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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

[Q] How is the GPS?

Hi Everybody,
I am very interested in purchasing the Tmo-US version of this phone when it is avaliable and I would like to know how is the GPS on these phones? How fast does it lock and for those who are coming from SGS, can you see a big difference in GPS performance? I am currently using a SGS vibrant on tmo-us and GPS is very bad on it. Thanks

better than thge galaxy s.
First time i used it it took like 10 minutes to lock on lol, but then each time after that pretty much instant (or close enough)!

Not perfect for mine, sometimes under the sky also cant lock any satellite or scan no satellite in car. But other people are getting pretty good result though. That's why i am not sure it's my problem or not.

I edited the gps.conf file for my location (not sure if neccesary, but had the file from my previous HD2 so figured wtf..)
gps locks in 15 seconds when outside

Mine is MUCH snappier than my previous HTC desire

Best gps I've experienced on a phone. Better than my omnia, hero and my wife's galaxy s, which is terrible

Thanks for the quick replies. I am sure with some new updates the performance will improve even better. I cant wait to get my hands on G2x now.

Also extremely happy with the GPS. Using MileageTrac everyday, and the GPS locks within 3-4 secs every time.

GPS is perfect. It locks satellites in 7-20 seconds. Accuracy is 5m.

so a few more uses and yeah still instant. thumbs up!

for those who got fast gps fix time, may I know what baseband are you guys using?

Can it be used for car navigation like the Desire HD? Anyone tried it?

I think I fixed mine.
Solution was (at least one among them)
- push appropriate gps.conf to /system/etc
- modify APN type of Mobile data to "default,supl"
- turn off wireless while aquiring GPS fix
My GPS now fixes within seconds with mobile data enabled.

Have any of you tried GPS Status? It helped alleviate slow-to-lock AGPS issues on my Incredible. If you launch the app, it forces a new download of the carrier's GPS file. GPS lock went from 2-3 minutes on some buggy ROMs to under 20 seconds.
It's not the most elegant of solutions, but it works.

pascaliut said:
Can it be used for car navigation like the Desire HD? Anyone tried it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup, quite a few times works great.

I agree. Use it everyday. It seems more stable than the DHD with better signal lock.

The demo unit at the T-mobile store I went to yesterday had a horrible GPS.
It would freeze up google maps and wouldn't lock AT ALL when the satellite antennae was turned on.
With the antennae turned on, google maps worked, but the circle for your location was huge (obviously).

Tarzanman said:
The demo unit at the T-mobile store I went to yesterday had a horrible GPS.
It would freeze up google maps and wouldn't lock AT ALL when the satellite antennae was turned on.
With the antennae turned on, google maps worked, but the circle for your location was huge (obviously).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you trying to use it indoors or did they let you take it outside to test it out?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App

Tarzanman said:
The demo unit at the T-mobile store I went to yesterday had a horrible GPS.
It would freeze up google maps and wouldn't lock AT ALL when the satellite antennae was turned on.
With the antennae turned on, google maps worked, but the circle for your location was huge (obviously).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try GPS on any other phones? Signal could have been bad inside the building.
Being a Vibrant owner, with all its GPS issues, I'm very interested in how the this works on the G2X before I consider switching.
Thanks.

Worked fine whilst I was out today. Only problem was a lack of a data connection.
Sent from my LG-P990 using Tapatalk

[Q] How can I test GPS functionality?

This might seem like a really stupid question to some. When I was on my last trip I thought it would be nice to try out the GPS function while on the road or even on the plane. I would have loved to follow my movements on the Xoom!
So I downloaded some apps that looked promising (GPS Status, GPS Test, and Maverick). I thought I would get at least the coordinates and maybe an altitude and speed reading. But all three applications failed to acquire sufficient GPS satellites to determine my position. After the plane ride I decided it might have been that the GPS receiver is turned off during airplane mode. So I enabled all radios, made sure all location settings are correct, and tried it again. Still nothing. I see a few satellites in range but they are not sufficient for some reason.
I then tested the Google map app. I tried different settings (use wireless network etc.) and it seems that the GPS location is never really showing correctly.
Am I doing something wrong? Any help is appreciated!

All of those programs you mentioned should have done the trick. Keep in mind that you were in a big metal tube and GPS signals are pretty weak. You would need to get the Xoom close to a window and even then it may not work very well due to poor coverage. I am in a building with a metal roof and no luck getting a GPS lock, but as soon as I step outside it works fine.

HuckFinn said:
I am in a building with a metal roof and no luck getting a GPS lock, but as soon as I step outside it works fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I gave it a good chance but you are right; I should be fair and have the Xoom enjoy the nice weather outside with me once I get off work.

getting a GPS signal while flying in the air at 600mph+ is kinda hard... I've tried without success except for 1 occasion (and finally got my Garmin app on my old Nokia to register a max speed of 569mph haha)

funnycreature said:
...it might have been that the GPS receiver is turned off during airplane mode. So I enabled all radios, made sure all location settings are correct, and tried it again. Still nothing...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a similar, but not the same issue, but the work around might be helpful.
I have found that if I turn off the GPS radio, and then turn it back on, it really does not turn back on. The work around is to turn on your GPS in the settings and then turn your Xoom off (long press the power button only), and then turn it back on. Now try your GPS and see if it works.

I opened the Maps app and it put me in the exact part of my house in 5 seconds. Literally.
Sent from my Xoom

Being outside did the trick. I guess I overestimated the power of GPS satellites indoors. I am thankful for all the suggestions!
[sent with Xooming Android technology]

the xoom must have a super-GPS chip because it catches the signal and puts you instantly in the right spot on earth a lot faster than the nexus one on 3g/gps ... awesome.

MitchRapp said:
the xoom must have a super-GPS chip because it catches the signal and puts you instantly in the right spot on earth a lot faster than the nexus one on 3g/gps ... awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe that's because of the aGPS which takes advantage of the WiFi and wireless signals for positioning? I don't have 3G activated but the WiFi surely helps and is pretty accurate.

just tried it with the WIFI off on my xoom and booya... quick lock and exactly in the right spot in the building I'm in
this thing is awesome.

MitchRapp said:
getting a GPS signal while flying in the air at 600mph+ is kinda hard... I've tried without success except for 1 occasion (and finally got my Garmin app on my old Nokia to register a max speed of 569mph haha)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's possible if fortune (and satellites) on your side But you will need to stick your phone to the window for a few minutes, also helps if get location just before boarding to a plane.
MitchRapp said:
the xoom must have a super-GPS chip because it catches the signal and puts you instantly in the right spot on earth a lot faster than the nexus one on 3g/gps ... awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tablets probably have a bigger GPS antennas, Asus Transformer and even NI Adam have a great signal reception.

Question on the quality of the GPS

So I used my Droid 4 for the 1st time today for navigation. I had to go to Downtown Minneapolis and I use Google Navigation. A few times ,in Downtown, I lost the GPS signal and therefore took a wrong turn. How has navigation with Google Maps been working for everybody?
Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

I haven't had any issues with the GPS. You can always improve performance by enabling Google location and WiFi. GPS often works poorly in cities due to poor visibility (tall buildings, etc). Wifi-location helps a lot. I remember my old iPod touch did an amazing job locating me on Wifi alone (in NYC).

podspi said:
I haven't had any issues with the GPS. You can always improve performance by enabling Google location and WiFi. GPS often works poorly in cities due to poor visibility (tall buildings, etc). Wifi-location helps a lot. I remember my old iPod touch did an amazing job locating me on Wifi alone (in NYC).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had Google location enabled. What is the GPS chipset on the Droid 4? I don't remember having had problems with Google Navigation on the Galaxy Nexus in Chicago. I believe the Nexus has a Sirf 3 chipset.

Got my d4 yesterday, GPS seemed to lock on quickly and work well for me -- just as good as my d1 if not better/faster.

GermanGuy said:
So I used my Droid 4 for the 1st time today for navigation. I had to go to Downtown Minneapolis and I use Google Navigation. A few times ,in Downtown, I lost the GPS signal and therefore took a wrong turn. How has navigation with Google Maps been working for everybody?
Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't used mine in downtown Minneapolis, but I use it in south Minneapolis and the suburbs a lot with very few issues. Sometimes if I hit a fork in the road it'll read me on the wrong fork for the first stretch until the forks are separated enough to read the difference, that's the only hiccup I've had.

mattvirus said:
Got my d4 yesterday, GPS seemed to lock on quickly and work well for me -- just as good as my d1 if not better/faster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The GPS locks on quickly indeed, but navigation is definitely a weak point in my opinion. There seems to be a lag of about 2-3 seconds where the GPS icon on the map is trying to catch up to your true position when driving in the car (similar to the Touch Pro 2 I believe). Also, even when driving in suburban areas (no tall buildings), the GPS stutters where it needs to relock onto your position. Kinda sad since I absolutely love everything else about the phone. I have until Monday to decide whether to keep it. I really don't want to go back to the Nexus with its crappy radio. Has anybody tried out GPS navigation (not just simple GPS lock) on the leaked ICS ROM?