yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lock-N-Load:
YOUR NEVER GOING TO BELIEVE THIS

So like you all, as you can read here, I have the same issues. I tried every fix.. reboot, new AGPS data, try different GPS apps, let is sit for hours and try to acquire.. not 1 single time did I see any life in GPS Test. Nothing.

So, based on 1 post here about a guy letting it sit for 3.5 hours and finally getting it to find satellites and from then on, finding them every time, I decided to place it in a window and let is sit all friggen day with GPS Test running.

Well, while setting it up in a chair facing the window and running the power cord, I hit the chair and knocked my table to the floor! No ****, no sooner did I pick it up and flip it over to check the screen and viola... 5-6-7-8 satellites found! AND it is locking on them! Now, watching it, I have seen up to 11 found and 6 in use.

Before this I never saw anything, ever, ever

. And I am in the same place I did all of my other days of testing. No change but the drop. I have the screenshot to prove what I see!

WTF... did I seat the chip on the fall that came loose in shipping or was it total coincidence? I swear, I tried it all like you and even earlier today was running tests and nothing. Moments later after dropping it... viola. This is no joke, I swear to God.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] unknown_owner:
Well turns out my GPS is not working either. Oh well hopefully a firmware fix will solve this. Still not returning this Prime. I have GPS on my phone and a true GPS so I'm covered. Yeah, yeah I paid all this money and should have everything working. But is there any guarantee the next one will work? What am I going to do open all of them til I find one that works? Nope keep this and wwait for word on a fix.

Someone quick contact engadget.

I own a Transformer Prime, do you?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] tylermaciaszek:
I have working gps
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] madpoet:
Maybe dropping it let the magic beans loose? ;)

Either way, congrats on it working. I don't think it's a method we should all try though.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lock-N-Load:
surely not, but it is a very interesting piece of info nonetheless

Also, I notice, when I take the screenshots - I have about 4 - GPS Test clears down to nothing and then starts to see them again. Almost like something it interfering with the tablets GPS software in some way? but they all come back now every single time.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
please dismiss if mentioned before as I haven't been keeping up with this thread as much

Has anyone thought of this? you know how you go into settings and then about Tablet and it'll list firmware versions etc.. well it also lists Bluetooth, wifi, and GPS software versions. Has anyone cross referenced version numbers with people having working GPS vs. people with non working one? maybe if the versions start matching up we can determine, more than likely, if its a software or hardware issue. also something else I thought of, there's this app in marketplace, for free called Elixir2. it gives the most details and specs I've ever seen about your device. literally details everything. REALLY! Even all the sensors and allows you to test them or see performance of them in real time. maybe through that app we get get more detailed info on GPS other than just software version number found in settings. check it out. its a great app anyways and its free. a tech/spec junkie should love it. I mean, it literally tells you about everything, in real time, about all components of the Prime.

just trying to help as I've yet to test my GPS also. hopefully this could shed some light on the issue. best scenario is that its a software issue and all that's needed is value changes through OTA system updates.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Haro912:
Just got my prime from best buy. wifi is perfect. GPS doesn't work.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
I guess it depends on your definition of working...

This is from a G-Tab.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] kcshmo:
I apologize in advance if I sound a bit harsh. Anyone wishing to have a fully working GPS is to return their prime, wait for the confirm fix and then buy it again. I am coming from a Tmobile Vibrant with a non working GPS. No tweak, apps, or anything will get the GPS working on the Vibrant. I do not know if the issue with the prime is the same, but if it turns out that it is a design issue or hardware flaw. The only fix for that is a recall by Asus. if Asus decides to ignore it, then you will be stuck with a non working GPS for the life of the device. I have a prime on order myself, and I am most likely going to cancel it until I know the GPS is functioning before I place another order. I know it's a very good tablet all around, and I am so looking for ward to it myself. However, if GPS is a must have for you, then return it and wait while you don't have it. This also put more pressure on Asus to actually fix the problem.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BixBix78:
Wouldn't be much pressure but amazon ordered primes could leave honest reviews of gps performance so interested folks know what they are getting into w/link to this thread?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] wroche:
Same here damn it!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] arcticreaver:
after much considerations, i have decided to return the prime today. going to best buy and getting my money back.

i don't think i'm going to exchange for a new one. but i do wish that this issue is resolved and that hopefully a solution(s) from ASUS will come out soon.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] aldrouin:
I tested the GPS today.

I actually turned off "Use wireless networks" under "Location & Security" / "My Location" in the Settings.

I tried :

GPS Essentials

Navigation (google)

GPS Status

None of them was able to get a GPS signal.

I then called Asus, and I have to RMA it on my dime 4 days after getting it.

It's just annoying. I think I'll call again to see if I can't get a more qualified tech, since he didn't seem to know about the device. They had me wipe the device first (power with volume down) and then they told me to call back if it wasn't working.

Guess what, it didn't. So I'm afraid some of us are SOoL, or not everyone tested their units properly ( I was able to get a "lock" with wifi enable and wireless location activated ).

I would suggest trying it they way I did to make sure it either works or doesn't.

*EDIT*

GPS version is : V5.8.12

Firmware version is : HTK75.WW_epad-8.8.3.29-20111202 (8.8.3.29)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] richB7:
My prime will not see any satellites at all in-doors with gps status app. Outside it slowly starts to pick up several sats ever so slowly. I don't consider gps to be non working, but certainly it's not working very well.....
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Here's a G-Tab with wireless off. I only post this so you guys have something to benchmark against. It might be helpful if you guys that have TF1's take pics and screen shots of a side-by-side comparison with the Prime and send it Asus. I'd imagine that would get their attention. It would be hard for them to ignore that their newer device performs more poorly than their older one.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] nxp3:
Some people don't seem to be concerned about it and I think the 35-40% of the people that thinks their GPS is working, didn't test it properly. I bet 50% of the 40% of people that thinks it's working, isn't.

Let us know when you get through to a qualified tech cause I will RAGE if I talk to one of them. If there is no response from asus by next week, I'm taking mine back to gamestop. I don't want a 500 dollar tablet with non working GPS. Some people think they don't use it or care about it. But don't think they thought it through. It's not location aware without GPS and you are not near wifi. You can't geotag photos. You can't do navigation without GPS.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Apps like FourSquare, Facebook check-in, Google Places, Google Maps, and G+ are all dependent on GPS to work properly too (when not connected to Wi-Fi).
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] skeptikal:
ok so I initially reported my GPS as nonworking. I was just sitting in my truck at lunch reading about people dropping their prime. it made me think I should test my GPS now that it is clear and sunny. I turned on GPS essentials and stepped out. within 5 mins it found 11 and fixed 10. no issues at all. I initially thought mine was slow. I no longer feel that that is the case. this is exciting because it means I don't have any issues at all with my prime.

edit:// Is my GPS working by all definitions? Is there something else I should test to make sure all is well? Sorry, this is one of the few threads I haven't read all the way through which is sort of ridiculous considering this is the one real issue I thought I had with my Prime and it is a big one in my opinion.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Haro912:
Alot of those are unless without wifi... My wifi doesn't work but it isn't a big deal to me because I have a phone to do those tasks
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
"Working" is so subjective. Tylermaciaszek posted a few pages back that he had "working GPS" with a lock on four out of five satellites and accuracy to 145feet. That's pretty poor; especially with aGPS on. The screen shot I posted with aGPS off was much better than that and it shouldn't be.

If you have to be in the middle of a corn field on a cloudless day to get GPS reception without aGPS something's wrong. Whether it matters or not depends on how people use their tablets and how important GPS is to them. Using GPS in a car for navigation aside, I'd say 60-70% of my geo-locating is done either indoors or in a city while surrounded by buildings. If that's how people use theirs, the test of "is it working" should be how it performs under those conditions (and it should).

If you still have your work G-Tab, do some side-by-side testing. GPS isn't rocket science so the Prime should perform similarly. If it doesn't, it's up to you whether it matters or not.

And (not directed at you) it's silly for people who either don't care about GPS or are satisfied with they've got to ridicule or try to convince other people that have different needs, expectations, or use it differently that they don’t have a problem.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] monkeyboywa:
what is your GPS version along with wifi/build/kernal?

Im going to create a thread if it hasnt and do as someone suggested...cross reference working vs non working. maybe there is a slight variation somewhere..but my thoughts lean more towards bad connections inside the unit.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
For it to be relevant, people have to post how they're testing also. Outdoors under a clear sky with an unobstructed southerly view is going to get much different results than inside a basement. Similarly, people should post whether they're using aGPS or not and the number of satellites they’re receiving (X out of X). If anyone gets five or more satellites indoors without aGPS that would mean their GPS is working.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] nxp3:
I'm glad yours is working, but you have to also test how well it works in situation you need it working. If you move around does it drop the connection (I find this to be the case with mine, I can get 10 fix for a few seconds but drops when I move or change direction. It should not be that sensitive). I know most don't work in a totally enclosed space, but it should catche 3-4 satellite near a window.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
P.S. - I just noticed on your screenshot that WiFi's on. Was it connected?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] skeptikal:
Thank you guys for the replies. I suppose, for me, successful working GPS would allow navigation in my vehicle and maybe be accurate enough for geocaching. I will test this on my drive home today.

As far as losing satellites as I moved around it didn't seem to. However I was in that proverbial corn field (parking lot in west texas) with open skies and no obstructions. Now I am sitting in my office which is an old photo darkroom in a Sheriff's office. Concrete walls and heavy plaster all around; no windows. I'm finding no sats at all, obviously.

I do still have my 1st gen Galaxy Tab. I will download GPS essentials now and see what it does in here and in my vehicle on the way home. Thanks again for the input guys.

---------- Post added at 02:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:50 PM ----------

It was tethered to my Tab but I had 'Use wireless networks' unchecked in 'Location and security'. Is that enough to keep it from finding them through the Tab?

edit:// GPS essentials was also reporting as it always does 'Network Locations Disabled'
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Here's why I was asking. I have a Vaio P and for GPS to work mobile broadband has to be activated even if it's not connected. It's because they're both on a single chip. A couple of people have been told by Asus support that WiFi needs to be on for GPS to work. If it's a similar setup to my Vaio, I wonder if having Wi-Fi on (even if it's not connected) makes a difference?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] skeptikal:
GPS = V5.8.12

WiFi = V5.1.2.46

Build = HTK75.US_epad-8.8.3.29-20111202

Kernel = 2.6.36.3-00002-ge420e80

Hope this helps.

---------- Post added at 03:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:03 PM ----------

Let me head outside for a few minutes and I will let you know. Don't tell the Sheriff. ;)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] monkeyboywa:
Created a thread to track version numbers so we can see if maybe there is an anomoly...I doubt it..but who knows..

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1415999
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] fuzzer:
hmmm curious, I use my old samsung omnia (no longer activated) as a gps receiver for my Archos 70, but for gps to work, the data connection MUST be enabled. The phone is not activated, and does not connect to the verizon 3g network.

perhaps, the GPS receiver has a symbiotic relationship with the wifi antenna?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
what's the optimal Max time it should take for GPS to get its first lock? this is with wifi off and all location settings turned off. only thing checked is use GPS for location for street view or more accurate.

I tried briefly on balcony of my apartment building but couldn't get anything. I only gave it a few mins. got impatient and went back in..lol cold outside. I used GPS status and that other GPS app. it did download the agps data first. maybe I need to give it more time. should this be able to get a GPS lock from inside an apartment near window? big complex with lots of brick buildings around. I'm on 3rd floor.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
I've used GPS on three tablets, Zoom, Jetstream, and G-Tab. With aGPS less than a minute was pretty typical. With aGPS off from three to five. Indoors vs. outdoors makes a difference.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] kcshmo:
If you can test it in like Google Navigation. I think if you are getting GPS position, you should show up as a blue arrow on the map. Otherwise, it will show a blue dot. As you drive, your location should be updated continuously instead of every few miles when location is acquired by wifi. Lastly, when you get to town where the streets are somewhat close together. Does your location constantly jump around from one road to another?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] skeptikal:
Ok so I took both the orig. 7" GTab and the Prime outside. I disabled the WiFi and GPS on both and the 3g on the Tab. I laid them both flat on the tailgate of my truck. I started GPS Essentials. I enable GPS on the Tab. In less than a minute it located and fixed several sats. Next, I enabled GPS on the Prime. To my surprise in less than 2-2.5 minutes it located and fixed on even more sats than the Tab. It was a little slower but found and held a few more satellites. Not a lot more mind you; 2 or 3 more. I took some pics on my Evo. I will try to upload in a few.

Next, I turned everything off again and got in the driver's seat of my truck(5 tinted windows and the windshield). I ran through the same little test with almost the exact same results except the Prime is slightly slower in the cab of the truck than it was with a clear view of the southern sky. Maybe another minute or so. My truck was facing north and has a full back seat. I realize that is probably more detail than we need but I thought it might be relevant...lol. Anyway, pending the drive home and navigation test I will say that my GPS is working albeit slightly slower than my GTab.

Neither tablet will find any satellites at all from my server room/office/darkroom.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] aldrouin:
UPDATE : I will add a little notice to my post, it was cloudy this morning and there is a snowstorm right now. I will test when it's clear to make sure it's defective and not because of the weather.

For now, I keep my vote at *not working* and I will post again after testing in good weather.

I still think a GPS should work (my car GPS was working earlier) even if the weather is bad.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] arcticreaver:
i've returned the prime. but i'll detail how i tested the tablet.

at work, in the office with a window. put the tablet next to the window and turn off wireless networks.

opened google maps and basically waited for 30 minutes, no lock. tried GPS essentials and GPS status. nothing.

turned on wireless networks, and i get a lock on my location, roughly about 125 feet. not too accurate, but better than nothing.

went outside and did the exact same thing. GPS essential and GPS status never can get a lock on the any sats. only locks when wireless networks is checked.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lock-N-Load:
I, for one, do not buy into any of this indoor/outdoor metal cover BS.

My car GPS works 24/7 no matter conditions and it has 3,000 pounds of metal wrapped around it and goes up and down hills and valleys - so angels change relative to sky - and never has an issue. As well, my phone can GPS inside as well as outside as well as any weather condition - and I have been as high as running trails on Mt. Evans and Longs Peak at 14000 feet and it works fine.

The Prime should work inside or outside - unless is some crazy metal/concrete structure - your house or car - unless is some gnarly tunnel and in all average weather conditions.

Unless... it is a crap GPS chip or defective
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Your car isn't less than a 1/2 thick and has an antenna that's probably ten times more powerful than any mobile device.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] skeptikal:
Well, I have an HTC Evo 4G, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and an Asus Transformer Prime; None of which will find a single satellite from my windowless office. Surely they're not all 3 crap GPS chips or defective are they? I think inside, outside, metal, concrete, materials in general, obviously matter. They all work in my car which is fine with me. I don't need GPS to get to my counter in my office and then back to the desk. Well, some days maybe I do. ;)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Diamondback:
You

do

know that most cars with internal navigation system have an external GPS antenna on their roof?

But even a metal spayed front window in your car can render your commercial GPS navigator totally useless.

And I never had

any

GPS device which works inside my house... No matter if one of a few mobiles phones or GPS navigators or even external GPS receveivers which work perfectly fine outside...

You can definitely say that a GPS device doesn't need to work inside a house or inside every car.

But if it doesn't lock to at least 6 satellites outside with good weather after a maximum of 15 minutes, something is clearly wrong...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] morphiend:
people are really defensive about the prime. I'm keeping my preorder because i dknt really think i need gps on it but with this many people with non functioning gps people here and especially asus need to recognize there is a legitimate problem. i don't get why it's so inconceivable that that is the case.

oh and gtfo of here with waiting five minutes for your device to get a location. it should be 30 seconds max.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Diamondback:
Haha, you really better get your facts right :D

12,5 minutes is the time it

can

take to actually download all needed data from the GPS satellites.

Stop posting bull**** here if you have

no idea

what you are talking about.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] jdbaker82:
Called asus and had call escalated to see if i could get acknowledgment from asus that there is a known issue with the gps and if they have some solution or course of action being put into place and I got no information at all so.......I personally would not even use the gps function but am going to return it based on principle alone i think this is a big slap in the face that they would release a product like this they had to have known it was defective and then to not even acknowledge the issue or do anything to resolve it thats where I draw the line. I hope alot of other people feel the same way as me and return their tablets and then buy another one when Asus decides they want to figure this out.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lock-N-Load:
Well, my phone and my chicks phone and my GPS watches x2 & my GPS bike computer can all get GPS in my house (ranch style). My Prime - ever since I dropped it and you can read about that 3-4 pages back - is getting 10 in view and 9 in use in my house

right now

with WiFi off. and I got screenshots to prove it (but I cant prove I am in the house, you must trust me).

And yes, I know a car does have a GPS antenna in the dash or elsewhere, but the point is a car is sorrounded by metal interference. And functions fine.

The real key point I was making is I don't want to hear excuses like the metal back is the issue as the whole front of the unit is plastic and glass just like a whole car is metal encased but say the dash area - making a simple analogy.

---------- Post added at 03:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:08 PM ----------

I have emailed and called. In both cases the responses I got was (1) not heard of this issue (2) reformat (3) send it back in

well

1 - we know it is an issue clearly

2 - not doing this and wasting days of time I have set this up and tweaked it out PLUS we know everyone that has posted here who did do this nothing changed

3 - not ready for that just yet

I think in time if people keep calling, emailing, FB and Twitter posts it will have to be acknowledged. I sent this thread to the guys at Droid Life hoping maybe they would pick up on it and give it eve more exposure.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] jdbaker82:
Just spoke with another asus rep and he says the prime does not have a stand alone gps and wifi has to be on.......so why would there be an option to turn the gps on and off?? This sounds like crap to me can anyone tell me if other wifi tablets have gps or is it only 3g models?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] arcticreaver:
if this is the case, we can sue ASUS for false advertising. i think the rep have no idea what they are talking about.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Twelve minutes is an extreme. I just shot these two videos. Both start from a cold boot. The first is with Wi-Fi on, the second with flight mode on (no aGPS). It's inside my (concrete) house about 20' from a window with southern exposure. While it doesn't prove anything it should at least help set an expectation and give people something to compare against.

[YOUTUBE]KEU9h8FzuoQ[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]fUtOomelSTc[/YOUTUBE]
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Diamondback:
Sure 12 minutes is extreme, it's the maximum actually. But seeing your posts, I don't think I need to tell you that ;)

Just saying that waiting 3 minutes inside a house is totally

not

the way to test the GPS of the Prime...

Everyone who havend waited 13 minutes outside with good weather can't really say if his GPS is broken or not :D