[Q] GPS trouble? - Galaxy Tab 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Just picked up this tablet yesterday. I can't seem to get location services to work at all for it. Just times out any time I try getting a location, like in weather or maps. Anyone else have similar problems of a possible solution? I'm using the 7" wifi version.

Not sure if this will help you, but I also had GPS problems with my tab 4 7 wifi only. I purchased the tab in CA., worked fine. Downloaded some maps and used it to navigate, no problem.
When I got home to Brazil, the GPS did not work. Downloaded several apps to check the satellites I was picking up, l was getting 1 maybe 2, with very low signal.
I then found an app Faster GPS, this allowed me to change the satellite search location to South America, Brazil. Major difference, l now pick up 14 satellites and the GPS even works downstairs.
Sent from my SM-T230NU using XDA Free mobile app

Related

Using GPS without CDMA signal

Hello:
I try use the GPS of Sprint Hero in Argentina (there are no operators that use CDMA)
and I can not find the satellite signals, what I can do?
Thanks in advance
Gps will not work without a network location first. You may be able to connect to a wifi and it work, maybe.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Try to use the GPS while connected to wi fi and have not had luck. There fix something?
danaff37 said:
Gps will not work without a network location first. You may be able to connect to a wifi and it work, maybe.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pablo2m said:
Try to use the GPS while connected to wi fi and have not had luck. There fix something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using a custom ROM, or just stock 2.1?
Probably nothing you can do. The gps hardware is not powerful enough to work without a network location.
Sent from my Android for Telechips TCC8900 Evaluation Board (US) using XDA App
Today i'm using CM6 but try with the original sprint rom
stayclean said:
Are you using a custom ROM, or just stock 2.1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my thoughts are...
GPS works.. but without data it has no reference.
Maps must be downloaded via some internet connection. Maybe a wifi can help u.
or
you can download a stand alone GPS map app. CoPilot is a good one, but cost $30.
Yeah, but the gps can't even find a lock without a recent network signal to tell it where to start looking. It's not a full on gps antenna.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App
I have been traveling around the world recently with my EVO and using the GPS to do so. It's GPS chip is no better than the Hero's I believe.
Things to keep in mind, without aGPS help, it can take these things up to 30 minutes to find your correct location. Usually it takes 4 strong signals to pinpoint it. Download GPS Status from the market and it will show you all of the satellites it is picking up as well as the strengths and you will know when you have a lock. It will also allow you to keep the phone awake and the gps active until it gets a fix. This is probably your main problem. If the phone is not actively using the gps, it turns off the chip and never gets a chance to get a fix.
You need to run GPS status preferably when you are connected to a wifi signal and outside with a clear shot of the sky. It can take anywhere from 10 seconds to 30 minutes depending on if you are on a wifi connection, how far away you are from the last known lock stored in the chip (GPS Status will display this for you) and also how far from the equator you are, etc. If you are very far south in argentina it can be a LOT more difficult GPS to work... I noticed my GPS had waaay more trouble up in sweden than it did down in central europe.
Also, Download mapdroyd and get the maps for the area you are in. It works pretty well for a free locally stored map app. GPS Status also allows you to add pins/labels to gps coordinates and then do a radar type guidance back to them. Between these two tools and now knowing how to connect your phone, you should never get lost again, providing your battery does not die. Luckily I brought 4 extra batteries with me!

GPS calibration

I have found that some apps that are location aware or ask me to pick local servers, often suggest servers on the east coast. I am on the west coast of the US. When I am on wifi this does not happen, it is only happening on 3g. When I toggle on wifi is suggests local servers. I have went into location settings and toggled on and off the settings for GPS as well as the "use wireless" option and it does nothing to help the issue.
The maps app as well as navigation work perfectly fine for locating me, this seems to be isolated to apps.
Thats usually an indication your gps is not working. When you use speedtest app with out wifi does it ask you to connect to kansas?
Speed test isn't a good way to find out as it will connect you sometimes to the least busiest server. Gps needs to lock first on a couple sats first time usage after that should be better.
Xda app via atrix
I wad able to get it calibrated correctly. I went outside and calibrated the compass first. I then did a gps lock from maps and then tapped lock again and let it sit for about 2 minutes. Everything is fine as of now.
Sent from my Atrix using XDA App
GPS in Atrix locks the satellite very quick. It could be comparable to a standalone GPS.

[Q] Anyone Elses GPS Aweful?

I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Nothing wrong with my gps. Have you upgraded to the latest firmware? Downloaded the A-GPS data (you can get this by using an app called GPS status)? Switch OFF wifi after you do, then leave it to get a full signal lock (takes up to 15minutes or so with a clear view of the sky).
toddmp said:
I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you are outside with a clear view of sky when you test. It can take any GPS up to 10 minutes to acquire the ephemeris information (satellite position at a certain time) and lock up. You phone cheats this by using the cellular network to provide a general location of where your are and therefore where to look for certain satellites.
thanks so much for the info guys. I had a feeling it had something to do with no cell phone band helping out. thanks!
GPS works fine here, as other have said the closer you are to the sky/window the better.
yeah..give your TF a few minutes to lock up sat positions (if you've never done this)..
this applies to most pure gps devices..cellphones can use cellular network signal to quickly locate your position but the data isn't really from gps itself.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1088120
Hope this helps
Acid lestitious 2.0. Fugumod 2.4 800 mhz
jerrykur said:
Make sure you are outside with a clear view of sky when you test. It can take any GPS up to 10 minutes to acquire the ephemeris information (satellite position at a certain time) and lock up. You phone cheats this by using the cellular network to provide a general location of where your are and therefore where to look for certain satellites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if it does the wifi cheat like maps for android phones, where it uses the known APs to determine location? I say that because when I first fired up my transformer yesterday, after connecting to wifi, I screwed around on maps and it found me inside my house in less than 30 seconds.
toddmp said:
I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its the reverse for me! in the same room of house i often cannot get a fix on my Optimus 2x. i use GPS Staus app. but i often get fix within 30secs. as a test i have both machines running the app next to each other and the transformer always gets regular fixes.
..... hmm just realised as i type this that i have a phone called optimus and tablet called transformer, and they both run android!!!
I get fixes with no wifi (ie: only GPS) within 30 seconds.
Quite the opposite, mine is extremely accurate. After it gets a fix on maps that little google person is standing right in my front yard in the satellite view! Better than my Droid!
Mine is almost instantaneous. Just tried it at home based on this thread and had a read in probably 5 seconds.
I have not been able to obtain a GPS lock until today when I set my location to use wireless networks. To me this is really stupid because the GPS shouldn't have to use any location settings to obtain a lock in my mind. That is if the GPS chip in the TF is a true GPS chip it should not to rely on a wifi signal to obtain a lock. If the GPS is turned on then it should lock.
I tested sygic gps navigation 11 and signal lock and quality was better than my galaxy s was pretty accurate
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA Premium App
Works fine for me, apart from one minor detail. When I switch from Google Maps to another app, even for a few seconds, then the tablet has to get a lock all over again. There appears to be no way to set the GPS to keep a lock while Google Maps isn't the active program.
That, for me, makes Google Maps near-useless in a moving vehicle. Hopefully other third-party apps won't have this issue.
Google Maps is prety much useless on the Transformer for GPS navigation as a data connection is need. I have heard of people caching a route before hand but ..... Copilot Live 7 is out for android so that is one option. However if the GPS relies on a wifi signal in order to obtain a lock then it is about useless too.
toddmp said:
I have never had my GPS locate me via google maps. My Phone has no issues. Anyone else have GPS issues? any tips? Hopefully a software update fixes it? I have a friend who has the same issue.
[Should have read "awful", not aweful]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gps works fine on mine....unlike my icons or Samsung...both returned
gps does use wifi to help gps locate, theres options to turn this off in settings, i went to pick up my dock today and couldn't get a gps lock while in the car with the transformer in my lap(gps status app showed 3 sats but none would lock) just lifting it up 12 inches closer to the windshield made 7 satellites pop up and instantly started getting locks
i think proximity to a window/line of sky is a big factor, and the transformer does have a true gps chip for those who seem to doubt it, also the navigation app keeps running in the background, its better to use that than google maps
No issues with gps here. The bastard finds me every time!
jadesse said:
However if the GPS relies on a wifi signal in order to obtain a lock then it is about useless too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't rely on WiFi for a lock, it just uses it to allow a faster connection if you don't already have current ephemeris data downloaded. That's a limitation of all GPS receivers -- it takes a fair while to download the ephemeris data if you're out of date or have travelled a significant distance, and without it the device can't get a GPS fix.
You can think of the WiFi location system as analogous to a cellphone being able to use tower locations to help position itself while waiting for GPS ephemeris data.

AGPS PATCH FOR ICONIA USERS (Works on Galaxy Tab 10.1!)

So I've had issues with my GPS not locking and constantly searching for a lock. I've always only managed to get about the most 4 sats but it would take forever to lock! When I had my Acer Iconia A500 I found this patch that immidietely fixed my locking issue and gained 11 sats which locked on within seconds! I have the Galaxy Tab 10.1 16gb Wifi GT-P7510 and I can confirm that this works on our Tab. (See attached images)
( I downloaded the GPS.config if curious as to which one worked for me)
Here is the linik to the OP:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1267899
Hope this works for you guys as it did for me Though it says For Iconia Users it does work for Galaxy tab as well.
Steps I did:
-Downloaded Gps.config only build
-Extracted all
-Went into extracted folder and under system/etc/ copy gps.config
-In etc folder, replaced current gps.config with the copied one and reboot.
-After reboot I turned on GPS and opened GPS Status app and watched the sats pop up and lock
Edit: I used GPS Status app in market to view sats
Never had any problem with GPS on my tab, even inside the house. Coming from a Samsung Captivate, I'd be very wary of any AGPS 'patch' or work arounds. Most of them are snake oils. They will sometimes work for you but none will last over a week.
If you have problems with GPS like you said, exchange for a different unit is the only fix for a Samsung product.
If you are having GPS problems I would probably return it. The GPS on my Tab is probably the best mobile device GPS I've ever had. I could be in my living room, and if I leave Google Maps open for a minute I get a lock with a 5 meter accuracy.
I just used Co-Pilot to navigate a trip from Louisiana to TX. GPS locked while I was still in the multi-story concrete car rental garage. It never missed a beat on the four hour trip. The GPS on the G-Tab performs better than my SGS2.
I'll try this out for a week and see how it goes. Yeah I heard that SGT had really fast gps lock but never saw that when I first tried navigation. Only now after trying out this patch I can see how quick it is. Hopefully it stays like this.I can always exchange it if it doesn't. I'm still within my 90 days. Or if a better tab comes along within that span would be nice to.
Im thinking about buying a GT for my wife, can the GPS be used offline if I download maps? Im thinking about the wifi version...
a1qwyx20 said:
Im thinking about buying a GT for my wife, can the GPS be used offline if I download maps? Im thinking about the wifi version...
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Click to collapse
Maps will provide you with the directions. Navigation will not work if gps is offline. Maps will work fine offline. It will still give you the detailed list/maps like in navigation just not the turn by turn.
my gps only works on my stock TW rooted nandroid... if i flash any other ROM to my gtab the gps wont lock... so strange...
a1qwyx20 said:
Im thinking about buying a GT for my wife, can the GPS be used offline if I download maps? Im thinking about the wifi version...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get Co-Pilot. The maps reside locally and it's not dependent on a wireless connection for navigation. You can also cache routes through Google Maps but it's not a perfect solution and you need to connect again to make any major changes to your route.
.torrented said:
my gps only works on my stock TW rooted nandroid... if i flash any other ROM to my gtab the gps wont lock... so strange...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had issues with locks even when it wasn't rooted. But since I did this patch I've had zero issues. I can easily get 11 sats to lock on vs standerd 4 sats. This patch is better then the original imho.
thanks
good app

GPS

Hi Guys,
Lucky me, I've got 2 devices as gift from 2 different persons on an occasion. One being Tab 7.7" and the other being Tab 7 Plus
Obviously I love the 7.7 for the brilliant screen. I thought I will use one of the 2 devices in my car just for navigation but just to my shock I've found that the GPS lock is taking longer when compared to other devices (Okay, My wife has a iPad and an iPhone) ....
As far as difference in time to lock in to the satillites like the Tab 7.7 sometime take more than 5 mins (Once it took close to 10 mins) even while I am in a road with clear sky but the Tab 7+ is a bit faster may be 2 - 5 mins for the same which is still longer than acceptable.
Edit: SIM card on.
Car Navigation Application : Sygic (Singapore & Malaysia)
This application is a charm and it work beautifully on my HTC Desire HD (<5 sec for lock) and iPhone 4 (2 - 5 secs) even on a cold start. So it surely is not an issue with the version of the app in android but the problem with the device.
I am still very happy with the tab 7.7 after all what more can I ask for something that I've got for free but just curious about others experience as it could be a HW issue for me.
Let Us all share our GPS experience here wrt issues and accuracy (both good and bad) with which we can create an repository of information for others to refer with.
I have noticed that my GPS won't lock on unless I have a sim card or when I was thetering to my Samsung galaxy s phone. Also noticed that it is not really accurate its off by quite a bit. Any suggestions on how to get it to be as accurate as possible.
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
I got the same problem, on my p1000 i can get a lock for 2-5 secs using copilot, i used the same on my 7.7 and it takes forever to lock..
Another this, using this as a gps device might not be a good idea, it could cause burn in issues that AMOLEDS suffers from.
Just my two cents
when i bought my 7.7 tab it has no sim in it for about a week but the GPS locks very quickly (i precacached google maps and used it as GPS device when driving), initial lock takes about <1min while succeding GPS locks <10secs, as far as the specs indicate it has the same GLONASS GPS capability as the GNote
On android, I'm pretty sure GPS is useless without a data connection. My 7.7 takes a few seconds to lock on at the most, using a sim card. Even locks on inside buildings. When I took the simcard out once, it then took forever to lock on..
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
I can confirm that my 7.7 takes only a few seconds to lock on with sim inside. Haven't tried without it yet.
Just tried mine for the first time. Enabled satellite + Wifi location tracking. Locked on within a few seconds.
I am in Muscat, Oman and Wifi isn't as eponymous as in US cities.
Edit: Just to be clear, I have a sim card with an active data plan in the device.
I got problem, on my p1000 i can get a lock for 5-10 secs using copilot, i used the same on my 7.7 and it takes forever to lock..
Guess it suffer the same problem as asus transformer prime. because of the metalic back it cause the GPS to suffer.
can anyone try GPS track program? see how many GPS satellites being lock ?
Mine locked within 10 sec for the first time while riding in a cab (it was down to 5m accuracy)
How can we increase accuracy?
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
quizesilver said:
Guess it suffer the same problem as asus transformer prime. because of the metalic back it cause the GPS to suffer.
can anyone try GPS track program? see how many GPS satellites being lock ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I used my GPS in Germany and France my data roaming was DISABLED, so I guess it only used GPS to lock on within the 10 seconds that it did so?
I have noticed that the GPS only works if you have some form of data on the tab ( either sim or wifi ) if not the GPS will not lock on and it says "data connection lost", why would this be? Is this normal or a bug?
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
adinis78 said:
I have noticed that the GPS only works if you have some form of data on the tab ( either sim or wifi ) if not the GPS will not lock on and it says "data connection lost", why would this be? Is this normal or a bug?
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The tab's GPS unit probably requires AGPS data, which is downloaded from the internet. Some GPS units don't require the data but I assume this one does.
teiglin said:
The tab's GPS unit probably requires AGPS data, which is downloaded from the internet. Some GPS units don't require the data but I assume this one does.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhh OK, thanks for the info. Actually then how do the wifi only version work? Guessing by what you mentioned it does not require AGPS
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
The Wifi only version would use AGPS as well. Basically AGPS is assisted GPS. It uses cell towers (for 3g models) and/ or wifi hot spots to provide location data, hence assisting the GPS unit in your phone or tablet. Try removing your sim from your phone and switching off wifi, the same thing will happen. It will take awhile to lock.
I have a galaxy S, which is notorious for poor GPS reception. I use a bluetooth GPS unit (check out apps in the market) with my phone, and it works a treat.
Mine 2-5 seconds with SIM and using fasterfix for my region (China) -- accuracy is TIGHT (5m)
MrWulf said:
The Wifi only version would use AGPS as well. Basically AGPS is assisted GPS. It uses cell towers (for 3g models) and/ or wifi hot spots to provide location data, hence assisting the GPS unit in your phone or tablet. Try removing your sim from your phone and switching off wifi, the same thing will happen. It will take awhile to lock.
I have a galaxy S, which is notorious for poor GPS reception. I use a bluetooth GPS unit (check out apps in the market) with my phone, and it works a treat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mate,
Can you let me know the Bluetooth GPS device name/price so that I can give a little life to my Galaxy S I9000 ?

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