Help GPS issues?

[sjdean]

Samsung: Bad quality support?

I called one guy on the Samsung Smart Phone helpdesk. I told him about my phone problems and he said it was software and to return the phone and get a new one.

Fair enough.

I asked if it was software, when they expect new firmware to be released.

He said that's down to the Network Provider.

I told him I got my phone off contract, and I brought it out right. He insisted it's down to the provider. He said he knows cos he has an android phone, android phones are different, and he got his through T-Mobile.

I said exactly, I bought mine off contract, I can put in any sim card, it's Samsungs firmware.

He said that Android was the OS.

Ahhh, I say, you don't mean provider then do you, you mean Google.

Yes sir. We have to wait for Google to release a new Android.

I said Im not talking about the Android OS, Im talking about Samsungs firmware, the one that says XXJF3 - are you saying that Google makes your firmware?

Yes sir.

And Google makes YOUR touchwiz interface?

Yes sir, Samsung only make the phone.

The guy kept disagreeing with me, telling me know, arguing with me.

Needless to say, I've made a complaint.

 

[waspbr]

I have just watched this video review from this girl in Belgium :

YouTube - Samsung Galaxy S review

and apparently she has been assured by samsung's headquarters in Belgium that new firmware would come out by the end of the month... perhaps that is something to hang on to.

 

[Evil Peter]

Yes, a guy on a forum in Sweden had also spoken with someone he knew that worked in sales for Samsung and the firmware is due in July and FroYo is planned for August. It seems credible when it's said by two different people.

 

[sjdean]

All I need is for one of these illustrious Samsung Reps to tell me that yes, they are aware of a problem with the GPS, yes they know what it is, and yes there will be a fix for it.

Either that, or just tell me that my phone is faulty and I should get another.

I hate playing the waiting game.

Should I send my phone back and get another one which could have the same issue because it could be hardware/software related?

 

[waspbr]

I will try to ask them here at the netherlands if there is a fix to the issue, I will post the response here when I get it.

 

[winchuff]

I too have problems with poor GPS performance from my Galaxy S.

I do hope they are fixed with a firmware update. (I wonder if Orange will delay that).

Perhaps we would get more response on this thread, and more pressure on Samsung if the thread was re-titled "Problems with GPS on the Galaxy S"!!!

 

[cdmag]

All I need is for one of these illustrious Samsung Reps to tell me that yes, they are aware of a problem with the GPS, yes they know what it is, and yes there will be a fix for it.

Either that, or just tell me that my phone is faulty and I should get another.

I hate playing the waiting game.

Should I send my phone back and get another one which could have the same issue because it could be hardware/software related?

This is exactly what I am going to do. My new phone will be here on Monday afternoon. I will let you know if the GPS gets any better.

 

[Beards]

Well you can add me to the list of those who have a problem.

When I first received the GS it performed very well and GPS was quick and accurate.

Now it's totally the opposite... Slow to pick up satellites and jumps more times than my Granddaughter does when listening to pop music.

 

[n4nick]

Well you can add me to the list of those who have a problem.

When I first received the GS it performed very well and GPS was quick and accurate.

Now it's totally the opposite... Slow to pick up satellites and jumps more times than my Granddaughter does when listening to pop music.

Changed/upgraded your firmware or rooted your device in the meantime? It would be nice to know what firmware people with issues are running. I'm on stock XXJF3 and have no particular problems.

 

[Beards]

Changed/upgraded your firmware or rooted your device in the meantime? It would be nice to know what firmware people with issues are running. I'm on stock XXJF3 and have no particular problems.

Nothing changed... nothing altered.. and using stock ROM.

 

[Evil Peter]

Tested my GPS in a couple of different cities for the first time and got perfect locks on my position. With a little bit better coverage than the place I live in the lock was very quick as well. Hopefully it will remain that way.

 

[winchuff]

Guys

If you haven't already done so, why not add a post to the Samsung Community thread on this issue...

Samsung Mobile : Community

 

[sjdean]

Hey, Evil Peter, what baseband version do you have?

 

[sjdean]

Just so there's lots of links for Google and hopefully drag in everybody else with GPS issues - with the aim of grabbing Samsungs attention:

Here is a collection of weblinks and forums of people who have complained about their GPS so far.

GPS is not Very good - xda-developers
Any GPS issues here? - xda-developers
http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s/104872-gps-issues.html
Samsung Mobile : Community
help! - Vodafone eForum
Samsung Galaxy S - My Phone Freezes, The GPS Doesn't Work & It Won't Link To My PC - Vodafone eForum
Samsung Galaxy S - It Struggles To Pick Up GPS Satellites - Vodafone eForum

A couple of posts in German with problems:

GPS wie funktionierts? - Samsung Galaxy S - Android Forum
Hardwareproblem GPS Empf

 

[Beards]

Simon, you missed one from xda-devs, Samsung GPS Fail.

 

[Rick Gregg]

I have been at this for about an hour and a half. I have been told to "relate advantages and disadvantages to social issues (taking general population into account) of Globular Positioning Systems. It says take "reference to the South African constitution and make a discussion" as well. I will happily pay over paypal for a great answer, and that is genuine.

Thank you,

 

[Seifer]

I must add that even though I have the same problem, ie gps will not log on to any satellites with signal strength below 22, I dun have any problem navigating. I am using ndrive and so far has not lost any signal midway

 

[Beards]

I must add that even though I have the same problem, ie gps will not log on to any satellites with signal strength below 22, I dun have any problem navigating. I am using ndrive and so far has not lost any signal midway

The thing is with driving I don't get that many errors myself... Possibly due to the fact I'm traveling quite fast so the update is going to be relative to the large distance traveled between each lock.

But what about walking?
This is where you will notice errors.
A good test is using the App 'My Tracks' which records your actual movement.
Using My Tracks this way you can actually see and post on Google Maps the errors.

 

[Evil Peter]

Hey, Evil Peter, what baseband version do you have?

I have the XXJF3. I haven't bothered to flash as things are working well for me and, while I'm still interested to see if it gets better, I don't want the risk of a few things in the phone being in Russian.

 

[sjdean]

Now this is interesting.

Perhaps theres a possibility our phone haven't been partitioned right? I've heard potential rumours of what can cause GPS issues, from Sim Cards to even something like a bad firmware flash. Maybe a re-flash would resolve it?

xda-developers - View Single Post - GPS is not Very good

Anyhow, I've just spoken to a Samsung rep who, and I'll paraphrase, said that my phone sounds like it is faulty. He kind of indicated with that that there are no known issues.

I mentioned XXJF5 and XXJFB and asked when we might get new firmware, they said they're working on the Android 2.2 release but have no firm dates.

I asked about interim updates from Samsung for XXJF5, but the impression I get is that there will be no new updates until Android 2.2 is released.

He said I could flash the phone with the "updated" (albeit unofficial) firmware, and he said I could do that, it's my phone. I mentioned about warranty, and he said he would be concerned about that too.

One thing I might try is to speak to a Samsung Service Centre and see if they can completely wipe the phone and re-flash and re-partition the device using XXJF3 firmware.

worth a try.

 

[Evil Peter]

Yes, it's definitely possible that a bad firmware flash could cause problems. It seems that the current firmware came out very late in production, even after many phones were already boxed (some people have double security seals, of which the underlying one was already broken). Perhaps they rushed the process so there were higher margins of error, even though I don't really know how rushing would affect it.

I read about one poster on a Swedish forum that had a lot of problems so got his phone reflashed and apparently that helped him.

I've also heard one person who flashed with XXJFB and didn't get any better results with his GPS. That's the only guy I've heard not reporting any improvements though.

 

[larryccf]

i posted the below in a gps issue thread over on xda forum

in case no one notices, at appro 3:45 in the video at the below thread, the narrator indicated he had the same gps issues and the new flash to the new rom fixed it

Video for those interested in the Galaxy S and the first Custom Rom MCR R1 - xda-developers

 

[ewingr]

I'd be interested in hearing from more people re: GPS in the car. I've seen one post here saying that in the car it was working well.

I'm interested in the Captivate...but not if the GPS is crap...for driving. While I prefer that it could be accurate in all respects, driving is pretty much the only thing I use it for. I used mine for walking when in NYC once.

 

[forza2020]

Now this is interesting.

Perhaps theres a possibility our phone haven't been partitioned right? I've heard potential rumours of what can cause GPS issues, from Sim Cards to even something like a bad firmware flash. Maybe a re-flash would resolve it?

xda-developers - View Single Post - GPS is not Very good

Anyhow, I've just spoken to a Samsung rep who, and I'll paraphrase, said that my phone sounds like it is faulty. He kind of indicated with that that there are no known issues.

I mentioned XXJF5 and XXJFB and asked when we might get new firmware, they said they're working on the Android 2.2 release but have no firm dates.
I asked about interim updates from Samsung for XXJF5, but the impression I get is that there will be no new updates until Android 2.2 is released.

He said I could flash the phone with the "updated" (albeit unofficial) firmware, and he said I could do that, it's my phone. I mentioned about warranty, and he said he would be concerned about that too.

One thing I might try is to speak to a Samsung Service Centre and see if they can completely wipe the phone and re-flash and re-partition the device using XXJF3 firmware.

worth a try.

That's how it came in the box.

 

[sjdean]

Yup. I know it comes with xxjf3, that's why I said re flash - using the same firmware.

I gave my local place a call though. They're not aware of any issues with the gps, and they don't have any firmware, not even the current one to re flash