True (well close enough). I forgot that Google maps, and some other stuff, can't use VZW location services. Basically using only VZW, you should still get HTC weather, and a few other things, but that's it.
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Help I feel like I'm in the effin' twilight zone
- Thread starter cartisdm
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- htc droid incredible
True (well close enough). I forgot that Google maps, and some other stuff, can't use VZW location services. Basically using only VZW, you should still get HTC weather, and a few other things, but that's it.
FYI you can report bad wifi locations to Google here... Report wrong location detection (WiFi only) - Google Mobile Help
sdrawkcab25
Extreme Android User
I thought I read somewhere that someone figured out that one of the databases was using the wrong longitude, for example using +64.65328 instead of -64.65328. I could be way off base here but I distinctly remember reading that. Maybe find out hanoi lat/long coordinates and compare to yours. And I also remember reading some other people thought that the clock widget was putting them in some asian city, but found out that they had a small town near them that had the same name (doesn't seem like that relates to your situation though)
superchaos
Android Enthusiast
Some apps are real sensitive to + - Long Lat numbers. GeoPin is that way. Big difference from 33.5623 -117.3442 and 33.5623 117.3442 It will put you on the other side of the world. GPS Status doesn't seem to care.
cartisdm
Android Enthusiast
Hey all,
Sorry today I have been busy at work. Not actually doing work, mind you, but just busy while "at work".
I do remember seeing that floating around, but it does seem like a bit of a stretch. Also, most of my observations of incorrect location are while at work (because I'm sitting still and my screen is lit up all day so I can check it easily). The fact that I jump to California, Europe, China, Vietnam, etc. it doesn't match up.
Today I have left all the services on (checked), but Wifi is turned off completely. I have closely monitored my location and the closest my phone can get is a cell tower about 1.5 miles away and I have a big blue circle radius. This is expected because I am in the back of a building where I can't get strong satellite signal. So far my phone hasn't hopped to other states/countries at all.
Tomorrow I will turn on my Wifi but not connect to anything and see if I start to pick up some frequent flyer miles. I would suspect that there is a bug when Wifi is trying to connect but doesn't see any networks it's getting messed up somewhere.
Sorry today I have been busy at work. Not actually doing work, mind you, but just busy while "at work".
I do remember seeing that floating around, but it does seem like a bit of a stretch. Also, most of my observations of incorrect location are while at work (because I'm sitting still and my screen is lit up all day so I can check it easily). The fact that I jump to California, Europe, China, Vietnam, etc. it doesn't match up.
Nope, completely dead around my work. My building is kind of far away from other buildings so no networks are within range.
I tried different combinations of the all the services turned on/off and I was still getting quirky location issues.
Today I have left all the services on (checked), but Wifi is turned off completely. I have closely monitored my location and the closest my phone can get is a cell tower about 1.5 miles away and I have a big blue circle radius. This is expected because I am in the back of a building where I can't get strong satellite signal. So far my phone hasn't hopped to other states/countries at all.
Tomorrow I will turn on my Wifi but not connect to anything and see if I start to pick up some frequent flyer miles. I would suspect that there is a bug when Wifi is trying to connect but doesn't see any networks it's getting messed up somewhere.
I still think your phone sees some wifi signal or signals that are mapped incorrectly in the google database. Try grabbing the WiFi Analyzer App and see if you can see any signals around you.
If your phone can't see any signal, it wouldn't have anything to report to google to ask the database where its at except the cell tower. If there was no signal I would expect it to act just like wifi was turned off. Maybe turn wifi on and encase the phone in a metal radio wave shielding box
Having it shoot you all over the world, makes me think it sees something other than the cell tower, reports that to google then gets a bad location because their database is wrong.
Or it could be a bug... but I still guess your phone is seeing something.
cartisdm
Android Enthusiast
I still think your phone sees some wifi signal or signals that are mapped incorrectly in the google database. Try grabbing the WiFi Analyzer App and see if you can see any signals around you.
If your phone can't see any signal, it wouldn't have anything to report to google to ask the database where its at except the cell tower. If there was no signal I would expect it to act just like wifi was turned off. Maybe turn wifi on and encase the phone in a metal radio wave shielding box
Having it shoot you all over the world, makes me think it sees something other than the cell tower, reports that to google then gets a bad location because their database is wrong.
Or it could be a bug... but I still guess your phone is seeing something.
You're right. When I search for signals to connect to, my phone doesn't find anything. However, when I use the Wifi Analyzer app I am detecting a "BOARDROOM" network between channels 9 and 13 at -70dBm and there is an "ATT" network that occationally pops up between the same channels at a very low strength (about -99dBm)
*EDIT*
Fun Fact: I just went into Google Latitude and clicked refresh.....I shot straight to Beijing, China
Do this.
get to where you can see the ATT network. check location. is it goofy? If yes, walk around until ATT network is out of range. Check location. is it still goofy? If no, I'm willing to bet the ATT network is the wrongly mapped network it the google database. Try and get a mac address and report it.
Do the same for the BOARDROOM signal.
I'm betting you will see when one of those networks is visible (I'm guessing the ATT because its so low and you say the location issue comes and goes) the location goes wrong, but the location is correct when that signal is out of range.
get to where you can see the ATT network. check location. is it goofy? If yes, walk around until ATT network is out of range. Check location. is it still goofy? If no, I'm willing to bet the ATT network is the wrongly mapped network it the google database. Try and get a mac address and report it.
Do the same for the BOARDROOM signal.
I'm betting you will see when one of those networks is visible (I'm guessing the ATT because its so low and you say the location issue comes and goes) the location goes wrong, but the location is correct when that signal is out of range.
cartisdm
Android Enthusiast
Yup, it has to be something quirky with one of those. It is strange that it doesn't consistently report the same city though. Later on this week I will try walking around with my phone and seeing what is up with those two networks.
On the bright side, we finally found the problem. Which means we're that much closer to a solution. What do you think is the best fix? I don't want to have to turn off my wifi every day at work, that's just annoying. I guess if it comes down to it, I can set up Tasker to do so, but I'd rather find a better solution first.
(Btw, thanks a MILLION for sticking this out with me. I have been looking for the root of the problem for months!!!!!!!!!)
yeah, thats still strange.
From a power management perspective, I keep my wifi turned off unless I know there is a wifi I want to connect to. The wifi constantly refreshing and looking for whats around and trying to connect to open networks drains battery. Also, sometimes I run into issue where the wifi will connect to an open network with low signal, then dissconnect. When it does this it drops your 3g connection, so if your in the middle of streaming Pandor for example, it will drop for a while, while the connection is re routed and you obtain new ip address.
If you don't have battery life problems with your wifi on all day, I would say just leave it. How many times do you check your location at work? Aside from showing off the cool things you can do with your phone? I'm expecting this issue to only happen with that bad wifi signal is in range. I expect if you walk outside, your location should be ok.
So, yeah, to get a good location while sitting at your desk, you might have to just switch wifi off, but once you leave work (and the range of that bad signal) it should work fine.
Also, someone posted a link in this thread to the Google form to submit bad wifi locations. It won't fix it instantly but hopefully eventually Google will fix the database in your location.
No problem. I'm new to smart phones, I've had my for about a month, but use GPS/survey data all day at work. (I'm a GIS Administrator) So I'm glad I found a way I can contribute.
cartisdm
Android Enthusiast
No battery problems? Ha! Nah, I just keep mine plugged in while I'm at my desk all day
True, it does correct itself when outside, but it also sets my clock for the current location so my alarms and calendar entries go all sorts of crazy. The point of a smart phone is to allow me to keep my life organized!
Yup, I think you're right. This sounds like the best solution so I'll set up a Tasker (great app if you haven't looked into it) profile to turn off my wifi when I get near work
Done! Who knows, maybe Google will make a personal visit!
I'm not sure if I follow. What do you mean?
He's talking about setting your work location as a favorite. So you could get back to it and see whats around even when your phone thinks your in Hanoi.
I think there is a way to set the calendars and stuff to a location and leave it, to not have it follow you (I think). Just set the city your in 99.9% of the time, then if you do travel to different time zones, you can turn it back to follow. That would be less switching than WiFi.
I have some experience in troubleshooting a similar problem. Some time ago all of the Android phones on Verizon in the Florida panhandle started reporting incorrect locations when using network location rather than GPS. Network location was based on a lookup of your connected Cell Tower ID in a Google Location database. Turned out that Verizon had migrated all the towers to a new Cell Network switch which necessitated a change in the Cell Tower ID's which then resulted in incorrect information being returned from Google's database. You can verify with your carrier whether or not this type of work could be what caused your problem and ask them to coordinate with Google (no easy task, mind you) to correct it.
Hi I'm having the same issue. I have tried EVERYTHING, including getting a new phone (sent by Verizon). The issue was still happening until today. I went to Concord and Danville and sure enough, my GPS (maps, weather app, etc) was finding the correct locations. Then as soon as I came home to Moraga, CA it went back to showing that I was in Brookline, Mass, which has been the issue for the last week. This is so odd! Obviously there's something wrong with the cell towers around here, but it's odd that it just started a week ago. I'm tired of being on the phone daily with Verizon and HTC for hours on end, so I guess I'm just gonna put up with it. Maybe.
cartisdm
Android Enthusiast
Did you try turning off your Wifi completely for a day or two and see if it clears up? My HTC Clock doesn't instantly correct itself as soon as I turn off my wifi but my Google Maps and Latitude does. I have to have wifi off for like 5 or 6 hours before the HTC Clock will get the right location (no, manually refreshing it doesn't work)
Don't know if anyone is still on this topic, but I ran across it trying to find a solution for my wrong location problem. I was up in northern MN, 280 miles from home. I have Verizon and usually get pretty good service up there. This time it seemed to have problems finding service. Not sure if I was roaming up there or not, but the "current" location is now stuck up north. I've had my phone since the Incredible came out, and never had a problem until now. Even the store manager had no clue and had to make a phone call. Their final plan was to do a factory reset, which I really don't want to do. Reading here, that doesn't always seem to work anyway. Any new updates on this one? It's driving me up a wall!
Thanks!
Thanks!
I am also seeing a similar issue in MN (southern suburbs) but I'm on T-Mobile with an HTC phone. Only happens at home. I'm going to try turning off my WiFi to see if it helps. For me, it just shows that I am in Fortaleza Brasil. Same place every time and location in google maps shows the same.
Thanks for all your analysis and debugging cartisdm and cipher6. Hopefully that does the trick!
Cheers!
Thanks for all your analysis and debugging cartisdm and cipher6. Hopefully that does the trick!
Cheers!