GPS performance decrease recently - Sony Xperia XA Ultra Questions & Answers

My wife and I have Xperia XA Ultra F3213 phones and they are both suffering from poor GPS performance but only in the last few weeks. I think it happened after an update. It's starting to cause some strife in my marriage as my wife sees my Google+ position as a few counties over. I've explained that it's the phone and not me but I'm still in the hook now for something spectacular for valentines day.
It's not a google+ problem though--I get "searching for GPS" using google maps in the car now and I didn't before. I downloaded the GPS Test app and noticed that the phone can see 0 satellites in my house. I put my old Galaxy S4 right next to the phone on the kitchen counter and it gets 3D fix with 14 satellites in use. I don't think both phones had this issue before. I do get satellites when I'm outside but not as many as the Galaxy S4. I'm on Build 36.0.A.2.109. I haven't rooted or unlocked.
Anyone else having issues with GPS?

I don't know if it's recent, but I've never been too happy with the GPS on this phone. When I enter an address into Google Maps and start driving, at the beginning the GSP thinks I'm all over the place and then Google Maps keeps recomputing the directions and I'm instructed to drive in all directions... It stabilizes after a little while. Occasionally I've seen the GPS consistently be off by some margin and only a reboot would fix the problem.

Related

Garmin Mobile XT satellite problem...

I've benn having issues with the Garmin Mobile XT... I have now the Sprint 3.56.651 ROM AND 3.42.30 RADIO...
when I run Garmin it automatically detects satellites without any other GPS aplication (GPSProxy, GPSGate o others...) but it only locks 3 satellites and it doesn't give me my position...
Is there something i'm doing wrong?? what do I need to get this thing working???
The big answer that you have not provided is if any other application returns the same GPS performance. Garmin, as others, only receives the data as provided by the GPSOne chipset, and I cannot see any reason why it could cripple that data.
Try again with a diagnostic app such as VisualGPSce. What you describe sounds like a rather common problem with the Titan in that it is seeing a few satellites but fails to lock-on to them and that is why you cannot determine your position. In a clearing outside, wait up to a half hour.. Try GC's QPST GPS hack.. Etc.. Garmin is unlikely to be the issue.
all right...
I already did the GPS Hack with QPST... I already waited for like 2 hours (I was washing my car) and it did lock up to 6 satellites but it still didn't give me my position...
I installed GPSProxy, GPSGate and many others but I have problems on that applications... first it doesn't show me any satellite, after 10-15 seconds it shows me like 10-15 satellites on the screen but only for a second or so and then they disappear again... this happens in a loop, it shows me the 10-15 satellites for a second, it waits for 10-15 seconds and then it shows them on the screen again for a second..........
I'm going to try VisualGPSce to see if I have any luck... i'll keep you posted...
I am running latest radio and dcd's rom with Garmin Mobile XT on VZW with the GPS Hack with QPST and get locks within 30 secs and 7 to 9 sats.
Not sure if that helps or not.
what radio are you runing?? i have 3.42.30
I don't understand what everyone is doing. I am running Garmin Mobile XT myself, and have been for a couple of months. With the Newest radio rom, and DCD 3.2, I have no problems locking sats. Normally when I start the program, by the time it's up and running, I have a lock on enough sats to get the bars all green. It's just that fast. Not sure what your doing wrong.
I run Garmin Mobile XT with absolutely no problems on VZW.
P.S. I still prime with HTC GPS Tool prior to opening Garmin.
ok still no luck...
are you selecting the GPS on Garmin as COM4:COM4: or as GPS Intermediate Driver??
GPS Intermediate Driver
Working Great
using Baf's GPS toggler cooked into 19588 rom set to standalone in registry
meaning no assisted gps radio 3.42.30. Locks in less than a minute while inside house. Using Garmin Mobile XT.
Chemdawg said:
I don't understand what everyone is doing. I am running Garmin Mobile XT myself, and have been for a couple of months. With the Newest radio rom, and DCD 3.2, I have no problems locking sats. ... It's just that fast. Not sure what your doing wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Careful in rushing to blame user error. Some Titans -- regardless of software settings -- just cannot match the GPS performance of other Titans. I've witnessed this myself with two Titans side-by-side. Sadly, it can be a luck of the draw...
The repeating loop of flipping back and forth between the same sets of satellites often occurs when the chipset is stuck in standby mode, so a resolution is to soft-reset the Titan. nelsongruebr's description of satellite "locks" are probably not locks but basic reception of the visible satellites before a lock - if ever - is attained. The description here of poor performance is very similar to what had stumped me on some Titans... Sadly, there may be no resolution.
I've been running Garmin Mobile for about a month on no2chem's 5067 rom and I have not had problems. I don't have to do anything other than open Garmin and within 30 seconds, I have a lock. At first, I was using the 3.39.10 radio and now I'm using 3.42.30.
so basically maybe my Titan can never be used for GPS? or maybe doing a hard reset or flashing another ROM?
Today I tried to get a lock by letting the GPS Intermediate Driver search for satellites on Garmin Mobile XT for quiet some time and had no luck... it could not even find one single satellite...
On the other hand, when I activated the COM4:COM4: it find 3 satellites, it locked to them but didn't give me a fix or a position...
I installed GPSVisualce... First it did find some satellites, like seven of them but after a couple of seconds it loose them... but I checked the coordinates that it marked and they were pretty close to where I was... so maybe it is user problem... maybe I'm missing something...
So I bring up these new questions:
What version of Garmin Mobile XT are you using?
Is somebody with the same ROM and RADIO having the same problem? (Sprint 3.56.651.0 Radio 3.42.30)
Should I flash another ROM?
thanks!!!
You need to prime the GPS first before running Garmin.
Prime it with HTC GPS Tool or GPSViewer. Once it locks, close the primer and open Garmin. Go into settings and Disable COM4:COM4, then click GPS Intermediate Driver, then click Enable.
Your problem should not be the ROM, Radio, or Garmin XT. Keep playing around with VisualGPSce as it's quick and easy to configure to use the appropriate port and will give you an easy reference as to how many satellites are seen and the number of those that a lock is made on.
Beyond that and attempting GC's QPTS GPS edit, place the blame on your hardware. The description you've given on your Titan seeing some satellites, possibly locking, and then losing then is all too familiar to what I've experienced with another Titan. You're not alone.
Problem solved!!!!
yesterday I hard reset my device and after that just installed VisualGPSce and Garmin Mobile Xt so I can try it without any other software...
I went to my house and right where I was about to go to sleep I put my Titan on his Charging cradle and open VisualGPSce and then opened Garmin Mobile XT and leave it there on my night stand all night... to my surprise when I woke up it had a lock on 7 satellites!!!! on my nighstand!!!
I supposed it needed to get a lock for some time since I'm in Venezuela and I supose it was going to be harder to lock from anther country than to lock in the US...
Thanks to everyone who posted here and tried to helped me!!!!
Excellent! Yes, when the cell network assistance feature of AGPS isn't available, for some reason the chipset on our Titans can take quite a while to download the satellite ephemeris data directly from the satellites. Though I think that you're one of the first who's recorded it requiring more than a half hour!
hehe!! i'll say more than 5 hours, cause when I saw the time data on Garmin it said that the stopped time was only like an hour and a half, so it took mora than 5 hours to get that lock...
But I think I spoke to early, yesterday when I got out of work I wanted to try to get a lock to see how long it takes, but to my surprise it didn't locked on any satellites!! not even one!! I left it again overnight and nothing!! so I'm back to zero :'(
I'll be informing you how it behaves today...
Keystone said:
Careful in rushing to blame user error. Some Titans -- regardless of software settings -- just cannot match the GPS performance of other Titans. I've witnessed this myself with two Titans side-by-side. Sadly, it can be a luck of the draw...
The repeating loop of flipping back and forth between the same sets of satellites often occurs when the chipset is stuck in standby mode, so a resolution is to soft-reset the Titan. nelsongruebr's description of satellite "locks" are probably not locks but basic reception of the visible satellites before a lock - if ever - is attained. The description here of poor performance is very similar to what had stumped me on some Titans... Sadly, there may be no resolution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am a newbie here but as a computer engineer I totally agree. We buy many PCs, scanners, printers, etc. all of the same brand. I can have several of the exact same items on the bench and so will not do as the identical sister/brother unit will do. My theory as a tech has been Bubba went to work mad at his wife and said what the hell I am going to just throw this crap together. Then on the flip side you have the new guy wanting to make a good impression and he spends 2 hours on one product where he should have gotten out four in that same two hours...
I think it depends on the device as well...just luck of the purchase...
ok, i kinda figure out what was the problem...
As I told you before, I live in Caracas, Venezuela... and recently the government decided to change the hour (yeah I know... What the hell where they thinking) from GMT -4.00 Caracas, La Paz, to GMT -4.30 Caracas... so Microsoft created a Patch to add the new Time Zone for Caracas... I have been installing this patch for about a year now without a problem (i had previously a HTC Touch and a HTC Excalibur) without any problems... So i instal it on my Titan and thats it...
To my surprise when i did a hard reset to delete everything and installed only Garmin Mobile and VirtualGPSce tha GPS work flawlessly... I said Great!!! It work's!!! so I installed the aplications that I normally have on my Titan INCLUDING the Patch for the New Timezone, and here is where the fun begins... the GPS stop working!!!! I didn't know it was the Time Zone patch until i performed another Hard Reset and Installed only a few aplications and the GPS kept working perfectly...
Today I'm going to install ALL the aplications that I use except the Patch to see if that does the trick...
I'll be posting tonight to tell you how it goes...

Google Maps says I'm in the Atlantic Ocean near Nigeria?

Lately (within the last couple of months) when I use Google Maps with GPS it says I am out in the Atlantic Ocean right on the equator just south west of Nigeria. It will continue to say that forever unless I am moving in which case it will fix itself after a few minutes.
This is really annoying if I'm trying to pull up some directions real quick, sure it fixes itself eventually as long as I'm moving but it makes it so I have to wait longer to get my directions (and if I'm parked it won't work and I have to drive around a bit to fix it).
Anyone else have this problem? I didn't have it up until about a month or two ago. I'm not sure if the change has to do with a new Google Maps version or ROM change. I don't have this problem with TomTom (although TomTom also doesn't seem to work indoors).
Any help appreciated
Whenever i got that problem a restart fixed it. It usually occurred at my work building, cause i got literally NO signal inside the place. I also have had that problem since it was updated to the newer versions.
I've got the same problem with google maps not being able to pinpoint my location using gps at home. It shows a place that's like 20 miles away. It does fix it eventually if I move around a bit so I thought it might just be signal issues.
Google maps never lies. Maybe you are in Nigeria
Better brush up on your swimming skills.
Sometimes, it gets 0,0 (lat,long) right on boot. Wait a while, then turn GPS off and on to recenter around the right location.
While you're there, could you look up this prince that has $28 million for me? He wants my bank account information, but I figured since you were there you could just pick it up for me...
(sorry, saw the thread title and couldn't resist... it's Friday...)
I'm facing this problem... Any solution One Plus 7t?

GPS fix did not fix anything

I know others are reporting success with the update but mine seems to not work.
Is there any hope or is mine just bad?
It does not lock onto anything and barely sees 1 satellite some of the time.
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
mmoran27 said:
I know others are reporting success with the update but mine seems to not work.
Is there any hope or is mine just bad?
It does not lock onto anything and barely sees 1 satellite some of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here.
Asus didn't say, "Here's an update to fix all GPS issues."
No need to freak out - everything is a work in progress.
Variables in play
Definitely NOT an even playing field. Even with margin of error, and huge differences in test conditions, I am of the belief that some GPS setups are better (or worse) than others. People reporting poor indoor performance made me envious, as I had NO indoor performance and could barely see satellites outdoors. This update stepped my GPS up substantially, I even got loc indoors (for about 6 seconds, LOL!)
My gut tells me they are NOT going to get it to a workable level, there is just too much to overcome, with the back design, but I do commend Asus for getting in there and giving it the old school try.
Got an external, bluetooth receiver, about 5" x 2" x.5" and it works well. I will probably rely on that, unless Asus pulls off a miracle of engineering.
After all they are "Inspiring Innovation" and "Persistent Perfection" whatEVER that is supposed to mean, LOL!
I have an Asus Motherboard that says the following on the box:
Rock Solid - Heart Touching
uh.. Okeeey then. Thanks for those words of wisdom and inspiration, Asus!
I have never recieved one Satellite hit on my Prime. Everything else appears fine, the WiFi appears fine.
However, I have tried GPSFix, GPSTest and I have never seen one satellite. My last prime I took back for Serial Number Unknown showed me 2 satellites for like 5 seconds and I never saw any on it either.
So I am doing something wrong, or my GPS was Dead on Arrival.
When I first got my Prime, GPS did not work.
The GPS firmware update that came for my Prime when it was still running Honeycomb made a huge difference. I was getting a fix on 10-12 satellites (though it took a couple of minutes).
After the ICS update, my GPS did not work again. The GPS firmware update today was no help ... I'm still getting nothing. I can only guess that there may be different GPS hardware models for the Primes. Hopefully, Asus can find a way to get us the correct firmware update for our particular model. I know that mine is fixable because it was fixed once before.
Frankly, I haven't noticed any improvements after last night's update.
I don't understand why they wont let us Just send it on and they change the backing for us
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
This is still the only issue with my Prime... even after the 1/18 firmware updates, still no GPS lock... It has never found or locked onto a single satellite.
I wonder if I should have done a hard reset after the latest firmware update. I did reboot all services/ tasks, but it didn't help.
Yeah, same here. Not a single lock before and after.
It's clearly a good sport in prime sections to open constantly new threads about the same subjects...
When you look really, you can close at least half of all threads!
Guys please! Stop opening threads for things already written many times! And especially when xda can't help you. I'd your GPS doesn't work... it doesn't work, see with Asus.
I got my dock last night and BOOM! GPS works like a champ. Take it off the dock and GPS dumps out. This gives me hope. Is it software or hardware?
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
Yeah same here. I do seem to remember GPS working shortly after I got it, but not since I went to ICS. Update didn't do anything. Using GPS status app, i don't even get a fix on a single sat. Wifi is another issue all together >_<
I went outside today after trying the fix. I could see 15 satellites and locked on to 10. I have one of the Australian primes but i don'tknow if that makes a difference.
My GPS works - not!
I guess I'm one of the luckiest Prime owner. After the firmware update I managed to get my GPS show something. It is far from perfect - it lag fetching the satellites reception and when it does it might just disappear at once all of a sudden.
I found that the best is out of town. in-town the disruptions is probably too much for it and the GPS going crazy and not-accurately. Out of town it had smooth reception and the GPS stayed connected for quite a while, like GPS should work.
all in all this tablet doesn't have a decent working GPS. i can't believe it can be fixed. it is the case and there is nothing to do.
first time I buy something of a first generation and it looks like I'm screwed!
Ok, Just unboxed my TP from Office Depot today. Google Maps seems to find me in my house within 20 meters. However, GPS Test is no dice with finding a single GPS. Is Google Maps doing something different. Im still on Honeycomb, want to see what HC does prior to updating to ICS. Anybody else experienced this.
GPS fix did fix my GPS but it screwed up my wifi. Range got reduced a lot.
gps & wifi fix that works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgx2Kpfi-Ps

GPS Issue with LG G2 mini?

Just finally got my new LG G2 mini!
Just that when I just came across a problem. I don't think the GPS is locking on. But the funny thing is that my location moves ( like it miraculously locks ) when I access the Maps application. So I got curious and then Installed GPS status and it shows me Looking for GPS location with the SAT showing 0/22 or 0/21. I even tried to download GPS Assistance Data and no fix done. For I also play ingress, I do need to use the GPS to play it.
Is it a problem with the Phone or the Apps I have installed or maybe its a problem with the OS?
PS. I also tried connecting to Wifi outside via a wireless modem and GPS Status shows me 1+1/22 for a second and then back to 0/22
Yelp.
Also a GPS Issues
Hi,
I also have a LG G2 Mini and have the same problem...
THe Phone finds a lot of satalites but does not lock on the the position.
Need to wait a long time for it has the position.
Resetted the Phone etc. but no luck.
Hope someone can help?
I have same problem. I think, it's a bug in software. Maybe fix it.
Just received a software update but it was only for apps.
Oh no... The GPS just became a little bit worst than before when setting to high accuracy. The GPS icon is not turning white every since then. Unless I set to device only.
GNT00Q said:
Just received a software update but it was only for apps.
Oh no... The GPS just became a little bit worst than before when setting to high accuracy. The GPS icon is not turning white every since then. Unless I set to device only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my phone gps works fine until I recently installed this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1685726 ,
but now it wont set any location at all
I was hoping by installing those gps fix will fasten the locktime
SIM1 Problem LG G2 Mini
i have problem with my new LG G2 Mini
sometimes SIM1 signal disappears for no reason
hope LG fix it with new update next time
and also it's happening with my LG L90 , same problem
mandrive said:
i have problem with my new LG G2 Mini
sometimes SIM1 signal disappears for no reason
hope LG fix it with new update next time
and also it's happening with my LG L90 , same problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me and my girfrend have two of this g2 mini
1. my (black ) loses fix everywhere - in car i must place it under the mirror because if i grab it to hand it lose fix under the roof of the car.
2. her white always make fix first and signal stench is about 3-5 points better (measured with GPS test app) but i never checked it in car
In opposite 3 other devices :
htc HD (sic!) (only gps no glonas),
galaxy gio (only GPS no glonas),
asus memo pad 10
obtains fix as fast as white g2 mini but signal is always stronger by next 4-5 points (hd is windows stuff so app is different)
htc hd can be putted to pocked and still works ...
So basically there is something wrong with g2 mini it obtains fix much slower and probably have problems with antenna or gps strength.
I got 10 days to resign from it so probably i will go this way
jareeq said:
Me and my girfrend have two of this g2 mini
1. my (black ) loses fix everywhere - in car i must place it under the mirror because if i grab it to hand it lose fix under the roof of the car.
2. her white always make fix first and signal stench is about 3-5 points better (measured with GPS test app) but i never checked it in car
In opposite 3 other devices :
htc HD (sic!) (only gps no glonas),
galaxy gio (only GPS no glonas),
asus memo pad 10
obtains fix as fast as white g2 mini but signal is always stronger by next 4-5 points (hd is windows stuff so app is different)
htc hd can be putted to pocked and still works ...
So basically there is something wrong with g2 mini it obtains fix much slower and probably have problems with antenna or gps strength.
I got 10 days to resign from it so probably i will go this way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the same for me. I got a black G2 mini and when I have the device near car's window the GPS signal is slightly better but it still loses signal from time to time.
Using my previous device a Sony Neo V GPS it works prefectly. I sent the device to local service but they returned it to me that it works properly.
Unfortunatelly the days to resign have passed for me.
amythos said:
It's the same for me. I got a black G2 mini and when I have the device near car's window the GPS signal is slightly better but it still loses signal from time to time.
Using my previous device a Sony Neo V GPS it works prefectly. I sent the device to local service but they returned it to me that it works properly.
Unfortunatelly the days to resign have passed for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people on forums said you can use fix from nexus 5, but the approach must to be differ because antenna is not located on back cover (there is only lte antenna visible). Some plus is that you do not need to use extra torx but simple small +. Anyway if you are on warranty go this way.
Hi all
(in advance, sorry for my english XD )
I have a G2 mini, and I think the GPS is now worse, if I compare when it was new. Antenna problem ? Is anyone has open his G2 mini (with pics ? XD) ? Anyone know where is the gps antenna on the G2 mini ? I think it's the grey circuit on the bottom at the back, with 4 screw...What do you think about that ? I'm not sure.
In car, it's a little the same pb, under the windscreen it's ok, but if I take it in hands, the signal fall...still fix, but very bad signal, and the accuracy is less...
At outdoor, it's ok, but indoor it's hard to have enough good signal to fix. Ok, i know a gps is to use outdoor But...
...But recently, I buy a Moto G 2nd gen for my wife (same snapdragon 400 than the G2 mini (D620fr for me)) and the gps fix between 3-5 seconds...with 3m of accuracy oO Indoor or outdoor... Better gps antenna ? I don't know...
How can I improve the signal to have a good SNR ?
(For the rest, if you have agps pb, you need to root and change manually or with fasterfix (don't run on mine......strange) the NTP server in file 'gps.conf' in 'system/etc' with your country server (if you want root your G2 mini, you can use the method for G3 (purpledrake). Easy to found with search engine.)).
THanks !
Fred
---------- Post added at 11:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 PM ----------
Again me...
Finally, I unmount it (easier than G2 or nexus 5 on videos...) but don't found GPS antenna.........But sure it's not the element with grey circuit on the bottom under battery...I release the 4 screw, get off the piece, but gps signal still here...
I think gps signal is probably from LTE antenna. And effectively, it's the same system than G2 or nexus 5, flat antenna with contacts...(like NFC by the way in the back).
Maybe in your case these contacts are not enough good. Perhaps in mine too, cause I still have bad signal in indoor (sometimes enough to fix....)...But I did not dare push the contact, affraid to break it :/
(Again, I hope my english os enough good...).
++
Fred
Hi, Im dealing with Signal loss too.
Any solution? is it a known bug? should i return it to the store?
I had same issues with gps, worked fine at first then could not get a fix.
I solved the problem by rolling back to a previous version of Google maps.
The latest version appears to mess something up and no gps software can get a fix, I tried stuff like faster fix and changing the gps.conf file but nothing worked.
Now I've gone back to version 7.5.0 of Google maps all is fine I get a fix indoors.
i've had a simmilar problem... but i found out that my d620r won't fix gps only when mobile data is off, otherwise it works just fine
Yes, there is a problem with GPS.
There is an easy way to fix it, IF you are rooted.
1. You download this: Faster GPS
2. Set the missing parameters and you're done. Works perfect for me and couple other people.
If you are not rooted, then sorrry, you need to get it rooted.
Hi
For the D620 with a gps who get fix, what do you think about the signal quality ? Outdoor, I think it's ok, but in car ? Indoor ?
Do you know where is the GPS antenna ? Three days ago, I opened my D620, but I did'nt saw the GPS antenna...I think the signal is from LTE antenna, but I can't be sure...
Thanks you for infos !
Fred
croqueurdos said:
Hi all
...But recently, I buy a Moto G 2nd gen for my wife (same snapdragon 400 than the G2 mini (D620fr for me)) and the gps fix between 3-5 seconds...with 3m of accuracy oO Indoor or outdoor... Better gps antenna ? I don't know...
How can I improve the signal to have a good SNR ?
(For the rest, if you have agps pb, you need to root and change manually or with fasterfix (don't run on mine......strange) the NTP server in file 'gps.conf' in 'system/etc' with your country server (if you want root your G2 mini, you can use the method for G3 (purpledrake). Easy to found with search engine.)).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Running on rooted D620r but with minimal changes from stock 4.4.2(Purpledrake worked for me as well).
I got TTFF of many minutes (on a good day!) vs. 5 seconds on a moto G and 30 secs on Nexus 7 2013 all under the same conditions. Clearing and reloading AGPS data just made it take longer, especially if there was no data connection. It seems like it is an RF problem as, even once it has the almanac, it only receives <5 sats out of 15-18 "visible". The SNR is at least 10dB less than other GPS under the same conditions. I normally have most things blocked on the firewall but did allow all connections to see if it improved. However, I don't see much point in a GPS that needs data connectivity to work. It didn't make much difference in the final performance allowing it to get to an NTP server.
I go slightly better performance pointing the back to the sky but there was not much in it. I have returned it for a refund and can't decide if it is worth trying another one.
moochermick said:
I had same issues with gps, worked fine at first then could not get a fix.
I solved the problem by rolling back to a previous version of Google maps.
The latest version appears to mess something up and no gps software can get a fix, I tried stuff like faster fix and changing the gps.conf file but nothing worked.
Now I've gone back to version 7.5.0 of Google maps all is fine I get a fix indoors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got mine with Google Maps 7.7.0, and it updated to 9.2.0. I've uninstalled Maps completely (by using Titanium Backup - root needed), and I got a fix today in some 15 sec. It was inside the car, and it was raining. Under the way I lost the signal a couple of times, but I could not expect anything better with such wetter. Let's see how good it will be with nice wetter outside.
btw. I've also uninstalled GSP-Status. It is a small app that starts with every GPS app, and it helps by "injecting" AGPS data.
I have found out, that GPS is really terrible on g2 mini - for example playing Ingress is a pain.. The pointer is randomly moving within 20-30 m range .
Does anyone know, if under cyanogenmod the GPS is better? Or is it a feature due to a poor HW?
I have run gps test, compared to LG Fino.
As seen on the attached picture, LG G2 mini has got far worse signal. Is this a bug?
jozka said:
I have run gps test, compared to LG Fino.
As seen on the attached picture, LG G2 mini has got far worse signal. Is this a bug?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it just has a very bad GPS sensor.
Sent from my D620r [Stock 4.4.2]

Jiayu G4S - bad GPS issues, low accuracy, time to first fix...

Many jiayu users complain about bad or even unusable GPS, even worse than on other Mediatek devices. We all hope, it's a software issue and can be improved.
Let's collect information here. Please help by summarizing statements from other threads here and include links to the sources. Please stay on topic
General discussion about this device is here
Read a trojan warning here
Maybe I will update this first posting with the most useful information from time to time...
Software issue
I have the very strong and positive feeling, it is a software issue:
When I got my device with the 20140410 ROM, the GPS was really bad. Time to first fix was sometimes fast, sometimes it took more than 5 minutes, and accuracy was really bad most of the time. And as I could see on the map, it was much worse than reported - accuracy as can be seen i.e. in the GPS Test app was many times quite ok, like 4-7 meters, but the position on the map was 50m off, or more. Many times, the GPS continued to advance in the original direction after I stopped or changed direction. Sometimes there was some fixed offset, which stayed the same for 15 minutes.
Or I had a usable fix for a while, then I paused GPS just for a minute, and next try again took very, very long, even with a fresh AGPS download.
And all those problems under clear sky!
I tried many suggestions I found, but nothing really helped.
Then I upgraded to the 20140609-211642 ROM and first didn't notice a difference for some days (but didn't make methodic tests, and didn't use GPS much) and tried some of the suggested fixes again.
I also read about a hardware fix with some photos. I opened my back cover, just to see if my GPS antenna looked the same. I pressed the antenna down with my finger.
Then I noticed my GPS became really good! For a week I really enjoyed usable GPS and was very happy.
I thought it could be bad electric connection of the antenna to the mainboard, which was improved by pressing it down. But now I think it is not related:
After that week I got aware of the trojans in that ROM and restored a backup from before. Back to the April ROM, my GPS was immediately as bad as before! - pressing down the antenna didn't help again.
This unusable GPS annoyed me a lot last weeks and yesterday I decided to try the BORX ROM, but before I started a short test by restoring the 0609 backup where it all worked so well. I didn't have the time to really test (and I'm afraid of enabling internet - of course the 2 trojans are removed, but who knows what else is in there?). But it really looks like it is much better again! (First fix took really long without AGPS, of course, but then it was accurate, and also next tries, hours later, were fast.)
The problem is, I don't know exactly what I did, and don't have much time for experiments. So I don't know if it's just the newer ROM, or other changes. Can someone tell me what config or other files to compare between the 2 backups? I can also post them here.
Alex
My points and observations (I've tried 3-4 different 4.2.2 ROMs and 2-3 different 4.4.2 ROMs).
- GPS for me was about the same regarding its accuracy
- fix time also about the same, a few seconds up to a minute on the clear sky, a few minutes up to "give up" in the woods/buildings
- every ROM had a 1 hour difference bug between GPS reported time and the actual local time
- almost every time accuracy reported by GPS Test is very good (~4-10m)... the real one is much worse, I can confirm what Alex1a noticed. Also, what is really strange, my wife's Galaxy S4 Mini GPS Test accuracy (Snapdragon with Glonass) is significantly worse, yet there is no navigation and positioning issues
- some apps (Google Maps as example) have an arrow pointing your movement direction... this is usualy different than the real direction. Even the map is not rotated well.
I've sent a few emails to the Jiayu people I've found on some official website... but there was no response at all. I know that there is quite a strong community in Spain (Jiayu.es) and in Russia (4pda.ru). I'd also appreciate if anyone native tries to speak to these people regarding our GPS issues.
The good word is, that the GPS works I've done ~1000km over the last weekend and G4S led me to the places I needed. I've used Sygic, that in my opinion has better algorithms handling bad GPS signal. It also shows a nice line to the planned road, when the GPS signal puts you in the adjacent forrest The problem for me is, that the navigation can become frustrating, nervous and annoying. Especially when you have a lot of small and close roads/turns or you need to use it very quickly from the time you start the app.
I am trying to play ingress (a gps game) and half of the time it is unplayable. Ingress also often just quits/crashes without notice, and I think it is because it detects my gps as a fake gps for cheating
When that happened, I restart ingress immediately and sometimes it took more than 5 minutes to get a fix again, even though it worked seconds before.
With 0609 this was much better during that week.
I'm still on 20140609-211642 and GPS is really usable - much better compared to 0410, even inside a building, where 0410 could run hours without getting a fix! Please tell me what to compare between the two backups, to find out what setting makes this difference!
I am not sure, but I think I used MT GPS and faster GPS on both ROMs. Let's find out.
In the EngineeMode I saw some automated tests, and I am willing to do them with both ROMs - if someone exactly tells me how. I am too busy to find out myself...
Alex1a, could you quantify "really usable" when on 20140609-211642 ROM? How long does first fix last (in the streets), and do you have accuracy problems where GPS puts you on a nearby road by mistake?
I'm sorry I can't help more at the moment, I'm still holding off from buying this phone, but GPS is the only real issue I have with it, if I knew it would work correctly I'd get it right away, but everywhere I read problem is the same and since this is one of 2 reasons why I'm changing my current phone it's really important to me that it works fine
[EDIT 2014-Aug-06]
Here is one feedback, anyone else?
srkonus said:
Yesterday i tested GPS with the TeamForce v2 ROM and had no problems. Accurancy of 11 feet - 10 minutes later i wanted to navigate and the phone got no fix.
Navigon and GPS-Test shows nothing and it was not possible to get a fix. So i installed the TeamForce Android L ROM and for now everything seems to be okay again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LuxZg said:
Alex1a, could you quantify "really usable" when on 20140609-211642 ROM? How long does first fix last (in the streets), and do you have accuracy problems where GPS puts you on a nearby road by mistake?
I'm sorry I can't help more at the moment, I'm still holding off from buying this phone, but GPS is the only real issue I have with it, if I knew it would work correctly I'd get it right away, but everywhere I read problem is the same and since this is one of 2 reasons why I'm changing my current phone it's really important to me that it works fine
[EDIT 2014-Aug-06]
Here is one feedback, anyone else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried the GPS today again under heavy enviroment (inside a building, many metal around) and i got a fix on the window. In use was the TeamForce Kitkat Android L style without any changed (GPS location/time server is spain, i am sitting in germany). I have the feeling that i had only problems if i change it to germany.
The GPS on my old Samsung Galaxy S is more better but the G4S is enough for my use (tracking of running, car navigiation).
srkonus said:
I tried the GPS today again under heavy enviroment (inside a building, many metal around) and i got a fix on the window. In use was the TeamForce Kitkat Android L style without any changed (GPS location/time server is spain, i am sitting in germany). I have the feeling that i had only problems if i change it to germany.
The GPS on my old Samsung Galaxy S is more better but the G4S is enough for my use (tracking of running, car navigiation).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your feedback, looks like this is it.. If you get a chance to test it on road (car navigation or tracking), just to see if you get any issues with "signal lost" or being put on the wrong road / in the fields beside roads and similar that would be great as well, but I'm thankfull for this much as well as it sounds as good news for all owners (and future owners )
LuxZg said:
Alex1a, could you quantify "really usable" when on 20140609-211642 ROM? How long does first fix last (in the streets), and do you have accuracy problems where GPS puts you on a nearby road by mistake?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hard to quantify - I was really happy most of the time in the last weeks. First fix after long time of no use felt a bit long, something like 1-2 minutes, but then "real" accuracy was good and especially getting a new fix after some minutes of standby, was 5-10 seconds, I would say. With the older ROM, it sometimes took 5-10 minutes, even after only seconds of stopped gps.
BUT! yesterday, still on the same rom, I did a bicycle trip. first fix took more than 5 minutes, that was annoying. Then I recorded a track for about an hour. The track was quite accurate and looked good. Then I stopped the tracking and GPS. Only 20 minutes later, under free sky, I didn't get a new fix, no matter what I tried. Some time later, after some reboots it worked again, but was very inaccurate...
srkonus said:
I tried the GPS today again under heavy enviroment (inside a building, many metal around) and i got a fix on the window. In use was the TeamForce Kitkat Android L style without any changed (GPS location/time server is spain, i am sitting in germany). I have the feeling that i had only problems if i change it to germany.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean the time server set by "faster GPS" app? I tried that and rebooted, but no positive effect. I'm in germany, too.
Just ordered the phone, when it arrives I'll do as many tests as I can.
In the meantime - I'm assuming you did all this because I've seen this (and similar) solutions all over the forums and YouTube, but let me propose it just the same:
Code:
What you need is Mobileuncle mtk tools,root explorer,gps test download them from play store.
THIS SHOULD BE DONE OUTDOORS.
1. Turn GPS off on your phone.
2. Open Root Explorer and find the mtkgps.dat file in /data or /data/misc
3. Delete mtkgps.dat
4. Reboot phone
5. Open Mobileuncle Tools
6. Tap on 'Engineer Mode'
7. Tap on 'Engineer Mode (MTK)'
8. Scroll across to 'Location'
9. Tap on 'Location Based Service'
10. Tap on 'AGPS' and then make sure 'A-GPS On/Off' is checked
11. Tap on 'EPO' and then make sure 'Enable EPO' is checked
12. Swipe down (notification bar) and turn GPS on
13. Hit back and then tap 'YGPS'
14. Wait until you get position lock (mine took about 6 seconds).
15. This process should create a new mtkgps.dat file.
16. Hit home button and open GPS Test.
17. You should get a position lock reasonably quickly.
Also setting /etc/gps.conf (with any root-supporting text editor) manually to settings such as these:
Code:
NTP_SERVER=europe.pool.ntp.org
XTRA_SERVER_1=http://xtra1.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_2=http://xtra2.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_3=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
INTERMEDIATE_POS=1
ACCURACY_THRES=5000
SUPL_HOST=supl.google.com
SUPL_PORT=7275
SUPL_TLS_HOST=supl.google.com
SUPL_TLS_CERT=/etc/SuplRootCert
PHONE_TYPE=UMTS
(instead of europe in first line you can modify according to lists on this website: http://www.pool.ntp.org/zone/@ )
EDIT: On my old (current) phone, I also have these issues with GPS, and doing above helped a lot, but it seems that I need to repeat some of the steps from time to time. Interesting thing is the delete of mtkgps.dat, sometimes it's enough to turn GPS off, delete it, and turn it back on and go to YGPS to renew the positions, and it works in <10 seconds. We'll see if Jiayu has same or better/worse track record.
Rom: G4SW 20140609-150354
I've installed a new ROM yesterday. Well it's not new, but I haven't met it before.
It is a stock ROM but modified by Jiayu Poland. So it is official one, but nicely cleaned from Chinese apps, keyboard is normal, no troyans... a nice worldwide multi language official ROM that you can use "out of the box".
But what impress' me the most is the GPS. It's the best one I've ever met on Jiayu G4S! This one really works for me! At least at the moment I don't know if it is because it's a fresh installation or the GPS is set for my part of the world. The facts is that the GPS fixes within seconds without 3G and I can get a fix even inside the building. What is more it is the first ROM that the arrow directing my position is aligned properly and it moves exactly as I turn around with the phone.
I've made a simple point to point navigation today morning. A few times it still put me on the adjacent road... but it is still WAY better experience than before. My cursor used to stop when I stopped... that did not happen before, it was always living it's own life
So please give it a try yourself and let me know if I'm dreaming or this one actually works. This is 4.2.2 for Jiayu G4S 2GB/16GB:
http://jiayupolska.pl/download/rom/G4S_20140609-150354_[jiayupolska_PL].zip
Thanks for the info, I just got a new G4S and will try this soon, as GPS is important to me, and I sure don't need trojans and chinese apps
Could you just tell me one thing, does this ROM still have Caller ID bug or is that one fixed as well?
Hmm... hard to tell as I've never experienced that problem. An easy way (step by step) to check that?
Do you get SMS threads for contacts separated because of numebers (not) starting with country code, does your phone show who's calling correctly, etc? But we'll be offtopic here, perhaps just edit your post in the "main" G4S thread
EDIT: Just came back home, downloading it, and erasing original system to factory settings.. will be there soon myself to check GPS, but I won't have SIM in it for a day or so..
EDIT2: installed, got GPS fix in 10 seconds from window, which is good, but I had WiFi running. I'll install iGO soon, and check on the road next day or two
Jiayu's GPS.
In many roms that problem is now fixed. MTK chips normally do not usually behave very well with their gps. But Jiayu suffers a lot from this lack. That is solved by changing a line system / etc / agps_profiles_conf.xml roaming on the file.
roaming = "yes"
And the application of Google Play "FasterGPS" help position quite quickly.
Only then the terminal has no problem to download the epo file and position well satellites.
Greetings.
Sorry, but that's just theory. In practice people claim that GPS is fixed in thier ROM but it did not work for me. GPS I mean not only the fix time but also accuracy.
Apart of the ROMs I've tried a few additional apps and fixes... with not much improvement.
The ROM quoted by me it's the first one that GPS works out of the box, without any additional fixes and apps and on GPS antenna only (no AGPS at all).
If anyone do some GPS navigation tests please try both with mobile network assistance (AGPS) and without it.
I'm not sure if I'm right, but I have a feeling that with a ROM from post #11 the navigation apps work better without that assistance, with the GPS antenna only.
A few days now and I'm still amazed with that ROM regarding the GPS usage. Anyone unsure I recommend to give it a try
Doman said:
I've installed a new ROM yesterday. Well it's not new, but I haven't met it before.
It is a stock ROM but modified by Jiayu Poland. So it is official one, but nicely cleaned from Chinese apps, keyboard is normal, no troyans... a nice worldwide multi language official ROM that you can use "out of the box".
But what impress' me the most is the GPS. It's the best one I've ever met on Jiayu G4S! This one really works for me! At least at the moment I don't know if it is because it's a fresh installation or the GPS is set for my part of the world. The facts is that the GPS fixes within seconds without 3G and I can get a fix even inside the building. What is more it is the first ROM that the arrow directing my position is aligned properly and it moves exactly as I turn around with the phone.
I've made a simple point to point navigation today morning. A few times it still put me on the adjacent road... but it is still WAY better experience than before. My cursor used to stop when I stopped... that did not happen before, it was always living it's own life
So please give it a try yourself and let me know if I'm dreaming or this one actually works. This is 4.2.2 for Jiayu G4S 2GB/16GB:
http://jiayupolska.pl/download/rom/G4S_20140609-150354_[jiayupolska_PL].zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
Good News.
Can you install Xposed and gravitybox in this ROM?
Roms with GPS fixed.
Hello everyone! Apart from the many roms (and very good all) that ye can download, there is a website where there for our G4S and the G3S. androidteamforce.es
I say this because there all roms have fixed the gps well and are very stable. And even more so those in kitchen. If you want to try, you know (are also in needrom). While development is Spanish, the website is translated into English as well.We recommend them! I'm using the AOSP v2 with fixes memory and root, and I'm doing everything works perfectly, even Titanium. The GPS usually takes me ten radars detected, seven or eight. A marvel.
A greeting.
Doman said:
If anyone do some GPS navigation tests please try both with mobile network assistance (AGPS) and without it.
I'm not sure if I'm right, but I have a feeling that with a ROM from post #11 the navigation apps work better without that assistance, with the GPS antenna only.
A few days now and I'm still amazed with that ROM regarding the GPS usage. Anyone unsure I recommend to give it a try
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm... now I'm not sure if I'm seeing things either, but you could be right. It took me few days to transfer 100% to new phone so I was testing it on and off. Always with WIFI/3G turned on. While I got fix quickly, precision was a bit off, well.. up to 40-50 meters sometimes, enough to cause problems.
Today on my way from work I've turned on tracking, was still for a minute or so, and than started ride on a bike. Than minute or so later I remembered your advice, and turned off all data (Wi-Fi/3G) and continued. Now I'm looking at a chart, and first part of the ride looks terrible, like I was a crazy bug flying all over the place (with speeds up to 80km/h), and than suddenly I'm straight on course, with normal data being recorded and all the way to the finish line. From the tracking side, first 3,5 minutes I was off by soooo much, but from then on I had a positional error of margin of about 5 meters, no more (other side of the road etc.), and kept on going like that for 14 more minutes.
Since I'm biking a lot, well, when it's not raining, I'll do some more tracking, and I'll track test routes with car as well. I'll try not to use WIFI/3G at all during tracking, and we'll see if data will be consistent. I know that GPS on this ROM isn't perfect, as can be seen from todays 80km/h data and some extra 2km while I was mostly standing, but let's see if indeed data is being a culprit for GPS errors. Who knows, maybe the same way as Bluetooth interferes with Wi-Fi / Wi-Fi Display, maybe Wi-Fi and/or 3G causes malfunctions in GPS data, or somehow chip uses Wi-Fi positioning in addition to GPS causing it to add wider errors. We'll see, so far this is just a theoretic thing, I'm waiting for at least 4-5 good rides till I'm satisfied

Categories

Resources