Related
Lets see if I understand this correctly....
on the samsung galaxy s GPS system, there are 2 options:
1)Use wireless networks: Set the device to use the
wireless networking to indicate your location
2)Use GPS satellites : Enable the GPS receiver to indicate your location
For now, we know that using the option 2 gives us crappy results (loosing signals, cannot lock sattelites, jumping around etc)
Now, for option 1: choosing option 1 means that launching the maps application should indicate where your location is currently by using some kind of triangulation method based on the availability of GSM signal, so it should even work when you are indoor or whenever there is a GSM signal......
But apparently on this phone, it only shows your initial location, then after that even if you have moved 1 km from your initial location, the location indicator arrow is stuck at your initial location, meaning that it doesnt track you and your movement, which means both options simply dont work on this phone....
On my wife's iphone, the GPS functionality works wonderfully even when i am inside a building and it keeps updating your location as you move continuosly.
It just shows you how careless and hasty samsung is in launching this product that even the simplest form of GPS functionality, one that is based on GSM triangulation method, also doesnt work..... and they still went ahead with the launch.....
Absolutely no problems with GSM or GPS positioning now that I'm using I9000XWJG5. Locks on satellites within 22 seconds from switch on. Thats at 30m precision. After 10 seconds more gets to 5m precision.
This is from inside my building. (Using GPS Status to check)
Same here. Your wife's phone probably also uses the mobile network to keep location inside buildings, or wireless networks. Try enabling skyhook, that is all i did.
used skyhook, and assited mode, accuracy set to 50, changed supl/cp settings, but compared to my g1 or hd2 or e61 or 10 year old bt/gps mouse the gps quality is just rubbish. (XXJF3)
no problem even without skyhook, but using skyhook gets locking much faster
i'm comparing it to my old HTC Athena, which takes sometimes over 5min to lock to 1 satellite in the great white open sky.... sigh...
sometimes it wont even lock if the weather is poor, takes like 30min or more to lock, under those conditions.
simply insane.
so SGS i9000 is like a dream to use.
g1 / hd2 / e61 only take seconds to get a full lock with accuracy about 3m. in my opinion skyhook and gps plus are needless if you have a working cb a-gps.
From my experience its the rom. As my gps worked fine with default FE3 (optus au) rom even indoors but when i flashed G5 (latest euro) i could only lock onto one sat outdoors even with skyhooks setting. Then i installed Samset 1.2 update.zip the gps works again, thats just my 2cents
widjaja74_us said:
It just shows you how careless and hasty samsung is in launching this product that even the simplest form of GPS functionality, one that is based on GSM triangulation method, also doesnt work..... and they still went ahead with the launch.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the record I haven't had any issues with GPS other than it being fair slower than my Milestone.
Didn't you sell your Galaxy S anyway?
Unimaginative said:
For the record I haven't had any issues with GPS other than it being fair slower than my Milestone.
Didn't you sell your Galaxy S anyway?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey mate, I think I've seen you around the WP forums.
Quick question for you - I have a Milestone and am currently contemplating throwing it on eBay and grabbing the Galaxy S. Is there anything you miss from the Milestone?
ShaggyDragon said:
Absolutely no problems with GSM or GPS positioning now that I'm using I9000XWJG5. Locks on satellites within 22 seconds from switch on. Thats at 30m precision. After 10 seconds more gets to 5m precision.
This is from inside my building. (Using GPS Status to check)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same here. The problems start when I go out and start to drive around in my car. My GPS is absolutely useless when you move around outdoors, but locks in a few seconds indoors.
widjaja74_us said:
Lets see if I understand this correctly....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me see if I understand this correctly. You have sold your SGS and you are still coming back here to crap on about the GPS and other small things which are only occurring on some people's phones and not others?
For the record, everything on my phone has been running silky smooth since day one. Lag only occurs with too many apps open and this is to be expected from an operating system that can multitask.
navmanyeah said:
Let me see if I understand this correctly. You have sold your SGS and you are still coming back here to crap on about the GPS and other small things which are only occurring on some people's phones and not others?
For the record, everything on my phone has been running silky smooth since day one. Lag only occurs with too many apps open and this is to be expected from an operating system that can multitask.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sold my phone at a profit because currently i cannot afford to have unreliable phone in doing my job... then i searched for something better and can't find any.... so i'm still following the forum to see of all the problems i experience have been fixed .... if thats the case, i might buy another one....
and for the record, i didnt crap about the GPS, i'm just investigating it deeper, becase GPS is important for me...
Thats crap for you
Since some think that the GPS hardware (that can't be fixed by software settings) in the Captivate is crap, do you think that Samsung should use hardware from a different GPS provider in their next version of the phone? Does Broadcom have any GPS hardware in other phones that work well? Other than buying a Garmin phone, are there any other phones out there that use "true" GPS, as in one that you would find in a "real" handheld GPS device? I see/hear a lot of people returning their phones strictly because of the GPS not working well.
I'm just wondering if there will ever be a GPS fix for my Captivate, if the hardware is at fault. If it is a poor GPS chip in the phone, there's not much we can do about it, unless the GPS manufacturer updates their driver and they produce some type of software fix.
I updated my Captivate with the OTA update that claims to "fix" GPS performance. It has improved from never getting a fix to providing one relatively quickly. However it loses the fix moving, it loses the fix for NO REASON when stationary (sitting on a surface with a clear view of the sky), goes nearly a minute without updating at times and isn't accurate. People that are using it and saying it works great have never used a real GPS before. The Captivate is useful for location based services at best and hopefully with more improvements navigation.
I compared it side by side with a 9 year old Garmin eTrex and the ancient eTrex blew the Samsung out of the water. Initial fix on the Samsung was faster (thanks to AGPS) but while the Garmin hovered between 6-8ft CEP and the Galaxy S was about 32ft CEP. This makes the Garmin about 30x more accurate in my book.
This was both outside and INSIDE in my home. To the naysayers that say GPS shouldn't be working indoors please take a walk. It depends on the construction of your home. The fact that a 9 year old GPS receiver that was never known for its sensitivity beats the pants off off the Galaxy S really speaks to how much of a terrible joke the phone's GPS is.
If I could I would return the phone. This OTA update was AT&T and Samsung's fix for the GPS and I believe they're going to say it's "done". Because they'll claim to have fixed it already I hold out no hope that this issue will be further addressed and am upset I have the phone. GPS is a basic feature for such a well-spec'ed phone - we shouldn't be thankful when features work - we should demand that they do.
I'd say probably that's all Samsung can do for its crapy implementation of BroadCOM 4751 chip. The GPS chip may be the latest and greatest (newer than the one used in iPhone4, BCM4750) but we are the beta testers for BroadCom/Samsung as the chip is very new (released in April 2010) and never field tested in any devices.
I have no doubt that we will see great GPS performance from this chip later on from other phones or GPS devices. Just not from any of the current Samsung Galaxy S phones. There is only so much they can do to compensate in software for the bad hardware implementation. Ultimately they have to change the board design and/or chip designs to address the real issue. I just can't see Samsung willing to recall millions of existing SGS phones back and replace the motherboard on each one of them.
The update was certainly discouraging. The phone really has no ability to track you correctly on GPS when moving and it loses its lock frequently. Wasn't there a leaked vibrant rom that fixes the tracking part of GPS? Having something like that come to the Captivate is really the only hope we have left at this point.
I'm not a GPS expert, but since basically every phone that comes out these days has a working GPS, I really can't understand how Samsung managed to screw this up. I'm sure that GPS is quite complicated, but aren't the methods and alrogithms for calculating position from the data pretty well established at this point? I don't know why its this difficult for them to get this right. They souldn't have to reinvent the wheel with this; just implement an existing algorith. I wish I knew what is so challenging for them, it seems way to easy for this much time to go by without addressing this properly.
This needs to go in Q&A or General.
TheSopranos16 said:
They souldn't have to reinvent the wheel with this; just implement an existing algorith.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not the algorithm, it is the chip. For what ever reason, Samsung decided to use the latest and greatest, but untested, GPS chip that was officially anounced only the spring of 2010. Basically, we are beta testers for BroadCom for its BCM4751 version 1.0 sillicon. Of course, adding a slighly bigger or better GPS atenna inside the phone probably will help too but Samsung has to cut corners somewhere (they always do)
I'm also disappointed with the GPS in this phone. I have a standalone Garmin that I bought this summer, but its nice to know that I can use the phone if I don't have my Garmin with me...but I can't rely on this thing.
I had the Nexus One before this and its GPS was great. I used it on a 300+ mile trip between St. Louis and Chicago and it never lost its fix.
I like the Captivate better for its screen, true multitouch and better graphics processor (although I don't really notice a difference there).
I like the Nexus One better for more ROMs (Cyanogen), stock Android, WORKING GPS, first for updates.
IF (and that's a big IF), they can get GPS to be reliable while driving, then I will prefer this phone.
It is very frustrating. I purchased 2 Captivates, one for my wife and one for myself. Both phones are factory still. The wifes gps works excellently, fix within 5 seconds (indoors too).....whereas my gps couldn't find me if I was the only crumb on the plate.
I returned the first phone. The second phone handed to me worked just as my wifes did. Excellent gps fixes. This phone unfortunately had the turn off problem. If the phone was in my pocket for any period off time it would turn off.
I returned this one for a third phone. The third phone stays on but still has the gps problem.
Is it the device, the hardware or the software, you be the judge!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
drez22 said:
It is very frustrating. I purchased 2 Captivates, one for my wife and one for myself. Both phones are factory still. The wifes gps works excellently, fix within 5 seconds (indoors too).....whereas my gps couldn't find me if I was the only crumb on the plate.
I returned the first phone. The second phone handed to me worked just as my wifes did. Excellent gps fixes. This phone unfortunately had the turn off problem. If the phone was in my pocket for any period off time it would turn off.
I returned this one for a third phone. The third phone stays on but still has the gps problem.
Is it the device, the hardware or the software, you be the judge!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its still hard to say. Signs are starting to point towards hardware, but it could also just be poor drivers, which will eventually get fixed hopefully.
I've said this in another post.. but these phones are being produced on an assembly line - errors get made - the phones are all using the same hardware.
this is my #5 captivate - the last 2 phones were battery issues, but att replaced the entire phone.. I tested gps before I left the store with the new phone -
everyone needs to understand that there will ALWAYS be problems - It's technology. If your GPS didn't work within the first 29 days, take it back!
There is a reason Samsung is creating a "fix" for the GPS - they aren't RECALLING the phone because of a hardware problem. I will eat my words if the phone gets recalled because of a bad "GPS chip." But for now, if you are within 30 days and you aren't happy, please go return it, test the new phone in the store before you leave!
There is still SOME home for this chipset. Nokia is developing a device with the same chipset. I made a thread in i9000 - Android Development forum with the linux driver source code written by Nokia. We'll have to see. If Nokia releases a device with this chip and the GPS works, we know it's Samsung's fault.
Has anyone ever tried to get a comment from Broadcom about the GPS issues? Since its their chip and there are over a million Galaxy S phones out there, I would think it would be appropriate for them to weigh in on this...
born_fisherman said:
I've said this in another post.. but these phones are being produced on an assembly line - errors get made - the phones are all using the same hardware.
this is my #5 captivate - the last 2 phones were battery issues, but att replaced the entire phone.. I tested gps before I left the store with the new phone -
everyone needs to understand that there will ALWAYS be problems - It's technology. If your GPS didn't work within the first 29 days, take it back!
There is a reason Samsung is creating a "fix" for the GPS - they aren't RECALLING the phone because of a hardware problem. I will eat my words if the phone gets recalled because of a bad "GPS chip." But for now, if you are within 30 days and you aren't happy, please go return it, test the new phone in the store before you leave!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to realize that the percentage of the bad SGS with GPS issues are too high to be caused by any reasonable manufacturaing defects.
You can't test GPS properly in a store without going through a driving test. Period. The problem with the GPS is not about whether or not you get a lock, it is whether or not the phone can keep an accurate lock on you while driving. Unfortunately, most ppl didn't realize this at all.
Samsung will not recall the phone even if it turns of the GPS chip or motherboard is the problem. It is not some kind of safety issue.
TheSopranos16 said:
Has anyone ever tried to get a comment from Broadcom about the GPS issues? Since its their chip and there are over a million Galaxy S phones out there, I would think it would be appropriate for them to weigh in on this...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Broadcom made some small fixes in the driver. That's why with JH7, you can see your phone can lock on to more than 8 satellites now. Old drivers will only allow max lock of 8 satellites and minimal SNR value of 20. New driver allow lock on to more than 8 satellites and minimal SNR value of 10 or so. But unfortunately, it didn't improve moving accuracy.
So when you go to the AT&T store take the phone outside and the phone you are going to walk away with doesn't see any satellites, you should just take it and run?
I'm saying this with experience. I've had 2 phones that didn't pickup any satellites even after waiting 5 minutes.
My current phone immediately saw satellites and got a lock within 45 seconds.
Regardless if you are moving or not, the phone should be able to see satellites - I understand the problem is when you are mobile and keeping the lock, this is not my argument.
my argument is that people are still complaining that they can't get a lock even after the OTA update - Test your phone before taking it home. That's all. Not a big deal if you ask me! If your new LCD TV with HD tuner isn't picking up HD channels, you would bring it back right??
My gps was pretty terrible until I flashed Cognition the first version. Now my gps works amazingly and never has the blue circle of ambiguity. Very happy with the gps performance now. So much that I haven't flashed the cognition that is updated with JH7. Worried it could brea kit haha. might as well try though.
Yeah, the new one (Cognition v2.1) with OTA JH7 in it is pretty bad based on my reading. JH7 is an old firmware. Original Cognition has some files from T-Mo Vibrant JI2 firmware which is newer than JH7.
Our only hope is that the final version of Froyo has some improvement baked into.
i need to bay galaxy s mainly for GPS , but i heard a lot of proplems regarding the GPS , i need to know before baying is it true , what is the exact proplems and could it be fixed for real ..... and is it work off line or not ... and if work offline is it work with voice navigation or not.... i will appreciate your responces
drsemsemicu said:
i need to bay galaxy s mainly for GPS , but i heard a lot of proplems regarding the GPS , i need to know before baying is it true , what is the exact proplems and could it be fixed for real ..... and is it work off line or not ... and if work offline is it work with voice navigation or not.... i will appreciate your responces
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are looking to mainly use it as a GPS unit, I might advise otherwise, as some do struggle with their GPS signal. There are a few known errors, some with fixes, and others do not experience any problems at all. If you are looking for a quality phone that includes GPS, Galaxy is a great choice. If you're looking for a quality GPS that includes a phone, Galaxy may not be the best option.
Kops said:
If you are looking to mainly use it as a GPS unit, I might advise otherwise, as some do struggle with their GPS signal. There are a few known errors, some with fixes, and others do not experience any problems at all. If you are looking for a quality phone that includes GPS, Galaxy is a great choice. If you're looking for a quality GPS that includes a phone, Galaxy may not be the best option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I run the SGS with ALK CoPilot Sat Nav software. Initial GPS fix can be a little slow, but otherwise ok. Copilot requires no online connection, although it can make use of one for traffic updates etc, and the voice prompts work well.
Running Froyo XXJPO
PhilPassmore said:
I run the SGS with ALK CoPilot Sat Nav software. Initial GPS fix can be a little slow, but otherwise ok. Copilot requires no online connection, although it can make use of one for traffic updates etc, and the voice prompts work well.
Running Froyo XXJPO
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Google Maps. Lock will take about 3-5 minutes on average. I can usually speed up the process by launching GPS Test app, and finding where my phone gets best satellite reception to lock a signal. I otherwise have no issues with the GPS
I use Sygic Mobile Maps, Igo and Navigon. Locking never takes more than 15 seconds, and navigation is perfect. All the problems that existed in Eclair 2.1 versions have disappeared. I'm very happy with the GPS.
First off, Galaxy is a phone (and a great one) with a GPS, not the other way around. If you want rock solid GPS, buy a GPS! The chip, the antena, the optimisation will just be better on a standalone GPS.
Then, if you want to have the addition of a GPS chip on the phone, IMHO, it's a great bundle. I get fast and precise fix and I can even use it to track my jogs (and listen to music while I'm at it!). Google Maps and such nav apps are pretty neat and effective.
So, basicaly, if you need a GPS with a phone, buy a GPS and a phone...
If you want a great bundle with GPS function, SGS is the way to go!
gingerbread updates make the gps better, for me the jvo modem (jvh rom) made a huge difference for the better. it got lock way faster (below 1 min vs 2-3 on js3) and saw more satellites
Between the HTC Sapphire (HCT Magic), the ACER liquid and the Samsung Galaxy S, I had in my hands this last one has the worst GPS.
On my unit it's sometime barely usable.
Some people have good GPS in their SGS and are very happy, but many other have bad units. There are many different fixes in the forums, but we still are waiting for a official one.
The SGS is a good Android phone, but if GPS is really important for you, I won't recommend it. If you are lucky you will have a good GPS, but you can also have a bad one...
GPS is also varying. I thought it was fixed with the 2.2.1 update, but today I had problems. Even power cycled the phone and reset the GPS data with the GPS Status app. And now, indoors, it is suddenly working again.
All very strange.
In truth people have wildly varying experiences with the GPS in the SGS. For some it works perfectly, for others it pretty much is unusable. It is a widely documented problem with several known and possible causes.
At times I get locks with an accuracy in the tens of kilometres for example. Normally I get locks around 30m to 10m however - when I am outside. Lock times are not really a problem but stability and accuracy are.
As for fixes, there are a few, but as before people report wildly different outcomes on each one. Most of the fixes involve voiding your warranty and they may not even work for you.
Honestly the Galaxy S is a great phone and I love mine - One of the best out there in many markets. However if GPS is your primary concern I would strongly recommend you look at other models. At the very least buy from somewhere with a solid return policy and the ability to perhaps swap out for a different phone. You could just as easily buy a perfect SGS as a dud.
The brand new SGS2 has reportedly got a much better GPS unit fitted (it's a different GPS chipset!), and might be a better choice if looking for a new phone, and your budget stretched that far.
The SGS, as others have said has a varied set of problems both hardware and software based. The latest firmware has sorted it for many, and there are various tweaks, if you did find problems.
The hardware itself was more a problem on the earliest units (pe-october), with then having poor contact inside to the antenna, although some post-october units suffer from this too. This can be fixed on all of them by opening the unit and bending or soldering the contacts.
As long as you buy it from a place with a good returns policy... Or but a second hand unit you can test before purchase, then the SGS should be fine... But many would love an SGS2 if buying again now!
Hope this helps
Mike
Garbled meaning induced by swype when posting from XDA app on SGS I9000.
xpcomputers said:
The brand new SGS2 has reportedly got a much better GPS unit fitted (it's a different GPS chipset!), and might be a better choice if looking for a new phone, and your budget stretched that far.
>>Still a percentage whining about poor GPS but my SGS 1 and two perfect.
The SGS, as others have said has a varied set of problems both hardware and software based. The latest firmware has sorted it for many, and there are various tweaks, if you did find problems.
>>Some users had no problems at all on SGS 1
The hardware itself was more a problem on the earliest units (pe-october), with then having poor contact inside to the antenna, although some post-october units suffer from this too. This can be fixed on all of them by opening the unit and bending or soldering the contacts.
>>. likewise the press on GPS trick may be a help as will setting the GPS up as per posts on the subject .
As long as you buy it from a place with a good returns policy... Or but a second hand unit you can test before purchase, then the SGS should be fine... But many would love an SGS2 if buying again now!
I would be quite happy with either based upon my experiences . Plus as above buy try and return if not happy .
14 million SGS users happy .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
make such test as this guy -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHaIuGZgIxQ
is your tracking as crap as his? mine is, ive managed to make gps lock in seconds to 5m accuracy but that is not helping in precision tracking
hahaha look what ive found
http://www.scribd.com/doc/36341108/CSR-v-Broadcom
http://news.priorsmart.com/csr-v-broadcom-l34y/
that includes 'our' chip also
settlement
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-01-10/broadcom-csr-settle-patent-fight-over-gps-devices.html
and what is fun part of this story?
SGS2 uses CSR chip not Broadcom one
whhaaaat you say
SiRFstar IV was announced in mid 2009 http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2350815,00.asp <- sgs 2 - reported working with 1m precision, locking fast and inside no problems with precision tracking
BCM4751 was announced in early 2010 http://www.gpsworld.com/consumer-oe...s-single-chip-gps-mobile-devices-bcm4751-9520 <- sgs - 5m with 15m stepping that was upgraded in nexus s to 5m stepping, no precision tracking - rookie mistakes on drivers and setup, innacurate
draw your own conclusions =]
Hello there,
I have a huge problem with my GPS, I searched the forum alot because of this, but wasn't able to find my exact problem.
first of all here is my problem:
I can't get a GPS-Fix. I used some apps like GPS-Status and I can see like 3 - 8 satalites in range, but still cant get any fix.
here is what i tried:
-flashing ROMs like hell (MIUI, ICS, Darky's, Stock)
-used many apps like "fasterfix" "gps aids" ect. did not worked out for me
-factory resets
-dif. gps server
-waited half an hour, clear sky, driving in my car 70km with gps on
you guys have any solution for my problem?
is it hardware? and if it is hardware, why am i able to "view" satalites?
Thanks, Karl
Download "GPS test" and stay on steady one place, enable wifi or 3g go to settings of GPS test and hit update AGPS, go back and wait till you get accuracy (meters) activated and gets as low as it can be (30m-5m is ok). Now only you can go in car for 70km....
You can download "gps.conf" of your country reason to get fast gps locking search here in XDA
evrest said:
Download "GPS test" and stay on steady one place, enable wifi or 3g go to settings of GPS test and hit update AGPS, go back and wait till you get accuracy (meters) activated and gets as low as it can be (30m-5m is ok). Now only you can go in car for 70km....
You can download "gps.conf" of your country reason to get fast gps locking search here in XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is no help, as i said, i testet it with several apps, GPS Aids is nearly the same program. i see a lot of satalites, but my signal stregh i too weak, so i don't get any fix.
without a fix, i can wait years to get a accuracy meters.
What Rom/Kernel are you currently running??
Under MIUI Mintberry Edition, I had a similar problem... my magnetometer was also affected.
I Solved it by:
1) flashing platypus kernel
2) editing the NTP-Server used to "europe.pool.ntp.org"
3) install google skymap
After that GPS and Compass behaved normally.
Average time to get fix (with agps) about 10 seconds
atm i'am using teamhacksung's ICS build 14 with derteufel's kernel.
ROMs I had:
MIUI (many versions) stock - Kernel: glitch(v13), platypus(r17 - NEO)
ICS - stock - kernel: glitch pre 14
Darky's ROM
I used GPS Aids and fasterfix. in these apps I changed the NTP-server already
to check GPS i'am using "GPS test" from the market
even if i have 10 satalites in view, i dont get a damn fix
KarlDieKrabbe said:
atm i'am using teamhacksung's ICS build 14 with derteufel's kernel.
ROMs I had:
MIUI (many versions) stock - Kernel: glitch(v13), platypus(r17 - NEO)
ICS - stock - kernel: glitch pre 14
Darky's ROM
I used GPS Aids and fasterfix. in these apps I changed the NTP-server already
to check GPS i'am using "GPS test" from the market
even if i have 10 satalites in view, i dont get a damn fix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much strength of signal you get on GPS test ?
If it is low you wont get GPS lock !
Next, take out back cover and press gently to the rod like thing next to volume controller and see if the strength of signal improves (if it does your GPS antenna is loose)
By the way where in the world your location is?
I have an average of 8-12 of signal stregh.
i think only a hardware-fix can help to fix it. so screwdriver out and pray
Hey all,
I'm using Zeus 6.22 and I've run into the same problem on every rom i've tried so far. GPS works, but the moment i get in the car/bus/whatever, GPS reception gets very, very poor and usually cuts out completely. Is there anything i can do to improve it or is this a hardware limitation? I've tried using google maps, copilot navigator, igo and sygic, all software seem to be having the same problem...
Use Zeus tweaker and CM7 config gps
Tap to Black Hell... 2
It's a hardware limitation which unfortunately happens on portable devices like our Optimus Black.
Since the hardware on the OB is pretty weak (in comparison to larger devices), the GPS on our phone MUST have line of sight with the sky, ultimatly meaning it has line of sight with the orbiting satellite.
That would be why it cuts out on the bus or whatever.
I'm not sure that there is a work around for this like there is with 3G data speeds but if you or somebody has an answer, I too would greatly appreciate the feedback as i suffer from the same problems as well.
EDIT: I don't think GPS config settings will change the strength of the signal between the phone or alter the interference as a result of dynamic environments.