps and so on. I'm not sure it is doing anything to help at that point but it shows its icon in the status bar along with the gps icon. The icon animates when it finds sats and when it gets a fix as opposed to the GPS icon that just stops flashing when you have a fix....
I just set the app to get A-GPS info every day when I'm traveling. Anytime I have a problem with getting a fix for my nav app I just reset with the GPS Status app and it starts finding sats before I even re-download A-GPS data....
rmntruexjr said:
It sounds like the GPS might just be on the weak side, I'm not sure..maybe if your using a case try without it?.....All this being said, I myself have noticed a weaker GPS since I've been using KK roms compared to to stock firmware. Thought it was the weather around here though, maybe not...
As far as the app goes, I'm pretty sure it loads in the background when you use the GPS, google maps and so on. I'm not sure it is doing anything to help at that point but it shows its icon in the status bar along with the gps icon. The icon animates when it finds sats and when it gets a fix as opposed to the GPS icon that just stops flashing when you have a fix....
I just set the app to get A-GPS info every day when I'm traveling. Anytime I have a problem with getting a fix for my nav app I just reset with the GPS Status app and it starts finding sats before I even re-download A-GPS data....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never even thought about the case.... I shall try without it on. If that makes no difference I'll go back to a stock backup I have which I know worked perfectly, just to check its not hardware related as mine too was better on non kitkat roms. And if all else fails, I'll just do what you say and set my phone to download aGPS every morning at home before I get up.
Ta.
It seems that you have the same issue I am facing. I suggest you to look at my post and follow it :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s2/help/weak-gps-signal-hardware-fix-t2685439
You can try to follow the link attached on my post, where a small hardware modification is explained. Maybe this will help you.
For now, I'm planning to change a part (HP/antenna part) and will probably replace it this week-end (if received !). I will post news about that as soon as possible in my post
Good lock

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