Develop Bugs

I have a theory about why GPS on TP2 cannot fix satellites quickly

Or, in my case, cannot get a fix at all in most places.
The only place I can get a fix is an ideal spot near my office, in an elevated garden (on top of a shopping arcade). With nothing taller than me in a 10m area, and nearest buildings only two or three stories high, I can view 16 satellites and immediately get a fix on 8 of them. In all other places, no matter how long I wait, will see 16 satellites with 0 fix.
With more testing I found out to get a good signal strength in normal situations, I have to do either of these:
1. Enable flight-mode (i.e. turn off all other wireless communications).
2. Slide out keyboard.
Doing both will give me a fix within 5 seconds in all out-door or near-window locations. Just enabling flight-mode results in less than 20 seconds. Sliding out keyboard has a lesser effect, but usually will get a fix within 2 minutes.
I used HTC GPS Tool and NaviComputer in the tests.
With HTC GPS Tool:
- Flight-mode OFF and keyboard in, in the ideal spot I get about 50% signal strength for the best satellite.
- Flight-mode ON, signal strength goes up to 80%. Sliding out keyboard has no observable effect with flight-mode ON.
- Flight-mode OFF and keyboard out, I get about 60% for the best satellite.
So it seems the true reason is the GPS antenna in TP2 is poorly located, getting interference from phone antenna and the machine itself.
If you own a TP2, could you test it and tell me the results? (should observe stronger signals even if you don't have a problem)
If most people get same results as me, I'll send a report to HTC. I absolutely love QWERTY keyboard on my TP2, and my next model will definitely have one. I want HTC to learn about this problem (or acknowledge it) so future QWERTY models won't have the same defect.
Thank you in advance for your time to perform the tests.

good test, strange result

Well I never have gps issue with my tp2 so I don't understand your problem

It also depends a lot on which radio you use. Some radio's give you a faster fix and some don't.

drewcam888 said:
Well I never have gps issue with my tp2 so I don't understand your problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said in the first post, I observed improved signal strength with either flight mode on or keyboard out.
Even if you have no GPS issues, you may still get better signal strength if you perform the test. You can view signal strength with HTC GPS Tool. That's all I ask of the community - to see if TP2 has a design defect that weakens GPS signal reception.
Lennyz1988 said:
It also depends a lot on which radio you use. Some radio's give you a faster fix and some don't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using this Radio from HTC - version is 3.46.25.30. The HTC Diamond 2 I mentioned in the first post has an even older radio version, yet receives signals better than my TP2 does, until I enable flight mode or have keyboard out.

im using the latest radio and i get a fix in a few seconds. it took ages on other radios. its very deja vu with the touch pro. the gps sucks up until a certain version of the radio.

I logged the NMEA data with HTC GPS Tool, and without flight mode and keyboard out, most NMEA sentences contain blank fields. GPGSV reports 16 satellites, but GPGSA will report status 1 (no fix available). Also GPRMC failed to return time.
If I slide keyboard open, I could see more data fields - GPRMC returning time for instance. I'm pretty sure sliding out keyboard or enabling flight mode have no effect on how the radio driver interprets GPS signal received.
The Jack of Clubs said:
im using the latest radio and i get a fix in a few seconds. it took ages on other radios. its very deja vu with the touch pro. the gps sucks up until a certain version of the radio.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you tell me your version, is it official? Where did you get it (I assume here in XDA? I've seen plenty of custom radio ROMs)?

Evilnut said:
I logged the NMEA data with HTC GPS Tool, and without flight mode and keyboard out, most NMEA sentences contain blank fields. GPGSV reports 16 satellites, but GPGSA will report status 1 (no fix available). Also GPRMC failed to return time.
If I slide keyboard open, I could see more data fields - GPRMC returning time for instance. I'm pretty sure sliding out keyboard or enabling flight mode have no effect on how the radio driver interprets GPS signal received.
Could you tell me your version, is it official? Where did you get it (I assume here in XDA? I've seen plenty of custom radio ROMs)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get the official radio's here. (There are no custom radio's) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=549939
Just try some radio's for yourself. There is no best radio, because it depends on which place you are etc. So what works best for me is not necessarily the best for you
ps you need to have hardspl installed.

you will not be able to connect to all those sats no matter what equipment you have. in total "There are 30 GPS satellites" so I AM GUESSING here. that there are around 15 on each side of the earth. and if you divide it for the top of the earth and the bottom that leaves 7.5 sats so if its showing 16 there must be one extra uneven one in range. so that makes 8 connectible to. im pretty sure that you cant connect to a sat thats on the other side of the earth. or on the bottom.
but thats just my research and my thoughts. i could be wrong. but i dont think i am.
so in theory you should only be able to connect at 8 sats in any one time. OR it could just be that out of the number of sats your connected to. if any other were added it would give you a wrong position

to lock on satellite with the htc gps tool takes about 1 minute with data communications on . in airplane mode it takes about 5 seconds. this is consistent for me.
htc tp2
tmobile
wm 6.1

I've tested several Gps apps both on Winmo and Xdandroid.
Something is sure: apps make the performances
On Android, Google Navigation is 5 time slower than Navigon (same place same conditions of course)
On Winmo Waze is 10 time slower than Tomtom and lost the grid even with good conditions.

In the UK GPS works fine from my car, inside not so good. It's better in open not urban areas.

littlebigtux said:
I've tested several Gps apps both on Winmo and Xdandroid.
Something is sure: apps make the performances
On Android, Google Navigation is 5 time slower than Navigon (same place same conditions of course)
On Winmo Waze is 10 time slower than Tomtom and lost the grid even with good conditions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will at times have both my TP2, 6.5, iGo8 right next to my Asus R600 (standalone GPS) and the Asus will fix a satellite within a few seconds, while the TP2 usually takes a good 2 or 3 minutes.
I always attributed this to the type of receiver and antenna, but that's just speculation on my part.

FoneWatcher said:
I will at times have both my TP2, 6.5, iGo8 right next to my Asus R600 (standalone GPS) and the Asus will fix a satellite within a few seconds, while the TP2 usually takes a good 2 or 3 minutes.
I always attributed this to the type of receiver and antenna, but that's just speculation on my part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With QuickGPS data, my TP2 gets a lock within seconds, even indoors.
You MUST keep this data up-to-date, lest lock times suffer.
Also, thread necro... closed.

[Poll] GPS problems in connection with LagFix

At a glance: I have the impression, that current lag fixes are affecting the GPS performance of our loved toy. Let me explain why.
My GPS-History:
quite poor performance on original XXJF3
upgraded to JG1 and was quite happy with it. Far from perfect but usable
then I applied the Ryanzas lag fix and there the problem started. Loss of sat locks all the time and problem to lock to many sats. I did not think, that this might have something to do with the lag fix. It wouldn't make any sense for me.
upgraded lately to new JPC firmware and gps was quite okay. Not only fast fixes but also good accuracy (but far from perfect).
Now I applied again the lag fix and again had the gps problems mentioned above.
So now the question arises if that's just coincidence or could there be any connection.
What can we do about it?
First we have to make sure that this connection actually exists. Please, everyone who experience these problems check if you installed a lag fix. Try to figure out, what the problems are. Loosing locks, inability to create locks? How many sattelites can you connect to? Track your daily route and check accuracy. Now uninstall/disable your lag fix and do the same checks. Please reply what your outcome was.
What if?
Okay, assuming the lag fix is affecting the gps. How could that be? Of course, I can only guess. First of all, it sounds quite strange, that changes on the file system would affect the gps - but... Maybe the gps kernel driver is blocked somehow by the ext2 kernel module? We can test this by applying the first available lag fix (Krycek) where /data is moved to the nand storage. Search for "Galaxy-S Stalling Issue" to find the thread. It doesn't use an ext2 file system, therefore we can check, if it has anything to do with it.
So everybody please check out if this could be the source of our problems.
UPDATE:
Okay, after 34 votes (7/11/6/10) it seems to get clear, that there is no connection between a lag fix and the gps problems in general. This hypothesis has a statistical probability of 93 percent, which kind of proves it. What is actually interesting is that more than 60% of the voters were using lag fixes. Congrats RyanZa! The sad thing is, that about half of the voters have problems with their gps. Hopefully Samsung does something about it soon that finally fix it.

The lagfixes move some files around, they can't affect your gps.

No GPS problems, no lag fix
(accuracy not perfect but close to my real life location and that is good enough for me)
stock JH2
no lag switching between programs, always have GPS CoPilot8 running, Samsung IM, Samsung Social Hub, Fring, 5 account Emails sync, 3 calendar sync, weather sync, 5 contact sync, music player over bluetooth
all running at the same time

RyanZA said:
The lagfixes move some files around, they can't affect your gps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right man. It doesn't seem to be logical, I know that. I am dealing for about ten years with linux systems and my claim seems to be plain nonsense. However, the fact is that I (for me) can tell a difference. The only reason I can think of is an interference between the ext2 and the gps kernel drivers. Maybe the process priority of the gps driver is much lower than the fs driver so that the ext2 comes always first and "steals" cpu time.

weird that you mention that...
I was using the gps with success, no problems in acquiring sats signal nor navigating. I have JM2 with samset 1.8 with it's own lagfix.
I even kept the phone in an awkward place, behind my honda's handbrake, far from the front shield's air space.
Then last weekend I applied OCLF directly from the market. Everything went so fine, didnt have to remove the battery after the /data move. And it became a lot faster.
Two days ago I had to use the GPS and it didnt see sats for almost 30 mins. No fix *at all*. I gave up trying to use it had to stop to ask for directions.
I never connected the dots until I saw your thread.

Not really sure there are any dots to connect, guibao. It's a known fact that the GPS lives a life of it's own, and that it often works best right after a factory reset or a firmware flash. I must agree with RyanZA on this one.

BronzedDroid said:
Not really sure there are any dots to connect, guibao. It's a known fact that the GPS lives a life of it's own, and that it often works best right after a factory reset or a firmware flash. I must agree with RyanZA on this one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree with you, there should be no relation between gps and lagfix.
But again it went bad after the lagfix. I installed more stuff but nothing related to GPS functions.
Will do some more testing tonite and report later.

The GPS worked fine tonight, but I left it warming a long while before hitting the streets.

Hi I also face this problem before, but able to solve it by recalibrated my compass, just key in *#0*# then click on sensor, hold your phone up site down do a few 8 turns and you must get a reading of 3 on the compass.

Now that you mention this... I know it seems almost irrational to say an ext2/3/4 partition affects GPS performance, but I was "OK" (that's a big word... ) with it on JM1. Then I downloaded OCLF from the Market and everytime my navigator drops the signal or gets stuck on navigation availability query. Bah! I may just guess it has to download the maps somewhere and it fails just like a Market download does sometimes (but I don't know if it's related to my ext partition). Maybe I should just unlagfix my SGS and see what happens.

XWJM7 + RyanZa OCLF
Click to view --> My Track result On Google Maps
one of my best GPS Test result (Outdoor, driving at 45MPH)
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
one of my best GPS Test result (Outdoor, station)

That looks awesome! Would be cool if every user had this accuracy. Btw, how do you generate screenshots on eclair (2.1) without using adb?

outside lock, lagfixed 2.2 JPC
sometimes i do get a 8 or 9 grey bars that just wont lock on, but a reset of the phone clears that up. bit annoying all the same.
one thing that the graph isn't showing is satellite locks don't seem to last very long, but luckily there are enough of them that the connecting is continuous.

rainman110 said:
That looks awesome! Would be cool if every user had this accuracy. Btw, how do you generate screenshots on eclair (2.1) without using adb?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
download shootme
you need to be rooted

I have applied the Epic 4G GPS fix and anywhere outside my phone just refuses to get a decent lock. Every so often It will get a good reception but after moving it disconnects. Although with the new JPC firmware I had flashed the GPS was spot on. Connected instantly and no problems whatsoever with it stuttering or anything.

This is just a theory but there's a strong likelihood that people also update maps after flash and there lies the answer.you must restart phone after running maps for the first time or it will almost never get a lock.also network should be unchecked and rely only on agps.sometimes with network enabled the app can not even start the real gps.

[Q] GPS problems. Can't get a fix!

Hi all,
I have the Desire HD for 2 weeks now but I've only yesterday noted the gps doesn't seem to work... It's a complete stock model, no custom roms or radio's. I'ts just never able to get a fix! Are there other people with problems like this? Could my device be broken?
I have installed a app from the market that tests the gps and it finds no satelites most of the time except one time I checked it found 4 with a very bad signal... Even then in Google Maps or the HTC Locations it didn't get a fix.
Any ideas?

Bump! I have exactly the same problem. Any Advice?

same problem

i HAD this problem, but then i left the GPS on for an entire journey. 45 minutes later it had a fix and ive never had any problems getting a fix within a minute since.
i dont think the phone knows what side of the globe its on the first time, so maybe it just needs a loooong time the first time.

Most GPS devices need to download a file known as an almanac. This determines where satellites will be at specified times.
This file can take a while to download as GPS is purely passive. I'm not sure if the DHD is A-GPS (Assisted). This will download the almanac via mobile or wifi data.
This is why sometimes the first GPS lock can take a while.

Try these two programs:
http://www.appbrain.com/app/gps-status-toolbox/com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2
http://www.appbrain.com/app/gps-test/com.chartcross.gpstest
First one is great for diagnostic so it should tell you what is wrong.

I also have the same problem, been driving for about 30mins and nothing..
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

andyharney said:
Most GPS devices need to download a file known as an almanac. This determines where satellites will be at specified times.
This file can take a while to download as GPS is purely passive. I'm not sure if the DHD is A-GPS (Assisted). This will download the almanac via mobile or wifi data.
This is why sometimes the first GPS lock can take a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok......DHD has A-gps as well
seeing your posts, quite amazed how you did not know this (no pun intended)

dzn said:
Hi all,
I have the Desire HD for 2 weeks now but I've only yesterday noted the gps doesn't seem to work... It's a complete stock model, no custom roms or radio's. I'ts just never able to get a fix! Are there other people with problems like this? Could my device be broken?
I have installed a app from the market that tests the gps and it finds no satelites most of the time except one time I checked it found 4 with a very bad signal... Even then in Google Maps or the HTC Locations it didn't get a fix.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st gps-fix is a pain, after it will all get better....search for my posts, you'll see that this has been asked several times (don't want to be a b**ch but, please use the search button as well) and in general, 1st fix takes some time, 2nd is fast (like <2 min).
At this moment, while I thought my gps fix was very bad (and as I own one, if not the, of the 1st DHD batches, it was not abnormal to think that it also had gps probs) it now fixes within 1 minute....

Problematic piece of device for me for GPS.

Got mine a cpl of days ago , downloaded the apps above but still nothing i will give it one more try.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

kermez said:
Try these two programs:
http://www.appbrain.com/app/gps-status-toolbox/com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2
http://www.appbrain.com/app/gps-test/com.chartcross.gpstest
First one is great for diagnostic so it should tell you what is wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried both GPS apps. And immediately after that, I was able to get GPS satellite lock on within 20s.

Guys regarding the GPS, all of us we face an issue. It can not lock the satellites quickly. Especially for the people like me who are HTC HD2 owners as well. I was waiting only few seconds. (cooked rom). We MUST forget that now. It's an issue for all of the android devices. Even with the device of the Nexus. So we must live with that. Sometimes it will lock the satellites in 1 min or 30 secs, some other time in 2-3 mins. I searched also in the internet and i found so many complains regarding the GPS and hopefully not only from DHD users

f9cator said:
I tried both GPS apps. And immediately after that, I was able to get GPS satellite lock on within 20s.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I had also that problem but then red at forums that only way to lock as fast as you can satellite is to use first one for locking over internet and after that it's much easier to find satellite. Whenever you have problem with locking or need gps asap first program should provide you with fast satellite find.
Btw gps on dhd is so good that I have sold my old garmin - simply it's obsolete and now I have only to purchase official car holder.

Most of the times is more difficult to get a fix in a speeding car.
In the opposite case is generally faster to get a sat fix.

So I've been using my DHD for 3 weeks now (stock model as well, no root) and here are two issues with GPS that I noticed and have no idea what to do with it.
1. The same problem as described in first post. Every once in a while my GPS just cannot get a fix. I installed GPS Test app. Normally it finds around 6-7 satellites, they are all in use, the yellow indicator in GPS status bar goes green and my location appears on mini-map.
However there are situations when GPS Test says that there is 1 to 5 satelites in view, later on they also apper to be in use, but GPS status doesn't change to green and my actual location doesn't show. It's not a problem of visibility or my location - the GPS can get a fix today and not work tomorrow at the very same place.
I have no idea if this can be fixed, so any help appreciated.
2. This is not really an issue, just something that I find quite disturbing. I'm using this traffic app (Yandex Maps for those of you in Russia). It shows current traffic condition on the map + your current location if you have GPS. So each time I lock my DHD (press the button on the top) the GPS is immedietly switched off. So when I unlock the screen to see the map again it takes from few seconds to a minute or even more to update my current position. Sometimes it doesn't happen at all (see problem #1). I understand it's probably done to save battery but I would prefer continuously working GPS than saving battery. Is there any way to set GPS to always working mode?
Thanks in advance to everyone who can help. Cheers

Hi,
I read all you guys said and after trying both the apps and refreshing my agps data manually I now get 6-7 satellites which is good I think?
So for all of you with the same problem, just stay outside for a moment and make sure you have a data-connection. Then use the GPS Status app and refresh your agps data manually. It should work... It did for me!
Ps. I think my Desire, not the HD, used to see 11 satellites? Is that possible? Does this mean 6-7 is kind of weak?

dzn said:
Hi,
I read all you guys said and after trying both the apps and refreshing my agps data manually I now get 6-7 satellites which is good I think?
So for all of you with the same problem, just stay outside for a moment and make sure you have a data-connection. Then use the GPS Status app and refresh your agps data manually. It should work... It did for me!
Ps. I think my Desire, not the HD, used to see 11 satellites? Is that possible? Does this mean 6-7 is kind of weak?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to make it clear - to manually refresh AGPS using GPS Status - you need to go to Menu->Tools->Manage A-GPS state->Download?
I'm not outside now, but will try it once I have problems getting a fix.
And yes, 11 sats is possible. 6-7 is more than enough though.

Stand still to get a fix? Harder when you are speedy, I think.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

Your movement speed has no impact on how quickly you get a lock. Remember, these satellites are in orbit traveling alot faster than your 30 - 70mph.

GPS Performance

Hi guys,
My GPS was working ok on this phone a couple of days ago. As in, it was definately better than my old phone (samsung galaxy s) which had notoriously bad GPS, but still took longer than my dad's galaxy tab 7.7 to get a lock on the GPS.
However, today my GPS suddenly stopped working, it doesn't lock at all even after a few minutes. I tried rebooting the phone many times already, but to no avail. Downloaded gps status from the play store. The phone sees the satallites, but just doesn't connect to them.
Anybody with this issue as well? Or even better, any solutions?
Thanks.

We'll fix that
Download GPS test from Playstore Google thing,
start the prg
hit the menu (bottom middle)
settings
clear agps ( Button top left)
the prgs confirms
update agps ( Button top right)
the prgs confirms
of course for this you need net access
now u should be fine
start the gps test and see how many birds you get.
keep us informed
cheers

131313 said:
Download GPS test from Playstore Google thing,
start the prg
hit the menu (bottom middle)
settings
clear agps ( Button top left)
the prgs confirms
update agps ( Button top right)
the prgs confirms
of course for this you need net access
now u should be fine
start the gps test and see how many birds you get.
keep us informed
cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got 6. Good or bad?

w1nter456 said:
I got 6. Good or bad?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its ok depending on your zone.
I usually cruise around with 6-8. It would suck if you just had around 2 or something like that.

Thanks for your reply.
Followed what you said. The thing is, it sees the birds, but is unable to connect to them, ie. get a fix. Any ideas? Or is my gps hardware buggy. It was working fine yesterday
I see 13 birds btw

My experience with the GPS is quite different. I have no problem getting a fix. When I drive, it works OK but once I stop moving, I will lose heading and the screen starts spinning.

This is what I get from gps test.
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
This is with a clear view of the sky, after a few minutes. Is my hardware buggy? Itwas working fine a few days ago

I think it has to do with the tegra chipset.
Isn't the gps included in the SoC? The reason why I assume is the tegra chipset is because I was getting a similar behavior when I had my G2x which coincidentally had a tegra SoC.
It would work when it wanted to work. It didn't work all the time though, it was a hit and miss.
So when I got my Sensation I was super happy with the GPS since it connects everytime when I need it and has been consistent. The Sensation on the other hand uses Qualcomm's SoC.
I think if I do get a new phone anytime soon it will be the One X with Krait processor or One S.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G with Beats Audio using XDA App

scpion said:
My experience with the GPS is quite different. I have no problem getting a fix. When I drive, it works OK but once I stop moving, I will lose heading and the screen starts spinning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Luckily i have 0 issues on my phone.. Try calibrating the compass? Download compass app.

Me too thought it might be the compass that's acting up. any specific compass app I should try? Tried a few.. some worked, some dun.. I am surprised HTC didnt include the their signature compass app in the One X.

I have got the same problem.
My One X is running 1.29.401.7 and is unrooted and unbranded.
According to GPSTest, I have 11 satellites in view, but none in use. In settings/location, all options are ticked. I have used GPSTest to clear and update AGPS.
Any ideas?
---------- Post added at 10:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:49 AM ----------
I have just spoken to HTC, and they say the issue will be corrected in the 1.29.401.11 update which be available in the UK in a few days.

Wow.
I am not sure why some HOX phones have bad GPS. I am super impressed with mine, specially as I do a bit of Geocaching. Sitting on my lounge downstairs, in my two story house, with the blinds closed ( and I have a large tree covered hill to the north ) I get a good lock on at least six satellites in less then 30 seconds. I have owned two previous HTC phones as well as a Garmin GPS and a TomTom navigator, and none of these lock on as quick as this phoen does.
This is when using the app GPS status.

Mine was fine, good lock indoors etc. Now it's gone mental, jumping around all over the place. Tried all the clear data etc, fubar.

GPS practically useless on my HOX. It cannot get a lock indoors on even a single bird.
When using apps like Run Keeper or Endomondo to record a track, the track for a straight line 1 mile walk records as huge zig zag 6 miles long and estimates my speed as walking at 38 mph.
I've done all the GPS Status stuff with no positive results.
My Galaxy Nexus, side by side with the HOX, locks within seconds even indoors, and records a beautiful straight track.
Very disappointing.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

get the agps fix... it is amazing. in open field i get a fix in 2sec. (!) with 10-12 sats. accuracy is 1-3m. best gps i ever had.

Agps fix?
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

I returned my second HOX a week ago because of unusable GPS (First was yellow spots) - New one arrived today (T-mobile out of stock because of so many returns!).
Both the returned and the new one are HT24, both were running 1.28 - yet the one I returned would randomly bounce between a different 3-5 satellites, which meant the heading randomly reversed and location wandered, making Google Nav unusable due to constant re-routes.
The new one worked perfectly with Google Navigation when I went out earlier, though it still seemed to randomly choose which group of 4-5 satellites it locked onto.
My direct comparison suggests that it's a hardware problem, or at the very least a random software conflict.
I just hope its not a design flaw of the Tegra 3 hardware that will reappear and require some stupid external dongle like the Transformer Prime!

I just tested the GPS for navigation today,
It connected INSTANTLY - I mean instantly, 0secs-
Navigation was correct and accurate the whole way,
My one single disappointment was not the GPS, but the navigation speaker volume, very hard to hear in the car, even on full volume.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

Navigation apps are far more forgiving of the flaws in the GPS signal than are GPS tracking apps.
With wifi location services on, your location in a navigation app can be found more quickly than waiting for satellite locks.
In a navigation app a 100 meter bounce in your position for a few seconds won't impact your directions. In a tracking app, it can destroy the validity of your track for measuring performance or distance, especially when it happens with alarming regularity.
Try running a short track with the run keeper app and see if you get a clean track or a schizophrenic one.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

malte41 said:
get the agps fix... it is amazing. in open field i get a fix in 2sec. (!) with 10-12 sats. accuracy is 1-3m. best gps i ever had.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1595800

[Q] G3 and GPS Issues

Hello!
I'd like to start out mentioning that I don't have any GPS issues, thank our beloved God. I already paid my sins with LG G2 in regards to GPS.
But two friends of mine are having some weird issues with their G3's, which only differs from mine in the ROM version... and the fact that they both didn't remove the internal transparent adhesives (or even the lower blue one) since they bought it
The problem is that their GPS cannot find enough sattelites for a lock on, and when it find a couple, it gets a 30~40m lock precision, and loses it quickly after. Mine, side by side, gets a lock on in less than 3 seconds, with 6 to 7 meter precision.
But if they reboot and quickly open up a GPS app, they get a lock quickly and with precision, and then hold it for a minute or so, until it loses lock.
I've tried to find the GPS antenna and press it (just like the G2), but I don't know where is it located, and can't find on the internets, as it doesn't seem to be a recurrent problem.
As I didn't play much with the original ROM, and quickly swapped to a custom ROM, I can't rule out software problems. Their ROMs are well updated for our country, D855P10C (which is also mine, but differs on baseband).
Is there any known issue about this? Can I do something that not requires wiping out their systems to install a custom ROM?

for no logical reason whatsoever, i kinda believe your friend's phone suffers from hardware problem
if their phones are rooted, maybe they need to try fasterGPS app first (can be found in play store)

Hi,
I also suffer from poor GPS performance (when compared with other devices). Does anybody know where exactly the G3 GPS antenna is? Cannot find it quickly on the interwebz or disassembly videos...

superbonto said:
for no logical reason whatsoever, i kinda believe your friend's phone suffers from hardware problem
if their phones are rooted, maybe they need to try fasterGPS app first (can be found in play store)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So do I, but... they both suffer from exactly the same issue.
There's also the problem to troubleshoot it, as G2 had terrible GPS issues, anything you google for G3 GPS problems, it only gives you G2 GPS solutions.
Their phones aren't rooted, I thought about doing it, but then, if it's a hardware issue, I wouldn't want to trip any fuse or alarm.
@Molius if you reboot then immediately open a GPS app (Google Maps, Waze, GPS Status & Toolbox etc..), does the GPS works?

Hi,
Restart didn't help. If I put side by side my nexus 7 (2012), my G3 and Gf's xperia Z1, they all see the same satellites, however the signal strength on G3 is about half of what Z1 shows.

I'm having the same issues. Weak signal, slow to lock. I got rid of my note 3 for this same reason! At least g3 will lock eventually.
Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk

even i have same problem ..my g3 shows 20-30 satellites but connects only to 1 sattelite ......

I fixed my GPS. It was a hardware issue. I unscrewed all of the top portion of the back screws, popped off back, and then gently pulled up the little brass pins on the back. There are 6 little pins that I gently pried up. They are in sets of 2. If you look on the back cover that you unscrew, you'll see little square contacts that show you where the small contact points are. I don't know which is GPS, but after pulling them all up, and putting it back together, I'm seeing all satellites in GPS test and getting 16 feet accuracy indoors with a second floor above me. Previous, I would get no indoor signal, and rarely a lock outdoors.
Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk

swid441 said:
I fixed my GPS. It was a hardware issue. I unscrewed all of the top portion of the back screws, popped off back, and then gently pulled up the little brass pins on the back. There are 6 little pins that I gently pried up. They are in sets of 2. If you look on the back cover that you unscrew, you'll see little square contacts that show you where the small contact points are. I don't know which is GPS, but after pulling them all up, and putting it back together, I'm seeing all satellites in GPS test and getting 16 feet accuracy indoors with a second floor above me. Previous, I would get no indoor signal, and rarely a lock outdoors.
Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot this manipulation solved my problem.

The G3 problem it isn't the same with G2 and its not hardware but software problem.
For some people the gps have signal drops sometime and this happen only for lolipop. With kitkat works perfect. The only solution for working good the gps on lolipop is only with data open and high accuracy or airplane mode and gps sensors. Then you don't have anny issue and works perfect.
If this is hardware it doesn't work with this ways and the same problem it will be on kitkat. And all this is for many devices and not only G3.
Look here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2951515
and here http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=81140
Sorry for my English

poor GPS
Hi guys,
I've just bought my first LG (I had mostly HTC and a couple Samsung) and I'm just shocked by the GPS on my G3.
I just had a 150 miles drive from Wolverhampton to London and I had to get my HTC E8 out from my bag as I could not use Google Maps on this crap.
I've bought it second hand and it's been rooted and converted to CM 12.1 at the very moment I've got my hands on it but I'm thinking of selling it because navigation is key for me.
I downloaded GPS Test while I was reading this thread and for the last 10 minutes it could not get a fix although it sees 12 sats.
I will open it up as suggested tomorrow and will see how it goes...

syl20bar said:
Thanks a lot this manipulation solved my problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
As I don't have a large knowledge in Electronices, can you please, sent a picture of your mobile and showing where the Antenna is located ?
Have a goof time
---------- Post added at 09:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 AM ----------
cocous said:
The G3 problem it isn't the same with G2 and its not hardware but software problem.
For some people the gps have signal drops sometime and this happen only for lolipop. With kitkat works perfect. The only solution for working good the gps on lolipop is only with data open and high accuracy or airplane mode and gps sensors. Then you don't have anny issue and works perfect.
If this is hardware it doesn't work with this ways and the same problem it will be on kitkat. And all this is for many devices and not only G3.
Look here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2951515
and here http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=81140
Sorry for my English
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
I am not sure of what you wrote.
I have downgraded my D855 from MarshMallow to Kitkat for this purpose (having the GPS working) but I confirm that the device only sees satellite without fixing anyone.

I had the same problem in my G3. And I agree with this theory of a software problem. I've found a way to test my gps and use! I use the code 3845#*855# and access the option GnssTest 1.2, press the 3 dots button on top right corner and chose "START GPS" immediately it works. After this I could use gps apps normmaly, at least for some time. If the sinal was lost, I repeat option STOP GPS and START GPS and work again.

@Miinz
According to the LG G3 D855 service manual (page 139; paragraph 3.9.2) GPS antenna should be the highlighted sticker. The arrow is pointing where the GPS antenna sticker is going inside the rear housing.
I had removed and reattached the rear housing (I removed it as shown in first three and half minutes of this video) and it has improved GPS reception of my phone.