gps sucks why does GPS Test fix it?

[josh4]

I run google maps and try to find my location. For 10 minutes it says "can not determine" "can not determine" "can not determine" blah blah. When I load GPS Test and wait for a few satellites to be "In Use" I try Google Maps again and it immediately finds my location.

Why can't Google Maps do this on it's own? Why does GPS Test fix the problem?

This is an easily reproduced issue. This is not a result of waiting long enough for Google Maps to work. Google Maps does not find the location no matter how long I wait until I run GPS Test.

 

[fratermus]

Perhaps gmaps does not turn on the GPS and GPSTest does? Do you see the CPS icon running in the notification bar when gmaps is running?

I wonder if turning off Location privs in Settings could stop gmap from seeing a running GPSr?

 

[josh4]

Perhaps gmaps does not turn on the GPS and GPSTest does? Do you see the CPS icon running in the notification bar when gmaps is running?

I wonder if turning off Location privs in Settings could stop gmap from seeing a running GPSr?

Yes when I load maps I get the icon in notification bar. Same icon that loads for other GPS apps, including GPS Test.

By Location Privacy do you mean "Share With Google"? I have that turned off, use wireless networks is also turned off. After running GPS Test and I get a few satellites "In Use" then load maps and maps immediately finds me.

 

[fratermus]

For testing purposes, you might try enabling location sharing with Google and see what happens.

 

[sal2103]

sometime it depends on your location.....if you live in a area where there are a lot of tall buildings or a lot of trees it can affect for gps signal

 

[fratermus]

sometime it depends on your location.....if you live in a area where there are a lot of tall buildings or a lot of trees it can affect for gps signal

True, multipath and occluded reception (both problems in urban canyons or other difficult areas) can cause degraded performance. But this should be the same for both applications that are using the same hardware.

Maybe the dedicated GPS app is using some hook in the GPS that Maps isn't. Dunno.