GPS and no signal zones - Nexus One Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi guys,
This is kinda last minute but I hope someone can help me out with this. I'm going on a REALLY long road trip (from chicago to california) in just a few hours and I'm planning to use nothing but my nexus one to get there but I'm worried about the no signal zones that I'm going to have to go through along the way. Now, I'm aware that google recently updated google maps and that it is now capable of "offline guiding" but is it really THAT reliable?? Because it is a long trip and there will be moments where I'm going to lose signal for maybe even a few hours.
Anyone have any advice, suggestions, ideas or experiences they would like to share?
Thank you.

Not sure if you're already on your way Have a good trip!
I haven't tried offline guiding of Google Maps yet, but I do use maverick Pro as offline map and navigation application.
Try "Maverick" (free) or "Maverick Pro", these two are able to store offline maps and support basic navigation functions.

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

Tilt GPS sometimes does not receive satellites

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.

GPS and its location accuracy.

Does your GPS give you an accurate reading? mine sure as hell doesn't.
When I'm at my home location which is house number 16, my GPS tells me im 4 houses up at number 20, of course I look around to make sure i'm not in somebody elses home. So thats not the issue.
Its also the same when driving on Route, I never get a "You have arrived at your destination" the destination is always 4 or 5 house blocks before.
Its been the same with all the major GPS softwares available, I've tried Tomtom6 & 7, Garmin XT and IG08.
Is my Diamonds GPS having issues? Is there away to fix this or reconfigure it.
Can someone please explain why this is happening!!!
Thanks in advance
saveferris said:
Does your GPS give you an accurate reading? mine sure as hell doesn't.
When I'm at my home location which is house number 16, my GPS tells me im 4 houses up at number 20, of course I look around to make sure i'm not in somebody elses home. so thats no issue.
Its also the same when driving on Route, I never get a "You have arrived at your destination" the destination is always 4 or 5 house blocks before.
Its been the same with all the major GPS softwares available, I've tried Tomtom6 & 7, Garmin XT and IG08.
Is my Diamonds GPS having issues? Is there away to fix this or reconfigure it.
Can someone please explain why this is happening!!!
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, you are not imagining things, yes, there is a problem that maybe future radios will solve and yes, please make a search before you post. there are at least two more threads about this. just search GPS (the search command is in the upper left corner of the forum, on the brown band).
thank you for yr cooperation in keeping this forum clean!
here you have one:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=402039
it is about GPS accuracy. you'll find more...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=406119
read!
My GPS so far seems to be working fine, always gives me accurate readings.
In google maps, the GPS when indoors reports me as being just 2-3ft away from where I am on a good day and on a bad day can put my GPS position in my back/front garden even though I'm in the house.
The only major problem I have is when I enable Assisted GPS, with this enabled the GPS works as normal, but after a couple of times using it doesn't work properly. If I try to use TomTom 7 or Google Maps, it says it sees 5-6 sats then gets a signal then instantly reports there is not GPS device, again acquires a perfect signal then looses it again, will do this in any GPS program.
Disabling assisted GPS fixes this issue. Most problems are just software issues and this is the first radio, so future releases should be a lot better.

[Q] GPS sometimes cannot lock on satellite

Hi,
I'm a new user here, I have read some here before when I wanted to update my old HTC Desire to something fresher
However, after some time I decided to just upgrade and I bought the HTC One Google Edition.
It worked great for months, no issues at all.
The GPS was working great in all parts of the country (Belgium)...
However, recently, I'm having some weird issues.
In certain parts of the country, my GPS drops out and does not view any satellites. It's only the GPS on my One. I have checked the same area on my Car's GPS and my Desire, and they have perfect GPS signal.
It's always the same area, btw. When driving to work, I know when I'll loose signal. And only when I'm driving home after work, when I reach that same point, I'll lose the connection again...
I did a factory data reset but this didn't work.
I read in some google results to disable google+ and this appeared to help quite some people, but I disabled almost all google apps, and still cannot lock onto GPS in certain areas.
Earlier today, I figured out that in those areas, I manage to get a GPS signal when going into Airplane mode.
However, when I go out of Airplane mode, I will lose the signal again...
I have disabled:
Drive
Earth
Google Hindi/Korean/Pinyin Input
Google Play Books/Music
Google Play services
Google+
Keep
Maps
The only apps I have installed since the factory reset are WhatsApp, Ingress and GPS Test and GpsFix (but these don't help).
Please let me know what kind of information I need to provide which would help you help me
Does anyone have any idea of what I could try to fix this, please?
I'm desperate...
thanks
Xylaria said:
Hi,
I'm a new user here, I have read some here before when I wanted to update my old HTC Desire to something fresher
However, after some time I decided to just upgrade and I bought the HTC One Google Edition.
It worked great for months, no issues at all.
The GPS was working great in all parts of the country (Belgium)...
However, recently, I'm having some weird issues.
In certain parts of the country, my GPS drops out and does not view any satellites. It's only the GPS on my One. I have checked the same area on my Car's GPS and my Desire, and they have perfect GPS signal.
It's always the same area, btw. When driving to work, I know when I'll loose signal. And only when I'm driving home after work, when I reach that same point, I'll lose the connection again...
I did a factory data reset but this didn't work.
I read in some google results to disable google+ and this appeared to help quite some people, but I disabled almost all google apps, and still cannot lock onto GPS in certain areas.
Earlier today, I figured out that in those areas, I manage to get a GPS signal when going into Airplane mode.
However, when I go out of Airplane mode, I will lose the signal again...
I have disabled:
Drive
Earth
Google Hindi/Korean/Pinyin Input
Google Play Books/Music
Google Play services
Google+
Keep
Maps
The only apps I have installed since the factory reset are WhatsApp, Ingress and GPS Test and GpsFix (but these don't help).
Please let me know what kind of information I need to provide which would help you help me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can turn on the wifi and check.
Wifi doesn't have to be connected to any network, it will just boost the signal and help you lock the location quicker
I also have the issue, I use HTCj one (Japanese version).
I think this maybe caused by AGPS or your sim card.
When I use wcdma or gsm sim card ,GPS works fine. but if i use cdma sim card , satellite can't be locked.
Swtich to Airplane mode ,works again.

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