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Any GPS problems with the S3?

G

gme109

Android Enthusiast
I'm currently using a Samsung Epic 4G, and I'm still having GPS issues with this phone. There was a brief time with Gingerbread when GPS worked fine, but for most of the life of this phone, GPS has been buggy as hell. So before I even think about upgrading to the S3, I'd like to know that Samsung has ironed out all of the GPS bugs.
 
No one has tested the GPS on their S3 yet?!
Does it lock quickly, and stay locked?
How many satellites does it lock on to?
I'm really hoping Samsung has fixed all the problems with their GPS receiver, that they never admitted to.
 
A slightly bigger issue with Google Maps is when you are offline (e.g. traditional GPS units like Garmin and TomTom that have maps loaded locally) and don't have an internet connection available. Luckily Google is working on the issue and there might also be other hacks available.
 
Maybe it's just me then. I switched from an Epic 4g that would literally show me on my back porch. My S3 puts me about 30 feet away in the parking lot. Not very good for navigation. I use it for navigation both while driving and walking. I'm getting 11 out of 15 satellites with an accuracy of 249 feet acording to GPS Essentials. And, it doesn't lock on for very long. Within 60 seconds, it goes to 1 of 2 satellites and bounces between the two. Anybody hare any suggestions on that? (other than that, I friggin love this phone)
 
No problems with the GPS on my Galaxy S3. GPS would not work at all on my Samsung Captivate. Was so disappointed, that I skipped the Galaxy S2. I decided to take a chance with the Galaxy S3 because the phone is just AWESOME! No issues whatsoever with the GPS.
 
I have not encountered any GPS problems with the SGS3. I was using it overseas with the data turned off and it worked. Back home I have been using it as well and had no issues.

I do recall that back in 2010, there were reports of GPS problems with the first Samsung Galaxy S. It was the reason I didn't get one back then. As far as I know, the SGS3 is fine.
 
gme109 said:
No one has tested the GPS on their S3 yet?!
Does it lock quickly, and stay locked?
How many satellites does it lock on to?
I'm really hoping Samsung has fixed all the problems with their GPS receiver, that they never admitted to.
Click to expand...

I had the original Galaxy S, then the S2 Skyrocket for a few months, and now the S3. Both the S2 and S3 are way way better than the S. With the S I could not get any locks inside, and even outside, at best maybe 8 or 9 satellites with a lock of a maximum of 6 (there was a known issue with the GPS on the S). With the two newer phones, I get up to 20 satellites and lock on up to 12 or 14, and I get locks inside my house. The lock is generally quick (10 to 15 seconds). I have noticed though that the locking on the S3 has slowed down a bit recently. Not sure why, but I sometimes have to tell Runkeeper, for example, to re-try. When I first got the phone a month or so ago, Runkeeper would always get a GPS lock on the first try.

Overall though, I am quite pleased with the GPS on the S3.
 
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