All things GPS

ulbonado · Mar 14, 2011

askpcguy said:
I personally never enable the "Use wireless networks" because I firmly believe this smartphone should have a decent enough GPS solution to operate without the use of Wireless networks.

A lot of people say this, but I must admit I don't understand this rationale. I don't really care about GPS per se; I just care about location. If "Use wireless networks" helps get my location, I'm all for it. It doesn't kick my dog or set my house on fire, so why shouldn't I use it?

askpcguy · Mar 14, 2011

The decision to use a feature in a smartphone or not to use a feature is left to its owner. My point is, I upgraded to the Captivate to replace my Treo 650 and bluetooth GPS receiver.

ulbonado said:
A lot of people say this, but I must admit I don't understand this rationale. I don't really care about GPS per se; I just care about location. If "Use wireless networks" helps get my location, I'm all for it. It doesn't kick my dog or set my house on fire, so why shouldn't I use it?

sremick · Mar 14, 2011

I understand about GPS signals and obstructions. No one is going to argue that obstructions (such as being inside a building, tunnel, or even tree cover) are not going to reduce GPS signals.

However, it is not a given that obstructions block GPS signals entirely, and in fact modern GPS equipment has for quite some time handled weak and reflected GPS signals just fine, allowing for considerable reception even when inside a building. Even without any augmented cell/wifi positioning data.

Examples: my friend's iPhone, my Magellan car GPS, my handheld Garmin GPS, and a Motorola Backflip can all acquire a quick and accurate lock from where I'm sitting (at my desk, less than 10' from a window). My Captivate, however, sort of sees 3 satellites when placed right on the windowsill but still refuses to lock on any of them and therefore cannot get any GPS fix whatsoever.

So... the whole "GPS doesn't work indoors" should not be used to give Samsung a free pass on this issue. It's much more than that.

DaNaRkI · Mar 14, 2011

sremick said:
My Captivate, however, sort of sees 3 satellites when placed right on the windowsill but still refuses to lock on any of them and therefore cannot get any GPS fix whatsoever.

In reading this I was reminded of something. On my Garmin it shows locks in every instance, be it only 1 or all 8 (hardware limited max). On the Captivate it only ever shows a (or any) lock when it has 4 or more and can show location. I've never seen it show just 1 or 2 locked, when it does it's always 4 or more and all at the exact same time. Then any extra come and go as they please.
From what I know and have learned for this very topic, if any signal is solidly 35 or above for more then 10 sec. then there is a lock even if the phone does not show it.

Sarius24 · Mar 26, 2011

Hi guys I've been hearing lots of Bad things about the GPS for the Captivate, the last time me and my friends tried to get downtown the phone had so much trouble location our position. Compared to my LG optimus one (Which was a entry level phone) the GPS on that was perfectly good. I dunno I haven't tried the GPS since the last time i used it (which was a week ago when I bought the phone). But since 2.2 froyo is anyone having trouble with their GPS?
- Thanks.

SuFuCru · Mar 26, 2011

The best way I've found to jump start the GPS before using Google Maps or any nav app is getting a position test on LBS Test Mode. That'll get the GPS locked in faster than GMaps.

allambition · Mar 27, 2011

What is this LBS Test Mode? Its the first I'm hearing about it. My GPS is good sometimes, not good some other times. I will be updating my ROM and changing to Serendipity, my version of Cognition is good but the GPS is still an issue.

b534202 · Mar 27, 2011

I finally tried the GPS last week since I didn't have my garmin with me. Its so terrible I finally got to see what the fuss was about. I was just driving on the highway and it thought I'm on local streets, it kept telling me to get on the on ramps.

gcobb · Mar 27, 2011

b534202 said:
I finally tried the GPS last week since I didn't have my garmin with me. Its so terrible I finally got to see what the fuss was about. I was just driving on the highway and it thought I'm on local streets, it kept telling me to get on the on ramps.

Was it cloudy? Was it plugged in? Were you using GPS only or wifi too? There are variables. It isn't always as it appears. Mine locked while sitting in the middle of Starbucks yesterday.

Girevik · Mar 27, 2011

Sarius24 said:
I haven't tried the GPS since the last time i used it

Wow, what a coincidence...I haven't tried my GPS since the last time I used it either!!

I find mine to verr sporadic (sometimes I'll just throw up a LBN test for the heck of it). Sometimes it gets a lock right away, and sometimes it takes forever.

cincyrob · Mar 28, 2011

since doing the update,well the last 3-4days, ihavent been able to get a signal inside my house, and have to wait a few mins once i walk outside to get a lock, but when i do i get 10,11 and even 12 towers. funny thing is about 4-5 days ago we had a bad storm here and lost 2 towers, so i called AT&T and they said that 2 towers went down. im sure they are fixed now but since then i cant get a signal in my house or any other building when i could before

fldude99 · Mar 28, 2011

cincyrob said:
since doing the update,well the last 3-4days, ihavent been able to get a signal inside my house, and have to wait a few mins once i walk outside to get a lock, but when i do i get 10,11 and even 12 towers. funny thing is about 4-5 days ago we had a bad storm here and lost 2 towers, so i called AT&T and they said that 2 towers went down. im sure they are fixed now but since then i cant get a signal in my house or any other building when i could before

Do you mean a cell signal or GPS lock? I'm always pretty amazed at how many people attempt a gps lock inside a building...I'm not sure I understand the reason for being located in a building-even if it is possible

cincyrob · Mar 30, 2011

fldude99 said:
Do you mean a cell signal or GPS lock? I'm always pretty amazed at how many people attempt a gps lock inside a building...I'm not sure I understand the reason for being located in a building-even if it is possible

yes a GPS lock. before i did my 2.2 update and we had this storm here. i was able to get a lock on towers inside my house,store, restaurant ect. i could use the check in part of facebook inside places i was at. now i cant do that.

GaryStebbins · Mar 30, 2011

Towers are cellular towers, and you can get an approximate location by triangulation. GPS uses satellites - which aren't on towers

. With my Garmin GPS I can get a GPS lock inside my house. With my Captivate... I've never been successful inside the house, but yes, inside my car.

cincyrob · Mar 30, 2011

i understand what your saying and my termanalogy isnt correct, lol but i used to be able to run GPS test in my house and get a signal it would show up just as it would if i was outside. yes i would get more from outside than in but i was able to get a lock from inside my house.. so with me not being able to get one now i shouldnt worry about it? seeing i am getting the max out of it when im outside and do get a lock.

edit:
its more of a OCD thing with me if i have something i want it to work just like everyone else's or in this case if it is working better(GPS) than others i want it to stay that way..lol

cincyrob · Mar 31, 2011

took these screen shots lastnight coming home from work. like i said when im outside the GPS works flawless. even the speed i was driving was within 2mph

NJR · Mar 31, 2011

cincyrob said:
took these screen shots lastnight coming home from work. like i said when im outside the GPS works flawless. even the speed i was driving was within 2mph

Well if you were driving 86 miles an hour and taking screenshots, I think a working GPS is the least of your concerns.

Mine locks beautifully since the update it just isn't accurate enough to use

reinbeau · Mar 31, 2011

cincyrob said:
took these screen shots lastnight coming home from work. like i said when im outside the GPS works flawless. even the speed i was driving was within 2mph

Trust the GPS speed over your speedometer, believe it or not, it's more accurate.

I used Google Navigation today, and the GPS was spot on. Amazed me, actually.

fldude99 · Mar 31, 2011

NJR said:
Well if you were driving 86 miles an hour and taking screenshots, I think a working GPS is the least of your concerns.

Mine locks beautifully since the update it just isn't accurate enough to use

Hopefully he had a passenger taking that screen shot..

cincyrob · Mar 31, 2011

LMAO!!!! well i wasnt the one using the phone. a friend of mine that has the facinate(version) was messing with it.lol he was checking out the app that lets you take the screen shots without being hooked to a PC. never really gave it any thought when posting that..

allambition · Mar 31, 2011

sremick said:
I understand about GPS signals and obstructions. No one is going to argue that obstructions (such as being inside a building, tunnel, or even tree cover) are not going to reduce GPS signals.

However, it is not a given that obstructions block GPS signals entirely, and in fact modern GPS equipment has for quite some time handled weak and reflected GPS signals just fine, allowing for considerable reception even when inside a building. Even without any augmented cell/wifi positioning data.

Examples: my friend's iPhone, my Magellan car GPS, my handheld Garmin GPS, and a Motorola Backflip can all acquire a quick and accurate lock from where I'm sitting (at my desk, less than 10' from a window). My Captivate, however, sort of sees 3 satellites when placed right on the windowsill but still refuses to lock on any of them and therefore cannot get any GPS fix whatsoever.

So... the whole "GPS doesn't work indoors" should not be used to give Samsung a free pass on this issue. It's much more than that.

Well put.. It is just another reason for them to encourage you to buy a new phone

The new one will be better, they promise

gcobb · Apr 1, 2011

allambition said:
Well put.. It is just another reason for them to encourage you to buy a new phone The new one will be better, they promise

That sounds like Apple.

djsmvp · Apr 1, 2011

I guess I will share my experience. I have a stock cappy and have had hit or miss gps on both 2.1 and 2.2. Recently (the past 3-4 times ive actually needed to use it) it has taken me 5+ minutes to get a lock, which usually doesnt last very long. I havnt tried any fixes, for no particular reason (maybe im just stubborn because it shouldnt be this bad from the factory). Needless to say, it's very disappointing.

julie524 · Apr 1, 2011

I'm on my 2nd Captivate (1st was exchanged due to the random shutdowns) and neither phone had/has an issue with the GPS. I just pulled up Google Maps and it locked right away on my apartment. Just putting in my 2 cents that not all Captivates have GPS issues.

NJR · Apr 4, 2011

julie524 said:
I'm on my 2nd Captivate (1st was exchanged due to the random shutdowns) and neither phone had/has an issue with the GPS. I just pulled up Google Maps and it locked right away on my apartment. Just putting in my 2 cents that not all Captivates have GPS issues.

Have you tried to navigate with it? Mine works fine when stationary, it is when I actually try and use it go get somewhere that I have issues...

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