GPS Lag Fix Work In Progress

[alphazero]

NEW testdrivers found for possible gpsfix have fun. update [21.09.08]
soft reset after install.

NOTE: a user reported this dll does not work so its on your own risk!!!
if you are not a experienced user dont install this.

[TML1504]

Hello i would like to provide you some Htcnavi.dll files wich could possibly fix GPS lags.
replace with a explorer like RESCO the htcnavi.dll file wich is located on the windows folder.
replacing dll drivers needS in order to work and to be loaded properly a soft reset
then start your test and report back. thank you

greetings alphazero

where to find the dll??
;-)

thank you & regards,
markus

[Unchained]

I guess, this file is from the latest raphael rom... I saw it somewhere there..

[alphazero]

yes its a collection of some raphael and htc victor dll`s lets find out if one of them fits better for the people who have gps lag

[haven80]

There Are 3 Files inside the ZIP..
wich one we must use -1 or -2?

[alphazero]

There Are 3 Files inside the ZIP..
wich one we must use -1 or -2?

its a test not a solution haven80 =)

you can test with both but rename them to htcnavi.dll

[Unchained]

There Are 3 Files inside the ZIP..
wich one we must use -1 or -2?

rename all file back to htcnavi.dll and try each file... must be copied into the windows folder...

[theclueless]

just to let you know... the raphael gps is not working too well either... :mad:

[_Nomad_]

I remember reading somewhere around here that the reason for the GPS lag in the first place is due to the strain it puts on the CPU, eg, the processor is working overtime and is unable to redraw the exact position in time. This might very well be common knowledge, I don't really know, as I most of the time merely skip the GPS related threads (not that dependant on it myself)

Anyway, has anyone checked the CPU usage when using the provided dll's? And is that the reason for the lag at all? Might add that I'm one of the unlucky ones that experience this...

[bennec83]

Thanks alot alpha, i will try these and give feed back!!

take care

[salada2k]

I remember reading somewhere around here that the reason for the GPS lag in the first place is due to the strain it puts on the CPU, eg, the processor is working overtime and is unable to redraw the exact position in time. This might very well be common knowledge, I don't really know, as I most of the time merely skip the GPS related threads (not that dependant on it myself)

Anyway, has anyone checked the CPU usage when using the provided dll's? And is that the reason for the lag at all? Might add that I'm one of the unlucky ones that experience this...

I don't believe that is true (about too much CPU usage)

Reason is:

- when I run TomTom7 it only uses about 34% CPU.

- when I run Google Maps is only uses about 19% CPU

- when I run Chartcross GPS Test it only uses about 3% CPU

Plenty of CPU free but still plenty of lag. So that cant be it.


In the official GPS Lag thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=411156), a member stated he had gotten an offficial response from HTC, who have admitted there is an issue with lag and they are actively working on a solution.

It is also known there is the same problem on the Raphael...

Hopefully these drivers you've provided will help AlphaZero, I think every newer version of these drivers will bring us closer to a solution! :)

[panosha]

The problem the lag and the mediocre output of GPS, unfortunately emanate from the low force of signal and it is not given solution by no one dll.

If you need better GPS, bay another device.

Whoever wishes better results it will find the solution with a bluetooth GPS.

[charly_mx]

hey guys. Perhaps is your navigation software that is not optimized somehow for the diamond. I use destinator 7 and i have not lag at all even with the stock rom

[Lost_in_translation]

Just a question to understand the problem:

How do you define "lag"? Is it an inappropriate time until the first fix, or is it a delay for the change of the current position when the phone is physically moved?

From what I read in these threads, there seem to be people with different understandings of a "GPS lag".

Have fun!

[Röchelhilpert]

I wan´t also to know what is the GPS-Lag.
I can use my TomTom7 without any problems.

Please explain me the behavior so i can have a look for this, if i have the same problem.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=411156

the behavior from Post 1 .... i don´t have this !

[TDO]

Under gps lag you understand the differnce between the shown location on the screen and your actual position.

Every gps device has this lag as the location information is only read once per second.
Many people here claim that the diamond has a greater lag than other devices.

So for example you stand still bevore a traffic light, than you start driving.
If you are unlucky you will have to wait 1 second until you see the position indicator in the gps software moving.

TDO

[Röchelhilpert]

O.k ... i have a external GPS mouse from TomTom. I will if there any differences between internal GPS or external GPS

[eraserbabyboy]

I use IGO 8 and never have a lag...cold start to find satellite is less then 30sec. Even on my boat, on the river Danube or Sava, gps working very well, without lag. Working same, with HTC official, Duttys and SwiftBL ROM.

[wonderiuy]

I don't believe that is true (about too much CPU usage)

Reason is:

- when I run TomTom7 it only uses about 34% CPU.

- when I run Google Maps is only uses about 19% CPU

- when I run Chartcross GPS Test it only uses about 3% CPU

Plenty of CPU free but still plenty of lag. So that cant be it.


In the official GPS Lag thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=411156), a member stated he had gotten an offficial response from HTC, who have admitted there is an issue with lag and they are actively working on a solution.

It is also known there is the same problem on the Raphael...

Hopefully these drivers you've provided will help AlphaZero, I think every newer version of these drivers will bring us closer to a solution! :)

I invite u to try Igo8 without a car charger attached. Try it only with battery power and report back

[salada2k]

O.k ... i have a external GPS mouse from TomTom. I will if there any differences between internal GPS or external GPS

I've already tried that, and with my Holux GPSlim 236 there was no lag, TomTom was heaps more responsive (i.e. when u-turning and doing corners TomTom was following me perfectly) and even TomTom seemed to have more FPS...

The problem is to do with the internal GPS, maybe it is overloading the CPU. There was talk on a German site that the internal GPS sends to many data frames in 1 second, whereas external GPS sends less data... Some have speculated if that can be changed we may notice a difference... It's all just speculation though....

And then there is the issue of weak reception - that sounds to me like an antenna issue...

[DFTrance]

Well,

I've been doing some tests with alphazero ROM. For fun I have tested NDrive, TT7 and iGo8. My Radio is 05.

First time fix:

First I ran Quick GPS. In all systems it took me around 5 - 10 mins to get a first time fix. I can only conclude that Quick GPS does nothing, absolutely nothing to speed up the first time fix. Don't know if the GPS software ignores it or what.

What did helped in my case to speedup the first time fix is the HTC GPS Tool (search the forum). It tests you GPS receiver and search for sattelites.

Subsequent Times

The more often you use the GPS system the quicker is the start up fix. . Can go from 5 secs to a minute (usually you get a fix in 30 secs). This was the case on all the gps software tested. If you don't use GPS, say for a week or more, then getting the fix can take as much as a first time.

This is common over all GPS System, so I don't see it as a bug of HTC Diamond.

Lag while driving

None on all systems in test. After getting the fix, and start driving the pointer moves as smooth as any other mainstream cheap systems (TT, etc etc). I must say that my Car GPS System (Toyota Avensys with Toyota GPS) does a smoother job updating the 7" screen embeded in the cockpit, but then again this is not a mainstream off the shelve GPS as it cost me 4 times the price of an HTC Diamond).

All in all it does what I expect it to do fast enough.

While walking / Pedestrian

iGo8 has a pedestrian mode. It simply does not work very well with HTC Diamond (have not tested it in other GPS systems). It does Lag and a lot. I'm more inclined to think that it is really a software problem.

As a side note automatic route in iGo8 planning compared with TT7 and NDrive sucks, but maybe I need to tweek it further but it does seam to make some nonesense plans.

All tests where done on battery fully charged!!!!!

Stability

GPL signal fluctuates between high and poor in a distance of 50 meters with no visible reason. At least that is what iGo8 reports. Don't know if it is a software problem of iGo8 or something todo with HTC Diamon hardware (antenna, CPU speed or what). Meanwhile, although I could get a lock over 8 sattellites (again reported by iGo8), it seams that it looses the lock as sometimes it goes down to 3 (going up and down). I don't know if this is a problem of iGo8 only or if it spans across TT7 and NDrive. But the latter as far as I saw seamed more stable.

Anyway, this is not so much a problem when driving, but I bet this is why the Pedestrian mode does not work properly.

Concluding

So no LAG while driving in all systems!!!! Just use it often as the software seam to learn. Actually it does not learn, it caches data!!!

But this does not mean that it is without problems. For instance the time it takes to make a first time fix (right after the software is installed, or after a hard reset) is somewhat erratic!!!! It once took me half an hour! If you have problem use HTC GPS Tool to get a fix the first time and then use your favorite GPS software. Also as for pedestrian tracking, the GPS systems to be higly innacurate in iGo8 and Lag.

HTC seams to need some work with the stability of the receiver in terms of interpreting signal strength. After the first time fix, subsequent runs are smooth provided that they are frequent enough so that the cache does not expire.

All in all, back to NDrive as this was just a test!

Stay cool,

Trance

[haven80]

IF HTC OFFICIAL Responding, then can be solved.
if not htc would never respond.
Sorry for my english.

[suiller]

here too,I've never suffered hard gps lag... anyway GPS system has a precision (or error) of about 10meters

I've expressed more the one time my opinion regarding this theme and I'm almost sure that this unwanted behaviour depends just by the rom

I use to install "light" roms, with just necessary software and NOT all the stuff that are present in the WM world :)

I'm not speaking about gps fixing times, I'm speaking only about the lag, because as we know gps fixing times depend by many factors, the principal of course is the rom radio version installed, I can confirm that a good starting point is to update the radio version at least at version .07, anyway right now I'm running .08 (from dutty website) with great results

Another factor about gps fix time can depend of course by the last memorized position, also here soon as we update a rom if we don't use an helping software like quickgps the 1st time fixing period can take really long, I checked personally, and it can take up to 15/20 minutes in open space :eek: while using quickgps can reduce 1st fixing at max 5/10 minutes

Returning instead at the rom factor, as told above, I've noticed that with light roms (but not all) and in good ambient conditions (in a car or in open space) gps lag is really minimal, most of times isn't perceptible

I drive a lot, so I had time to make many many tests in very similar conditions, for ex during the trip to my girlfriend's home I had the opportunity to test different roms in very similar conditions (path was always the same)

My experience is here... I've not noticed lags with these roms: bepe 0.95/96/97, pdaviet V2/V3 and the last one I'm still running... panosha 1.8

For what I've seen "on road" the lag doesn't depend by the radio version, radio versions can just increment/decrease fixing times, gsm reception, battery consumption, but do not have effect on lags

This is my actual configuration: ROM Panosha Shine 1.8 + Radio .08 (from dutty) + TomTom7 + these tweaks taken from an eten forum:

### GPS Lag, do not write log file and decrease polling interval, this help a bit
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\MaxLogFileSize = 0

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\Drivers\GPSOneDevice\PollInterval = 500 [default is 1000]

and for finish, like read in another forum, in my tomtom I've changed from "internal gps" to "other nmea" -> com4 -> baud rate 38400

note: my rom isn't tweaked speaking about glyphcache or similar tweaks, I left def values due to avoid memory leak

so in conclusion I think that the problem can depend by one of these: OS ver/drivers and/or it's configuration or just the rom

bye,
davide

[geistteufel]

here too,I've never suffered hard gps lag... anyway GPS system has a precision (or error) of about 10meters

I've expressed more the one time my opinion regarding this theme and I'm almost sure that this unwanted behaviour depends just by the rom

I use to install "light" roms, with just necessary software and NOT all the stuff that are present in the WM world :)

I'm not speaking about gps fixing times, I'm speaking only about the lag, because as we know gps fixing times depend by many factors, the principal of course is the rom radio version installed, I can confirm that a good starting point is to update the radio version at least at version .07, anyway right now I'm running .08 (from dutty website) with great results

Another factor about gps fix time can depend of course by the last memorized position, also here soon as we update a rom if we don't use an helping software like quickgps the 1st time fixing period can take really long, I checked personally, and it can take up to 15/20 minutes in open space :eek: while using quickgps can reduce 1st fixing at max 5/10 minutes

Returning instead at the rom factor, as told above, I've noticed that with light roms (but not all) and in good ambient conditions (in a car or in open space) gps lag is really minimal, most of times isn't perceptible

I drive a lot, so I had time to make many many tests in very similar conditions, for ex during the trip to my girlfriend's home I had the opportunity to test different roms in very similar conditions (path was always the same)

My experience is here... I've not noticed lags with these roms: bepe 0.95/96/97, pdaviet V2/V3 and the last one I'm still running... panosha 1.8

For what I've seen "on road" the lag doesn't depend by the radio version, radio versions can just increment/decrease fixing times, gsm reception, battery consumption, but do not have effect on lags

This is my actual configuration: ROM Panosha Shine 1.8 + Radio .08 (from dutty) + TomTom7 + these tweaks taken from an eten forum:

### GPS Lag, do not write log file and decrease polling interval, this help a bit
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\MaxLogFileSize = 0

HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\Drivers\GPSOneDevice\PollInterval = 500 [default is 1000]

and for finish, like read in another forum, in my tomtom I've changed from "internal gps" to "other nmea" -> com4 -> baud rate 38400

note: my rom isn't tweaked speaking about glyphcache or similar tweaks, I left def values due to avoid memory leak

so in conclusion I think that the problem can depend by one of these: OS ver/drivers and/or it's configuration or just the rom

bye,
davide


Wow man, thanks for this

I was looking registry value for pooling delay

I will try with 200 in the bus today,

Yesterday I have try "AZTOR 6" rom with google map, and yes, it's lagging a lot on the map. My wife tell me when we pass on googlemap at a certain position, they is about 2 to 5 second between my position and position on gmap.

About the log, gps don't use it to be faster after usage ?

For tomtom or everything else, I can directly set gps to COM4 / 56700 bps, working fast. But automode work in the same way except you have an intermediate between the soft and the gps reading.

So I will just try a less pooling delay and report back

it's a possible solution, but I think they will cosume more battery

Do I need to reboot between each change on this ?

[suiller]

About the log, gps don't use it to be faster after usage ?

no, it is used just for debugging purpose

Do I need to reboot between each change on this ?

yep, I think because the driver is loaded soon as the OS boot, so also the registry value

[jcab]

Hi,
I put side by side this morning HTC Diamond with AZTOR V6 - TT7 and my PDA Acer N35 - TT7, planing to the same point (test during 30 minutes). What i can see is :
- ACer N35 takes more time to fix satellite (several minutes vs less than 1 minute for the Diamond)
- Acer N35 lags much more than the Diamond when driving slowly and/or in the city (i think it's because of high buildings)
- on highway or when you drive enough quickly, there's no lag on Diamond neither on the Acer.
So for me on my Diamond with AZTOR V6, the GPS works very well. :)
Cheers.

[geistteufel]

no, it is used just for debugging purpose



yep, I think because the driver is loaded soon as the OS boot, so also the registry value


ok thanks

The registry key doesn't exists

so I will try first without, I will see if the gps lag is better with a smaller pooling interval

[haven80]

I have Added \MaxLogFileSize = 0 to the registry.
thx for your hints.
I will put your Registry Keys in my rom.

[DFTrance]

Yesterday I have try "AZTOR 6" rom with google map, and yes, it's lagging a lot on the map. My wife tell me when we pass on googlemap at a certain position, they is about 2 to 5 second between my position and position on gmap.


Don't try to fix a feature :) Google maps is not to be used for a turn by turn GPS tracking. It is an imposition of Google. Just be glad that you can do it with that delay imposed by the sofware.

By the way, if you increase the pooling interval will definetely consume battery faster. That is not a problem if the phone is connected to the power while in the Car. But if you do it on the street, plan to buy a a battery with more capacity.

Trance
PS: I'll buy a battery with more capacity anyway but not really due to this. I find that the HTC Diamond for an always on Internet device and for its features, the standard battery capacity does not cut it.

[geistteufel]

Don't try to fix a feature :) Google maps is not to be used for a turn by turn GPS tracking. It is an imposition of Google. Just be glad that you can do it with that delay imposed by the sofware.

By the way, if you increase the pooling interval will definetely consume battery faster. That is not a problem if the phone is connected to the power while in the Car. But if you do it on the street, plan to buy a a battery with more capacity.

Trance
PS: I'll buy a battery with more capacity anyway but not really due to this. I find that the HTC Diamond for an always on Internet device and for its features, the standard battery capacity does not cut it.


I see what you mean

I will try with igo or tomtom as soon as I can

Just before I will just try a shorter pooling interval on it, just to see :)

see ya

[tigger80]

Just a question to understand the problem:

How do you define "lag"? Is it an inappropriate time until the first fix, or is it a delay for the change of the current position when the phone is physically moved?

From what I read in these threads, there seem to be people with different understandings of a "GPS lag".

Have fun!

I define gps lag, as the map position is not updated on time, on mine there is a 2sec lag, thus meaning, when i have passed a road on my left or right tomtom shows my position ater 2 sec traveling at 30 mph. when i stop my correct location is shown againg 2 sec lag.
also tomtom/igo8 will not run smoothly, by this i mean the map seems to jump each time it updates.

[Virtualizer]

Hello i would like to provide you some Htcnavi.dll files wich could possibly fix GPS lags.
replace with a explorer like RESCO the htcnavi.dll file wich is located on the windows folder.
replacing dll drivers needS in order to work and to be loaded properly a soft reset
then start your test and report back. thank you

greetings alphazero

hi alpha,
tested the dlls with your v6 rom ger and wwe.
in both roms after i switched the dll, the hardware-buttons (home, call,...) have no function. the problem exists with all the dlls.
i discovered that for me the ger rom has a better gps response (15-45m too slow in tt7). the wwe version was about 25-60m though overall it feels a little bit faster than the ger version.

hardware: mda compact iv (diam 200)
rom: aztor v6, radio .05

[Dynomite232]

hi and my gps on my diamond which is from here in sweden, i use Radio 1.00.25.07 is fast i am driving 100km/h and get fast response when changing to a diferent address we in sweden are high up in the sky lol..lol we get good reseption na i dont no but its fast gps speeds here though

[salada2k]

Please guys the topic and definition of 'lag' is already heavily discussed/explained in this thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=411156)!!!

If you don't understand what it is please see the diagram in post 1 of the above thread.

[Unchained]

hi alpha,
tested the dlls with your v6 rom ger and wwe.
in both roms after i switched the dll, the hardware-buttons (home, call,...) have no function. the problem exists with all the dlls.
i discovered that for me the ger rom has a better gps response (15-45m too slow in tt7). the wwe version was about 25-60m though overall it feels a little bit faster than the ger version.

hardware: mda compact iv (diam 200)
rom: aztor v6, radio .05


Thats because this dll is not for a gps function.. ;)

[geistteufel]

Ok I have try to reduce pooling interval to 250, seems to reduce lag under google map.

But this tools is not suitable for driving. I will test iGo tomorrow.

[alphazero]

i found a new gpsdriver wich is worth testing it for people with heavy problems. first post updated. have fun.

[xavierdemon]

i found a new gpsdriver wich is worth testing it for people with heavy problems. first post updated. have fun.

Is this un-installable (doesn't overwrite/replace exsisting drivers?) as I don't want to screw my diamond completely :)

[hakanos]

Hi everybody,

I also had experienced lag with tomtom7. I had swiftbl rom 6.5 lite - .05 radio and 1.40 hardspl. Fix in about ten minutes if I was lucky.

But now! I have fix in 5 seconds or less. What I did was installed hardspl 1.24 from jockyw2001 and .08 radio. I also installed the swiftbl 7.0 Lite 16mb.

I have a super fast device now. Everybody should try it if you are having problems.

greets

Hakanos

[xavierdemon]

Hi everybody,

I also had experienced lag with tomtom7. I had swiftbl rom 6.5 lite - .05 radio and 1.40 hardspl. Fix in about ten minutes if I was lucky.

But now! I have fix in 5 seconds or less. What I did was installed hardspl 1.24 from jockyw2001 and .08 radio. I also installed the swiftbl 7.0 Lite 16mb.

I have a super fast device now. Everybody should try it if you are having problems.

greets

Hakanos

Did this solve the lag issue? or didn't you have lag in the first place?

[Masure]

Hi alpha,

Thanks for this but could you tell us more about the source of this possible fix ?

[alphazero]

Hi alpha,

Thanks for this but could you tell us more about the source of this possible fix ?

a rom from taiwan had this on the operator configuration.

so its not a part you can get else. we have to give it a try.

[Aqrab]

hey guys. Perhaps is your navigation software that is not optimized somehow for the diamond. I use destinator 7 and i have not lag at all even with the stock rom

im also using destinator 7 but i have 3 sec lag !!

[doughamm]

Hi alpha,

Thanks for this but could you tell us more about the source of this possible fix ?

I took the plunge and these two replacement DLLs borked the raw (i.e. not Windows-managed) connectivity to my GPS. Since TomTom goes after the raw com4, it died.

To undo it I had to install SPB Mobile Suite eval, go into safe mode, and delete the DLLs so the original ones in ROM could be exposed.

On another note, I have an iBlue 747 and I did some tests last night with my 1.93 Telus Diamond. The iBlue was visually closer to the mark, but in practical terms the difference was maybe a second...since TomTom announces streets several metres in advance I didn't see a real problem. Not that I wouldn't like it to be as good as the iBlue but 3-5 metres difference isn't enough to worry about.

-Doug