GPS firmware bug in Moto Droid (original)

[TonyG]

The supposedly perfect time displayed on the Moto Droid's screen by GPS Status v.3.1.3 (from EclipSim; no data processing according to Rudolf, its developer) is 13-14 s too fast in comparison with the time displayed by the NIST time program (The official U.S. time - clock), and my two Garmin units, 60Cx and nuvi 770. Both our Droids have this bug. Fortunately, the coords are all in agreement to within +-0.00002 degree.

Can others confirm the existence of the time difference on their Droids? According to GPS Status' developer, a few other Android phones don't seem to have this problem.

--TonyG

 

[messenger13]

My DROID is about 13 seconds fast as well. But I can't think of one reason how that's a bad thing. Even with all of my OCD issues.

 

[OMJ]

My DROID is about 13 seconds fast as well. But I can't think of one reason how that's a bad thing. Even with all of my OCD issues.

yea mine is off by about 13 seconds too. Im with messenger though it doesnt really effect me. Ive never been in trouble for being 13seconds late to something

 

[bilbravo]

yea mine is off by about 13 seconds too. Im with messenger though it doesnt really effect me. Ive never been in trouble for being 13seconds late to something

Wouldn't that make you 13 seconds early?

 

[OMJ]

Wouldn't that make you 13 seconds early?

oh right well I have never had an issue with that either

 

[TonyG]

I admire your lackadaisical attitude--13 seconds is an eternity in the GPS universe! If translated into your Long/Lat position readings, they'd be 10 times farther than the Moon--but hey!

 

[OMJ]

I admire your lackadaisical attitude--13 seconds is an eternity in the GPS universe! If translated into your Long/Lat position readings, they'd be 10 times farther than the Moon--but hey!

Interesting I never thought of it that way. Although my GPS location is generally spot on.

 

[TonyG]

Yes, as I have already noted in my OP, "Fortunately, the coords are all in agreement to within +-0.00002 degree." which I think is to +/-3 m at my latitude.

 

[reatatec]

I typed a lengthy explaination and accidently hit the back button on the browser and will not retype it but point you to the answer.

There is a difference between UCT (of UTC) and GPS time which is currently about 14 or 15 seconds (officially it was 14 in 2009 but I have heard 15 recently). The GPS Status app is displaying straight GPS time while Garmin applies the offset to display UCT when it can. The original post said the developer said there is no processing of the time in GPS Status. I doubt if the Droid firmware is involved at all.

Check the 2 links below or just Google UCT GPS offset and there are dozens of others.

How accurate is the TIME DISPLAY on my GPS?
USNO GPS Time Transfer

 

[aaron19953]

if it's CONSTANTLY 13 seconds off, does it really matter ? I mean if your wall clock is always off 1 hour, you still know what time it is. ie speed=distance/time