Thanks for mentioning that, I'm also experiencing GPS signal losses and it takes a while to lock in. I bought my att note 4 from swappa, downloaded lollipop and it was working flawlessly. Currently using straight talk. Had no issues with gps what so ever... But after putting on the Spigen Neo Hybrid case with metal band my GPS is going thru tough times. I removed the case and GPS locks in in seconds. So hopefully those who have bad GPA signal try removing the save if it has any metal parts in it.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Gps problem
- Thread starter rmadrid20
- Start date
Thanks for mentioning that, I'm also experiencing GPS signal losses and it takes a while to lock in. I bought my att note 4 from swappa, downloaded lollipop and it was working flawlessly. Currently using straight talk. Had no issues with gps what so ever... But after putting on the Spigen Neo Hybrid case with metal band my GPS is going thru tough times. I removed the case and GPS locks in in seconds. So hopefully those who have bad GPA signal try removing the save if it has any metal parts in it.
What I tried:
Removing SD card
Removing case
Factory reset
Multiple GPS apps
Compass calibration
Rooted device
Installed CyanogenMod
GPS problems remained.
What worked:
Editing gps.conf file located in /system/etc. This requires a rooted device. Unfortunately I can't post my gps.conf file here because of the forum rules. If you have rooted your device and want you try this message me
Update:
After my experience with good GPS service the problem returned. I tried just about every conceivable setting in gps.conf. Finally I gave up and sent my phone into Samsung for repairs. I just received a message saying the problem was no PCS (personal communications service). They replaced the board component and I'm await its return. Bottom line, all the steps above ddin't work so I'm really hoping its fixed now.
Update 2: Note 4 returned, Samsung didn't charge me a dime. 2 days so far with perfect GPS.
Last edited:
I want to share my experience with my Note 3 GPS never locking on to the GPS satellite signal until I watched this video. (Android Central would not let me post a video link so I am going to leave the name of the video at the bottom). I know this is a Note 4 thread, but in principle it's the same problem and fix to your phones. I had the same problems as everyone else on my Note 3. I've read this thread from top to bottom because it was the first Thread I found about Samsung Note Phones GPS issues. I suspected all along it was an antena issue, but never thought a ground issue not making good contact could be the reason why I never had good GPS reception.
Since the very beginning, I had a hunch that the problem was reception and had to do with the GPS antenna. I confirmed it when I installed the GPS test application and saw that the GPS satellite signal reception was very much weak and sporadic and it would never lock on or get a GPS fix.
After watching this video I found on youtube, I ventured into opening my Note 3 and figuring out the antenna configuration, which pins where which antenna and so on. Also, I cleaned all contact points and ground points on the main board, casing, housing etc. After I put it all together, the son of a gun works Perfectly...
On the video, this guy is working on a Gallaxy 3, but in essence, it's basically the same. If you go through all the trouble of opening up your phone, might as well learn what does what inside of it.
Since I cannot post videos, here is the name of the video. Search for it. It's 21 minutes long, and it will show you how to troubleshoot and fix very easily with no special tools or training. Here is the name:
"Galaxy S3 Gps Fix (When Screw Tightening Doesn't Work)"
Watch it entirely, don't skip any part of it. The Devil is in the Details! Remember that phones are exposed to condensation, temperature changes, humidity etc.. In your pocket is gets bumped on, hot, cold, expand, contract, get bent, squished, get sweaty and so on. In short something within your phone is bound to get loose and corroded eventually. The video shows you how to figure out if it's Hardware or Software (more than likely hardware).
I have functional GPS on my Note 3 for the first time in almost 2 years
! I'm sure it's the same assembly issue with the Note 4 as well. Sure hope this will help the majority of everyone else.
Since the very beginning, I had a hunch that the problem was reception and had to do with the GPS antenna. I confirmed it when I installed the GPS test application and saw that the GPS satellite signal reception was very much weak and sporadic and it would never lock on or get a GPS fix.
After watching this video I found on youtube, I ventured into opening my Note 3 and figuring out the antenna configuration, which pins where which antenna and so on. Also, I cleaned all contact points and ground points on the main board, casing, housing etc. After I put it all together, the son of a gun works Perfectly...
On the video, this guy is working on a Gallaxy 3, but in essence, it's basically the same. If you go through all the trouble of opening up your phone, might as well learn what does what inside of it.
Since I cannot post videos, here is the name of the video. Search for it. It's 21 minutes long, and it will show you how to troubleshoot and fix very easily with no special tools or training. Here is the name:
"Galaxy S3 Gps Fix (When Screw Tightening Doesn't Work)"
Watch it entirely, don't skip any part of it. The Devil is in the Details! Remember that phones are exposed to condensation, temperature changes, humidity etc.. In your pocket is gets bumped on, hot, cold, expand, contract, get bent, squished, get sweaty and so on. In short something within your phone is bound to get loose and corroded eventually. The video shows you how to figure out if it's Hardware or Software (more than likely hardware).
I have functional GPS on my Note 3 for the first time in almost 2 years
! I'm sure it's the same assembly issue with the Note 4 as well. Sure hope this will help the majority of everyone else.
Andrew Blackburn
Well-known member
- May 10, 2013
- 90
- 0
- 0
Lollipop problems with gps killing battery.... losing 5 hrs battery life every day with gps now enabled
natehoy
Well-known member
- Sep 2, 2011
- 2,667
- 71
- 0
GPS never worked right for me in KitKat. Fast forward to Lollipop, and it worked a little better but not so great. Factory reset and things are much better.
Also, I have turned off LTE Enhanced Services, which seems to have helped even a bit further.
AT&T Note 4.
Also, I have turned off LTE Enhanced Services, which seems to have helped even a bit further.
AT&T Note 4.
I'm having the same issues and it feels worse after lollipop. 90% of the time it won't even get a lock. Then while driving it will constantly drop the signal. I have an unlocked at&t model I'm using on t-mobile. i bought it second hand so I don't know if warranty is an option. I don't know what to try? Anyone else have luck editing the GPS file that was mentioned a few posts up?
pantlesspenguin
Well-known member
- Oct 24, 2010
- 518
- 6
- 0
I got a warranty replacement from T-Mobile today. It's back on 4.4 and I'm NOT going to upgrade to Lollipop on this one if I can help it! I navigated to work today and the signal didn't drop once!!! I'm really hoping it stays that way.
I got the T-Mobile version also. But my navigation works fine. I think if your 4g signal is weak, it can pay a role.
Hey everyone,
I got my Note 4 from T-Mobile about 2 months ago and GPS navigation never worked. I waited for Lollipop to see if that would help, but unfortunately it didn't. Finally I took it in to T-Mobile and they sent me a replacement. I got the phone yesterday, it was still on Kit Kat, so I tried GPS and it locked on right away. I upgraded to Lollipop and tried GPS again, and it locked on perfectly fine. Went for a drive using navigation, and again no issues anymore.
I know some people said they have gotten replacements, but I just wanted to share my experience and let you know that a replacement MAY help, so I wouldn't pass up on that if you haven't taken it in to get looked at and you've tried almost everything else. Good luck to everyone!
I got my Note 4 from T-Mobile about 2 months ago and GPS navigation never worked. I waited for Lollipop to see if that would help, but unfortunately it didn't. Finally I took it in to T-Mobile and they sent me a replacement. I got the phone yesterday, it was still on Kit Kat, so I tried GPS and it locked on right away. I upgraded to Lollipop and tried GPS again, and it locked on perfectly fine. Went for a drive using navigation, and again no issues anymore.
I know some people said they have gotten replacements, but I just wanted to share my experience and let you know that a replacement MAY help, so I wouldn't pass up on that if you haven't taken it in to get looked at and you've tried almost everything else. Good luck to everyone!
Hi all, couple things:
- cross157, would you mind just posting the content of your gps.conf file? It'll save you the hassle of having to repond to a bunch of PMs.
- I've come across some fastboot commands that seem to help other users on Cyanogenmod ROMs - unfortunately, since Samsung phones use the ODIN system to control ROM locading and such, fastboot commands aren't available. Any smart folks out there perhaps able to write up how one might (if it's even possible) run the following via a terminal emulator? Can't hurt.
fastboot erase modemst1
fastboot erase modemst2
More info here: [can't post a link here, but search "CM12 (and other L roms) GPS FIX" on XDA for the original post; it's under the LG G3 forum]
- cross157, would you mind just posting the content of your gps.conf file? It'll save you the hassle of having to repond to a bunch of PMs.
- I've come across some fastboot commands that seem to help other users on Cyanogenmod ROMs - unfortunately, since Samsung phones use the ODIN system to control ROM locading and such, fastboot commands aren't available. Any smart folks out there perhaps able to write up how one might (if it's even possible) run the following via a terminal emulator? Can't hurt.
fastboot erase modemst1
fastboot erase modemst2
More info here: [can't post a link here, but search "CM12 (and other L roms) GPS FIX" on XDA for the original post; it's under the LG G3 forum]
Re: Samsung Galaxy Gps problem
***GPS ISSUE SOLVED****
New Samsung Galaxy Alpha user here.
My GPS worked for a while...then suddenly started saying "GPS signal lost" every few minutes...plus all the other buggy malfunctions people have been posting in this thread. It was absolutely maddening. Was ready to return the phone to best buy for a refund.
Long story short - I bought an aluminum bumper case that went around the sides of the phone. As a last ditch effort I removed the bumper and tried GPS. IT NOW WORKS FLAWLESSLY. I used the GPS the entire day without so much as a blip. With the aluminum bumper case on, the GPS is useless. WOW.
Strangest part is - the Galaxy Alpha has an ALUMINUM SURROUND FRAME from the factory! Who would have thought that another (albeit thin) aluminum surround would seriously interfere w the GPS hardware!
Hope this helps another GPS tortured Galaxy soul
***GPS ISSUE SOLVED****
New Samsung Galaxy Alpha user here.
My GPS worked for a while...then suddenly started saying "GPS signal lost" every few minutes...plus all the other buggy malfunctions people have been posting in this thread. It was absolutely maddening. Was ready to return the phone to best buy for a refund.
Long story short - I bought an aluminum bumper case that went around the sides of the phone. As a last ditch effort I removed the bumper and tried GPS. IT NOW WORKS FLAWLESSLY. I used the GPS the entire day without so much as a blip. With the aluminum bumper case on, the GPS is useless. WOW.
Strangest part is - the Galaxy Alpha has an ALUMINUM SURROUND FRAME from the factory! Who would have thought that another (albeit thin) aluminum surround would seriously interfere w the GPS hardware!
Hope this helps another GPS tortured Galaxy soul
dlrogers81
Active member
- Mar 29, 2011
- 43
- 0
- 0
I've noticed I have a hard time gaining a GPS signal on Endomondo and often it loses signal and then restores...just frustrating when trying to be accurate on my morning runs.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk
Sent from my Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk
I just finished reading the whole thread to see if there was a solution.. and there doesn't seem to be one. However, if you want a working GPS with a note 4, read on.
I have a Tmo Note 4. GPS used to work, lately I've been getting the same problems, it just loses the connection randomly (and dangerously!). I tried removing the metal case, updating A-gps, using GPSfix (a root utility included in some roms that changes the country that it downloads updates from) with no luck. I can sit in my house, run GPS Status and watch it connect to about 8/21 satellites, but never getting a "green" connection. Accuracy goes from about 16ft-30ft in waves.
Anyway, I'm not going to crack it open or press on the screen till i "hear a pop". I'm going to use a Bluetooth GPS. Go searching on amazon and you'll find these things. They are small rectanglular fobs about the size of 2 packs of gum together. They cost about $30 or so (don't pay more than that). Mine is a Gsat BT-368. Get that, pair it, and download GG MobLabs "Bluetooth GPS" from the play store for free. Go into Developer Options in android settings and enable mock locations. enable fused provider in Bluetooth GPS options. Start the service. You don't need to enable your actual GPS service, the mock provider should take care of feeding the location data to your mapping apps.
I get 9ft accuracy with 7 satellites connected. Four green, two yellow. The bluetooth gps (sometimes called a 'mouse') is waaaay more accurate than your stock one will ever be. For maximum ease of use, drop the widget on your home screen for one-click access. Battery charge lasts at least all day.
Good luck!
I have a Tmo Note 4. GPS used to work, lately I've been getting the same problems, it just loses the connection randomly (and dangerously!). I tried removing the metal case, updating A-gps, using GPSfix (a root utility included in some roms that changes the country that it downloads updates from) with no luck. I can sit in my house, run GPS Status and watch it connect to about 8/21 satellites, but never getting a "green" connection. Accuracy goes from about 16ft-30ft in waves.
Anyway, I'm not going to crack it open or press on the screen till i "hear a pop". I'm going to use a Bluetooth GPS. Go searching on amazon and you'll find these things. They are small rectanglular fobs about the size of 2 packs of gum together. They cost about $30 or so (don't pay more than that). Mine is a Gsat BT-368. Get that, pair it, and download GG MobLabs "Bluetooth GPS" from the play store for free. Go into Developer Options in android settings and enable mock locations. enable fused provider in Bluetooth GPS options. Start the service. You don't need to enable your actual GPS service, the mock provider should take care of feeding the location data to your mapping apps.
I get 9ft accuracy with 7 satellites connected. Four green, two yellow. The bluetooth gps (sometimes called a 'mouse') is waaaay more accurate than your stock one will ever be. For maximum ease of use, drop the widget on your home screen for one-click access. Battery charge lasts at least all day.
Good luck!
If you are having the gps issues its not a Note 3 issue nor an AT&T issue its an Android issue but there is a fix. For some reason if you have an old Micro SD card in the phone its causing this problems. Try taking the Micro SD card out and see what it does.
Taking out the micro SD card did the trick for me. It's crazy how just that little thing can make such a difference. Anyways. Thank you
Posted via the Android Central App
Posted via the Android Central App
smoothrunnings
Well-known member
- Jul 3, 2013
- 295
- 0
- 0
It drops when your phone isn't getting any data from the mobile network. I don't have any problems when I am travelling but when I am in area that has poor reception even with the other carriers I get GPS connection lost.
I can vouch that when the SD card is in the "GPS signal Lost" issue starts.
It may be a firmware dev problem. Hope they get it fixed with a patch.
Have the Oculus Gear and will keep the SD card out only when using it.
It seems from reading other users that the better memory did not makes a difference.
It may be a firmware dev problem. Hope they get it fixed with a patch.
Have the Oculus Gear and will keep the SD card out only when using it.
It seems from reading other users that the better memory did not makes a difference.
I had an AT&T Note 4 on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks and had frequent (5-10 on my 27 mile commute to/from work). It happened with a 32 GB and 64 GB micro SD card and with no card. I switched to Verizon with a new Verizon Note 4 using the same 64 GB micro SD card that was in the AT&T device. It's been about a month and I used Waze everywhere I go. Over that time, zero GPS drops.
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