Bad GPS fix and QuickGPS

[spaanplaat]

A lot of people here have problems with their windows 6.1 and GPS. It seems some people have more problems than others, but someone on this forum has found a registry setting which solves my problem. At least until I soft reset my device, this causes the registry setting to go back to standard.

I’m talking about this post:

This solution helped for me:
The problem was in the registry of QuickGPS.

I changed the region settings of my PPC to Dutch, but QuickGPS doesn’t get this settings. So I assume it’s downloading the wrong GPS information.

After I changed the following registry setting I had a fix almost immediately :

[HKLM] - Software\HTC\QuickGPS\region changed from -- to NL

After using GPS Test I got a fix very fast.

Using:
Kaiser
OS DCS 1.4 WM6.1
R 1.64.06.04

Believe it or not but this works for me as I live in Holland but I think this could work for everyone who has problems regarding 6.1 and GPS no matter what radio you use. All we have to find out what the region codes are.

But this is a temporary fix, as I said soft-reset causes the setting to jump back to ‘--’ again and GPS is very slow whit the fix. Is it possible to create some sort of cab file or setting to set the region setting in the registry to user settings at reboot or wake-up? Or is altering QuickGPS also possible? If someone could point me in the right direction I would be very grateful.

[kjb86]

A lot of people here have problems with their windows 6.1 and GPS. It seems some people have more problems than others, but someone on this forum has found a registry setting which solves my problem. At least until I soft reset my device, this causes the registry setting to go back to standard.

I’m talking about this post:



Believe it or not but this works for me as I live in Holland but I think this could work for everyone who has problems regarding 6.1 and GPS no matter what radio you use. All we have to find out what the region codes are.

But this is a temporary fix, as I said soft-reset causes the setting to jump back to ‘--’ again and GPS is very slow whit the fix. Is it possible to create some sort of cab file or setting to set the region setting in the registry to user settings at reboot or wake-up? Or is altering QuickGPS also possible? If someone could point me in the right direction I would be very grateful.


After thinking about this on my way to work, I came across the fact that since I use KaiserTweak it will set the default QuickGPS settings back, which of course has its region set to "--". So i'm assuming that's why when you reset your phone thats why it resets your settings again

[spaanplaat]

After thinking about this on my way to work, I came across the fact that since I use KaiserTweak it will set the default QuickGPS settings back, which of course has its region set to "--". So i'm assuming that's why when you reset your phone thats why it resets your settings again

Then I will look into the kaisertweak’s XML file and try to remove the QuickGPS settings and see if it works. Will keep you guys updated.



edit: Okay, this does not make any difference. So we have to find a way to set the user setting on every wake-up or boot. Does anyone know how to do this?

[spaanplaat]

edit: Thought I had the answer, turns out... I didn't

[kjb86]

edit: Thought I had the answer, turns out... I didn't

what do you mean "BUT AFTER YOU CHANGE THIS VALUE, FIRST REBOOT HAS TO BE DONE WITH SOME SOFTWARE, NOT WITH THE RESET BUTTON."???

[spaanplaat]

what do you mean "BUT AFTER YOU CHANGE THIS VALUE, FIRST REBOOT HAS TO BE DONE WITH SOME SOFTWARE, NOT WITH THE RESET BUTTON."???

No I found that answer using search, but doen't work with kaiser

[_Alex_]

QuickGPS runs as a service (a very annoying one if you don't disable the audio & popup and vibrate notification immediately :D).

Have you killed QuickGPS via task manager before editing the registry and then soft resetting? (I use dotfred's, best task manager + utils proggie out!)


If the application is re-writing the registry constantly with the settings it started with, then that may be the reason why editing the settings doesn't work and why it also doesn't stick.

Give that a try...

Hope this helps!

[kjb86]

QuickGPS runs as a service (a very annoying one if you don't disable the audio & popup and vibrate notification immediately :D).

Have you killed QuickGPS via task manager before editing the registry and then soft resetting? (I use dotfred's, best task manager + utils proggie out!)


If the application is re-writing the registry constantly with the settings it started with, then that may be the reason why editing the settings doesn't work and why it also doesn't stick.

Give that a try...

Hope this helps!


Hi _Alex_,

Thanks for your input.

I did try that, but unfortunately it still does not keep the same settings.

What I did was soft reset, change registry, soft reset - Then I had noticed that it kept the settings, but then I did a complete shut down and power up and then again, registry settings were back to '--"

[metalsaber]

I'm using the standard ATT ROM and the wierd thing for me is that I used the GSP (TomTom) on Tuesday with no issues. I tried to use it today and am unable to connect at all to the GPS via TomTom, Google Maps, or QuickGPS.

[_Alex_]

Hi _Alex_,

Thanks for your input.

I did try that, but unfortunately it still does not keep the same settings.

What I did was soft reset, change registry, soft reset - Then I had noticed that it kept the settings, but then I did a complete shut down and power up and then again, registry settings were back to '--"


But did you kill QuickGPS before editing the registry and proceeding to the soft reset? It runs as a hidden service, which is why I recommend using dotfred's task manager, because the standard HTC task manager might not show it running.

[kjb86]

But did you kill QuickGPS before editing the registry and proceeding to the soft reset? It runs as a hidden service, which is why I recommend using dotfred's task manager, because the standard HTC task manager might not show it running.

ahhh
No, still did not work. But thanks for trying, and yea that task manager shows a lot of programs that you can't see running

[someyungguy]

If you use Alexs kitchen, i think you can edit the Rgu file under region to reflex where you are and cook the package back into your rom and it would always reflex the region you choose?

[se0siris]

I've not tested it, but would a MortScript in the startup folder not do the job?

[KnifeFed]

I made a little MortScript and added it to startup:

While (1)
Sleep (60000)
If NOT regKeyEqualsString ("HKLM", "Software\HTC\QuickGPS\", "region", "SE")
RegWriteString ("HKLM", "Software\HTC\QuickGPS\", "region", "SE")
EndIf
EndWhile

This works and keeps the "SE"-setting (for Sweden), but having the script running constantly isn't exactly optimal as it uses processing power and thus adding to battery-drain. Anyone have any ideas on a different way of making the script, which is more effective/power-saving? Or is there an even better way to make the registry key stick?

[i1135t]

Hi all, after reading numerous articles about how to fix my issue with GPS, I've managed to find a fix using the UK radio rom compatible with Dutty's 6.1 rom. What I found out was the my first lock always never locked or took forever. So, what I did was go to the registry and left the key:

"HKLM", "Software\HTC\QuickGPS\", "region" to "--"

Then for the first time, after a hard-boot, (power off/on), I had to do this once:

1. Start up GPSTool
2. Change the setting to "Warm Start" and click "open".
3. Leave the app running and open up my TOMTOM application.
4. Give it about a minute or two and then it would lock, no problems.
5. I then, exited out of TOMTOM and closed the GPSTool.


So, for the next time I need to start a GPS, enabled tool, I would just start it up and no problems, it locks right away, until the next hard-boot. Then I would do this again. Kinda stinks, but this was the ONLY working solution for now because I don't feel like flashing my phone again. I have many apps installed and it takes forever to reinstall everything. Hope this was helpful for some people. Enjoy!

--edit

Well, looks like GPSGate fixed another phone... hehe, very happy now!! Thanks all for mentioning the program!

[chris247]

Hi all, after reading numerous articles about how to fix my issue with GPS, I've managed to find a fix using the UK radio rom compatible with Dutty's 6.1 rom. What I found out was the my first lock always never locked or took forever. So, what I did was go to the registry and left the key:

"HKLM", "Software\HTC\QuickGPS\", "region" to "--"

Then for the first time, after a hard-boot, (power off/on), I had to do this once:

1. Start up GPSTool
2. Change the setting to "Warm Start" and click "open".
3. Leave the app running and open up my TOMTOM application.
4. Give it about a minute or two and then it would lock, no problems.
5. I then, exited out of TOMTOM and closed the GPSTool.


So, for the next time I need to start a GPS, enabled tool, I would just start it up and no problems, it locks right away, until the next hard-boot. Then I would do this again. Kinda stinks, but this was the ONLY working solution for now because I don't feel like flashing my phone again. I have many apps installed and it takes forever to reinstall everything. Hope this was helpful for some people. Enjoy!

--edit

Well, looks like GPSGate fixed another phone... hehe, very happy now!! Thanks all for mentioning the program!

I don't understand the link between:
- the registry key "HKLM", "Software\HTC\QuickGPS\", "region"
- and what you said about GPSTool
In the end how do you solve the problem with the region ?

Chris

[i1135t]

The GPSTool is built into the Dutty's 6.1 ROM. Don't get that confused with the GPSGate application. They are two seperate apps.

In order for this to work, I set had to set my the registry entry "region" from "US" to "--". The full path location is listed above. I think when I ran the QuickGPS utility, it set my region to "US" in the registry. You will have to regedit it back to "--" then try what I did, or it may not work. It didn't for me until I changed it back to default, which is "--". I remember reading somewhere here that a "warm boot" was clearing the RAM within the GPS hardware, so I played around with the idea of it running, while starting up a GPS enabled application and got it to work.

But I eventually decided to use the GPSGate application which solved my problem, without having to run the GPSTool method. Note that I got a quicker lock, after regediting the region area back to "--" and running the GPSGate application. Usually the first lock would never happen or take well over 10 min. Now, the first lock is with 1-2 min. which is fine for me and every subsequent time I need to use a GPS enabled application, it would lock right-away, within seconds, until the next hard-boot (power off/on). Hope that clears things up a little.

[kamark]

The GPSTool is built into the Dutty's 6.1 ROM. Don't get that confused with the GPSGate application. They are two seperate apps.

In order for this to work, I set had to set my the registry entry "region" from "US" to "--". The full path location is listed above. I think when I ran the QuickGPS utility, it set my region to "US" in the registry. You will have to regedit it back to "--" then try what I did, or it may not work. It didn't for me until I changed it back to default, which is "--". I remember reading somewhere here that a "warm boot" was clearing the RAM within the GPS hardware, so I played around with the idea of it running, while starting up a GPS enabled application and got it to work.

But I eventually decided to use the GPSGate application which solved my problem, without having to run the GPSTool method. Note that I got a quicker lock, after regediting the region area back to "--" and running the GPSGate application. Usually the first lock would never happen or take well over 10 min. Now, the first lock is with 1-2 min. which is fine for me and every subsequent time I need to use a GPS enabled application, it would lock right-away, within seconds, until the next hard-boot (power off/on). Hope that clears things up a little.

Hmm good solution now its takes less than a min to start tomtom. thanks.

[thanutz]

Is this problem in all wm6.1 roms....Im certain that this is the issue with mine as once i downloaded data my fix was much more rapid then without (1.5-2.5mins, no tall buildings around clear line of sight). Any wm6.1 not have this issue??

[KnifeFed]

But I eventually decided to use the GPSGate application which solved my problem

What exactly is it that GPSGate does to solve the problem? Any specific settings you need to apply in GPSGate?

[i1135t]

thanutz, I'm not sure if this is a flaw in WM 6.1 or not. I'm not a programmer or anything, so I can't tell you for sure. It seems that there are different fixes posted all over this forum, one that will or will not work on your PDA. You will just have to try one at a time and see what works for YOU.

KnifeFed, GPSGate is an application that you have to download and install onto your PDA. No specific settings, that I know of, other than the default. When I installed it, I just went through the wizard and scanned for all possible ports. Then it should be good to go after that as long as it's "yellow" or "green". The "yellow" icon means that the port was detected, but no running application is using it. "Red" is no good and "green" means the port is good and being used by an application. When I first power it on (hard-boot), it's yellow, then eventually turns "green". To configure my GPS application, I had to go into my TOMTOM software and change the GPS port to the one created by the GPSGate application, which was "com 1". Then after the reconfiguration, it was able to lock onto a GPS signal within 1-2 mins. Note that this was my first try after a hard-boot. All other tries locked on within seconds after the first lock, for example, a soft-reset or sleep-mode. Good luck and hope this makes sense to you.

[KnifeFed]

thanutz, I'm not sure if this is a flaw in WM 6.1 or not. I'm not a programmer or anything, so I can't tell you for sure. It seems that there are different fixes posted all over this forum, one that will or will not work on your PDA. You will just have to try one at a time and see what works for YOU.

KnifeFed, GPSGate is an application that you have to download and install onto your PDA. No specific settings, that I know of, other than the default. When I installed it, I just went through the wizard and scanned for all possible ports. Then it should be good to go after that as long as it's "yellow" or "green". The "yellow" icon means that the port was detected, but no running application is using it. "Red" is no good and "green" means the port is good and being used by an application. When I first power it on (hard-boot), it's yellow, then eventually turns "green". To configure my GPS application, I had to go into my TOMTOM software and change the GPS port to the one created by the GPSGate application, which was "com 1". Then after the reconfiguration, it was able to lock onto a GPS signal within 1-2 mins. Note that this was my first try after a hard-boot. All other tries locked on within seconds after the first lock, for example, a soft-reset or sleep-mode. Good luck and hope this makes sense to you.

Yeah, I've installed the program and have it running ok. I'm just curious to know exactly what it is it does to solve the problem. As far as I know GPSGate is simply a program that allows you to share the GPS-device between several different applications, by using a virtual COM-port. I just don't really understand how it helps in getting a fix faster.

Also, it seems that since I installed GPSGate the battery drain has been atrocious. The phone was fully charged at 5pm and I didn't use it much during the evening, but when I woke up this morning I found it was dead already. I have KaiserNotifications configured so that no LED's should be blinking at all unless I have a missed call (red LED blinks), new SMS/MMS (blue LED blinks) or bluetooth turned on (green LED blinks), but when GPSGate was running the amber LED blinked constantly. I unchecked "Start GPSGate at soft-reset" and rebooted, and the blinking stopped. Anyone else having problems with GPSGate and battery life?

[ausrin]

I don't know whether this is helpful or not but I had problems before trying to get GPS fix using my MAP King 2007.

I've tried many things including standing in an open space, installing quick GPS etc. etc. BUT what I found the best way to get a quick fix is to put the PDA on top of the car (let it rest on the car, no hands holding it, let it touch with the metal of the car) and surprise, surprise, within 1 min I would get a fix on my Map King.

Personally, my own opinion that is, that the metal of the car acts as a bigger receiver and allows a quicker fix.

I told my brother about it who uses a Garmin GPS and he gets a fix even quicker, within 30 secs as compared to holding it on your hand.

Anyway, that's my 5 cents worth of advise / comment. Hope it works for you guys.

Cheers

[Heimiko]

I simply made a MortScript file to set the reg entry and start tomtom in sequence, instead of using the tomtom shortcut or today plugin, I now simply use this mortscript to startup tomtom.

Simply do this:

RegWriteString ("HKLM", "Software\HTC\QuickGPS\", "region", "XX")
Run("\Program Files\Navigator\TomTom Navigator.exe")

(and ofcorse, replace XX with your country code)

In this way, there's no background script that keeps attempting to set the registry entry every minute or so.
The first time after a hard-boot tomtom takes quite a long while to get a fix, subsequent fixes are really fast.

[thanutz]

I simply made a MortScript file to set the reg entry and start tomtom in sequence, instead of using the tomtom shortcut or today plugin, I now simply use this mortscript to startup tomtom.

Simply do this:

RegWriteString ("HKLM", "Software\HTC\QuickGPS\", "region", "XX")
Run("\Program Files\Navigator\TomTom Navigator.exe")

(and ofcorse, replace XX with your country code)

In this way, there's no background script that keeps attempting to set the registry entry every minute or so.
The first time after a hard-boot tomtom takes quite a long while to get a fix, subsequent fixes are really fast.

By far the best soln....any chance u can package that in a cab? I dont know what/how to use a mort script! Thanks

[wiljums]

My region is always set to NL, even after a soft-reset.
I do have a problem with getting a fix, what baudrate have you guys chosen?

[ionutz6]

sorry if this is somehow offtopic, but i got a question: what if you are from one country, lets say NL and you travel to UK. When you first open your GPS software it takes a very long time until it finds the sattelites. Is there any way to shorten that timeframe? I suppose it would be possible by changing the country code in the registry as you describe above, but it wouldnt make sense, would it.
I thought the Quick GPS is downloading sattelite data based on the mobile network code, or the class of the IP address (if doing so by A/S). What you say above means that it downloads data based on the regional setting you have defined, but it doesnt make sense, since you may ttravel to a totally different country.
Im from Romania, i traveled to Spain the other week and when turning my kaiser on there, i ran a Quick GPS hoping to get sattelites very quick in MioMap afterwards, but i didnt. it took like forever to get sat data, although quick gps update was succesful. i understand now why based on what you explain above. But the question remains: if travelling, how to improve speed on finding sattelites?
Sorry if im mistaken or unclear in some parts.

[Heimiko]

By far the best soln....any chance u can package that in a cab? I dont know what/how to use a mort script! Thanks

Simply copy and paste that script text I gave some posts back into a file, call it something with an extension of .mscr (ie StartNav.mscr)
Then all you need to do is start this file, the rest goes automatic. (provided that you have already installed mortscript itself)

[Xtreme XL]

I simply made a MortScript file to set the reg entry and start tomtom in sequence, instead of using the tomtom shortcut or today plugin, I now simply use this mortscript to startup tomtom.

Simply do this:

RegWriteString ("HKLM", "Software\HTC\QuickGPS\", "region", "XX")
Run("\Program Files\Navigator\TomTom Navigator.exe")

(and ofcorse, replace XX with your country code)

In this way, there's no background script that keeps attempting to set the registry entry every minute or so.
The first time after a hard-boot tomtom takes quite a long while to get a fix, subsequent fixes are really fast.


Great sollution!
tnx for this little piece of script!

[Draqula]

Any news on the 6.1 vs slow GPS fix issue?
Anyone?

[gabriel31337]

How about changing these reg-keys:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\0\0\IP -> htctsvr.htc.com.tw
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\0\1\IP -> htctsvr.htc.com.tw
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\1\0\IP -> htctsvr.htc.com.tw
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\1\1\IP -> htctsvr.htc.com.tw
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\2\0\IP -> htctsvr.htc.com.tw
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\2\1\IP -> htctsvr.htc.com.tw

Might help...

The other one I have been using for a long time is:
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\0\0\IP -> xtra1.gpsonextra.net
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\0\1\IP -> xtra1.gpsonextra.net
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\1\0\IP -> xtra1.gpsonextra.net
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\1\1\IP -> xtra1.gpsonextra.net
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\2\0\IP -> xtra1.gpsonextra.net
HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS\2\1\IP -> xtra1.gpsonextra.net

[wisniak]

I simply made a MortScript file to set the reg entry and start tomtom in sequence, instead of using the tomtom shortcut or today plugin, I now simply use this mortscript to startup tomtom.

Simply do this:

RegWriteString ("HKLM", "Software\HTC\QuickGPS\", "region", "XX")
Run("\Program Files\Navigator\TomTom Navigator.exe")

(and ofcorse, replace XX with your country code)

In this way, there's no background script that keeps attempting to set the registry entry every minute or so.
The first time after a hard-boot tomtom takes quite a long while to get a fix, subsequent fixes are really fast.

Specifically, which country codes are available?
I do not have the "region" key in the registry.

Thank you.

[tyguy]

6.1 ROMs should have the xtra1.gpsonextra.net entry (xtra1 to 3 if I'm not mistaken - too lazy to grab the phone). If yours has xxxyyy.tw change as described.

[primbcadman]

6.1 ROMs should have the xtra1.gpsonextra.net entry (xtra1 to 3 if I'm not mistaken - too lazy to grab the phone). If yours has xxxyyy.tw change as described.


Hi. I'm in the US. Looking in regedit I Have the + 0, 1, 2 and a SNTP folders. In the SNTP it shows that my region code is xtra1.gpsonextra.net REG_SZ in xtra 1 2 and 3.

So what does that mean and what should it be for USA?

hope you can help please

[Stano 74]

Hi,

I would like what to do with the same problem (probably) ? I am in Slovakia, ROM is the original ona from HTC (WM 6.1) What and where I should do somethink?

Thank You!!!

I am not very experienced user, so I hope I understand what to do.

[Flying Kiwi]

I am not very experienced user, so I hope I understand what to do.I realise you are quite new here but please read the private message I sent you in response to your earlier posting about the same issue in the Kaiser General forum. My pm (that I sent well before you posted in this thread) includes a direct link to the *Hopeless* GPS after 6.1 upgrade thread. Reading both that and this thread, along with the wiki and stickies should give you all the information you need.

[Stano 74]

Would not it be easier and faster write me what to do as to teach me? I have no time to read all the day all possible threats. I think that it is not bad to ask. If I would and could help somebody, I would give him the information not this kind of a "good" advise.

[halftone]

Simply copy and paste that script text I gave some posts back into a file, call it something with an extension of .mscr (ie StartNav.mscr)
Then all you need to do is start this file, the rest goes automatic. (provided that you have already installed mortscript itself)

Excellent, thanks !

Now to find out how to run that script file as the "Press and hold" on the ptt as tomtom was

[PeterCiulla]

Excellent, thanks !

Now to find out how to run that script file as the "Press and hold" on the ptt as tomtom was

Maybe make a link to the script file, and put in in windows\start menu\programs. You might be able to assign it to the button that way.

-Pete

[kungfu852]

Thanks guys advised changing HKLM\SOFTWARE\HTC\QuickGPS, region "--". I now amazingly get GPS fixed within 10 secs.

The default region of my HTC Cruise is "--". I have contacted local HTC support who claim that unable keep region as changed after SR because HTC does not support quickgps as it's third party application and that HTC is selling worldwide so no particular region set, which I don't agree, after all, it's end product of HTC who will be blamed if the gps fix is not working!

Think Qucikgps providing choice of regions for downloading ephemeris data is ultimate solution. Anything can be done with Quickgps developer?
-----
HTC Cruise
WM 6.1