Engadget update on Epic 4G GPS

[chuckyost1]

Engadget posted an interesting about the working GPS on the Epic version of the Galaxy S. Browse here for details.

 

[mongstradamus]

Well I want to see if that's still the case in an week. I really hope they really did fix it so I can repurchase one and be an happy camper

 

[TDQuiksilver]

Good news!

 

[getDange]

Well I want to see if that's still the case in an week. I really hope they really did fix it so I can repurchase one and be an happy camper

YOU can repurchase. It is already too late for me and lots of other people who bought this on the release date.

 

[mongstradamus]

YOU can repurchase. It is already too late for me and lots of other people who bought this on the release date.

When I originally bought my late July I noticed some issues with it and was quite hesitant with samsungs track record of support. At the time samsung had not said anything about any fixes so I just returned them. I can wait for froyo and gps fix I can use my old phone till then.

 

[Android_J]

Hold on a sec here. I don't want to beat a dead horse but...

Here is a quote direct from Engadget from when they claimed there was no bug, only to then claim there were 2 bugs:

After enabling [use wireless networks] from settings, we found that both the Captivate and Epic 4G were able to get our location with 1,000 to 1,500-meter accuracy practically immediately in Google Maps, though the Vibrant still never came through

Nothing has changed software or firmware-wise since then. Now they claim it's all good and "extremely accurate"? 1500 meters is a hair under 1 mile. That's useless. It needs to be 5 meters or less. Nothing coming out of Engadget makes sense.

Also found this video from 2 days ago showing Epic GPS performance:
YouTube - Samsung Epic 4G GPS FAIL

 

[getDange]

When I originally bought my late July I noticed some issues with it and was quite hesitant with samsungs track record of support. At the time samsung had not said anything about any fixes so I just returned them. I can wait for froyo and gps fix I can use my old phone till then.

I did the same ("let me but it now, then we will see") , but i fell in love with it, could not return in my 30 days.
at first sucky GPS did not bother me at all. Then once I started using gmaps and other geo-dependand apps, I realized I couldn't use them reliably. And that pisses me off.

At this point my only hope is this is not a hardware issue, and can be FULLY FIXED (not OPTIMIZED as Samsung stated numerously) via a software patch.
I should bill Samsung for the time and electricity I spent on trying to make this thing work via various GPS settings, and for mental anguish and suffering. Why can't they just say "Unfortunately during the software build process, an incorrect driver for the GPS receiver crept into the final release. We have compiled a new release package that includes the correct version of the GPS driver, and are readying it for over-the-air distribution. This will fully and unequivocally address the GPS problems our customers have been having. As a thank you to our customers for their patience, we have also included some performance improvements into this build that address occasional slow downs in the user interface, and included a new free widget that counts the minutes till the release of the FroYo build distribution for the Captivate, with the default value of 43,200"

 

[chrisziegler]

Hold on a sec here. I don't want to beat a dead horse but...

Here is a quote direct from Engadget from when they claimed there was no bug, only to then claim there were 2 bugs:
Nothing has changed software or firmware-wise since then. Now they claim it's all good and "extremely accurate"? 1500 meters is a hair under 1 mile. That's useless. It needs to be 5 meters or less. Nothing coming out of Engadget makes sense.

Also found this video from 2 days ago showing Epic GPS performance:
YouTube - Samsung Epic 4G GPS FAIL

Two things here:

1) When we did that test, we were indoors -- we followed up today with an outdoor test that gave us just the blue dot with no error margin.

2) That video mimics the behavior we saw before enabling Use Wireless Networks, which Samsung ships turned off by default on all Galaxy S models (they claim it's a new Google requirement).

Thanks,
Chris
Engadget

 

[BigCiX]

my GPS has been locking on outside pretty much all the time but it might take a few minutes to do so. Once it has it's lock its pretty much on the dot.

 

[Android_J]

Two things here:

1) When we did that test, we were indoors -- we followed up today with an outdoor test that gave us just the blue dot with no error margin.

2) That video mimics the behavior we saw before enabling Use Wireless Networks, which Samsung ships turned off by default on all Galaxy S models (they claim it's a new Google requirement).

Thanks,
Chris
Engadget

Chris, thanks for coming on here to explain. Appreciate it.

I'm still a little confused when you say you got the blue dot with no error margin. Some things that would clear it up:

• When you long press the blue dot, what accuracy are you getting? 5 meters or less? This accuracy is needed for golf gps apps so something like 10 meters is not good enough.
• How long does it take to lock and reach its greatest accuracy?
• How many satellites are you seeing and how many are actually locking on?
• When indoors, does it perform similar to the iPhone (which uses a Broadcom chip as well, albeit a gen older I believe)?

As a Captivate owner, I've had it lock on extremely fast (5 seconds) outside on a clear day and then not lock on at all an hour later. It seems to be very temperamental. If the Epic is indeed good, that would be good news to all Galaxy S owners.

 

[Djidea]

GPS indoors....

 

[ranova]

Two things here:

1) When we did that test, we were indoors -- we followed up today with an outdoor test that gave us just the blue dot with no error margin.

2) That video mimics the behavior we saw before enabling Use Wireless Networks, which Samsung ships turned off by default on all Galaxy S models (they claim it's a new Google requirement).

Thanks,
Chris
Engadget

Chris, can you do a movement test (i.e. Driving) with the Epic and see if it keeps lock, does not jump you around, and has no blue aura (aka margin of error for accuracy)

 

[DeliDave]

My can get a lock sitting still..... When you move is a whole different matter.

Show us a TEST with the car moving!!!!!!!!

 

[Regalicious]

I actually have gotten better locks while moving than while stationary (with the Captivate). It's like I need to move around to get the satellites' attention, haha. When I'm in a car the arrow pretty much stays on a straight path down the road I'm on and can keep up ... when I'm stationary sometimes it'll reposition itself every 10 seconds or so (even though no blue radial zone is shown and it says accurate to 5-30 meters).

 

[Android_J]

So it looks like AnandTech did a review on the Epic 4G and said that the GPS is still borked.

Samsung Epic 4G Review: The Fastest Android Phone - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis and News

Engadget fails.

 

[Endoran]

So it looks like AnandTech did a review on the Epic 4G and said that the GPS is still borked.

Samsung Epic 4G Review: The Fastest Android Phone - AnandTech :: Your Source for Hardware Analysis a
Engadget fails.

I hope AnandaTech failed and not Engadget (hopefully isolated to a faulty test phone). Chances are whatever fix the epic4g received will be the fix we get.

 

[mongstradamus]

I hope AnandaTech failed and not Engadget (hopefully isolated to a faulty test phone). Chances are whatever fix the epic4g received will be the fix we get.

I thought engadget used wireless networks thats why they were getting more solid locks ? or am i wrong with that?

 

[Endoran]

I thought engadget used wireless networks thats why they were getting more solid locks ? or am i wrong with that?

I just assumed Anandatech had "use wireless networks" enabled. I totally forgot that google issued a command directive stating all phones with android have to have "use wireless networks" disabled by default. It is completely conceivable that Anandatech failed to enable the a-GPS. However, if Anandatech was solely using GPS satellites wouldn't their coordinates be VERY accurate but just a) not work in-doors and b) possibly take a couple minutes to acquire? The former is definitely a possibility for when they received their "location not available" errors and the latter sounds absolutely true for them. But they state that it wasn't very accurate when they did get a signal. Seems to be something incongruent there.

 

[qwertyaas]

I tried recently everytime I was driving to use Google Nav to test the GPS. Only one time (out of 5-6 rides) has the GPS been off. It placed my on the highway when I was on the service road (~10foot error). Initially takes 5-10seconds to locate me once I start Google Nav, and around 2-5 seconds for a reroute.

Google Maps though, that's hit or miss for me. I'm not really sure why.

Also, I have wireless network as off.

 

[Cuerbo]

I have the feeling that the Epic and Fascinate both suffer from the GPS issue we are all seeing. I do get a lock outside, especially if not in my car, rather quickly. Driving is another subject, you clearly lose the lock driving under an overpass and the accuracy is nothing to write home about.

What bothers me the most about the GPS issue is the lack of details coming from Samsung. Yes, they agreed that there's an issue but no lack of details are available on their website. No updates have been made available since word got out that they were aware of the problem. I'm starting to doubt the promise of a fix.

Just called AT&T to make some changes to my account and decided to ask about the GPS issue, all they say is enabling wireless networks will solve the problem. Something we all know is total BS.