yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] n11:
Thanks Lock-N-Load.

Can we build on your test to get everyone to contribute and agree on the most difficult test for GPS to pass before we declare it working.

I would start with these steps:

GPS off

Wifi off

Airplane mode

In GPS Status, menu, tools, manage A-GPS state, push reset

Turn off and restart the Transformer Prime

Open GPS status and test both indoors and outdoors

Open Google Navigation, set a destination and drive there (or next step)

or - drive with GPS Status open to see how it holds sats

If a few folks would try this series of steps we'd get even more confirmation of the depth of the problem. Please suggest any other steps that you think would provide a critical test. I'm posting this because during the course of this thread I've mistakenly believed that my gps was working. In the end it was working in a technical sense, but it was so weak that it wasn't working in a practical sense.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Strange that out of all these posts only a single Prime seems to work properly and no one else can duplicate lock-n-load's results. If months went by you could say that Asus may have changed something but every prime is no more than two weeks old so all of them should be the same. And an engineer said the antenna is probably soldered to the edge of the same circuit board the chip is on so dropping it wouldn't seem likely to change anything. Again, strange.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] briant97:
Status Update driving using Navigator only works if you are tethered to cell phone and only works if pad is up in the window. Turn wireless off and its toast. I rested unit in lap against steering wheel and it lost signal even with wireless on.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] mrmark93:
Easy on the name calling, buddy! I ain't no engineer, I work for a living! :eek: I take a lot of things apart and stuff :D I looked at the pictures of a Prime taken apart, and didn't see the familiar little white cables that would lead to remote antennas for WiFi, Bluetooth, etc, there could still be an antenna segment on one smaller circuit boards, and the connections between could be finicky (if they exist), which would explain the 'drop' fix. It appears that whatever the problem, it's wide spread enough that Asus will be aware of it, and have a fix--but reporting the issue is the biggest thing ya'll need to do! If I get one, I'm not leaving the parking lot before several things are checked!
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] briant97:
Poll options needs added that says sometimes :) along with yes and no.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] arcticreaver:
i will do that now.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] slugbug2010:
I read the first 25 pages and then skipped to the end, so I am not sure what I missed. I hope I have the basics.

I thought mine was working for sure because Google Maps showed my exact location. And I saw the notification that it was searching for GPS so I knew something was a bit off- doh! Then I read and realized I needed to turn off the wifi and google location search functions.

I turned everything off except GPS. I went outside, used the Navigation app and locked onto a GPS signal to get directions within about a minute. A friendly voice told me I had lost GPS signal a few moments after I came back inside. I didn't reboot and I've not accepted the firmware update yet.

So mine works, yes?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] briant97:
I am on phone with Asus support and I am sad. Telling me they don't support third party apps. I told them they are the only ones that got the thing to work. Out of the box it does not work. I was told by there own support to install gps fix and he is claiming it doesn't say that in the notes. I didn't want to hang up the phone with my first call to support but they basically forced me and said install all these apps and try it. I told this 2nd guy that a huge thread is going on xda and he said those people don't know what they are doing.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] GCurry:
Samsung Galaxy 10.1 vs Asus TF GPS

I've been following this thread, but might have missed comparatives. So here is something I've tried, hopefully new to the thread.

I've had 2 Acer A500 tablets before, returned both only because of the microphone. My wife has a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, so I decided to compare her GPS performance to that of my new TFP.

To the point where I began the comparison, I had not been able to get mine to work (see GPS satellites, except 1 or 2 sporadically, and not lock at all).

I had discovered GPS Test, GPS Status, GPS Essentials, GPS Doctor, and they were on both machines. No satellites on my TFP visible, but the Tab was seeing 7-11, locking on 6-9. All this inside a second story bedroom. The Tab was operating the way I remember my A500s did. The signals on the Tab were strong (green).

Oddity: Just after I locked in with the Tab, I noticed that for some reason, the TFP was now seeing satellites, and locking. The signals were all weaker, yellow, but it was locking on to some and giving GPS lock. I also noticed that after getting a lock on 5-6, it would seem to reset back to seeing nothing and work its way back up again (GPS reset problem?).

Thought I was not going to have to return it, but I can't reproduce the behavior on my TFP anymore. Now, even after hard reset, no lock. I've tried many combinations of airplane mode, GPS on, test, wifi on, test, hard reset and even one factory reset. My gut feeling is that either (1) GPS antenna isn't feeding a decent signal to chip, or (2) there is some sporadic GPS reset problem on my TFP.

I would like to be able to navigate with my TFP in the car, wifi or not, so expect GPS to work.

So I guess, unless this is magically fixed by a software update soon, I will have to work with Asus / Best Buy to repair/replace/return this. Frustrating, and that Tab of my wife's is now on sale at Costco for $430, with ICS update just around the corner. Asus bleeding edge, bah.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Everyone calling the Indian contact center's being told the same thing.

1) Hard reset

2) Turn on Wi-Fi

Until someone gives them something else to say they're just going to keep following the script. I'm sure most of them have never seen an Asus product except in pictures.

Someone who sent there's in for repair for the GPS issue should be getting it back in a week. If it's fixed that means the problem's been found and corrected. If it comes back NPF or with the dreaded "working as designed" that'll be the end of that.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] briant97:
They just gave me an rma number to send mine in for repair. This sucks just got the toy yesterday I don't want to send it back :(

I am also pretty upset with the way I have been treated by Asus support. I know they make wonderful products but question whether it is worth the buy if I am treated this way. However I have yet to compare asus support to any of their competitors so maybe they are better than them I don't know.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
Here's some scenarios where this would be an issue without using it as car navigation device.

1) Without Wi-Fi, you get the GPS to lock outdoors where it's clear. Once you change your location it will no longer be able to geo-locate until it can see the sky again or you connect to Wi-Fi. So s/w like CoPilot that works offline won't find or be able to track your location.

2) You're on vacation and want to use the walking directions in Google maps that you've cached to do some sightseeing in a foreign city. If it's clear outside it'll lock but the odds of it keeping up with you as you're walking are slim. If it loses lock it probably won’t be able to get it back.

3) While on the same vacation, you want to geo-tag the pictures that you're taking on your trip. If there's any signal it'll most likely be weak and the geo-tags could be off by 145 meters. If there's no signal, there will be no geo-tags.

I know these aren't typical uses but the only example given so far that people have glommed on to is car navigation. So if stuff like the above is not important to you, don't sweat it. If it is, hammer Asus for a fix.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Funkybooyea:
First off I want to say not having a fully functional GPS does suck... but here is one thing to think about with this... Since the TFP is a WiFi only device and does not have a 3G/4G data option, if you were going to use apps like Google Maps and other applications that require a data connection to work correctly you will have to be connected to a WiFi hotspot... right?

Now the down side would be if you were say tethering it to your phone while you were driving or using a WiFi Mobile Hotspot.

Just a thought...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] BarryH_GEG:
And you're right. Except for Google Maps which can be cached, offline s/w like CoPilot, and geo-tagging. Sorry about that. I wasn't trying to make stuff up I have a 3G tablet and didn't think it through.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] GCurry:
Here's how I look at it. I have already got plenty of complexity around me. I want to think about "GPS" as a consumer, not an engineer. To me, GPS means that I always know where I am (if I turn it on). My other devices support that view, tablets, phone, even the 2.x year old OG Droids now on the shelf. That's useful because it lets me navigate, geotag, check in, etc, etc. So my GPS expectations, as a consumer, are set by the market.

Asus TFP has not met those expectations, which it set. I don't want to "work around" their shortfall by having to manage the rules for when it works. I just want to know it does. No special cases, no going out of my way. Just works. Like everything else with GPS. If it wants to accelerate a lock via wifi correlations or caches, that's fine, but it's not a substitute for standalone perfornance of the GPS subsystem IMHO.

So I appreciate your breaking it down, but I just want it to work as well as my OG Droid. I've gotten my RMA number from BestBuy and will be sending it back for exchange. Maybe wait to return it until I hear Asus acknowledging the problem.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Funkybooyea:
Ahhh yes the cache option... good point. Didn't think about that. Well here is to hoping for a fix.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lock-N-Load:
I have noticed same thing and said it earlier. Any time i have all those locks and visible, if you interact with the tablet in some other way, they all disappear and then come back 1 by 1.. like some sort of software issue as I never move the tablet.

you forgot

3) send it to us on your dime

and yes, if one of the few people here who sent theirs in - I think there are 2 posted up - gets one back that "works" the way I think we expect one to... we know there is a fix and I will be sending mine in as will 1000 others. If not, then we know it is FUBAR and was from the factory and in the design.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] GCurry:
In my case I didn't have to interact with the tablet at all in order for it to reset. When the GPS was briefly working, it'd find the satellites, then lock one at a time, and as soon as it hit 6 or so, would immediately reset, so that lock only lasted a few seconds. Then, rinse repeat. If those "resets" came more frequently, then the GPS system wouldn't even have time to id the satellites and lock on, which is consistent with the behavior I was seeing.

I don't know what might be causing GPS reset, hardware design?, intermittent short, software weirdness? A lot of people probably tested their machines shortly after unboxing, so I wouldn't have thought there would have been some software uniformity, yet this thread's survey is split down the middle between working and not.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Lock-N-Load:
Almost makes you wonder.. really.. what is the point of the AGPS unit they put in this device. If you want use it without WiFi - required according to them - then what's it's point in a device that does not have 3G/4G in their eyes? You cant drive and get WiFi so really, when would it have real value to put an AGPS chip in a tablet that has no data connection? What good can it serve really?
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] slanford:
I can't help but think that the poor GPS reception may be caused by the same thing thought to be plaguing the WiFi reception...namely the aluminum case. A quick Google search leads me to believe that GPS signals do not travel well through aluminum. This might explain why some are able to get a lock outdoors with no obstructions but not inside their car or through a window where the signal would already be weakened.

Just a hunch but it seems too coincidental that the TP is having problems with both WiFi and GPS signals.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] theoner1:
This. Alot of folks say it work but probably couldn't care less. I've tested both prime while driving and both are garbage. Next to them were my xoom and it is working flawlessly.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] nxp3:
OK, I did the factory reset which wiped out everything. then I did the hole/paperclip reset thing. Download gps status again. Still very sporadic like it was before. Get satellite but loses it. Number of satelites seen is always changing 3,4,7,11 even, but seldom a fix...when I do get a fix, it goes away just as quick. And I'm standing there outside in the same place. This is it folks....I'm not going to load anything back on....I'm going to do one final reset to get it back to the setup screen, wipe off the device, put it back in the box and have the wife take it back to gamestop for a refund tomorrow. If they let me. I hope there's no trouble with the return.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] unknown_owner:
I just did the same thing but I did the same thing you did but I have no satellites at all.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] the_game_master:
I'm guessing the Transformer Prime ain't ready to replace your Tom Tom GPS?

I'll just stick with my car's bluelink.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] g0t0:
Looked mine up on ASUS website and called them, too. My Prime got there today and its in "repair" time. He (sounded more english this time than Indian) said it can take up to 48hours, but ill keep an eye on it and let you guys know whats up.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] tylermaciaszek:
How long did the while process take I want to do this but don't want it to be too long
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] richB7:
When will one of those sites do a tear down of the prime so we can see the antennas? I'd be great if someone could pull the back off their tab so we could confirm if the problem is interference with the aluminum back...

Or wait to see what comes back from one of these being repaired.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] tylermaciaszek:
www.grandmax.net/2011/11/asus-transformer-prime-specs-and.html

Teardown video
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] unknown_owner:
You know what, now might be a better time to send the Prime in because no one may be sending theirs in and they might actually give yours some extra special attention. When the masses sends theirs in, they might be overwhelmed and may miss something having to rush through everyones tablet. I'm not worried really; I took out a 2 yr sqaure trade warranty where I can get the full purchase of my tablet back in 2yrs if they can't repair it then.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
sorry to tell you this buddy. no matter the circumstances, Gamestop policy on returns is that any opened box device can only be exchanged. NO REFUND. its stated on the back of reciept and on their website. so more than likely scenario would be you take it back. then you have to wait till another shipment or replacement device comes in. Gamestop doesn't have the prime in stock like that for an exchange unless you're extremely lucky. only way you would've gotten a refund is if you never opened up the box. I made sure when I bought the prime from Gamestop to specifically see what the return policy is. hopefully you won't have to wait to long after you turn it back in to receive another device.

only other option is to send it in to Asus for diagnosis and repair. or they might just send you another new unit all together. but in any of these scenarios, chances for a cash or credit refund was shot when you opened up box n broke the seal. sorry bro
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] tylermaciaszek:
www.wirelessgoodness.com/wp-content/gallery/transformer-prime/2011-11-02_150502.jpg

GPS Broadcom
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] louvass:
Game Stop Springfield Pa

I called the GS where I purchased wanting to exchange mine for GPS and Wireless issues only. He said he may have it tomorrow, I told him to take his time not waiting one from the original batch. So they must have them at the warehouse.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] g0t0:
I called Tue morning 0900 and after hassling the "tech"/Indian guy reading off a computer, i got my RMA email by 1015. Mailed it priority by 1110 from CA (sent it to ASUS in TX). They received it sometime today (thur) and is in "repair". I should get it back by Wed next week.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] n11:
This will be interesting...thanks for the reports.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] nxp3:
If you've been keeping up with this thread you will see that several people have returned it successfully to gamestop. I'll give it a try. If they don't I can always send it to asus and keep on sending it back to them until it's fixed. This isn't acceptable.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] DaRacerz:
I believe I have another lucky unit over here. While I have been getting zero lock or satellites in view while testing in the house, I spent some time with the Tablet outdoors today. Granted I did have Assisted GPS enabled, within 30 seconds of starting GPS Test I had a GPS lock on 5 satellites with 7 in view. After that I put it in the car and did a quick drive around a few blocks and I did not notice any drop outs (placed reasonably close to windshield).

What I will do tomorrow (hopefully) is to test the Tablet again inside the car from Cold Start with WIFI and Assisted GPS disabled and see how the results fair.

Coming from an Engineering background, I can tell you that based on what I've read, it does not look like Asus ever designed the Aluminum panels to act as antenna's. Instead, its merely there for design. Because of this, the panels are working as shields for any RF signal. Therefore a degregation is WIFI/Bluetooth/GPS signal is of no surprise. Though, being that some of us are getting GPS and most aren't, I'm starting to believe this may be more of a production problem.... (loose wiring, bad IC's, etc.)

I am curious how the Broadcom compares in sensitivity to other GPS receivers? For example, Sirf Star III (popular GPS receiver in lots of CE devices) has a sensitivity of -165 dBm. This
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] aldrouin:
So I did another test tonight with my wifes LG optimus one, one of the cheapest phone that runs 2.2... Without wireless and cleared agps, it finds and locks satellites in 2 seconds. My prime won't even see them after a cold boot... I did a cold boot on the phone too.

Waiting on news from the forum to send it for repairs at Asus...
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Matthew Carson:
I did test mine the other day tethered to my Epic's wireless hotspot while riding in a car. This way it was connected to WiFi like Asus says it should be. It still got no satellite lock, and it still showed the location as the last spot I had been in with a fixed location wireless access point. So it was actually showing me the wrong location (and said accurate to 30m) not even just no location. Epic was showing my current (moving) location, Asus just said we were sitting still. I certainly don't believe any nonsense from Asus saying that it just needs WiFi connected to enable the GPS portion, because that doesn't work either.

I have had it get a satellite lock with about 10 satellites in GPS Essentials and GPSFix leaving it sit outside for about 15 minutes, so it should have a decent location to start with for subsequent fixes. If I move though it loses everything. Disappointing. My wife is always complaining about having to navigate with the small screen on my phone, so I was going to tether it to get maps from Google Maps and use the GPS.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
they sent it back open box to store for complete CASH OR CREDIT CARD refund? of course you can exchange it. I haven't seen anyone say that Gamestop gave money back on open box device. that'll be against policy. people just been exchanging it. well if they have, then thhy got lucky as a mofo. that was a major reason people returned their unopened box to Gamestop and went somewhere else because of those details in policy.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] arcticreaver:
Official response from Asus.

Dear Valued Customer,

Thank you for contacting ASUS Customer Service.

For the problem, I suggest you connect TF201 to the internet before start the GPS. The device will download the GPS data which contains important information about the status of satellite, current date and time for determining the satellite position.

If you continue to experience issues in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] demandarin:
that's the same response basically they've rehashing to others over the phone. they basically saying the GPS needs the Agps data, acquired by connectiong to wifi and internet, in order for it to work :rolleyes:
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] L3rry:
The Prime will definitely need a reasonable location starting point in order to get a reasonably quick location lock. Going in to airplane mode and just using GPS will take forever for a lock assuming you are also in a clear open area. The folks that are testing indoors near a window will be standing there for a while. Connecting to the Internet should help (depending on where your ip thinks you are located), or running something like Speedtest (using closest server) prior to running GPS Status or Test should help speed up the lock by updating Andriod Location Manager feature. Not ideal, but it's not a phone with both cell and wifi location assistance.

With just GPS turned on after a couple of minutes it finds 1 or 2 satellites and no lock. After running speed test then GPS status, in a minute or so it finds 8-11 satellites with 6-9 locks. Probably a minor software tweak could help.
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] gakio12:
Helpful info

I'm sure this will be helpful somewhat, maybe, idk. Says I'm a noob :p

Okay, I am a courier and I drive all the time. I got this tablet to use as a larger, easier to see gps (tethering to my phone). However, it seems that, while I can get a gps lock, it keeps dropping the lock. The weird thing is, it can keep a lock if I have two mountain ranges beside me! (small valley) As soon as I get out into the plain, it starts dropping the lock a few seconds after it gets it again. I thought it should be the other way around (mountains blocking satellites), but whatever lol.

I have attached a map with highlights for the areas of interest. Green is where I get a constant gps lock without it being dropped (also a small valley). Dark blue is the plain and also where it constantly drops the gps lock. Light blue is where the two mountain ranges that I was talking about are.

(Nevermind. I can't post a link, so you can find it on my Google+. Alex Hutchins, I have a grey animated face smirking as my picture.)
[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] Magnesus:
If support asks me to do that I tell them I did it already. :) Wipe never helps in such situations.