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Help GPS not working

D

dorlow

Android Enthusiast
I have a Samsung galaxy s4. Lately I've had nothing but problems with it. Mostly the batteey. Normal use and by about noon, the battery is dead. I rooted it and used apps such as lean DROID and other root power saving apps and still not helping. I then tried cynogenmod and had nothing but problems. Couldn't make and. Receive calls etc. Finally getting really frustrated I changed it back to stock rom. Some reason I'm running re same software and it is rooted again but my battery is lasting all day now. Only problem is my gps isn't working. It is on and enabled. But it's way off. Google maps shows me moving when I'm moving but it shows me a city over jumping streets. It's way off. I don't want to do anything drastic because I've had so many other problems. Just want my gps to work. I've rebooted the phone. Both Google maps and waze are not working. Google maps shows me a city over jumping streets. Waze just says it can't determine my location.
 
Sounds like with all the ROM swapping you've been doing one thing to do if you haven't been all along is to clear the system cache partition:
http://www.itjungles.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-how-to-wipe-cache-partition.html
Along with that, try installing this 'GPS Status & Toolbox' app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2&hl=en
In its options menu run these tasks to reset your S4's GPS -- 'Calibrate compass', 'Calibrate pitch and roll', and especially 'Manage A-GPS state'.
 
I tried the gps fix app. I just sat outside and ran the gps a fix and sat there for 10 minutes and it finished saying there's no fix.
 
I just restarted the phone into the advanced settings and wiped the cache partition per a few suggestions. It didn't help. Booted back into the OS and opened up GPS status and went outside for a few minutes and found a whopping zero satellites.
 
In the GPS Status app, in its menu there's a 'Diagnose sensors' option. When you select it are there green check marks by the 'GPS sensor' and 'Gyroscope' sensors?
 
Found a few threads on GPS antenna fix at XDA and a few other sites. Most say to check that the screws holding the back on are tight especially where the antenna connection is located. Bending up the prongs on the antenna connector for better contact and one fix using aluminum foil to increase contact.

http://m.instructables.com/id/Galaxy-S4-GPS-repair/
 
Today, I booted the phone in safe mode and Google Maps still couldn't determine my location. With this being a brand new phone, I really doubt its a hardware issue. I don't want to take it apart or use aluminum foil to rig it... I think I might try defaulting it again... for the millionth time in the last few months. I did have an aftermarket ROM on it a few weeks back and even with the default image loaded from Kies, the OS still showed Custom. I ran a "hack" yesterday and forced it to say Original or whatever that it's not Custom (because it shouldnt be anymore.) Before the hack, I couldnt install Google updates. Now those work. But if I restore it, I want to make sure somehow it's absolutely factory. Any ideas how to restore it as if it had never been touched? I would've thought a complete default using Kies would do that, but I guess not.
 
I'd suggest refraining from multiple ROM changing and experimentation on your Blu if you want to assure that all its functionality remains intact, save that for your S4.
 
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