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All Things GPS

Did JI5 fix your GPS?

  • Yes, totally fixed my GPS!

    Votes: 15 35.7%

  • No, still having problems with GPS!

    Votes: 21 50.0%

  • Worked at first, then performance declined once again!

    Votes: 6 14.3%
  • Total voters
    42
I called the Samsung technical support line. The Tier 1 had a script to read to me about how the GPS problem is known and how they're diligently evaluating the problem

She promised there would be an update as in fix for the GPS.

I then talked to her about my compass issues, which hopefully everyone did, because it is still a problem. She said she didnt have any news on that but it was notated into my account.

And to check samsung.com/us for updates, etc. Just called to let them know that many are having this problem and hopefully they expedite this 'fix'
 
We're all screwed. It's true.

Today I brought home what some would say is the best phone out right now, the EVO. And guess what? It's already boxed up and ready to go back to the store. I SO wanted to love that phone. I thought I would. I thought it would solve everything. And it is a great phone. And I am keeping it overnight to think about it. But, I am not sold on it. Nope, not at all. I am addicted to this freaking vibrant. The screen KILLS the EVO screen in clarity and in color. I mean KILLS it. And I don't know if I can go back to a life without swype (it's missing on the EVO). I think we're all screwed. We're spoiled to this screen and may not ever be happy with anything less again.
 
I wanted to add, this is how screwed we are:
Vibrant outside:
IMG_1487.jpg

EVO outside:
IMG_1496.jpg

Together INSIDE:
IMG_1501.jpg
 
And yes, I changed the case when I came inside. The bleeping pink case is too hard for me too press the buttons and the phone kept going to sleep while trying to get the pic. i put it back in its tmo case.
 
I also wanted to add, in defense of the Vibrant's GPS,
Mine does NOT work unless I am driving. Today I sat in a parking lot 5 minutes waiting to get a location lock so I could google maps "Sprint". I gave up and started driving and it locked right away. I have had this issue before but never so obvious as today. Mine also has never locked on more than 2 sats at a time. But it always gets me where I am going. I can't really complain about it. It's not bad enough to be a deal breaker. My old Vibrant was- wouldn't lock anywhere at all ever, no matter what.
 
One more thing, I shut off telenav and it didn't help at all. But then again, I am immobile at the moment. If I started driving maybe it would show an improvement.
 
robo21 said:
OMG, here you go with the "horrendous accuracy," again!
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When are you going to realize that the accuracy is an estimate based on a mathematical algorithm? This in an ap of unknown precision. You are basing all your statements on the results derived in GPS Test. One better way to determine true accuracy (and even then it still has a margin for error) is by looking at the location indicator on Google Satellite Maps and see if it corresponds with your physical location. If it does, then there's your accuracy, if it doesn't it's easy to estimate the distance it's off.

And finally, not everyone, even some with GPS Test results that imply "horrendous accuracy," is getting the bad real world results you and others are.
Click to expand...

Dude, give it up already!!!!!
Fact: These phones have a gps problem.
Fact: Samsung is trying to fix it.
Fact: GPS Test works fine on every other cell phone to test a gps...what makes the Vibrant so special?

Alright everyone, let's stop using GPS Test to test our gps's with as since it doesn't give the results robo21 feels it should, it must not work.

Hey I know, maybe I'll leave my phone out where my stupid pit bull can chew on my phone a bit and my gps will mysteriously start working better than everyone elses.:p

Oh and btw, I thought you were "done arguing"?:rolleyes: Judging from your past posts though, I know a person like you is NEVER done arguing. I know I'm done with ya! Welcome to my ignore list.
action-smiley-069.gif
 
kbohip said:
Dude, give it up already!!!!!
Fact: These phones have a gps problem.
Fact: Samsung is trying to fix it.
Fact: GPS Test works fine on every other cell phone to test a gps...what makes the Vibrant so special?

Alright everyone, let's stop using GPS Test to test our gps's with as since it doesn't give the results robo21 feels it should, it must not work.

Hey I know, maybe I'll leave my phone out where my stupid pit bull can chew on my phone a bit and my gps will mysteriously start working better than everyone elses.:p

Oh and btw, I thought you were "done arguing"?:rolleyes: Judging from your past posts though, I know a person like you is NEVER done arguing. I know I'm done with ya! Welcome to my ignore list.
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Click to expand...

Thanks to kbo, he has proven once again the limits of his thinking and logic capacity. Clearly GPS Test is NOT a valid test when Google Maps show pinpoint locations for the few Vibrant posters here with working GPS. perpetual, myself and others have all stated (and shown) that Google Maps does display their physical location precisely, while simultaneously GPS Test indicates errors anywhere from 17 to 60 feet.

And I never said there wasn't an issue, even for those of us with phones that will allow navigation. And I'm glad I'm now on his ignore list, I really hate having a battle of wits with an unarmed man.
 
Robinelli said:
We're all screwed. It's true.

Today I brought home what some would say is the best phone out right now, the EVO. And guess what? It's already boxed up and ready to go back to the store. I SO wanted to love that phone. I thought I would. I thought it would solve everything. And it is a great phone. And I am keeping it overnight to think about it. But, I am not sold on it. Nope, not at all. I am addicted to this freaking vibrant. The screen KILLS the EVO screen in clarity and in color. I mean KILLS it. And I don't know if I can go back to a life without swype (it's missing on the EVO). I think we're all screwed. We're spoiled to this screen and may not ever be happy with anything less again.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'm hooked on the Vibrant too. It might be awhile before we something that can compete. How's the interface on the Evo? Is it as intuitive as the Vibrant?

C'mon Samsung let's get the GPS up and running on all phones.
 
Everyone else may already know this, but I just read an off handed observation in another post that said GPS is very slow to lock if wi-fi is on. So, I just did a test, and sure enough, if I disable wi-fi it locks in seconds, versus 10 minutes or so with wi-fi enabled. (Perhaps a port block on my wireless router?)

I have applied the standard workaround fixes, and my location accuracy is very good, but the LONG lock-on time was troubling. I'll keep testing, but for now just turning off wi-fi whenever I go into Navigation appears to have fixed my last GPS issue.

This also might account for at least some of the differing reports of performance.
 
I'll keep you guys updated on the Canadian version of the Vibrant when I get mine tomorrow, and whether or not it has any problems with the GPS as well.

If, somehow, the Canadian version functions perfectly, perhaps there is some hope for Vibrant users yet.
 
I never use wifi on my phone so that isn't any part of the GPS with my phone. Good to know about it tho in case I ever start using the wifi.
 
Doesn't the "0 in use" by GPS Test on the Vibrant indicate at least one program bug? How can anyone ever get a lock if 0 birds are in use?

Not saying there aren't problems, but there may also be an issue with that particular SW on this device.
 
wildblue said:
Everyone else may already know this, but I just read an off handed observation in another post that said GPS is very slow to lock if wi-fi is on. So, I just did a test, and sure enough, if I disable wi-fi it locks in seconds, versus 10 minutes or so with wi-fi enabled. (Perhaps a port block on my wireless router?)

I have applied the standard workaround fixes, and my location accuracy is very good, but the LONG lock-on time was troubling. I'll keep testing, but for now just turning off wi-fi whenever I go into Navigation appears to have fixed my last GPS issue.

This also might account for at least some of the differing reports of performance.
Click to expand...

Interesting, because another user has made a youtube video showing that google maps performace is better with wifi on.
 
Turns out I only need to have wi-fi off during the initial lock. If I turn it back on after that the lock stays, and does allow much faster map sector painting than I get with my 2G connection alone. It does make sense that wi-fi would be much more responsive during map sector info downloads so scrolling around the map would be much better with wi-fi. Not sure there's any contradiction between my observation and what you're reporting in the video.

Another interesting observation, regarding GPS Test and the Vibrant HW, if you look at those photos of the two devices side-by-side, the Vibrant is actually seeing more birds, and the signal level is nearly always higher for the same bird (excluding the 0's, which appears consistent with the Vibrant not using sats with signal below 20). That would seem to indicate it's not a chip sensitivity problem we're seeing. Right now using the published setting mods, and the wi-fi off trick, my GPS is performing flawlessy far as I can tell.
 
wildblue said:
Doesn't the "0 in use" by GPS Test on the Vibrant indicate at least one program bug? How can anyone ever get a lock if 0 birds are in use?

Not saying there aren't problems, but there may also be an issue with that particular SW on this device.
Click to expand...

Agreed, of course there are problems with the Vibrant GPS yet some are working in spite of the problem. Also, very clearly there are software issues with GPS Test on this device. For example, GPS Test will indicate accuracy of 40 or 50ft or more and yet Google Maps will show the EXACT, pinpoint location of the device.
 
robo21 said:
Agreed, of course there are problems with the Vibrant GPS yet some are working in spite of the problem. Also, very clearly there are software issues with GPS Test on this device. For example, GPS Test will indicate accuracy of 40 or 50ft or more and yet Google Maps will show the EXACT, pinpoint location of the device.
Click to expand...

I find GPS test to be very accurate, even the accuracy. Running GPS test and The BlackBerry GPS program shows an accuracy of about 6 ft. GPS test shows on Vibrant shows an accuracy that is much worse.
Then running Google Maps, google maps can basically pinpoint me to my backyard when running on HTC or Blackberry. Google Maps on Vibrant, well it thinks my house is located in the middle of the freeway.

I don't think GPS Test app has problems, otherwise it would peform poorly on all Android phones.
 
"I don't think GPS Test app has problems, otherwise it would peform poorly on all Android phones."

That's not necessarily true. Different HW can interact differently with the same SW. Depends on how GPS Test is accessing the HW and the specific Android device files on the Galaxy S.

It seems very clear GPS Test is wrong when it reports "In Use 0" even after a GPS lock has been achieved. If it's wrong about that then what else is it getting wrong?

Tests can be informative, but invalid testing SW can be a distraction. What matters to me is how well the device actually works, and right now mine is working very well. That doesn't appear to be the case for everyone, so Samsung has some work to do, but I don't blame them if GPS Test isn't working correctly.
 
SamsungVibrant said:
I find GPS test to be very accurate, even the accuracy. Running GPS test and The BlackBerry GPS program shows an accuracy of about 6 ft. GPS test shows on Vibrant shows an accuracy that is much worse.
Then running Google Maps, google maps can basically pinpoint me to my backyard when running on HTC or Blackberry. Google Maps on Vibrant, well it thinks my house is located in the middle of the freeway.

I don't think GPS Test app has problems, otherwise it would peform poorly on all Android phones.
Click to expand...

I'm just saying, based on my experience, and a few others posting here, that the accuracy estimates seem to be way off on the GPS Test ap when compared with Google Maps.
 
T-Mobile has a fix for the phone only some phones had the the problem call customer service and they can walk you through the steps to correct the gps not working
 
For anyone trying to blame GPS Test for the Vibrant's known gps problem, know that I've also used an app called GPS Status and it gave pretty much the exact same results as GPS Test did. It showed 12 sats visible but could only get a fix on 3, with the 3rd cutting in and out. It also took 2-3 minutes in a clear sky just to get a fix on 2 sats. My accuracy did drop as low as 31ft. though! I remember my old Moto Cliq XT getting a fix on 4 sats faster while I sat on my couch, with accuracy to 15 ft. after just a minute or two.
 
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