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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
OK...I also use gps test, and when in a new area I use the "tools" to clear gps cache, then download new agps data..this helps get the initial lock. So I'm not sure what this GPSrestore is supposed to do. The GPS performance on mine is pretty good imo since I replaced the supl server with google and changed the port to 7276 , so I may not wanna mess with what's not broke...

However, if installing this so called GPSrestore: does it put the supl settings back to original? Has anyone ckd into that for those who have changed the supl server to google?
 
fldude99 said:
OK...I also use gps test, and when in a new area I use the "tools" to clear gps cache, then download new agps data..this helps get the initial lock. So I'm not sure what this GPSrestore is supposed to do. The GPS performance on mine is pretty good imo since I replaced the supl server with google and changed the port to 7276 , so I may not wanna mess with what's not broke...

However, if installing this so called GPSrestore: does it put the supl settings back to original? Has anyone ckd into that for those who have changed the supl server to google?
Click to expand...

For you, I agree, don't fix it if it ain't broke :)

I took the chance because I hadn't done anything to my GPS other than use GPS Test and GPS Status. Low risk, high gain for me.

If you do it, moderate risk, moderate gain, imo.
 
KonaZXIII said:
I have had one GPS lock since buying the phone mid-August. Once! Not after adjusting the settings, not after JH7, not with the leaked froyo, and not with ANY of the custom ROMs.

Just that once months ago with stock rooted 2.1.

I'm back to stock rooted 2.1. I download and ran this app and now I get a FAST lock every time.

Take that as you will.
Click to expand...

Well now that I've said all of this, I just now went out in the street (sunny/clear skies), opened Gmaps and, no dice. I ran GPS Test and GPS Status apps and both found 3 sats, but no lock.

I then ran Samsung's restore and it failed. I gave up after it failed three times consecutively.

Weee... :rolleyes:
 
Well, here is something I just noticed. The app did nothing to restore the GPS settings. I just looked in LbsTestMode menu and it still has the changes I made.
So, I guess the app did absolutely nothing.
 
^^^I agree...just for the hell of it, I navigated to my office this morning..its about 20 miles and it went off track a couple of times..once it took awhile to recognize that i had turned, so it wanted to recalculate the route..fairly accurate...I think folks' expectations are higher than what is really capable of most cell devices GPS performance. For geotagging, routing and finding poi's it's perfectly fine..nav?...eh..maybe not so much but very good in a pinch
 
George0211 said:
Well, here is something I just noticed. The app did nothing to restore the GPS settings. I just looked in LbsTestMode menu and it still has the changes I made.
So, I guess the app did absolutely nothing.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking it does something behind the scenes...xda forums may have some add'l info-i may ck over there later on
 
KonaZXIII said:
Well now that I've said all of this, I went just now went out in the street (sunny/clear skies), opened Gmaps and, no dice. I ran GPS Test and GPS Status apps and both found 3 sats, but no lock.

I then ran Samsung's restore and it failed. I gave up after it failed three times consecutively.

Weee... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Put it on a charger to get all three parameters set. Then don't do anything more with it!

I only ran it once. Got the parameters, then used plugged/unplugged several times. Worked great. Locked fine. Accuracy was slightly worse unplugged. Perfectly accurate when plugged. But both times I was in a car. I don't use GPS for walking. Will try to test that at some point.
 
Not sure if this matters to anyone. Perhaps it's only coincidental.

I recently started using Vlingo. When I'm in the car, I use Vlingo in Car, primarily for Navigation.

It seems to activate the GPS and maps and get routing directions faster than if I go to that Navigate app manually to set my route.

Has anyone else seen this? I'm asking here because perhaps Vlingo somehow helps to get a lock?

P.S. You don't have to be in a car to use it. Should work if you're walking, too.
 
For everyone that is still having problems with gps after this update. I used it again today and instant lock in position and navigation. Never has it done that (2 days straight). The app does not give me an instant lock while i'm here at home (inside) using wifi. Outside using wifi it's instant lock/navigation
 
I was outside with a full view of the sky when I tested mine.

Booklover, as for agreeing to disagree, I agree with some of your points, but you keep missing mine. My GPS didn't work before I rooted. That's my point. It has nothing whatsoever to do with rooting. Zip. Nada. It was defective upon shipping.

Now we can agree to disagree about the points we disagree on - that rooting has something to do with the defective GPS. I maintain it doesn't. We can agree on your other points, that rooting voids warranty, changes the Captivate from stock, thus negating the manufacturer's responsibilities - but not for the initial, defective GPS.
 
fldude99 said:
^^^does it seem to help accuracy when moving?
Click to expand...


yup....but i never had that problem...before it took like 5 minutes sometimes longer to get a lock but once i had a lock it was good. This app fixed the wait so instant lock. It usually locks within about 8 seconds after typing in the directions.
 
OK, got it to work.
I read on xda to make sure in your SUPL settings you have "Secure Socket" set to off. Once I did that, I got a lock within a couple seconds and got accuracy of 10 meters and it actually put me in the correct spot. I did not try the navigation. I'll try it on the way home tonight.
 
In reference to obstructions and selected programs:

I walked outside and took 20 steps into the open after turning on GPS. I loaded GPS Test and had 7 satellites immediately. I loaded Navigator and couldn't get a lock after 30 seconds. I loaded AT&T maps and it locked me in immediately with a small circle.

In my computer room, there is a HUGE tree that covers that side of the house. I walked into the house, sat at my computer (obvious RF/Interferance issues as usual) and loaded AT&T Maps again. It tracked me, but the circle was much larger.

The tree and/or my computer equipment played a part in the pin-pointing.
One program I tried worked, the other sat there uselessly.

So, rather than just ASSuming things don't work, do some testing with different locations and programs.

YOU could also be having the same problems. It could be your program or your location.

BTW, 700 miles from NC to my home the GPS worked and didn't have me bouncing all over the place.

Do your homework and see if you can find a common denominator.
 
George0211 said:
OK, got it to work.
I read on xda to make sure in your SUPL settings you have "Secure Socket" set to off. Once I did that, I got a lock within a couple seconds and got accuracy of 10 meters and it actually put me in the correct spot. I did not try the navigation. I'll try it on the way home tonight.
Click to expand...

That's great!

Thanks for sharing the tip. I'm sure others will benefit.

reinbeau said:
Just got a lock in 5 seconds. That's the best I've had so far!
Click to expand...

Awesome! Did you do what George did?
 
I got a lock after running the program but of course as soon as I started moving I lost the lock and was in la la land.
 
BookLover said:
Awesome! Did you do what George did?
Click to expand...
Yes, I did. When I first tested the GPS Restore it took over 30 seconds to lock. Did the 'SUPL settings "Secure Socket" set to off' thing and it locked in 5 seconds (I was outside in the middle of the backyard with a clear view of the sky).
 
I understand the gps on this phone doesnt work at all, but how come when your using google maps with the gps turned off and the mobile network turned on it still doesnt work? I will get a location (usually not acurate) but it wont update on my phone while I am driving like my old old blackberry did. I know this may be a stupid question but is the over all location on this phone that is bad?

Im a noob, ill admit it!
 
OK, I tried the navigation on the way home from work. It's still useless for navigation. :)
My drive is about 10 minutes long, first 5 minutes it just displayed a message "Searching For GPS...." Then it finally got a lock but updated way too slow. It was telling me to turn after I would already make that turn.
 
jblaze5779 said:
I got a lock after running the program but of course as soon as I started moving I lost the lock and was in la la land.
Click to expand...

George0211 said:
OK, I tried the navigation on the way home from work. It's still useless for navigation. :)
My drive is about 10 minutes long, first 5 minutes it just displayed a message "Searching For GPS...." Then it finally got a lock but updated way too slow. It was telling me to turn after I would already make that turn.
Click to expand...

I bet you were both on battery only when you tried this, right?

Prior to GPSRestore, I had that issue when using GPS when the phone wasn't plugged into my car charger. Unplugged, if I got a GPS lock, then accuracy was iffy. Sometimes I got no lock at all. But once I put it on charger, instant lock, perfect accuracy.

I surmised that the problem may be that GPS is underpowered when on battery,which is different than bad GPS. I had tested this theory out plugged/unplugged (before the fix) and consistently, when unplugged, GPS had issues, either with locking or with accuracy.

After the Restore, GPS plugged remained perfect and unplugged was MUCH better, still not 100% as plugged, but lock was instant and, unplugged, accuracy went up to say 98% from 90%.

So, try the GPS *PLUGGED* and see if that improves your lock and accuracy while navigating. I'd bet that it will.

I've consistently stated I've had no issues from GPS since day 1. It was true, because I always plugged the charger in when I used my GPS. I only tried it unplugged because I figured that could be why there were so many complaints. And I was right, at least with my phone.

I have a detailed post about what I did to test this theory. I'll post a link when I've found it.

EDIT: Here's the link: http://androidforums.com/samsung-captivate/221572-so-long-fellow-captivaters.html#post1913498
 
Nice my GPS was working OK before using Samsung's GPS Restore - once it restored it it won't lock again :). Oh well I'll change it back to my previous settings.
 
russ9127 said:
I understand the gps on this phone doesnt work at all, but how come when your using google maps with the gps turned off and the mobile network turned on it still doesnt work? I will get a location (usually not acurate) but it wont update on my phone while I am driving like my old old blackberry did.
Click to expand...

Because a fix based upon cell towers is not accurate, and may not be enough to detect movement. Especially if you're only picking up 1 or 2 towers. It's an approximated position, and if it even places you in the right town you're lucky.
 
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