Hey guys, first off, I have searched for no less than 2 hours for an answer to this question, and while there are lots of discussions, none of them seem to replicate what I am seeing.
Can anyone confirm this, and does anyone have a fix?
GPS will not lock a single satelite in Airplane Mode. I'm in American Samoa without cell coverage, and using the GPS Status app to test. Here's my findings:
First, I turn off Airplane mode, turn on WiFi (connected), turn on GPS. I do not get a cell signal. I open GPS Status, GPS locks onto the first satelite within a minute, and locks position in 10 seconds after that. I turn Airplane mode on which turns WiFi off. Interestingly enough, GPS is not turned off. I turn GP Soff, and then turn it back on (have read suggestions to do so, and have also tried not switching it at all). I then turn Wifi on and verify connection. I open GPS Status, and let it sit for up to an hour outdoors, not a single satelite ever appears. I turn Airplane mode off, and within a minute I have a locked location.
So, two questions, is it possible to get GPS to work when in Airplane mode, or is it possible to disable the cell radio some other way (possibly keeping GPS enabled)?
Here's my stats:
Phone: Moto Razr Maxx
Rooted: Yup
Carrier: Verizon
Sys Version: 6.12.181.XT912.Verizon.en.US
Android Version: 2.3.6
Baseband: CMDA_N_04.07.01R LTEDC_U_07.1F.00
Purchased about a month ago
Playing around a bit more, I noticed that when I have airplane mode off, and GPS on, and GPS Status open, if I quickly hit the home button, turn Airplane mode on, and go back into GPS Status, a lock remains for about 3-5 seconds, and then satelites slowly start disappearing until there's none left. Airplane mode is definitely disabling GPS on my phone.
Anyone? Bueller.... Bueller... Bueller...
I can post video if you don't believe me...
I have read that the GPS needs a data connection to make a lock. I don't remember where I read that, but I had the same problem when I was in Europe trying to use my phone primarily as a GPS device with cached maps. There was maybe once or twice that it actually locked, out of many many many many attempts.
I have airplane mode on, wifi and blutooth off, then turn on gps, I get gps lock on my Droid Razr with stock gingerbread for a short period then lose all satellites. It appears that you can't use gps with airplane mode on.
bump i have been wondering about this also. airlines often expressly allow gps. after all, gps RECEIVES, it doesn't transmit.
droidmo said:
I have read that the GPS needs a data connection to make a lock. I don't remember where I read that, but I had the same problem when I was in Europe trying to use my phone primarily as a GPS device with cached maps. There was maybe once or twice that it actually locked, out of many many many many attempts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually GPS doesn't need data connection to make a lock. But with data connection it helps make lock much faster.. that's the features called A-GPS (Assisted-GPS), google around about A-GPS for more detailed info how it works.
I always turn off my data connection every time i use my razr for navigation. I only turn data connection sometimes to make the GPS locked and after i got a lock i always turn off the data connection (I'm not on data plan) and even i didn't turn on my data connection I still can get a lock as long as i am outdoor. So far i never had razr GPS lock problems. This phone's GPS never disappoint me.
My guess is maybe it's some kinda bug on the airplane mode or maybe that's intentionally for some safety reasons.
Same here. I did:
- open maps, locate my position. ok.
- turn off wifi and data
- go back to maps, position ok.
- longpress power, turrn on airplane
- gps starts blinking, position lost
- turn off airplane, but data remains off
- gps position found in 2 seconds
(also tried with "GPS Test" app - same result)
I have MAXX AsiaRetail stock 2.3.6
Sent from my XT910 using XDA
Thanks guys, nice to know it's not just me! Just to clarify some other posts, GPS works with or without a data connection as long as airplane mode is off.
So, seeing as though airplane mode kills GPS, does anyone know of a way to disable the cell radio (to save battery life) without turning on airplane mode?
And just to comfort those who worry about flying, I'm just using the phone for directions and what not (American Samoa doesn't have street addresses believe it or not, and 2 houses past the third palm tree doesn't cut it ). I download the directions while at the hotel on wifi, then go about my way, but if I can't use GPS in airplane mode, it kills the battery searching for a cell tower.
kreez said:
So far i never had razr GPS lock problems. This phone's GPS never disappoint me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't agree more, while in the states with cell reception, this phone's GPS is fantastic! Unfortunately, if you have to keep airplane mode off to have it work, it's useless in the back country, or 3rd world countries. Maybe today's ICS release will fix the bug!
I don't think it's a bug. My droid X did the same thing.
risslerp said:
I don't think it's a bug. My droid X did the same thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah yes, feature not bug. :cyclops:
Moved To Q&A
Please Post questions in the Q&A section
On my Razr Maxx I also have no gps in airplane mode. I'm running the official 4.04.
I'm going to guess this is because the droid radio chip has gps integrated along with the cellular radios. Here's my evidence:
Turning off the radio with the LTE OnOff app (it just opens the radio service menu, same as dialing the service number), and pressing "Turn radio off": Gps Test would never see any satellites and would never get a gps lock.
Setting the "preferred network type" to "GSM only" (this has no service in Seattle with Verizon): Gps Test immediately sees satellites and I get a gps lock.
I wish there was an option to turn off all the cellular radios but to leave the gps radio on. I use my razr maxx hiking with offline topo maps and OruxMaps, and it lasts about 8 hours recording tracks every 1 minute.
Possible solution?
My findings are that when using my Razr Maxx still on 2.3.6 stock settings, If I run the GPS Test application with GPS, 3G data and cellular on (airplane mode off) it acquires my location accurate of 10 feet, using 8-12 satellites in approximately 10 or so seconds. If I exit, toggle Airplane mode on, relaunch GPS Test, it will acquire my location in the same time, accuracy and with again 8-12 satellites. But If I exit, toggle GPS off and then Airplane mode on, Toggle GPS on, relaunch GPS Test, it will not be able to locate any satellites.
Now, with that said, if I go into my data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ directory and open the settings.db file, in the "system" entry, I do not have gps listed in either the "airplane_mode_radios" or the "airplane_mode_toggleable_radios" values. I do have "cell,bluetooth,wifi" under the airplane_mode_radios value, and "bluetooth,wifi" under the airplane_mode_toggleable_radios value.
I do not know how this looks in ICS for the Razr (4.0.4). I also do not know if gps is even able to be included here. Just a theory.
I might be on to something that may work and you will need to be rooted.
I warn you, that I have not tried modifying this myself, so I cannot verify it will work. Do not try this if you aren't comfortable with attempting it without it being verified to work first.
What I'm thinking is to use an app like Root Explorer and navigate into the data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ directory. Open and edit the settings.db file with an app like SQLite editor. Then open the "system" database entry. Check to see if on around lines 21 and 22 there are entries named "airplane_mode_radios" and "airplane_mode_toggleable_radios". Once located, check to see if their values include gps among the other available radios. If the airplane_mode_radios value includes gps, then long press, tap edit field, remove it and save. If gps is not listed under the airplane_mode_toggleable_radios then long press, edit field, add gps and save. Exit and reboot.
I think with doing this, it should not turn GPS off when airplane mode is toggled on and it should allow you to toggle GPS on and off while airplane mode is on.
If anyone else knows of an easier or proven way to do this then let us know.
If you know this will not work, correct me and let me know.
Ryco26 said:
My findings are that when using my Razr Maxx still on 2.3.6 stock settings, If I run the GPS Test application with GPS, 3G data and cellular on (airplane mode off) it acquires my location accurate of 10 feet, using 8-12 satellites in approximately 10 or so seconds. If I exit, toggle Airplane mode on, relaunch GPS Test, it will acquire my location in the same time, accuracy and with again 8-12 satellites. But If I exit, toggle GPS off and then Airplane mode on, Toggle GPS on, relaunch GPS Test, it will not be able to locate any satellites.
Now, with that said, if I go into my data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ directory and open the settings.db file, in the "system" entry, I do not have gps listed in either the "airplane_mode_radios" or the "airplane_mode_toggleable_radios" values. I do have "cell,bluetooth,wifi" under the airplane_mode_radios value, and "bluetooth,wifi" under the airplane_mode_toggleable_radios value.
I do not know how this looks in ICS for the Razr (4.0.4). I also do not know if gps is even able to be included here. Just a theory.
I might be on to something that may work and you will need to be rooted.
I warn you, that I have not tried modifying this myself, so I cannot verify it will work. Do not try this if you aren't comfortable with attempting it without it being verified to work first.
What I'm thinking is to use an app like Root Explorer and navigate into the data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ directory. Open and edit the settings.db file with an app like SQLite editor. Then open the "system" database entry. Check to see if on around lines 21 and 22 there are entries named "airplane_mode_radios" and "airplane_mode_toggleable_radios". Once located, check to see if their values include gps among the other available radios. If the airplane_mode_radios value includes gps, then long press, tap edit field, remove it and save. If gps is not listed under the airplane_mode_toggleable_radios then long press, edit field, add gps and save. Exit and reboot.
I think with doing this, it should not turn GPS off when airplane mode is toggled on and it should allow you to toggle GPS on and off while airplane mode is on.
If anyone else knows of an easier or proven way to do this then let us know.
If you know this will not work, correct me and let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to confirm that I'm having the same issue of having no GPS connectivity when in airplane mode even though the GPS has been toggled on. Numerous other forums have stated that this is a hardware issue with Motorola phones. I'm curious if the above quoted solution has worked for anybody.
Thank you!
This is the response that I got from Motorola after asking the general question about having GPS turned on when airplane mode is on:
"When airplane mode is enabled, this will automatically disable all wireless and radio communication on the device including the GPS receiver. Because the phone, in order to determine location, takes readings from both GPS satellites and nearby cellular base stations (towers), with the help of a location server on the network. In other words, the phone relies on the network for help in determining location. Although the phone does receive GPS signals directly from the satellites, it can't determine actual location without help from the cell network."
Therefore, you can't use the GPS radio by itself.
hantav said:
This is the response that I got from Motorola after asking the general question about having GPS turned on when airplane mode is on:
"When airplane mode is enabled, this will automatically disable all wireless and radio communication on the device including the GPS receiver. Because the phone, in order to determine location, takes readings from both GPS satellites and nearby cellular base stations (towers), with the help of a location server on the network. In other words, the phone relies on the network for help in determining location. Although the phone does receive GPS signals directly from the satellites, it can't determine actual location without help from the cell network."
Therefore, you can't use the GPS radio by itself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But the GPS still works fine when I am far away from any cell towers of any kind...
I think whoever responded to you was trying to justify airplane mode turning off GPS. There must be a way to force it to stay on.
It has certainly frustrated me that I can't use airplane mode to save battery while using GPS.
I'm by no means an expert on this issue but I think the GPS and cellular radios are physically connected (on the same chip??) inside most Motorola phones. So even though you might not be near a cellular tower, and if airplane mode if off, you should be able to get a GPS signal. But if airplane mode is on, then both the cellular and GPS radios will be turned off.
Basically, the interwebs is pointing to a hardware issue rather then an a software issue. However, I hope a software solution is available.
MrCavity said:
But the GPS still works fine when I am far away from any cell towers of any kind...
I think whoever responded to you was trying to justify airplane mode turning off GPS. There must be a way to force it to stay on.
It has certainly frustrated me that I can't use airplane mode to save battery while using GPS.
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Click to collapse
I'd give $20 for a software solution to this problem. I am an avid hiker. Using a cell phone in Airplane Mode you get 4x, 5x, 6x the battery life. If I can use GPS while in Airplane Mode, I can hike a very long time, but if I'm forced to leave the cell radio on merely to use GPS, the battery won't last a full day's hike. It is ridiculous that we can't (yet) use GPS in Airplane Mode. I have been using ViewRanger offline navigation app for years. I download to the phone before I leave home all of the topo maps that I need for a hike, so I have no need for data when I'm hiking.
Did anyone ever try editing the systems.db file in data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/ directory? I can't tell that the guy that wrote that post ever tried it himself.
EDIT: I found here documentation of these two settings.
AIRPLANE_MODE_RADIOS -- A comma separated list of radios that need to be disabled when airplane mode is on.
AIRPLANE_MODE_TOGGLEABLE_RADIOS -- A comma separated list of radios that should to be disabled when airplane mode is on, but can be manually reenabled by the user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My XT912 is rooted and I have System set to read-write. I tried to use SQLite to edit the value of AIRPLANE_MODE_TOGGLEABLE_RADIOS in the System table of /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/System.db to change it from "bluetooth,wifi,nfc" to "bluetooth,wifi,nfc,gps" but even though I have write permissions to the file, when I tried, I received this error:
Update Failed - Error Code 5. Database is locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went searching for how to edit settings.db and found this thread and this other thread, but I don't fully understand the instructions.
Bottom Line: if this is truly a hardware problem, then editing this file won't fix the problem (but likely won't cause any harm either), but if this is merely a software problem, then this may finally give us GPS use while in Airplane Mode.
I'm trying to figure out if my Edge is bad. When I turn the screen off, and come back to the phone a few minutes later, I'll get a notification stating it has connnected to my router. I've checked the settings and it states the wifi is set to be always on. I attempted a factory reset and still no luck. Sometimes it'll take a few moments before it even connects to the wifi again upon turning the screen on.
Do I have a bad phone?
vaxick said:
I'm trying to figure out if my Edge is bad. When I turn the screen off, and come back to the phone a few minutes later, I'll get a notification stating it has connnected to my router. I've checked the settings and it states the wifi is set to be always on. I attempted a factory reset and still no luck. Sometimes it'll take a few moments before it even connects to the wifi again upon turning the screen on.
Do I have a bad phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would check under the advanced settings for wifi, there's an option for what to do with wifi during sleep. That may be your problem.
I've already checked and it''s enabled.
vaxick said:
I've already checked and it''s enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same thing happening. I noticed when I was backing pics on one drive
. It would always say that back up has stopped because there was no WiFi After turning the screen on again.
I just got my Edge yesterday, and I am having the same problem with wifi AND also that it stops seeing any wifi and I have to toggle it off and back on manually THEN it will instantly connect to my known network.
Dear @vaxick,
Dial *#0011# and click on more>>WiFi>>"WIFI Power save mode" try to disable this option and see what happens.
*it might drain your battery faster.
Regards
bluff master said:
Dear @vaxick,
Dial *#0011# and click on more>>WiFi>>"WIFI Power save mode" try to disable this option and see what happens.
*it might drain your battery faster.
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for this suggestion, unfortunately it had no effect as I have observed the same wireless disconnect behavior now with both the WiFi power save both on and off. Once the wireless disconnects it no longer see ANY wireless networks no matter where I go until I toggle the wireless off then back on again. Then it will see all wireless network present around me and instantly connect if there are any of my saved networks present. At this point I believe it is either a hardware or worse a software problem with my phone, but I am really at a loss to the exact nature of this issue.
Mine also has this issue when connected to 5GHZ SSID. Connecting to my 2.4GHZ SSID solves this problem completely for me
dazbutler1 said:
Mine also has this issue when connected to 5GHZ SSID. Connecting to my 2.4GHZ SSID solves this problem completely for me
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Click to collapse
I hope that this is a hardware issue with my phone, as your "solution" is totally unacceptable for me, especially since my work place has bandsteering AP's that use the same SSID's for both 2.4 and 5GHz.
Moguledyouth said:
I hope that this is a hardware issue with my phone, as your "solution" is totally unacceptable for me, especially since my work place has bandsteering AP's that use the same SSID's for both 2.4 and 5GHz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, i have to turn WIFI off whilst at work for the same reason. Certainly hoping it's just a software bug and will be fixed quickly as it is by no means an ideal workaround
I also see this kind of problem since last 1 week, here is how i noticed. i user viber messaging app and it shows status online if you are connected. Lot of my friends started complaining that my status is not continuously online and fluctuating so i started doing tests.
Moment my display turns off i started counter and in 10 minutes my status changes as last seen and whenever i open viber app again i am online.
second test: i tried doing the same with whatsapp and connected at web.whatsapp.com and same thing happens within 10 mins i see yellow bar appearing that my phone is disconnected so again i have to open whatsapp on phone to reconnect.
this is very annoying to see this kind of problem on new phones, especially when old phones are working flawless.
Kind of the same problem, but with GPS. Once I disabled the battery saver mode, it stopped disconnecting. Have you tried that?
Are you referring to power saving mode in battery settings. i did check and they are turned off. No idea what else i am missing here.
I tried re-installing viber but still after 10 mins its keep disconnecting.
WiFi >> More >> Keep WiFi on during sleep >> Always
Problem solved
Sent from my SM-G925F using XDA Free mobile app
vvally said:
WiFi >> More >> Keep WiFi on during sleep >> Always
Problem solved
Sent from my SM-G925F using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having the same issue on my regular non edge s6. This settings is not doing anything have it on always still always drops the wifi when going to sleep. Its driving me crazy no idea why its doing this
i did check and i have Keep WiFi on during sleep >> Always option but still drops, no clue whats wrong with my phone.
I had the same issue and solved it by changing my routers security from WPA2/Mixed Mode to WPA2 Personal. Since this change, it works fine on both 2.4 ghz and 5 ghz.
dazbutler1 said:
Yeah, i have to turn WIFI off whilst at work for the same reason. Certainly hoping it's just a software bug and will be fixed quickly as it is by no means an ideal workaround
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I received my Galaxy S 6 edge a week ago and I am having this same peculiar reconnecting issue to WiFi that has been described here.
Solution?
I was having this same issue and was unable to find any good solutions for it online, but eventually found something for me that worked through experimenting:
Find the above mentioned "Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep" option (which is probably set to "Always" already), change it to "Never", and then change it back to "Always". Since doing this I haven't had it disconnect from the wi-fi once, where as before it would do it everytime the screen had been off for a few minutes.
The problem started happening sometime after I played with power saver mode, so I think it might be related to that. I know that the software has some other bugs related to power saving mode, as I had a previous problem where my softkeys stopped vibrating or lighting up, which ended up being related to not exiting ultra power saving mode correctly and was fixed by going re-enabling ultra power saving mode and exiting again.
(it happens with other apps too, so it's not Runkeeper itself)
I use Runkeeper to trace my walking. But seems that when the screen is off, it can't get the GPS signal so the measuring (distance, speed) is not working
It's probably something to do with the settings, but couldn't find where.
any advice?
thanks
YossiN said:
(it happens with other apps too, so it's not Runkeeper itself)
I use Runkeeper to trace my walking. But seems that when the screen is off, it can't get the GPS signal so the measuring (distance, speed) is not working
It's probably something to do with the settings, but couldn't find where.
any advice?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get the same problem with MM Tracker if I use a MIUI 8 based rom. I'm currently using the 'Angels and Demons' rom based on MIUI 7 and don't have any problems recording position,speed etc.
HTH.
I suggest to review the power profile... had the same issue. most probably GPS go sleep while screen is off.
Is MIUI battery saver enabled? Try modifying the setting for your app by going to Security > Battery > App battery saver and changing it to off.
I had to do that for Waze so I could still use voice navigation while the screen was off, now it works fine.