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To Everyone Who IS/WAS Having GPS Problems

mongstradamus said:
if thats the case i am probably going to have to find an different phone, samsung is up to their old tricks of poor support with thier phones
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Can't come to a decision until the fix is released and applied to my device.

As it stands right now, with wireless networks disabled, I'm able to obtain a lock while walking in two minutes outdoors. Google Maps got my position dead on in less than 30 seconds. Under three minutes for a Google Maps lock isn't bad for a mobile phone and I know there are devices out there which perform better.

And on top of that I have an external bluetooth GPS receiver and the app to use that on the Captivate was 4 dollars, so I'm not 100% upset at the device for it's lack of GPS performance. Yes it could be better but that's what hardware revision 2.0 is for ;)
 
askpcguy said:
Can't come to a decision until the fix is released and applied to my device.

As it stands right now, with wireless networks disabled, I'm able to obtain a lock while walking in two minutes outdoors. Google Maps got my position dead on in less than 30 seconds. Under three minutes for a Google Maps lock isn't bad for a mobile phone and I know there are devices out there which perform better.

And on top of that I have an external bluetooth GPS receiver and the app to use that on the Captivate was 4 dollars, so I'm not 100% upset at the device for it's lack of GPS performance. Yes it could be better but that's what hardware revision 2.0 is for ;)
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Well the GPS alone isn't what i am worried about, it just seems like samsung isn't really supporting the phone. Its a known issue on multiple versions of the Galaxy s phones. If the only fix samsung is going to offer is to use wireless networks , then I am going to be a bit hesitant in repurchasing the phone since samsung sounds like they are more worried about the next tablet or phone that they are selling ?
 
Then I would expect us as consumers to take this matter into the courts and demand an answer from Samsung. A post on a twitter account saying Fix Soon is in no way acceptable after spending $200-300 or more for the unlocked device AND/OR having the two year agreement with your wireless provider.
 
I bought my first Captivate new from ATT store a few weeks ago. GPS worked great then stopped working. Tried many of the above settings, to no avail.

Finally returned/exchanged for new handset today to rule out isolated hardware issue. New one worked great out of the box, then got flaky by the time I left work.

I started wondering if any of my apps I downloaded had bogarted control of the GPS somehow so I did a hard restart (factory reset). Seemed to work again but lots of intermittent issues still.

Not sure what this adds to the discussion other than another datapoint. I am willing to wait days or even several weeks IF a patch will eventually fix the problem.
 
iploya said:
I bought my first Captivate new from ATT store a few weeks ago. GPS worked great then stopped working. Tried many of the above settings, to no avail.

Finally returned/exchanged for new handset today to rule out isolated hardware issue. New one worked great out of the box, then got flaky by the time I left work.

I started wondering if any of my apps I downloaded had bogarted control of the GPS somehow so I did a hard restart (factory reset). Seemed to work again but lots of intermittent issues still.

Not sure what this adds to the discussion other than another datapoint. I am willing to wait days or even several weeks IF a patch will eventually fix the problem.
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The GPS will work flawlessly right out of the box, but then it will start to flake out as time goes by. I tried on two different captivates :-(
 
Can someone with a new phone that is experiencing poor GPS performance try this:

In settings under Location and Security, uncheck Use wireless networks and leave GPS satellites checked.

From the phone, dial *#*#1472365#*#* to enter LbsTestMode.

Application settings: In order from the top to the bottom of the list:
Tracking, S/W Test, Standalone, Hot Start, On, On, 50, On, Off.

SUPL/CP Settings:
Custom Config, www.spirent.lcs.com, 7275, ON, SUPL.

What I do is enter LbsTestMode, delete GPS data and hit Get Position Test. That'll usually grab a lock in 2-3 minutes. I'll wait until the accuracy is less than 15 meters. Press back until you are at the home screen, enter Google Maps and try to Get position.

Following that procedure, does the GPS seem better or more predictable?
 
What do you all think of this? According to Engadget, Samsung told them:

"We have tested and validated both Network Assisted (indoor) and Autonomous (outdoor) GPS on the Epic 4G."

Here is a recent video review of the Epic 4G and even though it locks on very fast, it's still totally inaccurate. The blue dot spans 2 streets at times!

Our "fix" better be *much* more accurate than what they have on the Epic 4G. :eek:

YouTube - Samsung Epic 4G for Sprint - GPS Test (vs. Captivate)
 
I went to an AT&T store last night and asked about the fix for the GPS problem. They said that they didn't know there was a problem.

I'm thinking class action lawsuit.
 
I"m not going to jump to that conclusion until the official release of the fix comes out. Who knows if these debug releases are even intended for the GPS fix. The dates on them is quite a bit before they announced they are fixing it.
 
ewingr said:
I"m not going to jump to that conclusion until the official release of the fix comes out. Who knows if these debug releases are even intended for the GPS fix. The dates on them is quite a bit before they announced they are fixing it.
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I am going to give samsung benefit of the doubt on this one, i really like this phone, but i also want to be assured that samsung will actually support the phone. I will patiently play the wait and see game its only an month more i hope that we will have to wait to see gps fix.
 
askpcguy said:
Can someone with a new phone that is experiencing poor GPS performance try this:

In settings under Location and Security, uncheck Use wireless networks and leave GPS satellites checked.

From the phone, dial *#*#1472365#*#* to enter LbsTestMode.

Application settings: In order from the top to the bottom of the list:
Tracking, S/W Test, Standalone, Hot Start, On, On, 50, On, Off.

SUPL/CP Settings:
Custom Config, www.spirent.lcs.com, 7275, ON, SUPL.

What I do is enter LbsTestMode, delete GPS data and hit Get Position Test. That'll usually grab a lock in 2-3 minutes. I'll wait until the accuracy is less than 15 meters. Press back until you are at the home screen, enter Google Maps and try to Get position.

Following that procedure, does the GPS seem better or more predictable?
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Why would you continue to mislead people by posting this?

Do you understand what you are suggesting?
 
yahoowizard said:
Do I have a problem if I'm getting it within 30 meters?
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30 meters isn't great. That's over 90 feet. Good GPS on a phone will typically get 3 meters (9 feet) or less. I routinely see 10-30 meters myself, but it jumps all over the place and can jump from 10 to 100 meters and back again in a matter of seconds.
 
So wait i don't understand i run the google maps and it always fails and can never find me and also i was on the phone with them at and t helping to set up my voicemail etc.. I was told i don't have due to the fact i have to pay for at and t navigator?
 
darkendandroid23 said:
So wait i don't understand i run the google maps and it always fails and can never find me and also i was on the phone with them at and t helping to set up my voicemail etc.. I was told i don't have due to the fact i have to pay for at and t navigator?
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Att wont give support for google map from what i hear , they are trying to be sneaky and make you pay for their att nav program.
 
you guys worry me. i just got my first smart phone, a sony x10 which in my particular case, was a complete lemon. nothing the forum guys (and gals) gave as advice could help my piece of crap phone.
So i luckily have been offered by the new company i just signed up with, for the sony, to either.
a. get out of my contract (which is 36 mths) completely.
b. get another sony x10...uh..no!!!!
c. they are getting the captivate exactly one mth from now and if i wait it out with my lemon..that force closes nonstop...i can exchange for the samsung.
but...and i say but..one of the biggest issues with my sony crashing all the time...was gps and google maps crashing. So i was left stranded in a new city i moved to and do not know my way round.

It sounds like most like this phone for function..but if i have to leave one buggy phone...for another with a huge gps problem..i am replacing one bad apple (pardon the pun) with another.

any advice? (this captivate is due on rogers here in canada september 22 for orders and fulfillment by mth end approx)
 
I first tried the "Easy Fix" for T-Mobile's Samsung Vibrant GPS Issues" because several Captivate users had success with that fix. I didn't see improvement.

So, I tried this fix and was frustrated because my problem worsened. Then I remembered that I had turned off <settings:location and security:use wireless networks>, as suggested in the other instructions and did not turn it back on after rebooting. Once I did this it worked beautifully. (Thank you!)

I am posting this as a reminder to those who have tried this fix and are seeing no improvement or a worsened situation.
 
I'm one of the lucky ones whos GPS worked the first week, then would not lock on at all thereafter. I did some diggin' on the XDA forum and the following settings work really well for me in my location( Palmdale, CA ):
Application Settings/Operation Mode/MS Based
Application Settings/Operation Mode/SkyHook/ON (VERY IMPORTANT)
SUPL/CP Settings/Server FQDN Type/Custom Config
SUPL/CP Settings/Server/supl.google.com
SUPL/CP Settings/Server Port/7276
SUPL/CP Settings/SUPL Secure Socket/Off
 
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