GPS just does NOT work

[Since9600]

I thought that GPS was fine as it was able to 'lock' and I was able to use services such as Foursquare with no issues and without Google Location... However, I have recently tried to use Sprint Navigation and the phone would CONSTANTLY lose GPS lock and it will say 'no GPS/lost' when I have used my BB's faithfully for years with Sprint Navigation and for the same route as well and it has NEVER EVER hiccuped even once..
I have tried using the 'GPS cold start' but that does not solve the problem of CONSTANTLY losing GPS during navigation, which of course makes GPS Navigation useless as well as a VERY IMPORTANT FEATURE USELESS!!
Is this a common problem or should I assume I should get this thing replaced??
I am not trying to be rude, but please no reboot/restore/reset responses as I know that will do nothing.

 

[ragnarokx]

This might be what you're looking for: GPS cache bug workaround, tested, working

 

[Since9600]

This might be what you're looking for: GPS cache bug workaround, tested, working

Thanks but as stated I have tried the cold start trick with no luck. I did get lock quicker but the problem still is losing GPS whilst using Sprint Navigation...

 

[scheets973]

Mike you know something funny-- I am having the same issue. MY GPS worked perfectly fine on google navigation TILL yesterday. Now I have to start, restart, start and restart again. I am not sure what is going on but it is out of the norm.

 

[KC2UUZ]

Mine has been working flawlessly. Perhaps it's a sat vs loc issue? You may be only locking one or 2 sats. Try again in a day or two, if you get no joy, I'd return the phone. If you have the option tic'd for "use Cell towers" (or however it's labeled) it may be why you've been able to use foursquare and such. whereas, Sprint nav works off the GPS exclusively. Try un tic-ing that feature ( it's on by default I believe) and see if the other apps work for you.

 

[Since9600]

Mine has been working flawlessly. Perhaps it's a sat vs loc issue? You may be only locking one or 2 sats. Try again in a day or two, if you get no joy, I'd return the phone. If you have the option tic'd for "use Cell towers" (or however it's labeled) it may be why you've been able to use foursquare and such. whereas, Sprint nav works off the GPS exclusively. Try un tic-ing that feature ( it's on by default I believe) and see if the other apps work for you.

Yes the problem is def not getting lock (which I know is why foursquare'ish apps work fine). I do not keep 'use cell towers' on as I feel I should have a GPS that works. The problem is when I have to use Navigation. I lose GPS and/or it updates very very very slowly which makes it utterly useless.. I find the Sprin Nav is the best feature of all my phones (to me) as it has always been more accurate than my in car GPS and the traffic updates have saved my butt a lot... I am thinking I might have to exchange the phone, but am hoping this is not a problem with all the phones.. It's is just weird as the gal has a Samsung Reclaim 'dumb phone' and her GPS is as accurate and reliable as my ol' BB, So I would have never thought I would have a GPS problem..

 

[ejohnnyk]

Mike you know something funny-- I am having the same issue. MY GPS worked perfectly fine on google navigation TILL yesterday. Now I have to start, restart, start and restart again. I am not sure what is going on but it is out of the norm.

Same here. I've never had GPS problems as they've been described in this forum and now out of nowhere -- no GPS lock. The workaround posted in the sticky thread doesn't seem to fix my problem.

 

[shaundizzle]

mine still works. Although its off by several yards. But I'm still in the circle, which is understandable because I'm inside.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

 

[Since9600]

mine still works. Although its off by several yards. But I'm still in the circle, which is understandable because I'm inside.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

Sure mine 'works' but very very crappy... It's GPS it is supposed to be accurate.. This is the first phone I have ever held that has crappy non-workable GPS to the point that Navigation is USELESS.. I have read over a hundred pages at XDA (my head hurts) and many seem to point that they don't expect Samsung to ever fully fix the problem..

Although I must admit Samsung is quick at Twitter replies... Been getting replies back pretty fast... I did an (@) to Sprint and Samsung to see who would reply frst...

Seems their response is to use 'wireless networks' .. Which does not solve the problem and merely dances around it...

 

[Since9600]

Ok they just told me to talk to Sprint... Guess I gotta replace...

 

[Butters3605]

is Sprint doing what Verizon is doing and crippling the aGPS on these phones?

Maybe not cause I have not had the GPS issue, reset of the aGPS (cold Start) and/or a phone reboot usually fixes my problems. Used Waze most of the afternoon today without an issue.

Rebooting really isn't a big deal, I came from a Palm Pre 2+ minutes for a restart.

 

[Mikey47]

is Sprint doing what Verizon is doing and crippling the aGPS on these phones?

I would HIGHLY doubt this as Sprint's Navigation is free, whereas Verizon's is a monthly charge. There would be no benefit at all to Sprint to do this, whereas Verizon can charge you through the nose to get your GPS working.

 

[Since9600]

OK talking to Sprint was utterly useless yesterday... Their solution was for me is to do a hard reset AGAIN !!! They claim that I have to do it again on the phone with them.. I wasted 2.5 hours of my life speaking to four different people and want it back... Guess I will have to visit the store and waste more of my life.. Ugh I work 6 days a week, time I do not have... come on I've been a loyal customer for a friggin decade almost and have bought 2-3 phones a year and they talked to me like I don't know anything...
.. excuse the rant...
Will I have better luck at the Sprint store? I honestly have never had to visit a store...

 

[boomerbubba]

OK talking to Sprint was utterly useless yesterday... Their solution was for me is to do a hard reset AGAIN !!! They claim that I have to do it again on the phone with them.. I wasted 2.5 hours of my life speaking to four different people and want it back... Guess I will have to visit the store and waste more of my life.. Ugh I work 6 days a week, time I do not have... come on I've been a loyal customer for a friggin decade almost and have bought 2-3 phones a year and they talked to me like I don't know anything...
.. excuse the rant...
Will I have better luck at the Sprint store? I honestly have never had to visit a store...

I doubt that the store can fix your GPS. Like every Epic 4G it has a Samsung firmware bug, which both Sprint and Samsung officially refuse to acknowledge. The resets are just temporary treatment of the symptoms.

Try the GPS cache bug workaround described in the top sticky post in this forum.

 

[Since9600]

I doubt that the store can fix your GPS. Like every Epic 4G it has a Samsung firmware bug, which both Sprint and Samsung officially refuse to acknowledge. The resets are just temporary treatment of the symptoms.

Try the GPS cache bug workaround described in the top sticky post in this forum.

Does not work.. I firmly believe and know my particular problem is hardware as I cannot even get ONE satellite to lock... I feel this is one of those problems that is pointless to try and explain to Sprint 'techs' as they cannot see past their script.. I will go to a Sprint store on Monday and exchange.

 

[stovetop]

I think you are gonna get just as frustrated at the store as you did over the phone. My experience with trying to get a phone exchanged at a store has been horrible. I had to do it a couple times. They will give you the same runaround you got on the phone good luck

Does not work.. I firmly believe and know my particular problem is hardware as I cannot even get ONE satellite to lock... I feel this is one of those problems that is pointless to try and explain to Sprint 'techs' as they cannot see past their script.. I will go to a Sprint store on Monday and exchange.

 

[Aero]

Does not work.. I firmly believe and know my particular problem is hardware as I cannot even get ONE satellite to lock... I feel this is one of those problems that is pointless to try and explain to Sprint 'techs' as they cannot see past their script.. I will go to a Sprint store on Monday and exchange.

the workaround does work for the problem all Epics have with cache. Your severe problem maybe different and a much more rare hardware failure specific to your phone. It happens.

That said, the epics voice reception, 3G reception, and GPS, even worked around, are in my opinion, form having many many phoens about a 3 to 4 on a scale of one to ten. Sliglhtly to moderately below average.

If you want excellent GPS there are many phones, including an EVO where GPS works better and more consistently (as do voice and data adios)

 

[jzh797s]

Flashing the DK05 modem solved my GPS problems. I get a quick lock and w/in a minute I am down to 5 ~ 10m accuracy.

Also, I am running Quantum v1.2 ROM.

It should also be noted that if you do this, you will not have 4G anymore. For me I can wait until the official update comes to get back 4G. Having fast accurate GPS is worth much more to me. I do still have 3G.

 

[tp72]

I have had the same problem. My Sprint Nav worked beautifully on my Pre and 2 phones before that. So I know it's the hardware. It's frustrating when I can't get directions on the go.

 

[Andrew Ruffolo]

I have had the same problem. My Sprint Nav worked beautifully on my Pre and 2 phones before that. So I know it's the hardware. It's frustrating when I can't get directions on the go.

locks are pretty instant in froyo with DK17. For a split second maps pulls up an incorrect city (as I bounce between south florida and central florida regulalrly) but it quickly finds me, no circle.