Develop Bugs

gps draining battery?

I've been trying to troubleshoot my battery drain rate and I found the problem.
When I turn off the GPS, and leave the wifi and bluetooth on, I get tremendous battery life/
What could be causing the GPS to drain the battery?

Do you ahve any programs running in the background that use gps? such as latitude, or that google one that maps your location? If so, gps kills batteries, because it constantly resyncs with the satelites... I believe the sense weather app also does periodic polling to pinpoint your location for weather.
If you dont need GPS exact location tracking, dont leave gps turned on, and turn it on when you need it.

My GPS is always on. It doesn't really hurt the battery life unless you are using with an application that uses the location service. My weather widget is set to refresh every hour and it's not impacting the battery.
I would look at your running programs and figure out which one is using the GPS. If you have the sensorly 4g map viewer, I found that to be a battery hog.

My money is on Latitude, that's been implicated in a lot of these situations. GPS always on is hardly a battery drain unless something is actually using the receiver. If you don't see the GPS icon in the notification bar, it's not GPS-ing.

SilverZero said:
My money is on Latitude, that's been implicated in a lot of these situations. GPS always on is hardly a battery drain unless something is actually using the receiver. If you don't see the GPS icon in the notification bar, it's not GPS-ing.
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Interesting tip. I had not noticed it. Thanks.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

I have my GPS on all the time and I regularly go over 13 hours without recharging; this is before SetCPU and underclocking.

FRX03...GPS...Sleep Mode...

I searched for Sleep Mode and GPS problems, and of course since those are very common words in most posts, I was having a hard time actually finding if anyone else has my problem.
I am running the most current kernel of FRX03. I have a sprint Rhod400. This problem pre-dates the current kernel, and I am not sure how long it has gone on, because I was having a lot more issues with sleep mode back in the earlier kernels anyway, as I think all people were. I am running with sleep mode set to 1.
Whenever I start a GPS program, usually it is foursquare, when I kill all the apps including foursquare using Advanced Task Killer, the phone will not go back to sleep. I have also looked at the "running services" setting and nothing is running besides Android. It seems to me the GPS stays active even though the GPS icon and all hints that it is actually running ceases to be found. I am guessing this is causing the phone not to go back to sleep. I have not really tested it out with navigation or maps to see if it happens there also, but if my memory serves me right it does.
Any suggestions on possible fixes?

Disable GPS. It's a known bug, which has already been filed on the bugtracker.
If GPS is enabled, phone will not sleep - and I don't mean enabled in that there's the GPS icon in your notification bar, I mean enabled (checked) in Location & Security. Uncheck it there, and the phone will sleep.

This is all interesting, because my RHOD400 seems to sleep just fine (much of the time) with GPS enabled!

gnnash said:
This is all interesting, because my RHOD400 seems to sleep just fine (much of the time) with GPS enabled!
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Enable GPS, then open an app that uses it. Leave GPS enabled, but close the app. Now try to put your phone to sleep .
I've definitely seen intermittent issues with sleep and GPS. Not sure if it's every time, but I noticed when the phone doesn't sleep, I disable GPS in loc&sec and it'll go to sleep.
The only other serious sleep-related problems I've had is with rogue apps stealing processor cycles and keeping the phone awake.

I'm running NAND were pm.sleepmode = 1.
Yesterday I left my GPS enabled and I seemed to be getting better battery life? Maybe it is just a fluke... But you never know!
I will try it on my other phone running HARET.

Lmiller1708 said:
I'm running NAND were pm.sleepmode = 1.
Yesterday I left my GPS enabled and I seemed to be getting better battery life? Maybe it is just a fluke... But you never know!
I will try it on my other phone running HARET.
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Well better battery life is probably related to usage.
However, that would be interesting if on NAND the GPS no sleep bug is non-existent...
I honestly haven't tested it in a while. No one has specifically looked at fixing it. I guess it's possible a commit happened to fix it - just usually doesn't work like that .

I use the 11/22/10 XDAndroid build from the .cab and the bug is present. LED doesn't turn from orange to green until I turn off GPS in settings and turn off the screen.
He probably thought that it was sleeping because the screen turned off (I used to think the same thing).

gallahad2000 said:
I use the 11/22/10 XDAndroid build from the .cab and the bug is present. LED doesn't turn from orange to green until I turn off GPS in settings and turn off the screen.
He probably thought that it was sleeping because the screen turned off (I used to think the same thing).
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No I knew it wasn't sleeping. I know the purpose of the LED being on always(sleep mode debugging). I was just trying to figure out why, and if there was a fix, which there isn't. In the earlier version of XDAndroid builds it was more than just GPS that was causing sleep issues, so back then I didn't think much of it not going to sleep, as I couldn't get more than about 4 hours of battery life out of those builds anyway. Now I am getting at least 12 with heavy usage and way more than that with light usage. So things have improved indeed.

slickdaddy96 said:
No I knew it wasn't sleeping. I know the purpose of the LED being on always(sleep mode debugging). I was just trying to figure out why, and if there was a fix, which there isn't. In the earlier version of XDAndroid builds it was more than just GPS that was causing sleep issues, so back then I didn't think much of it not going to sleep, as I couldn't get more than about 4 hours of battery life out of those builds anyway. Now I am getting at least 12 with heavy usage and way more than that with light usage. So things have improved indeed.
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Indeed! So that is the fix - disable GPS. It sucks, but it's on the punchlist of things to fix. Unfortunately I don't know of anyone looking at it specifically at the moment, but I'm sure it'll get addressed.

[Q] Samsung Epic - Battery drain is horrible! How can I fix this.

Please help....
I have read many threads about this, but I don't understand any of them. My battery life is horrible, I am only using it for the occasional phone call, texting and checking my email. It's very frustrating because when I need to use it, the battery is dead (or almost dead and I can't use the camera).
I don't understand all the lingo on here about what version "this" and "that" everyone is using. Downloading certain apps to fix this.....
I'm not very techy and just use my phone for basic things.
PLEASE HELP!!!!

Suggestions:
Turn off bluetooth until you need it, then turn off when done.
Turn off GPS until you need it, then turn off when done.
Turn screen brightness to automatic or lowest setting (your preference).
Turn off 4G receiver if you are out of range or just don't have 4G coverage in your area.
Turn off synchronization if you don't care for email, Facebook, Twitter, etc updates. (Not really necessary if your update interval isn't set for short intervals.)
Utilize Wifi as much as possible, if that is an option available to you. BUT turn it off when you know you will be out of range for a good bit of time.
Toggle Airplane mode after each phone reboot. (Stupid bug)
Utilize the TouchWiz program manager (long press on home screen and under Samsung widgets).
Kill the OmaDrmConfigService process via Settings > Applications > Running Services. (This appears again with each phone reboot, unless you find a process killer application in the market.)
If you use Wifi a good bit, it's a good idea to set your Wifi sleep policy to "Never". You can access this via Settings > Wireless & Networks > Wifi Settings: Press menu and select Advanced > Wifi Sleep Policy. Setting to never will not revert back to 3G when you turn off your phone's display as long as wifi is still turned on and within that connected wifi signal range.
If you still get **** battery life, then you can download Spare Parts or BatteryHistory from the market. BatteryHistory is a ripped out piece from Spare Parts, which is really all you need to diagnose your issue.
OR if you don't want to install anything you can key in via the dialer: *#4636*1111# to get to the same menu that both programs above display. (The menu is labeled Battery History.)
From another battery thread that pertains to the two aforementioned programs:
musclehead84 said:
What you do is when you notice that it's doubled on the top drop down box that says "other usage" click on that and change it to "partial wake usage" and anything listed under there is keeping your phone awake. See what is continually running.
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I hope the above helps you out.
Cheers.

Dont ask me to explain this just try it. Use astro and delete the android folder at the root of your sd card and reboot
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

Did deleting the android folder work or anyone else? I'm trying to see how that can help but if it does good find.

I have no ideawhy but after flashing a few times testing themes on dk28 my battery tanks and my gallery gets slow. The album thumb folder inside there is what fixes the gallery so I usually delete it but I got lazy and deleted my whole folder since it regenerates on boot and my battery came back. Ben deleting it since lol but I flash a lot
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

dreamsforgotten said:
I have no ideawhy but after flashing a few times testing themes on dk28 my battery tanks and my gallery gets slow. The album thumb folder inside there is what fixes the gallery so I usually delete it but I got lazy and deleted my whole folder since it regenerates on boot and my battery came back. Ben deleting it since lol but I flash a lot
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Not certain how it helped your battery issue, but good to have that knowledge. I sifted through my folder and only saw cache files for what looked like thumbnails.

nikon120 said:
Not certain how it helped your battery issue, but good to have that knowledge. I sifted through my folder and only saw cache files for what looked like thumbnails.
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That's all that's in there that's why I said dont ask me why. I would have posted when I found it but I knew I would get flamed so either it works for you or it dont. It doesn't make since but it works for me
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

http://androidforums.com/epic-4g-tips-tricks/245915-epic-4g-battery-life-extension-another-thread.html

Try this:
-Toggle airplane mode every time you reboot. You probably have a "time without signal" of over 50% if you look in settings. Toggling airplane mode resets the radio and so it doesn't keep looking for signal unnecessarily which kills battery
-Gps on doesn't drain battery, only when its being used by an app
-Turn off background data and auto sync. If you don't have facebook/twitter widgets or care about email push notifications then save some power and switch it off.
-Check for apps that aren't letting the phone sleep. Download "spare parts" and it should show you.
-I'm guessing you have the updated Facebook app with chat. I would suggest going offline in chat because it doesn't let the phone sleep and will drain your battery really fast.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

wtf is up with the horrible battery life of this phone? i got it and it is EXTREMELY worse than my Hero ever was. I have had this phone less than a week and I already want to return because of the battery life.
i dont use 4g at all, wifi is only enabled when i need to, gps is enabled but i figured i always had it enabled on the hero and was just fine, my screen brightness is always set at automatic brightness, i dont use bluetooth...
i am stumped.
please help before i destroy this thing

Jonesin 4 The Rush said:
wtf is up with the horrible battery life of this phone? i got it and it is EXTREMELY worse than my Hero ever was. I have had this phone less than a week and I already want to return because of the battery life.
i dont use 4g at all, wifi is only enabled when i need to, gps is enabled but i figured i always had it enabled on the hero and was just fine, my screen brightness is always set at automatic brightness, i dont use bluetooth...
i am stumped.
please help before i destroy this thing
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Lol gps kills it on this phone the roms greatly improve it
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

dreamsforgotten said:
Lol gps kills it on this phone the roms greatly improve it
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
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thx for the advice.
i will try it without gps
also any good advice on any particular rom? i have only had this phone for 6 days and am trying to pinpoint a great rom to use.

My Epic looks pregnant but the battery lasts forever with the extended one

Speed up GPS sync?

Hello
I'd like to get started contributing to OpenStreetMap using my Galaxy Nexus running the stock 4.2.1 (JOP40D.I9250XWMA2).
I keep the GPS feature disabled because it drains the battery, but it can take several minutes to sync up while in the city before I can take a picture and have it tagged with the location
What could I try to speed things up? Connect an external (A)GPS chip through the USB port? Move to CyanogenMod?
Thank you.

FreyrNjord said:
Hello
I'd like to get started contributing to OpenStreetMap using my Galaxy Nexus running the stock 4.2.1 (JOP40D.I9250XWMA2).
I keep the GPS feature disabled because it drains the battery, but it can take several minutes to sync up while in the city before I can take a picture and have it tagged with the location
What could I try to speed things up? Connect an external (A)GPS chip through the USB port? Move to CyanogenMod?
Thank you.
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Click to collapse
I think move to a custom rom cant speed up your gps.
But an external GPS can help you.

At least part of the problem is that you keep the GPS off normally. So every time you turn it on, it has to obtain a cold start, which takes a lot longer than a hot start. Leave the GPS on and it should obtain a fix much faster.

Leaving the GPS toggled on in Android does not mean it's being utilized. If it's not being utilized, it's not draining battery. If it's being utilized, you should see the GPS icon in your notification bar.
It's been a long standing myth that leaving it toggled off magically saves battery. If leaving it toggled on is draining your battery when you're not using it, you have a rogue app that is using the GPS.

if you have root you can try fasterfix from the play store to get a faster GPS fix

Maestrodude said:
if you have root you can try fasterfix from the play store to get a faster GPS fix
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Thanks for the tip. I moved from stock Android to Cyanogenmod over the week-end, and will give Fasterfix a shot.
BTW, recently, while still using Android 4.2.1 and travelling to a neighboring European country, even after connecting to a local wifi hotspot and using GPS Status' Reset + Download features, I noticed two issues:
GPS didn't lock for hours even while being outside the whole time
When it did lock, it didn't keep track and was stuck where it was
As a result, GPS was pretty much useless.
What could be the cause for this? Aren't AGPS data supposed to let me lock faster? Will Fasterfix solve the issue?
Thank you.

GPS ON or OFF?

i cant decide if i should keep my GPS on or off, if i keep it off apps like lookout will not work in case i need to locate my phone if lost, how do you keep your gps on or off?

On. Always.

on, all you are doing is allowing gps to run when needed. the only time it is on is when you see the location notification.

-javier- said:
i cant decide if i should keep my GPS on or off, if i keep it off apps like lookout will not work in case i need to locate my phone if lost, how do you keep your gps on or off?
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Depending on your other apps, GPS can either be a light nuisance (getting location takes an awfully long time) or a complete battery destroyer (apps which use the location feature too often.)
Definitely off, if you care about your sanity or battery life. "Battery saving" location option is more than adequate for most everyday tasks.

nabbed said:
Depending on your other apps, GPS can either be a light nuisance (getting location takes an awfully long time) or a complete battery destroyer (apps which use the location feature too often.)
Definitely off, if you care about your sanity or battery life. "Battery saving" location option is more than adequate for most everyday tasks.
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+1
I always have my GPS off unless I need it.

I can't tell the difference on my battery life weather gps is on or off so mines always on

Keep your GPS on and in battery saving network towers option. If you have apps that look for location like a weather widget, they will actually use more battery trying to find location with GPS off than leaving it on.