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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 have an unrooted Vibrant w/Froyo. I knew the GPS was flaky, might take anywhere from 5 minutes to never to lock. Wasn't really ever an issue, until I tried to use my phone today for navigation.
As I drove along, I never got GPS lock, I guess my location was determined by the phone signal. At one point, I ended up driving in a small residential area, with Google maps telling me that I was in the middle of a forest. I called T-mobile customer care, and the agent told me about GPS Restore. It seems to have worked, at least well enough to get me to my destination. I'll do further testing soon...
I found the app description to be kind of insulting; the implication being that GPS malfunctions because of tinkering with the phone, with Samsung assuming no responsibility. As I said, I'm not rooted, and haven't tinkered with any internal settings, (yet...)
I've also read that for some people the fix seems to be temporary, and they have to re-apply it on a regular basis.
At this point, since I'm using my device as intended by the manufacturer, and that the fix seems to work, I'm assuming that the problem is a software one, perhaps some very common app, Android itself, or Samsung's customizations, inadvertently changing configuration files.

After getting lost, I was so pissed, I wanted to root my phone right then and there! (I most probably will do it, sooner or later...)

update: I'm seeing 12 birds, but not locking to any. Tried GPS Restore again, it fails to lock as well.
 
I have rooted my Vibrant and the GPS still works great. I did apply the GPS Restore both before and after root. In both cases any issues with the GPS were gone. It is interesting that the app GPS Status which is supposed to d/l some data to the GPS to help it find the birds quicker but it cannot get a fix after applying the GPS Restore. But maps, navigation & GPS Essentials lock on in less than a minute.
 
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