GPS slow initial fix with 4g on - Samsung Galaxy A50 Questions & Answers

Hello,
I have this strange problem with the Samsung A50 given to me by my company (this to say that my possibilities to mess around "under the bonnet" are quite limited).
The first GPS fix from a "cold" start (that is, at reboot or after some hours from last use of an app using location) is EXTREMELY slow. It may take also 10 minutes or more, in full air and with good weather. If I control with the app GPS Status and Toolbox (or similar apps giving details on GPS sensors status) the phone "sees" a LOT of satellites, up to 20 or more, but none of them is fixed, they all are "yellow", and the location is not set.
When it finally makes it, one way or another, then the fix is stable and even if lost, it gets re-fixed soon in some seconds... For an hour or two.
Naturally this makes most app using GPS highly frustrating to use - Before running with Strava or navigating with Waze I have to wait 10-15 minutes for the GPS to fix! Google Maps is somehow an exception because it uses the Google "fused" location which, though not as accurate as GPS, allows nevertheless tp have an approx lpcation pretty quickly while the GPS makes its slooow fix.
But now the strangest thing: if I reboot the phone without SIM cards inside, the GPS works like a charm and fixes satellites on a matter pf 30 seconds max! Moreover, if I turn off the 4g on both SIM and then reboot the phone again, also it all works well. I tried multiple times and this cannot be a casual result. I also tried making a a full reset of the phone: the behavior is exactly the same. Seems like something in the 4G system causes some software conflict with GPS making it crappy.
Firmware is the latest (SH2 sept 2019).
Am I the only one? This looks to me definitely a software issue, not an hardware one, do you agree? Do any of you have commwnts, suggestions, ideas?
Thanks

Looks like I'm the only one with this issue?
Inviato dal mio SM-A505FN utilizzando Tapatalk

And what about on wifi? Did you tried this?
The only thing that i can think of is on 4g probably it struggles to get agps data from the internet (probably cant connect to servers) but not trying to receive the data from the satellites themselves because it think it can get it from the internet. This is just wild guess.

I just tried getting GPS via cell data while taking a dump (inside the house), the GPS lock was instant in Sygic, also 15 satellites locked on.

I am having this same issue with an A50 I just purchased. I use GaiaGPS quite a lot and it works horribly on this phone. My tracks are a total mess. To the point that it is not usable. I will be returning the phone (if I can) if this issue is not resolved, as it is a key feature for me.

Related

[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.

problem with gps

I restarted to jogging and then using the SPORT TRACKER app to record my progress
sometimes use the nokia 5800, motorola defy and now my wonder (before I was afraid of breaking it) ....
The Nokia 5800 is quite a bit to fix to satellites, but once fix is quite accurate
the motorola defy is a bit slow to fix, but then it is very accurate and uses little battery
wonder with the stock rom XXML8 is a bit slow to fix and inaccurate ....
monday for example it taked 3 minutes to fix satellites and at start recording revealed a maximum speed of 32kmh and the registration stopped by itself 1 km before I stoped it.... and during the jogging I heard the sound of power on BT, in fact it was on .... and it happened 2 more times during the run .... thing does not happen with defy ....
i change the file gps.conf and today i started my jogging with defy and wonder, i powered on both two on the same time, and start the SportTracker app, wonder fixed satellites 500m after defy, but also other data was different like max speed (faster in wonder), avg speed (slowless in wonder) and energy (i valued the error of 500m)
i remember that my wonder just bought was very fast to fix satellites...
no one can help me?
I had/have similar problems. I tried to delete A-GPS Data and fix satellites with GPS Status+Toolbar. i think it helps.
You have rootet your phone? You could disable all user-Apps with Titanium Backup or you could make a Nandroid-Backup and set your phone to factory settings. Then you can see wether some apps are the problem or its the SGW.
Put stock rom, and frozen some app with titanium.
This morning I did the fix with AGPS in a few seconds, then take off the data connection and delivery.
Registration distorted in 3 points ....
What is the fault of the sensor support? You activate them?
Yesterday with Odin i installed the Italian original fw I8150XXLA2_I8150ITVKK1_I8150XXKL3, root,cwm and I only installed Endomondo Titanium BK and MyTracks
Well the fix for satellites wasin less than a minute without AGPS, and the recording is very faithful to the road ....
I tried 3 times, in different places, turning off the device and moving to the few miles and then back on so that the engagement was more difficult, try to walk and drive
Now I would understand if it is a problem of new fw (xxlm8) or rom based on it or some app that somehow influences both the fix that on the recordings
in the last weeks I've been using the RUNTASTIC app to record my workouts, i use the voice feedback and I noticed that my device occasionally loses the GPS signal for 1-2 seconds
that happened on a path to the sea and close to my house, never in the same plot points that do solitmente on 10km happens 2-3 times

GPS/Navigation problem... app, mobile or something else?

Hi, I'm really not sure what to make of this problem so maybe you can help me out pinpointing the problem so I can take care of it. I've observed several things and don't know how to connect the dots, or if there's any connection, so let me list what I've been seeing:
1 - I've got TomTom to use on my car.
2 - Worked wonderfully well on the first week or so. Fast to lock onto satellites (10 to 20 seconds), accurate and stable without loosing the lock.
3 - I've noticed from day one that it tends to to locate me a few meters back than what I'm actually am, so if I come about two streets very near one another, the turn on the correct one is a bit hard to to tell without looking at the map.
4 - A week ago, the phone started to take longer to lock my position and won't keep it, it often loses connection with the satellites.
5 - Also, the problem is a lot worse if I stop. It might be accurate while I'm driving over 50mph but, if I stop, the direction I'm facing is lost and then my location. It will place me within 50m to 100m of where I am, which could mean on another street. It has become useless for the slow paced city driving, with red lights and slow traffic.
6 - I haven't changed ROMs or anything major but I have downloaded a few apps, might have taken a few others out, the usual stuff... I'm using Android Revolution HD 31.2.
7 - I've noticed that a lot of times, in regular mobile use, the GPS icon shows up trying to locate my position, even with GPS off. Might be that I have accepted Google's location request or is embedded on some app. Don't know if this has any relation to the workings of navigation or with the timeframe the problem occurred.
8 - A final though... I've always had this problem with standalone GPS devices... They work fine for a few weeks/couple of months and then they seem to deteriorate, having a hard time to locate my position, maintaining a good connection, etc. I have no idea on why this is or if there's some sort of cache I should be cleaning.
Oh, and this happens regardless of the weather... overcasted, rainy days or clear skies, it's all the same.
So any thoughts on how to pinpoint the source of the problem so I can fix it?
Cheers!
Renato
Anyone?

[Q] GPS Problems

If I try to navigate from the Zenwatch, the phone brings up google navigate even if the phone is sleeping. I would think that might be an issue in a pocket, but that's not the biggest issue.
The destination seems to get set correctly but neither the phone or the watch continues to navigate. They both seem to lock up.
Subsequently any other Nav app (I hope Waze gets Wear support soon) is unable to navigate as they are unable to get GPS lock. Looking at other GPS helper apps shows zero sats in range. Stopping/Restarting location services doesn't solve the problem. Only resetting the phone does.
Maybe it's just me. Sprint HTC One Max, stock. Anybody else?
I noticed this the other day when I was testing out navigation for fun. Once I took my phone out of my pocket, it seemed like it was able to get a lock again and things went more smoothly. I know gps can be a bit sensitive sometimes and maybe having it right next to your leg like that blocks the signal?
When the problem (GPS lockup) manifests there is nothing that will get it going other than a phone reset. I normally have my phone in a holder high on my dash where gets good reception, but when it gets in that state, not even one satellite shows a hint of a signal. Today I even made sure to stand outside holding my phone up in clear sky just to be sure.
Even if I don't access nav Google maps or Micro Maps from the watch it still locks up at some unknown point. I normally keep GPS on all of the time and have a number of apps that store locations from time-to-time. When I get in my car, Waze automatically starts but I can't get any sat signals until I reset my phone.
I'm experimenting with a theory that another member brought up in a different thread that there may be a connection with using a watch face that also includes weather and the number of GPS requests it makes. I've changed to the basic face that is in all of the marketing photos and continuing to test. I guess my next step will be to leave the watch at home :crying: to make sure that something wonky hasn't happened with the phone itself.
Are there any other frequent GPS users out there that can confirm or haven't experienced the problem? It doesn't seem to matter if you use the nav functionality on the watch.
The updates this morning seem to have fixed the problem.

NEXUS 7 2013 Big GPS SOFTWARE issue / no Fix

after a loooot of search on the internet and after reading all the older posts here i am desperate and i am opening here a thread. Thats my last hope that someone found a solution to this issue.
So 6 months ago i bought a nexus 7 2013 wifi for a car project. i wanted to use it as multimedia and navigation system. After i modified my car (see pic. / contact me in case of interesst or advices)
https://postimg.org/image/exyp7da37/
everything was nice i was happy with the result. The problem starts when i wanted to use the navigation...
The device cant find a satelite, searching for gps signal is the only message i see. 9/10 the gps cant find satelite. One or two times it found the signal after one hour or more..
My thoughts:
1. The case is causing this issues... the tablet charges wireless and is kept in place with magnets so i can remove it in a second.
I am trying with the "naked" tablet outside with directly sky view... no change.
2. The backcover is modified with 2 small metal plates in order to get magnetizied with the magnets installed in the car dush.
i tried an other backcover.. no change.
3. I tought it is a software issue.... i was using Cyanogenmod 13 with elemental X... installed the original software / Android 6. Without any other installations only GPS Status... still no signal.. I installed android 5.0.1 ... still no signal.
4. i used various of settings changes and apps ( GPS FIX, GPS Doctor, GPS Status) ... the gps android settings are the the most accurate level. Still no change..
created the data/gps/ folder with the permissions rwxrwxr-x. Still no change.
After all that and after reading that there are many people out there with the same problem i thought thats a hardware issue.
5. Thats why i bought an other one (used)... before buying it i made sure that the tablet will find a satelite in GPS Status... i went to the sellers house.. and it did (with wifi off). I went back home i tried again and it did... i was so happy.. i wiped my storage flashed CM13 with ElementalX again ... i opened the Nav App (Sygic)... Everything worked like a charm... i was so happy i finally have gps in my car. I visited a friend stayed there 5 hours went back home... Navi still works.
I took the tablet in my home and wanted to make a restart for some reason... After restarting , tablets gps was dead again... and still looking for a solution..
i am 100% it is a software issue. in case there is someone out there with a solution i would really appreciate it.
I'm kinda on the same boat.
My trusty Nexus 7 2013, that has been through a lot of display changes due to my clumsiness. Few days ago it decided to kick the GPS boat for reasons.
It used to work just fine, without any software tricks or anything. Used to work beautifully without wi-fi (even though I tethered from my phone, many times I travelled to places without connection) with a 8-10m precision.
Now it's spotty, taking from 2 to 280 seconds for the first fix, and precision floats between 10 and 150m (which is unbearable).
Using GPS Status & Toolbox, I can see the A-GPS does it part guiding the tablet on where are the sattelites at (I see around 22 sattelites), however the tablet has a real hard time connecting to them, most of the time staying at a solid 0 connections. My phone (Moto G5 Plus) connects within' seconds to the sattelites with pinpoint precision.
When the tablets manages to fix, it only connects to a couple (5 or 8 out of 22) sattelites, thus not so precise.
I am guessing the heat might have damaged something, but I'm not also 100% sure it ain't a software issue. I flashed the sole GPS fix, but it didn't help at all. I tried every software trick on the book, but nothing. I flashed several ROMs but it didn't make even a dent.
It seemingly gets better if I keep it connected for a good while. I tried letting it overnight with the GPS connected, and it worked fine the day after at any time (between 5 and 20m precision). However it was dead again the next day.
I couldn't find anything regarding a GPS antenna for this device, it's almost like it doesn't have one... I fiddled with the Wi-Fi antenna, which has 3 pins (one I guess is for bluetooth?), but it didn't help with GPS. Bluetooth (I use an OBD2 scanner that sends too many data per second, and I still can play music through bluetooth just fine) and Wi-Fi (Speeds and latency are optimal) are great.
I can't help but think this device doesn't have a GPS antenna, and whatever it uses for an antenna has failed or is now faulty.
Have you ever managed fixing yours?

Categories

Resources