GPS Problems on Nexus 7 (2013)

I also suspect that the new 2013 Nexus 7 has a design mistake that the gps antenna is too close to the wake/sleep sensor so the metal clips in cases with wake/sleep magnets block some of the gps signal. None of the cases sold by Asus have wake/sleep functionality, and since Asus knows better than anyone else where all the internals are located, that is a good indication that cases with wake/sleep cause some sort of problem.

I find this a very interesting observation. My GPS on my 2013 Nexus 7 is also toast, and I swear it was working when I first got the tablet about a month ago. I'm running the latest 4.3 with all updates. I also have a magnetic case and I noticed it really screwed with the compass but I didn't think that it would affect the GPS -- but I guess it does make sense. In any case, I bought mine online and I am NOT looking forward to going through Asus to get this replaced under warranty. I have tried everything -- factory resets, removing the case, going outside... The only way I can get a blip on google maps is with aGPS enabled, and I can tell it's not locking on any satellites because I'm only getting an approximate location. If I disable aGPS, google maps can't find me.
 
" I am NOT looking forward to going through Asus to get this replaced under warranty. "

No, that is not something you want to look forward to! I've been there and done that with my Asus laptop. What a hassle. There's a long thread all about the ordeal on laptopreview.com. The only worse warranty experience I ever had was dealing with Sony years ago with a VCR.

As for my N7 GPS, it has actually gotten WORSE - and, no, I have no case. I used to be able to get a location fix sometimes, but now i can't seem to get one at all.
 
Finally called up Google and they eventually switched me to Asus. That killed an hour with useless crap, but at least they do answer the phone. I got a return authorization number in case I want to send it back for them to look at. Both the Google and Asus reps said it's the first time they ever heard of anyone complaining about the gps on the n7 2013. Can you believe that crap!? They must say the same thing 100 times a day!
 
Same problem with Nexus 7, Andriod 4.3, Kernel version 3.4.0-g1f57c39 bought in October 2013.

Could not acquire satellites when wireless location was turned on.
When wireless location was turned off (leaving only GPS location), satellites were acquired very quickly. Then, after five minutes the display would freeze. Only a reboot would fix the problem. Useless for any kind of navigation.
 
O man I just picked up a nexus 7 last night mostly to use in my car for Navigation & spotify now I come across this thread, now I'm not sure if I should keep it or not?

I really like it so far but if GPS is going to fail it is of no use to me I guess I have 14 days to decide . do you think the GPS problem is an issue for a certain batch of tablets, any hope that an update will resolve this issue?





Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
 
O man I just picked up a nexus 7 last night mostly to use in my car for Navigation & spotify now I come across this thread, now I'm not sure if I should keep it or not?

I really like it so far but if GPS is going to fail it is of no use to me I guess I have 14 days to decide . do you think the GPS problem is an issue for a certain batch of tablets, any hope that an update will resolve this issue?





Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

It's definitely not a problem with every unit - mine works great, I've used it for extended periods with the Sygic nav app without a single problem. In fact, of the more than half a dozen GPS-enabled devices I own, it seems to get the best reception - I was very surprised to get a signal in my basement with it. You need to give yours a test before deciding one way or another.

Dave
 
Looks like I have the gps issue as well. This is the last thing I would expect a tablet to have a problem with

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2
 
was looking forward to enjoying this saturday first day with the new tablet should of gone to work, i used one of those gps status apps on both the tablet and my galaxy s4. At times the tablet could not even locate the satelites, the s4 never had a problem and , google maps actually works well on it that is what i have been using up until now.
 
Google maps wont lock unless i run GPS Test...Or use Wireless network Location. I think its a software bug! If GPS test app locks location how come other apps that require GPS won't lock?! I don't really care about GPS cuz i don't use it on my Tablet. however It is kinda annoying that in order to use GPS receiver "only" YOU have to RUN GPS test app. Reminds me of Verizon's Droid Charge That thing was useless just like AT&T's Samsung GS2 Skyrocket after ICS update!
 
You would think this would be a non issue for a company that makes self driving cars.

Posted via Android Central App
 
I didn't have problems with freezing and rebooting. Have you updated to JSS15R?

I compared an old and new Nexus 7 in the office. When I was near the window, both had a gps lock and kept it until about 20ft from the window, then the lock would come and go, until about 25ft where neither tablet could get a lock. When I walked back to the window, the old 2012 Nexus 7 would regain the lock where it lost it, at about 20ft. The new 2013 Nexus 7 would not regain the lock until I was almost at the window. I think that this is one of the problems. Once the new 2013 Nexus 7 loses a gps lock, it needs a strong signal to regain the lock. Both tablets had access to the office wifi. The old 2012 Nexus 7 has a Broadcom BCM4751 Integrated Monolithic GPS Receiver Google Nexus 7 Teardown - Features NVIDIA’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor while also sporting 1GB of internal RAM and the option of 8GB or 16GB of storage . I couldn't find a tear-down of the new 2013 Nexus 7 that showed the GPS module, but they switched the Bluetooth and radio modules from Broadcom to Qualcomm, so the GPS is probably also Qualcomm Nexus 7 2nd Generation Teardown - iFixit . I did this testing with the tablets out of their cases. I have magnetic wake/sleep cases for both tablets. The old 2012 Nexus 7 works the same with or without its case, while the new 2013 Nexus 7 shows a weaker gps signal when it is in its case.

I'm not sure if the initial problems with touch and gps are the fault of Google, Asus or Qualcomm, but the design to place the gps in a place where it is blocked by cases with magnetic wake/lock is the fault of Asus, and supposedly Google will switch from Asus to LG for the third generation Nexus 7 Rumor: Google May Use LG for Third-Generation Nexus 7 .

The new 2013 Nexus 7 seemed OK in my car using the "High Grade Google Nexus 7 / 7 2 Tablet Robust 360 Adjustable Car Windshield Swivel Suction Mount with Low Profile Car Kit Holder" that I bought from Amazon (plus I installed the Sygic navigation app). The mount is a bit big, but it does not have much metal so it does not seem to interfere with the gps, and it can keep the tablet high enough to get good view of the sky. The drive was mostly on country roads with nothing to block the sky. City driving might be different.
 
If anyone here with GPS problems on a 2013 Nexus 7 has updated to Android 4.4 KRT16S, can you post whether it made a difference?
 
The kit kat update seems to have fixed the gps issues for me. I'm currently working on troubleshooting the wireless issues and I may have narrowed down the culprit, but overall the wireless works well too.
 
Just drove two hours with a Nexus 7 intended to be used for GPS. Instead it is a POS. I have build KRT16S and the GPS worked about 10% of the time with reboots fixing it for a short time.
First Android device and probably my last, I kept wishing I had my iPad that is sitting at home right now.
 
If anyone here with GPS problems on a 2013 Nexus 7 has updated to Android 4.4 KRT16S, can you post whether it made a difference?

I updated to Kit-Kat last week and it broke my GPS. My GPS had been working great with Android 4.3, however, with 4.4, I could not get any lock (with GPS status, Google Maps, Yelp, etc.). I ended up (with some hassle) reverting back to 4.3 (JSS15R), and the GPS worked fine again. Also, I have no problems with my magnetic lock case.

- - - Updated - - -

The kit kat update seems to have fixed the gps issues for me. I'm currently working on troubleshooting the wireless issues and I may have narrowed down the culprit, but overall the wireless works well too.


Interesting, I had exactly the opposite experience. GPS worked fine with 4.3 and would not lock at all with 4.4. I went back to 4.3 for now.
 
I purchased the Google Nexus 7 tablet for Christmas in 2012. Since I downloaded the 4.4 update, the GPS has not worked. Won't even lock on.
 
Sooo... glad to have found this blog! This has been driving me crazy. (And Walmart refused to take the unit back - Bad Walmart!) I'm anxious to try some of the work a rounds in here. I've been able to bring my GPS back a couple of times but it goes bad again real quick. I've done a couple of these but thanks for all of the good options to try! I got an RMA from Asus (very nice people but way behind the curve on issues), but now I think I'll hold off a while doing the work a rounds and wait for the updates. I've also read that a few (very brave) souls have gotten back to Jelly bean (4.3) which solves their issue. I wouldn't do it though - too scary a process for me and I'm not sure it doesn't void the warranty.

GOOGLE WHERE ARE YOU!!! This should not be that hard to fix!! The hard part has been done for you by your users. Please, don't go Microsoft on us! Help us GOOGLEee... ahhhh...!
 
I updated to Kit-Kat last week and it broke my GPS. My GPS had been working great with Android 4.3, however, with 4.4, I could not get any lock (with GPS status, Google Maps, Yelp, etc.). I ended up (with some hassle) reverting back to 4.3 (JSS15R), and the GPS worked fine again. Also, I have no problems with my magnetic lock case.

- - - Updated - - -

I thought I had updated this, but I guess not. In any event, I redid the KitKat upgrade some weeks later (currently at 4.4.2) and initially had the same GPS issue. However, after using the "GPS Status" app to reset the A-GPS data, it then worked fine!




Interesting, I had exactly the opposite experience. GPS worked fine with 4.3 and would not lock at all with 4.4. I went back to 4.3 for now.
 
Sooo... glad to have found this blog! This has been driving me crazy. (And Walmart refused to take the unit back - Bad Walmart!) I'm anxious to try some of the work a rounds in here. I've been able to bring my GPS back a couple of times but it goes bad again real quick. I've done a couple of these but thanks for all of the good options to try! I got an RMA from Asus (very nice people but way behind the curve on issues), but now I think I'll hold off a while doing the work a rounds and wait for the updates. I've also read that a few (very brave) souls have gotten back to Jelly bean (4.3) which solves their issue. I wouldn't do it though - too scary a process for me and I'm not sure it doesn't void the warranty.

GOOGLE WHERE ARE YOU!!! This should not be that hard to fix!! The hard part has been done for you by your users. Please, don't go Microsoft on us! Help us GOOGLEee... ahhhh...!

See my post a few minutes earlier. Try using GPS Status (Play Store) and reset the A-GPS data. That fixed the GPS for me.
 

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