NEW workaround for GPS using wifi - INSTANT Lock even indoors

[jmreed97]

While I am new to this forum I wanted to share with you something I discovered on my phone the other day the other day. I made the original post on androidforums.com

NEW fix for GPS using wifi - INSTANT Lock indoors - Android Forums

I hope this provides some help while we wait for a real fix from Samsung.

 

[Lyanheart]

That is actually a part of the more elaborate "fix" that has been talked about for the past week. You are getting your location via cellular towers, and it shows roughly where you are on the map, but doesn't work for Google Nav turn-by-turn unless it also gets a hard lock on actual satellites.

 

[jmreed97]

That is actually a part of the more elaborate "fix" that has been talked about for the past week. You are getting your location via cellular towers, and it shows roughly where you are on the map, but doesn't work for Google Nav turn-by-turn unless it also gets a hard lock on actual satellites.

No this is Cell towers in conjunction with wifi network triangulation to make it more accurate. Have "use Wireless networks" (those are actually Cell towers) checked you will get an accuracy of 1500 meters. If you then turn on your wifi and there are wifi networks where you are. Your accuracy will be 50 meters (the change is almost immediate).

This is enough for me to use google nav with my GPS off! -as long as I don't leave the city where there are no wifi networks for me to triangulate off of.

The problem with my GPS is that is takes 10 minutes to lock. I turn on "Use wireless networks, use GPS satellites, then I turn on wifi (I haven't seen anyone else post that part) and i immediately get a 50 meter lock. I begin to drive and by the time I reach the freeway, the GPS gets its lock and I can accuately get to where I need to go.

 

[Lyanheart]

Sounds like something that would only be effective in densely populated areas with a lot of established wifi networks in place. I imagine most people in your situation havn't even noticed that the Captivate's true GPS is not working, for exactly the reason why your setup works for you.

The rest of us hillbillies and rednecks out in the sticks are stuck waiting for an update from Samsung/ATT

 

[Joeybear23]

Sounds like something that would only be effective in densely populated areas with a lot of established wifi networks in place. I imagine most people in your situation havn't even noticed that the Captivate's true GPS is not working, for exactly the reason why your setup works for you.

The rest of us hillbillies and rednecks out in the sticks are stuck waiting for an update from Samsung/ATT

I spend a lot of time in Harrisburg, though I live in TX, and I was able to get 7 satellites locked within a few seconds after applying BigTex's fix.

I'll see if I can bump that thread back up to the top.

 

[BigTex]

I spend a lot of time in Harrisburg, though I live in TX, and I was able to get 7 satellites locked within a few seconds after applying BigTex's fix.

I'll see if I can bump that thread back up to the top.

Lucky you 'cuz BigTex is without GPS lock.

Glad someone benefited!

 

[lillejord]

I actually seam to do fine with Skyhook wireless turned off. I have the mode set to Standalone rather than MSbased. Also have GPS plus turned off. If I have all the "assists" turned on it takes forever to get a n "accurate" reading. First I get the cell tower that puts me 1700 meters away and then eventually I get the WiFi but that puts me 50 meters away. If I turn all that off I can watch the little blue arrow slowly get closer to me as more satellites connect. Eventually it gets inside of 5 meters. Inside its more like 10-15 meters.