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All Things GPS

saps said:
OTD are you on TW or LP or ADW? I just got rid of TW yesterday and upon reboot BW wasnt working at all. But a little tinkering and its GTG again. Im thinking it was the removal of TW at first but perhaps it was a BW issue. I just realized Im on 3.14 and its up to 3.17 now :eek:
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I'm using LPP and I've had problems with BW, W&TW as well as FW. It can be rather random, but they all have trouble at some point in getting my location right. I've even had trouble with the browser not picking it up. With BW today I've been getting the little red triangle in the status bar a lot. I only have Google location services checked right now, but I've tried it with GPS on and even Verizon location services on.

Earlier, I tried both Google and AccuWeather for BW and while Google would find me Accuweather was showing me in Bilings, MT for some reason.:rolleyes:

Just updated it manually and everything is working again. This is SO random.
 
OfTheDamned said:
I'm using LPP and I've had problems with BW, W&TW as well as FW. It can be rather random, but they all have trouble at some point in getting my location right. I've even had trouble with the browser not picking it up. With BW today I've been getting the little red triangle in the status bar a lot. I only have Google location services checked right now, but I've tried it with GPS on and even Verizon location services on.

Earlier, I tried both Google and AccuWeather for BW and while Google would find me Accuweather was showing me in Bilings, MT for some reason.:rolleyes:

Just updated it manually and everything is working again. This is SO random.
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Yeah sounds the same here. LP+. BW [I just grabbed 3.17.1] Google location only [Not Verizon]. I seem to be better with Geolocation than Accuweather.
 
I'm still having trouble getting satellite locked. I have to restart my phone before every use and then follow the above steps. I really hope they fix this in 2.2 update
 
Update: Well, it must have been a network issue. It is working perfectly now. I did a *228 last night and everything is fine now. Not actually sure if the *228 had any real effect or if it was just placebo and timing, but I feel better anyway.;)
 
hindustani8 said:
I'm still having trouble getting satellite locked. I have to restart my phone before every use and then follow the above steps. I really hope they fix this in 2.2 update
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Same. This is what I have been resorting to as well. Since a reboot seems to help the issue, does this imply a software issue over hardware?
 
Another thing you can try if you get bored.

Long press homescreen > shortcut > activities. Select GpsSetup (the first one under GpsSetup). Click the shortcut that appears on your homescreen. Setup > position mode. Set starting mode to cold start.

In the normal menu/settings/location I have Google and wireless networks checked, I normally leave GPS unchecked and toggle it in the power control widget before I use maps (approximate location via google is good enough for other applications).

I don't use my GPS much so I haven't done much testing, post up if this does something for you. I suspect the cold start thing is like clearing the cache in the GPS status app that everyone is using.
 
This is a known issue and why Samsung has released a software fix for the Captivate already. I suspect people's differing behavior is due to their location.
 
I am waiting for 2.2 b4 doing anything. Mine has been searching for GPS for at least 5min without luck. Once it locks it seems accurate. Costco has a 90 day return policy and if this is not sortrd out with 2.2, it will go back. GPS is a major need for any smart phone for me. I surf and navigate more than I talk.
 
I think THIS link should also be posted in the OP:

Enabling Hidden Menus for the Dialer Codes to Work

Secret Menus

Notice it says:

Go into the Dialer and enter *#83786633 then press the Home key
Go back into the phone dialer and enter *#22745927
Now a box will come up asking for the SPC code. Enter 000000
Press the Hidden menu Enable radio button.
(Bearly: Now back out of the menu and go back to dialer)

Now you can use these codes.
 
Bearly said:
I think THIS link should also be posted in the OP:

Enabling Hidden Menus for the Dialer Codes to Work

Secret Menus

Notice it says:

Go into the Dialer and enter *#83786633 then press the Home key
Go back into the phone dialer and enter *#22745927
Now a box will come up asking for the SPC code. Enter 000000
Press the Hidden menu Enable radio button.
(Bearly: Now back out of the menu and go back to dialer)

Now you can use these codes.
Click to expand...

Can you make the navi voice louder with these menu unlock? GPS seems to work much better outdoors. Locked quickly and carried me to destination perfectly. Sitting indoors, it seems to take forever to lock on sats.
 
II Kings 9:20 said:
Can you make the navi voice louder with these menu unlock? GPS seems to work much better outdoors. Locked quickly and carried me to destination perfectly. Sitting indoors, it seems to take forever to lock on sats.
Click to expand...
Yes you can! I did it. Just can't quite remember where I saw it. I'll try to find the link for you.
 
Ok, just wanted to throw this out in case it's happened to anyone else. GPS Status and Toolbox put out an update (last week I think). After the update my GPS is flawless. Locks in less that 5 secs everytime. Before the update, I was locking on around 60 secs on average and that was if I started GPS Status first. Much longer if I went straight to Google maps.

I have the AGPS cache auto-download set for every six hours. My location settings are Standalone GPS and VZW location services. In my experience, Google Services seems to conflict with the other two. (see my earlier post).

Anyone else?

Cuda
 
Cuda52774 said:
Ok, just wanted to throw this out in case it's happened to anyone else. GPS Status and Toolbox put out an update (last week I think). After the update my GPS is flawless. Locks in less that 5 secs everytime. Before the update, I was locking on around 60 secs on average and that was if I started GPS Status first. Much longer if I went straight to Google maps.

I have the AGPS cache auto-download set for every six hours. My location settings are Standalone GPS and VZW location services. In my experience, Google Services seems to conflict with the other two. (see my earlier post).

Anyone else?

Cuda
Click to expand...

Hmm, I don't recall a GPS update but I am now locking within within 30 -60 seconds:D, previously it took 3-5 min.
 
Well now that I have the GPS lock OK and the Nav volume up I decided to give Google Nav another try. I like the interface quite well, however it leads me astray too often.

1. Drove up from North Myrtle Beach to Lockwood Folly G&CC. The Google directions had me turn the opposite way from the correct way from Holden Beach Road.

2. Drove up to WestPort Golf Club this morning. Luckily, I knew where this course was. Once again, Google Nav was wrong. It told me to turn left when I needed to turn right at the short road to the clubhouse. I checked and the correct address for the clubhouse was entered. When I made the correct turn, Google tried to get me to do a U-Turn to go back the wrong way.

3. Driving home from the course, the Google Nav directed me to turn left one block before actual location. This would put me into a cul-de-sac from which my house would not even be visible. Just for the heck of it, I turned into the cul-de-sac and google said I had arrived home. It changed to a street view of a house that is decidedly not mine.
All this time, the unit had good GPS fix and showed me on the road exactly where I actually was.





Sadly I feel I just cannot trust Google Nav. as much as I like it otherwise. I have had a few strange routings with my Magellan PND but nothing like the errors from Google. I will go ahead with my plan to give CoPilot Live a try but I do not plan to subscribe to their traffic data unless they offer a much better deal. I already have lifetime traffic on my Magellan
 
wtherrell said:
Well now that I have the GPS lock OK and the Nav volume up I decided to give Google Nav another try. I like the interface quite well, however it leads me astray too often.

1. Drove up from North Myrtle Beach to Lockwood Folly G&CC. The Google directions had me turn the opposite way from the correct way from Holden Beach Road.

2. Drove up to WestPort Golf Club this morning. Luckily, I knew where this course was. Once again, Google Nav was wrong. It told me to turn left when I needed to turn right at the short road to the clubhouse. I checked and the correct address for the clubhouse was entered. When I made the correct turn, Google tried to get me to do a U-Turn to go back the wrong way.

3. Driving home from the course, the Google Nav directed me to turn left one block before actual location. This would put me into a cul-de-sac from which my house would not even be visible. Just for the heck of it, I turned into the cul-de-sac and google said I had arrived home. It changed to a street view of a house that is decidedly not mine.
All this time, the unit had good GPS fix and showed me on the road exactly where I actually was.





Sadly I feel I just cannot trust Google Nav. as much as I like it otherwise. I have had a few strange routings with my Magellan PND but nothing like the errors from Google. I will go ahead with my plan to give CoPilot Live a try but I do not plan to subscribe to their traffic data unless they offer a much better deal. I already have lifetime traffic on my Magellan
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I've been playing with the Waze app (social GPS app). It's been more for fun though. It's still got some developing to do (depending on where you are located, some areas more than others) but it has been helpful with traffic. I can see other "wazers" on the road and there's a chat function so you can actually ask how traffic is. Also, the "wazers" put reports on the map...such as if there is an accident, or a cop sitting on the side of the road, speed traps, road work/hazards, etc so you might see what up ahead of you on the road....if enough wazers are out there. Anyway, if you're just looking for something to try, this works.
 
Cuda52774 said:
Ok, just wanted to throw this out in case it's happened to anyone else. GPS Status and Toolbox put out an update (last week I think). After the update my GPS is flawless. Locks in less that 5 secs everytime. Before the update, I was locking on around 60 secs on average and that was if I started GPS Status first. Much longer if I went straight to Google maps.

I have the AGPS cache auto-download set for every six hours. My location settings are Standalone GPS and VZW location services. In my experience, Google Services seems to conflict with the other two. (see my earlier post).

Anyone else?

Cuda
Click to expand...

Don't think I got that update and it still takes me a while... :(
 
cherylcthorpe said:
I've been playing with the Waze app (social GPS app). It's been more for fun though. It's still got some developing to do (depending on where you are located, some areas more than others) but it has been helpful with traffic. I can see other "wazers" on the road and there's a chat function so you can actually ask how traffic is. Also, the "wazers" put reports on the map...such as if there is an accident, or a cop sitting on the side of the road, speed traps, road work/hazards, etc so you might see what up ahead of you on the road....if enough wazers are out there. Anyway, if you're just looking for something to try, this works.
Click to expand...
Odd, my goog Nav has been spot on. My buddy's X is similar, better than the in car navigation
 
II Kings 9:20 said:
Odd, my goog Nav has been spot on. My buddy's X is similar, better than the in car navigation
Click to expand...

Actually, If I need to travel through the state, across state lines or in a more rural area, I prefer my Google Maps app. I don't think I mentioned it on this posting, but I did in a previous one. Waze is a fun social GPS app, but when it really counts, my Google Maps is 100x better. I totally would recommend it.
 
After more research, I found out that google search was not giving me the complete address. For instance a search for WestPort golf club, Denver NC gave address of 7494 Golf Course Drive. That's why google nav was telling me the wrong turns. There is a Golf Course Dr. N and a Golf Course Dr. S. The clubhouse is on the S version. But google Nav was automatically assuming the N version. When I put that S version in google Nav it directed me properly. I am finding that both Bing and Yelp give me better addresses than google search. They both returned the Golf Course Drive S address. Bing Nav. would be OK if it had spoken turn guidance with street names.
So if I am sure of the correct address Google Nav is still fine.

I also tried using the PC and Google maps to design a custom route. Then while in the turn listings I clicked the send link and sent the directions to my email address. I then used my phone to check the email. When I pulled it up on the phone there at the bottom of the page was the option to view in Google Maps. I clicked that option and it went into google maps on the phone and I could navigate from there!! So it looks like google maps and Nav has so many advantages over all the others that I think it will still be my nav app of choice.

CoPilot live is great except for two things:
1. Unintuitive UI
2. Gives spoken turn directions but does not speak street names or exit numbers. You have to glance at the screen for that. I like the way that CoPilot displays the info, tho.
I could try get by the cumbersome UI if the street names, etc. were spoken. However, if you need an economical phone based GPS that will work where you don't have phone data service this is definitely one to try!! Oh, if you do try it, don't attempt to download the maps by WiFi unless you want your phone tied up for a couple of days.
EDIT: Well I was wrong. Thanks to PiMan for this. Now able to get CoPilot Live speaking street names and exit numbers. I just had to dump Lisa (voice) in favor of *en-USA. Great!! Very good app except for directing me to an outer-belt exit that hasn't been built yet. When it tried to direct me back to the same exit, I made a stop, clicked on that turn. A box came up asking me if I wanted to avoid that turn. I clicked yes and was redirected properly. Best $4.99 I have spent!

Have not tried VZW Navigator and don't intend to at this point.
 
Sent myself an email with custom route from google maps on PC. Opened email and directions were there. At bottom of email was "view in google maps" option. It will go into nav with this custom route!
Works great, but how do I save that custom route on my phone to use next time?
All I have found so far is the destination can be saved but the next time I want to go there google nav recalculates the route and does not give my custom route.

EDIT: I tried to google nav the custom route. All was well until the GPS locked and I started along the custom route. Hadn't gone a quarter mile when suddenly a "Recalculating" notice appeared and my custom route became the old cumbersome route I had sought to avoid. So much for downloading custom routes from google maps. It looks like it will work and then doesn't. So far, I'm really liking CoPilot. Enough to maybe try their live services.
 
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