Wifi might not be the issue.. GPS might be the issue

[Lock-N-Load]

But this "cold start" routine is not working for me or anyone else.

There are apps you can use to clear out old and download newer AGPS info to account for changes in it's location - thus a cold start as it starts seeking anew. I, like many, tried them and they result in no positive change. Wifi on - to help acquisitions a la A(ssisted)GPS - and newer AGPS info.. still no acquisitions for me and most everyone else reporting in. I am into 40+ minutes on 1 test, zero locks. In middle of street where I still have WiFi.. 1 satellite found and no locks. Again, older cell phone in same situation in same location (but which never ever had to have an AGPS update done to it)... instant satellites find and locked in.

Explaining how GPS and AGPS work is great for a general understanding for people, but when you can replicate tests, across people, across USA locations, and get the same results and then compare that against other devices (like cell phones) - a crystal clear picture emerges.

 

[andygu3]

Reading through Gatman's response, I wonder if the fact that the cell phone positions itself due to cellular towers, so thus the GPS "knows" where it is, versus the Prime needing this initialization period since it only has WiFi to assist in location. Just a thought. Wish I had my Prime so that I could test this theory.

Your theory probably is correct, although I'm not an expert, comparing a cell phone with cell service to a tablet with wifi only, it's hard to put them next to each other and draw a conclusion as to why the tablet doesn't get a solid GPS lock right away. It's comparing apples to oranges, imo.

Compare 2 identical tablets, one with cell service and the other with wifi only capabilities, then, you may draw a comparison. If they both are in the same environment, with the same variables, one with and one without cell service, my guess is that the wifi only tablet will take longer to get a solid GPS lock considering it doesn't have tower coordinates to pinpoint its location.

But comparing a phone with cell service to a tablet with wifi-only capabilities, doesn't hold water, imo

 

[Gatman]

But this "cold start" routine is not working for me or anyone else.

That is just plain, not true. I have seen posts from folks that got a lock. You say I'm ignoring facts, and then you make a statement like that and expect me to take your comments seriously. I posted a link about TTFF (time to first fix) a while ago. This is a known aspect of GPS use.

~Gary

 

[Lock-N-Load]

That is just plain, not true. I have seen posts from folks that got a lock. You say I'm ignoring facts, and then you make a statement like that and expect me to take your comments seriously. I posted a link about TTFF (time to first fix) a while ago. This is a known aspect of GPS use.

~Gary

Look...

Sure, some people will get a lock. But I, like many, don't want a lock, I want 6-7 locks. As well, I, like many, do not want to wait 20 minutes to get a lock and only get 1 when you do. And BTW, some of those very few people that got that lock after a cold start AGPS update, came back later and reported they lost it as the Prime seems to reset it's GPS data as time goes on. Or did you stop reading before then?

A person has a reasonable expectation to pull this unit out of the box, turn on GPS and get 6-7 satellites locked in and not have to go through hoops (reboot, reset, cold start data, call tech support) to figure put why it is not. Our cells phones handle this most basic of tasks and even in Wifi only mode.

Now, the reason I made that statement you quoted is because... I own one of these. So, I am not just chatting on. I own it, I have tried it, I have read all 30 pages of XDA to get informed, I know what it is suppose to do and what it is really doing. So, you took the quote out of context as it was to indicate I have tried things (reset AGPS data, reboot, wait 10-20-30-40 minutes outside - since you think that matters) and read things (every post in that 30 pages) and it still does not work for me and most everyone on XDA reporting in so I have first hand experience and it mirrors that of a vast majority that use tech sites like this an XDA.

I am just not sure why your so bucking the fact people are reporting the issue and upset by it? It is true, it is replicated, it is an issue. Not sure why your pushing so hard in the opposite direction. This is not rocket science - reboot, cold restart your AGPS info, reset the Prime and nothing works = an issue! It is so simple really, but your just not wanting to jump on board something not 1 guy is reporting, but that many all over the USA report. I just don't get what you angle is.

 

[JackG058]

Your theory probably is correct, although I'm not an expert, comparing a cell phone with cell service to a tablet with wifi only, it's hard to put them next to each other and draw a conclusion as to why the tablet doesn't get a solid GPS lock right away. It's comparing apples to oranges, imo.

Did you just use the word "apples" on an Android site?

Look...

Sure, some people will get a lock. But I, like many, don't want a lock, I want 6-7 locks. As well, I, like many, do not want to wait 20 minutes to get a lock and only get 1 when you do. And BTW, some of those very few people that got that lock after a cold start AGPS update, came back later and reported they lost it as the Prime seems to reset it's GPS data as time goes on. Or did you stop reading before then?

A person has a reasonable expectation to pull this unit out of the box, turn on GPS and get 6-7 satellites locked in and not have to go through hoops (reboot, reset, cold start data, call tech support) to figure put why it is not. Our cells phones handle this most basic of tasks and even in Wifi only mode.

Now, the reason I made that statement you quoted is because... I own one of these. So, I am not just chatting on. I own it, I have tried it, I have read all 30 pages of XDA to get informed, I know what it is suppose to do and what it is really doing. So, you took the quote out of context as it was to indicate I have tried things (reset AGPS data, reboot, wait 10-20-30-40 minutes outside - since you think that matters) and read things (every post in that 30 pages) and it still does not work for me and most everyone on XDA reporting in so I have first hand experience and it mirrors that of a vast majority that use tech sites like this an XDA.

I am just not sure why your so bucking the fact people are reporting the issue and upset by it? It is true, it is replicated, it is an issue. Not sure why your pushing so hard in the opposite direction. This is not rocket science - reboot, cold restart your AGPS info, reset the Prime and nothing works = an issue! It is so simple really, but your just not wanting to jump on board something not 1 guy is reporting, but that many all over the USA report. I just don't get what you angle is.

Lock-N-Load, as much as I love my Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic 4G Touch (whew, I'm tired now after typing that) I can tell you that mine is slow locking on to satellites. Once locked I'm good, but it can take 10 minutes easily sometimes. Nevertheless, if you're really standing in the middle of your street and still in WiFi range, you certainly seem to have a GPS issue, but at the same time you've dispelled any poor WiFi connections threads.

 

[Gatman]

I have no angle here other than to try and let folks know some information about GPS and give them things to try so they can hopefully get a fix with their Prime. And just to be clear, when I referred to a lock, I meant a GPS fix. Seeing one or two satellites isn't a "lock" or a fix, and you don't get 8 "locks" when you can see 8 satellites. I was referring to a fix, which is multiple satellites in view and your position calculated. It's possible to have 4 satellites in view and still not get a fix under certain conditions. IIRC, 4 is the minimum to get a fix, but even then if they aren't satellites that are in a good configuration, you still won't get a fix.

It's frustrating to know how GPS works and see so many people having problems getting a fix that are doing silly things (I'm not specifically referring to you here, so please don't infer condemnation where it wasn't intended). That thread over at XDA has gobs of bad info and advice, and it is likely making the situation worse than it really is. That's my only angle here....to try and help folks understand how gps works a little better by providing the information above.

I've used GPS for many years now, and have read up on the technical side of how it works. I provided that information above to try and make folks realize you can't sit on the couch and expect a TTFF of 2 minutes, and just because your phone does it doesn't mean another GPS will. There are so many factors that come into play - what receiver and how sensitive is it, etc., etc. But when you make a comment that says "10-20-30-40 minutes outside - since you think that matters" after I posted multiple explanations about how TTFF works and that a clear line of site matters, you clearly don't want help or to understand.

You may well have a defective unit; others may have one, too. I certainly hope after all the wait that is not the case! But if no one takes the time to clearly try to do things that will help obtain a fix and then document it for others it's pretty impossible to know what the real problem is.

Just sayin.

 

[Lock-N-Load]

Just road for over 2 hours. Put tablet outside on power. Came back.. ZERO satellites.

bummer

 

[Gatman]

Just road for over 2 hours. Put tablet outside on power. Came back.. ZERO satellites.

bummer

Can you get a screen shot from GPS Test showing your satellites? I'd be curious to see what is showing up to try and get it working for you.

Thanks,

Gary

 

[rushmore]

I have no angle here other than to try and let folks know some information about GPS and give them things to try so they can hopefully get a fix with their Prime. And just to be clear, when I referred to a lock, I meant a GPS fix. Seeing one or two satellites isn't a "lock" or a fix, and you don't get 8 "locks" when you can see 8 satellites. I was referring to a fix, which is multiple satellites in view and your position calculated. It's possible to have 4 satellites in view and still not get a fix under certain conditions. IIRC, 4 is the minimum to get a fix, but even then if they aren't satellites that are in a good configuration, you still won't get a fix.

It's frustrating to know how GPS works and see so many people having problems getting a fix that are doing silly things (I'm not specifically referring to you here, so please don't infer condemnation where it wasn't intended). That thread over at XDA has gobs of bad info and advice, and it is likely making the situation worse than it really is. That's my only angle here....to try and help folks understand how gps works a little better by providing the information above.

I've used GPS for many years now, and have read up on the technical side of how it works. I provided that information above to try and make folks realize you can't sit on the couch and expect a TTFF of 2 minutes, and just because your phone does it doesn't mean another GPS will. There are so many factors that come into play - what receiver and how sensitive is it, etc., etc. But when you make a comment that says "10-20-30-40 minutes outside - since you think that matters" after I posted multiple explanations about how TTFF works and that a clear line of site matters, you clearly don't want help or to understand.

You may well have a defective unit; others may have one, too. I certainly hope after all the wait that is not the case! But if no one takes the time to clearly try to do things that will help obtain a fix and then document it for others it's pretty impossible to know what the real problem is.

Just sayin.

Considering GPS use should be a transparent function, seems the GPS has problems if it does not simply work

Simply bringing up the need for assistance or tech speak suggests symptoms of a real problem.

IMO, both the GPS and WIFI are just as bad or worse than the infamously bad Acer 500.

Like the Acer, seems too much aluminum and no signal windows. Style over function.

 

[Lock-N-Load]

I guess some in this thread are eating/choking on their words now about this issue..

 

[androidfonefan]

I hope everyone is waiting long enough for their first fix with the GPS before they start freaking out that it's broke. Time To First Fix (TTFF) can take a long time when the thing is first starting up: Time to first fix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Given the impatience to get these things, I'm really thinking folks are not waiting long enough to get the almanac downloaded an actually get their first fix. And if they're moving around while they're waiting it can take even longer. I'm not saying it's going to take 15 minutes like the above article says (they may be using aGPS as noted in the article), but it doesn't usuallly happen in 30 seconds the first time. If you're lucky and happen to flip it on and get the almanac right away, you may get a fix quickly. Then again, you may not. I've seen TTFF as long as 6 or 7 minutes on a few of my devices. After the first one it's usually fairly quick if you use it regularly.

~Gary

This is a point I keep forgetting.
I have a Vizio 8 inch tablet and it took over 7 min to get its first lock with wifi support. After reading this post I unplugged my router and started the GPS on it and without wifi it took 1 min. So what you say has some validity to it.
However, even Asus has admitted that the TP has a GPS problem. And one member said that so long as you call in and complain about your GPS not working, they will fix it? However they have figured on doing it. Time will tell if this fix works. I just think that if people are paying right at 600.00 for this tablet. Everything and I mean everything should work 100%.
After some time, if it looks like Asus has resolved this problem on production models and everything else is still working properly I will pick one up.
But for the price I want everything working.
Oh and ICS should come on it out of the box not through a OTA update. Just me being picky.

For me this whole situation is akin to buying a brand new Lexus but oops!! the steering doesn't work, you will have to file a complaint before we think about fixing the steering problem and if we get enough complaints we might fix it at the factory.