• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

All things GPS

Is this a poll?

  • Yes, it looks like a poll.

    Votes: 42 26.3%

  • No, there is no way this is a poll.

    Votes: 31 19.4%

  • Why in the world is there a poll here?

    Votes: 87 54.4%
  • Total voters
    160
NJR said:
Have you tried to navigate with it? Mine works fine when stationary, it is when I actually try and use it go get somewhere that I have issues...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've used it a few times to get somewhere. I know that one time it told me I needed to make a u-turn and then turn right, when I really just needed to turn right. And a couple times when it said "turn right/left in X feet" I had just passed the street I needed to turn on. Neither are anything I'd consider too horrible, just time consuming if I was in a hurry. And I'm not even sure if it was the phone or GPS systems fault for the issues or what since everything else about the directions were no trouble at all.

I should also note that the Captivate is my first smartphone so I have nothing to compare the issues to.
 
NJR said:
Have you tried to navigate with it? Mine works fine when stationary, it is when I actually try and use it go get somewhere that I have issues...
Click to expand...
I've navigated with it and was really amazed that the voice navigation worked well (stock Google Maps voice nav), and I was routed properly - I didn't think it would work that well.
 
julie524 said:
Yeah, I've used it a few times to get somewhere. I know that one time it told me I needed to make a u-turn and then turn right, when I really just needed to turn right. And a couple times when it said "turn right/left in X feet" I had just passed the street I needed to turn on. Neither are anything I'd consider too horrible, just time consuming if I was in a hurry. And I'm not even sure if it was the phone or GPS systems fault for the issues or what since everything else about the directions were no trouble at all.

I should also note that the Captivate is my first smartphone so I have nothing to compare the issues to.
Click to expand...

The faulty directions are inherent to Google maps or whatever underlying program is supplying the directions. I will say that the Telenav program, which can easily be downloaded and installed on the Captivate is a great program and seems to give better directions than Google. I don't use a nav program a lot, but it has replaced Google for me. The XDA thread: [APP] Telenav 6.2 (basic navigation is now FREE) - xda-developers
 
Here's the output of my LBStest (dial *#3214789650#) on Froyo. I was sitting in my living room near a window.

960dz
5599594420_9c2e229df5_b.jpg


This is from my THIRD Captivate. Second's GPS was awful.
 
Still on my first Captivate.

After this last upgrade (Firmware 2.2 / Kernal 2.6.32.9 /Build FROYO.UCKB1) My GPS has been behaving nicely, last night during the Hail storm I was still getting a fine lock (11/11 Satellites) for the whole drive home.

The only problem I had with Google Maps was when I was in a No Cellular area (I already knew I wasn't going to have any 3G in that area) and the Google Cache maps behaved fine.

Note: Before this last upgrade I was trying all the fixes, and would be surprised if I got 3 satellites after 10 minutes.
 
Just to update, over at XDA there is a GPS fix called PlumbBob. It's version 2.0 beta-11.

I flashed that onto a custom ROM, Cognition 4.2.1 (older version) with the Overstock v1.1 Kernel.

While I was not looking for any major initial GPS fix improvements, I have to say on a short drive back home, the google maps tracking was superb.

No re-routes, no being put onto adjacent roads while making turns, and none of the gps cursor moving while you are stationary.

Still need to try an extended drive, possibly downtown with huge buildings.. but overall I think it's a winner in my case.

Now I must mention I am leaving the operation mode as Standalone, which is against the official installation instructions.

Post link: [FIX]&#9674;[JVK]&#9674; PlumbBob GPS Fix [UPDATE 4/10/2011] <Insert unfunny Bob joke here> - xda-developers
 
askpcguy said:
Just to update, over at XDA there is a GPS fix called PlumbBob. It's version 2.0 beta-11.

I flashed that onto a custom ROM, Cognition 4.2.1 (older version) with the Overstock v1.1 Kernel.

While I was not looking for any major initial GPS fix improvements, I have to say on a short drive back home, the google maps tracking was superb.

No re-routes, no being put onto adjacent roads while making turns, and none of the gps cursor moving while you are stationary.

Still need to try an extended drive, possibly downtown with huge buildings.. but overall I think it's a winner in my case.

Now I must mention I am leaving the operation mode as Standalone, which is against the official installation instructions.

Post link: [FIX]&#9674;[JVK]&#9674; PlumbBob GPS Fix [UPDATE 4/10/2011] <Insert unfunny Bob joke here> - xda-developers
Click to expand...
I've been following that thread closely, and had flashed 1.0 when on Serendipity 5.x, it worked well. However, when I went to 6.x the GPS was so good I didn't want to mess with it - I may try it out soon, though.

Why are you leading the operation mode as Standalone (just curious)?
 
I use standalone because I fully believe the GPS within Smartphones should function similar to external GPS receivers. With the exception of antenna sensitivity.

In other words, the GPS in the Captivate should not need outside help in the form of Wireless Networks or Wifi locations.
 
askpcguy said:
I use standalone because I fully believe the GPS within Smartphones should function similar to external GPS receivers. With the exception of antenna sensitivity.

In other words, the GPS in the Captivate should not need outside help in the form of Wireless Networks or Wifi locations.
Click to expand...
While I totally and absolutely agree with you, sadly, that just isn't the case with the Captivate, mainly due to the piss-poor antenna, I believe. I really wish we could hook up to an external antenna.
 
Along with the poor antenna placement there is also the closed Samsung GPS drivers which makes the problem worse.

Took me 20 seconds while in vehicle to get a position location in Google maps.

I am very curious to see the Google maps navigation tracking during a longer drive, say an hour.

Also we can use an external Bluetooth GPS reciever but it doesn't always play nice with the Google apps.
 
After updating to 2.2 gps now takes for every to find the satellites and many times have to turn phone off then on to get it to find satellites. Never did this before the update any ideas as to why. Thanks Sam
 
Samjd3 said:
After updating to 2.2 gps now takes for every to find the satellites and many times have to turn phone off then on to get it to find satellites. Never did this before the update any ideas as to why. Thanks Sam
Click to expand...
yeah....i was mislead that 2.2 would bring a fix and other speed improvements...all it has got me positive wise is google voice which i absolutely love...but it is not faster...it does not have a working gps. it is worse.
when i use gps....9 times out of 10 i get the fun of staring at a "your current location is temporarily unavailable"
...oh yeah samsung and 2.2? temporarily....?...try the vast majority of the time.
most androids and for sure...iphones...pull up the location instantly. this thing had me stuck when i took a wrong turn in a unknown area a week or so ago...i could not use the gps at all for help.
heck my crap sony x10 i got rid of ...at least would lightning fast pull up location.
 
After three months of great GPS, even after 2.2 upgrade, my GPS has been getting steadily worse when driving. It started out with the blue arrow getting a small circle on occasion, then the small circle became the standard with a larger circle now and then. Then we moved on to locating me on frontage roads when I was still on the highway and now it's 6 GPS signal lost messages in a 30 minute drive. I just don't get it.. Nothing new installed on the phone and it was truly wonderful locking and tracking for three months. I can still get 5m locks when standing still but once I start moving it all goes out the window. Anyone know if the Infuse has better GPS or any word on the S2?
 
Mine has pulled the same stunt as DynaBlue above. It was working very well for a while, but has deteriorated, for no obvious reason that I can discern. It still semi-works, but it now takes several minutes to lock, and it loses lock frequently, wanders, etc. Very frustrating.
 
askpcguy said:
Along with the poor antenna placement there is also the closed Samsung GPS drivers which makes the problem worse.

Took me 20 seconds while in vehicle to get a position location in Google maps.

I am very curious to see the Google maps navigation tracking during a longer drive, say an hour.

Also we can use an external Bluetooth GPS reciever but it doesn't always play nice with the Google apps.
Click to expand...


Here is another thinking from different aspect. I use the preloaded offline GPS map and naviagtion system currently. I gave up Google GPS map/navigation system using for car navigation for the following reasons.

1. Charge your data usage a lot. The most economic way is to use
offline GPS Map systems such as CoPliot USA($5.00!), .. etc in
Captivate. Basically , a zero data usage is charged in
using offline GPS maps in smartphones.

2. Normally, the preloaded GPS map systems in phones have more
navigation features, faster and reliable than Google Map Navigation.
 
Mr. GPS said:
1. Charge your data usage a lot. The most economic way is to use
offline GPS Map systems such as CoPliot USA($5.00!), .. etc in
Captivate. Basically , a zero data usage is charged in
using offline GPS maps in smartphones.
Click to expand...

CoPilot Live Premium is $25. I don't know what the added functions are over the $5 one.
 
movrshakr said:
CoPilot Live Premium is $25. I don't know what the added functions are over the $5 one.
Click to expand...

Yes, there could be even more features. Compared to traditional car navigation systems , ours are much cheaper and also have more functions no matter which Copilot versions.

For example, in Captivate Copilot, we can use Captivate Camera to take a geoimage as a Copilot GPS destination without need of knowing address.
As far as I know, this feature of using geophoto as GPS destination for navigation is only in few traditional car navigation systems such as Mio, ..etc.
But Mio GPS system would not take Captivate's geophoto, it is a proprietary Geophoto system.

I consider this Copilot application has a long-term value and can be used in Captivate in a situation without both data plan AND voice plan.

In other words, Captivate phone with a Copilot application can be used just like traditional car navigation systems even without a valid SIM card.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom