I have two success stories.......1st - I can now check for updates once a day with no problems connecting to AT&T servers. 2nd - I finally now have A respectable working GPS. Both resolutions from Folks on the various Captivate forums!
Check for Updates resolution - Clear the Cache! Settings....Manage Applications....Menu, Filter, All....Device management......under storage "clear data"....back out and reboot phone, then I can successfully check for updates!
GPS resolution - GPSrestore. Upon first using this app it did not fix my GPS, but once I saw someone's post about doing it outdoors WHILE CONNECTED TO MY CAR CHARGER, it worked almost immediately and I now get A 32-49 foot lock within ten seconds!
Side note - my Cappy is stock unrooted. Now I am waiting happier for FROYO!
Many Thanks to the posters of this and other forums who have helped with these issues!
I hope my repost here helps someone else with these issues as well!
The Following 5 Users Say Thank You to Digital Legend For This Useful Post:
With using that gps app, I can get a lock indoors without it being plugged in and the range went anywhere from 16 ft to 33 ft. I tried your method for chcking for updates and it still failed.
I downloaded GPS test and gave it a few shots. I found that within 30 seconds, I'd have 8-12 satellites seen, and usually would use all seen (or maybe one less), with an accuracy of 16.4 feet (sometimes it'd skip up to 32.8). I figure my car is about 14 feet, so being a car length (more or less) isn't all bad. I just like telling everyone I'm one of the lucky ones
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GreatBigDave
The Ultimate Task Killer is a 16 pound sledgehammer.
With using that gps app, I can get a lock indoors without it being plugged in and the range went anywhere from 16 ft to 33 ft. I tried your method for chcking for updates and it still failed.
Works for me. Indoors too. I heard a lot of negativity with this app but so far so good. I wouldn't believe it if it didn't capture my location indoors. It never worked indoors until now. Weird.
Props to the poster - this also fixed my update error message.
Now if only I can find a solution to the lag problem I might need Froyo.
Works for me. Indoors too. I heard a lot of negativity with this app but so far so good. I wouldn't believe it if it didn't capture my location indoors. It never worked indoors until now. Weird.
Props to the poster - this also fixed my update error message.
Now if only I can find a solution to the lag problem I might need Froyo.
i was able to get a lock while on 3G indoors and outdoors. While on wifi i got a lock indoor but not outdoor.
Device(s): Samsung Captivate,
LG Optimus V, Sony Experia X10a
Thanks: 5
Thanked 12 Times in 7 Posts
Those of you that say your GPS is fixed, take it outside for a long drive and let us know if you lose lock or its not accurate. Getting a lock inside and driving with a constant lock are two different things..
Works for me. Indoors too. I heard a lot of negativity with this app but so far so good. I wouldn't believe it if it didn't capture my location indoors. It never worked indoors until now. Weird.
Props to the poster - this also fixed my update error message.
Now if only I can find a solution to the lag problem I might need Froyo.
do you have "use wireless" checked? I checked mine after I used the app and dont.
Check for Updates resolution - Clear the Cache! Settings....Manage Applications....Menu, Filter, All....Device management......under storage "clear data"....back out and reboot phone, then I can successfully check for updates!
Tried exactly this procedure several times and it does not work on my Captivate or my wife's Captivate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digital Legend
GPS resolution - GPSrestore. Upon first using this app it did not fix my GPS, but once I saw someone's post about doing it outdoors WHILE CONNECTED TO MY CAR CHARGER, it worked almost immediately and I now get A 32-49 foot lock within ten seconds!
Tried using the GPS restore application outside with my phone plugged in and on my car's dash. The application failed to get a lock when I started the app 5 separate times and told me "Please move to open sky and try again." No other GPS device I have ever used in my car, even my previous phone, had any trouble locking a signal on the dash of my car.
Went out at lunch to try one more time to use this GPS restore app. Sitting in my truck, phone on the dash... failed all three times.
On a whim I ran GPS Test and, after the normal 45-50 sec., I was able to track 8 satellites (4 locked). Average signal was a solid 37.
Ran that restore app and got my position first time through.
Brought up Google Maps and in <10 sec. it had my location, satellite indicator in the status bar was solid, and no blue circle around the "me" arrow. Walking back to the building where I work it tracked me right up to the door.
3G was active, and "Use wireless <blah>" is checked.
We'll see how it tracks on the way home.
If it locks again, that is...
Last edited by Buddha64; December 8th, 2010 at 12:27 PM.
Reason: Being a smartass...
Well I just did a data clear and a phone restart and it worked for me.
This worked for me before, but today it didn't.
I had to do this little trick a couple times and it always worked for a few weeks, then it stops. Today this trick didn't work
I have two success stories.......1st - I can now check for updates once a day with no problems connecting to AT&T servers. 2nd - I finally now have A respectable working GPS. Both resolutions from Folks on the various Captivate forums!
Check for Updates resolution - Clear the Cache! Settings....Manage Applications....Menu, Filter, All....Device management......under storage "clear data"....back out and reboot phone, then I can successfully check for updates!
GPS resolution - GPSrestore. Upon first using this app it did not fix my GPS, but once I saw someone's post about doing it outdoors WHILE CONNECTED TO MY CAR CHARGER, it worked almost immediately and I now get A 32-49 foot lock within ten seconds!
Side note - my Cappy is stock unrooted. Now I am waiting happier for FROYO!
Where do you download the GPSrestore app? I want to try it out to see if it will work on my Captivate. I could not find this app on appbrain or android market.
Where do you download the GPSrestore app? I want to try it out to see if it will work on my Captivate. I could not find this app on appbrain or android market.
Thanks,
con chuot
Last edited by mnemonicj; December 8th, 2010 at 07:37 PM.
The link does not work. It said can not find file....
Please verify if you have sent correct barcode. Thx
QR code verified. It works.
Considering you got your Captivate off eBay and the other mysterious problems you've had with it, I suspect something with your phone.
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Considering you got your Captivate off eBay and the other mysterious problems you've had with it, I suspect something with your phone.
I got my phone off of ebay! Don't knock it til you try it! No problems here and I saved 100$ off price (3months ago). Although I'd recommend against ebay buying NOW that I know what kind of things can go wrong with the phone right out of the box...definitely would have bought from at&t, off contract still but would have wanted that 30day return period.
I got my phone off of ebay! Don't knock it til you try it! No problems here and I saved 100$ off price (3months ago). Although I'd recommend against ebay buying NOW that I know what kind of things can go wrong with the phone right out of the box...definitely would have bought from at&t, off contract still but would have wanted that 30day return period.
Costco is something I'd recommend ... got mine there, they have a 90 day return period (30 days if you're going to reverse the contract through AT&T still, but beyond that 60 more days to exchange/return if you want a different phone or have an issue with the one you bought). Price wise it was half what AT&T was charging.
Went out at lunch to try one more time to use this GPS restore app. Sitting in my truck, phone on the dash... failed all three times.
On a whim I ran GPS Test and, after the normal 45-50 sec., I was able to track 8 satellites (4 locked). Average signal was a solid 37.
Ran that restore app and got my position first time through.
Brought up Google Maps and in <10 sec. it had my location, satellite indicator in the status bar was solid, and no blue circle around the "me" arrow. Walking back to the building where I work it tracked me right up to the door.
3G was active, and "Use wireless <blah>" is checked.
We'll see how it tracks on the way home.
If it locks again, that is...
If your phone has not gotten a successful GPS "lock" in the past 2-4 hours, then it will have to redownload the ephemeris data (specific satellite locations) from each satellite in its range. Since this data is broadcast every 30 seconds, it's not uncommon to take up to a minute or more to start locking satellites depending on how many transmissions get interrupted. Once you've done this first "lock", successive locks will be very quick as long as the ephemeris data hasn't expired.
I think the GPS Restore app times out before the lock can occur. If you launch another app like LBSTestMode or GPS Test and lock onto the sats in your area, then the GPS Restore can quickly confirm your location.
If your phone has not gotten a successful GPS "lock" in the past 2-4 hours, ...., then the GPS Restore can quickly confirm your location.
On the bright side, it locked when I left work, and tracked all the way home. Accuracy wasn't that great at first, but firmed up after a few minutes. Work2home - Google Maps
Considering you got your Captivate off eBay and the other mysterious problems you've had with it, I suspect something with your phone.
QR codes still not working. It seems like Samsung has removed this app.
I tried to read barcodes on 2 different phones. I also did manual search on android market and app brain but could not find this app
QR codes still not working. It seems like Samsung has removed this app.
I tried to read barcodes on 2 different phones. I also did manual search on android market and app brain but could not find this app
Nope... just tried that barcode and the app came up fine.
QR codes still not working. It seems like Samsung has removed this app.
I tried to read barcodes on 2 different phones. I also did manual search on android market and app brain but could not find this app
I just this very minute went to the android market and downloaded this app so it is definitely there.
GPS resolution - GPSrestore. Upon first using this app it did not fix my GPS, but once I saw someone's post about doing it outdoors WHILE CONNECTED TO MY CAR CHARGER, it worked almost immediately and I now get A 32-49 foot lock within ten seconds!
The sales person where I got my phone recommended this where I got our phones. However neither my wife or I have had any GPS problems. Nice though to know it works and the best method of using it.
Device(s): Asus Transformer, Samsung Galaxy S2;
Samsung Captivate;
Nokia N97;
Nokiia N95;
SE 810
Thanks: 72
Thanked 66 Times in 46 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Buddha64
On the bright side, it locked when I left work, and tracked all the way home. Accuracy wasn't that great at first, but firmed up after a few minutes. Work2home - Google Maps
IMO that's a pretty accurate track..some folks have a very high expectation with a mobile device's gps I think.
IMO that's a pretty accurate track..some folks have a very high expectation with a mobile device's gps I think.
PS: I wish I had that short of a drive to work!
I don't expect My Tracks to be dead-nuts and found the results encouraging (considering all the noise out there from the supposed experts about hardware, antenna, and/or software issues) even though it shows I was driving through a building when I started out.
I haven't used any turn-by-turn 'navigation' apps to see if that inaccuracy would be an issue. I'll be using it soon enough, but will take my Garmin as well... and a map. I always take a map, I don't trust my Garmin all that much either, and prefer mapping out my directions ahead of time. One time, my Garmin routed me to Chattanooga via Nashville (Recalcualting...).
PS: As to expectations... if we stop having them and there isn't any disappointment when they aren't met.
PPS: Move closer to where you work, then you'll have a shorter drive.
Device(s): Asus Transformer, Samsung Galaxy S2;
Samsung Captivate;
Nokia N97;
Nokiia N95;
SE 810
Thanks: 72
Thanked 66 Times in 46 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Buddha64
I don't expect My Tracks to be dead-nuts and found the results encouraging (considering all the noise out there from the supposed experts about hardware, antenna, and/or software issues) even though it shows I was driving through a building when I started out.
I haven't used any turn-by-turn 'navigation' apps to see if that inaccuracy would be an issue. I'll be using it soon enough, but will take my Garmin as well... and a map. I always take a map, I don't trust my Garmin all that much either, and prefer mapping out my directions ahead of time. One time, my Garmin routed me to Chattanooga via Nashville (Recalcualting...).
PS: As to expectations... if we stop having them and there isn't any disappointment when they aren't met.
PPS: Move closer to where you work, then you'll have a shorter drive.
lol..ya think?! I would, but I'd probably spend more time in the office than I should
Tried Google Navigation. Simple route really. The phone got lost on the on-ramp and took a bit of time to "find me" during which the annoying nav voice kept telling to turn, u-turn, etc... Then at the off-ramp it got lost again. Good thing I knew where I was going.
Being outdoors is a must if you're in an area where signal is weak, such as being in your home. Covering your antenna with a case could cause reception issues. As a matter of fact, almost any metal obstruction could. As with any battery powered device that relies on signal, you tend to get better results with a full charge or external power connected to your device. AM radio was even this way when I was a kid.
Last night I had GPS test on. It found 2 satellites from where I was. I walked into the building and lost them both. But while driving yesterday I had multiple satellites and no problem locking.
If your GPS doesn't work, do some testing. I find it irritating that I can't get GPS signal everywhere, indoors and out but I think it's safe to say it just isn't going to happen.
It's technology, people and while it looks like it's all the Samsung GPS that's the problem, that's probably not the only answer.
I drove from NC to Memphis in October. When I used the GPS I had no doubts it was working. I'll be doing it again next week.
fldude said people seem to have a high expectation of cell phone GPS technology. I think that's pretty much on target.
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My Captivate doesn't have a pet name.
fldude said people seem to have a high expectation of cell phone GPS technology. I think that's pretty much on target.
Perhaps you should try other phones which tout GPS functionality and actually deliver it. Then you may not think that it is OK that the GPS is barely semi-functional on this phone.
Perhaps you should try other phones which tout GPS functionality and actually deliver it. Then you may not think that it is OK that the GPS is barely semi-functional on this phone.
Agreed. I can put a Motorola Backflip (universally detested and commonly referred to as the "Backflop" even by AT&T employees) within a foot or so of a window and lock onto like 9 satelites within a few seconds. With the Captivate, even if it's right up against the glass I'm lucky if I can get a lock onto a single sat no matter how long it sits there.
I hate the Backflip. And it came with Android 1.5. So what's Samsung's excuse?
I went from the Blackberry Bold 9700 to the Torch, then had to have a Captivate. I knew about the GPS horror stories, but this phone is heads above the Blackberries....except for the GPS. Even my old Blackjack II and Jack phones had "immediate" GPS locks, even in my basement. The Torch GPS was excellent, and kept up with me, even on the highway at 70-80 mph speeds.
But, that is all those phones have on the Captivate. I have to hope that future phones inthis droid line will be better.
No change in my GPS operation. That's why I use a GPS receiver for GPS needs instead of a phone. Some phones are better, none are as good as a decent dedicated receiver.
Mine goes in and out...some days great, some not so. But generally, I know where I'm at, so the maps are good enough for me to find where I'm going. To me the GPS is mainly kind of a toy feature.
I did the restore and took a white eraser to the contacts inside the back cover. In my car for the 700 or so miles I drove yesterday my GPS was dead on and locked within 10-20 seconds.
You guys are probably right in comparison to other phones. I'm not going to argue that.
Thanks for posting this. I was having that update issue and this cleared it all up. I will have to try the GPS fix tomorrow when I head out. BTW, the barcode worked fine for me. =D
Device(s): Samsung Captivate (Galaxy S),Asus Transformer Prime,nook Color
Thanks: 38
Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digital Legend
Check for Updates resolution - Clear the Cache! Settings....Manage Applications....Menu, Filter, All....Device management......under storage "clear data"....back out and reboot phone, then I can successfully check for updates!
Do you mean to clear the CACHE, or the DATA? You say both here. My cache button is grey...I can't click it, I don't want to clear the data if that will remove something else. I did power it down and it tells me I need to wait until the 24 hours are up to check for an update again.
running cog 3.04 rom and couldnt get a lock at all outside or inside. Ran the gps restore app and now im able to get a lock inside of my house. Have yet to check it outside.
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Old people don't need companionship. They need to be isolated and studied so it can be determined what nutrients they have that might be extracted for our personal use.
The Samsung Captivate is AT&T's version of the Samsung Galaxy S, marking Samsung's first strong push into high-end Android territory. The manufacturer simultaneously launched the Galaxy S on every major American carrier, each reta... Read More
GPS Fixed & Check For Updates Fixed!
Although I'd recommend against ebay buying NOW that I know what kind of things can go wrong with the phone right out of the box...definitely would have bought from at&t, off contract still but would have wanted that 30day return period.
