Related
Hi My question is ref to the internal compass and also the gps within the hero. I normally use a garmin CSx60 for caching and like the option of switching the compass off when around items that could affect its reliability. I cant seem to find any apps that will allow this on the hero. As the compass works by in effect measuring the magnetic field in its current enviroment, ( which in the open would be the earths north and south etc, but not when close to metail over head cable s etc etc) this is less than useful if the unit is in a car body or by anything that could disrupt the magnetic sense! Ok the hero worked ok when we got out of the car, but the garmin worked fine on just gps sats in the car and I could then switch to compass if we were in heavy tree cover giving poor sat performance.
Pity we cant switch the compass off and leave the gps on! Anyone else had this problem. We have two heros giving same sort of effects. Just one other point how can I use the hero on a car windscreen mount? It appears that the hero needs to be kept horizontal to get any meaningful reading, i.e. same plane as a normal compass would be.
Anyone else having similar problems?
Cheers
Mike
I agree it's a pain, on a propa Gps you can switch the digital compass feature off there by just using GPS satellites
*daydreams* if only someone made a app
Isn't GPS by definition line of sight. i.e. your phone needs view of the sky to get a a gps signal or satellite lock.
I have seen multiple posters saying that they are in their house or office building and not getting a lock or signal. Unless you are by the window or skylight, you shouldn't be able to get a signal by GPS alone. The only location information would be gotten from the network.
If people are having trouble getting location lock 'inside', doesn't that mean that there is a location problem in general, not just a gps issue?
I am definitely a noob, but I have been using GPS since the technology came out and my general understanding is that without a view of the sky, you will not get a signal. Or am I missing something?
Its radio based not light based so it will go through some materials. For example, I get sat lock in my second floor but I cannot see any sats downstairs.
Sorry, nope!
See this link:
electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/travel/gps.htm[/url]
In the second paragraph it states that you need a CLEAR view of the sky.
On this link it explains it even further stating that NO GPS reciever is designed to work indoors.
gpsinformation.net/multipath.htm[/url]
Further, satellite TV isn't light based. But it still needs to be outside so that it can get reception from it's satellite. So your statement about it being radio based rather than light based does not answer the question.
Anyone else?
I'm not a GPS expert but I used to get a lock anywhere with my G1. W/O using network so yeah, this GPS officially sucks.
XDA Mobile
MonteCristo22 said:
Isn't GPS by definition line of sight. i.e. your phone needs view of the sky to get a a gps signal or satellite lock.
I have seen multiple posters saying that they are in their house or office building and not getting a lock or signal. Unless you are by the window or skylight, you shouldn't be able to get a signal by GPS alone. The only location information would be gotten from the network.
If people are having trouble getting location lock 'inside', doesn't that mean that there is a location problem in general, not just a gps issue?
I am definitely a noob, but I have been using GPS since the technology came out and my general understanding is that without a view of the sky, you will not get a signal. Or am I missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Certain radio frequencies, including those used by the GPS satellites, are considered line of sight. That is to say, to get a good signal you need to have a clear path to the transmitter. Some radio frequencies actually bounce of a layer of the earth's atmosphere and can travel around the world, and are therefore not line of sight.
If a receiver is sensitive enough and a signal is powerful enough (and depending on the frequency), a signal can still penetrate some degree of cover, so it's possible to get a GPS signal indoors, but as you mentioned, it's usually when one is close to a window. Some GPS receivers are terrible unless you're well out into the open, some can pick up a signal under tree cover.
GPS satellites are something like 12,000 miles above the earth, so by the time a signal gets down to earth it's not all that powerful. Radio power dissipates over distance just like any other form of energy.
You will get the best signal with a clear sky view, but basically modern GPS receivers are now also able to work off reflected signals, as well as the very faint signals which may leak through building walls and so on. A relatively high number of signal errors just translates into reduced accuracy.
Furthermore, satellite-based GPS can be "enhanced" through short-term inertial tracking. Most in-dash nav systems do this (my Suburban will sometimes show a "GPS" icon with a slash through it, and then it relies on inertial nav until it gets a signal again). Your phone can do similar things with the tower signals and perhaps even WiFi SSIDs to help your sat-GPS cope with suboptimal conditions (and it ought to be able to use inertial nav via the accelerometers, but I don't know whether it actually does this).
If you want very high-res GPS, you still have to be outside with one of those backpack-mounted rigs. (A friend of mine does GIS and surveying, and under the right conditions they can get centimeter resolution with those.)
Satellite TV isn't a good comparison for many reasons. First of all, an audio/video stream is a gigantic amount of data compared to the relatively simple timestamped pings that GPS satellites emit. Second, there isn't any demand for electronics manufacturers to provide hyper-sensitive reception: mounting antennas on a roof or exterior wall (or in the case of something like XM, on top of your car) is fine with most people.
Hi Guys,
I'm making an article about SGS II and I've found out, that there is again issue with the accuracy of GPS position (like Galaxy S had).
First clue was the article on GSM arena:
The LG Optimus 2X got hold of between 7 and 9 satellites and used 7 of them most of the time. The reported accuracy settled at 5m and mostly stayed there with the occasional jump to 10m.
The HTC Sensation spotted 9 satellites and used them all (more satellites potentially lead to a better lock). Accuracy started at around 8m but quickly reached 3-4m and held steady. Note that this is reported accuracy, but actual accuracy should be proportional to these readings.
The Samsung Galaxy S II performed worst in this test, using all of the 6 satellites that it managed to detect. Reported accuracy went between 18m and 20m but varied quite a bit during the test (even though the phone was completely stationary).
I've used the same application and compare it with Xperia Arc. We were standing outside on one place. Finally I got about 30-40 feet on Galaxy SII (still changing). Xperia Arc started at 10 feet and quickly settled down to stable 3-4.
Does anyone has SGS II and some other Android phone to compare it? I'm curious, if this is problem in general or just few bad pieces on market.
Thanks for help...
I tried GPS + Wireless Netwok assist, GPS test says 10 sats in view my location is not even accurate to 1Km
My GPS is great, never had an issue with accuracy. although I had to find out that my gps.conf says "north-america" as the default nntp pool instead of "europe" on a german (DBT) SGS2 is really strange, still my phone get's a cold lock with 10-20 seconds (10s standing still, 20s while driving).
Mine is very fast and precise - I would say its 1 minute to locate me when im outside with wifi switched on.
Original firmware GPS test was May 2011 .
Lock cold boot never used GPS before
no Wifi No network no AGPS .
GPS only
4 min 8 sats locked on . Accuracy 13 metres ..
Subsequent lock on faster as expected and 5/10 m accuracy .
No further tests as it just works .
jje
I use Navigon three times a week and i never got problems with my sgs2. The gps signal is like my iphone 4, i only navigate with the voice!
Real world driving accuracy : 20-30 meters (can go down to 5-10m, but only in truly wide, open areas)
Lock Speed : few minutes
Barely usable as a navigator, at least in urban areas. The above are under KE7 and KF3. Really disappointed by the GPS performance on mine.
my gps works fine often i use wifi
Changed my NTP server to asia, I can now even get a lock inside the house, sweet!
Guys, thanks for replies.
Anyway I think this issue won't appear that much on driving navigation, as this software "sticks" to the nearest road and use the speed to make the position as accurate as possible.
Bigger problem I see in terrain while searching for way home, or while playing with Geocaching.
Only positive thing is that from digging in ground at area 20-40 feet wide you will surely obtain big muscles
did you guys already look thru this thread? all the good info is in there too.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1062225&highlight=gps+solved
upps, I was trying to find simillar topic. Than maybe I would like to ask somebody to lock and delete this one.
Thanks...
Hey guys. Coming from 3 HTC Android phones, I never had any problems regarding fast locking and accuracy on my GPS, may it be indoors or outdoors.
With my SGS2, I wasn't really happy with its GPS performance.
Aside from very slow GPS fixing / locking in satellites outdoors (tested with GPS Status app), I get a very jumpy GPS location indoors. Even with downloaded AGPS prior to that.
I created a screen cast of my Google Maps app below for reference. The star on the map is my actual location. Notice how my location jumps from one place to another every few seconds.
Even turning on the sensor aiding made no difference.
Video
I know some of you might say that of course checking it indoors and relying on wifi alone will make it inaccurate. But even my iPod Touch which doesn't even have a GPS chip have no issues locating me.
I'm running Cognition 1.15 and flashing a stock ROM and kernel also made no difference.
Can you guys test yours with my setup: Only Wifi indoors and do not get gps lock outdoors.
I will do further testing.
Welcome to the club m8. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1173683
I think it's jumpy because it's not using gps, but fixating you postilion from you network and wifi. That's why it jumps.
Does your gps show lock at the top icons bar? Or does it just keeps flashing?
Mines going back for sensation or lg.
Hi. My GPS icon is flashing. Yep, I'm aware that it is till looking for a satellite to lock in. Which is a problem in itself by the way ^_^
My point here is that I've done this similarly on my previous phones and with my iPod Touch, same setup. But they didn't produce this problem.
UPDATE: Tested out the GPS outside. It won't lock to any satellite (after like 10mins) unless I turned on WiFi. GPS should work independently, right?
Once I had it locked to 6 satellites at max, I went indoors and same thing happened to the screnario on the video, my location jumps from one place to another. Shouldn't it take the previously GPS locked satellite as reference?
chobie said:
UPDATE: Tested out the GPS outside. It won't lock to any satellite (after like 10mins) unless I turned on WiFi. GPS should work independently, right?
Once I had it locked to 6 satellites at max, I went indoors and same thing happened to the screnario on the video, my location jumps from one place to another. Shouldn't it take the previously GPS locked satellite as reference?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is using the satellite position from last lock to help getting a new lock, but it still needs to have stable reception from 3 satellites in different parts of the sky for a certain time in order to lock, it probably doesn't get this indoors.
But you seem to have some problem getting a lock with your GPS, some people are helped by doing a factory restore when they're having such issues. (beware, wipes your data!!!)
What do you mean by turning on Wifi by the way? Do you mean turning on "Use wireless networks" in Location and security menu? This is not something wifi specific, in fact since you're outdoors it normally uses your 3g connection to get approximate satellite positions and your approximate position from network operator. So please doesn't call this turning on "Wifi", because that means turning on/off you wifi receiver, that is another setting
EDIT: added "in different parts of the sky" above, 3 satellites close to each other is usually not enough for a GPS lock.
tjtj4444 said:
It is using the satellite position from last lock to help getting a new lock, but it still needs to have stable reception from 3 satellites in different parts of the sky for a certain time in order to lock, it probably doesn't get this indoors.
But you seem to have some problem getting a lock with your GPS, some people are helped by doing a factory restore when they're having such issues. (beware, wipes your data!!!)
What do you mean by turning on Wifi by the way? Do you mean turning on "Use wireless networks" in Location and security menu? This is not something wifi specific, in fact since you're outdoors it normally uses your 3g connection to get approximate satellite positions and your approximate position from network operator. So please doesn't call this turning on "Wifi", because that means turning on/off you wifi receiver, that is another setting
EDIT: added "in different parts of the sky" above, 3 satellites close to each other is usually not enough for a GPS lock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally understand that. I referred to Wifi because it's the only connection I was connected to in asstistance to my GPS. My mobile data is turned off. But I did test it by isolating only mobile data on to check if AGPS by 3g will get me faster lock on it -- No difference.
I have also flashed a stock ROM and Kernel and fully wiped my phone data but it is just producing the same problem.
To be honest m8 this phone is good on the spec, and looks good too. But poor internal hardware lets it down. I went down to my local shop to see if it was me or something and asked for a demo test for phone they had and they also couldn't get it to lock the gps on it's own.
I feel for andriod, it can give it a bad name. But it's not androids fault it's Samsung, if your phone is new replace it with sensation or lg 3d.
I've even had the opportunity, to try it with CM7 now, so it seems it hardware afterall.
Guys chill down ur balls, gps readings r very subjective and u cant judge on them
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1126122
Still really disappointed that my iPod touch can get a very accurate gps fix in less than five seconds considering it has no GPS chip and only using wifi. This has aGPS and sensor aiding and yet it's not very accurate and is jumpy still.
All, what is gps like on the s3? Doors it get a strong lock quickly and stay locked? How does it compare to the s2? Really interested in this add I use navigation a lot
Sent via TCP/IP
I've not used the GPS at all when out and about, however I just turned it on in google maps while sitting in my bedroom; the phone got a lock to 10 metres within 6 seconds.
I was impressed!
Used mine a few times now when driving, it locked very fast and had no issues.
The combinaion of GPE/GLONASS is awsam. it works inside the building, locks for seconds, find at least 13-17 sattelites inside... perfect.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Same here GPS fix is almost instantaneous, accuracy very good. Now if we get TomTom soon I will be very happy, Google nav just doesn't do it for me.
when I think how poor my SGS 1 was for GPS
MadBob said:
Same here GPS fix is almost instantaneous, accuracy very good. Now if we get TomTom soon I will be very happy, Google nav just doesn't do it for me.
when I think how poor my SGS 1 was for GPS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats great news, using sgs1 now and gps is driving me nuts!
Sent via TCP/IP
Yes, the GPS fixes very fast, like some of our friends mentioned above, partly because this GPS system is in hybrid with the former Russian Glonass system, hence catches more satellites. However, I am disappointed that the accuracy is not different than my older traditional GPS system on older phones. The best accuracy that I got is 5 meters under clear sky conditions so far