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Help GPS problems?

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pakman134

Newbie
How long does it take for everyones' GPS to lock in Google Maps? For some reason, mine is taking way longer than it did with my incredible. It sometimes takes 30 seconds to 1 minute, and this is outside with no obstructions and clear view of the sky. Other times it won't lock and all and I have to reboot my phone in order for it to work. My HTC Incredible used to lock in less than 10 seconds. Is anyone else having this problem? Thanks

I checked to make sure all my location settings are enabled.
 
I can get a lock in my house within 10 seconds. Outside, it's almost instant and very accurate.
 
Wow, thanks guys, definitely seems like an issue with my phone. I'm on the phone right now with tech support. I can't even get it to lock in my house anymore. I was having sporadic issues with my 3g radio as well, so I'll probably make sure I get a replacement.
 
Try a factory reset before taking your phone in. If it doesn't work again, then take it in. Might just be as 'simple' as that :P

Also, it takes me no time at all (sub 10 seconds) to get GPS.
 
You may want to try turning off the VZW Loaction Services, and just use the standalone and Google one. I did this and mine seems to lock on much faster. Worked the same with my X too.
 
There are lots of variables involved with GPS. Sometimes my phone takes 5 minutes to lock in sometimes 30 seconds. It depends on atmospheric conditions where the satellite is at the time you are locking in, cloud cover etc etc. Right now from inside my house its been 3 minutes and its still about 1/4 of a mile off from where I'm really at. If I walk outside it will usually pin point very well as long as its not heavily overcast.
 
mundyb said:
You may want to try turning off the VZW Loaction Services, and just use the standalone and Google one. I did this and mine seems to lock on much faster. Worked the same with my X too.
Click to expand...

I took it into my store. They just got notice that VZW is working on the network in the Ann Arbor area so there may 3g data and GPS problems. I tried all the store phones and they too would not lock onto a GPS.

Saying all this, your solution works to get a GPS lock mundy! It seems consistent with what the VZW store told me, since it is indeed working when not using their location services. Thanks for that tip!

Also thanks to everyone else for the feedback/help!

Edit: I take it back.. GPS still does not work with VZW Location Services off.
 
You know....after a year with the Incredible and 1 week with the TB, my location problems were fixed with a new number. Crazy isnt it? I live in a Extended network and never, i mean never got a lock on for GPS. Location was always going back and forth to another town 5 hrs from me. Heck, on my latitude history i have traveled 41 k miles. New number and my problem is fixed with every location problem. GPS locks on right away. Also i have heard about very poor signal strength being fixed by a new number. Not sure if this is your problem, but Verizon had no idea what was wrong. The way i found out was activate my Incredible under my wifes number and the GPS and location problems went away.
 
pakman134 said:
How long does it take for everyones' GPS to lock in Google Maps? For some reason, mine is taking way longer than it did with my incredible. It sometimes takes 30 seconds to 1 minute, and this is outside with no obstructions and clear view of the sky. Other times it won't lock and all and I have to reboot my phone in order for it to work. My HTC Incredible used to lock in less than 10 seconds. Is anyone else having this problem? Thanks

I checked to make sure all my location settings are enabled.
Click to expand...

My problems to a T.
 
destardi said:
Try 'gps status' app in the market; helps me anyways.
Click to expand...

Since mine stopped working again today, I decided to give your app a try and it seems to have fixed things...

I did the clear cache option in the tools and now my GPS is locking on very quickly. Anyone else having issues should give it a try. Thanks for that tip.

Argh so if I uninstall the app it stops working again. Starting to really irritate me. I may have to go back to verizon if its still not fixed in a few days.
 
pakman134 said:
Since mine stopped working again today, I decided to give your app a try and it seems to have fixed things...

I did the clear cache option in the tools and now my GPS is locking on very quickly. Anyone else having issues should give it a try. Thanks for that tip.

Argh so if I uninstall the app it stops working again. Starting to really irritate me. I may have to go back to verizon if its still not fixed in a few days.
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you have to clear the cache on "GPS status" every time you want to use a-GPS? Try that.... I just keep the app down as a shortcut on one of my home pages....

You'd expect not to have to do this just to get your GPS to work.... Still debating whether to return the phone... only have 3 days left......
 
Return it. Mine gets a lock in a couple of seconds and accurate to 2m outside. Yours sounds like it's defective.
 
Next time I want GPS, I'll try turning off cell tower triangulation. I was trying to get a GPS trace of a hiking trail, and the Google Maps app had me ten miles away, on the other side of a river. The GPS trace wouldn't even start up. We'll see how this goes. Though, generally, I go without GPS.
 
Mine takes about 2 minutes, but when it locks it's dead accurate.

It's very frustrating. I'm surprised to hear my experience, like the OP's, is atypical. I'm not far from the Ann Arbor area, but it's hard to believe that their work could interfere with satellites.

@Silent Thunder - my understanding was that the frequency chosen for gps was specifically chosen because it was robust to atmospheric conditions. It was, after all, for military purposes - it's hard to imagine a military location system that only works on a sunny day.
 
I added VZW location service (it wasn't checked -- I think I had read some "save your battery" advice and unchecked it a while back), and my 2 min startup went down to 6 seconds. I did also download and reset GPS using GPS Status, but my guess is the VZW location service is what made it work.

Prior to adding VZW location service, GPS Status would get a lock immediately, but Navigation would still take 2 minutes.
 
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