yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Leveller:
GPS on JM7

Hi,

I flashed JM7 yesterday and tested the GPS today. First of all I was using it in my flat with GPS Test next to my girlfriend's Google G1. The G1 got a lock on 8-9 satellites while my phone did not find any. Then I turned it upside down and suddently I got a lock on 5-6 satellites. When I took it back into my hand, the reception dropped to 3-4 satellites. Overall it did not seem to be stable at all, the signal strengths of the satellites changes all the time.

Next I was using MyTracks on my way to work by bike. I was driving on the road, or on the cycle lane next to it, but not through the water....

Here's the result (due to new user's forum restrictions link is broken into two lines and must be cut&pasted correctly into your browser location bar)

maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=

215089549938426661208.00048f551e1a9411e31ef

Still disappointed by the GPS. I cannot see, how some people have good results with the same firmware. Maybe the HW is different, or mine is faulty. If it does not work better after the promised fix I'm going to return it.

Leveller.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] CommanderROR:
I think the GPs issues might have to be split into two sections:

Google Maps seems to have a slight offset when using MyTracks, so that the route is constantly slightly off. This is a Google Maps issue or a MyTracks issue.

The other issue is jumping around, cutting corners and not detecting right away when you are moving and when you are stopping. This is something I can see a lot on my JPC firmware. I have good reception, lots of satellites (although they do jump in and out of focus a lot) but the phone seems to go to slepp as soon as it has me locked. So, when I'm standing it finds me quickly, decides I'm not doing anything interesting and then forgets all about me. If I now suddenly start moving it gets confused and takes quite some time to realized where I'm going. Same with stopping after moving for a while. It sometimes seems like it's using some over-aggressive energy management which affects the tracking results.

GPS Status speed display seems to support this theory. I tried it in the tram yesterday, and it seems to lag behind the actual movement of the tram. As long as the speed is more or less constant, tracking works fine and so does the display in Google Maps. Speed seems about right too. Once the Tram stops, the Speed siplay very slowly drops as well, but it's still showing 15kph when the tram has fully stopped for a few seconds. When the tram starts accelerating again, the speed stays at 0 for far too many seconds and the little blue arrow in Maps jitters around on the spot, then suddenly realizes that I'm moving and tries to catch up, a process that sometimes takes so long that the tram has already stopped again before it has really reached the current place.

Can someone check whether tehy get similar results?

Thanks.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Leveller:
I will try and record the same track (the way back) using another app for tracking (e.g. Endmondo) and importing it into Google Maps.

Concerning the speed value, it probably averages over two many past location and time values, so that it needs some time to go down to zero on stops.

Another intersting thing I noticed with the JM6 firmware last week was, that when I was going on a bus which was going just straight ahead a long road with some stops, apart from the track being far off the street whenever the bus stopped, the track that was being recorded with MyTracks just went on into the direction we were going. Whenever the bus started moving, it jumped to the (more or less) actual position, drawing circles. So in the end, I had a track with circles at those points where the bus did stop.

Unfortunately so far I cannot say, if this is a kind of "optimization" (like predictive tracking, based on previous speed and direction) being performed by MyTracks or some GPS issue in the firmware.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] TDO:
@CommanderROR

Your description sounds like the normal behavior for a device with "static navigation" enabled.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Leveller:
OK, as I said before I tried the same track now with Endomondo instead of MyTracks. This seems to be more accurate, especially corners seem to match much better, but still sometimes its far off the street.

endomondo.com/workouts/o4hDr978wOs
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] AndyCr15:
I remember using the Epic fix before and it worked well. Now I'm on JM8, can anyone recommend which one has worked well with this ROM?
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Case_:
In my experience, the GPS in JM8 works better than this fix. Though I must say that the best GPS on my device is with XFJM6 firmware - that one was and still is the best GPS-wise for me.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] franklin01:
I noticed a big change when I upgraded from jm1 to JPK but epic fix didnt get better results, lock is as fast as it was so maybe the fix is elsewhere. There was a topic about editing the gps.conf to make the gps locate satelites near you.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] AndyCr15:
If I try the Epic fix, how would I revert it to JM8? Does someone have the necessary files?
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] compi_hu:
If you find them please let me know, I'd like to test JM8 GPS files on my JM2 (latest update installable via KIES)
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] MrBuddyCasino:
Tried the XFJM6 update.zip on my 2.1 JM5, and GPS works (worked pretty well for static nav before, but took ~30secs for a fix).

Not it takes ~11 secs for a fix. I might try MyTracks next, used to have terrible tracks.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] distortedloop:
I think JM8 is about as good as the GPS gets, and I haven't tweaked any settings on it. HVJH1 had great GPS as well. I'm surprised someone on JM8 feels the need to fix the GPS.

Open a copy of the update file here, then make note of what files it replaces. Use adb to pull backups of those files to your computer for safe-keeping. If you want to undo the fix, I suspect just manually pushing those files back to the phone via adb would be sufficient.

There's 9 files in bin/gpsd, 1 file in etc, and 1 file in lib. Double check the actual paths on the phone and make note of them when backing up. That should work, but no guarentee.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Case_:
I'll try to make a JM8-based update.zip when I have the time. I've seen it's in high demand for some reason (personally, I don't find JM8 THAT awesome GPS-wise).
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] betoNL:
Well I must confess, I didnt read all the posts here

I also don't use google maps for turn-by-turn voice guided car navigation

But I did run iGo Motonav, Sygic Mobile Maps, Navigon, CoPilot and Ndrive with my GS. All programs that will work OFFLINE unlike Google Maps..

And Garmin MobileXT ,iGo8 and Tomtom 7 iwith other devices

I placed some videos, they are a bit long (12 min each) but perhaps it will be worthwhile to watch them as I tried to make them as explanatory as possible ;despite the fact that my english got a blackout...and sometimes motion pictures say more that just words:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=801657&highlight=gps+problems

Believe me the GS doesnt need any GPS fix...

Just some assist as shown specially on the 2nd video

Or some improvisation as shown on the first video

And Please ...always go outside if you want that first satellite lock

during a cold start to be a stable one, if you want to run real gps navigation,

like the ones that work also offline...

There is life beyond Google......
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] betoNL:
Oops it went double
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] hinderbrus:
Meh, i installed the XFJM6 fix and now my phone wont boot up just hangs on the galaxyS screen and vibrates...

I am on JPK Froyo rom maybe this is the cause of the problem...

The phone is not bricked tho just need a reflash probably, but i am at work and cant do it until i get home

edit: factory reset did not help
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] AndyCr15:
I used it this last weekend, driving up to Hull from London and back. First off it would take quite a while to get the initial fix, like 30-50 seconds. Then, quite often it would think I was on a road alongside the one I was on, or there would be a big blue circle around me showing it wasn't all that sure where I was.

If this is the best it gets, fair enough, it worked and I coped fine. I just don't remember other devices being this slow/inaccurate :-(
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] betoNL:
Wich software did you use to navigate? Google maps?
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] AndyCr15:
Yeah Navigate through Google Maps.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] hinderbrus:
Can anyone say if he is using the fix on a froyo rom cba to retry to install this, just reflashed my phone.

cheers
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] maithunam:
new 2 android

Hi All,

I am new to Android. I just bought the Epic and want to test this gps fix.

Can anyone direct me on 2 things

1) how to root my epic

2) how do I apply this fix.

I appreciate any info on this. :)

Thanks,

Mithun
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] betoNL:
Hmmmm , so the problem lies actually on Google maps app.?

I run iGo, Sygic, Navigon and more with no probs. and so do many others:

http://forum.samdroid.net/f9/maps-navigation-bug-missing-value-gps-accuracy-1247/

I know, Google Maps is free, no need to buy maps etc, but

did you try NDrive free trial ?

The whole concept of having free navigation sounds good, but if it's not working properly, what's the point?..

Is it Samsung's fault or Google's?

One of the best car navigation programs, the iGo Motonav is doing just great on my GS. The Gps Chipset needs some assist, but that's all.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] FlanFlinger:
I'm forming the same opinion, I've covered a few thousand miles using Copilot and never had an issue with GPS
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] AndyCr15:
Why would all of a sudden Google Maps be an issue? It's never given me these problems on my Nexus One?

I would suspect Google Maps is showing more accurate info than most other Sat Navs... They possibly 'average out' the location being supplied by the GPS. Also, why would GMaps slow down getting a satellite lock?
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] betoNL:
Well, I dont really know....still have to test Google Maps...

All other software is doing ok on my sgs running JPH firmware...

Try another car navigation software, and if it works ok, you got your answer...
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] dcc22:
I tested stuff with JM1. Google maps missed the whole street while navigon gave me precise data. It even noticed that I have to cross the road to reach my goal.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] exadeci:
Old thread is old. Fix not relevant since lots of updates have been made since
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Case_:
Yet, despite all those updates, we're still pretty much where we were...
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] symanuk:
Has anyone tried turning there phone upside down? I did an got 10 sats locked !!!! turn it back over and it all drops off.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] McBain_666:
Like many, I also get crappy accuracy from sgs GPS.

So could someone please give me an hint on if there`a nice fix that I could try?

I tried only google nav so far. I am on JPM w/root and oclf, I am quite happy with this firmware, the phone is so efficient and responsive, battery is fine, no lag whatsoever, no app killer, no juice defender.

The GPS is really the only little bit missing...

Thanks
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] thunderteaser:
<<HELL YES! It's working!>>​
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] snaff:
I got good results from using my old phone outputting the gps data via bluetooth and using the bluetooth gps mouse app and cramming both phones into my armband while running *sigh*.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Kasha:
I simply use the bluetooth GPS standalone device and Bluetooth GPS Mouse app, works great, way better than the built-in GPS in SGS. Such a shame for such a great phone.

I tried the fixes from this thread, flashed the JM9 firmware, it got better and worse but I can not say GPS was at least 'acceptable' - it kept losing lock, jumping around etc.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] DaDrifter:
Signataure error

Says Signature verification failed? Epic
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] konaman:
I tried all available roms and was 3500 meters. So I found this and flashed the first file and I'm finally at 60 meters. So thanks for the files!
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] betoNL:
It's not just the sgs...many other high-end smartphone manufacturers, just stop using sirfstarIII chipsets, and started using less capable ones, counting on a-gps support.

I was surprised to find out that I can use gps on my sgs also without the aid of a external gps receiver and without a-gps, unlike other smartphones I tested before....
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Berth666:
any news here?
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] alelas:
A bit off-topic but look here how I managed to improve GPS SNR significantly (1-minute easy hardware fix):

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=12972756&postcount=248

Gives far better results than anything I have tied before in hope to make GPS work better. Please report back if it works for you guys
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] oakie:
just rebooted it and did a cold fix... 72 seconds to first fix, 12 satellite lock, 9 meter accuracy.

BTW, thx much Case_ for extracting and posting this fix as it's definitely working for me so far.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] oakie:
exactly.

i HAVE.

i also deleted the GPS data on the first boot after applying the update via the LbsTestMode, but kept the SUPL/CP settings unchanged from the "fixed" version on these forums, thus using google's gps data for aGPS.

i've also got aGPS on... altho that shouldnt much matter since even with it on before, getting a lock was nigh impossible, and if it did, it would drop while navigating anyways.

now, it's locking quickly and more accurately.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] wascaa:
Can anyone with good results post a track record?
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Case_:
I'm on stock settings for the purposes of the testing, which means GPS Plus is on. I've never seen this setting explained properly, so I tend not to touch it (and when I did try, I've never seemed to notice a difference, really). Will try turning it off just to see what happens this time.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] exadeci:
On DDJG4 on a european SGS (in france and in a building) for the first time google map was able to locate me only around 100meters but it had never happen before :):)

Currently doing the 30 steps test lbstestmode on *#*#1472365#*#* and I'll post results
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] oakie:
FYI, my current settings are based on the previous GPS fix attempt, no other funny business:

operation mode: ms based

gps plus: on

dyn acc: on

skyhook: off

pc tool: off

server: supl.google.com

port: 7276

supl sec skt: on

agps mode: SUPL
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] ezgenesis:
Same as me... But I still have a funny feeling about GPS Plus...
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] milsjg:
It dosent install

Hi, Im using rom manager and clockwork to install the epic fix but it seems not to install. If I use signed option it complains that it is invalid and if I do not use the signed option it runs but the files are the same as before. Any idea I am running JM5 with samdroid 1.9 e no lagfix.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Arkanius:
This is great news. When I saw that the GPS in the Epic 4G worked like a charm, I wondered why it wasn't the same for all the other Galaxy S phones
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] exadeci:
I stopped at 10 test because with the 20 seconds delay it was taking too long

Max 149820 ms > 149 seconds

Avg 51158 ms > 50 seconds

Min 7846 ms > 7,8 seconds

Test made in a building

With default DDJG4 GPS config

And now google maps is much more precise like 10-15 meters when it works
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] kalpik:
YES!!! The epic zip works! I get accuracy of 5-10 meters in GPSTest while driving! And its overcast today! :)
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Arkanius:
Someone should record a track, I'm really excited for the results. (I would do it, but I exceeded my data connection plafond this month)
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Case_:
I did, but trust me, you don't want to see it... ;) :(
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] ezgenesis:
Use mytracks or something like that for mobile testing, GPSTest is just sutable for SNR and locking data...
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] THUDUK:
Running JM5 rom on my Galaxy S

this rom always managed to get a fix quicker than my original JF1 rom, now just testing this new Epic 4G version.

I must admit initial thoughts are an improvement, especially to fix speed, probably getting one or two more sat fixes than the standard JM5.

One thing that is still off is altitude, my exact altitude according to Google earth and Ordinance survey is 88m, now my Sirfstar 3 Bluetooth GPS reads exactly 88.6m

Readings :

GPS test chartcross : Sats 8/9 Alt 85m acc 10m

GPS status : Sats 7/8 Alt 89m acc 10m

Alpinequest : Sats n/a Alt 130m acc 10m

Maveric : Sats 8/8 Alt 120m acc 5m

Run.GPS : Sats 8/8 Alt 125m acc 5m

Seems a strange mismatch between the mapping apps to the GPS testing apps.

The real test will come when out for a walk/run, hopefully eleviate some of those spikes in the routing.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] mickeko:
Nothing to cheer about. I also got a 5 meter fix in gps-test, when I switched to my tracks/google maps that 5 meters radius was 15-20 meters off my position...
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Arkanius:
Then still, it's no good
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] lqaddict:
Flashed via CWR on my Vibrant.

Upon reboot the phone won't even launch GPS Status, Gmaps will freeze.

I was thinking of restoring from backup (made the nandroid before flashing), but just rebooted the phone - GPS is back.

I will test it outside in the NYC jungle and report.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Case_:
I will make revert package for Vibrant as soon as possible, but the download of the Vibrant firmware is terribly slow, so it's gonna take a while (also, I'm gonna go test some more experimental changes "in the wild" soon).
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] zoid_99:
Testing the EPIC fion on vibrant using Google as SUPL. Still getting 0/10 fixes event though it locked fast with 7 to 20 meter accuracy. All in all it seems to perform the same as id did before I applied the update.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] andrewluecke:
Same issue as before, which is no surprise.. Samsung said the fix would be available in September.. So plenty of time available
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] lqaddict:
Thank you, man!
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] lqaddict:
I bet the fix will be available here before September comes LOL.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] lgkahn:
from my testing all these settings /files do is use one satellite under 20 to get an initial faster unaccurate lock.. once you have that it appears to still never user a satellite under 20 (even if it subsequantly looses lock) and also to not use more than 8 satellites... doesnt appear to be a relavant fix to me.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Case_:
Now this is interesting. Trying to make that revert package for Vibrant...and the ROM is entirely different GPS-wise from I9000 and Captivate ROMs! There's no /system/bin/gpsd folder, there's no /system/etc/jupiter.xml and there's no /system/lib/libgps.so...

I wonder why...
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] danamoult:
Just can't help but wonder what Samsung can do when the entire community has come up with a gazillion 'fixes' but not one seems to have conquered the problem fully.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] mickeko:
Broadcom and Samsung does real coding you know, as in modifying the driver sources and such. They also have all the documentation for the hardware available. That's likely tons more effective than the straws we are trying to grasp around here. :)
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Case_:
Samsung is the only one that really CAN do something about it. The previous fixes here were just reconfiguring the aGPS system to make it lock satellites better/faster and file fixes like this are simply trying to use files from phone that SUPPOSEDLY (according to a few journalists) has the GPS problems fixed. And we even can't use everything - we don't have kernel nor radio available, which both may contain related fixes on Epic 4G, and even if we had those, we probably couldn't use them on I9000 anyway. Only Samsung has access to the source codes of everything needed and only they can create a proper fix for I9000. All this is just desperate attempts hoping that we might get lucky.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] danamoult:
I suppose, though I'm sure there are a few people around here that are grasping at more than just straws :P
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] lqaddict:
Hmm, I wonder why I had the issues once flashed.

After the reboot

adb shell
$ su
# cd /system
# ls -ltr
total 20
-rw-r--r-- 1 0 0 358 Aug 1 2008 SW_Configuration.xml
-rw-r--r-- 1 0 0 11 Aug 1 2008 CSCVersion.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 0 0 173 Aug 1 2008 CSCFiles.txt
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 0 Jan 1 2010 csc
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 0 Jun 22 23:19 fonts
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 0 Jun 22 23:19 framework
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 0 Jun 23 03:19 usr
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 0 Jun 23 03:19 etc
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 0 Jun 23 03:19 media
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 0 Jun 23 03:19 firmware
-rw-r--r-- 1 0 0 515 Jun 23 03:19 default.prop
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 0 Jun 23 03:19 cameradata
-rw-r--r-- 1 0 0 1935 Jun 23 03:19 build.prop
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 0 Aug 18 14:45 lib
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 0 0 Aug 18 14:45 app
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 2000 0 Aug 18 14:56 bin
drwxr-xr-x 1 0 2000 0 Aug 18 18:45 xbin

Where is gpsd?

No conf file in /syste/etc and only shared libs in /system/lib that are GPS relevant (name wise) are

# ls -ltra *gps*
-rw-r--r-- 1 0 0 34236 Jun 22 23:19 libclientgps.so
-rw-r--r-- 1 0 0 55328 Jun 23 03:19 libsecgps.so
# pwd
/system/lib
#
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] Case_:
Typo. Should be /system/bin/gpsd.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] bradycl_84043:
Can someone running the Epic Fix (hopefully on a Vibrant) tell me if it caused the Local and UTC time being used by the GPS as reported by the GPS Test application to be corrected?

This would indicate a real fix to me...

(My wife's G1 shows the correct local and UTC time, where my stock Vibrant shows a local and UTC time that are 7 hours ahead).
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] _brainlock:
Hi,

european i9000 running JF3, rooted.

I think you're confusing some file names there. Looking at the update package with the Epic 4G fix i see:

/system/bin/gpsd (directory)

/system/etc/jupiter.xml

/system/lib/libsecgps.so

All of these files are on my stock (+root) firmware.
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] lqaddict:
# ls -ltra gpsd
ls: gpsd: No such file or directory
# pwd
/system/bin
#

Not there...
[Galaxy S I9000 Android Development] lqaddict:
Can you run md5sum against the shared lib?

md5sum libsecgps.so
8cf4c6a138c7e59665d56e554510bfeb libsecgps.so

This is from Vibrant stock rooted

EDIT: NM the libs are different for Epic and Vibrant

Epic

a55b9be4aef250b054e2de81420dda30 system/lib/libsecgps.so