GPS Triangulation problem - G1 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Anyone having problems with the GPS finding your location? I'm inside the car (It's a Corolla, so not many interference there), and it would take 5 minutes just to find my position, even if i'm not surrounded by buildings. It's been like this since I installed Cupcake and i'm on stock T-Mo ROM.
For example, I was driving through a farmland (Gilroy) last Tuesday, and I never got a GPS fix from 101/Hwy 25 until I got to my location.
-Randy

snofrandy said:
Anyone having problems with the GPS finding your location? I'm inside the car (It's a Corolla, so not many interference there), and it would take 5 minutes just to find my position, even if i'm not surrounded by buildings. It's been like this since I installed Cupcake and i'm on stock T-Mo ROM.
For example, I was driving through a farmland (Gilroy) last Tuesday, and I never got a GPS fix from 101/Hwy 25 until I got to my location.
-Randy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe update your radio... =/

Can you find your location using a 2g or a 3g network?

ya I can...but how often does that update? Because I know my location is way outside the big blue circle already, and it hasn't moved a bit. plus it's not that accurate compared to GPS

snofrandy said:
ya I can...but how often does that update? Because I know my location is way outside the big blue circle already, and it hasn't moved a bit. plus it's not that accurate compared to GPS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bleh very true. Don't think you can take it up here since you are on a stock ROM. People here have no control over troubleshooting in a stock ROM. Sorry. Why don't you root my friend? It's wonderful!

haha I rooted...then bricked my phone recently. I think it's because I did SPL first, then radio.

Lol you can try rooting again =P won't hurt just dont flash the new spl.

Related

I'm not sure if my GPS is defective. Please help...

If I use it while I'm driving (with TomTom) seems to be working fine.
However, if I use it while I walk, sometimes the position doesn't update even if you walk for 30 seconds. After that, you get a new position. Then it works for a few minutes and I stop getting new positions. I have to wait a few seconds again.
I have tried in different places (no tree cover) and with different programs and I got the same problem.
Anybody had a similar problem?
Thanks
Don't worry... Your GPS works fine.
This GPS is not intended to work while walking. The reason is simple: it needs a minimum of speed in order for it to calculate the direction you move in.
That's why it works on the car and not on the "walk".
I can't remmeber the details, but I think GPS has a error range of.. 15m or 50m, from which you may have problems. As such, if you were to walk a long enough distance, it ought to update itself.
migueloncete said:
Don't worry... Your GPS works fine.
This GPS is not intended to work while walking. The reason is simple: it needs a minimum of speed in order for it to calculate the direction you move in.
That's why it works on the car and not on the "walk".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd have to disagree, at least as far as my device goes. I use iGuidance software, AT&T Rom, and everytime I take the dog for a walk (three times since I got the unit) I bring it with me and do a walking nav test. It works perfectly everytime.
It's not defective, it's due to a feature of GPS hardware to prevent erratic jumping around due to accuracy errors. For more info, go here and search down to where it talks about "Static Navigation".
Once of the reasons I got this phone was for the GPS, because we like to do geocaching. However, unless my phone is defective I won't be able to use it for that...
Not unless you can find a way to disable static navigation. While I'm sure this isn't an acceptable solution, I've found that if I shut down whatever GPS application I'm using (such as google maps) and re-open it, it does seem to reinitiate GPS and update to the current position.
I hear people talking about the GPS on this phone and I have to say that I find it to be amazing. Here are a few of my happy stories.
1) I got 4 sats inside of a hockey rink yesterday
2) On google maps if I zero in on my back yard I can tell if I moved from one side of my yard to the other
3) Tom Tom, Pocketstreets, WindowsLive search and google maps all work great with out any issues at all.
People have to remember that it is a phone not a camera (although it does well at that), not a guidance system for missles requiring 1cm accuracy. It is a phone and a damn good one if you ask me.
dscline said:
It's not defective, it's due to a feature of GPS hardware to prevent erratic jumping around due to accuracy errors. For more info, go here and search down to where it talks about "Static Navigation".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for the information. It helped me a lot.
However it seems that there is not a way of disabling Static Navigation for this model of GPS, right?
I don't know. I guess someone would have to discover how to do it, if it's even possible.
InRBigness said:
I hear people talking about the GPS on this phone and I have to say that I find it to be amazing. Here are a few of my happy stories.
1) I got 4 sats inside of a hockey rink yesterday
2) On google maps if I zero in on my back yard I can tell if I moved from one side of my yard to the other
3) Tom Tom, Pocketstreets, WindowsLive search and google maps all work great with out any issues at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I aggree, I can tell which room of the house I am in using Google Maps
wizzzard said:
I aggree, I can tell which room of the house I am in using Google Maps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can to some extent as well. But if I move from one room to another, it doesn't update unless I close google maps and re-open it. That is the issue the OP is having... when traveling at low speeds, you have to travel a relatively long distance before it updates. But I've found it to be extremely accurate using navigation software in the car, which is what static navigation optimizes for.
HTC TYTNII GPS Problem
I got my TyTnII when was lauched 2 days in Malaysia, replaced with the second unit, still the same problems, the GPS dun work.........
So waiting for the second release. anyone having the same problem?
...........................

Google Maps 2.0 with My Location - no need for GPS?

Just tried the new GMaps 2.0 and my location works flawlessly.
Called "My Location," the feature comes as part of the release of version 2.0 of Google Maps for mobile. My Location uses cell tower ID information to determine (approximately) where you are. Google says that it uses special "Google-developed-algorithms" to determine this, which sounds like fancy talk for triangulation (a supported phone can determine how far it is from the three closest cell towers and then pinpoint the approximate spot of the caller).
Anybody else tried it?
Did you try while driving ??
(I'll still keep my GPS chip for a while)
It's better than nothing but not very accurate. On my Kaiser, I will continue to use my GPS.
sebbes said:
Did you try while driving ??
(I'll still keep my GPS chip for a while)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About to will update when I get back
Just tried it in the UK and the location thingy is temporarily unavailable.
kavi said:
Anybody else tried it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, though when I'm on 3G towers it gives the "temporarily unavailable" message, works when I get an EDGE tower - 1600meter granularity!
Great feature, very cool, will not replace GPS. Our 3G towers just came up last month so that may be why they're not in the Google database yet....though I recall other reports of 3G location not working.
Richard
Didn't work for me either, I'm in the UK (south wales)
Did notice the GPS location is a little more accurate with 2.0
Tended to jump a lot with the older version
I heard it was only good to a 3 mile (4.8km) radius. Not nearly good enough to give you turn by turn directions.
jgermuga said:
I heard it was only good to a 3 mile (4.8km) radius. Not nearly good enough to give you turn by turn directions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, even google's site says the accuracy is dependent on the cell tower spacing. In my case, at my desk at work it reports 1600m (1.6km) accuracy, so definitely not turn-by-turn. In a densely towered (urban?) area, I suppose it's vaguely possible to have sufficient accuracy for rough turn-by-turn though.
Richard
Still, GPS is obviously much better.
I would have appreciated this with my older non-gps phone though and I am hopeful that they will offer this as an iPhone update for my wife.
jgermuga said:
I heard it was only good to a 3 mile (4.8km) radius. Not nearly good enough to give you turn by turn directions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried the Navizon version and it can be a lot better in urban environments where the cells are far smaller. In most of central london, Navizon can get a fix to an accuracy of a hudred yards or so. I have seen it do better than GPS since it is less vulnerable to the "Urban Canyon" effect. In rural areas, the coverage of each cell is much larger and I would expect the accuracy to fall to half a mile or worse.
Martin
I live in Minneapolis. AT&T rolled out 3G here on 1 November. I loaded up GM2.0 and it was right on the money. I was even inside my house.
I don't see how the program could triangulate a device out in the suburb. In a metro, yes, it's possible. Satellite GPS navigation is not going to be replaced anytime soon; however, I can see the "traingulation" come in handy for emergency situations.
sherpa said:
I don't see how the program could triangulate a device out in the suburb. In a metro, yes, it's possible. Satellite GPS navigation is not going to be replaced anytime soon; however, I can see the "traingulation" come in handy for emergency situations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't matter where you are, suburbs or metro. If you have 3 antennas, you can use triangulation, period.
While it's not good for turn-by-turn navigation, it would be good enough to get a quick fix and be able to search for something in the immediate area.
Try thinking of it as a tool for people without gps. Imagine you're lost and you can get a general idea of where you are. Then drive a mile and do it again...now you have a bearing on where you are headed.
This won't replace gps or give you directions until it can get to that accuracy.
I just install it, and i was coming on here to create a thread but looks like someone beat me to it. gMAP just got a whole lot better, I was like oh sh*t it uses the cell phone towers to show my location. this the bomb. google stepping the game up.
Mine works great on the 3G but i do get that unavailable bar sometime.
so for those of us that like the way the old version works with 'track location' gps feature, is the new 2.0 version beter or just stick with the old ?
bobcho10 said:
so for those of us that like the way the old version works with 'track location' gps feature, is the new 2.0 version beter or just stick with the old ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It still works with GPS, but you can also get a quick location fix via cell towers like people have been discussing.
Built in GPS not working anymore
Lidberg said:
It still works with GPS, but you can also get a quick location fix via cell towers like people have been discussing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not appear to be able to use my built in gps in this new version of Google Maps. The settings are identical to my previous installation which worked flawlessly. The cell based location does appear accurate on my initial tests. But if I turn off the gprs or 3g radio and switch to wifi I am unable to get a fix at all.
I broke my own cardinal rule and overwrote my backup of cabs so I cant reinstall the previous version, Doh.
Does anyone have a copy of the previous version installation cab? Or is there a trick to using the Kaisers built in gps? as I said earlier my settings are setup the same way as worked previously.
wizzzard said:
Does anyone have a copy of the previous version installation cab? Or is there a trick to using the Kaisers built in gps? as I said earlier my settings are setup the same way as worked previously.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2.0.0 works fine on my Tilt, as did 1.7.1 - both with the GPS Options set to let Windows manage the GPS. Way back when I had to tell it COM4: to get Gmaps to work, IIRC.
In any case, 1.7.1 can be downloaded from Google here:
http://www.google.com/gmm/winm_apps/v1.7.1/L1/GoogleMaps_compressed.CAB
HTH,
Richard

Did the latest firmware fix the GPS issue?

I can't seem to find a straight answer to this so I'm starting a new thread.
With the JF3 firmware the GPS on my 2 phones is often not very accurate or completely loses it's position under what could be considered good conditions for a gps reciever.
Did the new firmware fix this problem?
Please only reply if you actually noticed the problem and can compare it with the new firmware.
Using GPS test is the phone now able to use signals with an snr of lower than 22?
No, it refuses to use GPS with snr under 22, as long as you don't locked them when they were higher. In that case it keeps them downto snr 17, and then drops them.
dakine said:
Did the new firmware fix this problem?
Using GPS test is the phone now able to use signals with an snr of lower than 22?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No and no....
Well that sucks, let's hope it's not a hardware problem
In contrast... I just flashed G3 and my GPS now locks in about 5 seconds.
It doesn't lock below 22... But for me it now doesn't need to.
Crabby
crabby09 said:
In contrast... I just flashed G3 and my GPS now locks in about 5 seconds.
It doesn't lock below 22... But for me it now doesn't need to.
Crabby
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine also locks in a few seconds, but it loses the lock again after a while. Then it locks again, the lock disappear, and so on. Completely useless as navigator.
This is quite worrying, because it suggests more than just a firmware problem.
To those who have flashed and it hasn't worked, some suggest flashing using the repartition option.
But this experience is why I don't want to flash my phone. If there's a hardware error, I can't rightly be taking it back.
Might get a HTC Desire and put the extra few quid up towards a 32 Gig memory card.
Cya
Simon
on further testing... My phone does use satellites of 19 to 22... But only if it is connected to less than 8 other satellites.
And I don't seem to have a disconnect issue.
Crabby
Yes the problem isnt that it wont connect but that the thing often thinks you are on an offramp or a road next to the highway you are travelling on because the sinal is too weak/inaccurate. I tested this with 3 different nav programs and get the same result.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
crabby09 said:
on further testing... My phone does use satellites of 19 to 22... But only if it is connected to less than 8 other satellites.
And I don't seem to have a disconnect issue.
Crabby
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me get this straight, using GPS Test, you do see orange satellites through regular use?
This is all beginning to make sense now.
Unlike HTC which seems to use a GPS chip that is capable of 12 Satellite fixes, Samsung is using a GPS chip that can only lock onto 8.
I would think therefore that what it is trying to do, is to select the 8 strongest satellite signals which means it's already at a disadvantage, because as soon as you walk behind a tall building, it has to work to try and find and lock onto others. But when you walk past the building it goes back to the other satellites.
This probably explains why everything is jumping around. Because it's not using the weaker satellites in the distance until its too late.
Maybe you guys have the problem of "you hold it wrong"
when I put the phone's face upward, I got only 2-3 satelline locked
stick my phone up => 10 satellites locked and most of them are green
cheers
No - I have installed JG3 and still have the same problems. GPS is practically useless.
Its nice I still have my HTC touc hd - I get a pinpoint lock immediatelly.
Have you tried to use an external bluetooth GPS device ?
Don't think it's possible to use an external gps with android. How do you tell the os or app to use the external one instead?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
JG3 seems a lot better for me. Still not perfect, but better than previous versions were I only lost a GPS a couple of times opposed to ALL the damn time !
Well guess I just need to flash my phone and try it myself. I wish Samsung would just release an official update already.
dakine said:
Well that sucks, let's hope it's not a hardware problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*#*#1472365#*#* gps test
Type this in using the keypad and then find skyhook and turn it on. This will help your GPS locate quicker and stay locked. I can get satallites in my living room!
*do not adjust anything else*
dannyd2134 said:
*#*#1472365#*#* gps test
Type this in using the keypad and then find skyhook and turn it on. This will help your GPS locate quicker and stay locked. I can get satallites in my living room!
*do not adjust anything else*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
has anyone tried this? I am reluctant to check it...
Evans_Prophet said:
has anyone tried this? I am reluctant to check it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the code of this website. Why would i lie? I've had my phone like 2 days and i was sick of getting no gps so i went on the hunt for a fix and there it was.
Google skyhook if you wish.
Anyone else tried playing with the accuracy value in that menu? It seems like it has an effect on locking satellites but I'm not sure.

Does the GPS accuracy suck on the incredible S?...please say it ain't so!!!

I need a phone that has a working gps. I have a samsung galaxy s, and gps sucks!!! I'm not talking about number of satellites, i'm talking about accuracy (on the app "gps test"). On my samsung it jumps around from 32 to 64ft accuracy and puts me on parallel streets.
Today a store rep let me take a htc incredible S in my car and drive around a bit. I was shocked to see that the gps accuracy was worse than my galaxy s!!! It found and locked onto many satellites (sometimes 11 of 11) but the accuracy sucked. It would fluctuate anywhere from 30 ft to 120 ft accuracy using the gps test app. At some points it would show me off of the road. Is this a common problem on this phone? I borrowed a friends motorolla atrix the other day and had an accuracy of 4.9ft! Thats accurate to like 2 steps! Would really appreciate your feedback. If your gps accuracy is good on your phone, then what do you think could have caused the one i tried today to be so horrible? Thanks
Nope not for me, but we're in different parts of the world. Mine's quite accurate and fast actually, with AGPS assisting.
Has always sucked for me in India.. then again I'm in the city and most of the time indoors
When I say it's always sucked, I mean it's always sucked for all my phones Incredible S does the same (quite so) lame job as my old Nokia did.. nothing to write home about. I just wrote that off to my region/country/conditions here or whatever
If I get it within 100m, I'm excited 4.5 meters? lol..
GPS accuracy really sucks on Incredible S. I've used HTC Hero for more than 1 year and never had any problem. Hero's GPS accuracy as sooo perfect. But I'm VERY disappointed with Incredible S. I've tried all possible ways, like calibrating the GPS, deleting and re-downloading a-data. But it's same. No improvements.
For me it works with no problems. Uk and Austria I used it in. Sometimes the lock times can be long, so I hardly ever disable gps, so it can collect almanac data. It is not a battery drag, it only uses lot of battery when it's active in the notification area. I use it to navigate on foot as well and I can tell it is seriously correct on location. +-1m
I had crap location info in maps and Igo myway only when the device was waiting to get a proper gps lock and only wireless location data was available which is useless for navigation purposes.
Maybe "GPS test" sucks? Works fine for me.
moyorakkhi said:
GPS accuracy really sucks on Incredible S. I've used HTC Hero for more than 1 year and never had any problem. Hero's GPS accuracy as sooo perfect. But I'm VERY disappointed with Incredible S. I've tried all possible ways, like calibrating the GPS, deleting and re-downloading a-data. But it's same. No improvements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Was a Hero user before switching to IncS. I still have both devices so I tested them side by side. Hero is much better in every aspects, including lock time, no of sats discovered and signal strength. I believe IncS is limited by its antennae design.
From Canada here, and it sucks ass. My Samsung Tab works flawlessly.
projective said:
From Canada here, and it sucks ass. My Samsung Tab works flawlessly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahah yeah I'm also from Canada and this is the worst phone for gps i've had by far
odd, i'm from Canada and i've always had awesome gps accuracy and speed on a couple of htc phones. locks within 5 seconds and accurate within 5 to 7 meters.
you guys sure you are using correct settings? perhaps it's carrier dependant, although I doubt it.
GPS works fine here in Canada as well.. which rom are you guys using? I've noticed that certain roms cause me more issues with GPS but ARHD works fine for me!
It was equally bad on every rom i've tried.
Maybe it is location specific I'm in the east coast of Canada.
Also, the test something for me..
In location settings turn off location by wireless network and try gps only
@scooby
have u tried using the updated gps.conf file from the gps thread? I also have location by network setting off.
syc7090 said:
@scooby
have u tried using the updated gps.conf file from the gps thread? I also have location by network setting off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I did. I'm using that now actually and it still sucks. My accuracy is 3600 meters lol
did u add "supl" to your apn type?
syc7090 said:
did u add "supl" to your apn type?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah default, supl, mms is already there
scoobysnacks said:
Yeah default, supl, mms is already there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jeez, maybe it is location specific...
syc7090 said:
jeez, maybe it is location specific...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never had an issue on my x10 though, or on sense roms if I chose wireless network location.
Now I still get nothing even when choosing wireless.
Just tested my Inc S with "GPS Test" app and I'm getting between 5-7 satellites and accuracy between 9.2-15.1 feet, from within the car. I'm running the latest OTA updated radio, with Hboot 1.16. Also, with Sygic Aura, got a lock within 5 seconds...I guess it depends on the location and radio version.

Best way to improve GPS?

Hello, I'm a recent owner of a SGS, and like many others, GPS is somewhat of an issue to me. However, reading around, there are a lot of fixes and solutions, and I want to know what people generally recommend to do on latest stock firmware to increase its accuracy?
Thanks!
I know it's a dumb name, but give "GPS AIDS" a try from the market. It was primarily made for SGS users. Try the free version first if still available...
Sent from my MB860 using xda premium
stock jvt gps is really good in comparison to out-of-box performance, and a lot better than wife's htc desire running on cm7.1. I get 10+ satellite lock in a few seconds, with a 10m accuracy. honestly, I don't need anything more than that (more often than not, I DO know where I am...) . Just make sure gps.conf file points to your region.
I tried recently a couple of these "fixes" ($omator, pfittech) but reverted back to stock files. I did not find any significant improvement, but of course you can give it a try, maybe in your region things are different
Well, thing is I don't know if GPS is working or not for me. In Google Maps the most accurate I can get is 30 meters, is that using cell triangulation or GPS?
Apparently 30 meters is not GPS from what I've been reading around. Guess that means I haven't used it at all.
Try GPS AIDS.
My GPS never worked before, I tried GPS AIDS and it gave me surprising results .
It's my pleasure to visit my Topic..:
www.adslgate.com/dsl/showthread.php?p=1062791832
screamwork said:
It's my pleasure to visit my Topic..:
www.adslgate.com/dsl/showthread.php?p=1062791832
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Topic link not working
Anyway, I tried GPS Aids, and I get 10/11 found, and in use alternating between 5-10.
I just want to confirm, what does accuracy average at for you guys? It was mainly at 30 meters for me most of the time, with it rarely at 10m. Is there a way to increase accuracy?
Lesiroth said:
Topic link not working
Anyway, I tried GPS Aids, and I get 10/11 found, and in use alternating between 5-10.
I just want to confirm, what does accuracy average at for you guys? It was mainly at 30 meters for me most of the time, with it rarely at 10m. Is there a way to increase accuracy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is accurate enough to tell which house I'm at. In Google Maps, there is no blue circle around my location (well, only when it's still searching).
I use GPS AIDS. If the program doesn't work, read about what it does. You can also edit the files manually.
upichie said:
Mine is accurate enough to tell which house I'm at. In Google Maps, there is no blue circle around my location (well, only when it's still searching).
I use GPS AIDS. If the program doesn't work, read about what it does. You can also edit the files manually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, I have a blue circle around me all the time. Guess that means it's not working well for me?
Lesiroth said:
Nope, I have a blue circle around me all the time. Guess that means it's not working well for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, it probably could be better than that. Give GPS AIDS a try.
Lesiroth said:
Hello, I'm a recent owner of a SGS, and like many others, GPS is somewhat of an issue to me. However, reading around, there are a lot of fixes and solutions, and I want to know what people generally recommend to do on latest stock firmware to increase its accuracy?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to do GPS Fix
http://www.hdtechvideo.com/?p=43
Ever since I flashed to JVR stock, my GPS has been locking on the satellites like a charm. I'm not sure if the credit goes to the new JVR or higher firmware, but definitely give that a try if you're still on some of the older Gingerbread firmwares.
GPS AIDS doesn't seem to improve that much, still usually on 30m, rarely at 10m, not really accurate.
I really need help with this, thanks in advance!

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