yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Vibrant General] dmolition:
Before anything, thank you very much for sharing with us.

But is this any different than actually waiting to get a lock on Maps? I mean if the GPS test takes "a few minutes" why not just wait for Maps to get a lock instead? I just want to clarify things.
[Vibrant General] kitoro:
Based on my find out, if just open the maps, it will nvr get locked. while using GPS test app, although still take few minutes but at least can locked the signal.
[Vibrant General] Maazer:
Running Axura 2.1 and my GPS never works. Attempted your method and no avail.
[Vibrant General] chirantan.f:
This method works for me, may be its just placebo effect, but still thanks a lot.
[Vibrant General] saurabh0008:
you could have got a lock with lbstestmode(*#*#3214789650#*#*) and then opened maps.
[Vibrant General] bosslabs:
Funny thing is I was using nero 1,2,3 and the obsidian ROMs till now..but I just installed Master's latest AXURA 2.2.5.8. I flashed directly from nero 3 to axura 2.2.5.8 via rom manager without odining back to stock or anything..and magically my GPS locks now in 5-10 seconds.
[Vibrant General] ohadbasan:
My gps NEVER worked until I installed Axura 2.1 AND the JL1 baseband.

since then my gps works flawlessly.

it takes about 1-2 minutes to get a lock but then it works perfectly.

try flashing the baseband since AXURA 2.1 comes with JK6 if i'm not mistaken.
[Vibrant General] kitoro:
do you axura 2.2.1 source? what base is using? I do want to try also...
[Vibrant General] jamesyl:
I don't mean to troll, but this isn't really a "fix," all it does is "prime" Google Maps/Nav so Google Maps/Nav won't give up if it can't find a lock in a set period of time.

There are 3 real "fixes" that exist:

1) Flashing to a newer modem (JL series, take your pick)

2) The hardware fix posted in General from plato which involves improving the contact on the GPS antenna

3) The software fix from the Captivate forums from Da_G that involves changing the jupiter.xml settings for a) removing post-processing and b) using "true" AGPS settings optimized for your network

There are "mini-fixes" that help improve GPS performance (changing SUPL server to supl.google.com:7276, disabling WiFi antenna to reduce EFI), but again these are not true fixes.

Aside from the 3 fixes above, the rest are really just beating a very dead horse.
[Vibrant General] kitoro:
thanks for advise...:)

by the way, may I know the source for the hardware fix? thanks
[Vibrant General] MoWeb:
It's here but I recommend reading the entire thread before attempting to make the correct decision.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=878970
[Vibrant General] regP:
I dont think its a placebo effect. My GPS was dead until I performed the hardware fix early last week. But even then GM didnt seem to want to lock until I got lock in GPS test first. Someone posted about it in the hardware fix thread. We may have found the hardware problem but apparently there is still a software problem :(. No matter... Ill take running GPS Test first over no GPS at all.
[Vibrant General] illego:
This method works. I posted about it in General about 2 weeks ago to see if anyone wants to test it but I didnt get any response.

Yes GPS test locks quickly with the JLX modems on the different roms. 8/9 birds within 20 meters in about 20 seconds..blah blah blah. But how many of you actually try to use it during navigation. It works for a while then goes nuts and thinks you are on a street 200 yards away. Sometimes it corrects itself, sometimes it doesnt. Either way it is not reliable.

If you run GPS test and get a good lock then switch over to Navigation. Set your destination. Look back to GPS test to make sure it is still lock then drive. You do not get the jumping around effect. Been doing this constantly for almost a month now without that jumping effect. The key is to make sure GPS test is locked on in the first place. It keeps Navigation from losing that lock and jumping around.
[Vibrant General] Mannymal:
One thing, there are two GPS Tests. Both are nice apps, but for the best lock use the one developed by Mike Lockwood. Open it, start it, and when it locks simply go back home and select Google Maps.

The best true fix is the hardware one. Whatever you do with software is just improvements.
[Vibrant General] nakagusukumike:
yup. been doing this method for quite a while now.
[Vibrant General] ellopr:
For me what works and give me a quick lock is going to the GpsRestore Application by Samsung let it restore settings. i don't wait for it to get a lock. I switch to Gpstest application and get a fix very fast most of the time. After that any application that use gps will lock fast.

Hope this helps!
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
Wow! I can't believe so many people are still spinning their wheels on GPS when a definitive thread which fixes it has been sticked for so long. Especially after someone posted a link to the thread with the fix in this thread.

Heck, the link to the GPS fix was even covered on TalkAndroid in the news section a while ago.
[Vibrant General] SuperJMN:
So, what's the fix that worked for you? It's still giving me problems.

Please, tell us.
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
Check my Sig - line two, click it.
[Vibrant General] bendiy:
He's referring to this thread.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=878970
[Vibrant General] illego:
Well I've tried everything except the hardware fix and nothing work except this workaround. I don't know about the rest of you but I'm not about to open up a $500 piece of hardware and mess with it when there is a simple fix.
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
Then don't, as stated in the hardware fix thread those that have the GPS issue and are still under warranty (which is everyone that bought it retail since the phone is less than a year old) are not having problems getting the phones replaced. It is one of the primary suggestions of the thread. You should only attempt the hardware fix if you can not get the phone replaced.

Let's face it, if you got the phone from some 3rd party route and have no warranty it is not a $500 piece of hardware anymore, it is just a used phone that has features that don't work as advertised. So in that case what do you have to lose by trying this?
[Vibrant General] SuperJMN:
I have a PROBLEM.

Please, help me, this is rough:

I have always had more or less SNR from the GPS, but I don't know what happened yesterday: suddenly, my GPS doesn't seem to get ANY SIGNAL. 0 in view.

I have stayed for more than 10 minutes, lots of times. I have it at the window, no response. I've tested it with GPS Test and with the built in LbsTest, but nothing works.

I tried everything, installed SamsungGpsRestore, no fix. I've enabled Wireless Networks, disabled wifi, set the supplier to supl.google.com, port 7276.

I've went back to the stock ROM with ODIN, and reflashed my Nero 3, which I had locked many times before (I always had about 32 avg with 11 satellites in view).

I have to tell that I did the hardware fix last thursday (a week ago), and the signal was improved, but I didn't touch anything since then!

Please, please, help me. I live in Spain, bought my Vibrant from the US and I have no way to ask for a replacement :(

Thanks a lot for your understanding.
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
Ok, it is possible your hardware fix max have failed. As others have stated the contacts are fragile.

First some questions.

Which fix did you perform? Was it bending the contact up, wedging something under it, or creating a new connection with solder?

Did anything else change at the same time, like a new case, different environment, phone got dropped, any thing you can think of?

Going from working to not working at all is a hard failure. It means something has changed somewhere, and most likely it is inside your phone. We will find it and get it fixed, but first I need to have a better idea of the situation. So answer those questions and I can start from there.
[Vibrant General] SuperJMN:
Thanks for you really quick answer!

All I did was bend the contact up a little bit. Since it didn't bend well, I pushed a little more up, so the metal could press the antenna firmly. When I did this, the curved parted of the metal seemed to bend excessively and I noticed that was about to break by that part, so I pressed over it to correct the excessive curvature that I gave. I had the impression that the contact had been almost broken, since it might not endure another touch up or down, so I gave up and left it that way. It however, seemed to be consistent enough to keep in touch with the antenna without breaking itself. So... a touch up or down would have broken it, but it appeared to be pretty consistent after the "fix". Let's say I force it a bit, but not to the extend of breaking it.

After that, I assembled it again and tested the thing: the signal was very good, better than before and got fix a minute or two after turning the GPS on.

I was using it with more or less luck in the following days, but suddenly, it had problems locking the satellites, even though the SNR was about 30/42 with 11 sats. in view. The signal was very good, but it hardly locked them a few times.

After this preliminary issue, I was testing yesterday night. Deleted the GPS data after modifying the SUPL, to see if it could improve the lock. Well, in DIDN'T SEE ANY SATELLITE. It has remained with a single satellite until now. I have done everything:

I flashed back to the original ROM: nothing.

I flashed Nero 3 (JL5): nothing.

GpsRestore: cannot get a fix.

Modified the supplier to supl.google.com with the mentioned port.

Executed SGS Tools and selected the fixes for the european region.

After that, I flashed the original ROM again (JFD) and I had in the window where I got a very good signal before, but no signal, though.

I don't know what to do, because I would open it again, but I'm afraid to break something, maybe the little contact, maybe the casing (last time I had a bad time disassembling it...).

What can I do? Thanks again!
[Vibrant General] Mannymal:
Tranquilo hermano que encontraremos una solucion :)

You are gonna have to open it again. Maybe the contact bent down, or simply broke. Its very low quality. It happened to me. So I tried the solder fix out of desperation, and it worked, and has now worked for many people. So before you open it, get your soldering gear, or find someone who can do it for you, and apply that fix if you find the contact is broken. I already posted enough info and pictures in the other thread. It's a tried and true method. Dont worry about braking anything, the phone is tougher than it seems. Just be patient.

You'll be fine and your GPS is gonna work like a champ again.
[Vibrant General] SuperJMN:
Thanks both!! I will have to open it again, yes. I think I will go to a shop of my confidence that are very good soldering. I will see the pictures, although I think I have already seen them (I downloaded SolderPics.rar and I have seen every picture). It seems that you dropped a little solder onto the metal, but it won't bend as the original piece did. How could I know what's the best shape to cast with the drop in order to fit well? Are you only using solder, no any other piece to make contact with the antenna?

Thank you very much!
[Vibrant General] Mannymal:
I was the one who took some of those pictures.

I used solder on top of the broken contact, but its recommended that you de-solder the broken contact and solder directly to the board. Make the solder into a nice shiny round shape, then file it off into a flat top. If you take it to the shop and explain the whole situation they should make a very good job at it and you will have a great GPS.
[Vibrant General] SuperJMN:
OK... I disassembled my phone again (sweated with fear again). And surprise, IT'S BROKEN! the little connector isn't making contact anymore, so I have no options but going straight to the solder thing.

The great question here is how do I know what height the solder must have to make contact, but not pressing too much against the back layer. What do you recommend?

Oh my god, I'm scared!!
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
I have been out all day, but it looks like Mannymal has been taking care of you. You have been in good hands. Mannymal has paid rather close attention to the advice I have been giving and learned quite a bit I think.

He is right, you are fine and you have no need to worry. The repair that you will be performing or having performed for you will actually create a better connection than the original, and there is nothing else to break. The only permanent damage you could really do here is to over heat it and burn up the board, or leave some metal filing behind and short something out. You can de-solder and re-solder as many times as you needed to fix the connection without harming anything.

Here is the general idea for your case, remember either practice on something else until you are skilled with a soldering iron, or print this out and give it to your repair person.

First remove the old broken connection from the board by heating the contact with your solder iron and a small solder bridge.

Clean up the pad of excess solder with either a solder sucker or solder wick (this requires heating it again)

Heat the pad the connection was on with the solder iron and a small solder bridge until it is hot enough for the solder to melt without touching the iron. Let enough melt onto the pad to create a mound slightly taller than you need. Take the iron away, the mound will be a little smaller now because the iron took some solder with it, but you should have a nice round, shiny mound on the pad that is (hopefully) a little taller than you need to reach the other contact with the boards together.

Now use an emery board to file the top flat. Keep the flat parallel with the pad for good gontact, repeatedly check the height by putting the boards together, and file it upside down so the filings fall away from the phone.

Once you have the right distance (it just puts a little pressure on the top board) blow all the filing out and make sure that there are no little peices of metal left that might short anything out.

Reassemble and test

The other thread has links to some excellent instructional videos on soldering.
[Vibrant General] SuperJMN:
Oh boy, I've taken my phone to the hardware shop and the guy that is supposed to solder the thing made a strange face when I explained the whole story. He said that "the solder is gonna slide onto this", and I didn't know what he was talking about. Well, he stated that he is only putting the drop of solder in there, so I think I'll have to file it to a flat top drop. I really thought that he is not trustworthy, but in about 1:30 hours I have been told to come back for it.

As I tend to think, I will have to file the solder, how did you do it? I do only have emery boards to file nails, and although they are flat and small, they are too wide to file in such a narrow place. Did you cut the emery board to cast any special shape?

I did receive a great help from you, BRAVO! It's wonderful there are people like you.
[Vibrant General] Mannymal:
Lets hope he didn't do a bad job... if you want, take a picture of what he did, and show us. And hopefully he didnt do a cold solder.

Yes I used an emery board for nails. It was a narrow one, but you can just narrow yours with scissors. Close just the antenna side of the case and see if it bulges out. If it does, file it down a little, and close that side of the case again, repeat, until the case closes flush. It's important that you keep filing a little then trying the case until its just right, otherwise you might file too much off it. Also make sure you dont leave all that solder dust there, just blow on it to get it away from the phone. You can also use a Q-tip and just a little alcohol to clean the area if you wanna be obsessive about it.

I hope you get as good reception as I am getting! When you are done, remember to use the Samsung GPS Restore tool, then install Mike Lockwood's GPS Test app. The first time to lock into satellites might take minutes, just give it a chance to do its thing, it will be good after.
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
I updated post two in the hardware fix post linked in my signature to be a Q&A section. It has a lot of good info including the links to both soldering videos and the APK file for the GPS restore tool. (Which would not be available in the market outside the US)
[Vibrant General] SuperJMN:
It's working!!! After lots of sweating and an alternative solution (the guy at the shop soldered a little piece of copper that replaced the original with solder+silver) I put the back case, turned on and started to catch up satellites!! almost everyone has a level between 32-46, lots of green bars and the accuracy it very good! I will have to test it extensively to see what is improved, but for the moment it's going really fine :D

Thanks a lot for your suggestions and your (hard to find) interest. You are very kind.

My best wishes from Spain to everyone!
[Vibrant General] Mannymal:
Very cool! would have liked to see a picture of the work they did. Glad it worked out!
[Vibrant General] thegreatcity:
Where did you go to get this done, and about how much did it cost?
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
LOL, Why? Are you planning a trip to Spain?
[Vibrant General] thegreatcity:
No...what makes you think this kind of shop doesnt exist outside of Spain?

Just trying to figure out what kind of shop he went to, and about how much the job costs. (Yes, I am aware of exchange rates.....)
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
Duh!

You asked where he got it done. That is kinda specific. How much it cost is going to have a lot more variables than exchange rates. Politics affect the prices of resources, taxes, labor, and services. So does available local resources and shipping, tariffs, etc.

You really plan to wade through all that and more to find out what it might cost (and still be way off) when you could just open the local yellow pages to the electronics repair pages and make a call?

Edit: Here are some options for you.

Jpc Computers

4830 Lawrenceville Highway NW

Lilburn, GA

It Guy Computer Cleaning And Repair

200 Crane Drive, Unit 23

Bogart, GA

Best Electronics, Llc

3731 Sunbridge Drive

Snellville, GA

Geeknician, Llc

195 West Pike Street, Suite 108

Lawrenceville, GA

Irie Tech Incorporated

3550 Centerville Highway

Snellville, GA

That should get you started.
[Vibrant General] thegreatcity:
Yeesh I help people all the time on here...didnt know it was a bad thing to be asking questions. I wasnt asking for an exact store, just his overall experience. Didnt know if it was a specialty store, or just a regular electronics repair store. The question of price was just to get something in the ballpark.

I no longer live in Georgia, and wether or not posting those Yellow Page listing was as a joke, I do appreciate the effort, so e-thanks given, and no hard feelings. :p
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
Really this is something you can do yourself and purchasing a soldering iron and some .56mm solder would actually probably be cheaper than paying a pro to do it.

Click the link in my Sig on line two. Post two of the thread (My Q&A Post) has links to some good video tutorials.
[Vibrant General] thegreatcity:
Yeah Ive seen the guide, and normally Im more of the DIY mindset. Im just extra cautious because I got my Vibrant off of craiglist (i.e. no warranty/insurance) and my ONLY soldering experience was making the resistor JIG.

So it definitely would be cheaper, I have the right size screwdriver, I might even have the right size solder. Im just not too confident in my skills...

I see that there are two methods...one involves simply raising the contact. Is the solder method perferred over this, and if so, why?

Thanks again.
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
It depends on your school of thought and if you ever have to worry about warranty repair. Soldering is an obvious thing and would be found if you sent it in under warranty, where as you would probably get away with the bending. Since you don't have the warranty this is not an issue for you. That said, soldering becomes a no brainer because:

The solder method creates both a better connection and a permanent fix

Bending it can cause the tab to break, or it can even break at some later point (see example above in this thread). The tab is crazy cheap and does not bend or flex well. at my last check 104 people had respond to the poll on the fix and about 7-8 people had either broke there tab or had it break later. I don't know how many reporting in the thread also answered the poll, but it is conceivable that up to 10% of the time the tab breaks anyhow.
[Vibrant General] SuperJMN:
I captured this snapshot for you to evaluate my results. Yesterday night my SNR values were better. Some of them of 40 and even higher.

This morning it took more than 3 minutes to lock. Maybe the connection is not the best?

What do you think?
[Vibrant General] samnada:
I did the "bend the contact" fix, and now see SNR levels like what you are seeing. Indoors I often get 1 or 2 sats are in the low 40's. I've seen a 51 once. Sometimes I see mostly 30's as in your pic. That's going to vary with the specific sat locations. Regarding lock times I also see wide variations. An initial lock can take anywhere from seconds to several minutes, as you describe. It seems clear to me there are additional driver and SW issues that need to be resolved. Some of the custom ROM's may be optimized, but I haven't tried them, so can't offer any suggestions. Hopefully the official 2.2 release will put this to rest, but it's hard to be overly optimistic.
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
Another thing that you have to realize is that the satellites themselves are a variable. The only way to make a satellite stationary is to put it into orbit directly on the equator, falling at the exact same rate the earth spins, and in the same direction. Even at that there is still a little wobble in a figure 8 pattern.

So GPS sats are anything but stationary, but they are flying at great speeds overhead coming in and out of view by their own rite at any time. At the speeds they fly the distances to you change by the mile rather quickly. So it should be no surprise that doing your testing repeatedly will never yield the same results twice. There are also a lot of other factors involved as well.

The point is that you are now getting very acceptable and usable results from your GPS consistently, even if you never get anything as great as your first time. Maybe you will get those strong of signals again, but even if you don't you seems to be an par with what the majority of people have reported so far.

FYI - If you would like to see some real time tracking of GPS sats that you should be able to see (THIS IS REALLY COOL) go to http://www.n2yo.com and click the GPS link at the top of the page. It will load a page of sats that are visible from your location. Click the select all box and then click the track selected satellites button. It will load a world map with the orbital paths of the sats, then the sats themselves. You can watch them move and even select them for more information on each satellite. This is not limited to GPS satellites if you want to keep playing with it. The point is that if you watch it for a little bit you can see pretty quickly as they move relative to the world map they are on just how many miles (or kilos) they cover in a fairly short time.
[Vibrant General] johnejohn:
Dont know

I dont know if what I tried was a fluke or not but my phone GPS started locking within seconds.

I went into manage applications, maps. Clicked Force Stop, clear cache. Rebooted.

Opened Maps, get directions, and typed an address, navigation and the thing is talking to me. Checked with GPS tool.

Prior to this it was taking about 20-30 min to get a lock. Now every time its locking within seconds. Dont know if what I did fixed it or the phone fixed itself or it will break again later but for 2 days since I tried this its still working.