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Captivate Firmware Update

novagator said:
Anyone who's had this update for more than a few hours care to report on the GPS? I know people who had previously flashed back to the stock rom would actually get great results from the gps for a little while, but eventually the problems started happening again. Same thing out of the box. The GPS works great for a certain period of time, then it's iffy at best.
Click to expand...

Exactly... There have been lots of success stories from people re-flashing the stock firmware only to have it crap out in a day or two.

I will flash this new firmware IF it ends up being a real fix... Otherwise... I have one week before I'm getting the Aria instead and flashing a working Froyo rom.
 
Yes, Titanium Backup would save you grief. I didn't think about it until it was too late, which is why I was using my AppBrain sync to reinstall things. Still, the MarketAccess trick will be useful until our market access gets fixe.

As for my GPS...it seems better but...I'll assess that more when I travel in the next few days. I downloaded that an app that was in one of the GPS threads here, something that tracks your path on a google map or something to that effect? Regardless...I'll update either from my trip or when I come back.
 
I installed it last night. I changed the settings to Auto Configuration and MS Based. Previously that did nothing, but I got it to lock on for the first time ever inside my house, and outside it locks in 30 seconds tops.

I hope this continues, because I'm getting about two weeks away from the return date.
 
chicknlil said:
As for my GPS...it seems better
Click to expand...

Damn... Seems better isn't gonna cut it for me. I need this GPS to work quickly, consistently, and accurately or I am taking it back.

Until it can lock on a satellite with and SNR<20 and lock on more than 8 satellites. I won't be happy.

I know many of you think that is crazy, but I plan on using the GPS on this phone for hiking and when you are in valleys with trees, the GPS has to be good to get any kind of location. My Samsung Jack could do it... I want the Captivate to also.

Please report back though!
Thanks!
 
I tried for a few hours last night to get this thing flashed with odin but for the life of me I could not get into download mode. I originally tried the volume+power way, but it would only keep going into recovery mode.

I guess I am going to need the android sdk? Do I just need the adk from the android site? It is talking about "Eclipse" too, is that something I need?

If you used the android sdk to get into download mode could you shoot me a few quickies on what programs you needed first to get it installed that'd be helpful, and the order of commands to get into the mode? (ex: turn phone off, connect, open command prompt, turn phone on, etc. etc..)

I'd like to get this flashed on my phone so I can provide feedback on gps and such. The more feedback, the better right?
 
jmreed97 said:
I know many of you think that is crazy, but I plan on using the GPS on this phone for hiking and when you are in valleys with trees, the GPS has to be good to get any kind of location.
Click to expand...

Man found in Virginia Woods After Being Lost for Two Weeks

Mr. J.M. Reed was found today after his wife reported him lost over two weeks ago. Mr. Reed an avid hiker departed from his house on the morning of July 29th, to hike in an area he had hiked several times in the past.

"We couldn't understand how he could get lost" said Mrs. Reed, "he has excellent outdoor skills and good hiking equipment".

When Virginia Game and Wildlife officials found Mr. Reed, delirious from exposure and near starvation, he was sitting by a large rock, pounding it with what appeared to be the destroyed remains of a cellphone.

One of the GW officers indicted he identified Mr. Reed, helped him to his feet and gave him water. Moments later another officer T. Jones, recovered the cellphone casing and said to Reed, "Hey this is a new Samsung Captivate, I heard it was an excellent GPS system!"

This was apparently followed by a sudden attack by Reed.

Officer Jones is recovering from minor wounds in the county hospital, and Reed has been held in the state mental institution for further observation. It has been reported he sits in the corner of his cell saying repeatedly, "30 day return window....30 day return window..."
Click to expand...

...
 
Well I say 'seems better' because, as you pointed out, these 'revert to stock' fixes seem to make things work very well for a few days.

Inside my house, within 30 seconds, GPS Test is picking up between 6 to 8 satellites, locking on them all, and accurate to within 10 meters. Checking in Google Earth even shows me in my group of condos, rather than another group within the same complex (as how it used to be).

I do find that it all seems to work better and more accurately if I run GPS Test first. Dunno why that is - I'm not GPS savvy enough to be able to figure that out. :)

I will run 'My Tracks' on vacation though and upload those to google maps.
 
thindery said:
I tried for a few hours last night to get this thing flashed with odin but for the life of me I could not get into download mode. I originally tried the volume+power way, but it would only keep going into recovery mode.

I guess I am going to need the android sdk? Do I just need the adk from the android site? It is talking about "Eclipse" too, is that something I need?

If you used the android sdk to get into download mode could you shoot me a few quickies on what programs you needed first to get it installed that'd be helpful, and the order of commands to get into the mode? (ex: turn phone off, connect, open command prompt, turn phone on, etc. etc..)

I'd like to get this flashed on my phone so I can provide feedback on gps and such. The more feedback, the better right?
Click to expand...

For the android SDK, you only need to install it (as memory serves), and then you run it from the command prompt on your computer (cmd on Win7 - run in Administrator mode). You'll have to navigate to where ever you saved sdk on your computer (for me it's c:\users\<name>\downloads\etc) and specifically to the 'tools' folder.

To do it this way, your phone needs to be connected via usb, in debugging mode, and 'mounted' on your computer.

The command to reboot into recovery mode is adb reboot recovery
for download mode, it's adb reboot download

Odin needs to be open before you put the phone in download mode - you need to show it where the PIT file and the PDA file are (the other two files you downloaded) ... once the phone is in the download mode, you just need to press 'Start' on Odin and it will flash the firmware. When it's done, it'll reboot your phone to a screen similar to the recovery screen, and then will reboot again to the Samsung/AT&T start screen.

The first time it booted after the flash, it took a bit to get from the Samsung logo to my home screen, but once it did, everything moved smoothly.

Hope this helps.
 
chicknlil said:
Well I say 'seems better' because, as you pointed out, these 'revert to stock' fixes seem to make things work very well for a few days.

Inside my house, within 30 seconds, GPS Test is picking up between 6 to 8 satellites, locking on them all, and accurate to within 10 meters. Checking in Google Earth even shows me in my group of condos, rather than another group within the same complex (as how it used to be).

I do find that it all seems to work better and more accurately if I run GPS Test first. Dunno why that is - I'm not GPS savvy enough to be able to figure that out. :)

I will run 'My Tracks' on vacation though and upload those to google maps.
Click to expand...


OK... Seeing 6-8 and locking on all of them especially indoors sounds great! If it keeps up, I will be flashing this ROM by Monday. And keeping this beautiful phone!

I so want to keep this phone! If I have to go to a Aria, my iPhone "friends" are going to ridicule me to no end.
 
One more quick note...I turned off wifi before opening any of the GPS apps, so those results should be pure.
 
Netconn said:
I hope there's a work around for the USB tethering. Need that.
Click to expand...

People are already saying that you can use PDAnet with it still and it works just fine. You can root and change settings to allow non market apps. Or you can just use the "Android Central Side Load Wonder Machine" (search google for it, super easy to use) to install the PDAnet app on your non-rooted captivate. While your at it, might as well get the "wireless tether" app that is discussed in the all root subforum here for captivates.

All of these require you to just download the .apk to your computer and then connect your phone and run the side load wonder machine. Work's flawlessly.

PS. on second thought I do think you need to be rooted to run the pdanet and wireless tether. But there is a 1click to do it, and apparently the 1click works with the new firmware too.
 
I flashed to the new firmware and noticed the following:

Pros:
-The UI seemed faster

Cons:
-gmail had problems syncing
-facebook app could not be downloaded (although the app is pretty worthless)
-GPS was worse for me. It took about 5 minutes to get a fix and I could only see 4 - 6 satellites.

Flashed back to the OLD firmware and I'm much happier with it.
 
well. I'm going to wait a week or so to see if this really fixes the GPS issue, or if like other so called fixes, it degrades in a few days.
 
skinien said:
I flashed to the new firmware and noticed the following:

Pros:
-The UI seemed faster

Cons:
-gmail had problems syncing
-facebook app could not be downloaded (although the app is pretty worthless)
-GPS was worse for me. It took about 5 minutes to get a fix and I could only see 4 - 6 satellites.

Flashed back to the OLD firmware and I'm much happier with it.
Click to expand...

Curious - gmail has sync'd fine for me, and as I was re-adding everything and the kitchen sink, I got offered an update to the facebook app.

GPS wise - did you go into the #*#* (etc) number and adjust the settings as suggested? The default settings seem to suck, regardless of firmware...
 
chicknlil said:
Curious - gmail has sync'd fine for me, and as I was re-adding everything and the kitchen sink, I got offered an update to the facebook app.

GPS wise - did you go into the #*#* (etc) number and adjust the settings as suggested? The default settings seem to suck, regardless of firmware...
Click to expand...

Yes. I tried it both with the stock settings and using the google supl server settings.
 
just a warning certain apps are removed from the market...

good thing the only things missing for me were fandango and sqlite editor :/
 
GPS still won't track me. The phone is great.. but this GPS problem is really starting to bug me considering I road trip a good bit.
 
Got impatient... Flashed the new ROM took even longer to get a lock and only 3/6 satellites 30 meter accuracy.

I'm done waiting... I am flashing back to stock and getting an Aria today. This sucks. :-(

I will miss everyone! Since I am taking it back now, I won't be able to say what happens when I connect a GPS antenna to the extension port next to the SIM.

Good luck to everyone!

I'll be lurking around for a while, my wife still has the vibrant and hasn't decided if she is taking it back yet.
 
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