[APP] Fusion GPS Fix 1.0.1.1 2009/03/13

[NuShrike]

So here's something to try to deal with the anemic GPS on the Raphael, and any other post-WM5 with slow GPS locking.

This app runs after install, and after soft-reset, and immediately starts up the GPS hardware through the WM5+ GPS API. It waits 5 minutes for a GPS lock, or it quits. A pop-up will tell you whether GPS lock was established or timed out before it quits.

The GPS polling is limited to every 5 seconds to try to conserve some CPU cycles. Currently does not use AGPS, but you can turn it on/off at your registry leisure.

This attempts to reduce the Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF) during which the GPS ephemeris almanac is slowly built up. This can take up to 12.5 minutes for a non-QuickGPS/AGPS accelerated device from a cold-start. By kick-starting immediately after soft-reset, subsequent GPS locks for the next ~6 days (without updating QuickGPS) should be much quicker.

Takes 23K of disk, and 1K of ram.

updates:
1.0.1.1: GPS power kept on until lock or timeout using CABuddy's GPS code framework; states lock time in seconds
1.0.0.5: added much belated icon to app and top-bar
1.0.0.4: switched from pop-up window to wifi notify-style pop-up (457)
1.0.0.3: fix multi-threading issues that caused popup notifications to fail
1.0.0.2: makes sure the app is disconnected from the GPS before the app exits

[crazyC]

Will get my raphael tomorrow (O2 Serra) and have heard of and been concerned at the various GPS issues - could you explain this app a bit more ?

Many thanks

[norkoastal]

so compared to launching say GPS test every morning this would save battery life since its not constantly trying to lock? Sounds like a better alternative...

[NuShrike]

Originally Posted by crazyC Will get my raphael tomorrow (O2 Serra) and have heard of and been concerned at the various GPS issues - could you explain this app a bit more ?

Raphael, or just the FUZE, has much weaker GPS reception compared to my Kaiser, and will take a lot longer to lock to the GPS signal. FusionGPSFix acts like a GPS app and basically does an automatic cold-start of the GPS after soft-reset which many people have been doing manually.

When the GPS data from the WM5+ GPSAPI says the quality of the GPS signal is GPS or DGPS, then that's when all other GPS apps will get an instant lock.

So FusionGPSFix then quits out, and that's it until next soft-reset, or manual run.

norkoastal: yes, but I'm not sure how long of a period before it needs a kick again. Once I find a pattern, I may try to schedule a run every few hours, or every few hours after you turn on the device.

[NuShrike]

Updated version posted which makes sure the connection to the GPS is shut off before the app exits. I had a strange issue of battery drain that I couldn't trace to a dangling process otherwise today.

Verified GPS operation and shutoff with a Kaiser which has the useful GPS blinky lights, and with HomeScreen PlusPlus which shows battery drain levels.

Works great with CamerAware Buddy and Navizon.

[NLS]

looks like a great idea, I wonder how it works in practice

[NuShrike]

Originally Posted by NLS looks like a great idea, I wonder how it works in practice

How's it working for you? So far now I'm maintaining quick locks that take only a few seconds.

I do activesync multiple times a day so QuickGPS updates very often also.

[norkoastal]

any plans on making a icon for the app? I was thinkink I could map it to my ptt button or launch from my favored programs list. thanks

[NuShrike]

Originally Posted by norkoastal any plans on making a icon for the app? I was thinkink I could map it to my ptt button or launch from my favored programs list. thanks

I'll try a rusty hand at it for the next update.

[sblop]

Great app.

I just had the problem wit batterydraining.
The last two days I have been happy if my phone could do 6 hours. :-)

I have notised that the program gives a pop-up telling weather or not I has gotten a gps fix... - As I have my phone restarting automatic about 3am, I would like to know if the program disconnect from the gps before this popup shows, so my phone doesnt drain during the night. ;-)