GPS accuracy

[Fred Freeman]

I have a Nokia 8.1 and it is running Android 10 with the latest security update of 1 Jul 2020.

When running Maps.Me or Google Map, it shows a huge accuracy radius of typically about 20 ot 30 meters, sometimes as high as 50 meters or more. This is not acceptable for anything, even walking, let alone driving. Sometime the location just jumps around, quite erratic.

However, when running GPS Test App, it shows an accuracy of 3m, which is normal and acceptable. I used a Garmin GPS to verify the co-ordinate readings of the GPS Test App, the co-ordinate readings matches to within 5 meters.

And I could not find anywhere to see if there is a setting to improve the accuracy for Maps.me or Google Map.

It seems to me is a software issue, given that GPS Test App is getting more precise data from the GPS receiver than the mapping software can.

Can anyone help with some pointers, and or if this is a software issue with the laster Andoid built or what?


Please help.

 

[Hadron]

What are your location accuracy settings, and where are you using this (rural, suburban, city centre)?

The GPS test app will just be looking at GPS accuracy, so 3m is what you expect if you have a fix. The mapping app will be using Google's location service. If your location service is set to "device only" then it will be pure GPS, but if it's set to the so-called "high accuracy" it uses a mix of cellular/WiFi signals + GPS. That actually doesn't improve accuracy if you have a GPS fix (which is why I called it "so-called"), since the wireless network accuracy is at least an order of magnitude worse so adds very little (and can mislead badly when Google's map of sources is out of date). What it does is give you a quicker location and gives you some location ability when you cannot get a GPS fix.

So if you are using "high accuracy", try turning that to "device only" - which on my phone (Android 11) is now just called turning "Google Location Accuracy" off (which sounds like the opposite of what you want). If your location accuracy improves then you know the problem was the wireless data confusing things. If it remains bad then there is indeed something wrong.

Of course if you are using it in an area where it's hard to get a clear view of the sky then you may have trouble getting a pure GPS fix, in which case you may have nothing but the wireless location available. And in those circumstances even if you can get a fix pure GPS accuracy can be compromised by reflections off buildings. So if your location accuracy depends on where you are these are other possible factors.

 

[Fred Freeman]

What are your location accuracy settings, and where are you using this (rural, suburban, city centre)?

The GPS test app will just be looking at GPS accuracy, so 3m is what you expect if you have a fix. The mapping app will be using Google's location service. If your location service is set to "device only" then it will be pure GPS, but if it's set to the so-called "high accuracy" it uses a mix of cellular/WiFi signals + GPS. That actually doesn't improve accuracy if you have a GPS fix (which is why I called it "so-called"), since the wireless network accuracy is at least an order of magnitude worse so adds very little (and can mislead badly when Google's map of sources is out of date). What it does is give you a quicker location and gives you some location ability when you cannot get a GPS fix.

So if you are using "high accuracy", try turning that to "device only" - which on my phone (Android 11) is now just called turning "Google Location Accuracy" off (which sounds like the opposite of what you want). If your location accuracy improves then you know the problem was the wireless data confusing things. If it remains bad then there is indeed something wrong.

Of course if you are using it in an area where it's hard to get a clear view of the sky then you may have trouble getting a pure GPS fix, in which case you may have nothing but the wireless location available. And in those circumstances even if you can get a fix pure GPS accuracy can be compromised by reflections off buildings. So if your location accuracy depends on where you are these are other possible factors.

Thanks. I have Android 10, so I'll try to turn off Google Location Accuracy" tomorrow and see.
P
But since my last posting, I had reinstalled Google Map and Maps.me, it seems that Google Maps now works a whole lot better. In fact, we tried today with my phone running both Google Map and Maps.me, and an iPhone running Google Map whilst driving. Both Google maps are working accurately, but Maps.me is erratic and way off in some instances What does that tell me ? It seems the hardware is fine, but somehow, Maps.me is not picking the correct GPS info from Android. Any comments ?

 

[Hadron]

It should be the same, as I'd expect both to used the "fused location" API (most location-sensitive apps on android do).

I've never seen any difference in accuracy between those 2 apps myself, though I always use GPS-only (i.e. Google location accuracy "off") as the alternative also grants Google permission to collect "anonymous" location information from you ("anonymous" in quotes because research has often shown how easy it is to identify people in "anonymous" datasets, and I don't trust any corporation not to use loopholes in its rules if it decides there is potential profit in doing so).