[DEV][PORT]GLONASS Support - better accuracy of navigation![REACTIVATION]

[Karls0]

I created this thread because I found interesting thing about our devices. Many people complain about work of GPS in i9001. Slow fix, and disconnecting are only part of problems. Yesterday i was reading about navigation and found a solution. All Qualcomm Snapdragon S2(so our MSM8255T too) series chips support both GPS and GLONASS. GLONASS is russian system of satellite navigation. In GPS system are 27 satellites and in GLONASS we have extra 24. It look that our devices uses only half of power.

More here:
http://www.phonearena.com/news/All-...vices-supporting-both-GPS-and-GLONASS_id24830
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS

EDIT[04.12.2012]:
I reactivate this thread, I hope any real developer will port it. If you have any idea post it here, or just search this thread and look any of this *zip make it work even partially.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

I solved the problem with slow fix...

Before starting the navigation, i use gpsfix with mobile data turned on. Effect is instant GPS fix...

 

[Blumdum]

I created this thread because I found interesting thing about our devices. Many people complain about work of GPS in i9001. Slow fix, and disconnecting are only part of problems. Yesterday i was reading about navigation and found a solution. All Qualcomm Snapdragon S2(so our MSM8255T too) series chips support both GPS and GLONASS. GLONASS is russian system of satellite navigation. In GPS system are 27 satellites and in GLONASS we have extra 24. It look that our devices uses only half of power.

More here:
http://www.phonearena.com/news/All-...vices-supporting-both-GPS-and-GLONASS_id24830
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS

I want to start a discussion - is it possible to port support of GLONASS to our phones (e.g. from xperias from 2011)?

there is no need to port glonass
it is already implemented in our phones
you can check if your gps is using these satellites by using gps test
every satellite has an own specific number
gps (usa satellites) are using the numbers 1 to 31 i think and
glonass (russia satellites) are using the numbers 65-88

glonass satellites are only used when gps has a bad signal e.g. in buildings

 

[Karls0]

Ok, but extra 24 satellites will give us much better accuracy. I don't have problem with fix but sometimes when it's cloudy accuracy is about 15m-20m, more satellites will help with this problem.

We don't know how much it will help, but we have to try if we want to be sure. Now accuracy is good for car navigation but in off-road it's a bit to weak.

Edit:

gps (usa satellites) are using the numbers 1 to 31 i think and
glonass (russia satellites) are using the numbers 65-88

I tested in "GPS test" and numbers was between 1 and 31, so only GPS range.

you are wrong, here is a proof:
Our config:

NTP_SERVER=europe.pool.ntp.org
XTRA_SERVER_1=http://xtra1.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_2=http://xtra2.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_3=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
SUPL_HOST=supl.google.com
SUPL_PORT=7276

SGSIII config:

TP_SERVER=north-america.pool.ntp.org
XTRA_SERVER_1=http://gllto.glpals.com/4day/glo/v2/latest/lto2.dat
XTRA_SERVER_2=http://gllto.glpals.com/4day/glo/v2/latest/lto2.dat
XTRA_SERVER_3=http://gllto.glpals.com/4day/glo/v2/latest/lto2.dat
SUPL_HOST=supl.google.com
SUPL_PORT=7276

In xtra.bin file are only GPS data, to use both systems phone need lto2.dat where are informations about position of GPS and GLONASS satellites.

I found that SGSII too support Glonass:
http://androidandme.com/2011/12/news/qualcomm-enables-dual-core-location-on-snapdragon-phones/
It look like our phones doesn't have enabled glonass by default but it is possible to do it.

 

[Karls0]

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1436776 - it's for WP7, do you think it is possible to do something similar for our phones?

 

[Warren87]

That's great. thanks for share.

 

[V07A4ER]

Just use this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1685726

 

[evemir]

If I remember correctly our exact processor doesn't support GLONASS. Its never, refreshed version (don't remember numbers) does and it is even possible to switch hardware beacouse it has the same amount of pins. But you'll propably break your phone by doing so.

I also read today about GLONASS and supporting processors and our model is on the list. So I'm a bit confused.

 

[Karls0]

We have hardware support for glonass, but I tested this theory that our phone support it in software. Look at the screenshoot - only gps satelites. So capability of our navigation is reduced to half by software :/ We need good developer to port it from sony phones or some galaxy devices (SII SIII, Note)

 

[rickvrolings]

Well. We allready have a fast gps-lock fix somewhere in this development section (maintained by broodplank, if i remember ot right). He alleady had a super easy way to get a faster gps lock (in about 5 secondes or something like that) i know BroodRom rc5 rev 2 has this gps fix pre-installed. Try the rom and see how fast gps is.

Sent from my SGS+ using the xda app

 

[Karls0]

Fix is enought fast for me, i rather think about better accuracy like on SGSII or SGSIII. Even Xperia arc S have GLONASS support :/ samsung is really retarded with software,

 

[XeLLaR*]

People. We cant get everything at once. We need good kerneldevelopers to get 3.x kernel.

Sent from my GT-I9001 using xda app-developers app

 

[Karls0]

People. We cant get everything at once. We need good kerneldevelopers to get 3.x kernel

DoomsDay explain why this kernel is not needed, it will not change to much. But please stop off top.

Sony Xperia Arc S have this same chipset and get glonass support with .62 update. Here is it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1408142 - i will try to look at this, but I'm not a developer, just a hobbyist, so without your help don't expect to much :/

 

[Rhonin86]

interesting approach

DoomsDay explain why this kernel is not needed, it will not change to much. But please stop off top.

Sony Xperia Arc S have this same chipset and get glonass support with .62 update. Here is it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1408142 - i will try to look at this, but I'm not a developer, just a hobbyist, so without your help don't expect to much :/

First of all thanks for gathering the huge amount of information and linking them. I think that someone of the devs/cookers will grab the information and use them earlier or later. Keep on searching for news around "Glasnost" I would like to have a more accurate GPS - not the speed of the fix is of importance and it is not the main intent in this thread...

Wish you (and us) succees... :good:

Rhonin

 

[rickvrolings]

People. We cant get everything at once. We need good kerneldevelopers to get 3.x kernel.

Sent from my GT-I9001 using xda app-developers app

i think XeLLaR means that we need all the good developers to get the kernel working. That is just the most important thing right now.
and i never had any problems with accuracy. the gps always brought me to the destination

I wouldn't mind if you work on it you self, but i personally think that the developers l need to focus on the kernel right now.

Sent from my GT-I9001 using xda app-developers app

 

[evemir]

But not everyone uses gps to navigation. Others use it to tracklogging as well.

 

[Karls0]

I use it for geocaching so good accuracy is priority. I'm working on port this from Xperia Arc S, hope I will release first .zip soon. I'm not sure it will worke but have some ideas

Edit:
OK first test: I added some libraries, let's see what changed. I recommend to test it only on CM9-based roms. I'm almost sure it will not work on GB

Instruction(remember to make backup):
1. Reboot to recovery (CWM or TWRP)
2. Wipe cache and dalvik (full wipe not needed)
3. Install zip
4. Wipe cach and dalvik
5. Fix Permissions
6. Test

To test use one of this apps:
1. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chartcross.gpstest&feature=search_result
2. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gpsdatamonitor&feature=search_result

Check PRN's number of satellites. GPS numbers are 1-32 and 65-92 are for Glonass. If you can see these higher numbers it means it works!

WARNING! I'm not responsible for any damages or bricked phone

 

[XeLLaR*]

DoomsDay explain why this kernel is not needed, it will not change to much. But please stop off top.

Sony Xperia Arc S have this same chipset and get glonass support with .62 update. Here is it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1408142 - i will try to look at this, but I'm not a developer, just a hobbyist, so without your help don't expect to much :/

No and Yes. We can get a Port of Jellybean with 2.x Kernel but it wont be able to have Butter inside of it. Thats because the 2.x Kernel doesnt Support the Kind of V-Sync that Jellybean needs for V-Sync.
3.x Kernel isnt just Usefull for Jellybean. It will help developers to Port other things to our device in the Future. For example Newer android versions and Mods like BLN wich is a pain in the ass now.

Sent from my GT-I9001 using xda app-developers app

 

[d.zdanowicz]

I don't have CM9 so I won't try it. Maybe try to change the forum thread name to encourage users to test it.

 

[Karls0]

It can be any CM9-based rom, e.g. Paranoidandroid, BioHazard, Ehndroix. I'm not sure about AOKP based but if libraries structure is similar it can work. The most important is that it has to be ICS rom.