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.
Upvote
0