All things GPS

[lordhamster]

another GPS post great.....why this post is different than the other 100s well is not
just people always think their post is the good one.
please just go away and get an iphone leave this forum and phone alone

This post is different because: rather than quoting a rumor thread in another forum about some Euro-Version of the phone, or spewing hearsay from some AT&T rep... it has an actual screenshot from SamsungSupportUSA about our actual phone, claiming they have released the long awaited fix.

Next question please.

Disclaimer.
People voicing displeasure over a device you happen to own should not be construed as a personal attack against you, your purchase decisions or your your intelligence. Please do not take any anger directed at the phone manufacturer personally.

 

[3gAndroid]

Far too much is being made out of this issue. The phones only been out a couple of months.

The only way an iPhone 4 will work properly is to cover it up with a case. A faulty hardware design that the CEO himself knew about nearly one year before it was released.

Just because some expect the GPS to be fixed in their time line, doesn't mean Samsung can't or won't fix it.

Finally let's not forget this is a first generation phone with a very young OS. A fact that everyone who bought this phone should have been aware of.

 

[Segfault]

I'd have given my left nut for a lock like he had. I never got my damned captivate to lock at all.

Wow, that's pretty committed. Those custom ROM guys are getting really demanding on donations for fixes.

 

[lordhamster]

Far too much is being made out of this issue. The phones only been out a couple of months.

The only way an iPhone 4 will work properly is to cover it up with a case. A faulty hardware design that the CEO himself knew about nearly one year before it was released.

Just because some expect the GPS to be fixed in their time line, doesn't mean Samsung can't or won't fix it.

Finally let's not forget this is a first generation phone with a very young OS. A fact that everyone who bought this phone should have been aware of.

#1. We aren't in an iPhone forum, why are the failures in iPhone being used to justify failures in an Android device?

#2. If AT&T didn't set a 30 day return window, I would not have a problem with waiting longer. For many people a phone represents a significant investment that they will be stuck with for two years at least. Therefore, it is important for them to decide if they want to keep the phone or return it within "their timeline" of 30 days. If Samsung promised a GPS fix in September, then claimed the GPS fix has been delivered, I think it figures into the return decisions of some customers... don't you?

#3. This IS an early phone with a very young OS. Based on what I've seen with some other Android devices, I was fully ready for it to never be updated to froyo. That I could live with. However, a non-working GPS is not something I can live with, perhaps other people with other priorities can.

No other line of Android phones (Other than our Galaxy S) that I know of has such a glaring issue with a fundamental feature going un-repaired. Therefore I really don't think it is reasonable for a buyer to expect that this major advertised feature not work.

 

[Segfault]

Finally let's not forget this is a first generation phone with a very young OS. A fact that everyone who bought this phone should have been aware of.

I don't see anyone but Galaxy S owners complaining about having a broken GPS. This has nothing to do with Android or with AT&T. Samsung has pushed out a busted product and now based on their own public announcement on facebook they aren't going to bother to try to fix it anymore. Apparently they have better things to do than support their customers.

 

[lilo]

I don't see anyone but Galaxy S owners complaining about having a broken GPS. This has nothing to do with Android or with AT&T. Samsung has pushed out a busted product and now based on their own public announcement on facebook they aren't going to bother to try to fix it anymore. Apparently they have better things to do than support their customers.

That's because Galaxy is probably the first (and only) phone on the market with the latest version of GPS chip from Broadcom. iPhone 4 has the previous generation chip. I read some place that the new chip has different achitecture which requires that more software be executed on the CPU (but this saves power). It appears that Broadcom is still working out their issues with the chip driver which is regrettable. But if they do manage to fix it, the chip should be a very good thing. Among other benefits it can actually use more satellites (different navigation system) than iPhone 4.

And no, this statement from Samsung does not say that GPS has been fixed.

 

[tylerdurdin]

No longer matters to me I accepted defeat, so I did the old one click lag fix, Holy crap, i cannot even believe how fast this thing is. I will get another phone with gps this thing is to much fun to even complain about now.

 

[nybmx]

I don't know if I'm one of the lucky ones or if it's because my phone is less than a week old but my GPS is working great right now.
Here's my situation. I got the phone on the 21st. I tried apps like GPS test and the like and wasn't getting fast locks if any. In fact the first time I tried I honestly thought I had a defective device because I sat outside in a giant open parking lot for almost 7 full minutes without any activity whatsoever. When I did they would come and go constantly. I used My tracks to track me driving around town with pretty bad results. It showed me driving through houses and places where there are no roads.
On the day at&t released the update I pulled it manually OTA and it updated fine. My GPS now finds and locks onto up to 8 satellites in ~15 seconds or so. I've been using My Tracks for the last 2 nights while just going out for a drive. I drove on both main roads and tight side streets and it has tracked me flawlessly so far. (All results have been with "Use Wireless Networks" Off)

I'm posting some of my settings because I played around with them. I don't know how much, if any these effect anything but I'm gonna share some of the settings I remember touching just to be thorough.
supl.google.com
port 7276
SUPL Secure Socket: off
AGPS Mode: SUPL
Operation Mode: MS Based
Start Mode: Hot start
GPS Plus: Off
Use SkyHook: On
Use PC Tool: Off

Again I don't know if this is the typical situation of people claiming their GPS works fine in the first few weeks of ownership and then crapping out.
Also if it matters at all the second day after updating I rooted it, installed the voodoo lag fix 1.9, and removed bloatware. GPS seemed unaffected by any of those.

 

[CASUAL]

#1. We aren't in an iPhone forum, why are the failures in iPhone being used to justify failures in an Android device?

#2. If AT&T didn't set a 30 day return window, I would not have a problem with waiting longer. For many people a phone represents a significant investment that they will be stuck with for two years at least. Therefore, it is important for them to decide if they want to keep the phone or return it within "their timeline" of 30 days. If Samsung promised a GPS fix in September, then claimed the GPS fix has been delivered, I think it figures into the return decisions of some customers... don't you?

#3. This IS an early phone with a very young OS. Based on what I've seen with some other Android devices, I was fully ready for it to never be updated to froyo. That I could live with. However, a non-working GPS is not something I can live with, perhaps other people with other priorities can.

No other line of Android phones (Other than our Galaxy S) that I know of has such a glaring issue with a fundamental feature going un-repaired. Therefore I really don't think it is reasonable for a buyer to expect that this major advertised feature not work.

the gps not working is easily comparible to the camera not taking pictures...dont you think??

its their responsibility to fix it and stand behind their product with pride

 

[CASUAL]

Mac: SHIFT + COMMAND + 4.
PC: alt + Prtscn/sysrq key. Next to f12 key

it doesnt work.. i hold the alt key and the print screen/SySRq button and the number 4...and nothing happens..

sorry i dont use apple things...Mac?? lol

 

[compi]

All Samsung Captivate phones inherit serious GPS defect codes inside. Only phone change will not be helpful too much in resolving the basic issues. It requires Samsung fix.

However technically you are absolutely right, increasing RMA volume might put some pressure on Samsung to put more resources to the fix development. They do not seem to pay adequate attention on the GPS issue now.

 

[Rockinfigs]

has anyone tried to return their phone after 30 days complaining the gps is still broken?? if so did they take it back?

 

[nybmx]

it doesnt work.. i hold the alt key and the print screen/SySRq button and the number 4...and nothing happens..

sorry i dont use apple things...Mac?? lol

If you have Win7 in the start menu is a tool called Snipping Tool which allows you to select areas of your screen, then save it.
Otherwise the most basic way to do it is just press print screen. Then open up Paint or any similar program, and hit paste. You're whole entire screen will be pasted. From there you can crop out what you want and make proper adjustments.

 

[phantazma]

My GPS worked after the update.. i think. Google maps take about 20 secs to find my location, even though it's off about a block. That means it's working right?

 

[nybmx]

My GPS worked after the update.. i think. Google maps take about 20 secs to find my location, even though it's off about a block. That means it's working right?

Try both Navigation and My Tracks while driving. Leave your phone up on the dashboard where a GPS unit would normally sit. Then let us know how it went.

 

[tazman171]

My GPS worked after the update.. i think. Google maps take about 20 secs to find my location, even though it's off about a block. That means it's working right?

No, if it's off by a block it's not working correctly.

 

[Jack45]

The main reason I'd like the GPS issue to be resolved is so that we can go back to being civil. I believe that members of this forum have much to offer one another, but a "discussion" regarding anything GPS often becomes a thread that is, at best, populated by a less than constructive interaction and, at worst, degrades into personal attacks.

I understand and have empathy for those to whom an optimally functioning GPS is important, and can also see why, to others for whom GPS is either not important or is operating satisfactorily, it "ain't no biggie." That said, this topic has clearly brought out the worst in some of us. Not something to be proud of.

 

[Stringyquark]

I've had my epic for two weeks. although I love this phone the GPS issues will probably have me returning it for some cheap thing till a new build or major fix comes up.

I have applied the cold start fix but still find my self having to do the airplane or reboot to get it working sometimes. tried shutting off and turning on GPS won't do it. Tried bringing it to the sprint store (for the 30M glitch) they just reflashed or reset and said it was fixed, didn't even save my contact list. Luckily I had already exported them. but i could have done that and had already tried it. (Love how they treat me like a noob) i might try a different handset but I'm sure it will have the same issues. I don't want and evo but might have to before my 30 days is up if I can not get a extension on my 30 day satisfaction guarantee.

checked sprint and samsung and it seems like there doing there best to keep this issue under the radar as I have not heard that the next update is going to cover the GPS issues just 3G speed limits.

 

[George0211]

I don't understand this. I spoke with Samsung yesterday and they said, this update DOES NOT fix the GPS and another update is coming.
That is what's so frustrating, the fact that the story changes every f...ing hour from Samsung.

 

[mckooter]

performance upgrade, it worked for some, wait for another fix, or return the phones, if you are returning the phone theres an official thread to post your goodbyes in, please use that one,

the quote from samsung usa from the op is the same one they put out there last week when they released the update. and if youll notice there are plenty of posts saying that it didn't work

im not saying no one has a right to complain about it, but there are plenty of threads already that are on this same issue.

AGAIN, im not saying you dont need a gps, or its not a big deal to you, just saying there are threads out there already, and if you are making a new thread, new information is helpful

 

[Jack45]

I don't understand this. I spoke with Samsung yesterday and they said, this update DOES NOT fix the GPS and another update is coming.
That is what's so frustrating, the fact that the story changes every f...ing hour from Samsung.

See below.

 

[cmt074]

it doesnt work.. i hold the alt key and the print screen/SySRq button and the number 4...and nothing happens..

sorry i dont use apple things...Mac?? lol

In windows when you use alt + print screen it puts the screenshot in your clipboard, You then have to paste it into an image program such as paint, photoshop or paint.net then save it.

alt + print screen takes a snapshot of the active window. Cntrl + print screen takes a shot of the whole screen.

 

[George0211]

By the way, I don't think AT&T will take the phone back and give you a different manufactorer/model phone. I already had this conversation about this with them and all they offer is to swap your current Captivate with a refurbished one.
If you can actually get them to give you a different phone, please post it.

 

[reinbeau]

the gps not working is easily comparible to the camera not taking pictures...dont you think??

its their responsibility to fix it and stand behind their product with pride

While I agree the features of the phone should all function properly, there's a flaw with your logic - it isn't a GPS, it isn't a camera....it's a cell phone, first and foremost. Yes, Samsung should produce a product that lives up to its advertised features, but it's a cell phone - all this is proving to me once again is I don't really care for convergence devices (although I do like the combination of phone/PIM/GPS features).

 

[George0211]

While I agree the features of the phone should all function properly, there's a flaw with your logic - it isn't a GPS, it isn't a camera....it's a cell phone, first and foremost. Yes, Samsung should produce a product that lives up to its advertised features, but it's a cell phone - all this is proving to me once again is I don't really care for convergence devices (although I do like the combination of phone/PIM/GPS features).

This argument is stupid, and excuse me for saying it, but it is.
A product is a product as a compilation of all the features advertised, not 1 main feature.
If you bought a car and the stereo system didn't work in it, you'd take it back to the dealer and you wouldn't accept the "This is a car, not a stereo system" argument from them. It simply doesn't make sense. Just because you don't care for a feature like GPS in your phone, doesn't mean that others don't use it either.
Majority of people who bought this device, myself included, wouldn't have bought it, if it didn't include the GPS.