new gps toggle button on 2.2

[jsteinmetz1]

I see there is a new button for gps on the Captivate froyo upgrade. It's next to the wifi, silent, bluetooth autorotation buttons. This is a dumb question but it seems to be active by default. If I'm not using the gps function, I can turn this off right? I took notice my battery seemed to drain quite fast today and I'm guessing that is why.

 

[MonteMuscle70]

I don't think mine was set to start up on boot by default. You can try to go to the menu>settings>location and security, then try to enable/disable the GPS option from there. That might reset it from being a startup default.

And maybe there's an app you have booting when you start your phone that has an option to use the GPS, and that turns it on?

I'm still working out all the kinks from my update, too.

 

[gcobb]

The Power Control widget has had that since I've had my phone.

 

[BookLover]

I used to keep my GPS checked when on 2.1. And unless I was using an app that called on GPS (weather, maps, etc.) -- the GPS radio was NOT called upon (e.g., icon not on Notification bar)

But since I updated to Froyo, if I keep GPS checked, GPS seems to be constantly being called on by something.

So I have no choice but to keep GPS off now to conserve battery.

Fortunately, I have Tasker and just incorporated turning GPS on whenever I use navigation apps.

 

[Troglodad]

Only had my captivate a few weeks, and the GPS doesn't work even with the 2.2 update and the GPS Repair App.

Do you actualy have working GPS on your captivate?! Maybe there's hope and I should trade mine in...

 

[BookLover]

Only had my captivate a few weeks, and the GPS doesn't work even with the 2.2 update and the GPS Repair App.

Do you actualy have working GPS on your captivate?! Maybe there's hope and I should trade mine in...

My GPS worked great even on 2.1.

2.2 just made it faster.

Are you sure you have a clear line of sight to the sky?

Wireless Network on or off? You might want to try with it off. In another thread someone said their GPS worked better with Wireless Network UN-checked.

 

[bmoliver]

I could be wrong, but I think that new button is just for enabling GPS when it is needed as opposed to turning off GPS entirely. I have the GPS button checked, but I don't see any satellite symbol in the notification area unless I run an app that actually requires GPS.

 

[Troglodad]

Are you sure you have a clear line of sight to the sky?

Wireless Network on or off? You might want to try with it off. In another thread someone said their GPS worked better with Wireless Network UN-checked.

(To clarify, the ONLY problem my Captivate has is GPS- all other features work fine)

I've tried it outside, clear line of sky.

Upgraded to 2.2. Installed GPS fix, took battery out, then restarted. Still no lock.

No however, I'm running GPS Test app and at my desk (2nd floor in a 4 story bldg) phone can "see" 2 satellites, but when I switched back to MAPS, no lock. Went back to GPs test, phone in same place on my desk, and it "sees" only 1 sat. Still, impressive, as my G1 which had flawless GPS, saw nothing inside.

 

[BookLover]

(To clarify, the ONLY problem my Captivate has is GPS- all other features work fine)

I've tried it outside, clear line of sky.

Upgraded to 2.2. Installed GPS fix, took battery out, then restarted. Still no lock.

No however, I'm running GPS Test app and at my desk (2nd floor in a 4 story bldg) phone can "see" 2 satellites, but when I switched back to MAPS, no lock. Went back to GPs test, phone in same place on my desk, and it "sees" only 1 sat. Still, impressive, as my G1 which had flawless GPS, saw nothing inside.

Try GPS Status. There's a toolbox to clear something, then download something (forgot what the something was...sorry)...

I did this when my well-functioning GPS wouldn't lock for some reason, and clearing and loading whatever GPS Status offered to load/unload fixed that particular issue.

 

[fldude99]

Someone released an app to the market called GPS doctor or something. But anyway, I wonder why people even bother to say how cool it is to get a gps lock inside? To me that's not really possible...i would hesitate to trust such a lock. Is anyone navigating from their living room to the bathroom or something?

 

[sremick]

Someone released an app to the market called GPS doctor or something.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.epekware.gpsdoctor

Not sure I feel like gambling $3 on an app that looks like it just provides easy-access to functions already available for free elsewhere.

 

[fldude99]

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.epekware.gpsdoctor

Not sure I feel like gambling $3 on an app that looks like it just provides easy-access to functions already available for free elsewhere.

I downloaded and paid for it just to see (I mean $3? cmon..)..anyway, after playing with it for a few minutes, I quickly went back in and uninstalled for a refund. Didn't seem to do a thing except get me to pay for it in hopes I didn't refund in time

 

[skramblr]

My GPS has worked from day one, too. On 2.1 and 2.2.

If GPS test is only showing 2 satellites, there's your problem. You need 3 satellites to establish a GPS location. But go outside and see how many satellites appear.

 

[easye1161]

I downloaded and paid for it just to see (I mean $3? cmon..)..anyway, after playing with it for a few minutes, I quickly went back in and uninstalled for a refund. Didn't seem to do a thing except get me to pay for it in hopes I didn't refund in time

I also downloaded this app and I agree that the quick fix function seems to just be a wrapper around things that are already freely available. I did find that some of the advanced options were really useful though (and I don't think they're available elsewhere?). I spent a day or so experimenting with it (I'm a loser, I know), and found that I get locks much faster if I only clear out ionospheric and sv dir data, but leave the rest of it there. Seems to me like the app provides good functionality, but the developer tried to dumb it down a little too much with the quick fix thing.

 

[gcobb]

Only had my captivate a few weeks, and the GPS doesn't work even with the 2.2 update and the GPS Repair App.

Do you actualy have working GPS on your captivate?! Maybe there's hope and I should trade mine in...

Under what conditions are you using your GPS?