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New google maps update **Fixed my GPS**

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I can get google maps to find me within about 5-10 secs without wireless assist. Navi works ok. I get accuracy between 5-10m. Runkeeper has worked good as well since it can track me on the side walk as opposed to on the street. Locks in less than 10 secs.
 
sremick said:
Not sure why people would think that an update to a Google app would fix a defective Samsung driver. If updating an app could mess with underlying hardware driver layers, I'd be seriously concerned about Android's security model.

Any of you noticing an improvement is seeing an anecdotal and coincidental incident caused by something else.
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The odd thing is, I get locks quick in every app besides Google Maps. Google Nav usually locates me within seconds and keeps the lock. Google Maps usually takes a while to find me, if it ever does.
 
Quick Q for all your GPS freaks(not a bad thing...haha).

I am guessing you are actually using the GPS? Not edge/3g radio to locate your location. I don't have GPS on my plan...20 per month is too steep I think. Last time I checked it cost that...

It is always a good 1500 ft or more off when I try to find my location...

How much is GPS per month nowadays?
 
jflexe99 said:
Quick Q for all your GPS freaks(not a bad thing...haha).

I am guessing you are actually using the GPS? Not edge/3g radio to locate your location. I don't have GPS on my plan...20 per month is too steep I think. Last time I checked it cost that...

It is always a good 1500 ft or more off when I try to find my location...

How much is GPS per month nowadays?
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Don't confuse GPS with AT&T Navigator. The GPS feature is free. It's AT&T Navigator (simply an app that can use GPS) which has a monthly fee... and sucks and is a ripoff anyway. Even if it were free, I'd use Google Maps/Nav instead.

GPS is available to you at no cost. Turn it on and install some free apps to take advantage of it. :)
 
Oh so I can turn on GPS on and use google maps?!?!? FREE?! I knew google maps did free, but didn't know I could use GPS for free! Omg, you made my month sir!
 
I may have had this work for me, as well.

I changed out my Captivate for another unit, and re-installed my applications as soon as I got the new unit. The Google maps / Navigator update was newly available when I did.

My GPS seems to be working, now. I can't say whether it was new hardware, new software or both. I am a lot happier about the phone this week compared to last week. ;-D
 
Omg...I have minutes and unlimited data/text...so GPS is free...sorry to ask, might make me seems stupid...but I won't see hidden charges for turning on my GPS and using google maps, and use it to look up hot spots to go? Oh my god...Can't describe how much I love this phone....

Now all I need is it to last a full day of heavy usage...but thats asking for a miracle.
 
jflexe99 said:
Omg...I have minutes and unlimited data/text...so GPS is free...sorry to ask, might make me seems stupid...but I won't see hidden charges for turning on my GPS and using google maps, and use it to look up hot spots to go? Oh my god...Can't describe how much I love this phone....

Now all I need is it to last a full day of heavy usage...but thats asking for a miracle.
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It's free. AT&T Navigator is what costs money.

Download Google Maps and it comes with Google Navigator. It's a really great GPS app.
 
SlappyMcgee said:
For everyone that says the google maps update fixed the gps. Turn off "Use Wireless networks" and your WiFi then see if it locks.

After updating G Maps I tried maps and boom instant location. But once I turned the 2 settings off no such luck.

GPS isn't fixed via the google maps update.
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This. We'll have the real fix soon enough. (I hope)
 
I usually agree with this user's posts. He must be smart. ;)

Anecdotally supported wishful thinking indeed.

Seriously, if the problem is with SAMSUNG, why on earth would an update targeted at all Android devices do anything to improve GPS performance for a particular device? Unless it was Maps' problem all along, not the device. Is that what you're saying?

Reminds me of my iPhone 3G days, when people would say "the new firmware improved my signal strength". Hogwash.

sremick said:
Not sure why people would think that an update to a Google app would fix a defective Samsung driver. If updating an app could mess with underlying hardware driver layers, I'd be seriously concerned about Android's security model.

Any of you noticing an improvement is seeing an anecdotal and coincidental incident caused by something else.
Click to expand...
 
JBH said:
I usually agree with this user's posts. He must be smart. ;)

Anecdotally supported wishful thinking indeed.

Seriously, if the problem is with SAMSUNG, why on earth would an update targeted at all Android devices do anything to improve GPS performance for a particular device? Unless it was Maps' problem all along, not the device. Is that what you're saying?

Reminds me of my iPhone 3G days, when people would say "the new firmware improved my signal strength". Hogwash.
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Placebo effect is in full force here. :)
 
qwertyaas said:
It's free. AT&T Navigator is what costs money.

Download Google Maps and it comes with Google Navigator. It's a really great GPS app.
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I have been needing to ask a question and this looks like a good spot. I haven't used the gps yet until today. I went to market to download google maps and it said I already had it but wanted to update. I updated and tried to use it to find a radio shack. It found a radio shack but when I hit the navigate button it asked if I wanted to use AT&T maps or AT&T navigation. It would not give me the option to use google even though I was already in it. What the heck is that all about?
 
Samsung GPS functions sucks. is there any fix? I can not get GPS signal under open sky.. phone keeps searching for it. Even with google maps.. directions are off and sometime signal is lost half way.

I'm not sure if it is only my phone or most captivate users have issue with GPS. I'll be getting new one next week as I'm still under 30 days.
 
I think some people have been lucky with the GPS issue or are just unaware of having the issue. Under some conditions, the GPS appears to work fine. Especially when using aGPS. I assumed mine was fine ever since I had it. That was up until the time I try to do navigation with it. When I first tried navigation on the freeway, it actually worked fine, but it was more or less a straight shot. When I tried travelling through city streets, every time I made a hard turn onto another street, the GPS would go completely haywire. It would relocate me somewhere way off the mark and then Google maps would spin around in circles for anywhere up to a minute. Since Samsung is claiming it to be a software issue, I think everyone has the same problem, but has not necessarily run into the situation that has brought it to light yet.

The walking navigation seems fine so far. I think perhaps because walking is very gradual, versus driving, where you can drive faster the the GPS software can currently keep up with. That's just an initial observation though, since I have only just barely played with the new navigation. I'll have to give it some more time and see how it holds up, but by the then GPS fix may have rolled out anyway.
 
ArchVile said:
I think some people have been lucky with the GPS issue or are just unaware of having the issue. Under some conditions, the GPS appears to work fine. Especially when using aGPS. I assumed mine was fine ever since I had it. That was up until the time I try to do navigation with it. When I first tried navigation on the freeway, it actually worked fine, but it was more or less a straight shot. When I tried travelling through city streets, every time I made a hard turn onto another street, the GPS would go completely haywire. It would relocate me somewhere way off the mark and then Google maps would spin around in circles for anywhere up to a minute. Since Samsung is claiming it to be a software issue, I think everyone has the same problem, but has not necessarily run into the situation that has brought it to light yet.

The walking navigation seems fine so far. I think perhaps because walking is very gradual, versus driving, where you can drive faster the the GPS software can currently keep up with. That's just an initial observation though, since I have only just barely played with the new navigation. I'll have to give it some more time and see how it holds up, but by the then GPS fix may have rolled out anyway.
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Last weekend I used Google Nav everytime I drove. Each time I took different routes, turned on streets off the route to test the GPS. Each time it rerouted me within 2-5 seconds and had an accurate lock the whole way (2 ~30mile drives, 2 ~25mile drives, and several local drives). The only time it was off is when it located me as being on the highway instead of the service road - which is around a 5 foot error.

So I would say I am aware of the issue which is why I'm testing my GPS so much. Even as I walk home from work I load up MyTracks which usually has an accurate 'Track'. At times it has up to a 5-10 foot error.
 
Like several others here, I was skeptical when I first read this post. I downloaded the Google map update last night but hadn't try my GPS since. After reading this post, I went outside and tried my GPS Status app. It immediately found 4 satellites, then locked on 9 after 20 seconds or so. I tried it several times with wifi off and on. Each time it locked on 9 satellites and showed accuracy of 16 feet each time. I came back in the house and amazingly it was able to find and lock on 7 satellites. It has never done that. It has never been able to find even 1 satellite while in my house. Whatever explanation there is, it has made a tremendous difference on my phone. I just tried it again and it locked on 7 in less than 20 seconds ... accuracy 98.43 feet inside my house!
 
TAWM said:
I have been needing to ask a question and this looks like a good spot. I haven't used the gps yet until today. I went to market to download google maps and it said I already had it but wanted to update. I updated and tried to use it to find a radio shack. It found a radio shack but when I hit the navigate button it asked if I wanted to use AT&T maps or AT&T navigation. It would not give me the option to use google even though I was already in it. What the heck is that all about?
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That's very odd. Are you sure you couldn't scroll for more options?

Android doesn't make the scrollability of various dialog boxes very clear. Sometimes it's not obvious that you have more available options than the ones shown on the screen.

If you have Google Maps installed, and it knew to prompt and ask, Google Maps should've been an option.
 
This seems to be the case for me too (but I can't find the GPS thread that was a sticky for weeks so I don't know what other updates there may be).

I was in London for the past week and used Google Maps frequently and it worked very well.
 
For a while my GPS didnt work. I just changed my settings(not stock and still not stock) and I have quick lock on GPS!!!!

I got 10 satelites in about 10 seconds or so, 5 in use. It was about 5 meters off! Awesome!

My setup is everything stock, except...

Operation Mode- MS Based
Skyhook - ON
Server- supl.google.com
Port- 7276
SUPL Secure Socket- OFF

I am sooooo happy I can use my GPS and google maps accurately and MUCH faster!

Hope this helps someone!
 
RobertAste said:
How did you do the update of google maps I can's seem to find where.

Thanks.

robert.
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Open the the android market app>click the lighted menu button on the lower left of the phone>click downloads> this will show you what apps you currently have and if any updates for them are available. Google maps just had an update the other day.
 
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