Google maps on Droid inherently bad?

**Mike_is_Mike** · 04-04-2011, 01:31 PM

GPS and Google maps on Thunderbolt is very frustrating. Google maps on my Storm 1 was great, FAST and ACCURATE.

I have tried two "fixes" GPSfix and GPS Status - both were MARGINALLY better, but neither could pinpoint my house OR EVEN GET INSIDE MY 2 ACRE YARD.

And WHY SHOULD I NEED A "FIX"? Shouldn't Google maps work right out of the box?

I live in a solid 4G area and get a strong 4G signal PLUS I have WiFi. I have a lot of trees, but none covering a satellite view of my house.

On Thunderbolt (this is my first Droid so I don't know how it is on Droid's in general) it is very slow, has to hunt for a long time to find me - and is often times W-A-Y off the mark, sometimes up a a half mile off the mark!!!!

On my Storm 1, Google maps would track me from room to room in my HOUSE!

On my Thunderbolt, it can't even find it's way inside my YARD. It says I'm in my neighbors driveway 500 feet away.

Why the HUGE difference?

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**dbdynsty25** · 04-04-2011, 01:35 PM

Not sure why you're having an issue...my TB has my located correctly at all times...even right down to the room location in my house, so I can't say the thing isn't damn accurate for me.

**fatboy97** · 04-04-2011, 01:41 PM

Not sure I understand your issue either... my device can pin me down to within 2 meters in less than a minute. Did you try this at a VZW store in front of reps?

**PJRed2008** · 04-04-2011, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by dbdynsty25

Not sure why you're having an issue...my TB has my located correctly at all times.

I agree, very fast and very accurate. Much better than my Droid. And I haven't done any "fixes".

**Mike_is_Mike** · 04-04-2011, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by fatboy97

Not sure I understand your issue either... my device can pin me down to within 2 meters in less than a minute. Did you try this at a VZW store in front of reps?

no, but that's a good idea.

**PJnc284** · 04-04-2011, 01:47 PM

Mine is accurate as long as I have all 3 location settings enabled. If I just have standalone or standalone and one other checked, it takes forever and puts me in BFE most of the time

**Mike_is_Mike** · 04-04-2011, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by PJRed2008

I agree, very fast and very accurate. Much better than my Droid. And I haven't done any "fixes".

Well, if you guys aren't having troubles that at least gives me hope that mine can be fixed.

**Chrisy** · 04-04-2011, 01:48 PM

Google Maps and Latitude on my BlackBerry were decent.

On the Thunderbolt, they're amazing! Scrolls quickly and smoothly. Looks great and GPS locks fast and is accurate.

**Mike_is_Mike** · 04-04-2011, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by PJnc284

Mine is accurate as long as I have all 3 location settings enabled. If I just have standalone or standalone and one other checked, it takes forever and puts me in BFE most of the time

I have tried every combination of the tree, same results....and not just at home, everywhere I go.

**Mike_is_Mike** · 04-04-2011, 08:08 PM

Google maps v5.3 - just downloaded it.

Well Google maps has found my house!! It still takes a minute to get out of my neighbors yard. And it ALMOST follows me around my house like Google maps did on my BB....but still not as accurate. I suppose it's close enough, it just errks me that I have to settle for "good enough" on a phone that is 2 and a half years newer than my old phone.

**Charmed Juan** · 04-04-2011, 08:12 PM

Make sure you have Location settings on.
Menu/settings/location. All three checked.

**Mike_is_Mike** · 04-04-2011, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by San Juan

Make sure you have Location settings on.
Menu/settings/location. All three checked.

Yep, been there, done that.

For whatever reason the GPS is just not as good on this Droid as it was on the Storm 1. Not only that, but I didn't have to DO anything to make it good - no special settings, no app "fixes", no rooting, etc.

I know some of the guys here are ga-ga over Droid (I am slowly getting used to this new phone - and I like it OK) but I buy a phone to USE, I don't buy a phone to have as a hobby and tinker with all the time.

**PJnc284** · 04-04-2011, 08:41 PM

Mine is pretty much perfect now. Ran into issues with an early BAMF build but later realized I didn't have all of the options checked but it's flawless now. Heck, I'd take the abysmal performance of the Fascinate GPS on early builds before I'd even consider going back to a failberry.

**dubge** · 04-04-2011, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Mike_is_Mike_is

Google maps v5.3 - just downloaded it.

Well Google maps has found my house!! It still takes a minute to get out of my neighbors yard. And it ALMOST follows me around my house like Google maps did on my BB....but still not as accurate. I suppose it's close enough, it just errks me that I have to settle for "good enough" on a phone that is 2 and a half years newer than my old phone.

well at least if you get lost in your house you can find you way around now

**paulmike3** · 04-04-2011, 11:06 PM

Install and tells us how many satellites you're seeing.

**zshazz** · 04-04-2011, 11:10 PM

Honestly, I'm just impressed that things floating 12,000+ miles in the sky can accurately triangulate my location within 30 feet.

But yeah, mine locks on very quickly (less than 10 seconds happens often) and can usually put me in a specific room in my house.

**Mike_is_Mike** · 04-04-2011, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by dubge

well at least if you get lost in your house you can find you way around now

You would think, wouldn't you?

**Mike_is_Mike** · 04-04-2011, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by zshazz

Honestly, I'm just impressed that things floating 12,000+ miles in the sky can accurately triangulate my location within 30 feet.

But yeah, mine locks on very quickly (less than 10 seconds happens often) and can usually put me in a specific room in my house.

It is amazing, and it's amazing that people like me would fine something like only being off by a few hundred feet annoying. It does sound silly when I think about it.

**Mike_is_Mike** · 04-04-2011, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by paulmike3

Install and tells us how many satellites you're seeing.

What is this supposed to do?

**paulmike3** · 04-04-2011, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mike_is_Mike_is

What is this supposed to do?

It shows all kinds of sweet GPS info. How many satellites you're connected to and the strength of each. Also how many feet you'll be accurate within, based on what satellites you're seeing and the strength. Also has a compass, altitude, speedometer, map of what satellites and their names, and other cool tools.

A++++++=++ would buy again!!!11! (if it weren't free

)

**kesnik** · 04-04-2011, 11:35 PM

Your initial experience was probably bad because you weren’t able to obtain satellite link inside your house so the phone was reverting to the other methods of obtaining your location (wifi network or cell tower triangulation) which is much less accurate.

You need 3 or more satellites to triangulate your position. In general, the more satellites you are receiving data from the more accurate your device will be. When in a house your satellite signal will be weak and you may not be connecting to very many satellites, which would explain your minor inaccuracy.

Try obtaining results from different times of the day as the satellites are in different locations in the sky and may give you better results. You can monitor your satellite connection with the app mentioned above.

-kesnik

**NickF227** · 04-05-2011, 12:43 AM

My GPS is perfect, knows when turns are coming up and such...

It just takes like 10 minutes to 'search for GPS'. And I have all 3 on.

ETA: Speak of the Devil, updated all my apps, including Google Maps, and my GPS found me in like 2 seconds.