GPS not working in the UK - Captivate Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I unlocked my AT&T Captivate to work with UK sim cards, and it works great. Unfortunately, the GPS doesn't seem to work at all over here. There's enough problems as it is with the GPS, but it literally picks up 0 satellites. It doesn't seem to be functioning at all!
Any suggestions?

you need to change the supl server in lds test mode, in jupiter.xml and in conf.gps(the last one might be wrong) just use a gps fix like da_g's or or plumb_bob's with google/global settings and make sure lbs test mode is set to match the other files.
plumb_bob's fix uses msbased mode for agps others default to stand alone, msbased agps will likely help it pick up those satalites. but remember you cant simply set lbs test mode and have it work all the time you really need to use plumb_bob's update or make similar edits to your configuration files. for plumb bob's fix just follow the first post.
i personally have great sucsess with da_g's control plane version and i set the lbs supl/control plane menu to;
custom config
supl.google.com
7276
off
control plane
another thing to consider is the modem.bin. you need one that has the 900 band correct? maybe try the armani one or i think kp1 from the i9088 has all the bands but needs to be set to 900 manually. it also has great gps reception.

Dani897 said:
you need to change the supl server in lds test mode, in jupiter.xml and in conf.gps(the last one might be wrong) just use a gps fix like da_g's or or plumb_bob's with google/global settings and make sure lbs test mode is set to match the other files.
plumb_bob's fix uses msbased mode for agps others default to stand alone, msbased agps will likely help it pick up those satalites. but remember you cant simply set lbs test mode and have it work all the time you really need to use plumb_bob's update or make similar edits to your configuration files. for plumb bob's fix just follow the first post.
i personally have great sucsess with da_g's control plane version and i set the lbs supl/control plane menu to;
custom config
supl.google.com
7276
off
control plane
another thing to consider is the modem.bin. you need one that has the 900 band correct? maybe try the armani one or i think kp1 from the i9088 has all the bands but needs to be set to 900 manually. it also has great gps reception.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all the tips I'll be trying them out shortly. One thing though is that I want to use the GPS, not the aGPS, because I don't want to use data while I'm over here (it's expensive). I've cached maps and wish to use the GPS to navigate while I'm out and about. Will these changes still help me?
Thanks!

Just a quick bump. Will da_G's fix work without any data connection?
Thanks!
EDIT: well it doesn't seem to no. The only way I can get a GPS lock here in London is with 3g data enabled. That is very unfortunate and annoying, I was hoping to use maps offline!

Related

Assisted GPS

Is this function in our Kaiser? I've enable it from the Kaiser Tweak but today i tested it when i was in a tunnel....it did not work at all and the tunnel was 4 KM long....it should have had enough time to get a fix if it was working.
Is the Assisted GPS what i think it is?
How do you expect to get a GPS fix in a tunnel???
AGPS is basically what the QuickGPS app. does: it downloads sat. data (satellite locations) via a network connection from a server, so that TTF (time to fix) is reduced, since the device doesn´t have to download above data from the satellites themselves - which is slow....
Hope I was not too unclear, doing a search will give you much more and detailed info about how GPS works......and it doesn´t in tunnles....
As mentioned above, the AGPS uses server information (via cellular network) to locate the GPS satellite for a quicker fix and hash conditions. For a 4KM tunnel, I'm sure that your phone would have lost both GPS and network signal.
michi123 said:
How do you expect to get a GPS fix in a tunnel???
AGPS is basically what the QuickGPS app. does: it downloads sat. data (satellite locations) via a network connection from a server, so that TTF (time to fix) is reduced, since the device doesn´t have to download above data from the satellites themselves - which is slow....
Hope I was not too unclear, doing a search will give you much more and detailed info about how GPS works......and it doesn´t in tunnles....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats correct, there are som applications that tries to estimate where in the tunnel you are when the fix is gone. But I suppose this is a function of the application and not the GPS hardware
I stand partially corrected........ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assisted_GPS
michi123 said:
How do you expect to get a GPS fix in a tunnel???
AGPS is basically what the QuickGPS app. does: it downloads sat. data (satellite locations) via a network connection from a server, so that TTF (time to fix) is reduced, since the device doesn´t have to download above data from the satellites themselves - which is slow....
Hope I was not too unclear, doing a search will give you much more and detailed info about how GPS works......and it doesn´t in tunnles....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which is why the title is "Assisted GPS".....I've done some search on AGPS and it's suppose to use the cellular to still get a fix when in the tunnel. Well....i read it sometime ago way before Kaiser was out and this was actually one of it's talked about feature in Kaiser. Using the Kaiser Tweak, one can enable this feature but i've tested it today in the tunnel with strong cellular signal, the GPS is dead until i came out of the tunnel.
I guess it also has to be supported by the particular program. Many TomTom PNAs have a dead reckoning mode which shows your position in a tunnel based on your "entry" speed for about 30 seconds, than the position freezes in the tunnel. Now that of course has nothing to do with AGPS, but it´s a way of overcoming temporary signal loss.
Best way would be to have an inertial sensor built into the phone like in fix-mounted car-navs......but then again, that would be overkill....
You have to remember that the Assisted GPS (Cellular network mode) relies on the fact the network itself supports the feature. I know most in the UK don't have it turned on in general use. They only allow it to be used by emergency services and the likes.
Perhaps that's the same in your country?
the_ape said:
You have to remember that the Assisted GPS (Cellular network mode) relies on the fact the network itself supports the feature. I know most in the UK don't have it turned on in general use. They only allow it to be used by emergency services and the likes.
Perhaps that's the same in your country?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably so.....oh well....it was worth a try
Thanks guys for the input.

AGPS Help

I was trying to look around but could not find an answer.
I am on the Sprint stock ROM.
The device comes with AGPS disabled. It can be activated by downloading cabs from this forum as well as registry hacks and Advanced config tool from XDA forum.
But can I activate it from the stock software, without any hack or downloads? The devices I used before (BB, iphone) would enable AGPS by default, so that even if there is no satellite signal (indoors), you can still get approximate location from the cell towers.
I cannot figure it out for the HTC. Why do they disable it by default?
Any ideas?
Thanks.

GPS Settings!!!

Hey i was wondering what are the best GPS settings for my Tilt. At the moment my external gps settings are set at COM4 and Baud Rate at 4800. I have no clue what any of that means but i would like to know what it means? is it the best settings for the phone? are there better settings? will changing the settings screw something up? The reason im asking is because if im in my house or somewhere that is more then 5 feet away from the window or any opening i do not get any gps signal. I was wondering if there are settings that will make the signal stronger. Thanks
This is just the way the program will talk to the GPS unit to get info from it. COM4 is the port, needs to be this to connect to the GPS, and 4800 baud is just a comminication rate that is a thing from the past, you can use anything here and technically it won't change a thing.
Some users reported at some point that using some baudrates would give better results than others, but there's no logical explanation to it and I can't see any differece on mine, so I guess it's mostly a coincidence if there was really a difference.
Not having GPS signal inside is normal, and will vary with the construction of the house and GPS satellite coverage (changes with time of day).

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

[Q] Is anyone able to locate yourself with GPS alone?

With data from network I can identify the location instantly. However, if I uncheck "Use wireless network", I have never located myself on Googles Maps. Is it a defect on the GPS?
Thanks in advance!
Google maps doesn't includes world map installed, it only store some caches.. you still need network to download map data & network based location, GPS is used for more accurate result & yes it's true p970 gps is not so good.
lesp4ul said:
Google maps doesn't includes world map installed, it only store some caches.. you still need network to download map data & network based location, GPS is used for more accurate result & yes it's true p970 gps is not so good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your help! In fact, I already have cache of Google Maps, then turn off the wireless connection, to figure out the performance of the GPS alone. It sucks!
BTW, I used HTC Touch before and its GPS could identify the location very quickly.
have you test with the GPS fix (in hidden menu) ?
Actually you are wrong, GPS in very good in OB.
I used it for a trip of 700 KM and it has difficulty only the first time when it aquires a position (this is normal if you don't use AGPS) like 3-4 minutes...
On the road I turned off GPS by simply locking the screen (IGO8), and on relaunch the GPS position will not take more than 30 seconds. I don't have any data on my contract so it was purely GPS!
The first time it's normal to take a very long time because a large number of sattelites have to be aquired to for pin-point accuracy. Afterword I think it works with 2-3 visible sattelites!
My previous phone was a HTC Diamond, and it was exactly the same if I dind't used the GPS app every day that downloaded sattelites in advance.
It works but it's slow (as it should be). For me it's around 1 minute in hidden menu. Best place for testing outside hidden menu is Compass app (If you don't have data connection for maps)
For hidden menu:
1. Go into the LG hidden menu (3845#*970#)
2. Go into GPS Test
Test it (you need activated GPS of course)
if it's really slow, try this (I think it's if you use network to pinpoint but everyone is suggesting it, so I will too)
1. Go into System Settings
2. SULP Setting -> SLP Server Setting
create new:
Nokia (slp address: supl.nokia.com, port: 7275, no cert and no TLS setting)
If it still doesn't work, try other variants (LGE SUPL, Spirent, etc).
Thanks everyone!
It works now! The. GPS is quite sensitive!
Sent from my LG-P970 using XDA App
In the gps test in the hidden menu, there's not such option as gps fix.
Me too, I'm interested in using my gps without the assistance of the network cells. I've already tried the three supl servers and it doesn't seems to work for me. So, if someone knows how to use it without network assistance I'll be really grateful.
Thanks in advance.
It should work out of the box.. afaik, you don't need to mess with the SLP servers unless you are using some sort of assisted GPS mode (with wifi or 3g connection). I'm using it straight out of the box (after installing the fresh firmware) and it works normal in the car (1-2 minutes first fix, a couple of seconds for any other subsequent fix). Getting a first fix while on foot does take a bit longer, but that's true with all the other non-android devices I've had. the OB has normal (no more, no less) sensitivity when it comes to GPS.
i think there it`s a problem in OB mine has problems with gps too , and already o try`d all kind of apps and even use the gps standalone from the fresh new update soft and nothing , fix the gps for the first time and after then i can`t travel with standalone gps

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