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All things GPS
- Thread starter enjoimark
- Start date
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- samsung captivate
It seems the unit dropped the lock 4 times during the cca 30km long journey. I do not think it's acceptable.
I have just updated my phone to Cognition 2.16; I have applied the Jupiter5 files; and here is a track I did this morning.
Here's the interesting part: If you look at it via map view, it shows me off the road a lot. If you look at it in Satellite view, it is as close to perfect as I have seen. So my thought is that when we use map view and see it showing us in the field, maybe it is misleading. Try Satellite view.
FYI, for this track, I had the timing set very aggressive: data point every 2 seconds. I think that will increase the accuracy of the tracks. For example, if it does a data point every 10 seconds and you have driven a curve, it will show a straight line between each point, not following the curve.
I will be doing a long trip this weekend, and plan to track it. Will be interesting to see how it goes, and give me a long test on the GPS.
Here's the interesting part: If you look at it via map view, it shows me off the road a lot. If you look at it in Satellite view, it is as close to perfect as I have seen. So my thought is that when we use map view and see it showing us in the field, maybe it is misleading. Try Satellite view.
FYI, for this track, I had the timing set very aggressive: data point every 2 seconds. I think that will increase the accuracy of the tracks. For example, if it does a data point every 10 seconds and you have driven a curve, it will show a straight line between each point, not following the curve.
I will be doing a long trip this weekend, and plan to track it. Will be interesting to see how it goes, and give me a long test on the GPS.
To each its own.
With all the added scrutiny on the GPS functionality in the Galaxy S, I don't think it will ever meet expectations because at this point you guys are comparing it with standalone GPS devices.
Gets me from point A to point B - check
Works with Foursquare - check
Locates me for geo-specific weather updates - check
Layar - check
Maps - check
My Tracks - check
I'm done.
I'll be on board with you if:
"Does not put you on different streets - Check. "
If that cannot be checked off, then no-go.
As far as comparing the the MyTracks, I don't care really what that looks like, as long as your check list, and the one I added above, is met.
Until I did this Cog 2.16 update, that was not able to be checked.
I'm doing a long run this weekend. I'll have a better feel for it after that.
"Does not put you on different streets - Check. "
If that cannot be checked off, then no-go.
As far as comparing the the MyTracks, I don't care really what that looks like, as long as your check list, and the one I added above, is met.
Until I did this Cog 2.16 update, that was not able to be checked.
I'm doing a long run this weekend. I'll have a better feel for it after that.
It actually is a 'GSM Reset'. I found a post with an embedded quote in it where I first read it. (found this post before the actual one).
Read the embedded post.
Important Note
This will copmletely clear your phone if you do it, Be sure to have a backup. I don't recall if it clears the external SD, but I'd take it out if you have one, just to be sure.
A in AGPS stands for assisted. This is why the AGPS in any phone has a lot easier job than any standalone unit. It means AGPS should be a lot faster and sometimes more accurate than a standalone GPS.
So my checklist solely is:
have at least the same accuracy/reliability as e.g Vodafone 845 (Vodafone throws it after you for 110 bucks here in Hungary with a prepaid sim)?
If no check then please dear Samsung put your fat ass back to the chair and do your !#!$#@ homework!
well, my experience with the GPS was similar to most pre update. it did not work. After the update, I locked on satellites withing a minute or less. I live in GA, and just went to AZ for a wedding. I decided to have some faith with my Captivate and figured Ill try the GPS now. Granted, it took about 3 minutes to lock, but it worked flawlessly. It got me all over that state, spot on accurate. Once I got home, I started to run some tests. Tracks on my Captivate came out almost perfect, maybe a 30 or 40 foot jump. I also tested tracks with both of my garmin handhelds and my garmin portable car gps. All three had the same performance. Unless you are using a GPSr that is accurate down to inches or less, there will be some jumps and not perfect. As far as I'm concerned, my captivate and my girlfriends captivate gps is working as it should. Im very pleased with it now.
No not really. I reached to the rep again and his email back told me next to nothing. Here is the email he sent back.
Hi James,
Other than acknowledging that they received my email, nothing yet. I will keep you updated though as they update me.
Have a great week! CTIA this week too
Sent from Samsung mobile
Chad Smith (changed name again)
District Field Marketing Manager
Samsung Telecommunications America
SF Bay Area
Andrewdroid
Well-Known Member
OK everyone I was typing in Samsung Galaxy S on google search and it seems that the Samsung Vibrant... the t-mobile version just got another firmware update and it mentions gps fix so no idea.
Reversesunset
Newbie
There seem to be a few people on here who have never had a phone with GPS capability before. I really miss my G1 (came out two years ago; gps worked great). I'm not one to settle for less than what's right, and I certainly won't pretend that readings so inaccurate as to show that I'm on an altogether different street, if I'm shown on a street at all, are normal for a cell phone that touts a functional GPS.
Thank you for the info. I will keep my fingers crossed as well.
Over at XDA we have this xda-developers - View Single Post - [GPS/AGPS] REAL solution analysis thread (Jupiter Tweaks) - v006! - Froyo JI6
I have cognition 2.2 (Froyo leaked) BETA, no Jupiter tweak, using the google SUPL server, wireless networks OFF. I'll obtain a fix in apps and GPS Test usually 10-45 seconds. I installed Micro Second and it does appear in GPS Test that my position remained solid when stationary.
I have cognition 2.2 (Froyo leaked) BETA, no Jupiter tweak, using the google SUPL server, wireless networks OFF. I'll obtain a fix in apps and GPS Test usually 10-45 seconds. I installed Micro Second and it does appear in GPS Test that my position remained solid when stationary.
I'll be quick. I am a noob! I know enough about computers to break them really good and nothing about android phones. Got off the iphone bandwagon about 1 1/2 months ago and got the captivate. Yes, the GPS did suck! Found this forum and monitored daily for new tricks that would work. Tried NUMEROUS combinations of settings which would all work but then sadly crash a couple of days later. Did get it to work consistently about 65% of the time, but it always had me running parrellel to the roads and not on them? Then received update and magically my gps was great, loved it, until it broke 2 days ago! Would only get 4-6 satellites inview but with no locks. I was about to give up when i came across a post by WAMPRO who did what samsung told him to do. use dial pad and enter *2767*3855#. This resets the GMS. I think thats what it resetted. And this was the first i had heard of it. In any case, this was going to be my last attempt. I did it. It was about a 5 minute process. My music is now gone, pictures and video stayed, all contacts, apps, and calender info where easily gotten back because I had the google acct set up. Getting music back on wont be and issue. Fired up the GPS after reboot and the captivate recognized 2 satellites but would not lock on. Went back into the lbs settings, which had been returned to default, and put them back to the settings i found worked best for my phone which were: App Settings
Tracking, s/w test, msbased, hotstart, on,on,50,on,off. supl/cp: custom, supl.google.com,7276,off,supl. I then went to work where, out of a 10 hour day, I have to drive about 6 hours around the city. I always had 7-11 satellites locked in about 5 seconds and this was while on back roads and expressways. Never lost a lock. Using GPStest always result in 7-11 satellites and a 16.4 or 38.2 foot accuracy range. And now in basement with no window where i only got 1 or 2 satellites seen but no lock, I now get between 4-8 satellites but still no lock. Google Maps has always had me right were i was supposed to be. I'll be sticking with this layout, unless it crashes in two days or if it crashes on a longer trip. Hope this confirms this technique for everyone and helps out. I'll post something else in a week to see how things maintain.
Tracking, s/w test, msbased, hotstart, on,on,50,on,off. supl/cp: custom, supl.google.com,7276,off,supl. I then went to work where, out of a 10 hour day, I have to drive about 6 hours around the city. I always had 7-11 satellites locked in about 5 seconds and this was while on back roads and expressways. Never lost a lock. Using GPStest always result in 7-11 satellites and a 16.4 or 38.2 foot accuracy range. And now in basement with no window where i only got 1 or 2 satellites seen but no lock, I now get between 4-8 satellites but still no lock. Google Maps has always had me right were i was supposed to be. I'll be sticking with this layout, unless it crashes in two days or if it crashes on a longer trip. Hope this confirms this technique for everyone and helps out. I'll post something else in a week to see how things maintain.
Rred
Member
""Does not put you on different streets - Check. ""
I don't know how to say this, but GPS will NEVER PUT YOU ON A STREET.
GPS will provide your lat/lon information. It doesn't know what a 'street' is. Your street position is providing by "geocoding" software, such as Google Maps, TeleNav, or ESRI.
Geocoding software uses a huge database to look up lat/lon information and then give back the corresponding street address--according to a source of varying quality. If the source is the US Census TIGER maps (used in lots of freeware because it is free) you may be off by 1/2 mile or more, because the TIGER maps are intended for demographics not navigation.
If the geocoding is providing by a better source, like the ones Garmin and Google both use, it may still be off by 300 feet because postal addresses do not always match actual building locations, and because local map datums often do not match the GPS map datum that is in use.
So...if your GPS puts you a block away, on the next street, that is NOT NECESSARILY A GPS PROBLEM.
If anyone thinks that their phone's GPS is working at its best after a "factory reset", please bear in mind that the factory reset still tells the phone to use a supplemental GPS server which HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. So whatever you are seeing--it is not as good as it should be. Not yet.
And that's got nothing to do with a "GPS" bug, that's a separate problem in the phone's factory software load. A terribly embarrassing problem, because it just means no one bothered to link check the load file.
I don't know how to say this, but GPS will NEVER PUT YOU ON A STREET.
GPS will provide your lat/lon information. It doesn't know what a 'street' is. Your street position is providing by "geocoding" software, such as Google Maps, TeleNav, or ESRI.
Geocoding software uses a huge database to look up lat/lon information and then give back the corresponding street address--according to a source of varying quality. If the source is the US Census TIGER maps (used in lots of freeware because it is free) you may be off by 1/2 mile or more, because the TIGER maps are intended for demographics not navigation.
If the geocoding is providing by a better source, like the ones Garmin and Google both use, it may still be off by 300 feet because postal addresses do not always match actual building locations, and because local map datums often do not match the GPS map datum that is in use.
So...if your GPS puts you a block away, on the next street, that is NOT NECESSARILY A GPS PROBLEM.
If anyone thinks that their phone's GPS is working at its best after a "factory reset", please bear in mind that the factory reset still tells the phone to use a supplemental GPS server which HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. So whatever you are seeing--it is not as good as it should be. Not yet.
And that's got nothing to do with a "GPS" bug, that's a separate problem in the phone's factory software load. A terribly embarrassing problem, because it just means no one bothered to link check the load file.
I rode 200 miles today with 2 Captivates GPS' going. One was on a window hanging thing, and the other I was messing with some.
The one that was up in the window and had clear sky never had any hiccups at all. That one has Cognition 2.17, and no changes based on any of the 'fixes', jupiter files or anything.
The one I was fiddling with has Cognition 2.16, Jupiter 5 files, and had the GSM reset put on it. When not in clear view to the sky, back under the top just a bit, it would occasionally get the blue ring, and a couple times took me through fields.
As many have surmised, it seems to me that the antenna must be a bit sub-par. Mount it on some dash thing a bit inside the car; carry it in your pocket on walks, etc. and I think you are going to have issues.
The one that was up in the window and had clear sky never had any hiccups at all. That one has Cognition 2.17, and no changes based on any of the 'fixes', jupiter files or anything.
The one I was fiddling with has Cognition 2.16, Jupiter 5 files, and had the GSM reset put on it. When not in clear view to the sky, back under the top just a bit, it would occasionally get the blue ring, and a couple times took me through fields.
As many have surmised, it seems to me that the antenna must be a bit sub-par. Mount it on some dash thing a bit inside the car; carry it in your pocket on walks, etc. and I think you are going to have issues.
Miller in Charlotte
Lurker
Disclaimer: For all I know, the GPS issue is fixed. I haven't been back to the forums in a few days. If so, please don't bother reading all this.
* * * * * * * * *
I just want to be clear before I begin. I don't know if the steps I've taken have made the GPS work on my phone. Causality is tough to prove. I can tell you, with absolute certainty, that the GPS does work now.
I'm only posting this because I hope it will either:
A) help somebody else
B) help narrow down the problem, so perhaps the right people can fix the issue.
Here's a chronology.
I bought the phone. GPS didn't work.
I Changed the settings in the lbstestmode, per a web posting someplace, and nothing changed.
2 weeks later (or so) the OTA update came, and nothing changed. GPS still didn't work.
I did the master reset, and nothing.
Bear in mind that throughout this time, the GPS was enabled in the settings.
I then added the Android Widget "Power Control" to my screen.
When I manually enabled GPS via the Power Control widget, the GPS worked. I used it for several days without fail. Worked great.
I've never used GPS before, and after reading here and other places, i checked its accuracy, and found that occasionally I was driving through a house, or off the mark by 30 - 50 feet. But generally, it was right on the money.
Then, I downloaded the Maps update.
GPS no longer worked.
I tried everything I could think of, including uninstalling the Maps update, and still it didn't work.
Did another Master Reset.
Nothing.
Downloaded Maps update again.
Nothing.
Added "Power Control" widget again.
Manually enabled GPS via Power Control.
GPS works again. With Maps update.
I realize that I may be lucky. I realize that perhaps none of the things I did actually changed anything.
But SOMETHING happened.
Perhaps the "power control" widget is the answer...
I hope that the semi-mythical Froyo update will fix the problem for everybody.
And I hope that reading through all this post will fix the problem for somebody.
Thanks to all for these forums. Great place to lurk!
* * * * * * * * *
I just want to be clear before I begin. I don't know if the steps I've taken have made the GPS work on my phone. Causality is tough to prove. I can tell you, with absolute certainty, that the GPS does work now.
I'm only posting this because I hope it will either:
A) help somebody else
B) help narrow down the problem, so perhaps the right people can fix the issue.
Here's a chronology.
I bought the phone. GPS didn't work.
I Changed the settings in the lbstestmode, per a web posting someplace, and nothing changed.
2 weeks later (or so) the OTA update came, and nothing changed. GPS still didn't work.
I did the master reset, and nothing.
Bear in mind that throughout this time, the GPS was enabled in the settings.
I then added the Android Widget "Power Control" to my screen.
When I manually enabled GPS via the Power Control widget, the GPS worked. I used it for several days without fail. Worked great.
I've never used GPS before, and after reading here and other places, i checked its accuracy, and found that occasionally I was driving through a house, or off the mark by 30 - 50 feet. But generally, it was right on the money.
Then, I downloaded the Maps update.
GPS no longer worked.
I tried everything I could think of, including uninstalling the Maps update, and still it didn't work.
Did another Master Reset.
Nothing.
Downloaded Maps update again.
Nothing.
Added "Power Control" widget again.
Manually enabled GPS via Power Control.
GPS works again. With Maps update.
I realize that I may be lucky. I realize that perhaps none of the things I did actually changed anything.
But SOMETHING happened.
Perhaps the "power control" widget is the answer...
I hope that the semi-mythical Froyo update will fix the problem for everybody.
And I hope that reading through all this post will fix the problem for somebody.
Thanks to all for these forums. Great place to lurk!
Andrewdroid
Well-Known Member
If you are going to include this number can people please give a nice bold disclaimer right before you give out the number. THIS WILL WIPE ALL YOUR PHONE'S DATA. BE SURE TO BACKUP FIRST. *2[seven]6[seven]*3[eight]55#. If you type something like that, people will have to think for 1 second before blindly dialing in something that will wipe their phone. Definitely something that needs a warning!!!
Most people don't realize that just typing that number triggers a full wipe of their whole phone. This happened to me a few days ago and luckily I had backed up. I'm not saying don't post the number but just be careful how you tell other people and give warnings.
Andrewdroid
Well-Known Member
Here are some apps/shortcuts that are useful for testing and diagnostics by the way.
The first 3 are free in the market.
1. GPS Test
2. GPS Status
3. My Tracks
4. LBS Test Mode shortcut (Long click a home screen, and go to Shortcuts>Activities and choose LBSTestMode the very first one in the list. There used to actually be an app for this but it's vanished from the market. The activity shortcut works in both Launcher Pro and TwLauncher
"My Tracks" is a google app, it seems to be good for GPS testing because it keeps the GPS on running in the background once it gets a lock so the GPS is a bit 'stickier' than with google maps which attempts to conserve battery by turning GPS off when you exit out, or the phone's display is off. It'll drain battery like mofo though.
The first 3 are free in the market.
1. GPS Test
2. GPS Status
3. My Tracks
4. LBS Test Mode shortcut (Long click a home screen, and go to Shortcuts>Activities and choose LBSTestMode the very first one in the list. There used to actually be an app for this but it's vanished from the market. The activity shortcut works in both Launcher Pro and TwLauncher
"My Tracks" is a google app, it seems to be good for GPS testing because it keeps the GPS on running in the background once it gets a lock so the GPS is a bit 'stickier' than with google maps which attempts to conserve battery by turning GPS off when you exit out, or the phone's display is off. It'll drain battery like mofo though.
s.m.knipe
Android Expert
Everything you say is true, but it does not account for the fact that every other Android device navigates/finds/locates much MUCH better, more reliably, and faster, using the same geocoding software. The issue is not the geocoding software (although the discrepancies you point out do occur occasionally) or multitude of apps using those databases, the issue IS the Galaxy S GPS. The reason I am outlining this differentiation is so that it isn't picked up and used to shrug this issue off, either by Samsung, or any of the customers they are ripping off until this is fixed.
It is fixable- although I have some concerns now over how fixable (due to a possible limitation on accuracy)- and Samsung just needs to examine the way the other brands call for GPS data in the driver, and replicate it for this chip. I firmly believe that the issue lies in a higher inaccuracy (compared to the N1, G1, and possibly my friend's Droid X if I can get my hands on it long enough), coupled with less frequent pinging the chip for data and extrapolating/interpolating in between pings to "predict" location- and hence the momentary reroutes, and inaccuracies at changes in speed or direction (velocity).
I had two Captivates on a 250 mile trip, each way, for total of 500 miles. Used both to compare.
One had stock install of Cognition 2.17.
One had Cognition 2.16, after doing a GSM reset, and then also applying the Jupiter V5 files.
Both had exact same results.
Worked perfect ONLY if the device was mounted from a suction cup device from the windshield, and it had no car roof overhead. Worked good in cloudy weather too.
In both devices, if I held it in hand, under roof, I would get blue circle, and occasionally drive through fields.
I am of the opinion (not expert) that the antenna is poor.
One had stock install of Cognition 2.17.
One had Cognition 2.16, after doing a GSM reset, and then also applying the Jupiter V5 files.
Both had exact same results.
Worked perfect ONLY if the device was mounted from a suction cup device from the windshield, and it had no car roof overhead. Worked good in cloudy weather too.
In both devices, if I held it in hand, under roof, I would get blue circle, and occasionally drive through fields.
I am of the opinion (not expert) that the antenna is poor.
yahoowizard
Android Enthusiast
Damn. My GPS wasn't working in the beginning. Someone had this magic solution where you would replace all your files in the media folder and you'd get the GPS working, tried it, and my GPS was working pretty well, with it locking on with only 4/5 satellites. The update came out, GPS was locking on even faster, used it to help me get around UCI. Then, not sure what happened, but the last three days, my GPS stopped locking on (It had been working for the last three weeks or so) and the only major thing I can think of was installing a Google Maps update. Any ideas?
I went to AT&T store today and they were suprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly) uninformed about the GPS issue. One guy started out by telling me had a "fix" and when I saw what he was doing - *#*#1472365 etc. I told him to save the trouble, that was so last-month and didn't work anymore after JH7 update. The other guy told me his JH7 update worked, so I asked to borrow his Captivate, took it outside, and it was unable to connect either.
The store told me to call customer care, and would only offer me an exchange thru warranty since it's after the 30-day return period, and were completely unnacountable about selling me a product with a defective design. Of course, it's pointless to exchange the device for the identical model since the model is defective by design.
I am to the point I just want a refund for the phone, since it's apparent no software fix can remedy the problem. But looks like they are going to make it really painfully difficult to pursue that option...
The store told me to call customer care, and would only offer me an exchange thru warranty since it's after the 30-day return period, and were completely unnacountable about selling me a product with a defective design. Of course, it's pointless to exchange the device for the identical model since the model is defective by design.
I am to the point I just want a refund for the phone, since it's apparent no software fix can remedy the problem. But looks like they are going to make it really painfully difficult to pursue that option...