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Official: GPS fix is being pushed out

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I just made the file change, and went outside, and brought up navigator. I got an instant lock. Brought up the test screen, and had 8 satellites, and it appeared to be bouncing between 4 and 8 that it hooked to (I presume that is what the * means).

But also, that was with all my other settings back to original, except for the server being supl.google.com/7276. (Every thing I've tried has been very inconsistent).

Now, I don't know if the fact that I was at my house, and had wifi on, had anything to do with it or not.

Over the next few days we'll see how it goes. Frankly, I don't think we'll get it consistent/good until we get an update.
 
NOSintake said:
Anyone else confirm these settings? I need to make a few trips out of town this weekend, and really want to put the GPS to the test
Click to expand...
Those of you who had results with this, did you get any lock with an SNR <20? Or a lock on more than 8 satellites?

I haven't rooted yet, but I'll try this tomorrow...
 
jmreed97 said:
Those of you who had results with this, did you get any lock with an SNR <20? Or a lock on more than 8 satellites?

I haven't rooted yet, but I'll try this tomorrow...
Click to expand...

I'm not getting a lock on SNR < 20 or more than 8 satellites, but I'm inside and am not having more than 8 satellites show up at all.

My GPS really hasn't been THAT bad (okay maybe). Once it locked on, it would seem to stay locked on pretty well while I was using navigator, but it took forever to lock on. If I went into the gps test mode it would lock on faster, but in maps or navigator it would be forever if I had not just been in the test settings.

So far this has definitely made it lock on faster. I turned it onto cold start, disconnected wifi, and reset the phone. It still found my location while inside, in less than 10 seconds with maps. It may not be perfect, but it is a hell of a lot better than the default settings.

Also wanted to mention, it seemed like it made a big difference that secure supl be turned off. The other settings I'm using are MS based, supl.google.com, and 7276.

edit: I'm also seeing accuracy of 5 meters now, never saw anything better than 30 before. Man, I hope this keeps working. If it does, and I could get the stupid music player to let me sort my music by artist it will be peeeerfect.
 
Still working really well for me, which is something none of the other fixes did. Even works inside, except for the restaurant I went to tonight, but it had a metal roof, so I wasn't shocked or disappointed that it didn't work.
 
I used the settings in the beginning of the thread, and it got a lock really fast. But about a minute later, it lost connection, and didn't find it again for another 5 mins or so. That's with skyhook, wifi, and network location. Just for kicks I turned my network off (put it in airplane mode), and GPS got worse.

I may go back to the original settings, and see if that helps any (some people reported it has worked). If not, looks like I'll be doing some more file editing
 
Hi, I don't have a Captivate yet, but I've been researching it online before going for it, and I'm concerned about this GPS issue. In combing the net, I came across this video:

YouTube - Samsung Galaxy S GPS Fix

The guy says that running the "GPS Status" app first seems to make subsequent GPS operations work. This would tend to agree with the prevailing theory that it's a software issue, and implies that maybe the hardware is not normally being initialized correctly somehow. This app perhaps does initialize it correctly, so it subsequently continues working. Can those who have the GPS problem give this a try and post the results? The app is free.

Thanks.
 
bigcraig4u said:
We must keep searching for a fix - it's the Best Android Phone At&t has and it seems like it will be the phone for quite some time (but hey you never know - this one was a SHOCKER from out of NOWHERE).

This is what I have found and it works Really Well! (so far):
Not sure if I can borrow from another Forum, but hey these are desperate times which require desperate measures. This has work so well it's scary - If you can't get a lock inside stepping outside allows you a signal/lock almost immediately (that stays locked) and most times unless inside a brick building you can get a lock inside as well.

NEW INFORMATION!!!

ALSO! Check out this page: http://www.pool.ntp.org/en/use.html:
As pool.ntp.org will assign you timeservers from all over the world, time quality will not be ideal. You get a bit better result if you use the continental zones (For example europe, north-america, oceania or asia.pool.ntp.org), and even better time if you use the country zone (like ch.pool.ntp.org in Switzerland) - for all these zones, you can again use the 0, 1 or 2 prefixes, like 0.ch.pool.ntp.org. Note, however, that the country zone might not exist for your country, or might contain only one or two timeservers. If you know timeservers that are really close to you (measured by network distance, with traceroute or ping), time probably will be even better.

Find your optimal pool server here: pool.ntp.org: NTP Servers in North America, north-america.pool.ntp.org
For US the optimal server is: us.pool.ntp.org

Reference other threads I (http://ip208-100-42-21.static.xda-de...d.php?t=731462) I recommend you do the following:

Use Root Explorer or some other method (I use Root Explorer as it has a built in Text Editor and automatically backs up the altered file.) to go to here:
system/etc/gps.conf
Use the text editor to alter the gps.conf file to this (if you are in the US):

NTP_SERVER=us.pool.ntp.org
XTRA_SERVER_1=north-america.pool.ntp.org
XTRA_SERVER_2=http://xtra2.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_3=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin

If you are NOT in the US go to here: pool.ntp.org: How do I setup NTP to use the pool? and look at the links in the center of the page to navigate to the closest pool to your geographical location and use that pool for the top server entry.

REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Many are suggesting that we do NOT leave the Secure Socket ON. How will this effect data security with our devices? I don't understand how it could hurt us... But, there must be a reason for it. If someone could let me know I would appreciate it.
Click to expand...

So I'm not quite ready to declare victory... I need to do some more testing first... But I can tell you that I just got a lock (with agps turned off) for the first time in doors after rooting and using these settings.

Also, i breifly (for about half a second) had a low level lock on 3 satellites all with an SNR of <20.

What program can be used to screen capture (now that I've rooted)? I would like to see if I can recreate the low level lock and capture it.

Thanks!! I will update as I test more...
I'm not doing this to my wife's Vibrant (partly because she doesn't want me to void the warranty on her phone) so I will compare the two often...

Edit: After Just a few more minutes of testing and comparing to my Wife's Vibrant... The captivate was much much slower to get a lock today (sometimes the captivate is better, sometimes the vibrant). Leading me to believe there is little to no actual change from these settings despite my initial excitement. The Vibrant was also able to get a lock indoors and it was quicker.

I will continue to test and let you know if my opinion changes.
 
Running the GPS Status app seemed to help for me. Before I would see 1 satellite and not lock onto it (GPS Test). Now I see 6-8 of them and it locks onto 3-4 after a few seconds.
 
jmreed97 said:
So I'm not quite ready to declare victory... I need to do some more testing first... But I can tell you that I just got a lock (with agps turned off) for the first time in doors after rooting and using these settings.

Also, i breifly (for about half a second) had a low level lock on 3 satellites all with an SNR of <20.

What program can be used to screen capture (now that I've rooted)? I would like to see if I can recreate the low level lock and capture it.

Thanks!! I will update as I test more...
I'm not doing this to my wife's Vibrant (partly because she doesn't want me to void the warranty on her phone) so I will compare the two often...

Edit: After Just a few more minutes of testing and comparing to my Wife's Vibrant... The captivate was much much slower to get a lock today (sometimes the captivate is better, sometimes the vibrant). Leading me to believe there is little to no actual change from these settings despite my initial excitement. The Vibrant was also able to get a lock indoors and it was quicker.

I will continue to test and let you know if my opinion changes.
Click to expand...

What are your other settings in the GPS menu? I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I do have Skyhook turned on.

I'm really surprised at what a big difference the secure socket setting made. When I turned it on, my phone would see like 2 satellites and not lock on for as long as I was willing to wait. As soon as I turned it off, my phone would see 8 satellites almost instantly and lock on to 6-8 within 10 seconds.
 
As the OP, I'd prefer if we kept this thread for discussing Samsung's response to the actual GPS issue/fix.

There are plenty of existing threads where people are already discussing various hacks to play around with settings to augment positioning data with approximation from cell towers and wifi access points. However, these are not GPS fixes and are only inaccurate band-aids. For many of us in rural areas, they don't work at all and are useless.

Use those threads if you want to discuss off-topic tweaks. This thread is about something else: an actual GPS fix. Thanks. :)
 
Hopefully some bad press from a large site like Engadget will help them rush out a fix. FYI - I am running the i9000 JM2 firmware on my Captivate and GPS seems much better.
 
If they are going to take their sweet time with it , i may as well look for other phone options, i am not going to keep a phone with a non functioning gps , where they "might " fix the problem and might not
 
mongstradamus said:
If they are going to take their sweet time with it , i may as well look for other phone options, i am not going to keep a phone with a non functioning gps , where they "might " fix the problem and might not
Click to expand...

Understandable, but what indication is there that they might not fix it? "...will provide an update as soon as possible."
 
sremick said:
Yeah I contacted them and Gizmodo as well.

I think a bunch of us did. I guess they got tired of hearing from us and capitulated. :)
Click to expand...

Too funny! I have to agree with one commenter who took note of Chris' strangely aggressive tone in the article. LOL, and the double-standard compared to the iPhone 4's issues..

But who cares, as long as it pushes Samsung to respond more adequately.
 
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