ZDroid1
Android Enthusiast
Yeah why is everyone talking about GPS stuff on an "All Things GPS" thread? Enough already !
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All things GPS
- Thread starter enjoimark
- Start date
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- samsung captivate
Yeah why is everyone talking about GPS stuff on an "All Things GPS" thread? Enough already !
lmfao!
Guys, it's been a pleasure... This evening I was notified by AT&T that they will take the phone back and I'm free to pick any other phone in the store. I'm going to miss the phone and the 4" S-AMOLED but I can no longer deal with the GPS nightmare. I'll continue to visit and post as often as possible, thank you all for your support and for sharing your experiences with me. We'll be in touch.
Sorry to hear that! I'm betting Samsung is losing a few customers because these drivers have been so long in coming.
I'm one of the few lucky ones. I changed some settings in my phone and the GPS has been working solidly since last Saturday so I couldn't be happier with the Captivate at this point. Quick to lock and accurate placement, even in a car.
Anyhow, good luck with your iPhone 4!
Thanks, I already miss the 4" S-AMOLED screen but can't go back now, time to move forward. While at the store, a customer was asking if to go with Captivate or IPhone4 and asked why I was returning it. Was very polite about it when mentioning the GPS issue and gave the phone good reviews, if she went for the Captivate, hope it works out for her. One more thing, AT&T went above and beyond to make me a happy customer so hat tip to them. I finally feel at peace.
boomerbubba
Android Enthusiast
An FYI to Captivate users who have installed the JH7 firmware and discovered that the old dialer code to invoke the LbsTestMode utility no longer works:
The new dialer code for that purpose is *#3214789650#
The new dialer code for that purpose is *#3214789650#
I just wanted to say that the GSM reset really helped both my phone and my girlfriend's phone. My GPS has always worked just okay, but now it works really well. All I did for mine was do the reset as it was already on a clean JH7 install. My girlfriend's GPS would never get a lock so we were going to take it in and exchange it (still within 30 days), but I decided to see if I could get her's working. I backed up her contacts/data, removed the lag fix, flashed it to stock with odin, updated it to JH7 with Kies mini and finished off the the GSM reset.
It was all worth it because now her GPS is working as well as mine is. Which part of that process did it, I don't know. But it went from never getting a lock on any of the satellites it did manage to see (always less than mine) to seeing as many satellites as mine and getting a lock in seconds. Even indoors.
Obviously, ymmv, but for us it was definitely worth the inconvenience of backing everything up and starting from scratch again. I did the GSM reset on mine Tuesday and it is still seeing the same results as it did then so I can't comment on the longevity of this 'fix' yet.
It was all worth it because now her GPS is working as well as mine is. Which part of that process did it, I don't know. But it went from never getting a lock on any of the satellites it did manage to see (always less than mine) to seeing as many satellites as mine and getting a lock in seconds. Even indoors.
Obviously, ymmv, but for us it was definitely worth the inconvenience of backing everything up and starting from scratch again. I did the GSM reset on mine Tuesday and it is still seeing the same results as it did then so I can't comment on the longevity of this 'fix' yet.
Yep. Almost a week for me since I did the GSM reset and still locking on within seconds. Driving home earlier I had 10/10 Locks within 5-10 seconds and Navigate was spot on.
Hello
I had posted the following earlier. Just got another captivate from Best buy for 50$ for my wife. Spent around 1 hr on it and the phone is now network unlocked, rooted, at&t bloatware removed & GPS fixed. I have seen a few users try the following guide, and their GPS was fixed. Please, try it an post replies. Maybe we have stumbled upon a real fix here.
I HAVE 2 CAPTIVATES WITH WORKING GPS (Which was not working when brought new)
====================================================
Disclaimer: I am not responsible if something breaks or you end up bricking your phone.
=============================================
Find your optimal pool server here: pool.ntp.org: NTP Servers in North America, north-america.pool.ntp.org
For US the optimal server is: us.pool.ntp.org
I recommend you do the following:
Use Root Explorer or some other method (I use Root Explorer as it has a built in Text Editor and automatically backs up the altered file.) to go to here:
system/etc/gps.conf
Use the text editor to alter the gps.conf file to this (if you are in the US):
NTP_SERVER=us.pool.ntp.org
XTRA_SERVER_1=north-america.pool.ntp.org
XTRA_SERVER_2=http://xtra2.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_3=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
If you are NOT in the US Search: pool.ntp.org: How do I setup NTP to use the pool? and look at the links in the center of the page to navigate to the closest pool to your geographical location and use that pool for the top server entry.
================================================== ====
This fix was awesome my gps locked on within 5 secs. Tried the navigation from work to home (around 30 miles). was extremely accurate.
This is what i did.
My phone already has the latest update being pushed by AT&T.
(updated using Kies 1.5.3)
Still the GPS was not working.
The phone is rooted.
Tried 2 different root file explorer apps (Free ones ). Those did not work.
Had to shell out $3.50 for app "ROOT EXPLORER". So far looks like a good investment.
Once the app is installed. browse to system/etc. change the permissions for the file gps.conf. then open in text editor and make the changes as suggested by the original poster "bigcraig4u".
save the file. the old info will be automatically backed up.
Reboot your phone.
Try to get the GPS status from either "GPS Status" or "GPS Test" or "LbsTestModeLauncher".
Hope this helps.
My only issue with captivate was the GPS. Now this also works fine for me.
Note: I did turn off the option "Use wireless networks" under "location & security" in settings. Hence my location is being computed from satellite info alone.
I had posted the following earlier. Just got another captivate from Best buy for 50$ for my wife. Spent around 1 hr on it and the phone is now network unlocked, rooted, at&t bloatware removed & GPS fixed. I have seen a few users try the following guide, and their GPS was fixed. Please, try it an post replies. Maybe we have stumbled upon a real fix here.
I HAVE 2 CAPTIVATES WITH WORKING GPS (Which was not working when brought new)
====================================================
Disclaimer: I am not responsible if something breaks or you end up bricking your phone.
=============================================
Find your optimal pool server here: pool.ntp.org: NTP Servers in North America, north-america.pool.ntp.org
For US the optimal server is: us.pool.ntp.org
I recommend you do the following:
Use Root Explorer or some other method (I use Root Explorer as it has a built in Text Editor and automatically backs up the altered file.) to go to here:
system/etc/gps.conf
Use the text editor to alter the gps.conf file to this (if you are in the US):
NTP_SERVER=us.pool.ntp.org
XTRA_SERVER_1=north-america.pool.ntp.org
XTRA_SERVER_2=http://xtra2.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_3=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
If you are NOT in the US Search: pool.ntp.org: How do I setup NTP to use the pool? and look at the links in the center of the page to navigate to the closest pool to your geographical location and use that pool for the top server entry.
================================================== ====
This fix was awesome my gps locked on within 5 secs. Tried the navigation from work to home (around 30 miles). was extremely accurate.
This is what i did.
My phone already has the latest update being pushed by AT&T.
(updated using Kies 1.5.3)
Still the GPS was not working.
The phone is rooted.
Tried 2 different root file explorer apps (Free ones ). Those did not work.
Had to shell out $3.50 for app "ROOT EXPLORER". So far looks like a good investment.
Once the app is installed. browse to system/etc. change the permissions for the file gps.conf. then open in text editor and make the changes as suggested by the original poster "bigcraig4u".
save the file. the old info will be automatically backed up.
Reboot your phone.
Try to get the GPS status from either "GPS Status" or "GPS Test" or "LbsTestModeLauncher".
Hope this helps.
My only issue with captivate was the GPS. Now this also works fine for me.
Note: I did turn off the option "Use wireless networks" under "location & security" in settings. Hence my location is being computed from satellite info alone.
Reversesunset
Newbie
Astro will work in place of Root Explorer, and it's free - though it is always nice to show $ appreciation to our developers.
Reversesunset
Newbie
omg, you guys are so boring. all you ever talk about in here is phones.
There is a 'release build' of Froyo for the Captivate, and it is sounding like the GPS is working well. Still early to tell...its a frothy thread (ie lot of activity) with everybody downloading. 
May bode well for the GPS problems.
May bode well for the GPS problems.
Try updating phone with OTA update, it fixes the gps issu or atleast did for me.
There is a 'release build' of Froyo for the Captivate, and it is sounding like the GPS is working well. Still early to tell...its a frothy thread (ie lot of activity) with everybody downloading.
May bode well for the GPS problems.
I skimmed through the (enormous) thread about the 2.2 ROM over on xda. It unfortunately contains the usual mix of people saying "locked 10 sats in my house!!!!" and others saying they can't lock any or it keeps losing signal while moving. I haven't installed it myself, but the variety of comments sound like about the same range of good/bad that we've been hearing with the 2.1 releases all along.
I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not optimistic at this point.
Rred
Member
I did today's (Oct.02.2010) OTA update of the phone.
My phone shows up now as firmware 2.1-update1 build eclair.ucjh7.
It did not improve the GPS connection but it did lock out the old LBSTestMode= *#*#1472365#*#* command.
AT&T said "Duh, call Samsung" so I did, and explained to a rep named Russell that I just wanted to test the internal GPS setting to see if the upgrade had left it in STANDALONE mode or switched it to AGPS. He said "enter..." and when I did, that nuked my phone! Factory reset, and he didn't even warn me. DO NOT WORK WITH THIS REP.
Anyway...A better second level rep named Bridgit gave me the new code, *2767*3855# which will take you to some fancier GPS test modes after you have this firmware update. She says they're not Samsung's code, but "Android's codes".
They confirmed that AT&T's latest firmware upgrade is still setting the AGPS server to the DISCONNECTED SERVER so it cannot help AGPS users. It didn't change my selection of STANDALONE mode, so as expected, even with the update the GPS performance still stinks.
The GPS is showing signal levels of 30-35 typically, which is not adequate for positioning, under a good clear skyview. After five minutes it found enough satellites to get a position--intermittently.
Sounds like the Broadcom (?) GPS chip is either no good, or Samsung's implementation of it kills the antenna position and makes it feeble.
Anyone know where the GPS antenna lives in the phone?
And I should thank Russell for wiping out my phone, which gave me the incentive to ROOT IT. As long as I had to start over from a clean slate.
My phone shows up now as firmware 2.1-update1 build eclair.ucjh7.
It did not improve the GPS connection but it did lock out the old LBSTestMode= *#*#1472365#*#* command.
AT&T said "Duh, call Samsung" so I did, and explained to a rep named Russell that I just wanted to test the internal GPS setting to see if the upgrade had left it in STANDALONE mode or switched it to AGPS. He said "enter..." and when I did, that nuked my phone! Factory reset, and he didn't even warn me. DO NOT WORK WITH THIS REP.
Anyway...A better second level rep named Bridgit gave me the new code, *2767*3855# which will take you to some fancier GPS test modes after you have this firmware update. She says they're not Samsung's code, but "Android's codes".
They confirmed that AT&T's latest firmware upgrade is still setting the AGPS server to the DISCONNECTED SERVER so it cannot help AGPS users. It didn't change my selection of STANDALONE mode, so as expected, even with the update the GPS performance still stinks.
The GPS is showing signal levels of 30-35 typically, which is not adequate for positioning, under a good clear skyview. After five minutes it found enough satellites to get a position--intermittently.
Sounds like the Broadcom (?) GPS chip is either no good, or Samsung's implementation of it kills the antenna position and makes it feeble.
Anyone know where the GPS antenna lives in the phone?
And I should thank Russell for wiping out my phone, which gave me the incentive to ROOT IT. As long as I had to start over from a clean slate.
The GSM Reset code he gave you is what most of us have used and helped our GPS. But it doesn't make sense that there is no warning that it will wipe the phone.
Since then, I have been having 8-10 locks within seconds with signals between 30-40. On My Tracks, if recording goes off the path it's by 10-20 feet which doesn't bother me.
Rred
Member
qwerty-
The first rep did not give me a GPS reset code, he gave me the FACTORY RESET CODE for the phone. Which wipes all applications and all user data. And he gave it to me without telling me that was what he was about to do.
I thought he was giving me a GPS access code but the big FACTORY RESET message on the phone suggested I had just been torpedoed by the first rep.
The second rep, Brigit, gave me the new GPS access code. That's not a reset code, it is just an access code.
If you aren't sure that your GPS is fully in STANDALONE MODE, with SKYHOOK OFF, and all network assisted servers/functions off, you can't tell if your GPS itself is working. All you can tell is that "A-GPS" might be working, and that's not the same thing. Most folks don't realize why the difference is important.
Then again, an awful lot of folks have been led to believe their GPS SENDS information to the satellites, too. Or that it can work underwater or underground. There's a lot of FUD about GPS, often in the press too.
The first rep did not give me a GPS reset code, he gave me the FACTORY RESET CODE for the phone. Which wipes all applications and all user data. And he gave it to me without telling me that was what he was about to do.
I thought he was giving me a GPS access code but the big FACTORY RESET message on the phone suggested I had just been torpedoed by the first rep.
The second rep, Brigit, gave me the new GPS access code. That's not a reset code, it is just an access code.
If you aren't sure that your GPS is fully in STANDALONE MODE, with SKYHOOK OFF, and all network assisted servers/functions off, you can't tell if your GPS itself is working. All you can tell is that "A-GPS" might be working, and that's not the same thing. Most folks don't realize why the difference is important.
Then again, an awful lot of folks have been led to believe their GPS SENDS information to the satellites, too. Or that it can work underwater or underground. There's a lot of FUD about GPS, often in the press too.
Isn't this special GSM reset people are talking about the same as the master clear found in settings, privacy? I had a Captivate from Costco that had a malfunctioning GPS - would be lucky to even see two sats much less lock them. Returned it and ordered another on Amazon. JH7 did absolutely nothing and performed many master clears with no effect.
Have recently (couple of weeks ago) gotten a Captivate, end of that week took a trip of about 700 miles to the west and back several days later. Had decided that the GPS was <ahem> "not all that it could be" and started looking in to it. About the same time, found that there was an update in a couple of days. Did the update and seemed to work a little better.
Pretty much brings us to today. After messing with it for most of the day (reading here mostly) and trying the various things, nothing seemed to be making much difference. Tried tweaking the LBSModeTestLauncher and all that. Had pretty much decided that it was going back to AT&T tomorrow and trade for another unit to see if it was any better. To make sure that I wasn't wishing for something that couldn't be, I had broken out my old Magellan Meridian Platinum - it was seeing sats and syncing and the Captivate was still looking - MANY minutes after the dedicated GPS had syncing and started doing other things.
Saw several having luck with the GSM reset, so made a list of all the programs that I had installed so far, and went for it. Did the *2767*3855# to do the reset and when the device restarted heard a melody that I don't think I had heard before (part of the reboot). Did the dialer entry into the testmode for the gps and low and behold I had 8 sats showing (and syncing) where 2 and maybe 3 were the best I could do before. This was MUCH closer to being in line with the dedicated GPS. In fact, the Captivate was seeing some sats that the dedicated GPS was not. It's an older model so figure this could be a good sign. <g>
All in all, think I made some progress thanks to all the info here! Will be leaving it alone for a while to see just how this does in a few days (yes, I saw that some fixes are only good for a few days). Hated to lose all the "stuph" but it may well have been worth the effort.
Pretty much brings us to today. After messing with it for most of the day (reading here mostly) and trying the various things, nothing seemed to be making much difference. Tried tweaking the LBSModeTestLauncher and all that. Had pretty much decided that it was going back to AT&T tomorrow and trade for another unit to see if it was any better. To make sure that I wasn't wishing for something that couldn't be, I had broken out my old Magellan Meridian Platinum - it was seeing sats and syncing and the Captivate was still looking - MANY minutes after the dedicated GPS had syncing and started doing other things.
Saw several having luck with the GSM reset, so made a list of all the programs that I had installed so far, and went for it. Did the *2767*3855# to do the reset and when the device restarted heard a melody that I don't think I had heard before (part of the reboot). Did the dialer entry into the testmode for the gps and low and behold I had 8 sats showing (and syncing) where 2 and maybe 3 were the best I could do before. This was MUCH closer to being in line with the dedicated GPS. In fact, the Captivate was seeing some sats that the dedicated GPS was not. It's an older model so figure this could be a good sign. <g>
All in all, think I made some progress thanks to all the info here! Will be leaving it alone for a while to see just how this does in a few days (yes, I saw that some fixes are only good for a few days). Hated to lose all the "stuph" but it may well have been worth the effort.
After the GSM Dialer reset, don't mess with Lbstestmode. Just try out your GPS whenever you get a chance and let us know how it's going. Mine has been working well for 8 days so far. The 3 days before that [before I did the GSM reset] I couldn't even get one satellite to lock.
I'm on froyo and cognition 2.2 BETA, GPS isn't that bad! Not as good as I had it before but at least I can mess with froyo.
LbsTestMode:
www.spirent-lcs.com
7275
ON
SUPL
Before I went to froyo I was using the supl.google.com server. Might switch to that and compare how things are.
LbsTestMode:
www.spirent-lcs.com
7275
ON
SUPL
Before I went to froyo I was using the supl.google.com server. Might switch to that and compare how things are.