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Help GPS issues?
- Thread starter Sleuth
- Start date
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- samsung galaxy s
Possibly he is basing this on the lots of reports coming in from those who already received the update. GPS wise: It's either high percentage of the devices have hardware problem which makes it impossible for the fix to work as it should or the fix is not included. For lag it is easier to judge: the RFS which is the root cause of the lag is still there, but at least it is something easy to deal with so expect lots of lagfixes to appear for SGS froyo soon.
Maybe they were able to correct the most obvious part of the GPS nightmare, the problem with the initial lock. Look at the success reposts. Typically "I can get a lock within 10 seconds in my room now!" If the user is knowledgable enough to use GPSTest, he may add an information about accuracy of 5-10 meters lied by GPS drivers. They sually not even check if their actual position is within the reported accuracy circle, not to mention testing this while in a moving car.
Actually very few knows how to test a "GPS fix" thoroughly. It requires an environment where hard to follow your exact position (urban jungle or deep forest) and a good reference GPS reciever recording the track simultaneously. I did not see too much tests of this yet.
In a non GPS-hostile environment I was able to achieve quite fair real-life accuracy with JM2+some GPS hacks form different leaked firmwares. Of course there are still mysteries in the big picture (e.g. why running iGO for android can greatly increase the accuracy?) but the truth is if Smsung call this update a fix, i am not brave enough to imagine what failure means in their mind.
As I already wrote, for most of the user having quick GPS lock means problem fixed. These users will be satisfied by this release. The percentage of the users who care/can/willing to check the GPS performance/accuracy is very low. Even when you put a track record in their face most of them will say: "Who cares about track recordings if it can navigate me acceptably with Sygic/iGO most of the time, it is good enough for me".
It is psychology. Most of the people would like to feel the satisfaction about that they bought the best device money can buy, and if it requires some wishful thinking then they will do it. And not to forget: most of them have no base for comparison and the lacking any in-depth knowledge about GPS technology.
For example I have been questioned several times on different forums that why do I except similar accuracy from a GPS receiver built in a phone as from a "standalone" GPS receiver like a PNA. (And they usually ignore the answer: because a standalone GPS unit have fewer information available to get your position fast and accurate compared to aGPS units in handsets)
So I expect "problem solved" checkmark in samsung's checkbook and no more effort to solve the real problem from their side.
Beards
Android Expert
Under normal circumstances I would totally agree with you here.
My concern though is when I spoke with the UK P.R. Manager I stressed these points and that not to expect GPS to be resolved when it is following a pre-determined route which has some form of correction built in.
Hence the need in using applications such as My Tracks which is left to run freely.
I was hoping this was taken into account and as yet have not heard anything to the contrary.
I need to get back to them to ascertain at what level is the GPS considered acceptable.
I'm 'hoping' and 'praying' it's not what you say here but unfortunately you can't rule it out....
Berads seriously - What do you expect from them? Do you think they will ever acknowledge that it is a hardware problem and will recall all SGS sold? Or they will hold on to their lies and deny the problem exists at all (keep in mind that no OFFICIAL communication acknowledged the existence of the problem at all - and no, twitter does not qualify as official communication)
So next time you communicate with a PR person, just keep in mind PR is for finding believable lies for customers. I think this lie fulfilled its goal: for the period when SGS was the top android phone on the market it kept the belief that the GPS problem is fixable by software update and kept selling figures high. Next one or two weeks this high figures would drop anyways as Desire HD and Desire Z hits the market, so PR at samsung did it's job very well.
daveleather
Newbie
Well, I'm back on the officially offered JM1 via Kies, no root, no lagfix, and I will do things 'by the book' now.
Looking forward to seeing what we're offered - this week hopefully!
Through all of this, I will just remember how perfectly the Desire worked in MyTracks a week or so ago ... but it has an inferior screen and has a laggy froyo! So whatever, I'm sticking with my SGS! (Unless Vodafone make me an offer I can't refuse on the Tab when that arrives!!) (although I'd want real confirmation that the GPS is perfect on the Tab first!)
Looking forward to seeing what we're offered - this week hopefully!
Through all of this, I will just remember how perfectly the Desire worked in MyTracks a week or so ago ... but it has an inferior screen and has a laggy froyo! So whatever, I'm sticking with my SGS! (Unless Vodafone make me an offer I can't refuse on the Tab when that arrives!!) (although I'd want real confirmation that the GPS is perfect on the Tab first!)
So very dissapointed. I had the Galaxy Spica before and the GPS was extremely good. I now have the Galaxy S with the FROYO update. The GPS is so erratic it's almost unusable. The problem now must surely be with the hardware. SAMSUNG is going to lose an awfull lot of customers over this.
Well I can certainly, categorically say don't get one of these from Orange if you want any sort of GPS function. What seems to be very iffy GPS on other users handsets, as reported here, is absolutely non-existent on the 3 handsets I have had from Orange. I assume the bloatware that Orange love to pile on to the thing is what's killing it stone dead. Also been told I have to get the updates via Orange website as I am 'tethered' by contract.
As a result I am pursuing an answer from Orange as to why this is even marketed as a GPS device as it simply isn't one as supplied by them. I'm on my 'matter of principle' thing here as I'm keeping this handset, mainly for the screen but I can't stand companies getting away with lying to the public.
As a result I am pursuing an answer from Orange as to why this is even marketed as a GPS device as it simply isn't one as supplied by them. I'm on my 'matter of principle' thing here as I'm keeping this handset, mainly for the screen but I can't stand companies getting away with lying to the public.
Umm, it's already out and I'm using it right now, it's just not available in every country yet and guess what... GPS is worse than ever and it still lags.
At some point they might include a fix, maybe next year.
Basicially if you need GPS on your phone, buy another phone.
AlexanderA
Member
Yeah im an ex-nokia user aswell. Splendid GPS, scarily accurate. I just recalled today how sometimes id have my nokia in my pants pocket, be in a store, and not until I was at the register paying for my purchases, get notified that 'GPS signal was lost'. I remember it being loud about losing sattelite fix but I don't think Ive ever had it happen outdoors
ahh memories of the past lol 
s.m.knipe
Android Expert
Even my HTC products were as you say "spookily accurate" (most notably my N1). I really do not think it is hardware though, as the SNR values and the satellites seen by my N1 and Captivate are nearly identical, it is just the time-to-lock and accuracy that is different. I really think that to save power, our gps chip only polls for a position a percentage of the time, and interpolates/extrapolates the in between points. If this is indeed the case, firmware and drivers should be able to adjust those two things and supply more power to the chip. It might drain the battery a little bit faster, but at least it would work. I really don't get why there seems to be an accuracy cap of about 16 feet though...
Beards
Android Expert
Compi, I fully hear what you are saying loud & clear... but I think I confused the issue.
My source is not the UK P.R. Manager. That said person is the one who contacted me about the GPS and I replied wanting to ensure when the testing was carried out it had to have 'other' GPS software to test it's accuracy.
In other words, when P.R. later come back stating GPS is now fixed I needed the argument crystal clear so they had nothing to fall back on.
Oh boy. 12 pages! I have the same problem as the original poster but I stopped reading after three pages. I've never managed to record a full journey with My Tracks whether on foot or by bicycle. I've wondered if I need to have the phone in fuller view of the sky instead of in a pocket.
Is there any progress? Might be nice if the original poster could edit an update in the opening post.
Is there any progress? Might be nice if the original poster could edit an update in the opening post.
Beards
Android Expert
The simple answer is most who own the SGS have the problem.
The Froyo update with included GPS Fix does not appear to have cleared up the issue.
The latter fix allow's a quicker location fix but many report if you use it with a 'non-road' GPS software (My Tracks etc.) it does not update your position correctly.
I'm trying to find out at what level Samsung are calling this 'Fixed'!
Seems to me that scandinavian froyo withdrawn from KIES. I upgraded to it on saturday morning (then downgraded to JM2 after some track recordings) but if I make the same regisrty hack now, the offered upgrade is JM2/JM1 not JP6/JPM. I really hope they did this step before cleared out from different reactions that the GPS fix is an epic failure. Would some be so clever to test and confirm this withdrawal?
Beards
Android Expert
Ohh yes please..... Could someone do as compi requests.
I need further ammo to take back to Samsung.
beitinsw
Member
No disrespect meant at all, but how close are you to changing your handle to Don_Quixote? It's really a sad situation that anyone has to struggle with Samsuck like you've been struggling.
Mr Beards - I for one have appreciated all of the info that you've managed to get for us over the last couple of months and although I've been one of the more impatient, I had a reasonable hope that things would be resolved.
I'm not feeling that any more and with the release of the DHD this week I think I've finally been pushed over the edge. If you could feedback to Samsung how upset people are, and I very much doubt I'm the only one this is the end of the road for, then I think that would be good.
Cheers.
I'm not feeling that any more and with the release of the DHD this week I think I've finally been pushed over the edge. If you could feedback to Samsung how upset people are, and I very much doubt I'm the only one this is the end of the road for, then I think that would be good.
Cheers.
From a guy on XDA-Dev:
I can confirm there is no Froyo available in Denmark now - one of the countries where it was officially launched without need for Kies hack. Only JM2/JM1 i offered now. I've contacted Samsung support, they had no idea why it wasn't available anymore. Then again, they weren't even told when Froyo was released.
I can confirm there is no Froyo available in Denmark now - one of the countries where it was officially launched without need for Kies hack. Only JM2/JM1 i offered now. I've contacted Samsung support, they had no idea why it wasn't available anymore. Then again, they weren't even told when Froyo was released.
Beards
Android Expert
Thanks Karnka for your kind words...
As I have done in the past, I most certainly will feedback any information back to Samsung.
I do know the information is read at a higher level and not just at some support level who then loses it in the out tray.
Thanks... I know you are all frustrated and belive me, when I say I feel your frustration ten-fold I am not exaggerating.
Thanks... I'm putting together a message at the end of the working day.
AlexanderA
Member
Does anyone else find that when you do have a lock, it drops it as soon as you touch the home key? It can have a 5m fix with 8 sats in use, but just hitting the home key makes the seemingly strong fix disappear instantly and loses view of all sats, without exception. Not that keeping your hands off will prevent the signal from being dropped but still, it makes me wonder.