GPS is very very weak.
noticeable80
Newbie

My fascinate GPS is very very weak.

 

I turned on gps function and stood at outdoor during 10 minutes. but can't found gps signal.

 

My Motorola droid 1 was find gps signal <1 minute.

 

 

 

 

 

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Re: GPS is very very weak.
papa_leo
Contributor - Level 2

GPS problem on all Galaxy S phones (not just Fascinate) is a known issue to Samsung. Samsung promised to deliver correction to resolve this issue months ago when first Galaxy S phone made their way to AT&T and T-Mobile. Nothing is done so far...As much as I read, some people never experience any issue with GPS another like you have issues. Even CNET editors stated that several different units of Fascinate yielded different results with GPS. Some units couldn't locate satellites at all, some would take forever and a day to lock the signal, some would lose signal on and off, some would be several blocks off target, and some would be just fine. It is something that you will have to wait and see if correction will truly come through from Samsung. If GPS utility is a must have for you, I would suggest to ask VZW to exchange unit that you currently have, hoping that another one will be better (and not via versa).

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Re: GPS is very very weak.
firstlady09
Contributor - Level 3

Make sure that the GPS feature is enabled on the device. 


I have included the steps to making sure that the GPS feature is enabled.

 


From the home screen, select and hold the status bar (located at the top).
Drag the window shade down.
Select GPS.
 Enabled when a green indicator is present.
You can click here for more information   http://search.vzw.com/?do=viewdoc&amp;id=35219

                                                                                   

 



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Re: GPS is very very weak.
PJNC284
Master - Level 2

Unfortunately it's a known issue with the Fascinate and other Galaxy S branded devices (Captivate, Vibrant, Epic 4G) and nothing will fix it at this time.  A few seem to report that they get fast locks but the majority of the users are having the GPS issues after not using it for a while. 

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Re: GPS is very very weak.
papa_leo
Contributor - Level 2

I just like how firstlady09 responded to an issue with GPS, "Make sure that GPS feature is enabled...". It reminds me of the conversation with HP tech support from India call center.

 

HP (with strong Indian accent that makes him hardly understandable): Hello, this is John. How may I help you?

Me: Hello John. I have problem with my CD-ROM. It does not open when I press eject button".

HP: What is your HP contract id?

Me: xxx-xxxxx-xxxxxxxx-xxxxxxx

HP: Thank you. Let's me understand, you have problem with CD-ROM, right?

Me: Yes, that's correct.

HP: What is your system?

Me: XP

HP: May I recommend you to upgrade to Windows 7 Pro? This is new and improved Windows that will resolve your CD-ROM problem. Usual price is $199, today only for our VIP customers which is you (since when I became HP VIP customer, I have no idea) it is only $179 which is 10% immediate saving.

Me: Please elaborate how upgrade to Window 7 will resolve me problem?

HP: It is made to make all things work better.

Me: I am still not clear how it will help me. Is it something that I can do to resolve this problem with XP OS?

HP: OS? What is OS?

Me: Operating System.

HP: Please reboot your machine.

Me: I already rebooted twice, checked hardware profiles, and checked the registry. It is not helping. Is there anything else can be done?

HP: Please reboot you machine.

Me: Ok....Rebooted.

HP: Did it resolve your issue?

Me: Of course not. 

HP: You may want to conceder updating your system to Windows 7 Pro. This is new and improved Windows that will resolve y your CD-ROM issue. And it on sale today for $179.

Me: Forget it....and hang up the phone.

 

The long story short...HP support is reading script and the only task that John (where did you see John in India, but whatever) had is to sell. 

 

Verizon tech support, please, don't be as clueless as HP "John" and don't assume that your customers are clueless people and don't know that in order for GPS to work GPS needs to be turned on.

 

Instead, just accept the fact that phone has issues (not yours but Samsung) and try to treat us (your customers) accordingly. There is no shame to accept fault for a problem and offer a variable solution instead of giving that bull$hit answer.

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Re: GPS is very very weak.
papa_leo
Contributor - Level 2

Today (9/22/10), Samsung announced that correction for AT&T's equivalent of Fascinate (Samsung Captivate) GPS issue is available. Now, we can only hope that similar correction for GPS issue on Fascinate is not too far off.

 

Here is the official statement from Samsung.

 

An update to improve the Samsung Captivate's GPS performance is now available. Captivate customers will receive a notification on their device that an update is available and will simply need to download the file to update their phone. The updates will be pushed to customers' devices over the next few weeks. The update for the Captivate will also improve additional device functions, such as media scanning time, add the full version of Quickoffice and address Microsoft Exchange 2003 policy support.

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Re: GPS is very very weak.
PJNC284
Master - Level 2

A user over at Android Central figured out a way to get into the GPSsetup.apk and it seems that using Start GPS under Command prior to opening Google Maps gives a much quicker gps lock.  The catch is that you must be running Launcher Pro or ADW Launcher, both of which will allow you to create a shortcut on one of your homescreens to the GPSsetup.apk.

 

lhttp://forum.androidcentral.com/fascinate-roms-hacks/35964-got-into-gpstest-apk.html

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Re: GPS is very very weak.
lee811g
Newbie

I found a little trick to get the GPS to lock on almost instantly (an app I downloaded suggested this to get a better fix on my location - forget which one, though):

 

Turn on Wi-Fi...even if there is no Wi-Fi where you are, it allows the GPS to lock within a few seconds.

 

The Fascinate's GPS isn't great (my husband's Incredible gets a lock almost immediately, for example), but this tip helps tremendously! :smileyhappy:

 

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Re: GPS is very very weak.
papa_leo
Contributor - Level 2

Just my observance about previous suggestion of working Wi-Fi and GPS in conjuction.

 

I turned on Wi-Fi first and then turned on GPS. Then I lunched the GPS Test application and noticed no significant increase in speed of locking the GPS signal or the accuracy. In California suburb area with clear sky today, it took 1 min 35 sec to see 9 SPS and lock the signal on 4 of them with an accuracy of 35 ft while stationary.

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