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Using IGO (legal).
This happens with the new standard AT&T ROM, and with the previous one as well.
IGO starts and quickly obtains satellites, then every now and then, without any obvious reason, I get a verbal warning that no satellites are found, and the GPS icon turns red.
After a few seconds, or even a couple of minutes, GPS signal is restored.
The Tilt is positioned near the windshield, and the problem does not occur in "urban canyons".
I don't have any other GPS app with maps that I can use to check this.
I'd appreciate any ideas.
Thank you.
You could try a free app like Microsoft Live Search or Google Maps to check against IGO. I haven't really noticed mine dropping signal unless I do go into a real canyon or something like that. One thing - when the phone goes into Standby, the GPS chip turns off for battery conservation. Is it possible that your phone is going into standby when you lose signal?
mine does the same after update to the new att rom, and honestly, i dont have an answer for you.
Live search cannot ever find any satalites, which is why I have resorted to using Google Maps. It works fine for me. So try using google maps. its works much faster and more reliable in finding sats, imo.
try a different radio. it has been reported that it works for some.
replies
snooginsguy: No, it always happens when navigating.
grandpareza: not sur ethere are googlemaps for my country (at least not with any reasonable resolution). Will check later.
P1Tater: Replacing the radio requires HardSPL, which I haven't sone yet. As I said, I'm still with the original ROM. I live abroad, so there's no issue with warranty. It's just that I'm concerned I might brick my device.
i heard that you have to update with quick gps everytime before you use your actuall gps... that would improve the sat tracking a lot better
It's on auto update
So that's not the issue.
Android so far as far as I can determine does NOT support using a Bluetooth GPS for the location data but I'm hoping maybe Froyo does..
The GPS built into phones is fine for car nav and some low-resolution stuff, but to have any accuracy or hold a decent lock under heavy foliage or urban jungles a bluetooth GPS with a dedicated chipset is necessary.
I geocache a lot, and my Holux 236 has never failed me, it always has lead me right to where a geocache is, yet my Nexus One tonight the heading and distance stuck, stuttered, seemed to be 20+ feet off at times, and almost IMMEDIATELY went stupid after going under foliage.
I've seen a few programs that'll use Bluetooth GPS themselves, but they are one-off programs which use the GPS directly, not replace the internal GPS data with the Bluetooth GPS data which is what I really need.
Anyone with Froyo and a bluetooth GPS?
i would like to know to
The answer was no... Still an open issue, probably will remain an open issue.
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=9057
Looks like there's maybe two possibilities, one open-ended "I have solved this" with no real info, and another "Bluetooth GPS Mouse" app in market that is said to work. I'm going to try.
So far this seems to work! I've got an email out to the author, I'll post some more on it soon.
Pretty slick the way he's done it, I have a question out to how automatic the GPS connection/redirection is upon reconnection of the device (ie: do you need to reconnect it manually or is it automaic) and if it's not automatic right now, I'll stress that it needs to be.
It did immediately get coordinates when I connected it to my Holux 236, where the internal would take 10-15+ seconds and the coordinates would wander around for a while. This got coordinates and they stuck... I watched carefully and I saw the latitude go .605 to .606 then back to .605 a few times.. I didn't make sure they were accurate yet, I'll do that later, but by eyeball they were.
It doesn't seem to report sats fixed nor sat signal levels.. I'm concerned this might make some apps think there is no fix and wait forever for it. GeOrg and GPS Test seemed to not care, they reported the right location and it seemed to work.
I did not put it through any real life tests, just sat in my car in the parking lot at work and checked out my location.
I'm concerned if other important info like altitude, bearing, and speed are reported. I'll update when I get a response to the email of course.
One more thing I forgot to ask but I'll see in practice is if using this I can still use the electronic compass. Not that it's great, but it is convenient. Honestly though I'll still be happy without it.
There is a free trial that disconnects every 10m, or a 2 euro paid version. Very reasonable.
Author responded, he sounds right on top of the current limitations and is working on them. I suspect once he has worked on this a tad more, it'll work great. Give the trial version a try and see how it works!
I found that nearly all of my geocaching programs "just work", no fuss. I found that Google Earth gets an accurate fix but can't seem to find "My Location". Both seem to be because he's working on getting the satelite fix data into the program, if possible. Right now it reports 0.
Built-in compass still works fine!
He'll be working on automatic reconnection after he tweaks a few more things and sees what kind of efficiencies he can make and bugs he can drive out.
I was successfully using GPS Mouse with stock Eclair 2.1 & my GlobalSat Bluetooth GPS with my running program.
I have since flashed to Froyo JPO rom & now when I try & use the program I feel a vibration in the phone, the screen soon goes black & then does a mini re-boot & back to my home screen again??
I done some google searches but cannot seem to find an answer to thsi particualr issue
addo1962 said:
I was successfully using GPS Mouse with stock Eclair 2.1 & my GlobalSat Bluetooth GPS with my running program.
I have since flashed to Froyo JPO rom & now when I try & use the program I feel a vibration in the phone, the screen soon goes black & then does a mini re-boot & back to my home screen again??
I done some google searches but cannot seem to find an answer to thsi particualr issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using Bluetooth GPS Provider now, it works FLAWLESSLY, start and forget it while I'm using the GPS. Even if the GPS disconnects, phone is in standby extended periods, etc, always immediately reconnects and works.
As for your specific problem, dunno, but give it a try.
http://www.appbrain.com/app/bluetooth-gps-provider/de.mobilej.btgps
reboot bluetooth gps
addo1962 said:
I was successfully using GPS Mouse with stock Eclair 2.1 & my GlobalSat Bluetooth GPS with my running program.
I have since flashed to Froyo JPO rom & now when I try & use the program I feel a vibration in the phone, the screen soon goes black & then does a mini re-boot & back to my home screen again??
I done some google searches but cannot seem to find an answer to thsi particualr issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem, anyone a solution ? Please ....
Try Bluetooth GPS Provider, it works awesome for me. Reconnects immediately, works great.
If you have a ROM-specific issue, you need to talk to the ROM cook.
Not sure if anyone has tried this or discussed it but, I recently installed an app called 'GPS STATUS' off of the market, and every since I have been able to get a lock on several satellites (with it running in the background). This was a MAJOR help for me as I hadn't got any GPS signal that was even close to precise in the whole month I have owned the phone. This is not my first android device (started with a G1 when it was first released...definately the reason I stick with android devices), but I feel it is one of the best available (less flash/flash player) but all in all a solid piece of equipment especially when we get the froyo update...(just my 2 cents; -))...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
getting now will test out the gps on the way home..... Update tomorrow
Update used google turn by turn 5 min to lock
after lock never lost signal GPS was spot on,,,, maybe this will continue to work
may be like all the other fixes, temporary
THANKS
Ok...so after updating to Froyo my GPS is not working. Not only that, my phone can't seem to find my approximate location even after enabling "Use Wireless networks". I used GPS Status app from the market and I confirmed the phone was seeing several satellites, but it was getting no lock. I had no problem with my GPS with 2.1 aside from losing my location occasionally when I drive through the downtown.
Is anyone else experiencing this issue? I'm running my phone on Rogers network, unlocked and rooted.
Yeria said:
Ok...so after updating to Froyo my GPS is not working. Not only that, my phone can't seem to find my approximate location even after enabling "Use Wireless networks". I used GPS Status app from the market and I confirmed the phone was seeing several satellites, but it was getting no lock. I had no problem with my GPS with 2.1 aside from losing my location occasionally when I drive through the downtown.
Is anyone else experiencing this issue? I'm running my phone on Rogers network, unlocked and rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You didn't say what version of Froyo you are running but I'd change my modem file and use one of the alternate ones that DocRambone has. There's a thread on this but I find the ZSJPE (Hong Kong) version to be superb (and our company develops an app for the phone that uses GPS for golfers) - very quick, very accurate...
Oh I'm using JK4 from Bell..and kernel version 2.6.32.9....
Edit: Oh and I have also done factory reset/cache wipe...and it's still doing that...I want to see if I can fix this without changing the modem file or anything like that...
I'm having the exact same problem since upgrading to the official 2.2 release from 2.1
EDIT: Bell Galaxy S Vibrant, Unlocked and running on Rogers. Not rooted.
sw411 said:
I'm having the exact same problem since upgrading to the official 2.2 release from 2.1
EDIT: Bell Galaxy S Vibrant, Unlocked and running on Rogers. Not rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok...so I'm a bit relieved to know I'm not the only one out there...From the things I've been reading it doesn't seem to affect phones running on Bell networks..but shouldn't GPS be not affected regardless of the network you're running on? I don't see why it's refusing to get a lock...
I can't believe no one else is having this problem, maybe we're the only ones unlocking??
I was also having this problem. I updated to bell froyo using kies, and am unlocked using rogers. I loaded gps test, set it so it wouldn't shut off the screen, and let it run for about 30 min in a window. Eventually it got solid lock on a couple sats and it now seems a lot snappier to get a lock.
sw411 said:
I can't believe no one else is having this problem, maybe we're the only ones unlocking??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, good news! At least for me anyway... I decided to try keeping my GPS on and let my phone to try and find my location..however long it was going to take. I don't think it took me 30 minutes but it took me good 10 minutes before my GPS found my location. I think the problem was because I'm having trouble getting location information based on my wireless network and updating to Froyo and doing a factory reset must have deleted my satellite schedule. Right now I'm just so glad to find out my GPS isn't broken! :-D You should try the same thing I did.
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
@sw411 Oh and you should try and read this forum about wireless network based location service.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=845152
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
Thanks Yeria, that sounds like the problem we're having.
I do find that if I give it enough time, It will get a pure GPS lock, but I'm not getting any aGPS (the network based)
That thread you link sounds like the solution, but unfortunately I can't seem to access the file they tell you to modify
I too have GPS problems right after upgrading to official froyo. And it kept getting worse when i tried custom ROM. I tried factory resetting and format all my sd card, cache wipe etc hoping that it will return to normal like when i was in 2.1 elcair but to no avail. I don't know if some bad code was left behind when i did the official upgrade through kies. All i can say is it was working fine when i was at 2.1 then suddenly went bad after 2.2.
By the way, my problem is my GPS lock kept of disconnecting every now and then thus rendering my GPS useless as it kept on displaying my location as "off road" even though i'm on a clear highway with clear and bright skies!
ahh, if I root the phone I can get to
/dbdata/databases/com.google.android.gsf/gservices.db
unfortunately, this phone doesn't have sqlite3 installed!! I need to try and find that
EDIT: Found a copy of sqlite3 and was able to push it to the phone. edited the db as people suggested! I'll have to test it on Monday
mikextr23 said:
I too have GPS problems right after upgrading to official froyo. And it kept getting worse when i tried custom ROM. I tried factory resetting and format all my sd card, cache wipe etc hoping that it will return to normal like when i was in 2.1 elcair but to no avail. I don't know if some bad code was left behind when i did the official upgrade through kies. All i can say is it was working fine when i was at 2.1 then suddenly went bad after 2.2.
By the way, my problem is my GPS lock kept of disconnecting every now and then thus rendering my GPS useless as it kept on displaying my location as "off road" even though i'm on a clear highway with clear and bright skies!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on what I have found so far, and assuming your aGPS or any other wireless based assistance features are not functioning properly, doing a reset and cache clear will not help with your GPS at all. I have read that the phone will try to download the satellite schedules directly from GPS satellites if you're using purely satellite based GPS option. It'll be slow so it will take longer to get a lock and that's why phone will use other means to shorten the lock time. Once the schedule is downloaded, they said there shouldn't be any problem until the schedule expires, at which point you will have to download the schedule again.
I think the reason you're losing lock frequently might be because your phone doesn't have a clear view of the sky..? I used my phone GPS to drive around Toronto, Vaughan and Mississauga last night for at least 4+ hours, and I did not have any problem.
So, I tested today after updating the db.... no agps still..
Anyone else still.having issues with agps?
GPS works, just no agps since 2.2
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
mikextr23 said:
By the way, my problem is my GPS lock kept of disconnecting every now and then thus rendering my GPS useless as it kept on displaying my location as "off road" even though i'm on a clear highway with clear and bright skies!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is why I unfortunately have to use an old Tom Tom GPS!
i'm having this problem too. i finally got it picking up quickly on 2.1 but once i updated i haven't been able to ever get a solid lock. has anyone found a solution yet??
Now that my wireless location service is kind of working I thought aGPS should also naturally work but I guess not... My GPS takes a pretty long time to start up and I haven't found any fix for this..
It's funny because I didn't really have any problem with my GPS with 2.1 but now I do with 2.2...
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
I always have raved on how great the GPS is on my S4. It will lock onto satellites with 10' accuracy in the house. It was always spot on and never gave me any issues. That was until the 4.3 update. (I am not positive this was the reason - but it is around that time).
I am a runner so I use my phone 3-4 days a week to track my run 3-10 miles each time out. Before it was always perfect. Now it will lock on and track for a various amount of time.. from a few minutes to 15 minutes - but it will eventually just stop working. If I turn on the phone to look, the GPS icon at the top is not there, and the app does not know it lost gps signal. I can touch the screen and then the gps icon reappears, blinks, reconnects and all is good. I turn off the screen and go about my run and it will work for some period of time and then off again.
It "seems" like to me some app is using the gps and then not playing friendly and turning it off for the other apps. I don't know if that is what is happening but it seems that way.
I get the same results no matter if I use Google Maps, Waze, Runkeeper, or GPS Test... so it is not application issue persay.
I restored to factory and installed only what I need to run (Runkeeper and Google Play music) and it worked without a hitch for the entire 6 mile run. Great! Fixed! So I re-installed my apps and now it is doing the same thing again. So that seems to indicate another app not playing nice like I mentioned above. So I uninstalled any apps that I thought might be an issue and it is still there. So I fear it might be one of the ATT bloatware apps that I cannot uninstall.
Before I undertake the very tedious task of restoring to factory, running 6 miles, installing 1 app, running 6 miles, repeat --- until I find the culprit - I was hoping someone might no a quicker solution?
Thanks!
Obeg said:
I always have raved on how great the GPS is on my S4. It will lock onto satellites with 10' accuracy in the house. It was always spot on and never gave me any issues. That was until the 4.3 update. (I am not positive this was the reason - but it is around that time).
I am a runner so I use my phone 3-4 days a week to track my run 3-10 miles each time out. Before it was always perfect. Now it will lock on and track for a various amount of time.. from a few minutes to 15 minutes - but it will eventually just stop working. If I turn on the phone to look, the GPS icon at the top is not there, and the app does not know it lost gps signal. I can touch the screen and then the gps icon reappears, blinks, reconnects and all is good. I turn off the screen and go about my run and it will work for some period of time and then off again.
It "seems" like to me some app is using the gps and then not playing friendly and turning it off for the other apps. I don't know if that is what is happening but it seems that way.
I get the same results no matter if I use Google Maps, Waze, Runkeeper, or GPS Test... so it is not application issue persay.
I restored to factory and installed only what I need to run (Runkeeper and Google Play music) and it worked without a hitch for the entire 6 mile run. Great! Fixed! So I re-installed my apps and now it is doing the same thing again. So that seems to indicate another app not playing nice like I mentioned above. So I uninstalled any apps that I thought might be an issue and it is still there. So I fear it might be one of the ATT bloatware apps that I cannot uninstall.
Before I undertake the very tedious task of restoring to factory, running 6 miles, installing 1 app, running 6 miles, repeat --- until I find the culprit - I was hoping someone might no a quicker solution?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure it's not staying connected but not displaying the icon? Ie, if the app hasn't realised the connection has dropped, maybe that's because the connection hasn't dropped, just the icon has? In tech terms, to solve a problem you must first find it by isolating the cause, which would be the tedious task you're referring to.
Even then, it is possible it's a hardware or firmware issue, so a factory reset still might not fix it. Have you tried an app like this? It ill set your NTP Server without searching for it so that it connects quicker, maybe (I'm not sure) it will be able to keep it connected to that server.
Do you have CWM? You could flash a different ROM.
I can confirm this problem. It is intermittent. GPS loses the location fix. I had a similar problem with certain Motorola Attic ROMs that had something to do with a conflict with the "Use Wireless Networks" setting. I'm those ROMs, I could turn that setting off, and GPS would work fine. That workaround doesn't work for this ROM. I only mention it to help rule some things out. I thought that it worked fine right after I updated, but I may not have used the GPS much our maybe I just didn't notice. Yesterday, it was barely usable. I remember that epinter, in the Atrix 4g forums, had a tool that reset some GPS settings. I'm see if I can find it and test it. I will report back.
Update: Today, GPS works perfectly fine. Seems to be intermittent.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
Still having the issue. Reset my phone to factory again this time taking the extra step to format the SD card to just in case. By the way - I am running stock AT&T 4.3. This time when I reset I did not connect to the WiFi so it would not automatically install / update any apps.
I then added only 2 apps - Runkeeper and Play Music and went for a run. The GPS tracked perfectly for a 5 mile run.
I then installed GPS test and let it run for an hour or so. It never lost connection.
So I updated GMAIL. Repeat GPS Test.
Updated Hangouts. Repeat GPS Test.
And so on.. finally after about the 10th app it failed. The last app I had installed was Facebook.
So uninstalled. Failed again. Uninstalled the previous app to that which I think was My Fitness Pal.
It seemed better - it would go hours before failing... and then only seemed to fail when a phone call came in. So thought I could live with that.
So went to the gym and to test it I used Google Maps to navigate. Terrible! Would not work for more than a mile. I finally gave up.
When I say it is not working - I mean the GPS says it is on. The GPS Test app says the GPS is on. But the icon at top goes away and Google Maps says "GPS Signal Lost." In my Run Keeper app - same thing - icon goes away and no more mileage is recorded. If I turn on the phone, open Runkeeper - it then restarts the GPS and all is good for another few feet or maybe a mile and then it does it again.
I tried turning off the Use Wifi for GPS option and that has not helped. Thanks for the suggestion though - you gave me hope.
I have have been a software developer for 20 years and this just smells like buggy code somewhere and not a hardware issue. Either something to do with the new OS update from ATT (but why is no one else complaining) or some combination of apps I use. Runkeeper. My Pebble. Something. But it is driving me nuts. The GPS really is the main app I use on this phone... so it is making for a really expensive mistake at this point and I hate to admit that since I love Samsung and Android.
I should have updated my status again. The problem is intermittent, but it happens often. Like you, I am fairly certain that the ML2 update brought bugs with it. My GPS always worked perfectly before that. Now, even when it does work, it doesn't work well. The fix is jumpy and slow to update. My guess is that others also have the problem, and they don't use their GPS often enough to notice or care. I bet that Samsung is aware of it, but so many people had problems installing the last update that they will not be so quick to provide an update that doesn't affect many people. I guess a better way to put it is that Samsung probably doesn't want to take a chance that a small update might break more than it fixes.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
I also have same GPS issue since 4.3 , same issues note 3 is having actually if I plug my active in while GPS is on it will stop working and when switching data network types it will lose GPS signal
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk
Convinced it is the 4.3 ATT Active update now after repeated and very controlled resetting and testing.
Frustrating and makes my phone fairly useless to me for my main purposes. Today during a 7 mile run - it lost connection at least a half a dozen times. I have to run with the phone in my hand and restart the gps constantly.
Some people said they had success using Odin to flash the MF1 modem bin file. The thread discusses it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2691264
However, this did not fix my issues with GPS unfortunately, but thought maybe I'd post it in case it helps someone else.
So it appears that it is, as suggested, the radio that causes this issue.
A "workaround" for using the GPS is to put the phone into airplane mode (turning off the Radio and WiFi) fixes the GPS 100% in my testing.
However this is not a real fix for real use of the GPS to navigate since you have no access to data.
It appears these are the circumstances that cause my GPS to drop:
- Cell radio changes towers (which happens a lot in my remote area)
- WiFi changes antennas
- Phone is plugged in or unplugged
- A phone call is received.
So yeah - as long as your don't use your phone as a telephone - you are grand!
The new HTC One is looking mighty nice to me right now. First non Samsung component (phone, laptop, TV, etc) that I have considered in years...
Obeg said:
So it appears that it is, as suggested, the radio that causes this issue.
A "workaround" for using the GPS is to put the phone into airplane mode (turning off the Radio and WiFi) fixes the GPS 100% in my testing.
However this is not a real fix for real use of the GPS to navigate since you have no access to data.
It appears these are the circumstances that cause my GPS to drop:
- Cell radio changes towers (which happens a lot in my remote area)
- WiFi changes antennas
- Phone is plugged in or unplugged
- A phone call is received.
So yeah - as long as your don't use your phone as a telephone - you are grand!
The new HTC One is looking mighty nice to me right now. First non Samsung component (phone, laptop, TV, etc) that I have considered in years...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's weird that even in airplane mode my Active won't get a gps signal. Used a few apps to test as well: GPS Status, FasterGPS, GPS test, and all say no satellites in site.
I was getting GPS issues for quite some time, until I tightened the screws at the back of my case. It was supposed to be a fix for the S3 but it worked fine on my S4 as well.
Hope this helps
trenzterra said:
I was getting GPS issues for quite some time, until I tightened the screws at the back of my case. It was supposed to be a fix for the S3 but it worked fine on my S4 as well.
Hope this helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On your S4 Active? I'll try. Thanks!
TransformixS4 said:
On your S4 Active? I'll try. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine was a normal S4 but I guess it might be the same on the S4 Active as well
trenzterra said:
Mine was a normal S4 but I guess it might be the same on the S4 Active as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried tightening up the screws a bit, which they did, but still no GPS for me. Going to do a backup and another full wipe and restore.
AT&T fixed my phone
I too had the GPS signal lost issue after the 4.3 update on my S4 active on AT&T. I called AT&T yesterday and they advised me they were aware of the issue. Their instruction was to take my phone to Best Buy where they have a "Samsung Solutions / Experience" dept / kiosk. So I did. They flashed my phone to 4.4.2. I am happy to report that all GPS problems are resolved. I drove for over an hour using Google Maps this AM with no problem at all.
GPS is a big deal for me too. I drive in a lot of unfamiliar towns. I'm also a sportsman and spend a lot of time in unfamiliar woods. I rely on my phone to allow me to retrace my steps back if need be. I also use it to set waypoints and mark areas for possible future hunts. The woods look a lot different at night then during the day. So I rely on the phone to help navigate off the beaten trail and get to my tree stand. GPS failures are not an option. Pure and simple. I can get out of the woods with a compass - but I may not find my tree stand in the dark without my phone.
I don't know about rooting this ROM, etc as I don't have need to root my phones. But it did fix the GPS issue and the phone seems a little faster with battery battery life too. YMMV.
Thanks for your post! Did you l lose any data with the update to 4.4.2?
I have the same exact problem with my S4 active, definitely a software issue. For a while I used the airplane mode work-around which was great, until a recent update to Google Maps causes maps to crash when airplane mode is on, so now I'm back to having no navigation. I'm frustrated that AT&T has dragged their feet on getting an update out to the public. They must have zero QA to let a bug this obvious get into the public. I wonder when they'll push 4.4.2 out as a regular update?
AtrixInFL said:
Thanks for your post! Did you l lose any data with the update to 4.4.2?
I have the same exact problem with my S4 active, definitely a software issue. For a while I used the airplane mode work-around which was great, until a recent update to Google Maps causes maps to crash when airplane mode is on, so now I'm back to having no navigation. I'm frustrated that AT&T has dragged their feet on getting an update out to the public. They must have zero QA to let a bug this obvious get into the public. I wonder when they'll push 4.4.2 out as a regular update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I did not lose any data or apps. I have no complaints. Phone is working great. I'll never accept another update OTA though - I don't care if I have to root to avoid them.
I got the 4.4.2 over the air update, and it fixed my GPS problems. No new problems.