GPS issues demystified
- Thread starter shloms
- Start date
For anyone just coming into this thread you can't go wrong with contact cleaner/electric parts cleaner, find a 2ml tube on google for <$10 and apply as instructed to the GPS contact spots (i.e. the mesh and the few other connection points). I had non-functional GPS about 6 months ago, and a simple contact cleaning (without solution) got my GPS back to working for only about 1 month. Then I tried again using contact cleaner and my GPS is still working after about 5 months. For the first 1-2 months I was getting 5m accuracy acquiring lock instantly outdoors, it's weakened since but it's still working (15-20m accuracy, 10-20 seconds to lock). For simplicity, safety, and non-irrevocability really hard to go wrong with this. Just not the most permanent solution (and no guarantees that it will work, just that it won't damage anything)
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get some isopropanol. usually sold in liters for less than $10. it's the same except without a snake oil price.
but ye. i agree. just cleaning the contacts leads to a result like this:
View attachment 4447207
anyways..
next i'll try to apply a tiny bit of almost pure silver coating to the mesh where the contact touches it.
if all goes well and the mesh does not magically suck all the silver up i'll have a good surface for that pin to make a proper connection to the mesh.
i'll report back after i did that.
PS:
6 ml silver coating are still cheaper than the cleaning snake oil you mentioned
with silver i actually mean the metal called silver.
with coating i mean a fluid that will harden after 10 minutes.
in germany we call that silberleitlack
when it's dried it has a conduction of 0.5 to 2.0 ohm
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I unfortunately wasn't able to compare it to cleaning with isopropyl alone, I'm curious if the alcohol could make that big a difference. But compared to just cleaning by wiping with a qtip, the contact enhancer seems to work.get some isopropanol. usually sold in liters for less than $10. it's the same except without a snake oil price.
but ye. i agree. just cleaning the contacts leads to a result like this:
View attachment 4447207
anyways..
next i'll try to apply a tiny bit of almost pure silver coating to the mesh where the contact touches it.
if all goes well and the mesh does not magically suck all the silver up i'll have a good surface for that pin to make a proper connection to the mesh.
i'll report back after i did that.
PS:
6 ml silver coating are still cheaper than the cleaning snake oil you mentioned
with silver i actually mean the metal called silver.
with coating i mean a fluid that will harden after 10 minutes.
in germany we call that silberleitlack
when it's dried it has a conduction of 0.5 to 2.0 ohm
I'm curious if I can find some of the same silver coating you mentioned i'd love to try it out for my next 'refresh'. gps lock has gotten slow
edit:
maybe this is a similar product i can order in the US: https://www.amazon.com/CaiKot-Conductive-Silver-Coating-surfaces/dp/B003D8G8SY
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german amazon: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B019H11LE6
englands amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019H11LE6
american amazon (you should probably read the reviews. this product seems to be bad): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FEFTHK0
you might want to try this instead: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GKLIJMI
just something like this. seems like the proper translation is: conductive silver
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the american amazon link you posted looks like it is a conductive glue where the german link is for surface contact enhancement (mentions remote controls, similar to CaiKot 44). Thanks for the suggestion
your quote does not include my edit it seems.
in general i'd avoid any kind of syringe style application of that stuff. could get nasty easy
just a short update to the conductive silver idea:
it seems to work so far.
i removed the adhesive from the mesh using pure isopropane and used the conductive silver to kinda glue the top part of the mesh into the phones case.
i also applied a bit of the silver to the center of the mesh (where it makes contact with the pin)
so far this runs pretty well.
even in my apartment i get a signal that's stronger than on average on the road.
(~15 meter error with 17/27 sats)
i'll monitor this over the next week while driving and report back.
keep in mind this not only removes your warranty,
(yes you could open the phone without leaving a trace behind)
it also can result in failure if not done correctly.
sadly i did not have the time to make a video of the application.
i'll probably just edit some pictures and mark the spots.
if my and the assumption of some other people here is correct, the actual problem is the adhesive below the mesh.
it seems to work so far.
i removed the adhesive from the mesh using pure isopropane and used the conductive silver to kinda glue the top part of the mesh into the phones case.
i also applied a bit of the silver to the center of the mesh (where it makes contact with the pin)
so far this runs pretty well.
even in my apartment i get a signal that's stronger than on average on the road.
(~15 meter error with 17/27 sats)
i'll monitor this over the next week while driving and report back.
keep in mind this not only removes your warranty,
(yes you could open the phone without leaving a trace behind)
it also can result in failure if not done correctly.
sadly i did not have the time to make a video of the application.
i'll probably just edit some pictures and mark the spots.
if my and the assumption of some other people here is correct, the actual problem is the adhesive below the mesh.
Thanks to those that persisted in finding the true GPS location. I used 91% isopropyl alcohol on a microfiber cloth to clean up the mesh beside the headphone jack. I also gently raised the contact opposite the mesh by lifting the plate under the contact (don't mess with the contact itself, easy to break unless you're experienced with them.)
Went from zero signal indoors or outdoors to a 3-second fix on 15/17 satellites indoors.
If the signal deteriorates (plate I flexed goes back down?) I'll try some of these other solder/silver/etc. fixes for permanency.
Went from zero signal indoors or outdoors to a 3-second fix on 15/17 satellites indoors.
If the signal deteriorates (plate I flexed goes back down?) I'll try some of these other solder/silver/etc. fixes for permanency.
https://imgur.com/a/BFyBiC7
This is final Solution
Remove Cap 1 - 2 ( in red ) And the Coil 3
Make Jumpers on the route
The phone had 0 Locked
https://imgur.com/a/BFyBiC7
DO NOT CUT THE ANTENA!!!
This is final Solution
Remove Cap 1 - 2 ( in red ) And the Coil 3
Make Jumpers on the route
The phone had 0 Locked
https://imgur.com/a/BFyBiC7
DO NOT CUT THE ANTENA!!!
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You pasted the image with GPS Test result twice so we can't see your solution, can you fix it please?
Well since I said to myself "to hell with this phone" I decided to go ahead with this daring solution of st.dan.
And indeed it improved my GPS signal.
On the open it locks on very fast with 15m accuracy, but it is still no where as good as my old Galaxy S6 and indoors and even in the car it is still unusable.
Well in the car if I put it on the dash - it is ok, but if I put id down next to a gearbox it looses the 3d fix but still sees 3 or 4 satellites.
So it is a solution but not ultimate ))
And indeed it improved my GPS signal.
On the open it locks on very fast with 15m accuracy, but it is still no where as good as my old Galaxy S6 and indoors and even in the car it is still unusable.
Well in the car if I put it on the dash - it is ok, but if I put id down next to a gearbox it looses the 3d fix but still sees 3 or 4 satellites.
So it is a solution but not ultimate ))
I bought a new LCD+FRAME and new back cover from eBay. both sellers I asked if it's genuine from LG and said yes.. even payed more for the lcd in sale page title says "GENUINE".
packages arrived... LCD is fixed glass, back cover looks good, but still fake (good fake though).
Anyway GPS still doesn't work at all
packages arrived... LCD is fixed glass, back cover looks good, but still fake (good fake though).
Anyway GPS still doesn't work at all
HTML:
This is the result:
Attachments
Yeah what I bought is the same.
It's a used LCD that was broken and they replace its glass. (But the glass is not original)
most of the time there is a problem with the Contact ... but not all the time . Most of my cases... where those 2 caps that i posted and removed .,. depends on luck
Hello guys, and forgive me for the OT post, but i searched the whole forum and found out the only one thread providing exhaustive links to the antennas function schemes, in order to debug and solve my problem:
Bought an used H850 stated as "in good condition", it arrived broken, with lcd changed, no prox sensor rubber, crappy earpiece, case hooking tooth broken and screw not in place, volume down not working, bottom module part reglued together and with mic problem...
Tried to ask patiently for a refund and got no chance, but a lawsuit for i punched the seller nose. After that i focused on fixing the phone myself and step by stepi got everything working again
Satellite signal and gps fix are quite quick on it, but max precision on open field is 17m, locked on 11-15 sats. (most of them yellow, the other red, no green)
The last problem is i kept having low gsm signal reception and frequent disconnections/no service issue, and i found out the 1 and 2 antenna connector was missing, it has snapped off the mainboard by the seller: the pcb is broken, and along with it are missing the small smd capacitors which i think they are the filters for 850 / 1900 MHz cutting.
Edit: those caps look more related to the 2 empty coax ports (external aerials predispositions), than vital for the phone's circuitry. If it's right then the repair may be possible.
What can i do? I was planning to recreate with epoxy that piece of pad and bring connection to the antennas... can i use alternate solder points to which attach wires or am i screwed up beyond any recoverability?
Here are some pics of teh damage
https://imgur.com/ufxS54f
https://imgur.com/SRz82CD
https://imgur.com/33oy1u3
https://imgur.com/kwyqwgv
https://imgur.com/UmJhJ43
Anyone who knows advice are well accepted.
Aldo.
Bought an used H850 stated as "in good condition", it arrived broken, with lcd changed, no prox sensor rubber, crappy earpiece, case hooking tooth broken and screw not in place, volume down not working, bottom module part reglued together and with mic problem...
Tried to ask patiently for a refund and got no chance, but a lawsuit for i punched the seller nose. After that i focused on fixing the phone myself and step by stepi got everything working again
Satellite signal and gps fix are quite quick on it, but max precision on open field is 17m, locked on 11-15 sats. (most of them yellow, the other red, no green)
The last problem is i kept having low gsm signal reception and frequent disconnections/no service issue, and i found out the 1 and 2 antenna connector was missing, it has snapped off the mainboard by the seller: the pcb is broken, and along with it are missing the small smd capacitors which i think they are the filters for 850 / 1900 MHz cutting.
Edit: those caps look more related to the 2 empty coax ports (external aerials predispositions), than vital for the phone's circuitry. If it's right then the repair may be possible.
What can i do? I was planning to recreate with epoxy that piece of pad and bring connection to the antennas... can i use alternate solder points to which attach wires or am i screwed up beyond any recoverability?
Here are some pics of teh damage
https://imgur.com/ufxS54f
https://imgur.com/SRz82CD
https://imgur.com/33oy1u3
https://imgur.com/kwyqwgv
https://imgur.com/UmJhJ43
Anyone who knows advice are well accepted.
Aldo.
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