GLONASS GPS inoperable after KitKat update.

[John_Cline]

After updating to KitKat and having to do a complete factory data reset, I just noticed that on all my GPS apps that none of the Russian GLONASS satellites are locking on. They show up and show signal, but they all remain "grayed out" and are not being used. All the U.S. satellites are working fine. Anyone else notice this behavior?

 

[John_Cline]

187 message views and no one is having the same problem? If anyone has "GPS Status" app and KitKat, I'd appreciate hearing whether the GLONASS satellites are working or not.

 

[John_Cline]

Gee, thanks guys.

 

[Larry_F]

187 message views and no one is having the same problem? If anyone has "GPS Status" app and KitKat, I'd appreciate hearing whether the GLONASS satellites are working or not.

I have a Verizon Galaxy S4, have the stock KitKat, and my GPS is working just fine. I have the GPS Status app installed, but I have no idea what a GLONASS satellite is, nor how I would know from the GPS Status app which satellites are working and which are not.

Perhaps if you described exactly what you want someone to do in the GPS Status app, you would get some help.

Larry

 

[John_Cline]

On the compass satellite display in GPS Status, the American GPS satellites are shown as circles and the Russian GLONASS satellites are shown as squares. If the satellite is locked, it shows as green and gray if it is not locked. On the signal strength display below the compass, GPS satellites are shown on the left, GLONASS on the right. On my phone, the circles are green and the squares are all gray, indicating that the phone can see the GLONASS satellites but can't lock to them.

 

[Larry_F]

Okay, that looks the same on mine. But I don't know what it looked like before KitKat and if it is a problem, could it just be a problem with the app?

Larry

 

[bluzman]

When I use GPS Status app on my Galaxy Note 10.1 running JB 4.1.2, the squares are green; on my S4, they're gray. Wouldn't be the first app not "playing nice" with KitKit.

 

[John_Cline]

This doesn't just happen with GPS Status, it happens with ALL my GPS apps and it only started when I updated to KitKat. The U.S. maintains a fleet of GPS satellites and the Russians have a separate fleet called GLONASS, the S4 has previously been able to use satellites from both systems. Basically, the more satellites you have locked, the more quickly and accurately your position on Earth can be calculated. For example, using just the U.S. GPS system, your navigation software might be able to determine which side of the road you're on, add the additional GLONASS satellites to the equation and it can determine which lane you're in, also, the altitude reading is significantly more accurate when using both systems. With KitKat on the S4, the GPS still works but with greatly reduced accuracy, in my case, having the additional accuracy really helps me in my business and was one of the major reasons I went with the S4. Bottom line; KitKat has a bug and it needs to be fixed.

 

[bigredgonzo]

This is a unusual concept, but could the current political climate have something to do with the GLONASS system being unavailable?

Just a thought...
BigRedGonzo

 

[ngerber999]

I was not able to get a lock on GLONASS since 4.3 according to GPS Status.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

 

[bluzman]

When I use GPS Status app on my Galaxy Note 10.1 running JB 4.1.2, the squares are green; on my S4, they're gray. Wouldn't be the first app not "playing nice" with KitKit.

Checked on my GT 3 8.0 (JB 4.2.2) - same as GN 10.1; circles and squares all green. S4=no joy.

 

[John_Cline]

This is a unusual concept, but could the current political climate have something to do with the GLONASS system being unavailable?

There is no mechanism to selectively turn off GLONASS (or GPS) satellites over a specific region, besides, all the phones running JB can still see and use the GLONASS satellites. It's a KitKat bug, I'm absolutely certain of that.

 

[FrankP999]

It is Putin retaliating against USA sanctions, not KitKat. See this Reuters news story UPDATE 3-Russia targets space station project in retaliation for U.S. sanctions | Reuters

 

[John_Cline]

I read it and that has nothing to do with this problem. Like I said, there is no mechanism to selectively turn off GLONNASS over the U.S. Besides, all Galaxy S4s that have not updated to KitKat receive them fine. This IS a KitKat problem.

 

[ngerber999]

I had the problem with 4.3 so I don't think its a KitKat specific issue.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

 

[Hax0rbooz]

Hi John_CLine,

I have the same problem, no more possible to receive signal from GLONASS (Global navigation satellite system) is differenet from GPS (Global positioning system) and launched by Russia.

This behavior appear after update to last version of Android on My Samsung Galaxy S4.

I read on internet that this behavior can be "solved" by a workaround that i provide you, please follow the link bellow :

GPS Fixer (GPS + Glonass) (download mirror added) - xda-developers

I will try it today, but seems to work ...

I will provide feed-back after test.

Have a nice day

 

[John_Cline]

Thanks for the link, let me know if it works for you. It appears that one must be rooted to use this fix and I am not currently rooted.

 

[hartwichr]

John, I an having the same issue as you on my Verizon Go with 4.4.2. I called Verizon and Samsung and they both act as if it either works or the glonass is region specific and intentionally doesn't lock in to save battery if you are in the US. I call BS. I bet they changed the coding to make the battery last longer and or they screwed up.

If we are lucky they will fix it in 4.4.4. A check box to turn it on and off would be great. I geocache and having better accuracy would be nice under tree cover.

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