yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] captaintumeke:
Hardware fix found

Thanks for all the previous posts, they've helped led me to a fix (although a little rough). First I removed the top right cover plate with a blade (it has adhesive holding it down only). Under there is an antennae connector which led me to realise the GPS antennae was built into the cover plate. You can confirm this by touching the antennae connector with a screw driver and watching the GPS connections dramatically improve. I lifted the antennae connector a little so it would make better contact with the cover plate antennae and replaced it. I then realised I had wrecked the cover plate antennae a little, so I scrapped back the plastic to show the silver antennae material. I then put a piece of copper plate on the back of the phones back cover which would make contact with the antennae. This set-up works well. I went from waiting up to 10 minutes for a GPS lock to now getting a lock in under 5 seconds. Good luck with trying this hardware fix. Make sure you secure the top right right cover plate with new adhesive to maintain some water proofing integrity of your phone.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] immerzu:
I can not see any connection between the two parts??? :confused:
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] captaintumeke:
Which 2 parts?
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] immerzu:
[IMG="no contact?"]http://i.imgur.com/WLfd0XQ.jpg[/IMG]
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] captaintumeke:
The copper and silver match up better than you have shown... a little further down
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MPS_TIM:
GPS Signal Solved!!!

Hello everybody. First, thank you for all the suggestions in this forum! Finally I solved the weak signal from GPS. The solution, went through all the suggestions in this forum! My problem was the same: The GPS does not blocking the signal, even on a sunny day. But let us for the solution: I opened the mini S5 back cover and put a piece of aluminum paper on the antenna protection. So my GPS signal blocked in 10 seconds. I did the same test at night, on a cloudy night, and the signal was blocked in 10 seconds as well. I also used the App GPS Status. Before I use the aluminum paper, the GPS signal was less than 5%. Then was 60% or more. Lucky for everyone !!!
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Snowgay:
Hi MPS_Tim

may you please Show a Picture, of what you have done.

thx
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Bedorobi:
Hi MPS_TIM, can you please put a picture of what you have done.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MPS_TIM:
Ok. Only a aluminun paper over the celular back side.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chibi_stephy:
just to make sure you did not remove the internal cover? just aluminum paper over it ?

I'm dealing with this issue for a long long time by now
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MPS_TIM:
Yes. I do not remove tje internal cover. Just aluminum paper over it. For me resolved!
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zemiguel:
The solution is not working for me :( :(
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] chibi_stephy:
Is not working for me :crying:,

back to the beginning
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Marteicos:
I got it working (somehow)

I removed the gps antenna plate and messed around with it and the gps antenna connector on board. It is working right now. I'll edit this post with more details later.

Edit 1: I've put some paper under the connector, to force it against the antenna plate, and some paper over the antenna plate too, between it and the back cover. I'm a little worried with the water resistance, but I would never put it into water anyway.

I even put it in repair place under warranty before this, they only "upgraded the software" (read, they actually downgraded it) and the phone was the same. Too bad I had to Void the warranty to fix rhis...
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] immerzu:
Good to hear
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] squider:
My solution. Ugly but works perfectly

Today I opened my S5 Mini.

First attached files shows how it it looks on the inside and where is the GPS connector. Unfortunately i broke the gps antenna connection on the plate and had to create my own antenna. It is visible on second image. It looks ugly but GPS gets correct position in less than 10 second so I can live with it :)
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] zemiguel:
Interesting...
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Murz:
Thanks for the photo. Can you describe how did you open panel for accessing internal GPS antenna? I try to open it, but can't - it is not opening.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] squider:
It's not easy procedure because of the adhesive that makes the phone waterproof. I used the hair-dryer to warm-up the plate then I used guitar pick to lift it up (try to avoid metal tools, otherwise you will damage the plate or phone frame). I've put the guitar pick between the gps plate and the silver frame that is around the phone (see first photo). Then I moved around counter-clockwise lifting up the gps plate. You must be really careful because the adhesive is quite strong. Next lift up a bit the gps connector. Put back the gps plate and now it should work like a charm.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ka81:
what exactly did you break?
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] squider:
I was playing with solidering tool and I melted it :) then I bought new back frame online, replaced the melted gps plate, lifted up the connector and now it works perfectly :)
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ka81:
can you give a link to what you bought instead of broken? i cant understand...

thanx
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] squider:
If you follow the procedure that I described in previous replay you don't have to buy anything (I melted the red circled connector on gps plate by accident :) and had to buy new frame something like this one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Samsung-G...ng-Frame-Rear-Camera-Cover-Gold-/151630767570 just to get the gps plate)
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Lelogan:
After any of you guys that fixed the issue tried to use the gps tools or the gps test apps? My s5 mini gives 3 meters of error in open areas, but not very offten, usually it gives me 10meters error(50% of the time). Have you guys experienced the same? Compared, my s3 mini gps is 3meters error all the time. Much better. I dont know if it could be a sensitivity issue or is software limitation(rom). In a car i have to keep the phone right under the windshield to avoid route recalculations.

Cheers!!
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] squider:
In most cases I get about 13-16m. I'm impressed that you get 3m. From what I read GPS accuracy in non military devices can't be better than 7m, but I might be wrong.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] immerzu:
When I press the back right on the cover of mobile phone with your finger to reach an accuracy of 3 meters.

Only when I push!
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] squider:
It seams that I read outdated article, since year 2000 gps accuracy is max 4-12m
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Lelogan:
I see.. my s5 mini doesnt get better signal pressing the antena down... no matter how hard i press, but when i touch the antena with a screwdriver or even with my finger it gets a better signal strength... the aluminum foil method was a fail for me tough :(

I dont know if the antena on my s5mini is weak, or its a rom issue or the antena was not installed properly in the factory. I need to know it in order feel confident to send to a warranty repair.... this s5 mini that i have is a new one that samsung gave me after a bad repair from my first s5 mini ( the first one lost the water resistence).

I just want to have sure that my issue is normal before trying to repair it again. Im traumatized with the samsung technical assistence. :(
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] squider:
Before I opened my S5 mini I sent it to Samsung warranty service, thay sent it back claiming that the the gps works ok when it was not. It is a lost battle to argue with then, so I opened my S5 mini and fixed it myself. I know that I lost the warrenty but I can live with it.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ctsbrasil:
something that worked for me

Hello people,

I did two things at same time yet used for others, that worked for me:

this post:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=58690178&postcount=23

(As I am in Brazil, I changed the first lines (NTP_SERVER) to:

NTP_SERVER=0.south-america.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=1.south-america.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=2.south-america.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=3.south-america.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=0.br.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=1.br.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=2.br.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=3.br.pool.ntp.org

NTP_SERVER=south-america.pool.ntp.org

and no more changes (remember: you need root to put new gps.conf)

And I also did this post:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=59989257&postcount=37

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=60125553&postcount=40 (Picture)

And now, i get GPS to work in between: 5-10 seconds (about 8 satélites from 25), 10-20 seconds (about 17 satélites from 25). More: if I picked up the smartphone and point out the back to sky, i got 21 of 25 satélites. And even if I´m inside, close to a window (like 5 meters away), it still get about 6 satélites.

To test it, in android location configuration i turned off wi-fi location and choose "Only GPS". I used "GPS Status app" and "iGO" to test...

it Works for me!!

I hope it can help somebody.

[]´s
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Lelogan:
You guys who were able to fix the issue, how accurate the gps is now ? In a open area i can get 10 feet(3m) of accuracy under the car windshield it can get 13 to 30 feet(12m) on highways and 45 feet when surrounded by buildings. But when i put the s5 mini right in the middle of the car i easily loose signal..... its so wird because the satelites show a solid signal strength but the accuracy error goes way up :/ it seems.... my s3 mini keeps the same signal strenght but it doesnt loose the position as my s5 mini.... it seems like a software issue. I dont know.... i want to root it but i am afraid i wont be able to update it to lollipop.

Could any of you guys give me some light :/

Cheers
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Puk36:
quick fix?

Hi,

I read this whole threat and just came to the conclusion that there is also a quick fix if you do not want to screw/melt/bend open your phone.

One of you said that holding a screwdriver against the place where the antenna is located improved the signal, so I tried that and yes it did. Now its not handy to walk around with a screwdriver, so I taped a piece of metal to the back of the phone while closed. Like the picture below. My antenna improved from 4/7 (fix/sats) 32m at best - to - 15/22 8m at best. mostly 16m though but its cloudy atm with rain.

Now this is a random piece of metal, but I guess there's thinner better ways to do this. It might be a temporary fix until someone thinks of something better.

Ideas/thoughts welcome!

[IMG="Phone"]https://photos-3.dropbox.com/t/2/AAC_KoWIMdQxhgrm1aMfcReKSaf8DckgpjtBQ8xMTTQNhg/12/18369773/jpeg/32x32/1/_/1/2/IMG_1966.JPG/CO2Z4QggASACIAMgBCAFIAYgBygBKAI/Ua9DpIN8NDRgTy-hhcz5kAXeFdgPhICkWnBraI1eYvw?size=2048x1536&size_mode=2[/IMG]
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DanielaV:
Problem fixed :) for now!

I've been struggling for weeks now with the GPS issue on my Samsung S5 mini, I've read forums and tried things that didn't work. So I figured the problem was the antenna, I made one with a small metal piece, in this case, a safety pin I cut that I held with some pieces of tape. Then I covered the whole thing in aluminum foil as shown in the picture and it worked!

I also made the reset of the AGPS with GPS Test and got the GPS signal in a minute or so :) Hope it keeps this way!
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Lelogan:
I tried the aluminun foil thing but it aparently blocked the gps signal. The effect on me was just the opposite. :/ were you able keep the water resistence that way DanielaV?
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Zokonja:
I had similar problems with GPS, it fix position correctly but after 10 seconds loose fix, than establish again, than loose , and it was impossible too perform any kind of turn by turn navigation.

Sometimes when fix was established position was totaly wrong on a map, even up to 50 km error.

I was sure that it was hardware problem (GPS antena), but I run on one advice to clear cache of all apps which usually use GPS.

So with application manager I open each appp, one by one (I have approx 15 apps that are related with GPS), delete cache , and now GPS working almost 2 weeks without a problem.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ka81:
can you please describe somehow - to what and how did you exactly solder your copper wires on that plate ??

Thanx

---------- Post added at 10:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:53 AM ----------

how should it be written for Ukraine, please?
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Marcio BR:
Gps signal

Good night folks,

I was dismayed by this signal problem, but today solved the problem temporarily, but effective. I made a test putting it in vehicular support without the back cover and Waze on. In 20 minutes path, the signal did not fall any time! I also have the App GPS STATUS & TOOLBOX installed. 21 satellites found, 12 in use. I suspect that the cover is weakening the signal to be rubbery, I will buy a conventional cover to solve this problem once. For me it is a great smartphone, the only blunder is the GPS. I hope this helps, good luck guys!
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ka81:
conventional cover?

link plz
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] pfaelzerwildsau:
Hi,

I have solved my GPS-problem after posting #50 from "squider":

Remove the GPS-cover and correcting of contact.

Yesterday I navigate several hours without problems (at first time).

My smartphone is also in a protective case and was behind a glazing unit in my car.

I dont think that the back cover is the GPS-problem.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] lucianopontenova:
Thankyou! Worked for me too!
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ka81:
how long should i heat "gps-plate" with hairdryer?

how fare should i keep hairdryer from "gps-plate"?

thanx

p.s. if i decide to take that plate off, how long should i heat it so then i could easy disassemble it? what to do than? connect some wires? where exactly?
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] foulke:
I confirm that reception improves when the back top left is pressed. Strange.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] moisesnqm:
Help

Can u help me? I'm from Brazil too, and I can't make this work. :/
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ka81:
what type of wires are the best for that?

type of metall..
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] MST11:
I got my GPS fixed with a simple trick.

Heating the antenna works temporarily because S5 Mini is a compact device with small receptors as compared to other devices such as S3, S4 etc.

To fix S5 mini GPS all you need to do is:

1. Root your Galaxy S5 mini.

2. Install Root Explorer

3. Intall Gps test app from google play.

3. Copy the gps.conf file from any Galaxy S3 device and replace into your Galaxy S5 mini etc/ folder. (Be sure to change the R/W permissions of Galaxy S5 mini confg file) .

4. Reboot your device.

5. Open GPS test app.

6. Clear AGPS data.

7. Update AGPS data.

8. Try to stand near window to be sure.

9. Your GPS will lock in just 10 - 16 seconds.:cyclops::good:

---------- Post added at 10:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 PM ----------

Heating the antenna works temporarily because S5 Mini is a compact device with small receptors as compared to other devices such as S3, S4 etc.

To fix S5 mini GPS all you need to do is:

1. Root your Galaxy S5 mini.

2. Install Root Explorer

3. Intall Gps test app from google play.

3. Copy the gps.conf file from any Galaxy S3 device and replace into your Galaxy S5 mini etc/ folder. (Be sure to change the R/W permissions of Galaxy S5 mini confg file) .

4. Reboot your device.

5. Open GPS test app.

6. Clear AGPS data.

7. Update AGPS data.

8. Try to stand near window to be sure.

9. Your GPS will lock in just 10 - 16 seconds.:cyclops::good:

:cyclops::cyclops::cyclops::cyclops:
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ka81:
fixing by software is not fixing, it's just temporary.

in g800h hardware "problem".

connector is not tight enough to gpsantenna-plate-contact, gpsantenna is tooooo small,...
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] immerzu:
It is exactly like that (in my phone)! BIG **** for 340€. :(
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] iarapilot:
I did the aluminum foil fix. I got foil and folded it over to make it kind of thick, so when I put the sview cover on there is a little pressure pushing on the area where the antennae is. Before, It took a minute to get a fix. Now it takes less then 5 seconds outdoors and 10 seconds in my house. 16 feet on the accuracy.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Vaako:
Can someone post a picture of the "REAL" GPS-Antenna of the Galaxy S5 mini?

As far as I can see in this topic there is no antenna showen.

The PCB connector must lead to an antenna and that is not on the posted pictures at all.

To solve this hardware issue we need to know for 100% shure where and what to fix.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Markomixx:
Thanks Squider for the good step by step guide. This is the only solution which fix the issue. It worked perfectly to me!
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] loleals:
I think it is the pressure

Thanks guys. Very interesting thread. I have been fighting with my S5 mini GPS for a long time, and it even put me in some risk as I use it to drive in many cities.

I have read all the posts and starting trying some things. As I am not an expert in root or making changes in conf files, I tried first the phisycal solutions. Squider and Daniela gave me the first clues. After testing wires, clips and aluminum paper with mixed results, I discovered that if I used something to put pressure in the hole that theoretically cover the antenna (see photo) my S5 discovered many satellites in a few seconds (I used Test GPS app to see this). When I removed the pressure of the hole, satellites were gone, even if cooper wires stayed in contact with the hole.

So I put a small piece of rigid metal (part of a paper clip) in the hole, and used the back cover to pressure it. It worked so far, at least for my device. I do not think this solution will resist long time, as the back cover fixation looks not very strong, and when I need to open it to change sim cards I have to be very careful not to lose the metal piece. But at least it keeps GPS working until somebody figure out a better solution.

If you have any other ideas, please let me know.

Samsung: I cannot believe they do not fix this with all the complaining you see in the web. Never again….
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ankles01:
excellent solution it worked perfectly [emoji106]
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hansseyfried:
perfect, under 1 minute, never had that performance
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] skullp:
GPS Fixed for good????

Well... After a long battle with the GPS I was convinced that was a hardware fault.... Let's improve it. Aluminum foil, no go... Small clips, no go.... Then I was dismantling a headfone and bang! Eureka :) ... The thin wires was the solution! Take a look (cannot post pictures?!).

I hope that will fix it, for good.

Another idea was to put the wires downwards, off the others transmission sources (antennas).
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] eliasjr:
Do you can post the photos? Or Send me the photos?
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Vaako:
[MENTION=4928084]skullp[/MENTION]

Explain a bit more what thin wires you talking about?

Please send some pictures of it.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ctsbrasil:
Android Lollipop and GPS

[EN]

I updated my android for Lollipop (Russia Firmware) and the GPS got worse !!

Someone had the same perception ??

(I have not done any hardware change , how like welding an antena and it was running "a little" better in kitkat )

[PT-BR]

Eu atualizei meu android para o Lollipop (Russia Firmware) e o GPS ficou ainda pior!!

Alguém teve a mesma percepção??

(não fiz ainda nenhuma alteração de hardware, como colocar antena e estava funcionando "um pouco" melhor no kitkat)

=> A samsunga 'cagou' no gps desse aparelho <=
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Flanador:
Tutorial

Hi. I have the same problem: bought in the US and using in Europe. Couldn't find the you did to fix it. Could you help me?
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Nemo1984:
This is the answer. I made my wire a bit longer and consistently locking on 10 satellites in my home and about 16 outside. Amazing.
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] abpositive:
Magnetic Sensor Issue

I don't know the logic behind, But the lollipop update has significantly improved my phone's GPS reception (I use India ROM in India). I was never able to do navigation before, But I can do it now for which I'm happy. I haven't done any hardware or software mods.

The issue I have been facing with this phone is a different but related one. The magnetic sensor keeps on losing its calibration. Almost everyday I have to go to *#0*# > Sensor (It will show red message "Require Calibration") > Rotate the phone in all planes and then it will become blue.

As a result, I constantly lose direction in maps and I have to do this rotation frequently. I've seen people staring at me, thinking I have some problem :laugh:

Does anyone have a solution for this?
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] h12687:
Thanks for this way. But when I heated my phone gps worked fine unfortunately not for long, every time I heat work fine but it is getting worse later. Do you have the same problem? Help
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ctsbrasil:
Please Explain

Please explain a little better, or post a photo.

which is the wire size ?

---------- Post added at 11:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:03 AM ----------

People who have upgraded to Android 5.1.1 noted some improvement in GPS?
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] marc4eva:
I'm from Trinidad and recently upgraded to 5.1.1 India ROM... No improvements in GPS. I Only get a lock when Waze is in the background
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ctsbrasil:
Thanks for your info

Thanks for your information. I am in Brazil and did not see any change with firmware 5.1.1

The GPS on this device is really too bad no matter what firmware !

---------- Post added at 11:30 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 AM ----------

I'm about to give up G800H , and I would never buy a Samsung again.

I tried everything that was possible. Some solutions work for a few hours / days and suddenly back to nothing .
[Galaxy S5 Mini Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ctsbrasil:
Custom rom?

There are three custom rom in XDA , has anyone ever tried any of them to see if the GPS work better ?

http://xdaforums.com/galaxy-s5-mini/development/rom-t3080413

http://xdaforums.com/galaxy-s5-mini/development/stock-rom-tweaked-deodexed-t3118918

http://xdaforums.com/galaxy-s5-mini/orig-development/rom-cyanogenmod-12-1-s5-mini-t3105617