My Desire has a huge problem with determining my location in my home. I only use wireless networks to determine the location (I wouldn't have a GPS signal inside anyway). Sometimes my location is being incorrectly determined as Hamburg, Germany - and this was only a minor annoyance until it started changing the time zone to that of Germany. So, I would go to bed in the evening after setting my alarm, and I would wake up in Hamburg's timezone (or even in both timezones - the alarm going off twice). I enabled obtaining the time from the network (this could mean GSM or NTP or both).
The problem must be my wi-fi because:
- I used Google Maps with cellular location on wi-fi-less phone before, without problems
- The Desire's IP address is in the 192.168.*.* family, I doubt they would use that for geo-location
- The external IP address of my wireless router has always been located correctly (e.g. Google.com redirects me to the local website)
- The only explanation is that the SSID of my WiFi is registered in Hamburg and Andoid ignores all the previous reliable clues for location and sets the location based only on a completely unreliable SSID database.
I've been reading forums, and people say there is no way to submit or correct entries in this database. Does anybody know of a workaround or a solution to this?
I don't think it uses the SSID,but some one else asked about it and was refered to this
http://standards.ieee.org/regauth/oui/index.shtml
I think it's more likly to be by ip,anyway here's a link for that too
http://www.maxmind.com/app/city_accuracy
Thank you for the reply. You are right, it's not the SSID, as changing it has no effect. Also, my IP has always been correctly located, including in maxmind's database.
I now think the cause could be the MAC of the router... I can't change that (unless I get a new router) and I can't find any reference about a public database that Google is using. I need to find a solution to this and fast, because it's a deal-breaker and I would have to return the phone.
This is not an issue with your phone. It is a problem with Google maps and Google's location service. Google use the MAC address of the surrounding access points. I had an issue where my location was determined to be 200 miles away when using wifi in a rural area with only one access point in range. I was being placed at my previous address as that is where Google had catalogued the access point (possibly when doing the Street View survey). The only way that I'm aware of to improve this is to submit a bug report to Google on:
https: //services.google.com/fb/forms/wifibugs/
I'm surprised that Google don't collect data directly from Google maps when your phone can see GPS and WiFi signals in order to automatically update their system.
Sorry about the space in the above URL. The rules here didn't allow me to post a URL so I had to post it that way.
Through Google location and online IP trackers, I get placed as 60-300 miles away from my home since a year now- seems pretty random. Doesn't bother me really.
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
60-300 miles away wouldn't bother me either. For my location, it gets it wrong by over 1000 miles, while online trackers always get it right. And even that wouldn't be a problem if the phone wouldn't switch the timezone and mess my alarms and calendar.
I mean, what the hell? Cellphone towers and IP addresses are not precise, wifi can position you more accurately, but when these's a 1000 miles distance between the location returned with these methods, which one do you trust? I believe cellphone towers and IP addresses are always more reliable, because they are assigned in a controlled manner.
Related
I have an issue that I cannot resolve. I have read hundreds of posts, but no one has discussed this specific issue.
I am running the newest AT&T Tilt2 ROM and radio (RUU_Rhodium_S2_Cingular_US_2.10.502.4_Radio_Rhodium_4.49.25.95_Signed_Ship.exe). Before adding any cities to the weather tab, My Location on the Home tab correctly displayed all of the cities I was in at the time the weather updated (I have the Update setting at "1 hour").
After replacing the default cities with those that I wanted, My Location on the Home tab started displaying "5" instead of the city name where I live (Hampton VA). All other city names in my area display correctly as I travel except for "Hampton".
Anyone have any thoughts on the cause of this problem?
The my Location app wont work with the 3G network, it only work with Wi-FI... You have to click on the hour that will show you the locations that you have added and then you can select your location (that location will be display it under the hour of your home screen).
Aauatico69, you are the second person to tell me that, and I don't know why the perception is that the "My Location" feature of Sense does not work with 3G.
The feature works perfectly on my phone except for one specific location displaying as "5" instead of the city name. I only use wi-fi on my phone when I'm in a hot-spot location like in a restaurant. I have AT&T as my service provider, which is, of course, a 3G network. And as I said, My Location works great. As I change from town to town My Location updates the weather information under the flip-clock, and my wi-fi is definitely not on.
So unless I don't understand what people mean by "My Location doesn't work with 3G", I believe they are incorrect.
I was hoping someone can confirm with me if their G2 is working 'properly' with this option enabled: Location & security settings \ Use wireless networks (checked)
Test would be to see if your Google Map (or other apps that needs your location like some weather apps) can find or track you rather than being fixated at your last known position.
Mine seems to only work when using a Wi-Fi network or when I switch to EDGE cell network (2G). Never have seen it work properly with WCDMA (which is HSDPA default) and I have been using Anycut to view the Phone's info to see this portion of tidbits. BTW, I don't have 4G in my area just yet.
Is this just my phone or something in common with all G2s. My G1 does not have this issue at all.
Thanks to anyone that can verify with me.
i can confirm that my g2 has the same issue
hey try using the app gps settings to download agps data. It worked for me in finding my location via the network so it should work for you as well.
icruisin said:
I was hoping someone can confirm with me if their G2 is working 'properly' with this option enabled: Location & security settings \ Use wireless networks (checked)
Test would be to see if your Google Map (or other apps that needs your location like some weather apps) can find or track you rather than being fixated at your last known position.
Mine seems to only work when using a Wi-Fi network or when I switch to EDGE cell network (2G). Never have seen it work properly with WCDMA (which is HSDPA default) and I have been using Anycut to view the Phone's info to see this portion of tidbits.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The way it works is this; the tower ID numbers are sent from your phone to google. Google then looks up the coordinates of that tower in their tower database, and sends the coordinates back to you. You then have your approximate location. If the particular tower you are connected to is NOT LISTED within google's database, then they will be unable to determine your location.
BTW, I don't have 4G in my area just yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Congratulations, neither does anyone else since there is not a single service provider in north america that has begun rolling out 4G (despite lies to the contrary). You will be able to recognize 4G by the speed -- 100 Mb/s down, 50 Mb/s up. Your phone is NOT CAPABLE of anything even REMOTELY CLOSE to this.
Is this just my phone or something in common with all G2s. My G1 does not have this issue at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be a glitch in the software, I suppose, but more likely you are connected to a different tower.
I was reading a thread discussing T-mo customers not being able to get their wifi-calling app to register on the network at all... T-mo tech not sorting it etc. Well, the solution was that customers had to go onto their T-mo profile and register an address for 911 calls. The thread claimed you had to be sure to use an address that was "known". So, if you're sort of remote, you might chose the address of a nearby business. My address is on a private road, so I used a nearby Starbuck's which has T-mo wifi. (My profile originally showed no address listed under 911 BTW). So, cutting to the chase, preliminary test calls this morning have been perfect.
Apparently it's something the FCC is now requiring for ALL voice call applications over wifi.
Have not tested enough to be sure of in-coming calls, but the few out-going have been great for the first time since I had the phone. So, thought I'd toss this out there and see if others would give it a try and compare results?
Here's the thread I got the idea from: http://support.t-mobile.com/message/31679
FWIW, and as a test, here's the changes of my "911 address" with results.
1) Originally never had a 911 address registered: Wifi service worked but was not great.
2) Registered a "known" 911 address near me (concerned mine was not "known" because it was on a private road): Suddenly excellent wifi calling quality.
3) For a test, I then changed my 911 address to my real address: now my wifi app would not even register. Apparently not a "known" address as I presumed.
4) Changed 911 address back to "known" nearby address: Back to great service again.
All these changes were followed by restarts.
My GPS on google apps work fine . like maps ... but almost every other app I download off of the market when checking the GPS points my location to Cle Elum in Washington ...
I am literally thousands upon thousands of miles away from Washington ... WTF..!!!
and no I haven't downloaded any fake location apps of any sort ..
Do you have wifi on? For some reason if I have wifi on but not connected at work my phone thinks I'm in Nashville, TN. I work in St. Paul, MN.
I don't know what causes it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium HD app
I do have it on and connected ...
I downloded two GPS apps . one points at my actual location , the other one in Washington ..
With wifi connected, it shows me in Chicago when I'm in Pittsburgh
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Google uses WiFi networks to try and determine your location. If you can change the SSID of your WiFi network, try adding "_nomap" at the end of your SSID.
This will stop Google from trying to use that wifi network for location and might correct your issue.
AbeMIH said:
Google uses WiFi networks to try and determine your location. If you can change the SSID of your WiFi network, try adding "_nomap" at the end of your SSID.
This will stop Google from trying to use that wifi network for location and might correct your issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually the Google maps works fine , its the other apps that are messed up like weather widgets ...
The Problem persists even After a full wipe and installing a different ROM ..
it is NOT a GPS problem , If I turn off network location (( Mobile Data , Wifi )) the location is accurate but gets missed up when I turn it on ..
Problem is many apps go off the google location service like Google + . how DO I fix that ?
AbeMIH said:
Google uses WiFi networks to try and determine your location. If you can change the SSID of your WiFi network, try adding "_nomap" at the end of your SSID.
This will stop Google from trying to use that wifi network for location and might correct your issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I Think that might fix the problem , How do I change that ?
Google location services crowd source the locations of wifi AP's, so for some reason it thinks one of these AP's near you is located in Cle Elum. This only happens when you are in the same place, right? Like at home, work, whatever.
I find when I travel that I come close to AP's that Google thinks is in another part of the country or even the world, especially at airports. So for a moment I will be momentarily in Singapore when I am in Charlotte. I think in the airports it is seeing other people's portable hot spots (like my phone usually is for my iPad and laptop). You would think the location s/w would do some smoothing to prevent this moving thousands of miles in an instant, but apparently not.
Some apps allow you to select which location source to use, so you could try turning off network location and use only GPS. This is really only a test though, because the app probably won't work very well with network location turned off all the time.
You could also try to let the phone sit with GPS locked on in this place where you get the bogus location data every chance you get. Theoretically, that data should make it back to Google servers and correct the location of the AP that Google thinks is in Cle Elum right now.
HTH
GR
---------- Post added at 09:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 AM ----------
Fatelord said:
I Think that might fix the problem , How do I change that ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think this will help because the bogus location data is likely coming from an AP you can't configure, and it doesn't even need to be the one you are connected to. Location services uses all AP's it can see, so it could be one of many AP's in your area.
GR
Folks,
This might amuse you, but I'm learning. Still. As always. While my GPS is already working quite fast most of the time, I still think I did not figure out how to use cell broadcast for location. I'm not sure, though. Hope someone here may be able to look into that. FasterGPS is my point of interest atm. It sets an ntp server - so far, so good. I just had a look at the advanced settings: nothing set there. This bugs me. I found several threads on XDA dev posting various settings, but also this on rootzwiki telling us, quite convincingly, why most of the settings found on the web (and on XDA) are crap: http : / / rootzwiki .com/topic/28989-the-end-all-be-all-guide-to-your-gps/ (kick out the blanks, I assume I can't post links, yet).
I already mentioned (here: http:// forum.xda-developers .com/showthread.php?t=2643201 ) that WiFi location is not workin' on my device. Now, I found the key ENABLE_WIPER is not set. I also can see that SUPL_HOST is not set, which seems to be the cell broadcast providing server. Now, has anybody else checked that sub-menu and has some opinion on that? I'm quite willing to copyedit it into the wiki for the greater good of everybody, but I need some more experienced guys here.
I will just play with the settings now, hoping that I don't cause any harm. (Yay, fasterGPS has created a backup...) Some Q I would like to see answered:
1) SUPL_HOST is for cell broadcast location, and also including WiFi SSID location, right?
2) Does cell (not: wifi) broadcast triangulation work if you have only wifi data connection?
3) Is there some auto-updating list of geolocation servers somewhere? Including ports and cert location for DL? I'd like to have a choice beyond Nokia and Google, and _definetly_ a server using TLS/SSL. Hell, this is GEOLOCATION! I don't want to scream it openly at the whole of the interwebz. Why are there even servers WITHOUT TLS/SSL? (Really sorry to ask, me searchengine-fu is so b0rken, I haz founds none listz... ^_^ )
4) Just to clarify: we can use any provider for SUPL AGPS, right? That is to say, neither use our 'native' providers NOR supl.google.com or supl.nokia.com? Say you're on Telefonica (Germany: O2, mostly 1800 mHz), would it be possible to use use network cell broadcasts even on another GSM baseband frequency (like Telekom, mostly 900 mHz)? (Think also the the other way round, since 1800 mHz (if available) has the advantage of having smaller cells.) To specify: would our FP check these frequencies if onyl one SIM module is active/installed, using the 'other' frequencies?
Hope to hear all of your 2cts!
Quoting myself. Answering myself. Meh.
Could it be that the initial boost of interest is ebbing?
And that everyone (except some people complaining in the fairphone.com forum) are already happy with their phone?
boondiordna said:
I already mentioned (here: http:// forum.xda-developers .com/showthread.php?t=2643201 ) that WiFi location is not workin' on my device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FTR: It works now. Oeffi (which is otherwise quite unstable and basically every other time I load a new network map) can now access my position. OSM~And is working great even without GPS, just using SSID triangulations.
boondiordna said:
1) SUPL_HOST is for cell broadcast location, and also including WiFi SSID location, right?
2) Does cell (not: wifi) broadcast triangulation work if you have only wifi data connection?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's definitely using WiFi SSID to locate the position. I haven't tried it yet (with cell data connection) in an are where there are no WiFi SSIDs.
boondiordna said:
3) Is there some auto-updating list of geolocation servers somewhere?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using Nokia's server right now:
Supl_HOST: subl.nokia.com
SUPL_SECURE_PORT=7275
(No other settings set - I assume to be using TLS only at the moment. Works great.)
I wonder if I should add this steps to the wiki.
If nobody objects here, I will.