Develop Bugs

GPS/Location Problem

Hello,
Since I have rooted my myTouch 3G Slide I started to notice GPS problems.
But it's funny how some things related to GPS work, and some don't.
Examples:
- Weather: can determine my location perfectly and show weather from that region.
- Maps: can't determine my location, or shows it in completely random place, or maybe like 2-3 miles off. But now I just checked it works perfectly when plugged into usb (charge mode). But now if I unplug and use maps it will work perfectly. But sometimes it's just gay...
- Facebook Location: sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. Pretty much same as maps
I have tried many roms and this happens on every rom there is.
Currently I am using stock rooted rom with su.
Possible thoughts: GPS doesnt work on full power when not plugged into usb and thats why it cant find location...
P.S. Off-topic question. Anyone knows good offline navigation with gps tracking?

Are you using a Froyo ROM? And if so, did you upgrade to the latest radio? In my experience, anytime I switched to a ROM that changes a major version of the software, the radio had to be upgraded. The latest is 7.09 still I believe... The "randomness" of location working is probably because you're not waiting for a GPS lock. When maps shows you not exactly in the same place, it is not "random", it has located you based on the cell towers in your area, as a "calculated" approximate location. Think of "triangulation" that was popularly used in the movies when they would track a person via cell phone. Almost all the apps that can use your locations can use either location by GPS or location by network.

fermunky said:
Are you using a Froyo ROM? And if so, did you upgrade to the latest radio? In my experience, anytime I switched to a ROM that changes a major version of the software, the radio had to be upgraded. The latest is 7.09 still I believe... The "randomness" of location working is probably because you're not waiting for a GPS lock. When maps shows you not exactly in the same place, it is not "random", it has located you based on the cell towers in your area, as a "calculated" approximate location. Think of "triangulation" that was popularly used in the movies when they would track a person via cell phone. Almost all the apps that can use your locations can use either location by GPS or location by network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm I never updated the radio cause I have had no idea what it is, but I will look into upgrading it. And hmm, maybe GPS doesnt work at all and those apps that work use network to figureout location.
But anyway I installed CoPilot and it worked great so far.
Lokking forward radio upgrade, and thanks for info

GPS issues

has anyone elses GPS EVER WORKED for anything becides the navigation? example: foursquare or facebook?
im running on syndicate frozen rom.
edit: i got it to work once on facebook when i was OUTSIDE, why do i have to be OUTSIDE? that completely defeats the purpose.
and what does "use wireless networks" option do?

It uses data networks to help pinpoint your location.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

I am running Frozen Syndicate Rom as well and i use it for Google Maps, Google Navigation, and FourSquare.
Prior to that i had the DK28 stock and before that BONZI4ALL. I havnt had any issues with it.
I am now seeing your EDIT about you wanting to know why you have to be outside for GPS to work.
Do you actually understand how GPS works? Its line of sight signals from sattelites in orbit. It was designed to be used OUTSIDE.
Heck you can be outside in dense foliage (trees) and still NOT get a signal. GPS does not penetrate concrete, steel, or any other dense sturcture.
Also if your in a down town urban area with skyscrapers that too will throw off the signaling aspect of GPS.
Use wireless netowrks is an option for when your inside a building or in an area with poor GPS coverage, it will attempt to use triangulation from the GPS being recieved by the Netowrk.
with GPS you can get accuracy of about 5-15 feet. With Network assisted GPS you can get about 50 feet accuracy. Its a big improvement from NO GPS.

my gps didnt work but i fixed it with ##RTN# reset. backed up my crap did that then rerstored my crap, walahh, gps works. now i got a replacement phone, gps worked when i got it. on eb13 and genocide with all my apps, gps works still now. few examples, foursquare, gps speedometer, and navigation are all working well.

thanks for the replies guys. i guess i didnt really understand why facebook and the other apps have the "places" part when you cant even use it unless your outside... so for instance: if your going to the club on Saturday night and you want to tell people where you are, you have to walk outside of the club, wait for gps to work and then go back inside and select the place? lol..

Just turn on the wifi locations option. It will use any nearby wifi to determine your rough location even if you can't connect to them.

[Solved][Q] Course Location Problems (not GPS)

I've been dealing with a problem on my G2 for a while now, but not sure when it started exactly. Basically, I'm no longer able to determine my location using the cell towers (ie: coarse location).
Several programs I have rely on coarse location, such as the News and Weather app and Beautiful Widgets, not to mention latitude via Google Maps.
I originally thought it was an issue with CyanogenMod 7 starting from RC2 and up, but after having reverted to CM 6.1.1 I found that it was not working there.
If I use GPS or WiFi my location is found pretty quickly, and if I set "only use 2G networks" (or whatever the setting is called) then coarse location works.
My testing method is to reboot the phone and then when it stabilizes to go into the News and Weather app to see if it can find my location. When it does not work I just get a screen that says as much and a link to set my location manually.
I've done this same test on clean roms with no settings or restorations and I get the same results.
Thinking that maybe the radio was to blame I went so far as updating it, while at the same time doing the "real" S-OFF routine through gfree (I permrooted using the original method when it was found, which I've read was some type of fake S-OFF...). This didn't change anything, unfortunately.
While I know this is not related to GPS, I wiped the EFS data as well since I updated the radio (thread 1028405). This didn't help either, though I didn't expect it to.
I've called T-Mobile a few times about this, and had them do a clear location, which didn't seem to change anything.
Lastly, while not the same equipment, I did put my SIM back into my Nexus One (Completely Stock, running latest GB from Google) to see if the problem followed me. Using 3G with that phone, I was able to get my location nearly instantly, so it seems to be something with my phone directly. A G2 demo unit at my local T-Mobile store also was able to find it's location quickly via coarse location.
So, I'm lost as to what to do now. Is it broken? Do I need to replace it? Do I need to flash it back to utter stockness and test all over again?
If there is any additional information that I can provide, please let me know.
Edit: I found a solution using the app Location Cache in the market. Just wipe the location cache using the app and it should fix your problems. Here's the link:
https://market.android.com/details?id=ch.rrelmy.android.locationcachemap

I have the same issue. It started while on CM7 and now if I go back to any other ROM the issue persists. Always wondered what caused it.

I'm having the same problem. Try switching your mobile network to 2G only and see if network location works then. It works flawlessly for me with 2G only but when i switch to 3G/HSPDA+ it fails to find my location and give me the "location temporarily unavailable" error. Wifi and GPS work fine but that's useless unless you have wifi signal available or are outside. I had this problem in the past and flashing a new radio worked before but I can't seem to get it to work this time. I"m running the CM7 Stable but have tested it on the MIUI ROM as well. So frustrating.

Solved
I found a solution!
Because of all this location tracking non-sense, I downloaded an app called Location Cache from the market. I was thinking that it might be helpful in trying to figure out my lack of location services on 3G/4G.
The information it displayed was that all my cell towers had an accuracy of -1. Thinking it couldn't get worse, I wiped the location cache, which also results in the phone rebooting.
To my surprise, after the phone came up I was now getting location services on 3G/4G. Accuracy at my home was 75 vs -1, and my location is working in my work area as well (about 20 miles North of my home).
Here's a market link:
https://market.android.com/details?id=ch.rrelmy.android.locationcachemap

GPS not working!!

Until few days back GPS was working like a charm.
Today I performed an upgrade of Google Maps to 5.9.
And GPS doesn't work!!! Searching and searching, not able to fix satellites!! Outside, sunny day...
Uninstalled upgrade, rebooted phone, reinstalled upgrade....
GPS doesn't work! On old and new version.
Any ideas what can cause that? Anybody experienced similar problems??!! What a disaster!

only in Google Maps or also in other apps (car dashboard etc)?

azaberl said:
only in Google Maps or also in other apps (car dashboard etc)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I use Google search it doesn't work either.
I don't use apps with location but just checked with WeatherBug and apparently it doesn't work either!

GPS working fine here on .368 update using Maps 5.9

This is crazy but after second reboot it works again.
It's so strange!

doministry said:
When I use Google search it doesn't work either.
I don't use apps with location but just checked with WeatherBug and apparently it doesn't work either!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't use GPS that often, a fix can take a long while. I'd suggest a tool like GPS Test to see if it's picking up a signal and what the quality is like.
https://www.gstatic.com/android/market/com.chartcross.gpstest/ss-320-0-5
Those bars will tell you about the GPS signal. If GPS would not be working at all the bars would be completely flat. If you get some bars, it should be a matter of time.

Private-Cowboy said:
If you don't use GPS that often, a fix can take a long while. I'd suggest a tool like GPS Test to see if it's picking up a signal and what the quality is like.
https://www.gstatic.com/android/market/com.chartcross.gpstest/ss-320-0-5
Those bars will tell you about the GPS signal. If GPS would not be working at all the bars would be completely flat. If you get some bars, it should be a matter of time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well thanks!!

I guess nobody needs 2 GPS test apps, but if you do then i can recommend GPS status.

GPS is suddenly EXCELLENT!

My GPS has all of sudden started working FLAWLESSLY. I have changed nothing on my phone in the last couple of weeks. While sitting sitting in my living room today, I decided to turned on my GPS as I do often in the same spot. The only difference, instead of picking up zero satellites, I picked up at least 5 and Google maps is working great.
Has anyone else noticed sudden improved GPS?? I hope this lasts...
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App

I can't offer much historical performance, as I just got my Epic yesterday, but I was able to quickly get a gps lock at my house last night, and while driving today. I leave GPS on all the time.

I'm pretty sure this is due to me wearing my tin foil hat.
You're welcome.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but how do you check?

SRT300 said:
Maybe this is a dumb question, but how do you check?
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Click to collapse
You can do this a few ways.
1) Make sure GPS is on, and go into Google Maps. See if it finds your location when you are indoors.
2) Make sure GPS is on, and download GPS test from the market. It will tell you how many satellites you are connecting to, and how strong the lock is. It also tells the accuracy of your location, in meters.

http://www.spaceweather.com/

GPS Status & Toolbox is another great free app from the market. Tells you how fast the GPS locks in seconds, number of satellites, longitude, latitude, compass bearing, etc. It will let you clear and download A-GPS data as well which one should do regularly.

tokuzumi said:
You can do this a few ways.
1) Make sure GPS is on, and go into Google Maps. See if it finds your location when you are indoors.
2) Make sure GPS is on, and download GPS test from the market. It will tell you how many satellites you are connecting to, and how strong the lock is. It also tells the accuracy of your location, in meters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
These are the methods I use.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App

perhaps a neighbor cut down a tree which has been blocking the gps signal to your phone. haha.

Awesome!!!!
Mine says I'm at home too... Even though I'm currently at work about 10 miles away.
The GPS on this phone stinks!!!! But everything else is flawless.

I noticed a huge improvement a week or two before el29 went officially OTA. I was already running the leaked el29 modem/kernel mind you. Maybe Sammy/sprint changed something to play nice with the new release *shrugs*. Before this it would take awhile for GPS Status to lock on sats, now it usually locks in under a minute!
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App

crzchn said:
http://www.spaceweather.com/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^this
The massive solar storm probably had a lot to do with it.

Not sure how the epic touch works, but I believe most phones do not use true GPS. The GPS module is usually assisted by the cell radio. Sprint probably improved cell coverage in your area.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

Yes the phones do use the towers as a "rough location" while searching for satellites.

and if we have no tower signal.. we get no GPS
GPS should work.. cell signal or not. boooo A-GPS.

autoprime said:
and if we have no tower signal.. we get no GPS
GPS should work.. cell signal or not. boooo A-GPS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to uncheck the option to use the cell network to assist with GPS lock. I think it's under Settings, Location, or Security. It will then only use the GPS antenna to determine your location. It will probably take about a minute to get a lock, however.
I haven't tested this out, so it's all theory, but on paper, the theory should be sound.

My old Samsung phone had major gps issues but once I got a good lock and started using gps regularly it worked fine till I started trying out different roms. This phone gps seems to be working fine so far

I've never had a problem with GPS, but I live in an area with good cell coverage