yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] slugbug2010:
You quoted my response that my GPS worked before I installed the update when you wrote this. I specifically pointed out that I did not have wifi on. I was responding to others that were pondering whether or not it worked prior to the the update. Since I hadn't updated yet, I did the best I could to test and then only updated to see if it made a difference. Under the exact same conditions, the only difference being the update.....the GPS failed to find any satellites at all after updating. I still can't lock onto any satellites from my place even after I've let wifi "find me" first - prior to turning wifi off or even if I keep it on, and it never finds a satellite

I am not implying that it would have "passed" the driving test prior to installing the update. I have since been to several locations with mixed results. The only constant is it rarely locks on right away, and from there I varies on how long it takes lock on. I have not driven with it but trust the results would be the same as you and everyone else has described.

Thank you for the valid points you made. Hopefully more people will understand and make informed decisions.

I may never actually use GPS without wifi or for navigation but I for one am most definitely not fat, dump and happy. I paid $500 for a tablet and one of its features is broken. I am very confident this will get fixed by Asus. It's not a deal breaker for me personally, but I say that knowing I still have 5-6 weeks to return it. I won't sent it in to get fixed. If it bugs me, I'd return it and wait until units are released that are fixed so that I would have a new one.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] shinzz:
First of all, the whole entity of Asus has not addressed the GPS issue. Some Asus websites (such as USA) have removed "GPS" off of their spec list, but Asus Global website has "GPS" included.

The response by Asus of USA (I'm guessing) CSR:

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service.

The ASUS Transformer Prime is made from a metallic unibody design, so the material may affect the performance of the GPS when receiving signals from satellites.

From his word.. it MAY affect..

Since he chose to use "MAY", one can guess that it also has a chance of working properly. However, what's the % of current owners who has working GPS properly (at least comparable to other tablets)?

Now, the disagreement between that many of us are currently having: Did Asus respond officially?

I, for one.. do not think they have. I'm looking for crystal clear response & statement. It's confusing when their own websites have conflicting information listed. Although.. if logic dictates.. Asus isn't going to do anything.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] the_game_master:
this.

simply going by some CSR from ASUS is simply not enough imo.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] PrimeTimeBro:
This is why someone has to crack one of these open and test the GPS with the cover off because you might be right. Jerry may simply be the voice of India repeating what jdbaker82 told them because ASUS actually called him back and he told them he took his back cover off and the GPS worked which he just made up he didnt really take the back cover off.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] slybarman:
When my wife's new Prime arrives on Wednesday, I could disassemble it to have a peek . . . but then I will have to come to live with one of y'all.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] slugbug2010:
I have to laugh at this :

" Please understand there are some limitations when using the GPS function.Some scenarios you may encounter when experiencing weak GPS performance:

1. Using the GPS while traveling in a car: The roof of a car, the insulation, bridges and other factors can affect signal reception.

2. High density areas with large buildings and structures that can block line of sight communication with GPS satellites."

I was essentially told the same thing by Sprint when the GPS did not work on my first Evo. I'm sitting there in my CONVERTIBLE, on a beautiful clear day, and no trees, no buildings, no bridges, no mountains, no hills. I told the report "I'm looking through the top of my car and don't see a thing that might interfer". :-)

I've had "professional GPS devices" drop signal when I've needed it and it sucks! Nothing like riding your bike around in circles in the middle of nowhere trying to crab signal again so you can ride your way back.

Yeah.....they are gonna need to fix this. I am sure they will. To *not* do so could be disastrous to "shelf sells".
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] bestco:
this thread needs a wiki section on the first page, reading 90+ pages aint easy.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Alloster:
Any one tried this solution?

An Acer Iconia A500 user, paying attention to the Prime but didn't read all the posts.

Many Iconia A500 devices have issues with GPS too. It took long time to find and fix with GPS status. After replacing the sock gps.conf with a new gps.conf, it takes less than 10 seconds to fix 6 satellites (my case). I am wondering if this would work for the Prime. See detail in the following link.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1152318.

Good luck,
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] n11:
Would that require root?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] RussianMenace:
Needs root :(
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Alloster:
It worked with my unrooted device. I used ES File Explorer to copy and paste the file, and was told that the paste was failed. But surprisingly, it worked.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] PrimeTimeBro:
Any rich people have a prime that can rip the backplate off and test the GPS
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] tch098:
I have both Asus 101 and 201 and both on the lastest updated i tested both using GPStest and the 201 took 4 times as long to get gps working and finding the signal and the 201 found fewer signals but it works. I assume there are some units out there that are not working but that will be the ame with all tablets and I am sure that Asus will fix the problem.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] rdalev:
1. Can't believe someone at the Asus factory didn't walk outside and try the GPS on the Prime before giving it the thumbs up !

2. I do believe Asus should fix this issue on future Primes by placing a small piece of plastic, that looks amazingly like brushed aluminum, over the affected area !

3. That Asus should issue every current Prime owner an expedited RMA to replace the current cover with the new one that has the "piece of plastic that looks amazingly like brushed aluminum over the affected area" cover OR issue $100.00 rebates to all current owners to keep the peace !

Didn't really purchase mine for the GPS features, but then again I did pay for it !:eek:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
"Jerry's" real name is probably Nimish and he makes about $2 an hour in an Indian call center. Jerry/Nimish most likely has never seen an Asus product except in pictures. He works for an outsourced call center and anything Jerry/Nimish says is from a script or boiler plate provided to him by Asus. Jerry/Nimish's previous script prior to the GPS reference being pulled off the website(s) told him to say "turn on Wi-Fi" and if that didn't work "hard reset." Someone way higher in the food chain put new words in Jerry/Nimish's mouth.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Sokonomi:
I was (perhaps foolishly) depending on GPS working on the prime since my old tomtom died centuries ago.

I do still have the old (slow as jesus, 4Mhz or something) bluetooth GPS mouse laying around though,

but for 830 dollars (thats what we pay in europe) I was kinda expecting everything to be all good 'n dandy.

If only someone was brave/foolish enough to get that backplate off and give it a go,

wed all know where we stand with the whole GPS problem supposedly caused by the backplate.

If its still garbage with the backplate off, someones got some explaining to do.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Ciddy:
My final "testing" experience.

Ok, another GPS experience today after the early afternoon garden wait with 8 minutes of "sats in view" and no lock; Early evening I jump in my car to drive across town to my Dad, switch on the Prime, it still has like a micron of Wifi and the second i switch on GPS test, I get a lock on 6 sats. So I think "whoa?!?" and start the navigation, and then start driving. 150 meters down the road, the lock is lost, only to be regained every 30s or so. Occasionally it kept the lock, but the accuracy circle kept pumping like a champ every second. On the way back (general direction north) on the 5 km drive I only got a lock once or twice for a few seconds. Then, however, it was amazingly accurate.

So my sum up for today and this being my final "tests" (as was said:"waste of time") - waited 8 minutes for a lock while standing in the garden with no fix, hopped in my car got an instant fix and it was bearable for navigation, not really dependable on that one drive. On the way back it was unusable.

My next step is to decide how badly I want to use the GPS functions and based on that to return it or not if there is no news til saturday. Because it's still an awesome device... Oh, dang!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] vbman213:
Not sure if this has been posted yet:

http://www.wirelessgoodness.com/201...ime-gets-torn-down-kal-el-pictured/?nggpage=2

Includes some nice pictures of the Prime's logic board and various assemblies.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Ciddy:
Hadn't seen this yet. Judging from the pictures, the GPS receiver sits at the top right, roughly just above where the screen hits the bezel. And under what seems to be a thin metal shielding...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] shinzz:
I wonder how they took the back off...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] don_cheadle:
I would like to know if anyone is willing to try this GPS fix.

There appears to be a conf floating around with alternative GPS servers to accommodate getting a quicker and stronger fix.

Here's the thread:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=11342772

>>this was posted earlier in this thread, but it seems like it went unnoticed.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Haro912:
Those are cwm zip files... We don't have that option...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Wordlywisewiz:
Yeah that would help but only with an unlocked bootloader so we can flash the zip lol
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Wordlywisewiz:
Okay I just did this on my phone and dang now I pickup 8-9 satellites indoors instead of 3 before the flash! If we can get the bootloader unlocked we can totally have working GPS!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] RussianMenace:
You don't need an unlocked bootloader, only root. With root you can manually edit the GPS.conf file to reflect one in the appropriate .zip file. Zips are just containers for automatic install.

Hopefully someone with an early Prime can try this out.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] don_cheadle:
Exactly. All that's needed is root access.

Here's gps.conf for North America

Simply save this as a text file "gps.conf"

and

use the command:

cp /dir-path-for-saved-file/gps.conf /etc/gps.conf

and then reboot.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] RussianMenace:
Good stuff.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] PrimeTimeBro:
Get in your car and go for a drive then we will talk.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] RussianMenace:
He did it on his phone not a Prime....
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] shinzz:
It doesn't mean anything since he did it on his Phone.. not the Prime.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Wordlywisewiz:
It does mean that changing this file can greatly improve your signal!

Actually the file needs to be called gpsconfig.xml I looked in the system files
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] PrimeTimeBro:
So this is going to magically break open the aluminum shield on the back of your Prime and let the signals through?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Someone with a TF1 compared the files about 15 pages ago. They're the same in both. So if it were just the files the Prime should theoretically work as well as the TF1. It would be fantastic if the CM files did improve the performance over stock though.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] RussianMenace:
No, it's the gps.conf file in /system/etc folder if I remember
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Wordlywisewiz:
They will
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] PrimeTimeBro:
It will only matter if it makes it functional are you working on it now?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] unknown_owner:
I have to say that an email from someone in a support is not an official word of the company. This guy Jerry could be a regular tech who stated his opinion in emails but could also have no idea what he's saying, or no one knows that he is emailing the wrong answers to questions. How do I know this? I managed a support dept for a software company and we would often have engineers responding to people via email saying the wrong thing. I would be "Why did you say that?! That is completely wrong." Then we would wait to see the blowback or email back the correct answer. No we didn't micro-manage and review every email that went out from the engineers to client, but there were several "oops" emails. There were also cases where being were told the wrong thing over the phone. Sometimes would have the engineer call the person back with the right answer. Official word would come from someone higher up due to legal matters that could arise due to the nature of the matter at hand. Also emails would state the position of the person so you know if it was a manager, customer svc rep, programmer, or even the VP. Not defending Asus or anyone but I won't take Jerry's (with no title) word on this GPS situation.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Wordlywisewiz:
Can't I don't have a ripped prime to confirm it works who had one?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Totally true. But, more likely than not, their CSR's are reading from a script and using boiler plate they had no authorship of. Sending identical e-mails to two different people kind of supports that. If that was the only thing we had to go on I'd agree it's not enough to draw a conclusion from. But the timing of Jerry's script changing from "do a hard reset" to what's referenced coincides with the pulling of GPS off their site(s). I know it sounds a little conspiracy theory and only time will tell.

To test it, someone could call Asus support and complain about using the Prime for navigation to see if they get the same response.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] unknown_owner:
Don't know if this would help but here is what is in the gps.conf file located in /system/etc. This file was not changed by the OTA update from build 8.8.3.23

================================================

#

# IMPORTANT:

# this file is only used by NetworkTimeUpdateService.java

# DO NOT make any GPS related settings here.

#

NTP_SERVER=xtra1.gpsonextra.net

==========================================

The only GPS files that looked like they were changed was: gps.tegra.so and glgps. Not sure if there were more gps files changed that just didn't have gps in the title.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Wordlywisewiz:
@Asus @Nvidia @Google unlock our boot loader! give us root! #TransformerPrime

Tweet it
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] don_cheadle:
That's quite lacking server options.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] justing1319:
GPS Testing

Seeing all this talk about the GPS issues prompted me to test my own Prime. To avoid any use of wifi or verizon network provided location data i put both the Prime and my HTC Incredible into airplane mode. The program I used to perform the testing was GPS Essentials satelites section.

Test1

I went outside and placed both devices on a table glass up. The Prime found at max 6 satelites over several minutes and the fix clicked off and on. The Incredible found 10 satelites and the fix was very stable.

Test2

Bringing the devices inside they both slowly lost connections to the satelites however getting close to a window the Incredible picked up several and got a fix, the prime picked up 2 and could not get a fix.

Test3

The next step was to go for a drive. Before getting started I waited until the prime saw several satelites and had a fix. Pretty much as soon as I started driving it lost the fix and the satelites switched back and forth from visible to unseen. Durring long stetches of slow driving or sitting still the fix came back but i would not expect it to be usefull for turn by turn directions. Whereas my phone kept the fix the whole drive.

Test4

Many people are speculating the aluminum cover on the back of the prime is the cause of the issue so I put my phone on top of the prime both face up and face down and did not see any major effect on the number of visible satelites or the status of the fix. I also put my phone under the prime however unless I put it directly und the center of the prime the effect was negligible.

These tests actually give me hope tha there may be a software fix possible to this. What do you guys think? Are there any tests you can think of to get more informatuon on this issue?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] unknown_owner:
Don't know if anyone has tried it yet but calling support and requesting to speak to a manager. Be nice to the CSR and say that you would kindly prefer to speak to a manager (not supervisor) about your GPS issue with your new Prime. Tell the person they get you that says they are a manager, that you are taking notes of this call for future reference should it be needed and get his name, title and email address/phone number. Don't worry if he doesn't give you his number at least get the email. Tell him that you will send him an email of the conversation that you had with him and you would like that he review it and send you back any corrections that you may be needed from the conversation you guys have. This is to verify who he says he is and that you have something in writing that a manager said this or that. Be nice when you speak to the manager and only talk about your experience not what everyone in the forum is experiencing. Please, don't get mad. You get a long way if you are nice and humble. How do I know this? Someone did it to me to verify who I was and get some sort of official position on the matter they had. Smart-ass f$%^ker
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Wordlywisewiz:
I'm telling you guys it had to be in the software but the backplate doesn't help any!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
I think there are over 100 pages on GPS already and your revelation isn't any different than those that preceded it.

This is a needless thread.

:rolleyes:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] PrimeTimeBro:
I already did this and after speaking with a manager come to find out the only call center providing support for tablets is the call center in India so you can get nowhere with them. Now if someone can find the number for a Us call center or corporate you might have better luck.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] n11:
As was stated this is nothing new. It would have more impact if all gps posts were in the one big thread.

Mods...please consider merging.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] unknown_owner:
Funny how India is giving you phone support but hardware support is in Texas
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] don_cheadle:
Well I don't own a prime, so my testing ability is limited. If anyone has a rooted prime with a bit of *nix knowledge they could try out the modified gps conf.

Again here's the modified gps.conf for North America.

the file location for it should be /system/etc/gps.conf
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] PrimeTimeBro:
Any chance what this Rep told him has something to do with the files you guys are messing around with now?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] unknown_owner:
I looked at the one line and compared it to the gps.conf file that was in that post (and online at other places) and the line looks incomplete.

Here is what we have: NTP_SERVER=xtra1.gpsonextra.net

Here is what the "proposed fix" gps.conf has: XTRA_SERVER_1=http://xtra1.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin

It actually doesn't even have the xtra1.gpsonextra.net as an NTP_SERVER and going to the site in our file gives you a 403 Forbidden. Going to the one in the "fix" gps.conf is actually a file. Is this file the aGPS file that should be downloaded? Who knows.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] e.mote:
The length of the "main" GPS thread is making it worthless, by burying whatever nuggets to be gleaned under the mountain of 100+ pages as stated.

Would be best if a new thread is started, with the OP containing a summary of findings from the old thread.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Wordlywisewiz:
Someone needs to alert the software engineer asap!

But on a side note I found an ingesting file called projectmap.Conf

#tf201=transformer prime tf201

#tf201g= transformer prime tf201g

#t201x=transformer lite tf201x

#tf201xg=transformer lite tf201xg
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] doeboy711:
I only have 20 pages worth of info....it's easier to maintain and read the threads when you have 50 posts per page instead of 10. I would recommend changing it in your forum options.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] liderbug:
Isn't Android Open Source?

If so, then shouldn't one be able to get the code? And with the code fix the problem - that is if it is a code problem. I'd wager there's someone on this forum who could show ASUS how it's done. ;)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] justing1319:
Sorry to start another thread but I wanted to get this conversation to a place with more data and evidence based troubleshooting rather than the baseless speculation seen in the other threads.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Wordlywisewiz:
Check out the file in system/lib/hw/Tegra.GPS.so what's readable seems like their it's an error reading the GPS

Saying something about a Sim card......
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] don_cheadle:
It's listed as an additional server most likely. The reasoning by the creator of the edited gps.conf was that the server used in the stock gps.conf is often cluttered with too many requests to reply in a timely manner (apparently that single server is very popular on ALL/MOST devices). Which is probably why that server is being put on a "if all else fails" criteria for the edited gps.conf.

Anyway I have no idea why one is a general server address while the other gives a path. It might have to do something with the way aGPS parses requests, or just the general layout of the conf.

The best way to find out is to dive in and try it out.