Help Galaxy Note GPS

[anzackiwi]

Hello,
I have had my Galaxy Note for about 2 months now and while I love it I think the GPS is useless. I live in South Korea and have the LTE version. I am wondering does anyone know if the South Korea version has a different GPS to the international version? I ask because I have used about 6 different running apps and none are accurate. I zigzag everywhere, jump buildings and don't start where I actually started. Out in the open, clear sky, no clouds and the GPS can't find me? Seems to work better in the morning than in the evening. Even the pre-installed Google maps keeps moving my location when I am standing still and is only accurate to 2600meters. At first I thought it was just an app issue but when 6 apps fail to be accurate I am beginning to think it could be a Samsung / Android issue. I had previously used most of the running apps on my Iphone 3GS and it was MUCH more accurate. I am thinking that the Android / Samsung GPS is just not as good as the iPhone. Does anyone have similar issues, is there anything I can do or should I just wait for ICS and hope that fixes it. I am using the latest Gingerbread and I don't want to root my phone. If anyone wants to comment then that would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You

 

[NZtechfreak]

No issue here, best GPS on any phone I've ever used thanks to Glonass.

See here:
AndroidNZ: The Galaxy Note "Real-user" Review: Part 3 - GPS and Telephony

...and here:
Samsung Galaxy Note: GPS - detailed video demonstration and review - YouTube

 

[mpw]

Didn't know my Note had GLOSNASS, interesting review.

Can't say I have any issue with my Note's accuracy; I use MyTracks occasionally, and I forgot to end the track a while ago once back home.

On reviewing my track, and zooming in on the map I could see myself actually going from room to room in my house!

 

[anderoider]

I also love the GPS here. Some times it seems stuck and you have to click it on and off. But thats once a month or so. Normally it works perfect.

 

[xxbazhxx]

well as a taxi driver i use (on occasion) copilot live and i have to say the gps is awesomley (is that actually a word??? lol) good...i would go as far to say that it is as accurate as my hardware tom tom (on international gt n7000)

 

[Omar Days]

I get a lock on within seconds. Fastest I've had on a phone. In fact it locks on faster than my tom tom

 

[anzackiwi]

Thanks for replying. I am glad you are all satisfied with your GPS.
My GPS locks on when using exercise apps in about 10~15 seconds-I presume that is pretty good but the problem is just the accuracy. Even walking to work for 30 minutes the app is indicating that I am crossing roads and doubling back on myself. I don't know if it is a carrier problem, software, Samsung or just bad reception on a clear sunny day and like I stated earlier even the stock installed Google maps is not that great.

 

[biscuitlad]

I think it might be where you live. The gps on my Note is the fastest I've ever had. Sometimes it's under 5 secs.

 

[NZtechfreak]

I think it might be where you live. The gps on my Note is the fastest I've ever had. Sometimes it's under 5 secs.

Mine is basically always less than 5s.

Something sounds wrong with the OPs Note to me, that experience is so far out of whack with what everyone else is getting it's not funny.

 

[anzackiwi]

Still don't know if it is a software, hardware issue or simply the Note is just not as good here in South Korea as international versions. These are some screen shots I took from 2 of my running apps but have tried about 6 with similar results. Yesterday on a clear day walking down the street it took at least 500 meters for the apps to find me then it promptly lost connection. I have the latest Gingerbread and also used the GPS Status app which did say I was using 7/10 satellites.
Getting frustrated, an expensive phone should be better than this. Even my old iPhone 3gs locked onto my GPS position on the 6th floor of a 15 story Apartment complex. My note cannot get any GPS indoors, even on the 1st floor.

 

[touringhaggis]

Getting frustrated, an expensive phone should be better than this. Even my old iPhone 3gs locked onto my GPS position on the 6th floor of a 15 story Apartment complex. My note cannot get any GPS indoors, even on the 1st floor.

Hi,

I can understand the frustration, but I cannot say that I share the experience. My Note locks on to satellites exceptionally fast as other people in this thread have also stated.

Could it be that you are testing mostly indoors (where I would not expect any reliable GPS signal) or while walking between skyscrapers? Even dedicated GPS receivers will have issues in these environments. You may just have been lucky with your iPhone in that it had a particularly sensitive antenna but given that the GPS in a phone is more of a toy (probably costing < 5% of the total value) I usually consider that it is a miracle that it works at all. BTW: I would expect better signal in the 6th floor of a building if you get one at all (the construction of the building may let the required signal through or be blocking it).

Long story short: test in a completely open space and if you still have problems then try returning the phone.

One last thing: TomTom recently informed me that there have been problems with 3rd party data providers causing inaccurate GPS navigation since the end of March. Although unlikely, this may also affect the Note. I need to update my TomTom apparently (I am currently using my phone as a navigation device). Probably not though.

Regards,
Eric Ritchie.

 

[anzackiwi]

Touringhaggis thanks for the reply.
I have always tested the GPS outside. I only tried indoors to compare to my old phone. Out in the open ie: semi rural, no buildings clear sky, no clouds and still the GPS is in accurate. I understand about being in an urban environment might interfere but surely not 1-2 story buildings? Can it? Using modern technology can it really be that useless?
I think I will take it to the service center and see what they say.
Ps: I tried the *#*# number#*#* but that didn't work, is that for only rooted phones-Does anyone know? All I got was a voice message "that was an invalid call".
Thanks to those who have replied.

 

[mpw]

...Out in the open ie: semi rural, no buildings clear sky, no clouds and still the GPS is in accurate...

I think it has to be your handset; I've used the basic MyTracks app when out walking in steep sided valley that prevent phone signals completely, but the GPS is still well within 2m, likewise in cities(at least on the streets)

Right now my Note has me within it's blue circle acurate to about 10m, but I'm in the heart of an office block, in a windows office.

 

[ayongkot]

here is a review of the gps on galaxy note.

 

[ifb-online]

I had no idea that the Broadcom receiver can work with the Russian, Japanese and GNSS/SBAS systems. Does anyone know if the Note is set up to use the extra networks apart from NAVSTAR?

Ian

 

[droidcentric]

I can only say for sure the Galaxy Note puts my Garmin Nuvi 1350 to shame. It locks faster, works indoors, is more accurate and it does not take an hour to find a business in the internal database.

 

[McGilli]

I can only say for sure the Galaxy Note puts my Garmin Nuvi 1350 to shame. It locks faster, works indoors, is more accurate and it does not take an hour to find a business in the internal database.

I second this. Coming from 'real' GPS devices, that just spin in circles outside my buildings main road - I am amazed that this thing can actually follow me from room to room in my house. Sometimes I just turn it on and walk around and watch my dot follow along on the screen.

I'm sure that amazement will wear off soon! I hope....

Garmin and all the rest have lost my business, that's for sure.

 

[droidcentric]

The future of Android is total GPS integration.

Project Glass: One day... - YouTube

 

[anzackiwi]

Droidcentric, McGilli, I am jealous. Yesterday I walked to walk to work in the morning 3.23km according to the app which is about right, took about 100m for the GPS to find me-not bad. In the evening exactly the same route just in reverse 4.88km!
According to international versions the Galaxy note has/uses both A-GPS and Glonass. I have a feeling in South Korea only A-GPS. How can I confirm.?I don't know where to look within the phone.

 

[droidcentric]

I did some digging for you and found this which may be useful.

Google Groups

 

[anzackiwi]

droidcentric, I appreciate your effort, thank you very much. I will scroll through the info and see what I can find.