yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Captivate Android Development] spode:
Hi Guys - I've read through a few pages of this but I'm getting nowhere and hoping someone can help me with my woes!

I have a Samsung Captivate i897. This was originally purchased in the US (AT&T), but I live in the UK. I've flashed CM9, and now CM10 with the same results.

I can get a lock outside, stationary on 9 or 10 satellites.

When I'm driving it might get a lock, and then it'll lose the fix, or I'll dart all over the map - completely unusable for driving.

I've used the application "GPS Fix" from the market place which I believe does much the same thing as this script - except that it allows me to choose the locale. I'm not sure if it made any difference - but it certainly hasn't solved anything.

The GPS.conf that GPS Fix produces looks to have a lot less configuration than this script (I'm not sure how much of an issue that is).

I've also tried different modem ROMS (I used XX at first for the UK, but now I'm on BUJS1) - honestly, I've not noticed much difference with different modems.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I rely on my phone as a Sat Nav and I really don't want to go back to my Nexus One...
[Captivate Android Development] bsaelim:
Strange, I realized just by turning on wifi while using the GPS, the GPS works much more reliably. Without wifi on I'd constantly lose GPS signal while driving.
[Captivate Android Development] laughingT:
same here. best with wifi off. as near as I can tell, it is power related. wifi on with charger attached, gps is okay. The screen plus wifi plus gps may cause voltage to drop a little? I get similar behavior when battery is low with wifi off.
[Captivate Android Development] bsaelim:
Hmm.. in my case I have to leave my WiFi on. So what I did was I flashed this fix, then left my WiFi on whenever I used gps in Google Navigation during driving. No more GPS signal loss. Good GPS accuracy as well.

The modem I use is a 1900, which comes with the ROM. Not sure why this works for me...
[Captivate Android Development] spode:
What is the exact modem you're using? I'll give it a go.
[Captivate Android Development] bsaelim:
19000UGKC1
[Captivate Android Development] spode:
I gave that modem a shot and it didn't make any difference. In fact, I've not noticed much change with *any* of the modems I've used. Does it actually affect GPS?
[Captivate Android Development] bsaelim:
even when you turn on wifi?
[Captivate Android Development] spode:
I didn't notice any difference.

I'm in a position where I can get a lock if I'm stationary. But when I'm driving, it's next to useless - it can't track at all. Either it thinks I'm on roads I'm not, or the GPS signal drops entirely. It's strange, it'll have a lock on 8 satelites and then the next second it just drops them entirely! (using GPS Status).
[Captivate Android Development] bsaelim:
please check gps.conf to verify it got the fix.

if that still doesn't work, i'd check the antenna contact at the battery cover.
[Captivate Android Development] spode:
Hi Bsaelim.

I'm not using the fix posted here as this appears to be USA only and I'm in the UK. I'm using an App called FasterFix and this adjusts the gps.conf for my locale. One of my questions earlier up on this thread was if this fix does anything additional that I should be adding to the conf file. As far as I can see - the main difference is changing the NTP servers.

I've cleaned up the contacts on the back of the cover and lifted the spring up slightly to make sure it's getting a good contact.
[Captivate Android Development] bsaelim:
hmm. I am not sure what else to suggest if that is the case. i think someone posted a gps.conf fix for Europe a while back....
[Captivate Android Development] spode:
Is it worth me trying a different ROM? I'm on CM10 at the moment. You appear to be using Helly Bean, but from what I can see - that's based on CM10?
[Captivate Android Development] bsaelim:
Yes. It is based on CM10 but also comes with the Devil kernel.

Yet I doubt the ROM would make any difference to the GPS (I would also get a ton of GPS signal loss if I forgot to flash the GPS fix after flashing the ROM).
[Captivate Android Development] spode:
I can't see anything specific about the Devil Kernel that is useful to me (correct me if I'm wrong!). But I don't mind trying a different ROM. If I can't get this working as my Sat Nav, I'll have to get a different phone :(

I might try applying the GPS fix on this thread and see if it makes any difference. I could always remark out the NTP servers and put the UK servers in place, on the off chance there is something else in the config that helps.
[Captivate Android Development] bsaelim:
I'll continue to test my gps again as new version of the ROM has just come out.
[Captivate Android Development] spode:
I'll try Helly Bean, with your modem and the GPS fix and see if it solves it.

Is there any other factor I should be considering? I had a lot of issues getting CWM on to this device.
[Captivate Android Development] bsaelim:
I don't know if the partition matches that of CM10 (which I have not used but I heard there is some 422 mb limit?), but the thread is pretty active and you should be able to find out.
[Captivate Android Development] bsaelim:
i just flashed cm10, flashed the gps fix, cleared then downloaded agps data using an app called gps test, turned on wifi and gps. only one signal loss when driving for an hour (probably due to an incoming facebook notification)
[Captivate Android Development] spode:
So I tried it last night and GPS is "usuable" in the car, it dropped once, but it struggled to track me at multiple points. I think this is just the best I'm going to get with this phone.

So then I picked up a Galaxy S3 from eBay for £370... I guess I'll keep this as a spare unless anyone wants to buy it :)

Thanks for all your help - it's such a pity as Jelly Bean runs so nicely on it!
[Captivate Android Development] lordxentris:
Hey, Can someone please got a mirror link to this file? I am unable to download it via dropbox.

NVM, I had a problem with my IDM plugin. Its working now. :)
[Captivate Android Development] Klitoni:
Has anyone improved/fixed GPS on captivate ?

Which gps fix should i download
[Captivate Android Development] soumian:
The first question doesn't really need an answer and for the second one there's only one link to the fix and it's from a Dropbox account on the OP. What do you mean with which fix?
[Captivate Android Development] geminihc:
if I use the latest hellybean (based on cm10.1) do i still need this GPS fix or does the rom already come with the most optimal GPS settings?

my GPS seems to work OK but sometimes it does lose lock and has a hard time trying to lock back accurately (shows a faded blue circle showing approx area only).

thanks,
[Captivate Android Development] rmntruexjr:
The gps on the cappys are horrible if you weren't aware..Sounds to me like yours is one of the better ones ;)

I was under the impression all the newer roms had the best gps fixes but I'm not sure. My gps seems to perform the same no matter what rom I'm using at the moment.

Unfortunately for me over the years on a few different cappys, the best fix I have found is to get it close to the windshield without a case. I just clamp the phone in a dock that allows the phone to be clamped, but away from the dock face. So I end up with a space between the back of the phone and the dock.:silly:
[Captivate Android Development] laughingT:
Gps Antenna position in cappy is the chief cause, along with bad gps.conf files in the etc folder. You can't do much about antenna, but a good gps.conf file helps tremendously.

Here are the contents of the CM10.1 gps.conf file and they are inadequate in my experience:

NTP_SERVER=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

I replace it with the modified hellstorm fix, which is a better gps.conf file, and I consistently get locks in 15 seconds or less, and don't lose lock, except when driving through a 1.5 mile tunnel.

Here's a link to my gps.conf on Dropbox. Too long to paste as text. http://db.tt/YYwj6iMe

Note: you should change ntp servers if you aren't in USA. More info at ntp.org

Sent from the wholly ROMin' empire. SGH-I897 CM10.1
[Captivate Android Development] ajeesh vijayan:
doubt ..

does this fix works only on us devices? am from India.. should i edit this GPS.config fix file for my country..? if I should, what lines I should edit?
[Captivate Android Development] soumian:
Just look for your country servers and pools on the http://www.pool.ntp.org/ page and edit those lines so that its adequate to your zone.

Something like this

NTP_SERVER= 2.ar.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER= 1.south-america.pool.ntp.org
NTP_SERVER= 0.south-america.pool.ntp.org

Keep in mind this example is from my own setup and i live in Argentina so you'll have to replace "ar" and "south-america" iwht the corresponding names from the webpage.
[Captivate Android Development] Klitoni:
I flashed the gps fix.

Before fix i NEVER connected to any sat.

After fix i can get connected !
[Captivate Android Development] rickneworleansla:
I need to try this on my cm11 captivate. I can't seem to get or hold a GPS fix.
[Captivate Android Development] laughingT:
My experience: CM builds 10.x and 11, for both captivate and att galaxy s3, have botched ntp time server lines in gps.conf.

The CM sets a bad ntp server on a single line and leaves the ntp pool server lines commented out with a # symbol.

On the S3, this periodically causes a lengthy delay in the lock - eventually AGPS gets a time lock from the GPS satellites themselves.

After editing gps.conf to have us ntp pool servers, the S3 now consistently locks in 3 seconds in the gps status app under clear skies, and in 10 seconds under heavy rain from inside my car.

Here are the first lines of CM10.2.1 gps.conf in the unedited file:

Test

NTP_SERVER=time.gpsonextra.net

#Asia

# NTP_SERVER=asia.pool.ntp.org

#Europe

# NTP_SERVER=europe.pool.ntp.org

#North America

# NTP_SERVER=north- america.pool.ntp.org

------------

And here are the lines in my modified gps.conf file, at the top of the file:

NTP_SERVER=0.us.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=1.us.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=2.us.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=3.us.pool.ntp.org

The only other edit I made was to put a # in front of NTP_SERVER=time.gpsonextra.net

to disable it.
[Captivate Android Development] bibiner:
This do not support Asia?
[Captivate Android Development] eNemy-:
You have to edit the file and put the servers of Asia and your country from http://www.pool.ntp.org/zone/asia
[Captivate Android Development] DudeWatsThat:
Yes please do.
[Captivate Android Development] Linwood.Ferguson:
Thank you. Didn't mean what I wrote as any kind of slight just the other had already mentioned cm9. I did look inside. Thanks for the updated one. Will try some experimenting later.
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
CM KE3 modem - http://db.tt/UZ3BbcoP
[Captivate Android Development] DudeWatsThat:
Just flashed it I have no signal im going to try this
[Captivate Android Development] Kyuta Syuko:
With the exception of the folder my kernel creates I've not seen a /vendor folder on stock I897UCKK4. Is that a Canadian ROM thing? Or maybe it's because I'm still using the leaked version rather then the official?
[Captivate Android Development] DudeWatsThat:
Finally found the perfect modem for me.

KG3

With h3llstorms modified gps.conf

Gps lock in no more than 1 minute using google maps and gps test.
[Captivate Android Development] scrypt:
GPS fix, which one?

Well, I am new to this modem stuff so can anybody explain how I can check my current modem, also which modems are supported in the ICSSGS RC4.1?

Anyway, I really want to fix my gps I get terrible lock times, more than 5 mins on avg and indoors I never get a lock.

So for those of you with ICSRC4 is this working properly for you?

moreover, I heard that AT&T revised thes phones and fitted them with a better gps chip, is this true or just a rumor?
[Captivate Android Development] DudeWatsThat:
1.check your modem in about phone in baseband version

2.modems supported by icssgs are cm7 or cm9 based

Samsung was the one who released updated captivates around october 2010 if I'm not mistaken.

In all the roms I've tried gps has never worked properly,after doing a few tweaks you get a much better experience.The gps still suffers quite a bit indoors.
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
I believe it is part hardware, part software. If you do some research you'll find some amazing, well thought out theses about the cause of the issue. The chip is fundamentally sound, but the way it's placed is the issue. I believe this fix will give the best results compared to anything else. At least that's my opinion
[Captivate Android Development] ThisWasATriumph:
I flashed this on ICS and now my GPS doesn't work whatsoever. Zero satellites. Guess I'll have to reflash my rom to undo...
[Captivate Android Development] DudeWatsThat:
I did mention this in one of my posts..sorry you had to go through the trouble.
[Captivate Android Development] ytt3r:
I'm sorry to say that this didn't work for me. To be honest, I wasn't expecting it to. It's hard to get a signal with a broken off GPS antenna.
[Captivate Android Development] ThisWasATriumph:
I did see your post but I thought that was from before he updated for ICS. No biggy though.
[Captivate Android Development] panda703:
Broke my GPS on 4.2 as well. Dunno why I thought it would be any different :D
[Captivate Android Development] DudeWatsThat:
If you flash anything just use the one in the OP h3llstorms gps.conf

Plus try to find a good modem for your area.
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
Which one did you flash? Never have had any issues with h3llstorm's breaking GPS. There have multiple reports of Trusselo's fix breaking gps for many so I strongly advice not using it until he fixes that.
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
Sorry to hear that. Mine is working wonderfully. I strongly recommend using the kg3 modem as well. Just to be sure, did you use h3llstorm or trusselo's fix? Trusselo's doesn't seem to work too well on cm9
[Captivate Android Development] space_eyes:
I never get anything better than "within 1600 meters". Suggestions? On cm9 and tried both fixes here.
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
As I've stated before, don't use trusselo's fix if that's the other fix you are referring to. I believe his still does not truly work with cm9 and has caused others issues. I recommend flashing the rom again to replace any files his scripts have replaced, then reflashing h3llstorm's fix. Still bad? Then try another modem -- read OP. Still bad? Unfortunately, you could have been one of the ones who received a poor batch of Captivates with poor GPS performance.

Also, don't use Faster fix with this, or any other GPS fixer apps out there. Just let this do its thing and you'll be okay
[Captivate Android Development] ldmelo:
My gps was unusable, but I got it fixed using an app called "GPS Aids" from the market (free) . I think it does everything possible in terms of software fixes. I was so satisfied that I even bought the donate version.

Funny thing is that right after that I upgraded to CM7 and ever since my gps never needed any tweaks. It gets a lock in seconds. Could be a little more precise, but is enough for navigation.
[Captivate Android Development] TRusselo:
vendor stuff comes with the CSC, which is a separate flash in the samsung odin flashes, the cache.rfs. which most everyone ignores as not necessary but makes it into some roms and most stock rom flashes.
[Captivate Android Development] e20140:
FYI: Location Texas. I've got best Cell Signal & GPS lock from using Illuminance ROM and changed Server to supl.google.com.

Cold start, it takes less than a minute to get a GPS lock indoor. Outdoor, 5 sec.
[Captivate Android Development] ap1618:
1600 meters is usually 3G cell tower location. R u sure ur GPS is on?

-Sent from a Galaxy far far away
[Captivate Android Development] reinbeau:
Is this just for ICS, or will it work for GB roms like Serendipity VII? My GPS kinda works, I don't want to break it - but if I could improve it, that would be wonderful :)
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
As stated in OP, this should work on most roms (including gb)
[Captivate Android Development] space_eyes:
Yes it was on, and my current rom allows me to choose tower, GPS, wireless...

Now I have within 10m. I completely wiped, reflashed my favourite rom and did not flash this one because I had no need to.
[Captivate Android Development] reinbeau:
Works excellent

I can confirm that on Serendipity VII with the JK4 modem this fix made a world of difference. Solid locks almost immediately, no wandering, I used it with Runkeeper today, I can't wait to use it in the car.
[Captivate Android Development] vibranturk:
ı checked opp and see that this is a gps.conf fixing...

Both GB and ICS roms uses same gps.conf so theoricallyy it must work both ICS and GB...
[Captivate Android Development] reinbeau:
Yes, as you can see in my post right above yours, I flashed it and it worked wonderfully :)
[Captivate Android Development] gajahwhite:
will this work with SGS i9000 too?
[Captivate Android Development] melvinaury:
With GB or ICS installed ROM. Yes
[Captivate Android Development] gajahwhite:
great.. will give a try :)
[Captivate Android Development] mwiz123:
I got 11 satt's thx so much
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
+1

Mwiz - no problem!
[Captivate Android Development] bravomail:
Undervolting and its effect on GPS and WiFi

Undervolting and its effect on GPS and WiFi - it is pretty dramatic. When I do -100mV, my GPS doesn't work. At -50mV - it works perfectly.
[Captivate Android Development] dannb:
This worked incredibly well on my Cappy up here in Manitoba. Has never worked better!
[Captivate Android Development] Nick0703:
I guess that the GPS isn't getting enough power then?
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
Very interesting never even knew that happened. That could explain it for some people
[Captivate Android Development] melvinaury:
What exactly you UV the core voltage or the internal voltage or the two voltages.
[Captivate Android Development] menkey:
Thanks. This worked perfectly on my GS2 running Hyperdroid + KI4 modem. :)
[Captivate Android Development] Spaghetti-XRY:
Work with ADRHD 6.3.1 on my DesireHD. Thanks
[Captivate Android Development] ShadowReaperGR:
Since it replaces the /system/etc/gps.conf can we use the gps.conf file for other devices?
[Captivate Android Development] piizzadude:
Well I went ahead and flashed this fix for my Droid Charge. backed up the current GPS.config and then flashed the fix.

I can say for sure that it didnt mess anything up. I can also say that I can see more satellites indoors now.

I am not going to call it a success until I use it a bit, but it seems to have improved things a bit. I will try to remember to report back in a few days and a few more attempts to see if it is improved dramatically.
[Captivate Android Development] KMan94:
Here not so much. Haven't gotten a lock at all. Running Legend stock w/Corn 7.06.
[Captivate Android Development] Forwox:
Will this work for ex. HTC Desire S on latest MIUI?
[Captivate Android Development] Munszu:
A tip for non north american users:

Change the ntp server to your regions ntp server to further improve accuracy.(For example: europe.pool.ntp.org)

You can do this either on your phone using a file browser and opening the gps.conf in /etc after you flashed the file, or on your computer by opening gps.conf inside the .zip file and modifying it using wordpad.
[Captivate Android Development] santimaster2000:
This would work with the Captivate Glide ? Or not ? Or it's just unnecessary ?

Just curiosity :)
[Captivate Android Development] reinbeau:
Dunno - is your GPS as bad on the Glide as on the Captivate? If not, then don't bother. if it ain't broke and all that stuff ;)
[Captivate Android Development] Creampuffyness:
I get "Error in /sdcard/H3llStorm_GPS_Fix.zip"

Status 0

Installation Aborted.

This is on a T-Mobile G2X
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
As it seems others are reporting success, I believe so. I've used it on my friends phones with similar success. So yes
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
Yes it should. Try it out and report
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
I've dealt with that before when making updater scripts, it means there's an error in the script somewhere. Maybe it mounts a partition or deletes a file you don't have. I'll take a look at it for you if you don't know what you're doing.
[Captivate Android Development] TRusselo:
found it!

ui_print(" ");
ui_print("Replacing Old GPS Conf. With H3llstorm's Hacked GPS Conf....");
run_program("/sbin/mount", "/system");
show_progress(0.1, 0);package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
[COLOR=#ff0000]delete_recursive("/cache");delete_recursive("/data/dalvik-cache");unmount("/system");show_progress(0.1, 10);[/COLOR]

show_progress(1.000000, 0);
ui_print(" ");
ui_print("Done! Please reboot your device! Enjoy your new GPS brought to you by H3llstorm...");

fixed version... note to manually install, copy gps.conf from inside zip "/system/etc/" to your phone "/system/etc/"

btw, as it turns out the hellstorm file was in my effin gps, but there were too many other files that borked it working on ICS.
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
What did you change trusselo?
[Captivate Android Development] Creampuffyness:
I decided to just manually edit the gps.conf from the device. It was tedious but it worked!!
[Captivate Android Development] TRusselo:
you forgot some {enter}s after the ;

changed

ui_print(" ");
ui_print("Replacing Old GPS Conf. With H3llstorm's Hacked GPS Conf....");
run_program("/sbin/mount", "/system");
[COLOR=#ff0000]show_progress(0.1, 0);package_extract_dir("system", "/system");[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#ff0000]delete_recursive("/cache");delete_recursive("/data/dalvik-cache");unmount("/system");show_progress(0.1, 10);[/COLOR]

TO

ui_print(" ");
ui_print("Replacing Old GPS Conf. With H3llstorm's Hacked GPS Conf....");
run_program("/sbin/mount", "/system");
show_progress(0.1, 0);
package_extract_dir("system", "/system");
delete_recursive("/cache");
delete_recursive("/data/dalvik-cache");
unmount("/system");
show_progress(0.1, 10);

and i just fixed one i missed, re download if you did already.
[Captivate Android Development] TRusselo:
could have just copy pasted the file over the old one, since you obviously have root access if you could go find and edit the file.
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
Well I didn't change the updater script at all for this. I just assumed it was good and kept it the same. Surprised it's worked for everyone else
[Captivate Android Development] TRusselo:
his cwm might be more picky on his device...? LOL
[Captivate Android Development] mikel.canovas:
Attention to all non captivate users: Please feel free to copy the OP to your respective development forum so as many people as possible get to know about this. But be sure to give me, and definitely h3llstorm, some credit :)
[Captivate Android Development] xBlackDroid:
can this be used in a Galaxy SII With CM9!?
[Captivate Android Development] menkey:
Yes, there shouldn't be any problem. I'm using a S2 with Hyperdroid ROM with no problems.
[Captivate Android Development] xBlackDroid:
Thnx, and sorry for that post, i dont read the others 8 page that was about that

Working Perfectly on SGSII CM9

tomorrow i'll test at full
[Captivate Android Development] Maneth:
Hi, and thanks for this fix.

It doesn't work for me :(

I'm on LG Optimus Black, under Zeus ROM based on 2.3.4.

Lock within 10 sec and ~ 1300m, and no improve from my old config.

Could you give me your opinion please ?
[Captivate Android Development] ditsch:
This is spectacular!! Using SGSII 2.3.6 stock.

Thanks a lot
[Captivate Android Development] VoX_XDA:
Sprint Galaxy S2 Epic 4G Touch here. with Calkulins Bare ROM. Working like a champ! You rock sir! Thank you!