When will they fix this damn GPS?

butie120 · Sep 30, 2011

This "GPS Locating Sattelites" deal is getting extremely annyoing. It might work for a bit, but then once it can't locate a signal, it's done for quite a while. Anyone aware when they plan on fixing this?

drexappeal · Sep 30, 2011

butie120 said:
This "GPS Locating Sattelites" deal is getting extremely annyoing. It might work for a bit, but then once it can't locate a signal, it's done for quite a while. Anyone aware when they plan on fixing this?

That's actually the first I'm hearing about GPS issues.

busted bones · Sep 30, 2011

drexappeal said:
That's actually the first I'm hearing about GPS issues.

Same for me, I actually use my phone as a speedometer for my truck since the one in my truck is off by over 20% after all the work I've done to it.

Flipper · Sep 30, 2011

drexappeal said:
That's actually the first I'm hearing about GPS issues.

Same here. That's the first time I've heard of that specific problem.

To the OP, if your phone is having a difficult time locating satellites, you may either be in an area that has bad coverage or have a phone with a defect.

drexappeal · Sep 30, 2011

busted bones said:
Same for me, I actually use my phone as a speedometer for my truck since the one in my truck is off by over 20% after all the work I've done to it.

Sorry, this is off topic (but whenever I see car talk, I always have a need to chime in). Your truck is off by 20%? Did you get aftermarket wheels/tires for your truck or are they OEM?

To get this back on topic...Yup! I actually use a couple car apps for my car that use GPS. I don't use it for a speedometer because I have a secondary digital as part of the instrument cluster, but the GPS comes in handy when trying to track how off it might be (in the event I've gotten the car re-alligned or new tires, I test it out to make sure it's accurate).

Flipper said:
Same here. That's the first time I've heard of that specific problem.

To the OP, if your phone is having a difficult time locating satellites, you may either be in an area that has bad coverage or have a phone with a defect.

What are the other types of GPS issues you've heard of, aside from the OP's specific problem?

I agree about the locating satellites issue. What's strange to me is that, I've had situations on a couple road trips where we went into a roaming area, while I was using nav...the nav (google Nav) would maybe lose signal for a split second and then pick up as soon as there was a tower.

butie120, one thing I can think of that might be an issue is...do you have your data set to stay on while roaming? That could play a HUGE factor in your GPS being able to pick up a stronger signal. There's no reason not to do that because roaming shouldn't cost any extra on Sprint.

KnowProblem · Sep 30, 2011

butie120 said:
This "GPS Locating Sattelites" deal is getting extremely annyoing. It might work for a bit, but then once it can't locate a signal, it's done for quite a while. Anyone aware when they plan on fixing this?

No problems on mine. What makes you think this is a known/widespread issue/defect? I personally have not heard of any such issue.

Citizen Coyote · Sep 30, 2011

drexappeal said:
What are the other types of GPS issues you've heard of, aside from the OP's specific problem?

I assume he's referred to the lack of error reporting by the GPS in certain applications, as reported here. Note also this problem is fixed in the upcoming 198 maintenance release (now available on XDA if you care to test it early).

As for the OP, this is the first time I've heard of this problem. My own tests with the GPS has shown the Photon to be rock solid in acquiring satellites.

drexappeal · Sep 30, 2011

Citizen Coyote said:
I assume he's referred to the lack of error reporting by the GPS in certain applications, as reported here. Note also this problem is fixed in the upcoming 198 maintenance release (now available on XDA if you care to test it early).

As for the OP, this is the first time I've heard of this problem. My own tests with the GPS has shown the Photon to be rock solid in acquiring satellites.

Oh, that's right. Forgot about that one. I hadn't really noticed, but I guess that does hold true a little, but I'm so used to clicking on the "location" button once I open Google Maps, that it always locks in after that. Just force of habit from the EVO (sometimes, the EVO would still have my location locked onto the last time I opened Google Maps or navigated somewhere).

zombdroid · Sep 30, 2011

I am a field Engineer and use my GPS with Telenav almost daily. Today I did a 7 city tour in my car and lost signal once for about 10 seconds when surrounded by large concrete barriers. Otherwise I have had no had issues. If you can bring your phone to a repair shop and let them check it out.

edlex · Sep 30, 2011

GPS is perfect here too. Sounds like a defective radio.

butie120 · Sep 30, 2011

I'm not sure why this is happening to me. It's not as if it never works...it just has moments where it refuses to get a signal. I live in Minneapolis, so it's not like I live in a poor reception area. I have attempted to reinstall google maps and see if that helps. I'm stuck inside a hospital at work so I can't fully test it out while indoors. I have full bars on the 3g network and I thought maybe it could work. Result? "GPS Locating Satellites". Hope it works when I head outside.

Any other ideas from others?

busted bones · Oct 1, 2011

drexappeal said:
Sorry, this is off topic (but whenever I see car talk, I always have a need to chime in). Your truck is off by 20%? Did you get aftermarket wheels/tires for your truck or are they OEM?

To get this back on topic...Yup! I actually use a couple car apps for my car that use GPS. I don't use it for a speedometer because I have a secondary digital as part of the instrument cluster, but the GPS comes in handy when trying to track how off it might be (in the event I've gotten the car re-alligned or new tires, I test it out to make sure it's accurate).

What are the other types of GPS issues you've heard of, aside from the OP's specific problem?

I agree about the locating satellites issue. What's strange to me is that, I've had situations on a couple road trips where we went into a roaming area, while I was using nav...the nav (google Nav) would maybe lose signal for a split second and then pick up as soon as there was a tower.

butie120, one thing I can think of that might be an issue is...do you have your data set to stay on while roaming? That could play a HUGE factor in your GPS being able to pick up a stronger signal. There's no reason not to do that because roaming shouldn't cost any extra on Sprint.

I completely set my truck up for off road racing going from 26 inch tires to 35 inch tires and regeared the rear end.

EarlyMon · Oct 1, 2011

butie120 said:
I'm not sure why this is happening to me. It's not as if it never works...it just has moments where it refuses to get a signal. I live in Minneapolis, so it's not like I live in a poor reception area. I have attempted to reinstall google maps and see if that helps. I'm stuck inside a hospital at work so I can't fully test it out while indoors. I have full bars on the 3g network and I thought maybe it could work. Result? "GPS Locating Satellites". Hope it works when I head outside.

Any other ideas from others?

Hospitals are notorious as electrically noisy places. It is not uncommon to see GPS working / not working reports all over the map on this issue. I've seen it often on the forums here from other hospital workers.

Mostly you're going to find that GPS pretty much requires a decent skyview.

If you don't get good service outside, take the phone to Sprint, explain the issue and ask for an RF test of your phone. I had a bad GPS myself, replaced phone, problem solved.

Hope this helps!

drexappeal · Oct 1, 2011

busted bones said:
I completely set my truck up for off road racing going from 26 inch tires to 35 inch tires and regeared the rear end.

I see. Nice. That explains the speedo being off. Rolling circumference diffference.

tbhausen · Oct 3, 2011

I'm the one who reported the "position error always zero" bug to Motorola over on their forums. One of the "xprts" finally realized what I was getting at, kicked it up the line, and I'm very glad it's fixed.

oaksld · Oct 4, 2011

I started having gps issues yesterday.. says looking for satellites even while standing outside.. this is the first time I've had this problem

Citizen Coyote · Oct 4, 2011

oaksld said:
I started having gps issues yesterday.. says looking for satellites even while standing outside.. this is the first time I've had this problem

I assume you tried a reboot of the phone?

Norril · Oct 4, 2011

EarlyMon said:
Hospitals are notorious as electrically noisy places. It is not uncommon to see GPS working / not working reports all over the map on this issue. I've seen it often on the forums here from other hospital workers.

Mostly you're going to find that GPS pretty much requires a decent skyview.

If you don't get good service outside, take the phone to Sprint, explain the issue and ask for an RF test of your phone. I had a bad GPS myself, replaced phone, problem solved.

Hope this helps!

I can also add that airports are really bad for personal GPS units. My Evo is amazing at picking up signals in most places, but around airports, it is spotty. I have had no problems with GPS in downtown Minneapolis.

If you want to really suffer with bad GPS, get a Samsung phone

Going to ebay my Charge, because it never seems to lock.

tbhausen · Oct 4, 2011

I experienced this today--it's certainly a real issue, no doubt about it. Toggled GPS off then on again--problem solved.

butie120 · Oct 5, 2011

As the OP of this thread, I MAY have found something that helped my phone receiving a signal for the GPS. I reinstalled Google Maps and then turned off the "Auto Update" feature on the app. I have read where the Auto Update feature may be causing instability within the app, repairing "fixes" within the app that don't need "fixing". Just a thought.

unkledude · Oct 5, 2011

butie120 said:
As the OP of this thread, I MAY have found something that helped my phone receiving a signal for the GPS. I reinstalled Google Maps and then turned off the "Auto Update" feature on the app. I have read where the Auto Update feature may be causing instability within the app, repairing "fixes" within the app that don't need "fixing". Just a thought.

i use my google telenav everyday and have the auto update checked "on" with no problems so far here in sw pa

drexappeal · Oct 5, 2011

unkledude said:
i use my google telenav everyday and have the auto update checked "on" with no problems so far here in sw pa

Are you referring to Telenav or Google Nav? Those are two separate apps.

When will they fix this damn GPS?

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