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Recent Problems getting GPS fix

Mike777

Well-Known Member
Hi all

Been having problems recently getting a GPS fix on my HTC desire.....

Use to take seconds..............now it takes about 5 minutes (if at all) and that invloves a lots of walking around in circles....

Amy ideas on what could be causing this to happen or ideas on a fix or update.

Would apprecaite any guidance.

Many thanks for your help and time

Regards

Mike
 
Have you done anything significant which may have led to this? I.e. If you're rooted, have you swapped rom? Also, are you trying outdoors where you can see the sky? There are some apps on the market which you can use which allows you to see the amount of satellites your phone has locked into in real time. See if this can shed some light on this.
 
You might install a GPS app like 'GPS Test' and clear the aGPS data ... and then reload them.

Harry
 
Really silly one, but are you using a different case? I have 2, and my leather flip case has just enough metal in its construction to interfere with the GPS, even though it doesn't cover the antenna.
 
Have you done anything significant which may have led to this? I.e. If you're rooted, have you swapped rom? Also, are you trying outdoors where you can see the sky? There are some apps on the market which you can use which allows you to see the amount of satellites your phone has locked into in real time. See if this can shed some light on this.

Thanks for reply.........

I am doing nothing really different ....did upgrade the htc software sometime ago so not sure if this had a imapct at the time........

Really disappointed

Regards

Mike
 
Try GPS Test as Harry suggested. It forces a reload of aGPS data, which can speed things a lot.

Many thanks for replies appreciate them...

I down loaded GPS status and tool kit which I opened and got a GPS fix quite quickly....I then tested a couple of apps which use GPS and again got fixs after about 30 seconds....question is do I now need to open GPS status and tool kit each time I want to then load a GPS app....?

Many thanks again

Regards

Mike
 
Can you please confirm what you mean by 'reload them'

Thanks

Mike

'GPS Test' has in its settings two buttons, 'Clear aGPS' and 'Update aGPS'. 'Update aGPS' is what I meant with 'reload them' :)
Other GPS apps have also this feature, maybe with an other expression for 'update'.

Important is to clear aGPS, because there might invalid aGPS data be saved at your phone ... might be the reason for a delayed GPS fix.

After clearing and updating aGPS, your primary GPS app should have a proper GPS fix, there shouldn't be a need for clearing and updating aGPS again :)

Harry
 
'GPS Test' has in its settings two buttons, 'Clear aGPS' and 'Update aGPS'. 'Update aGPS' is what I meant with 'reload them' :)
Other GPS apps have also this feature, maybe with an other expression for 'update'.

Important is to clear aGPS, because there might invalid aGPS data be saved at your phone ... might be the reason for a delayed GPS fix.

After clearing and updating aGPS, your primary GPS app should have a proper GPS fix, there shouldn't be a need for clearing and updating aGPS again :)

Harry

Harry

Thanks for confirming............

Tried the above and unfortunately it did not improve things.....

Any other ideas ? :)

Regards

Mike
 
I suppose you'd give rebooting phone a try?
Sorry, but I'd to ask ;)

If you absolutely need a fast GPS fix many times a day, then you could hold the GPS fix on the background on the phone.
'GPSTest' (by Mike Lockwood) is an app which can be hold on the background while the primary GPS app runs.

But note, such a permanently GPS fix needs some of your battery.

Harry
 
Rebooting? Shut down, then power on again :)

If it's possible there are some dodgy data it might be worth trying a battery pull (i.e. remove the battery without shutting down first, leave it out for 2 mins, then reinsert and boot). Brutal, but sometimes effective.
 
Hi all

Just an update on this..............been monitoring for a few days and it would appear that when I switch on at home and go out for a bike ride I get a GPS fix about half a mile from home and on my return I lose the GPS fix about half a mile from home ????

Wondering if like mobile phones do GPS have black spot where the siginal is weak ????

Any ideas

Many thanks

Mike
 
Tall buildings and trees can block GPS signals. Otherwise shouldn't be a problem - the satellites are not geostationary, so there shouldn't be small, fixed black spots.

What happens if you try pure GPS (i.e. don't use wireless network location in addition?). Just wondered whether there might be a glitch in that which is confusing things?
 
Run the GPS test app while you follow the said route. It will show satellites in view, signal strength & position accuracy. That might help you get a better picture of how your location might be effecting the signal.

Nick
 
Hi all

Still stuggling with this............ie getting a GPX fix.

Noticed that when GPS ties to get a fix my wi-fi turns off (setting in tasker app :confused: ).....how important is this to the gpx getting a quick fix ?

Any ideas and thanks for your time

Regards

Mike
 
I used to have an HTC Desire (my wife now has it) and mine struggled to maintain a fix at times. It was noticeable on lots of roms. Mine used to get a fix (using Navigon) then lose it, then re-find it every 5 seconds or so. It would also take several minutes to get a lock. Eventually I stumbled upon a fix and have to say it has worked flawlessly ever since. Give this thread a read. HTC Desire is supported.

LINK
 
Thanks for all the various comments very much appreciated.....

I came across various apps which seem to suggest they may solve my problems.......found this one GPS fix deluxe......just wonder if its worth a go for
 
I tried a few programs, mainly ones that download satellite data for the next few days, the idea being this will give you a faster fix. They did not solve my issues on my HTC Desire. I used the patch that I posted a link to previously, flashed it onto my Desire and it solved all of my GPS problems.

My HTC Desire used to take ages to get a fix and it seemed there was an issue when other programs (such as Navigon) tried to access the GPS as well.

I can only recommend what I used and what worked for me. Why not try it?
 
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