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Help GPS Locking Problem

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landoftherich

Newbie
The GPS is rarely ever able to get a lock, let alone keep it. I've got clear views of the sky.

I tried running the apps GPS Status and GPS Fix. Sometimes after running GPS Fix it will work, but then GPS connection is lost within a minute or two. Is there a setting I might be missing here?
 
Check and see if the option to use the network location is checked. If it is, uncheck it.

-Phone Settings
--Location & Security Settings
---Use Wireless Networks (Uncheck this if it's checked)

Sometimes it will over-ride the GPS. It shouldn't but it does.

The GPS should be VERY accurate in the phone. I'm beta testing CacheSense for Android (A geocaching app that I used on BB for years). Sunday, when my handheld GPSr said I was 10ft from the cache, the phone said 1ft... and the cache was less than 2ft in front of me.
 
That did it. Thanks again you're a lifesaver! I hope they fix this in the next update. Kinda inconvenient having to change this setting depending on whether I'm inside or outside.
 
Sometimes tall building interfer with the GPS lock. I've run into this many times in DownTown Chicago, on my hand held GPS and Backflip phone.
 
itsallgood said:
Sometimes tall building interfer with the GPS lock. I've run into this many times in DownTown Chicago, on my hand held GPS and Backflip phone.
Click to expand...

That happens with just about any GPS... even nice, handheld GPSr units.

Russia is launching some new "Birds" now that will solve that issue.

I was just thinking of replacing my Explorist 210. She's done me well, but she's 7 years old. I guess I'll hold out until the GPSr units with these new chips start shipping...

Smartphone GPS Just Got A Whole Lot Better, And Russian | News & Opinion | PCMag.com
pcm-header-logo.gif

Smartphone GPS Just Got A Whole Lot Better, And Russian
ARTICLE DATE : September 7, 2011
By Sascha Segan

Sputnik is waiting to boost your GPS reception. The American GPS satellites aren't the only location-finding birds in the sky. Silently and invisibly, the 22 satellites of Russia's GLONASS system partner our GPS, and starting next year smartphones based on Qualcomm chipsets will be able to boost their prowess with GLONASS signals.

"It's like dual-core location," said Rob Chandhok, president of Qualcomm Internet Services. "You actually have the system able to look at both satellite constellations at one time and leverage them so
Click to expand...
 
landoftherich said:
That did it. Thanks again you're a lifesaver! I hope they fix this in the next update. Kinda inconvenient having to change this setting depending on whether I'm inside or outside.
Click to expand...

You would think that it's something that's an easy fix. The reason I know this trick is because I've seen this issue over and over for the last few years. It's really annoying on Blackberry phones. Their internet connection runs through RIM's "BIS" servers. So, here I am in North Georgia, and my phone would think I'm in in Waterloo... CANADA!!

It should be a matter of just setting a priority on what location data to use. GPS should ALWAYS get priority over network location. The only way network should get priority is if there is no GPS lock.

Why no one, on Blackberry or Android, has figured that one out is a mystery for me. :confused:
 
Since you know more about GPS than your average user, do you know why the GPS on Nokia phones works so well compared to other brands (Apple, Motorola, LG, HTC)?

On my Nokia E71 (and only that phone) I was able to get locks every time indoors with no windows, no wifi. It's like it was only using cell tower triangulation as a way of locking in. But it was always dead on and took mere seconds. The same for the turn by turn navigation using Ovi maps. Dead on and never needed line of sight to the sky.

Is this a technology proprietary to Nokia's, or will other phones have this ability soon? Or did I somehow get my hands on a super phone from the future?
 
I don't think you had any super phone from the future. Like anything, it's a combination of the Chipset they use, and their software coding. And, I think you are right that they must have done some cell tower triangulation. It's possible they also kept the GPS chip in a "Warm" state. (Not at full power, but on just enough to get a ping from the birds from time to time.)

Take my Magellen Explorist 210 GPSr. It's a handheld, dedicated GPS. It's never let me down. But, it can take 4 minutes to get a lock and never gets a lock inside. My Atrix is blowing it away. None of my BlackBerry phones got this good of a GPS signal.

I've found my Atrix get's a pretty decent GPS signal indoors, unless I'm WAY inside a building with a lot of steel around me.

The new chips running off those Russian birds I mentioned above are going to blow ANYTHING we've seen away.
 
My Atrix has a very good GPS lock both indoors and out. It takes only a few seconds to lock and is very accurate too. My old Harmon/Kardon hand held GPS could take minutes to get a lock. My phone GPS has not let me down.
 
Well that worked for about half a day. No GPS lock again. There's got to be something wrong with mine, every other thread regarding this phone and GPS raves about how well it works.

Instead of trying to troubleshoot all of my many issues I'm having with the Atrix, I'm wondering if it would just be easier to swap the device. The one I've got has dust under the screen, GPS that doesn't lock in, and my bluetooth connection is still dropping out from time to time (but way less often thanks to Wolfman).

Here is the thing, I bought it used on Ebay and am using it on Straight Talk's network. If it falls under Motorola's one year warranty do you think I could get it fixed/replaced through them. Any advice on the best way to play this?
 
landoftherich said:
Here is the thing, I bought it used on Ebay ...
Click to expand...

I'm thinking someone sold you a dud.

As for getting it fixed under Motorola's warranty, you will have to call them. Typically, they handle that through the carrier's support department. In other words, an AT&T customer would go through AT&T to get it repaired/replaced. Then AT&T would settle up with Motorola on it.

All I can suggest is give Moto's support a call and see what you can do.
 
Motorola did wind up fixing all of the issues I was having free of charge under their warranty. GPS is now acceptable as long as I'm outdoors, it will lock very quickly.

In the car however, its useless unless its pressed up against the front windshield. And even then it will lose GPS connection from time to time. It doesn't hold a candle to my old Nokia E71 which could get a lock sitting in the cupholder (or in a windowless basement for that matter!).
 
landoftherich said:
In the car however, its useless unless its pressed up against the front windshield. And even then it will lose GPS connection from time to time. It doesn't hold a candle to my old Nokia E71 which could get a lock sitting in the cupholder (or in a windowless basement for that matter!).
Click to expand...

I have to agree that there is something still wrong.

My Atrix get's an almost instant fix (As long as I have "Use Wireless Network Location" turned off) in the car, just laying in the center console or propped up in a cup holder.

Heck, I can even get a great fix standing in the men's locker room at the YMCA. That's a cement block room, in the middle of the building, with no windows and just 2, small, frosted skylights.
 
The Motorola RAZR XT910 has Glonass support as well; would be nice if the Atrix 4G also had this; I would have bought the XT910 if it wasn't so damn bifg.. ugh

Nice post btw!
 
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