yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Vibrant General] Br1cK'd:
Wasn't trying to insult you man, and from your initial post, you do seem to have some experience/knowledge working with electronic devices. If the wire was solid core and not stranded core, cut to the absolute perfect length, and fixed inside the case in such a manner it would be entirely sheilded under the clip, I can see how your solution would work.

Think about it though, the average bear out here, who may not be that tech savvy, would grab, lets say, a strand of speaker wire, and using the stranded core wire, try your alternate fix. Maybe they also cut it a bit long, and over time some of the ends are pinched off and end up rolling around inside the case, shorting the first circuits they improperly connect. Or one of the entire strands itself shakes loose. Before you get mad again, cause I'm again telling people not to follow your example again, think about the widespread effects some improper modding can have on those with less experience.

Ginger Clones of the World Unite!!! via the XDA App
[Vibrant General] childspsongs:
thank you brick'd. speaking like that i completely understand and respect what you are saying. Let me be allowed to correct myself. the copper fleck i installed was pressed with a simple pair if pliers...flat and tiny (not really hard to do at all). once fit in, the housing does the rest of the pressure work. i used the thicker copper wire because it wont flex at all with the pressure or movement of the phone. with that being said, i can see where someone would use the wrong wire and cause damage. I APOLOGIZE TO ALL FOR MY LACK OF EXPLANATION!

wyvernwaddell, this is true what you are saying and solder is permanent, however as i said earlier this is for people uncomfortable with soldering or inexperienced.

Question to both? wouldnt conductive adhesive be the answer here as a viable answer to non soldering? and also, have you done the fix to your phones? what is the overall reaction you got? for me and the ones i have applied this fix to (copper included) our gps problems have faded away. i can honestly say we have not had one issue with lock on, staying on course, and consistency in over a week of steady use.
[Vibrant General] nomadrider123:
It helped or some what helped 65% off the ppl who used it the other 35% it did nothing or made it worse.. Hardly faded away as you put it
[Vibrant General] wyvernwaddell:
I used the solder fix on both my wifi clip (broken) and my gps clip (just a personal choice)..it helped them both measurably. I am not a soldering genius or anything, though I do know how to use one..I just made sure I read the directions all the way through and practiced on a spare bit of breadboard first to see how the solder would bead.Having steady hands helps a lot.
[Vibrant General] wyvernwaddell:
Conductive adhesive might be possible,I don't know.I wouldn't know where to find it though..does anyone make that?
[Vibrant General] alelas:
this made a huge improvement on my i9000 for SNR!!!! Not sure if Vibrant is same in hardware, pls check it out!

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=12972756&postcount=248
[Vibrant General] sambo_crockett:
I just performed the hardware fix and for the first time in a month and a half my phone finally locked in on my position with the gps. Thanks to all the super tech guys for hooking up the info and posting here in this awesome community of android love :)
[Vibrant General] freter021:
Hey man! You're a ****ing genius!!!

I was going on crazy with the gps problem. It wasn't able to lock a position. All the time it was jumping from coordinates.

I've done what you said. In effect, the connectors were a little bit flattened.

After the arrangement, the gps signal if too much strong than before.

Thanks so much!
[Vibrant General] Tiwwaz:
Thanks!!

amazing fix. Accurate even indoors. thanks alot
[Vibrant General] KWKSLVR:
Glad to see that people are still discovering this and that its working for most everyone.
[Vibrant General] sutekidane:
Both methods work great! I have two Vibrants, and one of the connectors snapped so I had to solder. It has fast locking now even for indoor! GPS is working so good now. Feels good man! Thanks!
[Vibrant General] Azure100:
Dude all u can say is OMG OMG OMG OMG !!!

This thing is pure WONDER. Indoor lock in 1 min ? WoW Baby thats something i never experienced in my lifetime LOL

Been using vibrant for like 4 months or so. NEVER got a lock indoor and recently i couldnt even get single Lock even OUTDOOR... I was like this cellphone is so ****.. sell it off.

Tried every single method fix available. Last resort bought a mobile toolkit and tried your First method. Took me like 20 mins i guess :P But now i am getting HUGE HUGE HUGE imrpovements in signals locks. WOw man awesome. You ROCK !!

Thanks alot for your great work.

MARVELOUS !

( You can see how excited i am by my words :P )
[Vibrant General] dthomp1987:
Worked perfectly
[Vibrant General] sumchamp:
I tried each and every method even soldering but problem still persists. :(
[Vibrant General] eoyilmaz:
:( bricked my phone...

be careful when removing the back plastic, especially right beside the power button there is the flat cable of the power button lying very close to the plastic nails. If you are using a screw driver there is a chance of tearing off the power button cable...

so my phone is not starting anymore, I tried to short contact the button, it worked, the phone booted regularly but because the power button is not working anymore, I'm not able to use the phone. In a second short contact-boot up I also lost the touch screen.

Need to send the device to service...
[Vibrant General] bgugi:
does not work for me

When i first attempted to use my gps, on the stock rom that came with the phone, i was able to see satellites, but not lock to any. Even after flashing to the provided t-mo update, and then manually up to 2.2, still no locks. Even trying the official fix, the a-gps server fix, various flashed fixes (including the software one suggested at the beginning of this thread), no locks, no noticable improvements. even after tearing my phone apart to bend a little spring back into place, i still can't get locked satellites. I'll let it set for 10 minutes... but nothing's coming of it. I'll see anywhere from 1-10 satellites, but no locks, no location. what's going on?
[Vibrant General] KWKSLVR:
Welcome to the wild world of Samdung. ;)

When all else fails, download your ROM again and reflash. Believe it or not, it's worked for me before. Also, I periodically take my phone apart and adjust the tabs (not a fan of loose artifacts floating around inside my phone). I've adjusted my connectors before seeing no improvement only to see locking issues work themselves out the next time I try. I know its a PITA. But I would readjust the tabs/connections and if that doesn't work, reflash the ROM before giving up hope.
[Vibrant General] candyman123:
so.. i opened up the vibrant to check on the tab with a piece of cardboard underneath to see how it's doing (because I haven't been getting a good lock in a while now). tried to bend the tab up and boom! snap.

i guess it's time to do the soldering method! :D
[Vibrant General] corymaunder:
SEC1233 is a flexible silver filled adhesive. It provides excellent electrical conductivity useful in many electronic applications. company who makes ellsworth
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
Electrical conductivity, yes; but how well does it do with properly propagating high frequency RF? Seriously, for that LAST DAMN TIME, unless you are an electrical engineer then you are best to just stick with the fix posted in the first two posts of this thread. . . . Period - end of story.
[Vibrant General] childspsongs:
okayyyy, thank you coreymaunder for acknoweledging the adhesive strategy. look, im not undermining the original author of this thread, in fact im endorsing him. what im saying is this. 7 phones, all copper fixes, all held down with adhesive, 5 weeks in, all still working, all still locking indoors....NOT ONCE HAVING TO GO BACK INTO THE PHONE TO FINAGGLE WITH THE FRAGILE LEADS AGAIN!!! REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE SAY, IT WORKS IF YOU DONT WANT TO SOULDER YOUR PHONE! IT WORKS IF YOU DONT WANT TO KEEP LIFTING TABS!!! if you can soulder,then do that cause you will just have to keep cracking your phone open again and again to bend the piece back up again. the piece is not FLOATING around in your phone. it holds itself in with the pressure of the cover when you snap it back into place again, if you want to be absolutely certain it wont come out, add a little piece of double sided stick tape. the tape wont do anything bad to your phone what so ever. PEOPLE WOULD KNOW THIS IF THEY GAVE IT A FRIGGIN CHANCE!!! if anyone needs help please let me know. P>S> im adding to the fix with a real tested fix, not one dreamed up by leprechauns or magical unicorns!
[Vibrant General] nbhnohome:
Did any of you guys try to thicken the contacting point on the phone's back cover by using Copper Tape ???

http://www.amazon.com/JVCC-CFL-5CA-Copper-Conductive-Adhesive/dp/B000UZ8SJK/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304468897&sr=8-1-fkmr2

I acknowledge that the clip on this vibrant does not hold its shape for long and you will eventually losing the contact and back to the start
[Vibrant General] lol Qaeda:
Just got a Vibrant yesterday; manufactured back in the middle of September. Hoping it won't need the fix but if it does I'm glad you guys have my back!

Love this sort of stuff.
[Vibrant General] AEguyNYC5:
I purchased that roll of copper tape from Amazon and it didn't make a difference for me. I am not saying that it will not work, it just seems that not even Cialis can wake up the GPS in my Vibrant, even after the panel board was replaced.
[Vibrant General] Twisted galaxy s:
Vast improvement! Thanks for the info.

Trigger 3.1

Overstock 2.4.1

Dark Trigger mixed with a little

splash of color
[Vibrant General] nbhnohome:
HUGE HUGE Improvement !!!!

My Phone barely locks (normally takes 15 minutes to lock or never locks when it rains) ---> AFTER Hardware Fix [ I USED A SMALL COPPER WIRE and SLIDED IT INTO THE GAP OR THE CONTACT POINT ON MOTHERBOARD] ----->>> HOLY ****, My Baby now locks on 8 birds in 5 seconds.

YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS OUT (SOFTWARE FIX WILL NEVER BE THE SOLUTION AS I've TRIED sgs sgs2 .... fix but never ever worked)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnB_woTwO0c&feature=player_detailpage#t=199s
[Vibrant General] $omator:
can you try out some mytrack?

-is fix still 'traveling' while phone is at one spot for some time

-are recorded tracks on the point showing your path or are they are also 'traveling'

i got no problems with fix but when i can see that the location where i am acording to gps is 'traveling' one way going back going other way going back

need to track it for some time to see the location movement... or just go for a walk with tracking on
[Vibrant General] nbhnohome:
The fix is permanent, It can track while I am driving with accurate speed.
[Vibrant General] $omator:
yes i can understand writen english but i was asking if the tracks recorded using your phone are ACCURATE (position recorded as your track matches real one) or can the phone left at one place records fix at one position or is this fix traveling around. hope you can test those
[Vibrant General] nbhnohome:
Whenever I stop at the traffic light or Stop Sign, the pointing arrow stands still.

Before the fix, the pointing arrow kept jumping around the streets and roads that are near by (Google Maps) when I stop for traffic light. This sickness is now completely gone
[Vibrant General] $omator:
thats a good sign ;) if only tracks recorded are accurate i dissasemble my phone ;d
[Vibrant General] nacron:
After opening my phone more than 4 times, the GPS contact feels as if it's about to break off. Guess I may have to bust out my soldering iron next time.
[Vibrant General] runkpock3r:
Thank YOu!!!

Wow, Thank you for this fix!!! My gps locks in less than 5 seconds now and accurate up to 6 meters!!! Serious digital high five man!
[Vibrant General] CGrove247:
Not locking, Can view but not locking

I am currently running a full wipe and clean install of Galaxy Extreme Final update 1 with Dragonmodz ssj5 kernel. I have tried multiple methods, even in the past with previous roms I have had trouble with real accurate fixes had to install super gps fix by jellete but Galaxy Extreme had it already so no need no, but now it seems like I am getting no fix at all. after applying the hardware fix which I thought was frivilous since when I opened my phone up the copper plate were not touching but I adjusted it anyways. and yes, my phone was built before october. Anyways, am I completely missing something, I have downloaded samsung gps restore and after ten minutes of sitting in my yard still no fix. another ten minutes with Gps test in my front yard it is viewing 12 damn sats but no fix on any of them. Please assist if any assistance can be lended.
[Vibrant General] $omator:
http://www.appbrain.com/app/gpstest/com.android.gpstest

clear and inject both
[Vibrant General] CGrove247:
clear and inject both[/QUOTE]

I am assuming you mean clear gps data and inject through abd? and both as in? :confused:
[Vibrant General] nbhnohome:
Did you solder the contact point or insert a piece of copper wire into the gap ? If you did not, your contact point could have fallen back to its origin (where there is hardly any contact with the antenna).

My GPS has been great and wonderful after the fix. It works great with GPS Restore or no GPS Restore ----> GPS Restore is just a scam from Samsung. F*ck them.
[Vibrant General] CGrove247:
I didn't want to result to such but if that is truly the only route to fix this problem, then I shall attempt soldering and will place my results on here.
[Vibrant General] 1q2w3e4:
worked well for me! thanks.
[Vibrant General] m509272:
It will. I broke mine on the 3rd one. Here's what I did which I don't think anyone else mentioned. I built up the solder a little bit on the pad the spring contact hits besides the broken spring contact. Has been working great. Before it breaks off you might want to try getting some solder in under the contact now as well as the spot the contact hits.
[Vibrant General] KWKSLVR:
Are you guys prying in the right place? Mine's been apart probably half a dozen times for various things and each time I've adjusted my GPS contacts just for the heck of it. They're fine. Remember, they don't have to come up THAT much.

Y'all aren't prying between the board and the contact, are you? You should be prying in the open portion of the "U" shape, here:
[Vibrant General] vaughnsphotoart:
Difference is like night and day. Finally a functional GPS!

It's been several weeks now since I fixed mine. The difference from before the fix and after is like night and day.

Before... I was lucky if I could get a lock after several minutes, and usually the lock would drop and it would start searching again. Quality of GPS data was abysmal, google maps would show me on wrong roads, etc.

After... locks onto 8/11 satellites within 5 seconds, and keeps the lock. Good accuracy, no wandering. Accurate navigation. Good stuff.
[Vibrant General] candyman123:
test out diffrent Modems before attempting hardware mods

Short story: (team whiskey's bionx 1.2.1 with modem KA5) took forever to get a gps lock, even with hardware gps mods (all this modding ended up wtih a broken gps tab)..

wasnt getting any gps lock in my room anymore, yet i could get a lock outside (with time).

decided to test out different modems that got better reviews on signal/battery life.

switched to KA7 modem, i can get a signal lock in my room now with the SNR being pretty good too, although probably WAY better if i did not mess with the connection tab as much as i did :-(
[Vibrant General] nacron:
I may have to solder, after my fix last week, I have bad gps again. Think it bent back down
[Vibrant General] zhuzf:
I will try this. Thanks.
[Vibrant General] nacron:
Finally bit the bullet and soldered the pad because the spring part broke off after trying to reposition it again. First boot, I got 17m acuracy INDOORS but the speed kept fluctuating from 0 to up to 50 mph as it tried to lock on to the sats. Next to an open window was worse it would go up to 40m accuracy and still fluctuate in speed. I'm going to switch it to google supl server and try to recalibrate tomorrow in my car.
[Vibrant General] FreshScent:
I don't know if this will help anyone, but it made my gps work fantabulously.

First flash the s.gps and do the hardware fix where u prop up the metal contact. See how that works for you, use GPS status or whatever else you want to test the gps. If that doesn't work (which it didn't for me...for very long anyway), I found that placing a large enough wad of paper towel right next to the volume rocker (which is right the above gps apparatus) such that the battery cover closes without any noticeable bulge will put enough pressure to maintain a good contact. At first, the paper towel seemed to cause GPS status to think that all 14 satellites were in the same position, as all the numbers were superimposed on one another. But after it locks, the numbers all move to where they are suppose to be.

It takes my phone less than 10s to lock on a (gps set to "cold start" as found in SGS Tools) with at least (**but usually more than**) 7 out of 10-14 satellites in my MOVING car (according to GPS status). Accurate to 10m (often times is less than 10) according to Google Maps. Was accurately locked on throughout a 2-hr trip on I-70 @73mph. When I pass under bridges, I check my phone and Google maps was always perfectly in sync, showing that I was passing a local road. Has been a couple weeks and gps still works fine. Recent navigation around Wichita and Kansas City was great with my Vibrant.

A simple piece of paper, along with the fixes in the OP, has made my phone a functional gps for times when I don't have my Garmin Nuvi handy. I did not do any soldering to my phone.

P.S. I keep my WiFi disabled when using the gps, I don't know how important that is but yeah...oh! one other thing. SGS Tools has a gps fix of its own, and I also applied that one after flashign s.gps, so I dont know if it overwrote or added anything to my success.

Rom: Bionix NextGen

Kernel: Overstock 2.4.1 @ 1.2gHz
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
I don't know where you got you copy of s.gps to flash, but if people are looking for it there is a copy in the OP for the Trigger ROM under the dev threads.
[Vibrant General] FreshScent:
If you go to the 3rd post under "The Official Vibrant Bible" thread found at:

Samsung Vibrant > Vibrant Android Development > The Official Vibrant Bible

it will have a list of Vibrant mods, including the gps fix. Or just click here to directly go to the thread that contains S.gps.zip :

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=974702
[Vibrant General] SamsungVibrant:
WIFI conflict with GPS?

Can someone explain why GPS will not work if WIFI is on? What is the conflict/issue?
[Vibrant General] KWKSLVR:
Interference due to crappy hardware shielding.
[Vibrant General] SamsungVibrant:
Biggest skeptic is now a believer.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THIS, because I was the biggest skeptic of the HARDWARE FIX but

THE "CORRECT HARDWARE GPS FIX" REALLY WORKS!!!

I finally decided to try it, and it FIXED THE GPS ISSUE! (drift still occurs)

So here is some background info. I got my Vibrant when it first came out, and GPS was busted of course.

Then Samsung released the GPS fix in JI6, I installed that, and my GPS was working (as good as it could).

Then, I updated to KB1, and my GPS WENT COMPLETELY 100 percent dead.

I updated to KB5, still nothing, still dead.

Downgraded back to JI6 still dead. Installed a custom ROM as someone suggested, STILL Dead.

Went back to stock deodexed rooted KB5, and GPS of course still dead.

I said screw it, let me try the hardware fix. Opened up my phone, lifted up the copper contact, put a piece of copper wire under the contact to prevent it from going back down. And what do you know? GPS WORKS, not only does it work, but I'm getting strong SNR, GREEN BARS IN GPSTEST!!!!!!!! 11 OUT OF 13 SATELLITES LOCKED ON!!! I've turned off my phone several times, and back on, instantly I get locks. Best part, I even get 8 satellites locked during the day!! (my GPS was always horrible during the day before). I'm running stock rooted and deodexed KB5.

GPS HARDWARE FIX WORKS!

I did this yesterday, and so far so good. I'll give another update in a few days. Crossing my fingers it stays this way!!!!

ps...GPS doesn't work if you boot up your phone and you turn on WiFi first. GPS will stay dead, and will require you to reboot your phone. BUT, if you do a fresh reboot, but you access your GPS first, for example run Google maps or run GPStest first, then turn on wifi, then there is no conflict. I have no clue why this occurs, but it's something I've noticed. So ya, just everytime you reboot your phone, access GPS first via any GPS app, then you can turn on wifi if you desire and GPS will still work. You have to do this for every reboot if you plan to use wifi and gps at the same time. If you turn on wifi first, prior to using the GPS on a new reboot, then GPS won't work, even if you turn wifi off.

Strange.
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
i hate to say it but i told you so.
[Vibrant General] $omator:
no such problem on i9000
[Vibrant General] candyman123:
Thankyou SamsungVibrant for posting your descriptive post and triggering my brain to remember having insulated copper wiring stored away from loooong ago!

I broke that gps connector tab after bending it too far back a 2 months ago, last month i tried soldering but failed, and today i just tested out coiling some copper wiring to match the height (actually should be lower about .5mm, i went a little because the plastic back cover is sticking up a little). To secure it, I used some tape thinnly cut longwise and made a barracade around it so it wouldnt leave the area even if shaken. I'm pretty sure it's stuck real well since the plastic covering is pushing down hard on it. Anyways enough of my grammar filled paragrah..

Results are fantastic!!!

On first phone bootup, turning GPS on and being OUTSIDE, I am now able to get a gps fix in less than 30 seconds and Accuracy of around 25feet. [remember my ghetto fix is with a piece of copper wiring coiled to make conntact with antenna and hardware board.] It is able to lock onto 6-9 sats out of 11 in view.

I didnt have a camera to document my 'repair' and i don't want to open up my phone again so if you guys are stuck in my situation and this is your last resort good luck :-)
[Vibrant General] SamsungVibrant:
No problem.

You know what else others like you who have broken their tab can do.

Instead of using traditional lead solder. You can just get a thick copper wire. I just use any copper wire around the garage and strip the plastic coating off.

Not sure if copper melts with a solder gun. But I do know it does with a blow torch. Just get some oxygen or some other hand held gas from home depot. Put on the blow torch head. Work on a cement floor. Take your copper wire, put on safety glasses. Aim the flame onto the copper wire. Make a puddle of copper on the cement. Then let slightly cool, but while still liquid, dip a toothpick in the copper puddle, and slowly dab onto your phone where you broke the contact. Build it up slowly with more and more small dabs of the copper on the toothpick.

Once cool, the puddle of copper on the cement just pops up. Easily clean up, and you will have a new copper solder.

Was normal lead solder not working? Anyway, that may help and you can avoid glue and tape.

Make sure to wear safety glasses, using a blow torch on copper can cause it to bubble. You don't want that flying on your eyeball.
[Vibrant General] candyman123:
thanks for the better version of the broken tab fix but the reason why i couldnt fix with a regular soldering iron was because i have little experience, so messing with copper melting with a blowtorch is a little more advanced haha
[Vibrant General] SamsungVibrant:
LOL, it sounds scarier than it actually is. Lots of chefs use the handheld blow torches for cooking :)

If Paula Deen can handle a hand held blow torch in the kitchen, I'm sure you can too :)