Develop Bugs

[Q] GPS problem - very strange

I have a GPS problem, and despite reading a number of the threads in the forum and trying the usual fixes (downloading GPS Status, clearing downloaded data, re-downloading A-GPS data, factory reset, upgrading to 2.3.3 etc...) I still figure out what's wrong.
Symptoms are:
I do have a GPS icon in the task bar in the apps where I would expect it appear
I never get a lock
Both GPS Status and GPS Test seem to indicate I have *no* signal from any sats
I am outside when I try this
aLogcat seesm to show no NMEA data, though I've never read a logcat entry for working GPS, so I'm guessing a bit here. It does show GPS start up and shutdown lines however
It didn't work in 1.84, when I downgraded, and it still doesn't work in 2.3.3 - seems to be version independant!
Does anyone have any bright ideas? It's really irritating. As a side note, the phone isn't rooted (as I forgot to S-off when I upgraded to 2.3.3) though it could be downgraded fairly easily if there was a good reason to do it...
Thanks!

If it has never worked and you have wiped the device, re-installed etc....
Then I would guess that it may be a defective unit...

markya23 said:
I have a GPS problem, and despite reading a number of the threads in the forum and trying the usual fixes (downloading GPS Status, clearing downloaded data, re-downloading A-GPS data, factory reset, upgrading to 2.3.3 etc...) I still figure out what's wrong.
Symptoms are:
I do have a GPS icon in the task bar in the apps where I would expect it appear
I never get a lock
Both GPS Status and GPS Test seem to indicate I have *no* signal from any sats
I am outside when I try this
aLogcat seesm to show no NMEA data, though I've never read a logcat entry for working GPS, so I'm guessing a bit here. It does show GPS start up and shutdown lines however
It didn't work in 1.84, when I downgraded, and it still doesn't work in 2.3.3 - seems to be version independant!
Does anyone have any bright ideas? It's really irritating. As a side note, the phone isn't rooted (as I forgot to S-off when I upgraded to 2.3.3) though it could be downgraded fairly easily if there was a good reason to do it...
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. are you running custom roms? if so which?
2. have you updated your radio and made sure that the RIL is matching?

goofylad said:
1. are you running custom roms? if so which?
2. have you updated your radio and made sure that the RIL is matching?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Nope. The stock 2.3.3 RUU and before that the UK T-Mobile Stock 1.84 ROM.
2. Stock only, so standard RIL.
shaithis said:
If it has never worked and you have wiped the device, re-installed etc....
Then I would guess that it may be a defective unit...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is my fear. It did work when I first got it, but it now doesn't on any ROM. Unfortunately I can't quite work out what changed...
If this is the problem, does anyone know a way to get back on the T-Mobile official ROM so i can take it back to the shop?

Hi there, Your best bet would be to try and downgrade, root and flash a matched ROM, RIL & radio to retest. This happened to me a while back and this was the only thing that sorted it. CoreDroid has been particularly good for GPS on my DHD, hope this helps

rory1980 said:
Hi there, Your best bet would be to try and downgrade, root and flash a matched ROM, RIL & radio to retest. This happened to me a while back and this was the only thing that sorted it. CoreDroid has been particularly good for GPS on my DHD, hope this helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah - I tried the Coredroid rom - no dice. Think that confirms it's hardware. Back to stock and then back to the shop for this one.
I heard rumours that early DHDs were flaky for GPS. Guess that confirms it for me...

Had exactly the same problem with mine after using the gingerbread ROM from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056329
Are there different versions for different countries? Maybe this only works in the US or something? I'm guessing here!
Are there different stock ROMS for different countries/ networks? I didn't write down the version numbers before updating

GPS problems remain

hi there @all
I have a semi serious issue on the Ace (Desire HD)
it is one of the GPS kind of nature
Here is what is going on:
1. GPS worked fine
2. flashed ENG-hboot and it still worked fine
3. then flashed CM6 everything fine
4. CM7 nightlies (fine at first but then broken)
5. CM7 all I flash seems broken (the final 7.0.3 too) and I do not wanna leave CM7 -.-
now GPS seems to be broken, a lock takes >3-4min and the accuracy stays >20m
even the long term under open sky method does not fix it
and even erasing the EFS-Parttions does not fix it either
I tried different radios with their corresponding RIL-files
I tried GPS-Tools and erase A-GPS data and redownload them
nothing seems to fix the problem
the signal of the sats comes in strong and clear but no defined fix appears
my Milestone gets to 4m accuracy in about 15sec and first fix usually in 5-7sec
the bad thing is, that the Desire HD is not usable for navigation this way because Google Nav wants a better fix to use the GPS-Fix
anyone got this problem too? and got it fixed?

No idea, updated mine to Gingerbread using the manual method and GPS stopped working altogether. The GPS icon flashes up in the status bar but no fix, no satellites visible after leaving it for an hour
Tried the A-GPS delete and download with GPS Stauts, also tried GPS Test and nothing sees a single satellite.
Might try putting a the stock 2.2 ROM back on and see if that fixes it. Maybe something to do with an incompatible radio that came with the Gingerbread ROM?

Did you try AngelDeath fix for gps.conf here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=953630.
But be carefull, because the zip provided in the link (ftp://xda:[email protected]/) are for ext3 roms, and it will not work as such for ext4 roms.
If you have an ext4 rom, you have to unzip first and then manually with root explorer, copy past the gps.conf file => /etc/ in replacement of the existing one.
Don't forget to give all read/write permissions according to the original gps.conf file.
It works great for me reducing the first acquisition time from 1-2 min down to ~20 sec.
Enjoy

I had to send my DHD back on warranty due to a malfunction gps module. Htc replaced the module and everything has been working perfectly after that! (remember to turn it back to stock before returning it)
-sblindheim
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

i had to pop my gps cover off and make sure that the prong's were seated properly worked alot better after i done that!

Hi,
i've got the same problem i think. Quoting myself from the Leedroid-thread:
---
Only one thing doesn't work properly for me: GPS.
On stock unrooted 1.72 it was fascinating how maps showed my exact (1m off eventually) position immediately when i left the house.
Then rooted, Leedroid (froyo) the same accuracy, tried cm7 rc4: gps-position jumping around, no lock etc. I restored my Lee-froyo-nandroid-backup, but gps stayed broken even after nandroid restore.
Tried cm7 stable again, still gps sucked, so i decided to use ruu 1.32, unrooted, s-on etc, DHD like fresh out of the box. GPS again was working perfect.
Now rooted again (couldn't let my fingers off of it ), used the leedroid 3.02 GB: GPS jumping around again, at least a little bit better, sometimes a 7m accuracy.
I always and ever do a full wipe before i flash a rom, never restore via titanium etc., installing everything fresh from the market. And i use the recommended radios (flashed via the Radio flash tool), check all checksums etc, tried on every rom different radios, fasterfix, gpsfix, loaded a-gps data etc.
Could it be a GB-issue exclusivly for my device as most people seem to have no probs with GPS on this rom or on cm7 stable ...?
---
Meanwhile i tried the new Android Revolution Rom, GPS still didn't work, tried flashing RILs, didn't help either unfortunately.
Currently i try out the new Leedroid and formatted to EXT4, tomorrow i'll try out GPS again.

@Nasobem
i am completely with you on what you say, i remember GPS being spot on when i first got my DHD, since rooting no rom/radio/ril has ever given me consistantly good GPS, i have had days where it seems to work fine, then nothing.. very frustrating..

Very true colonel, it's really frustrating ... An hour ago i was trying out GPS with the newest Leedroid kernel. I've been really excited, because i got a fix inside the house (after 5 minutes waiting time), and it has been very accurate. I went outside with a big grin on my face, took a look on maps and ... nothing, no fix, GPS jumping around even after 2 minutes. Finally a fix on a position 20m off. As a little additional gift from the God of the Smartphones, now when I'm holding my phone to the east, it's showing north sometimes.
It's strange that there doesn't seem to be a solution for our GPS problems as it is working on stock rom ...

goofylad said:
i had to pop my gps cover off and make sure that the prong's were seated properly worked alot better after i done that!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I can second that. I went as far as soldering the pads on the plastic cover to make sure there's metal that can connect to the prongs/springs. Mine had small black pits in them, probably too thin strips so the prongs weared a hole in them.
I've made a youtube clip on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qm_z65LA8k
And some other pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/sets/72157626706509210/

knegge said:
Yeah, I can second that. I went as far as soldering the pads on the plastic cover to make sure there's metal that can connect to the prongs/springs. Mine had small black pits in them, probably too thin strips so the prongs weared a hole in them.
I've made a youtube clip on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qm_z65LA8k
And some other pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/sets/72157626706509210/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool. where did you get a new gps cover from. i took the cover off a while back and it worked better for a bit, but would like a spare cover if im going to solder it.

GPS is messed up with Gingerbread, I found the problem was the GPS.spade.so file in: system/lib/hw. The only Rom I found to work was the latest cm7 nightly. 80 onward.This has a modified gps file. I'm surprised you're having problems on CM7 maybe try clearing the efs cache;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=12764930&postcount=1
Or put the SD card in a card reader and format it. Reinstall Rom doing a full wipe.
PS.noticed you already tried wipe efs. When trying the later nightlys a full wipe is required.I also read a lot of Cm7 users were substituting older GPS files to solve the issue.

thanks i will give it a try, but i can also get a fix when i press the gps cover. mix of problems i guess..

May i ask how to wipe efs data on DHD? I tried AngelDeath's fix and replacing the conf file with another one, but didn't help ?
Can i just use the vision_wipe_efs_01.zip or should i use the dd method (brick risk)?
Thank you

Nasobem said:
May i ask how to wipe efs data on DHD? I tried AngelDeath's fix and replacing the conf file with another one, but didn't help ?
Can i just use the vision_wipe_efs_01.zip or should i use the dd method (brick risk)?
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive done it many times using second method in terminal emulator without any problem just backup first.

colonel_lp said:
cool. where did you get a new gps cover from. i took the cover off a while back and it worked better for a bit, but would like a spare cover if im going to solder it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought it on ebay (item 140529713185), not the easiest to find unless you search for the "correct" name "gps antenna" yields no items...
They often call it "flash cover" as the camera flash leds shine through it, so variations on that will give you a decent list of items.

Funny, I was just going to open a thread like this one.
I'm on ARHD 5.1.7 and I'm experiencig the same issue as the OP (I used to have the same also previously on ARHD 5.1.3).
GPS doesn't fix at all in google maps, the only workaround aI found to be a little effective is to open GPS status (which takes from 50 to 70 sec to fix anyway) before using google maps, but still the precision remain at 40 m and fix is not very fast.
I tried all the solutions suggested in the question 14 of ARHD first post but with no improvement.
The only thing i wasn't able to do is that, which I understand to be the same solution suggested by michelD
michelD said:
Did you try AngelDeath fix for gps.conf here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=953630.
But be carefull, because the zip provided in the link (ftp://xda:[email protected]/) are for ext3 roms, and it will not work as such for ext4 roms.
If you have an ext4 rom, you have to unzip first and then manually with root explorer, copy past the gps.conf file => /etc/ in replacement of the existing one.
Don't forget to give all read/write permissions according to the original gps.conf file.
It works great for me reducing the first acquisition time from 1-2 min down to ~20 sec.
Enjoy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for such a noob question, but I don't get how to give/get the permissions to overwrite a file in /etc/ directory.
Everytime I tried to overwrite the file it remains the same.
Can someone please provide me some detailed information?
Thanks in advance

I had the same problem on CM7 but I downloaded FasterFix from the market and set the pool to my location eg.UK. Now my GPS locks on in a few seconds.

Malobestino said:
...I don't get how to give/get the permissions to overwrite a file in /etc/ directory....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I figured out by myself and I succeded in overwrite gps.conf using "super manager".
Now the GPS finds 2 more sateliites than before (they were 6, now 8), but the fixing is now worse than before, sometimes taking more than 5 minutes and still I can't get any fix directly into Gmaps.
What amazes me the most is that my previous phone - the wildfire - used to fix a lot faster (no more than 15 sec.).

I've tried several roms now:
CM7.0.3
Stock-rooted Gingerbread (2.36.405.8)
leedroid 2.2.3
Raidroid Stockify 1.72.405.3
I did wipe efs data, wich didn't work, then tried fasterfix, then tried gps status (I read that gps status sometimes can cause trouble)
Sadly none of the roms GPS worked for me, even as close as possible to one of my last working configurations, Raidroid Stockify
Now i went back to original unrooted stock again, made S-ON, just to test it out, this time to 1.72. And GPS still sucks. I'll have to send it in for repair i think.
Something was surprising: When i had shortly (for rooting on s-on-reasons) 1.32 on my DHD, it showed two WLAN, wich none of the roms ever showed (from a large, far away city hall, very weak signal). So it seems that for me the strongest, best reception is on 1.32, wich is the ONLY software that can deal with my obviously bad GPS/Wlan hardware - sadly this doesn't help me, because videorecording is lagging on 1.32 etc ...

Again the GPS problem

Howdy,
So I'm another user having problems with GPS on my HTC Wildfire. I tried pretty much everyhing. Flashed all different radio versions via Recovery, fastboot and Android Flasher. Also I installed the agps patch. None of these solved my problem.
Before doing all this I had no GPS status bar icon at all. Now at least I have an icon showing me that he is constantly searching for GPS.
I also used GPS Test to clear and update AGPS but no luck.
Finally I tried several custom ROMS, from CM, to Splashmod and rempuzzle and all of them have this problem. So it's ROM independent.
What else can I try?

Fasterfix and gps essentials are the 2 apps that helped me fix my gps once.. and i had even used the agps patch by crypted for more accuracy
Sent from my LG-E730 using Tapatalk 2

gerope said:
Howdy,
So I'm another user having problems with GPS on my HTC Wildfire. I tried pretty much everyhing. Flashed all different radio versions via Recovery, fastboot and Android Flasher. Also I installed the agps patch. None of these solved my problem.
Before doing all this I had no GPS status bar icon at all. Now at least I have an icon showing me that he is constantly searching for GPS.
I also used GPS Test to clear and update AGPS but no luck.
Finally I tried several custom ROMS, from CM, to Splashmod and rempuzzle and all of them have this problem. So it's ROM independent.
What else can I try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you did all the above really clean - I mean with formatting/wiping/factory resets etc. it could also be a hardware problem in the end. But from my experience there are just a lot of pitfalls why solutions won't work.
The fact that you didn't get the icon show up before but now it does looks to me that it's not a hardware problem. My suggestion would be to reflash either the radio and the ROM again - but as clean as possible.
- look into "The Complete Wildfire Index" thread (in "General") pick the radio in the middle and flash that first
- do a clean wipe of at least the system partition, cache and dalvik-cache (I also do "format system" and sometimes a "wipe all/factory reset" to be sure and it couldn't hurt to wipe data also - your decision)
- flash the ROM you want to use
- flash gapps
- reboot and look what it does (this most likely won't do at that point)
- flash the newest of the 3 radios afterwards and see if this helps
--- Edit --- to flash two different radios is a dirty trick to remove leftovers or problems because wiping or formatting doesn't touch the radio --- EDIT ---
For testing GPS I suggest GPS Status from the market (best tool in my opinion). You could delete ags data as well with it.
The agps patch (I'm using it too) is just for optimization (to get faster responses) - it won't help if your GPS doesn't work at all.

Hello guys,
I finally resolved the issue and realised that GPS was working all the time well. However, I always tried to search for a signal inside a building in front of my computer and was not aware of the fact that the signal might be too weak to be received from within inside...:silly:
Anyway, the flashing method apparently did the trick!
Cheers

[Q] Help: Gps not working as it should.

Hey guys,
My gps isn't working accurate.
First off it worked pretty good but when I changed to a custom rom (android revolution Hd) it didn't anymore.
When i use google maps, it takes a damn long time to get a fix on my position and when it does it stays accurate for about 5 seconds and then it starts to change to a street next to me then to another side... etc. . Also when i am standing still it jumps for my location to 50meters ahead of me and behind me, changing my speed to 20km/h ... I think you get the problem. Also the same problem on navigon (navigation software) it is constanly rerouting me because of the inaccurate position. So its not an application issue.
I flashed the rom as it should be, with boot.img through fastboot and zip file in cwm. Except for the gps there are no other issues.
Then i flashed the original rom in cwm with boot.img in fastboot, still the same problem.
I then tried CM10 and it became even worse... every 20 seconds it gave me a position update in maps and with navigon there wasn't even a update because it couldn't get a fix.
And i also used fasterfix on every rom except the original one (not rooted) to set my gps to europe.pool.ntp.org or something like that...
Now i am trying to revert to android revolution HD but first my battery has to be charged above 10% and it goes damn slow because of the bricked boot (made a mistake while changing form CM10 to And rev HD) Can't flash the and rev HD yet but does somebody in the meantime know a solution ?

Somebody ??
Could it be a problem with the kernel ? because i didn't flash one separatly

Does somebody has a solution ?

Unfortunately, I also have the same problem with rom coredroid and igo primo aid to some expert please
thanks

I had the same issue when I moved from Stock to the Modaco Ir5 Vanilla ROM, my GPS didn't even go as far as finding my location inaccurately, it didn't work at all. Hence I couldn't use my maps/navigation.
I am now running the Slim Bean ROM and everything is working great. I am no expert, but have you always done the usual 'full wipe data > clear cache partition > clear Dalvik cache' while flashing new ROMs?
For your charging issue, maybe try this? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1646135

My phone is now allright but you i'll try the rom you are speaking about and see if the gps works better.
and... Also tried another kernel (eternity) but it still didn't work

I had this issue and had it fixed after sending my phone to service 3 times.
The first time they only did a reset, didn't help.
Second time they changed the wifi, GPS module, didn't help.
I sent them a recording of the problem on the third time. This time they changed the motherboard and it finally got fixed.
Remember to tell them that the issue is specially visible when GPS and WiFi are both on.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

waterscent said:
I had this issue and had it fixed after sending my phone to service 3 times.
The first time they only did a reset, didn't help.
Second time they changed the wifi, GPS module, didn't help.
I sent them a recording of the problem on the third time. This time they changed the motherboard and it finally got fixed.
Remember to tell them that the issue is specially visible when GPS and WiFi are both on.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There isn't any diffrence when wifi is enabled and like i said, with stock rom everything was fine.

Just for now i can't flash another rom but other solutions are welcome...

kefjeuh93 said:
Just for now i can't flash another rom but other solutions are welcome...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried the agps patch (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1595800) still no solution

Tried some other roms and still nothing...
I will try to go back to stock with RUU but which one do i need to choose ? Based on what info ?
i know i have to choose HTC_E11 (dutch)

kefjeuh93 said:
Tried some other roms and still nothing...
I will try to go back to stock with RUU but which one do i need to choose ? Based on what info ?
i know i have to choose HTC_E11 (dutch)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This may help - GPS Fix.
It worked for me, but not for the faint hearted.

[Q] GPS Not working

Hi All,
i sometimes use a GPS tracking app for when im out on my bike to track miles and stuff, last week for some reason it didnt work, then when i tried to use navigation a message across the bottom said something like SEARCHING FOR GPS and never changes or locks onto my position.
i havent changed anything that i can remember only installed new apps,
my phone is rooted and ive tried several new roms but none of them solve the GPS problem i have, ive read up and tried several solutions using apps to reset GPS and a patch that changed the GPS.conf file but to no avail.
could it have anything to do with an outdated radio ?? the details of my phone are
Rom SVHD1.61
Android 4.0.4
Sense 4.1
Baseband 12.56.60.25U_26.10.04.03_M
i know the radio version is the last part of the baseband and there is a newer one listed in this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=877295
the nearest to mine is dated 23rd June 2011 but the listed one has no letter U in the middle.
could someone please advise which radio will be safe to use as i dont want to brick my handset, and can i flash it using CWM as a zip like i do the roms or do i have to do it another way
thanks in advance

shippey121 said:
Hi All,
i sometimes use a GPS tracking app for when im out on my bike to track miles and stuff, last week for some reason it didnt work, then when i tried to use navigation a message across the bottom said something like SEARCHING FOR GPS and never changes or locks onto my position.
i havent changed anything that i can remember only installed new apps,
my phone is rooted and ive tried several new roms but none of them solve the GPS problem i have, ive read up and tried several solutions using apps to reset GPS and a patch that changed the GPS.conf file but to no avail.
could it have anything to do with an outdated radio ?? the details of my phone are
Rom SVHD1.61
Android 4.0.4
Sense 4.1
Baseband 12.56.60.25U_26.10.04.03_M
i know the radio version is the last part of the baseband and there is a newer one listed in this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=877295
the nearest to mine is dated 23rd June 2011 but the listed one has no letter U in the middle.
could someone please advise which radio will be safe to use as i dont want to brick my handset, and can i flash it using CWM as a zip like i do the roms or do i have to do it another way
thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem as you, and I have tested some roms wotihout succes... I have also tried to flash a new radio, I did it two days ago and it also didn´t improve my gps so I still without it... the only thing that could say to you is that there is a post that show you how to improve the gps but it is by solding under the flash of the camera and it is hardware so i am not going to try it
good luck

azuelagomez said:
I had the same problem as you, and I have tested some roms wotihout succes... I have also tried to flash a new radio, I did it two days ago and it also didn´t improve my gps so I still without it... the only thing that could say to you is that there is a post that show you how to improve the gps but it is by solding under the flash of the camera and it is hardware so i am not going to try it
good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
since posrting, ive tried several things to fix this, still with no success,
ive tried several different roms including a stock rom but none woked.
ive update the radio to a newer one and still nothing
i removed the flash cover ad tested with multimeter and it seems to be ok,
i attached a piece of wire to the contacts on the phone and managed to get GPS fix on 2 satelites so bought a new cover but no fix,
as mentioned above i soldered another piece of wire inside underneath the flash cover to the contacts but now i dont get any GPS, with the cover on or off, guess its broken.
can the GPS board be tested in anyway or replaced, ive searched google but cant seem to find anything so im guessing its part of the main board
im in the UK if anyone knows that i could get it fixed.
cheers