GPS not locking until reboot

[Irishgator]

I seem to keep running into the issue that my GPS stops locking until I reboot my phone. Anyone having this issue? Any solutions?

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[error4o4]

I've had this issue with both of my GSII's

GPS Status app made life easier since it has the ability to 'cold start' the gps chip for me w/out rebooting the phone.

There is clearly an issue with this phones GPS as sprint is clueless on it.

 

[sparkeater79]

Welcome to the real Samsung galaxy epic 4g touch. Everything is great around here unless you actually use your maps.

 

[coachdvc]

I seem to keep running into the issue that my GPS stops locking until I reboot my phone. Anyone having this issue? Any solutions?

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

One of the work arounds is to use the "GPS Status" app. You open that up, and it locks on to the GPS signal quickly. Then you can back out and by then the Navigation or Maps app has usually locked on to the GPS signal.

I can't take any credit for this. It was in another thread a while ago.

 

[scott_0]

try to toggle airplane mode on and off

 

[Dark_Knight2]

My GPS locks without issue on my device. Ive heard some peeps having issues but not me personally. I use maps almost weekly.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Android Central Forums

 

[michaeljc70]

There have been a ton of post on this forum about this. GPS Test does not work usually when this happens. I have had 3 different E4G and they all had the same issue. It is software, not hardware.

Sometimes there will be 10-12 satellites in view and it will not lock!

I am hoping the ICS fixes it, but who knows when that will come.

I also don't get texts sometimes until after a reboot.

Again, this is on 3 of these phones, so it cannot be a defect in the hardware.

It may be that some people never experience it due to the way they use their phone.

 

[bobodobo]

For what it's worth... my wife has the S II Epic 4G Touch. I have an HTC EVO 3D. To make a fair comparison, I restarted both phones, then at the same time I opened GPS Status. This test was done indoors, so it's a relatively difficult test. The time to lock was virtually the same for the 2 phones. The Samsung showed a larger uncertainty, but the reported position was actually closer to my actual location than the HTC. Both phones did very well and overall I'd say the contest was a draw.

Of course that's just one test but in general I've found the GPS on both phones to work pretty well.

 

[sparkeater79]

How can it not be a hardware issue? I have had 3 different e4gts do the same thing. Maybe the GPS chip they used just isn't any good. I use my GPS on a DAILY basis, it works sometimes perfectly, a lot of the time it doesn't. the more you use it, the more apparent it becomes.

 

[Dark_Knight2]

How can it not be a hardware issue? I have had 3 different e4gts do the same thing. Maybe the GPS chip they used just isn't any good. I use my GPS on a DAILY basis, it works sometimes perfectly, a lot of the time it doesn't. the more you use it, the more apparent it becomes.

Its not a hardware issue. Its software. Few lines of code added to gps.conf file and bam. You got faster locks. Ill put together a flashable zip to fix this issue and put it to bed.

Sent From A Rotary Phone

 

[evolvedsapien]

How can it not be a hardware issue? I have had 3 different e4gts do the same thing. Maybe the GPS chip they used just isn't any good. I use my GPS on a DAILY basis, it works sometimes perfectly, a lot of the time it doesn't. the more you use it, the more apparent it becomes.

Its not a hardware issue. Its software. Few lines of code added to gps.conf file and bam. You got faster locks. Ill put together a flashable zip to fix this issue and put it to bed.

YES IT IS A HARDWARE ISSUE!!!

I took my phone into a corporate Sprint store that also was a repair center to check out why the hell my GPS would never lock. They said the issue is with the design of the phone..if you notice the 'hump' at the bottom of the S2; that hump is the GPS antenna/radio. If you also notice that on the hump is a the speaker grill port that is exposed to the elements (this is the design flaw).

Moisture, dust, etc. can enter through that speaker grill that is located right on the hump..thus entering into the GPS radio and screwing it up...hence why it takes forever to lock for some owners. Of course not every user has the same issue; as some users haven't had the same amount of moisture, dust, residue, etc. enter into the speaker grill opening.

 

[Dark_Knight2]

YES IT IS A HARDWARE ISSUE!!!

I took my phone into a corporate Sprint store that also was a repair center to check out why the hell my GPS would never lock. They said the issue is with the design of the phone..if you notice the 'hump' at the bottom of the S2; that hump is the GPS antenna/radio. If you also notice that on the hump is a the speaker grill port that is exposed to the elements (this is the design flaw).

Moisture, dust, etc. can enter through that speaker grill that is located right on the hump..thus entering into the GPS radio and screwing it up...hence why it takes forever to lock for some owners. Of course not every user has the same issue; as some users haven't had the same amount of moisture, dust, residue, etc. enter into the speaker grill opening.

Ok so if its a "hardware issue" (which isnt true) then why does a modified gps.conf fix this issue? The htc one series has a gps issue as well. A modified conf fixed the issue as well.

Sent From A Rotary Phone

 

[Dark_Knight2]

Everyone having gps issues. Flash this mod inside recovery. Wipe cache and dalvik before flashing. You must be rooted and custom recovery.

http://db.tt/erNBL7rQ

Enjoy.

Sent From A Rotary Phone

 

[evolvedsapien]

Ok so if its a "hardware issue" (which isnt true) then why does a modified gps.conf fix this issue? The htc one series has a gps issue as well. A modified conf fixed the issue as well.

Mr. Bruce Wayne...for some units of the E4GT with the GPS locking issues; sure it might be software-related...however there is a very real hardware/design issue that lends its hand to the problem.

I wish the GPS locking issue didn't plague this phone; otherwise it's an awesome device.

 

[Dark_Knight2]

Mr. Bruce Wayne...for some units of the E4GT with the GPS locking issues; sure it might be software-related...however there is a very real hardware/design issue that lends its hand to the problem.

I wish the GPS locking issue didn't plague this phone; otherwise it's an awesome device.

http://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=183562

[MOD/FIX][GPS] Dark_Knight's_GPS_Fix

Sent From A Rotary Phone

 

[sparkeater79]

darkknight2, So you can fix this issue, but sprint or Samsung can not? And you never answered my question.... How often do you use your GPS? And do you use it in different areas several times a day? I am just curious why I have not received some kind of fix update from sprint? I do not root so I can not"fix"this problem like you can.

 

[Dark_Knight2]

darkknight2, So you can fix this issue, but sprint or Samsung can not? And you never answered my question.... How often do you use your GPS? And do you use it in different areas several times a day? I am just curious why I have not received some kind of fix update from sprint? I do not root so I can not"fix"this problem like you can.

Ok so if you dont root then you cant fix the issue. Did you not read my thread on why this issue is present? Its not something samsung and sprint can or will fix. Legally they cant fix the issue due to sony ericsson owning the rights to the satelites that my fix uses. Read my thread to understand in more detail how my fix works

Sent From A Rotary Phone

 

[sparkeater79]

Ok.... You still haven't said how often you use your maps or if you use it in different areas. the more you use it in more areas the more obvious this problem is.

 

[Dark_Knight2]

Ok.... You still haven't said how often you use your maps or if you use it in different areas. the more you use it in more areas the more obvious this problem is.

Well Im a delivery driver. I use my navigation almost 10+++ times daily depending on my delivery route.

Sent From A Rotary Phone

 

[sparkeater79]

Thank you. I ama truck driver and use my GPS in different locations every day. I do not root, I guess I am missing out...... I am sure yourGPS works perfect for you. Good job...