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Video: My Captivate GPS working

JDM9499

Member
Jul 27, 2010
97
8
First, I want to say that I truly hope Samsung will pump out a GPS 'fix' soon for folks that are having difficulties with their phones GPS not working! Second, the video below shows mine working very well, at least better than from what most folks have described their devices performance.

My phone does NOT have any of the GPS so called 'fixes' from either these forums or over at the XDA forums. It's stock, from AT&T.

Video Below...

P.S.
Sorry for the LOUD volume!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eP7pQQ9m-6Y
 
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I have been one of the people that thought my GPS worked fine. Most of the time GPS works fine - but where it really shows problems is when you use it with mapping or nav.

It loses accuracy while driving - it can be off by 100 feet and start to reroute you as it thinks you are on a parallel road, or you have passed a turn. If you are zoomed out, GPS looks fine, but if you zoom in you can watch your GPS wander a lot.

Some now speculate that the lag/blocking by the file system could be to blame for the GPS not updating in a timely manner - this could cause it to mistake where it is when driving.
 
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My GPS works fine when I'm standing still or jogging/walking. My problem, like most, is that while driving the GPS will lose me completely. I also found that turning on wireless network assist will help while staying stationary and using location based apps, but actually seems to cause the GPS to take even more time to lock, and the accuracy to be worse.
 
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The GPS on my first Captivate didn't lock at all. I did the multiple "fixes" with no benefit.

Changing to a different physical phone and RMA-ing the first one gave me a better GPS. So far (one week) this one works as intended.

Some units work out of the box. Some are lemons. I've had both. If you have a Captivate, you have one or the other.

Have a nice day.
 
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man...I must be the only lucky purchaser out there...it took 3 phones, but the 3rd one is golden. Great at finding location, never had trouble with turn by turn (as a matter of fact, I used it to find a way around traffic to a concert last night...no issues at all!) I gotta wonder what the problem is with these phones, though. Mine will pull a lock inside a first floor apartment in a 3 floor bldg just as easily as it will standing in the country under a crystal clear sky...others won't do sh*t to get a lock...hopefully this supposed fix they are coming out with will solve any issues
 
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I mainly use Google Maps, especially now with the new walking navigation option. Getting around here in the city has not been an issue. It will help guide me to the exact corner/building of where I need to go.

I have only used Google Navigation a few times, only when a taxi driver got lost a couple times to some locations I was going to. So I quickly opened up the app, and it quickly found where we were at and helped guide the driver to the exact location. It was all, a very smooth operation. In fact, I did all this (besides the new walking navigation feature) when I first purchased my phone on release day, and it was a couple weeks later when I discovered these forums of people having GPS problems.

One thing I will say is, that I don't think my accuracy in feet, has ever gone down below 16.4 ft. Hmmm....
 
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One thing I will say is, that I don't think my accuracy in feet, has ever gone down below 16.4 ft. Hmmm....

My accuracy according to GPSTest never drops below 30feet but there are times when I'm locked on to the exact point I am in my house.

But Google Maps doesn't always work well for me initially. Googe Nav locks on much quicker. Odd.
 
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I have no GPS issues that others speak of. It locks on pretty fast when I need it and works every time I have tried it for trips. During one trip it turned off or lost its lock (whatever its called) but other than that all is well but I do know the fix is desperately needed for this phone. Too many complaints and my friend who has a Captivate cannot use GPS at all, he is hoping it is fixed before his 30 days are up (22nd)...
 
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After changing a few settings in the LBS menu my GPS has always worked pretty well. Usually locks in under a minute and hardly ever jumps off the road or shows me in the wrong place while navigating.

Some notes if people want to try my setup...

1) I don't usually go more than a day or two without rebooting. Not sure if that makes a difference, but I've heard the GPS is more likely to act up if you haven't rebooted your phone for a long time.

2) I use a widget (SwitchPro) to turn my GPS on and off. I don't leave it on all the time. I only turn it on right before I use navigation and then I turn it off when I'm done.

3) I have use wireless networks enabled.

4) LBS menu configuration...

MS Based
supl.google.com
port 7276
Secure Socket OFF
Skyhook ON (probably doesn't make a difference)

Be sure to reboot after changing LBS.

5) I have a car dock that keeps my phone propped up on the front dash while driving. It's not down in a seat or in my hand or lap while driving.
 
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this is by far the most worthless post i have seen for gps. go get in a car and drive around and tell us it is working. THAT is when it matters. Not a stupid gps test....i'm with this dude....

http://androidforums.com/samsung-captivate/174521-captivates-gps-confusion-please-read.html


You win a cookie for posting the most exaggerated/worthless response to a post within a thread, on any forum. Now if you can give me your address, I'd be more than happy to boot up Google Navigation and personally deliver your succulent chocolate cookie, all voice guided by a working GPS navigation phone app.

It works 'buddy', and so does many others who have responded saying so in not only this thread but many others. If mine didn't work (if anything was not working) I would have returned the phone for another or at least exchanged it for another Captivate. I never have because I never had any problems, besides my exchange mail taking forever to send/receive.

With that said, I know and realize most people's Galaxy S GPS's do not work in any way! (Hello Samsung, did you read that! FIX IT ALREADY!) My post was to show my phone getting a lock, very quickly, as a response to some people specifically asking to 'prove' their device is even getting a lock. And if you think I'm going to walk around NYC, video recording myself holding my Captivate like a freaking tool, so you can see visual proof of my Google Navigation or Maps guiding me, you got another thing coming. You're just going to have to settle with mine and others words.

Cheers.
 
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You win a cookie for posting the most exaggerated/worthless response to a post within a thread, on any forum. Now if you can give me your address, I'd be more than happy to boot up Google Navigation and personally deliver your succulent chocolate cookie, all voice guided by a working GPS navigation phone app.

It works 'buddy', and so does many others who have responded saying so in not only this thread but many others. If mine didn't work (if anything was not working) I would have returned the phone for another or at least exchanged it for another Captivate. I never have because I never had any problems, besides my exchange mail taking forever to send/receive.

With that said, I know and realize most people's Galaxy S GPS's do not work in any way! (Hello Samsung, did you read that! FIX IT ALREADY!) My post was to show my phone getting a lock, very quickly, as a response to some people specifically asking to 'prove' their device is even getting a lock. And if you think I'm going to walk around NYC, video recording myself holding my Captivate like a freaking tool, so you can see visual proof of my Google Navigation or Maps guiding me, you got another thing coming. You're just going to have to settle with mine and others words.

Cheers.


if you made the video to show your phone got a lock, then why would you title the thread that your gps is 'working'?? There is A LOT more to the gps than simply getting a lock.

and yeah, i won't believe it until i see a vid. so i guess i 'have another thing coming'. Quit trying to be Mr e-bully.....it doesn't work, especially after watchin that vid of yours :rolleyes:
 
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if you made the video to show your phone got a lock, then why would you title the thread that your gps is 'working'?? There is A LOT more to the gps than simply getting a lock. and yeah, i won't believe it until i see a vid. so i guess i 'have another thing coming'. Quit trying to be Mr e-bully.....it doesn't work, especially after watchin that vid of yours :rolleyes:


"if you made the video to show your phone got a lock, then why would you title the thread that your gps is 'working'??" - Because, my GPS is unbelievably WORKING. Can you read? Do you get it? Understand? IT WORKS! Amazing right? That is why the thread is titled with the wording, "Working".

E-Bully? You interpreted "you've got another thing coming" as some sort of threat? Haha, wow 'buddy', you seem to be very paranoid for nooooo reason pal.

So I guess everyone who say's their GPS's are working, when we are guided with Google Navigation and Maps, are lying...or are somehow completely technologically illiterate. I can assure you good sir, I know when a GPS is working or not.

Oh, and lastly, please explain the A LOT more to a GPS. Though I already know, that mine works "simply" because I use Google Navigation and Maps everyday...as do others who's actually work...but I would like to hear your support behind your saying of "A LOT". Really, I would like to learn more from you. (I'm not being sarcastic).

Take a gander http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=729118# and see if your disbelief jargon will work over their as well.
 
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