GPS Frustrations on the 6800 [Archive]

JerrytheGreat

13-03-2008, 03:20 AM

I've been following the threads on XDA for a while now, and have been having a great time flashing, de-flashing, reflashing, cooking, and in every other way messing with my Alltel HTC 6800.

The reason I took such an interest in all of this was to get the GPS working on my phone. Thanks to all that have contributed, I have been able to access the GPS, but it usually takes HOURS to get a lock, no matter what version radio I use.

There are no duhhs here; I've tested multiple scenarios, inside, outside, waiting for a lock, moving, not moving, using quickGPS, Google maps, GPS viewer, the latest radio, etc.

I would like to explore what the people with GPS success have in common, and what those with GPS frustrations have in common (excluding noobie issues).

If your GPS is working great, post your geography and carrier. If it's not, do the same. If you're a pro who likes a challenge, lets find out what the issues are (if they are indeed something that can be dealt with programmatically).

*****Please list your Carrier******

silentjoker

13-03-2008, 03:34 AM

I also have a alltel htc 6800 and upgraded for the gps feature. I live in ohio and sometimes have trouble aquireing a signal with gps. I have tried a couple things to get the signal usually it takes a while sometimes i can grab it really quick if you wana trail and error something we can to find out whats wrong.

JerrytheGreat

13-03-2008, 03:41 AM

I'm in Florida. Alltel htc 6800. I'm currently using dcd's 3.0.0 with the 3.35 radio. I actually haven't gotten a lock at all since upgrading the radio, but its only been 1 day.

I suspect geography to be a big factor but gosh darn, alot of boats and cars use GPS in Florida with no issues!

koilmaker

13-03-2008, 03:53 AM

Bell in Calgary. I am getting "locked" every time I do a hard reset within 1-2 min. It has never been a problem and I have used all DCD roms since Nov 07.

steb0ne

13-03-2008, 04:02 AM

Sprint in Virginia, and I get a lock in like 15 secounds.

heatbball

13-03-2008, 04:05 AM

living in south florida, locks in like 15 secs too using google maps,

btw using dcd 3.0 with new radio

christak

13-03-2008, 04:09 AM

Takes about 15 seconds in NW Florida too.. Standard Sprint 3.35 ROM...

Was taking me 4 to 5 minutes with DCD 2.3.2 ROM and the 3.27 radio...

simoncinis

13-03-2008, 04:13 AM

I have Sprint, 3.35 radio with dcd 3.0.0, in CT, using Garmin Mobile XT, get lock in under 2 mins (usually under 1) to anywhere from 6-11 sats.

I prev. had 3.27 with dcd 2.3.1 and used Garmin xt and google maps while on vaca in FLA, same lock time 1-2 mins, no problems at all, then drove from FL to CT using garmin xt and only lost sat connection 2-3 times for less than 10-15 seconds.

Sorry but mine is working superbly, and i cant think of anything special or different i've done.

I do not use any astrolauncher or gps gateway apps. i do have quick gps with the dcd rom though.

Geckotek

13-03-2008, 04:20 AM

Verizon - Dallas - DCD 3.0.0 - Windows Live Search - can't get a lock indoors 10 ft from windows - outdoors get within 15 miles in a few seconds, gets right on my location as I move around.

JerrytheGreat

13-03-2008, 04:38 AM

Who is your carrier, Heatball?

JerrytheGreat

13-03-2008, 04:42 AM

Could it be that Alltel's 6800 has something different under the hood? Its starting to look like a carrier-specific issue, not geographic.

gbenj

13-03-2008, 04:47 AM

im in binghamton, new york, and sometimes i get a lock in a minute or so and get anywhere from 3-7 sats, sometimes it takes a few minutes, not more than 4. but sometimes i cant get one for what seems like a long time until i give up and try again later. still havent figured out how to make sure its solid enough to rely on.
cant wait to get back home to the city(NYC) and see what its like there. hopefully someone posts there results on this thread.
im on dcd 3.0.1 with the new radio, obviously.

kennyidaho

13-03-2008, 04:51 AM

Sprint, Idaho.

With the unOfficial ROM locks took 5 to 10 mins. With Official ROM locks with in 15 seconds - 2 min. Depending upon surrounding enviroment.

dwertz

13-03-2008, 05:04 AM

I have a Alltel 6800 in Phoenix, AZ and running DCD 3.0.0 Radio 3.35.04 and mine locks on to 5 to 9 satelites usually 15 feet off within 2-5 minutes

heatbball

13-03-2008, 05:07 AM

Who is your carrier, Heatball?

my carrier is sprint

orlandojumpoff

13-03-2008, 05:11 AM

sprint, florida, 10-15 secs with the new rom

bombzhome

13-03-2008, 06:00 AM

sprint, florida, 10-15 secs with the new rom

Are you guys using DCDs 6.1 Rom or the stock Sprint ROM? I think that's what matters the most here.. I'm getting satellites, but none of them are locking on so I can't do anything with them.

dizwayney

13-03-2008, 04:13 PM

Mid-Michigan - Alltel - PPC6800 -

Radio 3.27 - DCD 2.32
I was acquiring signal in about 2 - 3 minutes with TomTom

Radio 3.35 - DCD 3.0
I'm acquiring signal in about 10 - 20 seconds with TomTom

I'm using BAF's GPS Launcher to launch.

dangelon

13-03-2008, 04:22 PM

Raleigh, NC - Alltel - PPC6800 -

Radio 3.27 - DCD 2.32
I was acquiring signal in about 2 - 3 minutes Google Maps

Radio 3.35 - DCD 3.0.0
I'm acquiring signal in about .5 - 1 minute with Google Maps

Getting ready to try out DCD 3.0.1...and hopefully that will be my last flash for a while, I bought this thing to save time and have found myself spending more time flashing, setting everything back up, walking around my neighborhood staring at the GPS screen, etc... than being productive. But, I love the new toy! :)

marriotheblackguy

13-03-2008, 04:28 PM

I'm on Sprint in Washington DC, using the stock 3.35 ROM with Live Search and Quick GPS. Without QGPS I get a lock in about 15 seconds with it I get a lock in like 5 secs.

RamAir02

13-03-2008, 04:31 PM

New Jersey here with dcd 2.3.2 and radio 3,27 and have never been able to get a lock either. used nue2chem's 5048 rom before and couldn't get a lock either.

Pegasus"143"

13-03-2008, 05:55 PM

Port Arthur, Tx - Verizon - XV6800 -

Radio 3.27 - DCD 2.32
I was acquiring signal in about 2 - 3 minutes Google Maps

Radio 3.35 - DCD 3.0.1
I'm acquiring signal in about .5 - 1 minute with Google Maps

dangelon

13-03-2008, 07:57 PM

dizwayney

13-03-2008, 08:07 PM

Just to clarify, the first lock after a ROM flash has taken me anywhere from 2-5 minutes.

Same here.

thakidc

13-03-2008, 09:54 PM

im on sprint using the new 3.35 rom my app is gps today i live in wny i get 4 satts minimum inside my house and 9 min outside both scenarios i get a lock in under a minute

Jaquers

14-03-2008, 01:20 AM

VZW user in Central MN... On my first boot with DCD 3.0.0 I acquired a fix (6-8 sats.) in about 20-30 secs using Google maps.

orlandojumpoff

14-03-2008, 03:15 AM

just the new sprint rom
Are you guys using DCDs 6.1 Rom or the stock Sprint ROM? I think that's what matters the most here.. I'm getting satellites, but none of them are locking on so I can't do anything with them.

orlandojumpoff

14-03-2008, 03:20 AM

When i first updated to the new rom i had the same problem tho... gps wasnt working.. i had to reinstall due to some other problems and it started working right away (thank gopdness). So maybe something went wrong during your installation? Also be sure to let the sprint customization take place after the install.
Are you guys using DCDs 6.1 Rom or the stock Sprint ROM? I think that's what matters the most here.. I'm getting satellites, but none of them are locking on so I can't do anything with them.

hohnan

14-03-2008, 03:25 AM

Been traveling in St Louis, Old DCD rom would lock in 1-2 minutes and never in the house. 1st time I fired up GPS w/ DCD's 3.0.0 I locked on in seconds inside my hotel room. I have Sprint.:)

dbrown2

14-03-2008, 03:37 AM

Columbia, SC - VZW 6800 -

Radio 3.27 - DCD 2.32
I was acquiring signal in about 2 - 3 minutes with TomTom, Garmin XT and IGO and longer on first boot. Need a GPS launcher to get GPS to work.

Radio 3.35 - DCD 3.0
I'm acquiring signal in about 10 - 20 seconds with Garmin XT (don't use others now) and do not need a GPS Launcher.

It get more sats now (about 8 to 11) and seems to be off more to my location. Although I would really need another GPS to make sure. I think Garmin's maps are not as good as Tom Tom or IGO. I don't think it's the gps, but more the map I am using.

Keystone

14-03-2008, 03:52 AM

New Jersey here with dcd 2.3.2 and radio 3,27 and have never been able to get a lock either. used nue2chem's 5048 rom before and couldn't get a lock either.As I noted in the GPS FAQ with two Titans, side-by-side running identicals ROMs and images, one could regularly lock-on to and hold multiple satelites within 30 seconds while the other unit would be lucky to get a lock onto one or two satelites within 30 minutes and then would lose a lock within minutes. That experiment has been repeated with identical results today with the the latest radio and DCD 3.0.1 on both units, side-by-side indoors and outdoors.

There is likely a hardware discrepency amongst Titans. It's unlikely to be software or user error and just luck of the draw as to how GPS efficient your particular unit is.

JerrytheGreat

16-03-2008, 05:33 AM

Update--it must be a combination of device and geography:
On my Alltel 6800 with DCD 3.0.1:
Went to Orlando, FL today--got 7+ sats immediately, locked in 10 seconds, repeated
Drove throught Tampa, FL --got 4+sats, locked in 20 seconds, then swerved and stopped playing
Got to Sarasota, FL 1 sat, no lock.

Keystone

16-03-2008, 08:01 AM

Update--it must be a combination of device and geography:Weather too as heavy overcast will have an effect. This will be particularly true wth those units that already have issues with weak reception and difficulties locking on. For them, clear days may give passable results but with heavy clouds, nada.

friguy33

16-03-2008, 12:49 PM

just upgraded to the new rom, radio 3.27. got a lock with google maps in ~10-20 sec in my house about 5 feet from the window.

Verizon - Brooklyn NY

billcohen

16-03-2008, 03:30 PM

Alltel in Tucson, AZ

Takes 5-10 min for a lock and accuracy can pretty bad. I have seen it off as much as 100 yards; often the location marker moves off of the street. Refresh also seems to be slow. Between the inaccurate reading and slow refresh, it is not practical.

frazmanw

16-03-2008, 03:57 PM

Sprint Cape Cod Mass, DCD's 3.0.1 kitchen with new radio....

Tomtom 6 launched by astrolauncher

LOCK in like 10 or 15 sec tops!!! many many sats...even indoors.

kain144000

16-03-2008, 06:37 PM

rawr

16-03-2008, 07:44 PM

Telus - Toronto, Canada

locks about as quickly as my Holux M1000 BT puck does but it's not as accurate. Sometimes it'll be a kilometre or 2 off in any app I use. iGuidance 4.0 requires that I tap the screen periodically to update it.

rschell

17-03-2008, 01:55 AM

Hey, my probs not w/ the GPS locking, but w/ it being buggy and not waking up /reinitiating upon device waking from standby. Or, at least GPS Test no longer updates data. Sometimes no change from "GPS Starting Up". Is it the s/w, driver, unit, or ROM(s) (stock v3.35, DCD's and no2chem's v.3.35-based ROMs)? I believe it worked fine w/ the leaked v3.16. BTW, this doesn't happen all of the time, but once it does happen, I have to soft reset.

I have similar standby issues, GPS works fine until the phone is in standby for a period. Then I have to soft reset to get GPS to work again. Tried GPSGate, it helped some, but problem still exists. Any app to reset the GPS hardware?

chong67

17-03-2008, 02:24 AM

itsvart

18-03-2008, 06:27 PM

Sprint, New Rom 3.35, Los Angeles, 8 sats in under 10 secs.....wowaawewaa

rp3319

18-03-2008, 06:57 PM

I have similiar problem also.

I cant get my GPS to wake up from standby.

I go to google map and it cant find my GPS.

Then I use those AstroGPSLauncher to lauch my iGuidance and my GPSGate turn ON, then I can pretty much do what I want.

I dont know how to turn on my GPSGate.

I must be having a similar issue with GPS not coming out of standby mode or something. I'm using GPSToday today plugin. When I have issues, it doesn't seem to be able to open the GPS connection at all.

dizwayney

18-03-2008, 08:35 PM

gman16000

19-03-2008, 02:37 AM

VZW 6800. Flashed with 3.35 and then 3.0.1. Everything works but I never (>10 minutes outside) get a GPS lock in Google or MSN.

Is there a config that needed? Like settings->Phone->Location Services (which I have turned on)

Any other procedure that anyone had luck with? (like a hard reset)

I love the 3.0.1 Rom but I really wanted the GPS.

j-squared

19-03-2008, 01:57 PM

I'm just wondering if those that have the problem getting a lock have tried downgrading to the stock rom and then reflashing with new radio and DCD's latest. A buddy of mine couldn't get a lock after flashing with 3.27 DCD 2.32. We upgraded him to 3.35 and DCD 3.01 and still no lock. We followed the instructions here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=376873
and took him back to stock, then reflashed directly to 3.35 and DCD 3.01 and yareeka, the GPS is now locking within 1 - 2 minutes in Google Maps. I don't know if this will work for everyone but I wanted to confirm that this did work for us. He has a Verizon 6800 by the way.

I did this by accident because i buggered up the original flash of the 3.0.0 ROm (my fault). Went back to stock ROM on Verizon - went directly to 3.0.0 (I added in the MMS myself and only one minor reg tweek) and this is a very stable phone now and I get a lock quite easily. I do use GPS Viewer to get the GPS up and running - then TomTom, Google, Yahoo or Microsoft Live all find the GPS rather quickly - (1-2 minutes).

ilogik

19-03-2008, 02:51 PM

Ohio tri state area, Sprint, lock onto 8 stats in about 15 seconds.

dsiminiuk

19-03-2008, 05:15 PM

ok, I'm new to using portable GPS devices but am very familiar with the GPS system infrastructure (satellite constellations and radio data transmission aspects). I have a Sprint PPC6800 Mogul (HTC TyTn), and I recently updated the ROM to enable the GPS. Old toys are new again!

I had little to no trouble with iNav iGuidance 3.0. I used the Astro GPS Launcher to initialize the GPS and kick of iGuidance. The fact that the maps were not current (and not updateable) was the driving factor to upgrade to iGuidance 4.0. I like 4.0 much better in that the TTS is faster, the TTS also speaks the street names now, and oh yeah, the map data is more up to date.

However, getting iGuidance 4.0 working properly has been a chore and I'm not all that happy about the complexity needed to make it work. Launching iGuidance 4.0 on it's own does sort of work but the screen doesn't update when you navigate or move. Launching iGuidance with the Astro GPS Launcher appears to make no difference. Once in awhile the screen will update if you touch the screen or a button. The GPS data appears to be valid and updating every second as expected. You can even record the track to a file -- play it back later and it appears to track as expected (screen updates fine during playback).

I've read about using GPS Gate to start the GPS and fracture/split the GPS signal to many output devices, but it does not start the GPS by itself. "Error opening Com Port", "No data" etc.

I fnally got it all working but it's a pain:

1) Start GPS Gate 2.6 (build 308). Pre-set Input to COM4, 4800 baud and Output to Virtual COM8.

2) Start Google Maps (uses 615 KB RAM), Pre-set Menu->Options->GPS Settings… "Set by Windows".
-or-
Start MAPSware GSPMeterPE 4.10.3 (uses 1.8 MB RAM). Set Menu->GPS->GPS Auto Connect (FYI it detects COM4 at 38400 baud).

3) Start iGuidance (with or without Astro GPS Launcher). Tools->GPS Options->COM Port->COM8 (4800 baud). GPS seen in about 15 seconds. Works great now.

However, It appears that I have to leave the middle app running (Google Maps or GPSMeterPE) to keep the GPS up so that GPS Gate will stay connected. If I close it, GPS Gate loses the connection and the whole thing dies. Connecting the middle app to GPS Gate on the virtual com port instead of Windows directly never initializes the GPS receiver.

Wouldn't it be nice if GPS Gate initialized the GPS like Google Maps/GPSMeterPE does? Then I wouldn't need Google Maps/GPSMeterPE at all.

Wouldn't it be nice if Astro GPS Launcher initialized the GPS like Google Maps/GPSMeterPE does? Then I wouldn't need GPS Gate or Google Maps/GPSMEterP at all.

Wait! I have it!! Wouldn't it be nice if iGuidance initialized the GPS like Google Maps/GPSMeterPE does? Then I wouldn't need anything else! What a great concept!

None of this addresses turning off the timeout for the backlight or other luxuries like that, I'm just trying to get GPS working in a stable, predictable, sensible manner for simple basic navigation.

Is this a hardware (HTC TyTn) issue? A WM6 issue? Or just poor programming? I certainly don't know.

Does anybody have issues like this with other Navigation software on this phone?

Does anybody have simple success with other Navigation software on this phone? TomTom?

--Daniel

bakntyme

19-03-2008, 06:29 PM

...
Wait! I have it!! Wouldn't it be nice if iGuidance initialized the GPS like Google Maps/GPSMeterPE does? Then I wouldn't need anything else! What a great concept!

None of this addresses turning off the timeout for the backlight or other luxuries like that, I'm just trying to get GPS working in a stable, predictable, sensible manner for simple basic navigation.

Is this a hardware (HTC TyTn) issue? A WM6 issue? Or just poor programming? I certainly don't know.

Does anybody have issues like this with other Navigation software on this phone?

Does anybody have simple success with other Navigation software on this phone? TomTom?

--Daniel
First, you have a Titan, not a TyTn. They may be pronounced the same but are different devices.

Second, I emailed iGuidance technical support about this issue. Their responses were that iGuidance is not compatible with the serial port mapping of the HTC GPS driver, and that they would not be modifying iGuidance to be compatible, as their expertise is only in writing GPS software. They suggested using GPSgate or the equivalent.

dizwayney

19-03-2008, 07:23 PM

Does anybody have simple success with other Navigation software on this phone? TomTom?

--Daniel

I use BAF's GPSLauncher to launch TomTom, and it works everytime. Satellites die out when I get a phone call so I have to restart TomTom but other then that, it seems like a breeze compared to what you're going through.

dsiminiuk

19-03-2008, 10:14 PM

iGuidance is not compatible with the serial port mapping of the HTC GPS driver, and that they would not be modifying iGuidance to be compatible, as their expertise is only in writing GPS software.

I think I read your thread about that somewhere but it just doesn't make sense that v3 works perfectly and v4 does not. If they are only concerned with the GPS software itself then why would the serial interfaces have changed? I know, I know! Makes no sense.

I also tried the GPS Viewer 1.0 as the middle ware and it works just as well as GPSMeterPE or Google Maps at starting up the GPS. In fact there is a button for it so you have full (manual) control.

I understand from previous writings that the Astro GPS Launcher also starts TomTom so maybe I'll give that a trial and see how it goes and how the features stack up to iGuidance.

Thanks for the replies...

bakntyme

20-03-2008, 03:21 PM

I think I read your thread about that somewhere but it just doesn't make sense that v3 works perfectly and v4 does not. If they are only concerned with the GPS software itself then why would the serial interfaces have changed? I know, I know! Makes no sense.

I also tried the GPS Viewer 1.0 as the middle ware and it works just as well as GPSMeterPE or Google Maps at starting up the GPS. In fact there is a button for it so you have full (manual) control.

I understand from previous writings that the Astro GPS Launcher also starts TomTom so maybe I'll give that a trial and see how it goes and how the features stack up to iGuidance.

Thanks for the replies...Must have been someone else's thread, I think this is my first post on this issue, but at my age I no longer remember things...hence my total reliance on the calendar in my Mogul.. I actually emailed iGuidance about this problem with v3, and they confirmed it as a problem with v3 and told me it was not fixed in v4. Have you gotten v3 to work properly?

rschell

20-03-2008, 08:45 PM

May be a workaround on the resuming after standby issue, is to make sure that you close down your GPS communication before going to standby.

With Google Maps, I de-select "use GPS", exit Google Maps, then put the phone in standby. The times I have done this, coming out of standby Google Maps seams to recover, slowly (in effect a warm/cold boot of the GPS) but it doesn't seam to lock up. Try it and see if I'm right that the driver/hardware just does not recover from a abrupt shutdown. Doesn't help the phone call issue, but might get someone pointed in a fruitful direction.

On a side note, I have observed that just activating GPS causes about a 100 mA increase in current drain, then with Google Maps downloading map data that causes an addtional 100-150 mA average drain. So when your using your GPS and Google Maps, the phone is drawing 350 to 400 mA average. Don't expect the battery to last very long. Ymmv, using card based map data will drop you to 200 to 250 mA, but that is still a large current draw.

dsiminiuk

20-03-2008, 08:47 PM

Yes, I had no trouble with v3 using the Astro GPS Launcher. No joy with the same setup on v4, hence the essay above.

I am trying TomTom 6 and tracking works fine with just the Astro GPS Launcher but I noticed that some of the same problems exist with stale map data. I did not have a chance to check the map data on iGuidance v4 before I dumped it for the TomTom test. I'll have to see if I can find updated maps for TomTom.

And TomTom 6 does not speak the street names as iG v4 does but I like the add-on voices you can drop in. Yoda tells me to "turn in 300 yards you will". What a hoot.

I like TomToms ability to prompt you if you want to use toll roads when you select a destination rather than it being a configuration choice one way or the other as in iG. If I can get updated maps I may just stick with TT. It seems a little more friendly on the interface GUI.

More to come...

yeldnats

21-03-2008, 12:36 AM

Brand new Sprint Mogul last Monday, flashed to:
ROM: 3.35.651.2
Radio: 3.35.04

San Diego, CA
Get 5 to 7 satellites in under 10 seconds in Google Maps.

BTW, I upgraded from the PPC6700 (great phone too), and I love the Mogul so far :)

aledc78

21-03-2008, 02:04 AM

I'm in Miami, FL

Using Google it takes about 10 seconds. Using Live Search Maps is almost instant 2 seconds at most...

slvrap1

21-03-2008, 03:43 AM

Sprint 6800-Miami, Florida
Using sprints latest it took about 10-15 seconds to lock on. 8-11 outside, 3-6 inside my living room.
Switched to no2chems 5055 i got the same results as with sprint.

wizzy99

21-03-2008, 04:23 PM

DCD 3.0.1 (went from DCD 2.x -> stock w/ 3.35 ->DCD 3.0.1)

In both Chicago and Boston it takes 3-4 minutes to get a lock using GPS Viewer, Google Maps, or TomTom. I do have QuickGPS installed, but due to the lengthy lock time, I don't know that it's making a difference.

kcmoney13

21-03-2008, 05:48 PM

Wizzy,

I am having the same issues as you, running the same setup with a verizon phone and DCD 3.0.1. Its really hit or miss though most of the time it takes a couple minutes to connect sometimes 4 to 5. but every once in a while it will connect right away. Anyone else figured out a configuration that connects often?

kottoson

22-03-2008, 04:09 AM

I have been using iGuidance 4.0 ever since DCD released ROM 2.0.x which enabled GPS. There is quite a bit of information in the thread

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=363431.

Especially the first 6 posts. On post 4, there is detailed information on how to make iGuidance 4.0 work with the GPS. I use Franson GPSGate 2.6.0.304 (map GPS port COM4 to a Virtual COM Port / NMEA (COM2)) and the MortScript iGuidanceInternalGPSLauncher.mscr. This script adjusts the backlighting and start iGuidance using AstroGPSLauncher.

iGuidance 4.0 works real well using this method and is pretty simple to start and shut down. GPSGate has options to suspend the GPS receiver when not in use by an application or when the device suspends so the GPS receiver is drawing power only when needed. When iGuidance is started, I get GPS lock within 30 seconds when outside or in my car. It usually takes me that much time to get seated and my seatbelt buckled. It tracks very accurately.

Verizon VX6800 - St. Paul MN

4 to 5 satelites lock when indoors near window ~20 seconds.
6 to 10 satelites lock when outdoors in ~20 seconds.
Takes 1 to 2 minutes to lock after hard reset.

--------------------------------------
Verizon XV6800
Radio v3.35.04 + ROM DCD 3.0.1

JerrytheGreat

23-03-2008, 07:17 PM

Could someone please find or make the magic bullet to get my 6800 to lock quickly?
It's enough already!!!! I heard a friend of mine got an engineer to take apart his boost phone, and re-do the gps antenna, and it enhanced the gps function dramatically. If someone did this on the internet, I might be interested in sending mine out for 1 week.

JTG

Alltel HTC 6800
Radio v3.35.04 + ROM DCD 3.0.1

ScottC

23-03-2008, 07:21 PM

Keystone

23-03-2008, 08:24 PM

I'm wondering whether there are different hardware versions out there?

My GPS (Sprint) is amazing. It'll get a 7 satellite fix in the middle of the house in the basement in about 20 seconds, or a cold fix outside in around 10 seconds.

Perhaps HTC changed something in the design at one point?Yup, that's a possibility after I've tested two units side-by-side with identical software set-ups. Either different revisions, poor quality control, or fragility in how the antenna is designed, etc..

There is certainly a hardware discrepancy between Titans, and I think much of people's poor GPS performance is the result.

dagurasu

27-03-2008, 06:54 PM

Sprint, Idaho.

With the unOfficial ROM locks took 5 to 10 mins. With Official ROM locks with in 15 seconds - 2 min. Depending upon surrounding enviroment.

I need to read many more of the hundreds of pages on this cause I've been busy, but this is not entirely the whole story. The unoficial rom did not come with qgps. TaylnOne's post had links to a version that worked with the mogul and with that, the unoficial rom worked pretty well for me. It would always lock in a few seconds... except, sometimes it froze up and there were problems when sleeping the device while operating gps. The thing was most of these
problems were at least obvious and one could soft reset and be going again.

On the new rom.. locks are sometimes in 15 seconds, sometimes in
minutes, and once or twice I've even found where gpsviewer failed to
scan.. so it is very sporadic. Worse, it is usaully not too obvious how
long one will have to wait, so you wait a couple of minutes before
realizing that a reset will help you. I have found that using gps viewer and monitoring the behavior of the data streaming in, I can usually tell if it is going to lock or not but that's a nuisance. There is something very different about when it's working well (ie 15 seconds) or poorly (several minutes, to possibly not at all), ie how fast it's scanning through satelites(if at all) and the amount of data streaming in. This did NOT happen with the unofficial rom. I don't see why locks should take 2 minutes if outdoors and qgps did it's thing correctly. It should be pretty instant since it should already know where the sats are. It is supposedly downloading sat locations that is what takes time and qgps should solve that.

I'm not actually using stock though, I'm using dcd 3.0.something with the new stock radio, but from what I can tell results are the same. One caveat, I had reg settings from taylnone's post for the leaked rom's qgps and accidently copied them back in over the new rom. Maybe I should find the official reg settings again for this rom, but I don't really believe that's causing a problem.

dagurasu

27-03-2008, 08:16 PM

(Edit: double posted by accident)

dirtred

27-03-2008, 08:46 PM

sprint new upgrade and telenav.locks in seconds.

justpctech

27-03-2008, 10:51 PM

dagurasu

27-03-2008, 11:57 PM

on Sprint in san diego, CA. using BAF's GPS toggle Today plugin (http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=21278)- starts ANY mapping software, googlemaps, live search with a lock. I can toggle gps on, and by the time iGO maps opens up, its got 5-12 sats for me. sounds like a lot of you need the ability to prime the gps; well thats what BAF's gps toggle does...and does it very well.

Many of us are happy with google maps. google maps does not require "priming" in this sense and is not helped by it. However everything requires knowing where the satellites are. That's what QGPS is for, to download this data rather than wait to receive it slowly from the sats themselves. I'm fairly certain that BAF's does not do that. Also gps viewer does not require "priming" in the BAF's sense. I think it's a safe bet that if it will not work(and it sometimes won't), nothing will (although as I say this I'm reading about $GPGGA vvs $GPRMC data because sometimes I see GPGGA position data when gps viewer is not indicating a lock, unfortunately I cannot see the whole "sentence" in the gps viewer window to interpret the data). I assumed I had the sleep while acquiring bug, but I've been watching carefully recently and I'm pretty sure this is not my main problem either.

People who need "priming" in the BAF's sense and who do not realize it are probably having a very hard time to ever get GPS to work at all. This is different from those of us for whom it works poorly or buggy.

scorp508

28-03-2008, 12:15 AM

Verizon Wireless XV6800 w/DCD 3.0.1 & 3.35.4 radio.

It seems spotty. Sometimes I can get a lock sitting by the window, sometimes I can't. If I do it is 4-7 satellites. The accuracy once it has a lock is usually within 15-20 feet.

Getting the initial lock if I haven't run google maps or Live Search for a while sometimes takes up to 10 minutes (even if QuickGPS is running), but subsequential locks after that are instant or up to 15 seconds.

gbenj

28-03-2008, 03:20 AM

Verizon Wireless XV6800 w/DCD 3.02 & 3.35.4 radio.

It seems spotty. Sometimes I can get a lock sitting by the window, sometimes I can't. If I do it is 4-7 satellites. The accuracy once it has a lock is usually within 15-20 feet.

Getting the initial lock if I haven't run google maps or Live Search for a while sometimes takes up to 10 minutes (even if QuickGPS is running), but subsequential locks after that are instant or up to 15 seconds.

mines pretty much the same way. using the same setup as you...(xv6800, dcd 3.0.1) did you mean 3.0.1? since as fasr as i know there is no 3.02, or 3.0.2...etc?

sometimes it works great, takes like 2 minutes, sometimes it wont for a day or so, and if i dont really need it, no big deal but when i do...man do i get frustrated. i hope i dont chuck the thing across the street one day when it stops, and i need it.

i would love if people came up with a list of troubleshooting that usually helps them resolve their issues, especially for us who dont "officially" have gps

thanks

aph

28-03-2008, 04:08 AM

dagurasu

28-03-2008, 04:00 PM

Have had numerous GPS issues with dcd 3.0.1. After a hard reset, the phone always gets a lock but the next day it will stop working. Without installing anything or making any changes. Going to nueROM now for the first time since 6.1 went official. Will report back.

Are you with sprint? Have you tried the 3.35 stock ROM? I'd like to hear from anyone who has used both. My problems seem similar to yours, except maybe because I've had real need of alot gps use recently, I may have managed to run into the annoyances a bit more, and been more annoyed by them. That said, it has been very useful to have. Also I assume you mean soft reset.

scorp508

28-03-2008, 06:13 PM

mines pretty much the same way. using the same setup as you...(xv6800, dcd 3.0.1) did you mean 3.0.1? since as fasr as i know there is no 3.02, or 3.0.2...etc?

Yes, I did mean 3.0.1, sorry for the fat finger. I'll go correct it.

Last night Google Maps said "GPS active", but had 0 sats acquired even though the location dot showed me being across the street about 200 yards instead of sitting in my living room when the other day it had great accuracy and 7 sats locked in. The skies were very overcast here in the Boston area last night, that may have been part of it.

gc14

28-03-2008, 06:32 PM

Since upgrading to a custom 3.0.1 rom with the new radio my gps has been working flawlessly for me. I follow a precise method that works for me everytime.

1. Make sure data connection is active and start QuickGPS. There's a time at the bottom that tells you how long the data is active for. I download the data over and over until it says 7 days at the bottom. Once it says 7 days I exit QuickGPS. I then go into task manager and make sure QuickGPS is stopped.

2. I open Holux GPS Viewer and make sure it's set to Com 4/4800 baud, and then open the gps. Immediately after opening I check the WAAS checkbox and immediately after checking the box, I click Cold Start. I then minimize GPS Viewer (I do not close it in task manager).

3. I then open Google Maps, GPSToday, or whatever software I feel like using at the time and run it normally. For Google Maps I click Use GPS...for GPSToday I put it in persistent mode by sliding the box to the right. Once I get a lock, I then minimize the program and close GPS Viewer in the task manager.

Using this method gets me a fix anywhere between 5 seconds and 1 minute every time I do it flawlessly. I know it seems like a lot to do every time, but really it just seems like it...I can do the whole process in under 30 seconds.

Also, if you follow these steps and say you want to stop...do not just close the program...make SURE you stop the gps first. For instance, in Google Maps click Use GPS again to uncheck it and turn it off. In GPSToday click on the left softkey and choose Run GPS to turn it off. Then you can close your program.

If you follow the steps once, and use the GPS for a little, then stop...but then decide you want to use it again shortly after, you don't need to do steps 1 or 2. Only if you've stopped for a while and the GPS needs to be woken up.

scorp is also right. The gps will work better with clear skies...I too am in Boston and it was shitty last night, and shitty again today, and it's taken a little longer for the first fix, but it's still quick and consistent. Be patient. :D

As always....YMMV

dagurasu

28-03-2008, 08:54 PM

Keystone

28-03-2008, 10:59 PM

If you have just downloaded the data then it should be fresh enough. I think there is a lot of voodoo about something worked a few times for someone and it becomes truth. More likely the system is unstable and you got lucky or unlucky a few times. I mean no offense, when I try some voodoo and it works for me, I may keep doing it too. For users I think that it's a placebo -- the Sprint ROM didn't include QGPS. I have made cold boots with a new ROM and without QGPS and returning the same sporadic (15 seconds to 10 minutes) lockon's as setups with QGPS installed and apparently having updated the data for the GPSOne chipset.2. I open Holux GPS Viewer and make sure it's set to Com 4/4800 baud, and then open the gps. Immediately after opening I check the WAAS checkbox and immediately after checking the box, I click Cold Start. I then minimize GPS Viewer (I do not close it in task manager).I don't believe that our GPSOne setup offers WAAS.

Again, I don't believe that there is a magic bullet to get many of the units more functional with their GPS. As [I] have noticed when comparing my dad's to my Titan, there are hardware differences returning varying GPS performance, and it's a luck of the draw. Mine, apparently returns excellent performance for times to lock-on, but this is not nearly as precise and timely as my i-blue 737 bluetooth receiver. The internal may be a nice feature -- when effective -- but its antenna and GPSOne chipset cannot equate to the performance of a decent external GPS receiver. Rather than mess about and cross my fingers (reset the device or not? wait and pray?) for an internal lock-on, I'd much rather quickly turn on my external bluetooth receiver placed on my dashboard and know that I WILL have a precise satellite lock within seconds of starting up my mapping software.

Even on a unit without the apparent hardware flaws and the internal GPS working as best it can, this GPS is a nice toy but not up to par to alternatives.

gc14

28-03-2008, 11:48 PM

QGPS usually says 6 days and 23 hours(and who knows how many minutes) after a download. Maybe there is some timing instability where if the screen updates just right or you grab the update just right within it's refresh cycle or the download box closes just fast enough or whatever and it hits a full seven days, but I seriously cannot imagine this has anything to do with anything. If you have just downloaded the data then it should be fresh enough. I think there is a lot of voodoo about something worked a few times for someone and it becomes truth. More likely the system is unstable and you got lucky or unlucky a few times. I mean no offense, when I try some voodoo and it works for me, I may keep doing it too.

All that said, I do wonder if the data is really good for 7 days. Some places say this data shouldn't be used more than half an hour. So it may in fact help to run qgps more often than what it does automatically, but I've played with that too, and I am not yet convinced this helps at all either, it certainly doesn't "work every time".. but maybe I should have waited for the magic seven.

Hey listen...lol...I never said that I actually believe that anything I do has anything to do with getting it to work right...I merely posted EXACTLY what I do each time because it works perfectly for me each time I do it. I've tried leaving out a step or two from my explanation, and it doesn't work. So SOMETHING I'm doing must be right. If people don't want to try it, they don't have to ;-)

As for using this unit has a primary gps, helllllll no. I didn't think GPSOne had WAAS, but I do it anyway just for shits and giggles. I use a Garmin Nuvi 350 in my car for my primary gps with sirf and waas. My titan gps is just for fun.

scorp508

29-03-2008, 01:12 AM

Since upgrading to a custom 3.0.1 rom with the new radio my gps has been working flawlessly for me. I follow a precise method that works for me everytime.

Ok... I think I figured it out for my device. For some unknown reason in the External GPS settings my COM4 setting on the hardware tab is not being saved. It keeps reverting to <none>, and causing the shittyness. The baud setting is staying on 4800 appropriately.

If I do this, it works.

1. Go into External GPS and confirm software tab is <none>, hardware tab is COM4 and 4800 baud.
2. Open QuickGPS, download the data.
3. Launch Google Maps or Live Search.
4. GPS locks on in about 5 seconds with great accuracy.

I'll try to figure out *when* the COM4 setting is being lost and if there is any predictability to it.

I just drove home from the gym locked onto 5 satellites. Peeking at the screen now and then it seemed like anything above 25MPH had the GPS one step behind me. gcincotta, doing 55MPH up Route 1 by Kowloons showed the GPS beacon about 150 yards behind me. Then all of a sudden the map itself wasn't updating even though I had EvDO and full signal strength going. I drove off the edge of the road into the white background never to be found again. :D:eek:. Both google and live maps weren't updating the map in the background for some reason, maybe driving was causing too many data refreshes to attempt to happen? It is working again right now sitting here in my living room.

Its still overcast and rainy right now, maybe with sunny skies and a couple more sats locked in it will be better. Walking it would have been perfectly fine... but who knows if I could actually get any sats to lock on in Boston. I definitely wouldn't rely on it for driving around somewhere I didn't know, but if I can get a quick "You are here, idiot." then that is perfect for me.

aph

29-03-2008, 07:23 AM

Are you with sprint? Have you tried the 3.35 stock ROM? I'd like to hear from anyone who has used both. My problems seem similar to yours, except maybe because I've had real need of alot gps use recently, I may have managed to run into the annoyances a bit more, and been more annoyed by them. That said, it has been very useful to have. Also I assume you mean soft reset.

I mean hard reset. I could soft reset 10 times with dcd and it wouldn't pick up anything once it had gone dead (TomTom GPS status showing only gray satellites and not getting a fix.)

nueROM is slightly better. Still blacks out (same as above) sometimes, but a soft reset will fix it. And yes, I use GPS quite a lot (used a BT receiver prior to 3.27) and it's frustrating when it doesn't work.

Haven't tried stock 3.35 yet but will stick to nueROM unless it craps out on me too.

JerrytheGreat

30-03-2008, 06:53 AM

Scorp,
Isn' tthis backwards? Mine only works with software set to com4, hardware set to none (using DCD 3.0.1, Alltel)

scorp508

30-03-2008, 07:18 PM

Scorp,
Isn' tthis backwards? Mine only works with software set to com4, hardware set to none (using DCD 3.0.1, Alltel)

I'll try mine that way and let you know how it goes. I drove 50 miles yesterday with mine set the way I originally mentioned and it was the same deal. It locked onto 3-7 sats the whole way. I noticed if I only had 3 or 4 sats my location was off a little, but as soon as it had 5+ the accuracy was much better.

aph

30-03-2008, 09:50 PM

nueROM is crapping out too, no fix even after soft resets (waiting 10-15 minutes for one). Disabled aGPS and it got a fix once, then stopped again.

This is very frustrating

mr.ellsworth

30-03-2008, 10:32 PM

I used Live Search yesterday from Springfield, MA clicked on Directions start point set to Current GPS then set my destination to my friends in Merrimack, NH and it took me there flawlessly. It was a little over 100 miles. Tracked down the road perfectly. I have never done anything with GPS settings other than click enable GPS or Use GPS in Google Maps and it has always worked.

Mr.Ellsworth

gbenj

31-03-2008, 12:59 AM

im really reluctant to post because of the success ive been having. and not wanting to jinx myself at all.

after similar results to everyone else here for a month or so, in terms of reliability(or lack thereof). the past few days have been great.

what ive been doing, is using holux gps viewer first, if i havent locked in a while then after opening it on com 4, i click cold start, if ive had one recently but its been off for a little while, then warm, and if im coming from a lock...rare...then click hot.
once i see the lines begin to scroll on the initial page, i know the gps is looking for a lock, and is not ahving some issue. if its not going anywhere, or doesnt seem to be responding, then i soft reset, and try again. from cold start
by looking at the status page, im able to see if im coming close to a lock or not, and if its worth it to wait, or try some other step.

once i have 4 blue bars, then i start whatever other program i wanted to use gps with, and i get as many satellites as i had blue bars.

ive used this to start google maps, gpstoday, and navizon, all without issue by starting and being a little patient with gpsviewer.

my preference, is that its better to stare at gpsviewer looking for a lock, able to see that its actually trying, than staring at google maps or whatever application, where it just says "seeking..." or whatever.

thats been my experience, hope it helps others

gc14

31-03-2008, 01:41 AM

dagurasu

31-03-2008, 04:58 PM

I agree about using gps viewer. Sometimes I feel hitting cold or warm start there does something useful, but also it may just be I like to stare at it and can actually tell if it is actually making any progress or if it needs a reset.

Hardware variation or not, I don't believe these problems can't be fixed by software workarounds. Does a soft reset do anythig to the state of the hardware that cannot be done by software? I mean the slow locks some experience might not be fixable, but the need to reset should be.

Oh well, I was hoping to hear better things. From what I hear there is no reason to expect stock to work better than dcd 3.0.1 though, which is really what I was wondering for now. I really felt the leaked rom was better in some of ways, but not enough to bother flashing back to it.

to gccincota, no offense, I understand you're just saying what worked for you.

gc14

31-03-2008, 06:18 PM

to gccincota, no offense, I understand you're just saying what worked for you.

Nah, I was just saying instead of wasting time staring at the screen, he could minimize it and just let gpstoday do its thing...and just keep checking the box on the today screen...

roninld

31-03-2008, 11:07 PM

After going to DCD 3.0.1 from DCD 2.3.2 (actually went to stock in the process), was having issues with my GPS as well. I had done the hard reset by holding the 2 soft keys and the reset button, and was still having problems.

I just did a Clear Storage under Settings, System Tab, and GPS is working much better so far. One note, after doing a Clear Storage I was forced to reprogram the phone by dialing *228 opt 1 because when it came up everything was blank.

h204u

03-04-2008, 06:01 AM

my alltel 6800 consistently shows me in the Himalayas using google maps and live search. I'm using the sprint radio, DCD 3.0.1 alltel rom, and have tried quick gps, gps viewer. I'm in Florida.....NOT THE HIMALAYAS!!! Any ideas??? The ROM smokes otherwise.....Thanks DCD!

scorp508

03-04-2008, 10:54 PM

Well my GPS performance has flushed down the shitter. Now I can't even get a single satellite to lock after waiting 15 minutes. This is using COM4/4800BPS on either the software or hardware tab, neither works.

Gilliland

04-04-2008, 03:47 AM

This is using COM4/4800BPS on either the software or hardware tab, neither works.
I don't understand this use of the hardware tab. In my experience, it is not possible to set the hardware port to any value other than "None". If I set it to any value, then click OK, it gets immediately reset back to None. It never retains any other value.

Gilliland

04-04-2008, 04:20 AM

I spent the past week on vacation in the Caribbean. There were no Sprint towers handy, but I figured I might be able to use the GPS if I set it to standalone mode (GPSMode 1). Unfortunately, it did not work. I used GPSViewer just to see how it behaved. I found that the GPS found a lot of satellites - sometimes as many as twelve! But it never once got a lock on its position. It told me "No Fix" no matter how many satellites it had acquired. I waited half an hour or more in some cases hoping it might lock on a position, but it just never happened.

I thought that something might have gone wrong with the software, so I did a complete hard reset and started over. Same result - lots of satellites, but no fix.

I brought it back to the US and tried it here (same standalone mode, no change in settings), and it got a fix within 30 seconds. But only if the phone is turned on. If I leave it in Flight mode, it still can't get a lock.

Looks like "standalone" still depends on access to the Sprint network for some aspect of its function.

Keystone

04-04-2008, 06:52 AM

I spent the past week on vacation in the Caribbean. There were no Sprint towers handy, but I figured I might be able to use the GPS if I set it to standalone mode (GPSMode 1).The GPS hardware will work anywhere in there world and there is no reason why your carrier network is necessary for GPS functionality. If ephemeris data is downloaded over the network rather than from the satellites then that can speed up a satellite lock. I do not have have a data plan and have consistently disabled the assisted feature of the aGPS hardware. This does not prevent me or others from achieving a GPS lock upon satellites. As this thread demonstrates....other factors do....... Unfortunately it sounds like you were simply unlucky in experiencing the sporadic nature of our Titans... Location wasn't the issue -- just bad luck with timing and your device.

Remember that weather can impede signal reception. Was it clear skies?

Gilliland

04-04-2008, 01:18 PM

The GPS hardware will work anywhere in there world and there is no reason why your carrier network is necessary for GPS functionality.

Unfortunately it sounds like you were simply unlucky in experiencing the sporadic nature of our Titans... Location wasn't the issue -- just bad luck with timing and your device.

Remember that weather can impede signal reception. Was it clear skies?
No, that won't explain it. I had completely clear blue skies. I had solid reception of at least six, and at times as many as twelve, satellites. And I tried this experiment at least six times over a three day period. The satellite data was being received, but the Titan GPS simply couldn't do anything with it.

The minute I got back to the US, it locked on its location without difficulty. And that WAS under cloudy skies.

Have you actually tried using yours in the Caribbean? Or are you just stating what you'd expect to happen?

Keystone

04-04-2008, 06:57 PM

No, that won't explain it. I had completely clear blue skies. I had solid reception of at least six, and at times as many as twelve, satellites. And I tried this experiment at least six times over a three day period. The satellite data was being received, but the Titan GPS simply couldn't do anything with it.Myself and others have experienced that very same behaviour.Have you actually tried using yours in the Caribbean? Or are you just stating what you'd expect to happen?No, I have not brought my phone down. We have yet to isolate a single cause to the problems (need to reboot to reset, etc.. as well), but it is due to the devices's hardware/drivers rather than your conclusion of GPS not being global. I was just stating the satellite reality that the location you were at did not negate the ability of GPS.

As others (myself, right at this moment) experience the same behaviour as you did, it makes far more sense to place blame upon the hardware rather than some mysterious GPS void in the Caribbean or being away from your home carrier. Sometimes many satellites are visible and the strength may read as being strong, but no lock is attained. That sucks, but that's an apparent aberration of the Titan's rather weak and inconsistent GPS performance. Possibly the device gets confused when re-initialising and/or finds itself a great distance from the memory of its previous lock? You are not alone with such problems.

dagurasu

04-04-2008, 09:31 PM

I got a gps lock not just in airplane mode, but actually IN an airplane and certainly with no data or phone signal (I hope the feds don't come after me... I think this is legal use of a phone on a plane, since it's entirely passive). I couldn't get a map position because my maps come over the network, but I did got longitude and latitude with no problem. I did ask google maps for a map and it registered the gps location.. showed the blue dot and then tried to dowlnload maps but failed. I turned off google maps and gps. Once on the ground google maps, before asking it to use gps, loaded the map for where I had been because it was still the last location stored in GM. So in the end I got the information I wanted... ie, what was outside the window.

Anyway, the device is absolutely capable of working without a data connection.

Gilliland

05-04-2008, 12:58 AM

Possibly the device gets confused when re-initialising and/or finds itself a great distance from the memory of its previous lock? You are not alone with such problems.
That theory may turn out to have some basis, and it may also explain why the GPS is effective with access to a tower, but not otherwise. It may be that the GPS is able to resolve the satellite data only if it has a "starting point" - either by using its last known position, or by determining an approximate location from the tower network. If it can do neither (as in my case), the GPS simply fails to work.

If that's the case, it should work fine in standalone mode as long as you haven't traveled a long way since the GPS was last enabled.

In any event, I don't understand the limitation. GPS technology isn't supposed to fail in this manner. Standalone GPS units don't depend on any "hints" to get an initial lock, so why should this one?

aph

05-04-2008, 06:07 AM

I'm back to using a standalone unit over BT...

Will try a stock Sprint flash as a last resort and report back

corpashe

07-04-2008, 04:34 AM

I have installed many ROMs also and still no gps
For some reason everything seems to work...(as in the gps being read)
Except when i start up Google Maps my gps doesnt respond
I just get a message saying gps active/seeking sattilites
I dialed ##DEBUG# and the gps data says N/A
Also im outside my house with clear skies so i know thats not the problem

I DONT KNOW WHAT IM DOING WRONG!!!:mad:

mrfantastic

07-04-2008, 06:46 AM

My gps works but it doesnt find any satellites and puts me about a 1km off from where I really am

Bell 6800, edmonton
keys 1.30 rom

nemesis202

07-04-2008, 09:06 AM

I have gone thru a few Sprint Moguls and still have 3 of them in front of me. I can update the AGPS data with the latest QuickGPS download so that they all read 7 days 0 mins. Once I fire up either Google Maps or TomTom all 3 devices, I have one unit that gets a lock within 10 seconds, another that gets a lock in roughly 30 seconds, and lastly one that locks in about 2 minutes. This has been done at various times during the day after a fresh reset and recent AGPS data download to all phones.

The phone that locks the quickest also has a considerably stronger signal in TomTom than the other two phones.

All phones were flashed the same way and only have stock DCD 3.0.1 ROM other than the GPS software (Google Maps, and TomTom). It just goes to show you that the hardware variances between the units are large! There might be nothing wrong with your phone for taking so long to get a lock, if ever. Just a weak GPS antenna or one that is not connected to the mainboard properly during manufacture/assembly. I guess they are all within manufacturer's tolerances? I would try to cherry pick one, if a Sprint store allows for it.

Sadly for me, the one that is slowest to get a lock is also the one that has a perfect screen that is absent of the white LCD bruising, and this one is the oldest of all of the phones.

rigg419

07-04-2008, 09:25 AM

Last month, i went on a cross country trip using my mogul as my navigator. it never failed me for almost 7000 miles through 15 states.
just my .02 for what it's worth

ml3000

08-04-2008, 08:01 AM

any one have any idea why my gps would quit working after i did a hard reset? it always worked before then too.... :(

aph

08-04-2008, 02:32 PM

I'm back to using a standalone unit over BT...

Will try a stock Sprint flash as a last resort and report back

Tried the stock Sprint ROM (actually just tossed the old phone and got a new one). The GPS worked but intermittently.

I figured if my GPS wasn't going to work I may as well have a clean phone, so I flashed key's cleaned v.1.3.1. Just for fun I also installed GPS Viewer since it seems that starting with it is what a lot of people who have good experiences have in common.

Ran QuickGPS, and ran GPS Viewer sitting in my living room (where I've never had a signal before, even when the GPS would work otherwise outdoors). It acquired a cold start lock in 4 seconds! I'm still shocked...

My recipe for success:
1. use key's cleaned v1.3.1 kitchen
2. cook it with QuickGPS
3. prime with GPS Viewer

I will revise this over the next few days if I determine that some steps are not needed.

dagurasu

14-04-2008, 06:35 PM

I have one unit that gets a lock within 10 seconds, another that gets a lock in roughly 30 seconds, and lastly one that locks in about 2 minutes.

As I recall somewhere under settings/device id, the ame place you see rom versions, there is also a hardware revision. Can you check this and see if they are all the same? Maybe it's actually possible to figure out which phones are bad. Also you can find a manufacture date if you open /windows/epst.lnk and click chose view. If we figure out which ones are bad, there will be a stronger case to go to sprint with to ask for a replacement.

c@rL0$

14-04-2008, 09:20 PM

Over the weekend I went San Gabriel Canyon in California and although I was not able to get a cellular signal, I was able to receive a GPS signal using Tom Tom Navigator 6.

I used WiFiFoFum to prep my GPS and in about 5 to 10 seconds I got 5 satellites and was able to use Tom Tom to search for tourist attractions, restaurants, and even my way around the mountains.

roninld

14-04-2008, 09:38 PM

I was hiking out in the San Bernardino mountains near Palm Springs, using Garmin XT Mobile. Phone was off, but GPS working perfectly. No problems. Had the phone forced to on to track my progress. Only problem I ran into was when I accidentally pressed the power button, hibernating the phone, then messing up the GPS when it came active again so I had to soft reset.

Using DCD 3.0.1 without any prepping tools.

bdokka

14-04-2008, 11:14 PM

Live in Seattle, have DCD's 3.0.1 and GPS was working flawlessly. Went to Dallas/Fort Worth last week and it took 15 minutes just to find a network signal initially and the same after doing a soft reset. GPS only worked once during the whole trip and only for about 10 minutes. Once I got back to Seattle, GPS would not work for 3 days, it is now working intermittently. Nothing like it did before the trip.

indeo

14-04-2008, 11:56 PM

Not sure what this is worth to anyone, but I would like to state a theory I have. And also, I don't know if someone said this already, I didn't read every single post of this thread, but most of it.

First -- I believe that the GPS radio in these phones have a lifespan of sorts, as in they dye off sooner or later and become intermittent, inoperaple, etc.

Also, I'm on my third 6800. My first one I bricked (oops) using a very experimental ROM that I should have never tried to flash. But before then, the GPS was kind of flaky, it only fixed when it wanted to. The second one (i traded up at the verizon store) worked great. Instant lock - less than 10 seconds. And i was using the same custom ROM as I was on the first one (not the experimental ROM, of course.) Now I'm on my third one. AND -- I still have my second one, just without a number on it.

I CAN PUT BOTH OF THEM SIDE BY SIDE

The one that always got an immediate fix still does. The one I have now takes minutes, if it EVER GETS A FIX. Doesn't matter if i'm inside, outside, moving, standing still, or hopping on one foot.

Some of us may have just gotten shafted on cheap equipment, makes more sense if they're refurb'd like mine are.

Coolpics

15-04-2008, 04:26 AM

DCD 3.0.1 + Radio 3.35, Vancouver / Telus.

GPS is active, Google Map get lock within seconds. GPSGate works fine, just can't get TomTom 6 working.:mad:

Coolpics

16-04-2008, 05:00 AM

DCD 3.0.1 + Radio 3.35, Vancouver / Telus.

GPS is active, Google Map get lock within seconds. GPSGate works fine, just can't get TomTom 6 working.:mad:

Update. Change to Garmin, no GPS setup required, satellite lock instantly (below 5s).

raydog153

17-04-2008, 07:41 PM

My hardware version is 0003. Does anyone have a higher version? I got mine late november.

So my GPS rarely works, one night inside I was trying and trying to get it to work, soft reset, turn GPS on/off/back on, change all settings. Couldn't get it to work for the life of me, then all of a sudden it started to work.

At that point I don't know what I did to get it to work, so I tried to get it tro fail. I was inside, it was raining outside, and I was getting a lock on 6+ sats (massachusetts). I did a soft reset, played with all the setting in GPSViewer, cold start, etc....nothing I did would get it to fail. It would lock in seconds. Power off, or let it go into standby, still all worked.

The next day, it wouldn't work. Again I tried everything, then it finally started to work after an hour of so, and again I couldn't get it to fail.

It is useless if I have to wait that long to use it. In GPSViewer it looks like it is getting sat data, just never gets a fix on the sats.