GPS Issue Figured Out - Must Read!!

[jrmarinojr]

Okay so for those of you who may have not seen any of my posts regarding my GPS issues here's a quick rundown. My GPS never worked, plain and simple. I got the software update, did battery pulls, factory resets, and even cleared my cache using aGPS. Nothing got me closer than 500 meters on Google Maps and Google Navigator NEVER picked up a GPS signal. So....

I was reading an article from February, obviously before the Thunderbolt was released, that explained how a 4G signal interrupts GPS activity. So I decided since I am constantly in a 4G area (NYC) to switch the 3G and try the GPS. Well guess what??? In a matter of seconds I was being tracked within 5 meters! And the best part is....drum roll please....now the GPS works even when switched back to 4G!!!

Sorry if I sound crazily excited but this issue really bothered me for months, and I felt the need to share with all of the people in this forum who have been so helpful.

Let me say that my Thunderbolt is now flawless and I love it!!!

PS: If any VZW reps read this, please circulate as I believe many people can benefit from it.

 

[MOTOX2]

Still doesn't work for me...but im going to get a new one after i complain about my reboots, gps, and screen issues...

 

[sammy303]

I just tried that, made it worse.

 

[jrmarinojr]

Damn sorry fellas. I even called HTC directly and they offered to send me a new phone. Vzw stores are worthless, they provide no insight/help.

 

[phoenixone]

LOL!!!! Sorry. Post cracked me up.

 

[jrmarinojr]

Not that I have anything against VZW reps, some are very helpful including ones on this board.

 

[ejfiii]

Well, I'll be damned. 4G: GPS never locates. Wifi: GPS locates in less than 5 seconds.

Thank you.

How do you turn off 4g by itself, I thought that was something we couldn't do yet?

TIA

 

[Harlemknight]

Same thing for me. If I cut on the Wifi, thereby cutting off the 4G, my GPS is dead on.

 

[baja141]

Live in nyc. Still doesn't work

 

[elradhymc]

I live over in the Bronx and it works good for me. Always has.

Rad Man Wooooo

 

[jrmarinojr]

I have to admit, my GPS was a little off at the beginning of the day. Another little trick that bumped it back to accuracy:

Open Google Navigation and type in a random destination and let the phone Search for GPS to find itself. Once it finds your location (give it a minute or two) you can switch back over to Google Maps and it works great.

Still in all, it is obvious this phone has a flawed GPS.

 

[joeym2]

I haven't seen anyone bring it in for GPS issues a single time. I will try this if anyone brings it in. Most reps in store don't know much on troubleshooting but I read this everyday and it comes in handy.

Edit: In the Houston area

 

[romiust]

My old droid had amazing wifi and gps. MY tbolt works sometimes, sometimes not. I have tried the wifi and that seems to help, but I hate leaving my wifi on all day when the battery sucks as it is, Even with two spare batteries I worry about battery life. My phone also is peeling on the kickstand and has the screen leakage, so maybe I just have a lemon of a phone.

 

[Mike_is_Mike]

I have to admit, my GPS was a little off at the beginning of the day. Another little trick that bumped it back to accuracy:

Open Google Navigation and type in a random destination and let the phone Search for GPS to find itself. Once it finds your location (give it a minute or two) you can switch back over to Google Maps and it works great.

Still in all, it is obvious this phone has a flawed GPS.

All of these tricks, tips and Voo Doo curses just to get a standard feature to "semi-work" - and everybody jumps with joy when they think they found a "secret code" to unlock this temperamental phone.

You are right, this phone has a flawed GPS (among other things) and it shouldn't fall on the customer to try to fix HTC's product.

I had my Blackberry Storm 1 for almost three years waiting for a suitable replacement - I THOUGHT RIM would make one, but I was wrong. So I decided to give HTC a try. It would seem that I am going to have another long wait between phones. I am willing to stick with this Thunderbolt for one year. Hopefully they will either get it working properly - OR - there will be another phone on the market that does.

 

[Mike_is_Mike]

My old droid had amazing wifi and gps. MY tbolt works sometimes, sometimes not. I have tried the wifi and that seems to help, but I hate leaving my wifi on all day when the battery sucks as it is, Even with two spare batteries I worry about battery life. My phone also is peeling on the kickstand and has the screen leakage, so maybe I just have a lemon of a phone.

I don't know know about you, but I don't have WiFi in my car. I need my GPS most in my car.

 

[liquidice]

We've been able to toggle 4G on and off for awhile now... if you read the stickied threads on top you'd know.

Here is the app that I use -

https://market.android.com/details?id=net.andirc.lteonfoff&feature=search_result

Install the above app, then after getting to the page with a bunch of settings, SCROLL DOWN until you see the dropdown box for "Set preferred network type"

Pick "CDMA auto (PRL)" for 3G with no 4G, and then "CDMA + LTE/EvDo auto" to go back to 4G.

 

[jrmarinojr]

All of these tricks, tips and Voo Doo curses just to get a standard feature to "semi-work" - and everybody jumps with joy when they think they found a "secret code" to unlock this temperamental phone.

You are right, this phone has a flawed GPS (among other things) and it shouldn't fall on the customer to try to fix HTC's product.

I had my Blackberry Storm 1 for almost three years waiting for a suitable replacement - I THOUGHT RIM would make one, but I was wrong. So I decided to give HTC a try. It would seem that I am going to have another long wait between phones. I am willing to stick with this Thunderbolt for one year. Hopefully they will either get it working properly - OR - there will be another phone on the market that does.

Agreed - I came from a Storm as well and the GPS was great

 

[bluelite#AC]

I don't know know about you, but I don't have WiFi in my car. I need my GPS most in my car.

EXACTLY Mike.
Have had my Tbolt for a couple weeks. Love the 4G, great screen, but one of the main things I have an Android phone is for Google Maps and Navigation. I consider this to be an important basic Android feature, one that I use almost everyday. A top tier phone (with a top tier price tag ) should have never been released with this major flaw. My old Motorola D2 used to have me within 10 meters from my location. My location is now 1700 meters off! Over 1.5 kilometers. That is unacceptable. If this is not fixed soon, this will be my last HTC ever.

 

[worwig]

EXACTLY Mike.
Have had my Tbolt for a couple weeks. Love the 4G, great screen, but one of the main things I have an Android phone is for Google Maps and Navigation. I consider this to be an important basic Android feature, one that I use almost everyday. A top tier phone (with a top tier price tag ) should have never been released with this major flaw. My old Motorola D2 used to have me within 10 meters from my location. My location is now 1700 meters off! Over 1.5 kilometers. That is unacceptable. If this is not fixed soon, this will be my last HTC ever.

You do realise why it is doing this, right?

The phone has multiple location services. When it is that far off, it is using Google (or Verizon) cell tower or WiFi services, not GPS.

Fire up the App called GPS status, which ONLY uses the actual GPS receiver. Run it outdoors until you get a good lock on at least 5 satellites. If it fails to lock, get the unit replaced, it is defective.

Why put up with defective hardware?

 

[Mike_is_Mike]

You do realise why it is doing this, right?

The phone has multiple location services. When it is that far off, it is using Google (or Verizon) cell tower or WiFi services, not GPS.

Fire up the App called GPS status, which ONLY uses the actual GPS receiver. Run it outdoors until you get a good lock on at least 5 satellites. If it fails to lock, get the unit replaced, it is defective.

Why put up with defective hardware?

I have done that. I have used GPS Fix and it worked much better for a day (still not as accurate or fast as GPS on my old Storm) BUT I HAVE TO RUN GPSFIX ALMOST EVERY TIME I WANT TO USE THE GOOGLE MAPS!!!

So then I tried GPS status without much difference.

Having to "fix" my GPS every time I want to use it is annoying.