GPS not working

[ihbsbA]

I don't think it is a settings problem (or at least it isn't in my case) It is likely a bug in the firmware. The only workarounds I have are to reboot and play with the roaming settings until it works.

You should verify if we are talking about the same problem. Regardless of whether you are 1x or 3G, the notification bar will always say 3G. To tell whether you have a 3G/EV connection or 1x, you can do ##DEBUG# in your dialer and look at data status. If you already 3G/EV, then you have a different problem, possibly Sprint is just slow.

Or are you saying you have no data at all (as in it doesn't say 3G in the notification bar)?

Correct, there was no 3G in the notification bar. Just my singal strength with a triangle over it and the message telling me that my data connection was gone because I was roaming.

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[sfhub]

You have a different problem from what I was describing. How did you turn on roaming? Did you wait a few minutes? Before it goes to 1x roaming for data, it tries to authenticate 3G/EV roaming for a 1-2 minutes. During that time you'll have no data. If it is able to authenticate, then the 3G symbol comes up right away. If not, it takes about 1-2 minutes for it to come up and it'll be 1x even though it says 3G.

However from what you describe it sounds more like you have no data at all. I had data, just 1x data, so it is probably a different problem.

 

[cajunlab]

Same problem...turning off on won't fix it but pulling battery will.

 

[mrcminnesota]

I have also reported the issue with "no data." My cell phone will have the roaming triangle over the bars and I am able to make a call but I do not have any data. I have reported this to Sprint. What I have read in other forums, I am thinking it is the type of tower that it is connecting to and the Samsung radio/antenna. The voice signal comes through but no data. I did not have this problem with my HTC Hero. This occurs in the Twin Cities for sure. I have my phone setup correctly for roaming for both data and voice.
It may help if others report this issue as well.

 

[ihbsbA]

You have a different problem from what I was describing. How did you turn on roaming? Did you wait a few minutes? Before it goes to 1x roaming for data, it tries to authenticate 3G/EV roaming for a 1-2 minutes. During that time you'll have no data. If it is able to authenticate, then the 3G symbol comes up right away. If not, it takes about 1-2 minutes for it to come up and it'll be 1x even though it says 3G.

However from what you describe it sounds more like you have no data at all. I had data, just 1x data, so it is probably a different problem.

Ok to be honest, it wasn't even probably two minutes each time it happened so maybe I wasn't having a problem after all. I think before I could drift in and out of roaming areas and not even notice losing the connection. I switched my data hack back to default (which did slow me down a bit) and I'm going to the same area tomorrow to test. Thanks for your feedback...

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[mick3444]

Turning off sensor aiding made much better!!!

 

[repinphilly247]

my gps doesn't work at all. Only works when using wireless networks and if my wifi is on at home.

-Sensor aiding is turned off
-Tried GPS test and GPS status and toolback to clear gps and update agps - still doesn't work
- tried to reboot

May have to take exchange or get a new phone since the gps does not work at all. Always is blinking in the notification bar. It's ashame bc I haven't had any LOS problems yet.

Is there anything else i could try?

 

[Malkozaine]

I find encrypting the phone messes up the GPS also.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

 

[ihbsbA]

my gps doesn't work at all. Only works when using wireless networks and if my wifi is on at home.

-Sensor aiding is turned off
-Tried GPS test and GPS status and toolback to clear gps and update agps - still doesn't work
- tried to reboot

May have to take exchange or get a new phone since the gps does not work at all. Always is blinking in the notification bar. It's ashame bc I haven't had any LOS problems yet.

Is there anything else i could try?

I would exchange your phone.

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[JayWill]

I would exchange your phone.

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I'd have to agree with this. When you run GPS test, does it pick up any satellites?

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[elyeh]

I have noticed when the battery starts getting low then GPS starts to have locking issues. I just plug in the car charger and its right back on track.

See if that helps any and post your findings

Thanks

 

[elyeh]

I'm so to have been unclear. I think the GPS works just fine. I was roaming, and I think that had to do with it since the GPS first finds the tower then the GPS signal. I have never had a problem before, and I've had ONE LoS in the 12 days I've owned the phone, possibly tied to the LoStkernel that I applied. As for the phone hacking, my speeds were incredible before (I posted pics) but now they're just faster. The hack wasn't needed, but anything that tweaks for improved performance without too much deep level programming is something I will try. Clearly that "hack" is working because it's a server that's not being used as much.

I will travel to the same area tomorrow and try my GPS then, to see if it was a quirk, or something predictable/replicable. If the latter, I may concur with there being an issue....however, I doubt it.

Which hack did you use to increase your data speeds?

 

[repinphilly247]

I'd have to agree with this. When you run GPS test, does it pick up any satellites?

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

I contacted sprint about my gps not getting a lock to see if i could get a credit or have it tested and exchanged or whatever other options I had. They reset some things or settings with my account in their system and seemed to push a profile update (which honestly should have no effect on the gps). After this and a reboot, it actually started to pick up some satellites (I was indoors) but couldn't lock onto my location without wifi being on. Without wifi, it still struggled indoors (could just be a weak gps signal as there was some gps satellites showing on gps test but none were at great strength to get a lock)

So I checked it today when I was walking to the train and it tracked me to the train station. It also found me at my work near center city (this was using google maps). Maybe, previously it wasn't using 3g / location to get the initial lock to help the satellites (the setting was always on because it could find me using wifi with no problem).

Hopefully it continues to work

 

[Night Train]

The only thing one has to remember is to NEVER get yourself in a position where you MUST rely on an accurate and timely reading of the GPS system to get you where you have to go or get you out of where you are.

I've started posts on 2 different forums on this topic and that's the bottom line. I've done everything mentioned in this thread including reboot, clear AGPS, uncheck the sensor setting, everything. The phone has an obvious problem picking up GPS signals. My old HTC Evo 4G was a monster at finding and holding the GPS signal. It never missed a beat no matter where I was, or where I held the phone in the car.

Other than that issue, I really like this phone and all that it does so well.

 

[ihbsbA]

The only thing one has to remember is to NEVER get yourself in a position where you MUST rely on an accurate and timely reading of the GPS system to get you where you have to go or get you out of where you are.

I've started posts on 2 different forums on this topic and that's the bottom line. I've done everything mentioned in this thread including reboot, clear AGPS, uncheck the sensor setting, everything. The phone has an obvious problem picking up GPS signals. My old HTC Evo 4G was a monster at finding and holding the GPS signal. It never missed a beat no matter where I was, or where I held the phone in the car.

Other than that issue, I really like this phone and all that it does so well.

You. Must. Return. The. Phone.
Get a different one, your gps is broken.

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[ihbsbA]

Which hack did you use to increase your data speeds?

It's in the stickies I think.... search increase data speeds....

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[bobvanjr]

My launch day phone wouldn't pick up GPS. The first few days it seemed to but very badly (like accuracy within 2500 METERS!!!) I took it in (two days past my 14 day return window) and they replaced it under the insurance program.

Since then it has been ok but I still have times it won't lock. I restart it and it's fine. I never had a problem like this with my EVO.

 

[michaeljc70]

Here is my 2 cents. It sometimes takes a while for my GPS to lock. Sometimes a minute, other times I can drive for miles without it locking. I had the same problem on my HTC Hero.

I do not believe it is a faulty chip as some have stated. If it works sometimes perfectly, it is most likely software.

Here is what you can do to try and get it to work. Some may do nothing:

-Turn off sensor assist. This is only useful if you are going into a tunnel/mountain range, pedway, etc.
-Get GPS Toolbox or Status and Update the AGPS data. This often works for me.
-Update your profile and PRL under Settings->About Phone->Updates regularly
-Restart your phone.

It is extremely annoying not getting a lock, especially when you really need it. GPS status will tell you how many satellites are in view which is useful.

As an alternative, try turning on Wifi as a last resort and that combined with cell towers will get you in the ballpark at least.

I wish there was a way to have the AGPS data updated automatically via an app as that seems to help me most of the time.

 

[michaeljc70]

I guess GPS Status has an autodownload option at a set interval. I am going to try that and see if it helps,

Here is my 2 cents. It sometimes takes a while for my GPS to lock. Sometimes a minute, other times I can drive for miles without it locking. I had the same problem on my HTC Hero.

I do not believe it is a faulty chip as some have stated. If it works sometimes perfectly, it is most likely software.

Here is what you can do to try and get it to work. Some may do nothing:

-Turn off sensor assist. This is only useful if you are going into a tunnel/mountain range, pedway, etc.
-Get GPS Toolbox or Status and Update the AGPS data. This often works for me.
-Update your profile and PRL under Settings->About Phone->Updates regularly
-Restart your phone.

It is extremely annoying not getting a lock, especially when you really need it. GPS status will tell you how many satellites are in view which is useful.

As an alternative, try turning on Wifi as a last resort and that combined with cell towers will get you in the ballpark at least.

I wish there was a way to have the AGPS data updated automatically via an app as that seems to help me most of the time.

 

[adma84]

It's in the stickies I think.... search increase data speeds....

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so even though my wife's, brother's, and my phone has the exact GPS problem, you are insinuating that we all got phones that go against the grain? Yeah right. There is a problem with this GPS. I wish people wouldn't think that just because their phone works, that somehow everyone else's problem doesn't Exist. You are at a different elevation, different towers, etc. If only some phones are working well, then you still have a bad design. The EVO4G was so much better. You all should complain to sprint instead of having to Download GPS testers, reset agps, download agps, reboot your phone, hold the phone above your head, hold your breath, and count to 10 just to HOPEFULLY get a GPS lock