Troubleshooting GPS - Samsung Galaxy Nexus

Hello,
I purchased a Galaxy Nexus from Mobilicity in Canada (came with 4.0.2 yakajuux) and I have never been able to achieve a GPS lock even despite having it outside for 30+mins with a clear line of sight to the sky.
Diagnostic apps (GPS Test, GPS status and toolbox) report 0/0 satellites.
Searching I haven't found anyone with a similar issue on xda or otherwise, all I found were poor/slow lock issues that were solved by messing with location services or aGPS related fixes, nothing where no satellites were found. Following instructions in threads that involved modifiying GPS.cnf came up empty.
Went back to visit Mobilicity and one of the employees had a GNex too and his did the same thing.
I flashed a stock yakaju JB image from google, behaviour doesn't change, the GPS icon in the notification area still doesn't blink and stays at "Searching for GPS". Still 0/0 satellites.
Does anyone have any suggestions to try? Is there a way to rule it defective hardware?
Thanks!

pinefresh said:
Hello,
I purchased a Galaxy Nexus from Mobilicity in Canada (came with 4.0.2 yakajuux) and I have never been able to achieve a GPS lock even despite having it outside for 30+mins with a clear line of sight to the sky.
Diagnostic apps (GPS Test, GPS status and toolbox) report 0/0 satellites.
Searching I haven't found anyone with a similar issue on xda or otherwise, all I found were poor/slow lock issues that were solved by messing with location services or aGPS related fixes, nothing where no satellites were found. Following instructions in threads that involved modifiying GPS.cnf came up empty.
Went back to visit Mobilicity and one of the employees had a GNex too and his did the same thing.
I flashed a stock yakaju JB image from google, behaviour doesn't change, the GPS icon in the notification area still doesn't blink and stays at "Searching for GPS". Still 0/0 satellites.
Does anyone have any suggestions to try? Is there a way to rule it defective hardware?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well this all depends on where you are, but on my phone, GPS locks really quick. About 10seconds, in Niagara Falls, ON. What you can do I guess is to ask Samsung for the replacement. If the problem persists. Assume that it is a problem near your location.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using xda app-developers app

Related

GPS stopped working... any idea before i'll send it for RMA?

Hi all
Few days ago i realized that GPS on my Defy is not working anymore...
It cannot get fix in any location, and GPS status tells me that is actually sees few satellites - 3-7 but readings are not stable (they dissapear from time to time) and it can not get fix...
I am on Froyo - official.
Any ideas?
I just tried it out again - it got fix, but after 130 seconds..... ...normally on a cold start it used to get a fix in below 30 seconds....
Same issue here, stopped working Thu 21st or Fri 22nd. Couldn't get any fix. Restored to factory with no success. On Sun it was working, after a few days it got better, but sometimes the startup time is long, the signal fluctuates and the accuracy (with GPStest) jumps between 4.5m and 45 or even 98m)
Also the GPS indicator sometimes doesn't show up on the status bar while gps is working.
Official Froyo here as well.
Must be some conspiracy
Maybe to get us buy Defy+
Same problem, GPS was working until last week... On Motorola forum there are some other people, which GPS stopped working this month, what's going on? By "stopped working" I mean, that I can not get GPS fix ie. with data connection off or I need to wait 30 minutes until I get GPS fix. For those 30 minutes I see 10 satellites, but no fix. Before month I had GPS fix w/wout data in 30 seconds.
Also been reading about this on the Motor forums. I have not been having the issue (California). Bought mine in November US when they first became available. Official 2.2, T-Mo. Green lens, FWIW.
Same problem here. Bought it in January but around June it stopped being able to hold a lock on any satellites. It can see 10 satellites very easily, and it will lock for a few seconds, but then it drops all of the sats and starts over.
It stopped working on official Froyo, but no joy on CM7 either.
There are a number of article on the net about GPS jamming. In the US Homeland Security routinely cuts GPS and if you are a pilot you will receive an advisory. But there is this:
http://www.economist.com/node/18304246
May not be related. Also, on another pilot forum, they are blaming certain types of GPS antenna for being jammed by cell towers.
I have the same issue. It worked ok for me yesterday while driving a long distance, but lost GPS after about an hour.
I can sometimes get a good enough fix to check in on foursquare, but not often.
I'm on official tmobile us froyo and have done factory reset, but it didn't help any.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
tlongren said:
I have the same issue. It worked ok for me yesterday while driving a long distance, but lost GPS after about an hour.
I can sometimes get a good enough fix to check in on foursquare, but not often.
I'm on official tmobile us froyo and have done factory reset, but it didn't help any.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where are you located?
scrannel said:
Where are you located?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Iowa, USA. My standalone GPS device works perfectly here.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
My gps seem to be faulty too. In uk.
Sent from mobile.
I always read this stuff just before I buy a phone:/ So it's a wide spread issue?
Might be getting that HTC 7 pro now
tlongren said:
Iowa, USA. My standalone GPS device works perfectly here.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A link on a pilot forum tested (not sure if it was a phone or other device) a GPS drop-out the pilot was having consistently on the way to his airfield. He finally noticed that when he drove between two cell towers his GPS dropped signal. He retested this several times and with the same result.
John Deere is fighting a 40,000 cell tower development which would disrupt GPS on farm tractors which rely on GPS for movement. This is a Sprint deal with LightSquared.
Look around this site for more GPS woes: http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/GPS_Side_Issue_LightSquared_Broadband_204980-1.html
My gps actually worked today! Figured I'd try it going from hotel to water ski show, took about 2 minutes to get a gps signal. But once it did, it worked well and got us to our destination.
Nothing has changed with phone setup, so it's a bit inconsistent it would seem.
Will be trying it again in a few hours. Wish me luck.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA App
Mine (UK stock Froyo 2.2) was the same, with A-GPS and data and WiFi all switched off it was struggling to get a fix, intermittently.
All GPS Status/Monitor apps showed that it finds many satellites but no locking.
Yesterday I got this app GPSFix from the Android Market and it locked in 1 min. After that all apps and monitors lock without any problem. I need to try more to be sure it was due to the app...
That's interesting Aeron_11. I'm gonna give GPSFix a try. Here's the market link if anyone is interested in trying it:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.androidlab.gpsfix
The reviews seem to be very good.
GPSFix doesn't do any good for me. It's the same old story. Sees lots of satellites but can't hold a lock on any of them for more than a couple of seconds.
Running CM7
Well, I did some more tests, and I think GPSFix wasn't quite as reliable as I originally thought !
Basically it is still very intermittent. Sometimes it takes 5min or more and sometimes 1min. I think it depends on many parameters:
- I would say weather is a factor, cloudy, windy etc.
- Standing next to a wall or a building - even if not tall it blocks the direct view
- Also I find if you are moving, it will be a lot harder. Stand completely still and not just stop walking but don't move the phone about too much !
- The latest I found is the direction you are holding the phone (and possibly angle) !? Experiment and you see it picks more satellites in certain angles !
All in all, I get a fix but it just takes a long time sometime. A good GPS antenna/hardware in a phone probably is much more reliable than this (my records is 9min, which to be honest puts it pass the practical use). Although this is with all the data and WiFi and other connections switched off.
The funny thing is once it locks it won't let go !? It keeps it locked and won't drop it - accuracy is so so.
By the way, the number of satellites found is not important, it's the strength of their signal (I think it might be called SNR - some monitors show the strength and you can see that until it finds 3 or 4 satellites with 25+ SNR it won't lock.)
I'm no expert, these are just my impression/experience, that's all....

GPS Problem

Hi guys,
Trying to figure out if this is just me that has this issue. New nexus as of yesterday on o2. I do have the volume issue for what its worth, but I am getting off topic.
I have been having a problem with the GPS. I have tried it indoors and out. I have restarted the app, cleared cache, re-ticked all the location boxes, and nothing seems to help my get a lock. The closest it comes is about 4700 metres. This is with WiFi turned on as well as an active Sim card in it. My old iPhone without a sim instantly drops the pin on my house. So I guess I am trying to see if others have the issue, and if there is a fix or I have to send it back.
For the record I am pretty new to Android....as in this is my first one, so go gently! Other than this issue I love the phone!
Cheers,
J
JeepoUK said:
Hi guys,
Trying to figure out if this is just me that has this issue. New nexus as of yesterday on o2. I do have the volume issue for what its worth, but I am getting off topic.
I have been having a problem with the GPS. I have tried it indoors and out. I have restarted the app, cleared cache, re-ticked all the location boxes, and nothing seems to help my get a lock. The closest it comes is about 4700 metres. This is with WiFi turned on as well as an active Sim card in it. My old iPhone without a sim instantly drops the pin on my house. So I guess I am trying to see if others have the issue, and if there is a fix or I have to send it back.
For the record I am pretty new to Android....as in this is my first one, so go gently! Other than this issue I love the phone!
Cheers,
J
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That definitely does not seem normal. See if you can replicate the problem in a less built-up area. But at the moment, if I were having the same problem (which I'm not, I get great GPS reception) I would take it back for a replacement.
Hope you get it all sorted.
oscillik said:
That definitely does not seem normal. See if you can replicate the problem in a less built-up area. But at the moment, if I were having the same problem (which I'm not, I get great GPS reception) I would take it back for a replacement.
Hope you get it all sorted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I live in the country side, so that hopefully is not the issue. I turned wifi off and it made zero difference, so it looks like something with the GPS.......
I just tried the GPS app in the market called GPS Test
It says that GPS is on, but it can't find me. Bad sign.
I tried the GPS test app from the market too the other day and it didn't locate any satellites. I think it's a problem with that app itself. No need to panic yet.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
I've been suffering from the same problem. I'm used to the GPS icon on the SGS2 showing me a (blinking) dot in the GPS icon. But now nothing.
GPS test app also shows it's on. I'm going to try the GPS out a bit more, but have the feeling somethings up with the GPS.
Using the Wi-fi it's working 'fine'. But I don't feel like sharing info while using this feature.
The captivate had a very similar problem when it came out. Not sure if it ever got fixed. But ultimately that's why I turned my captivate back in.
If you are in the country with no wifi around then I wouldnt expect wifi location to do you any good. Still though, it should locate much better than what it is. I'm in Afghanistan, in the middle of no where and mine locks while only using GPS to within like 30 meters.
original SGS line of phones were famous for their "awesome GPS"
no, it never got fixed because it was a hardware issue...
I'm having the same problem. I'm constantly unable to find my location using GPS. Wi-Fi and mobile networks work but this surely needs to be fixed.
GPS seemed to work after my little trip outside. Sadly as soon as I got back in, nothing. I'll be able to do some 'proper field testing' tomorrow.
Ves said:
GPS seemed to work after my little trip outside. Sadly as soon as I got back in, nothing. I'll be able to do some 'proper field testing' tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GPS normally does not work well indoors.
I know but because I managed to get a location with the GPS on the SGS2, even if it took a while.
I was hoping for similar results (or better) with the GN.
GPS on my GN isn't working at all. Unless Wi-Fi and mobile network location is ticked, the phone can't find my location with GPS. Argh.
Have you tried any GPS apps to see if it's just bad reception from the satellites? That's one way to find out what's going on with the GPS on the phone.
My GPS locks almost instantly, and this is without a SIM card, and in Manhattan with tall buildings blocking most of the satellites. Much faster than with my N1.
no problems here.fastest phone ever with gps and i got 10 phones around 3 years with the function.
sitting in my room on the couch in the second floor.WiFi of only 2G network
and got within 5 to 7 sec a gps fix about 10 meters.
I reapeat,... in my house!not on the street or on the window!
sitting in front of my tv
never got a phone who can give me a signal in my house
my GPS also seems to work fine but during tracking it always goes off lock and relocks
and it bounces on corners like a gummybear
http://g.co/maps/apn3k

Why am I in Ojai?

Hello everyone,
I found it a little strange, but when I do not have a GPS lock and rely on agps to get my weather updates, the weather widget claims I'm in Ojai, CA. As soon as I go outside, I get a lock and the weather is at the right location. Google maps reflects this anomaly as well.
I've flushed agps using GPS status and tried a few roms, but the same result. Is this something documented, or is something faulty with my device? This is the first any of my devices has come across this peculiar issue.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

Need peoples help to prove GPS HW or SW issue?

So to my surprise I do not see this topic for the Galaxy Nexus yet. I want to see if this is a batch issue or an actual SW bug most haven't noticed yet.
Basically, if I only have GPS turned on my nexus running 4.0.1 will not find a GPS signal. I've used the GPS tool on the market to confirm that only when I enable the Google assisting using mobile towers and wifi will I get a signal. But GPS is still searching. My wife also has the same phone bought at the same time with the same scenario.
After Googling this I see that Google forums and the android community forums have topics like this indicating similar issues. Some posts even have someone comparing with a colleague if their nexus under the same condition works and sure enough it does. Other posts indicate Samsung mentioning that there may be a problem.
Can people try to turn off the mobile tower and wifi assistance then see if GPS locks on quick (or at all) then post their comments? I'm going to exchange these phones and need as much proof of defect as possible.
I appreciate the time.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
Edit Starts here:
So first, I appreciate the responses.
Second, my story in more detail:
- I bought the phone and wanted to prevent battery drain so I unchecked the "Google's location Service" box.
- Once I started Maps, by Google, I noticed my location wasn't being found at all. In fact the Searching for GPS timed out and said that this is temporarily unavailable
- I checked my wife's phone that was purchased at the same location and found the same issue.
- Accuracy with the "Google's location Service" box was up to 50 meters. It did NOT improve...
- After looking online, I found these two forums:
https://groups.google.com/a/googleproductforums.com/forum/#!topic/maps/bGfGFRWCmIA
http://androidforums.com/verizon-galaxy-nexus/467949-galaxy-nexus-gps-issue.html
This is where I found people comparing devices...
- Today I downloaded a GPS Status app and found that the search was yielding no satellites.
- No Joke, I updated my Maps program (google market notification) and now I have no issues. No matter what setup I have I am found within 9 seconds with just GPS and accuracy to 10 meters. while with aGPS I'm found with accuracy to 5 meters...
The latest release for Maps has a mention of "Bug fixes for newer devices"
Make your own conclusions.
Try 4.0.3 and see if that fixes it for you? Battery life is way better than 4.0.1 anyway
When I ran 4.0.2 stock my GPS was connecting in under 30 seconds, currently on a 4.0.3 rom it connecting in about the same time
Gps is slower without agps. These arent dedicated gps units. Starting a new thread about it isnt going to solve the issue any better either.
My grandma beat me down and took my nexus. Sent from a jitterbug with beats by dre.
@rbiter said:
Gps is slower without agps. These arent dedicated gps units. Starting a new thread about it isnt going to solve the issue any better either.
My grandma beat me down and took my nexus. Sent from a jitterbug with beats by dre.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And why does it matter? Is it really that inconvenient to check one extra box?
joshnichols189 said:
And why does it matter? Is it really that inconvenient to check one extra box?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I would not wait 5 to 10 minutes to get gps fix.
This has been discussed time and time again...
The phone must download orbital data or an almanac for the GPS satellites in order to establish a lock. With assisted GPS, the phone can download what it needs via the mobile network, however, with assisted GPS turned off it must download it from the GPS satellites which can take a very long time - anywhere between 15 minutes and a half hour.
There is nothing wrong the the GPS in the Galaxy Nexus - mine locks on me, in my house, within a 5 meter radius within 5 seconds.
actually hes right. i too dont get locks till about 4-5 mins on just gps, w/o agps. this shouldnt be the case. Gnex has GPS+GLONASS support with barometric assistance built in. It should be locking in very quickly w/o agps. My captivate, with the galaxy S broken gps, locked on in 3-4 mins w/o agps. It must be some kind of software issue.
As to the questions of why you need it, say you are in another country, you wouldnt be able to use your gps, and would be in deep **** if you got lost or watever. I was in the Bahamas and it would never lock in for me, even when outside.
I'm on 4.0.1 bought in sweden late november and in roughly 1min i get a fix with satelite only.. a few min after first test i enabled airplanemode and got a fix within seconds.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
psycho2097 said:
actually hes right. i too dont get locks till about 4-5 mins on just gps, w/o agps. this shouldnt be the case. Gnex has GPS+GLONASS support with barometric assistance built in. It should be locking in very quickly w/o agps. My captivate, with the galaxy S broken gps, locked on in 3-4 mins w/o agps. It must be some kind of software issue.
As to the questions of why you need it, say you are in another country, you wouldnt be able to use your gps, and would be in deep **** if you got lost or watever. I was in the Bahamas and it would never lock in for me, even when outside.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually the Galaxy Note has GLONASS, not the GN, i'm sorry to say :/
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Here's a general rule: Don't turn off the A-GPS unless you want it to take a long time to get the initial fix. Pretty simple.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App
From in my work (Near window) I locked on to GPS with only GPS sats clicked on with in 7-8 seconds.
faizalmzain said:
Yes, I would not wait 5 to 10 minutes to get gps fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't take that long if you just check both boxes.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
with just GPS, I get a lock quickly. I connect daily with cardio trainer.
Let me explain myself a little more
So first, I appreciate the responses.
Second, my story in more detail:
- I bought the phone and wanted to prevent battery drain so I unchecked the "Google's location Service" box.
- Once I started Maps, by Google, I noticed my location wasn't being found at all. In fact the Searching for GPS timed out and said that this is temporarily unavailable
- I checked my wife's phone that was purchased at the same location and found the same issue.
- Accuracy with the "Google's location Service" box was up to 50 meters. It did NOT improve...
- After looking online, I found these two forums:
https://groups.google.com/a/googleproductforums.com/forum/#!topic/maps/bGfGFRWCmIA
http://androidforums.com/verizon-galaxy-nexus/467949-galaxy-nexus-gps-issue.html
This is where I found people comparing devices...
- Today I downloaded a GPS Status app and found that the search was yielding no satellites.
- No Joke, I updated my Maps program (google market notification) and now I have no issues. No matter what setup I have I am found within 9 seconds with just GPS and accuracy to 10 meters. while with aGPS I'm found with accuracy to 5 meters...
The latest release for Maps has a mention of "Bug fixes for newer devices"
Make your own conclusions.
Reason for me to uncheck Agps is to use pree loaded maps when going abroad and still need to find my way around so it is a good thing to be able to turn off network location assistence.. using data when in another country can cost you PLENTY of money
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
there is absolutly no reason to uncheck agps.
unchecking it DOES NOT increase your battery life.
at least not drasticly. the agps is only used when you use apps that are location aware. such as maps, alfred, google+ and many others.
if you just leave agps on, it will not decrease your battery at all until it is being used.
as as it's been brought up, and as you saw, your lock time goes from a few seconds to 5-12 minutes.
i just took a trip up to orlando, and while traveling at 80Mph my galaxy nexus got a GPS lock with agps on EDGE, not 3G, in about 5 seconds.
sometimes people want to hike 50 miles into the woods where there is no cell service, and still use their GPS. sometimes people travel to china where they dont want to pay roaming, and hence use their GPS with no data enabled. hopefully most people understand this point now.
Tjotte said:
Reason for me to uncheck Agps is [...]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no option in ICS to "uncheck" A-GPS.
RogerPodacter said:
sometimes people want to hike 50 miles into the woods where there is no cell service, and still use their GPS. sometimes people travel to china where they dont want to pay roaming, and hence use their GPS with no data enabled. hopefully most people understand this point now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So why not purchase a pre-paid foreign SIM for the people who use roaming as their excuse? Or better yet... Why not purchase a dedicated GPS device? People these days.

Does a gps fix it exist for the siii?

I am having issues with gps connectivity and was wondering if a gps fix exists for this device that will up the satellite feed. I remember they had one for the epic. I didn't think I would have this issue on this phone as well but I am. It takes a few minutes for my gps to get a lock.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
Assuming you tried GPS tuner and cleared the AGPS data then take it outside where you can see the sky and let it get a new fix?
If I remember right, there's a ## code you can go through and with your MSL code, clear all GPS stats to start it over. You'll have to dig around to find it.
Mine gets a lock in about 15 seconds to 7+ sats and is consistent all the time and quite accurate.
RealTic said:
I am having issues with gps connectivity and was wondering if a gps fix exists for this device that will up the satellite feed. I remember they had one for the epic. I didn't think I would have this issue on this phone as well but I am. It takes a few minutes for my gps to get a lock.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The gps should be much better than on the Old Epic. The problem before was that Samsung was using Google gps coding which had some major flaws. They switched to their own proprietary coding in the same way HTC did long ago and it has strengthened the gps immensly. You may have a defective unit. Only place I don't get a lock is inside old city buildings with a lot of metal and concrete (where no one is getting locks either) or in terrible signal areas.

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