[Q] Location based on mobile networks doesnt work - Captivate Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I am speaking, not of the GPS (I know the problems associated), but of the general location based on carrier networks. I cannot seem to get any location from the stock or custom roms whether they are eclair or froyo. This is a problem to me because I have to rely on GPS location for weather, or when Im searching for local shops.
Anybody else have this problem?
Any help is appreciated
ps. I have enabled use wireless networks, and allowed google to know my location.

Related

Any way to force google maps/kaiser to use wireless traingulation instead of the GPS

So the internal GPS is one of the primary reasons I wanted the Kaiser, but when it comes down to it, it's the rare occasion that I actually use the GPS for much, especially stuff outside of basic "where am I" and "how do I get there" with gmaps...
Even when using quickgps, sometimes when I need to know where I am in relation to somewhere I'm going, quickly, it can still take way too long to pick up sat signals. I was in the car with a friend the other night (this is a guy that I constantly harass for having an iPhone (and he harasses me for the opposite)) and when we both pulled out our phones with gmaps, he knew right where we were, instantly, while all I could do was sit there and try my hardest to not make excuses about why I wasn't picking up a sat signal quickly.
Unless I'm using other GPS software, for my uses with gmaps, I'd really rather just be able to use the triangulation that non-GPS phones use. I tried turning off the GPS (GPS program port: None) in settings, but gmaps just searches anyway, not finding any hardware and/or sats.
Is what I want to do possible? I'm sure I'll get several responses on how I can speed up my sat signal pickup, which is NOT what I'm looking for. I just want to be able to use gmaps "My Location" without using the internal GPS, thus saving battery as well as getting a quicker pickup on where I am...
TIA
Geo
Yes, what your asking for is just using "My Location" without GPS. I use "My Location" all the time it does not activate my GPS. Here is an article that confirms "My Location" does not use GPS.
http://gigaom.com/2007/11/28/google-my-location/
-McMex
mcmexican said:
Yes, what your asking for is just using "My Location" without GPS. I use "My Location" all the time it does not activate my GPS. Here is an article that confirms "My Location" does not use GPS.
http://gigaom.com/2007/11/28/google-my-location/
-McMex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that My Location can be used without GPS, I'm just wondering if it's possible on a Kaiser. Assuming you have a Kaiser device, what and how do you have it set up so that gmaps doesn't activate/use GPS, but instead uses the cell towers?
On my device using GoogleMaps 2.0.0.11 the option for My Location works separately from Use GPS. The location (within 1.7KM) is picked up within seconds, GPS does take longer but is accurate to individual rooms within my home. The Cell based locator is obviously dependent on your Carriers Cell towers and I know in the past I have been unable to get a location over HSDPA or 3G but GPRS worked. Now though on TMobile UK at home I can get my cell based location using any non Wifi data connection.
Smack! Smack!
wizzzard said:
On my device using GoogleMaps 2.0.0.11 the option for My Location works separately from Use GPS. The location (within 1.7KM) is picked up within seconds, GPS does take longer but is accurate to individual rooms within my home. The Cell based locator is obviously dependent on your Carriers Cell towers and I know in the past I have been unable to get a location over HSDPA or 3G but GPRS worked. Now though on TMobile UK at home I can get my cell based location using any non Wifi data connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, my apologies. Turns out I was not using the latest version. I've installed v2 with separate GPS/My Location, and My Location without GPS works great!
Thanks to all.
bananachunks said:
I know that My Location can be used without GPS, I'm just wondering if it's possible on a Kaiser. Assuming you have a Kaiser device, what and how do you have it set up so that gmaps doesn't activate/use GPS, but instead uses the cell towers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By default My Location DOES NOT use GPS. You have to enable GPS from the menu.
Yes I have a Kaiser (actually 2at&t Tilts) and use Google Maps (v2.0.0.12)
kyphur said:
By default My Location DOES NOT use GPS. You have to enable GPS from the menu.
Yes I have a Kaiser (actually 2at&t Tilts) and use Google Maps (v2.0.0.12)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I found this out by installing the latest Google Maps (after my last ROM flash, I installed gmaps from a cab I already had on sd, which was apparently not a recent version).
Thank you - I love the fact that I can use gmaps without GPS now for the quick "where am I" without having to wait, but can still use GPS when I feel like it, and also still have it enabled in Settings for use in other GPS programs.
Thanks again

Location based on WI-FI and Mobile Networks doesnt work

Hello,
I'm on Android 2.2 FRF50. I can't locate myself using cellular network.
If i use Google Maps and i try to locate myself it says "my current location is temporarily unavailable..."
Anyone knows what i have to do?
Kernel:2.6.32.9-27220-g328f560
Baseband: 32.36.00.28U_4.06.00.12_7
I have noticed when I am running on 3G (H) I get the "location temporarily unavailable" notice, but if I force it to not go to 3G it will be E and I get my location. This holds true if I have setting for using GPS or not.
This seems to be a problem with Google Maps using the data transfer method of 3G (H) versus E.
I am not on Droid, but maybe something similar will work for you.
also i believe you have to let google collect anonymous data for this.
Use Wireless Networks (Location Determined b WI-FI and/or mobile networks) is on in the menu "Location And Security"
How can i see if i let google collect anonymous data?

[Q] Your location is currently unavailable.

Sorry for another GPS question. I know that the GPS is meant to be inaccurate, but I can't get it to work at all with Google Maps. I always get the "Your Location is currently unavailable" message when I try to find my location with it. I upgraded to the latest firmware over KIES but that didn't fix it. It sometimes works with other apps, and the tests seem to show it connecting (if slowly and inaccurately). Does anyone know how to fix this?
"Your Location is currently unavailable" doesn't come from the GPS, but it comes from the Tower Network Location Service that is the other check box above the GPS settings screen
Just fixed his very issue
I had no blue dot in Google Maps.
I needed to disable wifi. Enable data through 3G.
The blue my location returned with my towers position.
I disabled 3g, enabled wifi.
All fixed now, very relieved
thanks but neither of these methods work.
Maybe your telco does not provide tower info
it actually started working again randomly. this might be a stupid question but why does google maps not use the Gps?
TNStrangelove said:
it actually started working again randomly. this might be a stupid question but why does google maps not use the Gps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it can use both
Towers and/or GPS
i too have some issues with google maps and my location:
ignoring how long it takes to get my location (sometimes really fast, sometimes too long) ... it seems that it get the position using just wifi (gps ans gsm disabled), with gps, or just with the gsm on ... cool
but: sometimes i don't get my location in google maps (location unavailable!), even though i can get it in other applications that use google maps : like a tracking app ... or in google earth ... or in antennas ... etc
how can i fix this?
thank u!

[Q] WiFi Only GPS Questions

I was curious as to why there is a button in the notifications menu to turn GPS on and off. I started to look in to it and discovered that there is indeed a GPS chip in the wife only version, or there seems to be anyway!
My question is, what does that chip exactly do? Does it only pick up your location? I can't seem to find any places around me with wifi off. I'm assuming that means all the map and location data is delivered over the internet through 3g or wifi. Is there anyway to use my device as I would a regular GPS device? I know it has all the features but can they work through the GPS chip like they do in a GPS device? Or is there anyway to get this to work?
spyderz said:
I was curious as to why there is a button in the notifications menu to turn GPS on and off. I started to look in to it and discovered that there is indeed a GPS chip in the wife only version, or there seems to be anyway!
My question is, what does that chip exactly do? Does it only pick up your location? I can't seem to find any places around me with wifi off. I'm assuming that means all the map and location data is delivered over the internet through 3g or wifi. Is there anyway to use my device as I would a regular GPS device? I know it has all the features but can they work through the GPS chip like they do in a GPS device? Or is there anyway to get this to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok the wifi is mainly just for accessing networks either open or via ssd and password. You can also connected with mobile AP if your mobile has this option.
The GPS on the other-hand is for mapping and location based services like navigation etc (you can use copilot and several other gps based apps with the P1010). Some of these apps will also piggy back any Bluetooth and or wifi connections that are available for further triangulation if needed. So if you have any apps like various weather and navigation then the GPS is required (but also your location can be shared via your wifi and opt in to give this info through google).
Hope this helps
spyderz said:
I was curious as to why there is a button in the notifications menu to turn GPS on and off. I started to look in to it and discovered that there is indeed a GPS chip in the wife only version, or there seems to be anyway!
My question is, what does that chip exactly do? Does it only pick up your location? I can't seem to find any places around me with wifi off. I'm assuming that means all the map and location data is delivered over the internet through 3g or wifi. Is there anyway to use my device as I would a regular GPS device? I know it has all the features but can they work through the GPS chip like they do in a GPS device? Or is there anyway to get this to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can find your location via wifi, enable your wifi and turn gps on, you'll find your coordinates, but not that accurate compare to 3g

GPS still terrible on 2.3.4 sprint tab

First of all, yes I searched the forum, and google, and tho I might have missed something, I think I've tried most of the reccommendations out there (short of a custom rom because those are in short demand for the sprint tab.)
I did a wipe / odin to 24, updated to 28, then 2.3.4. Gps still sucked, so I flashed rooted 2.3.4 and tried 3 or 4 gps "fix" apps for this thing, none of which have made any difference. I can get gps but it takes FOREVER, usually around 5 minutes. Often it will find 6 or more satellites too, but just sit there and not lock on or whatever to any, then randomly it works. I've tried every combo of toggling gps, soft reset, and hard reset.
In texas I had the same problem on froyo, now I'm in Costa Rica... I'm assuming since gps stands for GLOBAL positioning sys that where I am shouldn't affect it. But its just SO darn slow ilby the time it starts working its useless.
and I test it outside on sunny days with open sky, so I know that's not the culprit. Nor ia it in a case when I try
Any thoughts or ideas at all would be MUCH appriciated as I really need to start using my tab for mapping.
Thanks!!!
Sent from my SPH-P100 using XDA App
I think you're doing it wrong son. Try these settings. In wireless and network, mobile networks, uncheck 3g data. In location and security, check both use wireless networks and use GPS satellites. I assume you are using wireless tether from phone to give tab internet. Turn wifi on obviously. You do have the modded wpa_supplicant file for ad hoc for the tab right? I tried timing myself after doing all those settings I said and how long with GPS tools app and Google maps to get a lock and it was immediate. This is coming from never have using the GPS since the complete back to stock with ea24 all the way up to rooted gb.
People are saying to put the tab into airplane mode. If you want to use the GPS or things like weather bug or radar now, you at least need to have location from network enabled for it to assist in finding your location. You're not pulling data from the tower, the tower is helping the apply to locate where you're at, along with the GPS. GPS alone and wifi didn't work for me. When I enabled the settings I told you about, the GPS apps immediately came to life and worked great.
oscarthegrouch said:
I think you're doing it wrong son. Try these settings. In wireless and network, mobile networks, uncheck 3g data. In location and security, check both use wireless networks and use GPS satellites. I assume you are using wireless tether from phone to give tab internet. Turn wifi on obviously. You do have the modded wpa_supplicant file for ad hoc for the tab right? I tried timing myself after doing all those settings I said and how long with GPS tools app and Google maps to get a lock and it was immediate. This is coming from never have using the GPS since the complete back to stock with ea24 all the way up to rooted gb.
People are saying to put the tab into airplane mode. If you want to use the GPS or things like weather bug or radar now, you at least need to have location from network enabled for it to assist in finding your location. You're not pulling data from the tower, the tower is helping the apply to locate where you're at, along with the GPS. GPS alone and wifi didn't work for me. When I enabled the settings I told you about, the GPS apps immediately came to life and worked great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in costa rica with a cdma sprint tab, so 3g is always disabled, and because there is no service I disabled network location because I figured it couldn't get that data with no signal, and my location kept going to some random location around the world. And when I need gps I'm out far away from wifi hotspots too, so not worried about that setting I don't think.
Wifi hotspots only, no tethering, and I don't have the wpa supplicant file, but again no tethering so I'm assuming that is not nessicary.
And in Airplane mode it never gets a lock. At least on froyo it never would. I would turn airplane on then activate gps and it never ever found a satellite. I researched it and I thought in airplane the gps couldn't function until airplane mode was disabled again, even if gps toggled...
I appriciate your input, but I don't think its going to work given my circumstances.
Thanks!
Sent from my SPH-P100 using XDA App

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