LG Spectrum GPS issue

[jonvmurphy]

LG Spectrum GPS Issue

I just bought the LG Spectrum on May 2, 2012; upgraded from the HTC Incredible.  Overall, phone was great: menu was intuitive, screen was vibrant, texting was fine, and browsing speeds were good.  However, I have noted one major bug: GPS navigation issues!!  To me, this is the #1 functionality of the Androids for my personal use over the iPhone.

I started noticing GPS issues yesterday (Friday) when it would not locate my GPS location and initiate navigation ALL DAY.  Literally, never worked the entire day; it would just sit there Searching for GPS location and drain my battery in vain.  Today (Saturday), it worked upon first try, and then was spotty in subsequent tries (either didn't locate, or took awhile to locate).

I've read up online forums and articles and found that many other users have encountered GPS issues as well, in addition to other bugs.  I am very displeased with this and will be returning the LG Spectrum and reverting back to my HTC Incredible, where I had ZERO problems.  3G/4G is not that important to me right now.

I'm also displeased that my Verizon store sales rep told me that I have to pay the re-stocking fee, since this is a manufacturer's hardware/software defect... and I think Verizon should charge them back since this is their fault.  I did my due diligence in asking the Verizon Sales Rep all prudent questions on phone performance, and not once was this issue brought up (only phone quality).

[Dave-in-Decatur]

Jon, you might have better luck getting a response by starting a new thread for this topic. It gets kind of buried in the middle of this one.

[verizonmoderator1]

<Branched to a new discussion.>

[vzw_customer_support]

Hello jonvmurphy,

We definitely want you to love your new LG Spectrum! We are not reporting known issues with this handset. We would appreciate the opportunity to troubleshoot your device if you still have it. Additionally, if the device is determined to be defective within the first 14 days, you would receive a new replacement device of the same make and model. If you would like us to review your account and troubleshoot your handset, please send us an e-mail. Our e-mail address is vzwsupport@verizonwireless.com. You can send it to my attention. ^JHK

Sincerely,

JonathanK_VZW
VZW Support
Follow Us on Twitter@VZWSupport

[trixen]

I, too have the LG Spectrum and switched from the HTC Incredible, and I, too, have had problems with the GPS. Verizon has been absolutely AWFUL in tending to those issues, and even though I reported the issue within days of getting this new phone, I wasn't allowed to exchange it for a new one because I didn't have enough time in my day to go through ALL of the troubleshooting steps.  When I finally did have enough time, it was past the first 2 weeks and they told me that I could only get a "Certified Like New" replacement (i.e. someone else's problems).  I've been through this spiel before with Verizon.  When the USB port on my old Incredible wore down due to overuse (but NOTHING was internally wrong with the phone), they sent me a "Certified Like New" replacement.  I went through about 5 Incredibles in a month because they kept sending me refurbished duds.  LOUSY, VERIZON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jonvmurphy]

Hi JonathanK!

No worries.  I called Verizon Technical Customer Support to discuss this issue; unfortunately they didn't know of any major issues with GPS Navigation with the LG Spectrum in their databases; but regardless of this fact, I was having them, and so were many other users.  Technical Customer Support did note that a new firmware update (VS920ZV5,) was released in April (see notes here http://support.verizonwireless.com/pdf/system_update/lg_spectrum.pdf), and that the update notes mentioned "GPS fix" in it; however, Technical Customer Support did not guarantee that this would fix my issue... and not only that, the update wasn't rolled out to my area yet, and that the roll-out date for the Orlando area was unknown.  As I only had 9 days left within my 14-day return period, I did not want to take my chances and went ahead and returned the phone and reverted to my old HTC Incredible, where I had zero problems (GPS Navigation worked 99% of the time with both HTC Incredibles I owned, over the course of two years).

Now I need to figure out what other phone to get...  And the LG Spectrum ("latest and greatest") is kind of scaring me from these new phones... Seems like as the more advanced phones get, the more bugs and issues (based on reading reviews of all the phones).

I do want to note that I was very pleased with Verizon Technical Support, helpful as always, and I do not blame the issue of the LG Spectrum on them or Verizon.  Not only that, they gave me $15 back towards the re-stocking fee (no hassle) when I complained to them that the store I returned my phone charged me the re-stocking fee and said nothing could be done about it.  As noted, I was displeased with this notion because I returned the phone based on LG's manufacturer's hardware/software defect, and not because I simply changed my mind...

[vzw_customer_support]

Dci_roch, thank you for sharing your concerns about your GPS on your Spectrum. Please make sure you have the current software version for your device. There was one just pushed out on 5/14 and is still being pushed. Here is some info on that update: http://bit.ly/JRs7fL. Make sure that all of your GPS settings are turned on in Settings > Location & Security. Once phone is updated and all settings turned on, attempt using GPS again.

Let me know if you are still having any issues.

MarquiaF_VZW
Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

[dci_roch]

yes, I'm on the latest firmware.  I'm sure its a firmware issue with this phone though.  

Here are my observations,  when it can't find the GPS "signal";  if I check using the application "GPS STATUS" it has no

satellites found.   Doing a power off and back on resolves the issue until it loses its brain again.     Today I had to do this and while navigating and working fine,  I changed the destination,  and it "lost GPS" signal again.   I must add that this phone takes a long time to power off and back on; quite a problem when you are relying on it for navigation.   I never had this issue with my DROID X, I thought this phone was going to be an upgrade being 4G and 2 years newer.

I sent LG a support email, we will see if they own up to anything.

[dci_roch]

OK, here is the response from LG.  Not what I was looking for.   They want us to give up our TWO phones with the same "hardware defect" for a week plus shipping on our dime.     I highly doubt that there is any hardware issue, since it works perfectly after a reboot and finds satellites in 10 seconds!   As a software engineer of over 30 years I'd say hardware problems rarely exhibit the same issue over multiple new devices unless it is a design flaw.     I expect that all of these phones are exhibiting the same issue and that most people simply don't use them for navigation. 

Seems like a firmware issue to me.    Fess up LG, don't wast my time.  fix your firmware!

Dissatisfied LG spectrum customer!

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Thank you for contacting LG Electronics. I am delighted to hear from you as our valued customer, please be advise that I will be more than glad to respond to your inquiry.

First of all I do apologize for the inconvenience you are experiencing with the device and I will do my very best to help you out with this issue. Please be aware that if the carrier states that the phone has a GPS chip deffective, then we can set the phone for a repair service, please let me explain about the whole warranty process; please be aware that LG covers one year of warranty from the Original Purchase Date of the original phone and only covers if is a manufactured defect; cosmetic, physical or liquids damages are not covered nor accessories. In order to verify and isolate the issue with the phone, be advise that we are require from you, to mail the phone to our repair facilities in Fort Worth TX in order to be examinee by our technicians; After our technicians receive the device, they will take the decision to either repair it or replace it with one of our certified refurbished phones with no cost for you; if is not covered a repair charge may be apply and you will be notify prior to the repair in order to let you know about the cost first and also if you want to continue with the repair process. Be advise also that If is not covered and is irreparable we will simply return the device as the way that we received. The turn around process is approximately from 5 to 7 business days from the date that we receive the phone not including the shipping time. As far as a loaner or substitute, unfortunately LG does not offer substitute phones so I do suggest contacting your carrier to see if they could help out with that part and also be aware that you must cover the inbound shipping and handling and LG will cover the outbound shipping. Be advise that you are going to lose all your data.

Please reply this email if you want to set the phone for a repair.

[ramilidi]

we also switched from the htc incredible to the lg spectrum we had 3 replacements because the internet connect would stumble.    by the way we on our own switched the network to 3g it helped but of course GPS was exactly doing the same as you mention. i switched back to my incredible which works great other than i miss the big screen.