Help GPS fix problems

[dazcaz]

I recently upgraded to an HTC desire Z from a Nokia N97 Mini. I'm very happy to have done so as the N97 Mini is a useless pile of c**p!

Anyhoo... One of the niggles that I have is the GPS. If I use it, it works fine and gets a fix in seconds.... But if I try to use it again a bit later on, I cannot get a fix, even though I did before in the same location.

If I turn the phone of and on again or do a restart, all is OK.

I use GPS quite a bit for navigation and general location based applications.
This has become quite a problem. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does it's when I really need a quick fix... When testing, and if time is not an issue, all is OK... it's as though the phone knows I need it to work properly and is playing with me

It doesn't matter what GPS using app I use. Back in the early days of GPS on phones, certain apps kept hold of the GPS and others could not use it if the app was not shut down properly (My N95 8GB was good at this)... Could the same be happening here?
Is there a quick way to shut down apps, or to check if any apps are running?

Thanks In Advance.

 

[Slug]

One of the niggles that I have is the GPS. If I use it, it works fine and gets a fix in seconds.... But if I try to use it again a bit later on, I cannot get a fix, even though I did before in the same location.

If I turn the phone of and on again or do a restart, all is OK.

The GPS almanac and/or the A-GPS data cache may be outdated or corrupt. Try downloading GPS Status from the Market, choose Manage A-GPS Data from its Tools menu and do both Reset and Download. Then open Maps and let it determine your position (it will take a bit of time due to the new data). Now see if the problem of it not obtaining subsequent fixes has been cured.

Back in the early days of GPS on phones, certain apps kept hold of the GPS and others could not use it if the app was not shut down properly (My N95 8GB was good at this)... Could the same be happening here?

I was using Maps and Locations quite a bit this weekend while away from home and didn't have any problems. Whichever was active was able to use the GPS fine, although those are the only two apps I played with.

 

[dazcaz]

Thanks for the tip. I have done as instructed and am very impressed. The GPS now works indoors without me having to stand on the windowsill
It's a cracking little app, and useful for all sorts of reasons, not just resetting the data.
Thank you!

 

[Slug]

The GPS now works indoors without me having to stand on the windowsill

Glad it helped. It kind of pains me to admit that my DZ has a better GPS than the standalone Garmin that I entrust with my safety in the hills, but when it comes to obtaining an indoor lock it's true.