yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Vibrant General] barq838:
Hello!

I need to know when my galaxy S was manufactured.. Can somebody help me with this

S/N :RG9B616380J
[Vibrant General] yadayada01:
I can't get the plastic off!! It is impossible

7 screws are gone and you wonder if it is glued because it is not coming off.

Anyone?
[Vibrant General] Mark271:
I did the soldering fix plus the software fix posted in another thread for CM7.1. I get 5m locks consistently now.:) phiremod 1.1 and Neo 16.

I'll say it right now, perfection at last:D
[Vibrant General] donnygg:
Thanks for the reference to the video! I was inspired by it and made some improvision. I took a smaller piece of solder, flattened it slightly and slot half of it under the connector to raise the contact point. I then bent the other half over the top of the connector such that it's next to the rounded part at the top and will contact the antenna when the cover is closed (basically it looks like a C-shape metal clipping the connector). I managed to consistently lock under 1 min, averages maybe about 50s. I think I'm resigned that that's about as good as my GPS will get. I think they really changed the connector post-october as it doesn't feel like it's as brittle as many reported. Mine is really springy and I could really bend it up (many times!) but it wouldn't stay.

UPDATE (21/8/11): My signals were weakening and so I opened my phone again. The solder was so soft that it was compressed and the connector was down again. Back to plastic again. I think it is important not to prop the connector up too high with hard objects as it might press too hard against the antenna and cause a permanent dent. I'm speculating that may damage the antenna and result in gradual weakening of signals.

It's kinda difficult to open really. A little force is require and you need to dig a little under the metal-like rim around the phone. The rim will distort a bit but it will click back. I used a guitar pick and found that the area around the volume buttons was easiest to open. So I usually start there and work around the phone. Search for "disassembling galaxy s" on youtube. There are some useful videos of taking apart the phone
[Vibrant General] SamsungVibrant:
My Final Conclusion about this Hardware Fix

It's been some time now since I have applied this suggested claimed hardware fix.

Initially, the first couple weeks...the tab alteration seemed to really fix my GPS issue. I mean I was getting awesome GPS performance, 11 out of 11 sats in use, with accuracy down to about 15-21ft, but still had drift.

Well, that great performance was short lived, and soon my GPS went back to being completely dead. 11 in view, zero in use, and Google Nav constantly looking for satellites but never finding any.

I opened up my phone again to make sure the tab was still in contact, and as I expected it was. I had placed a piece of copper under the tab, to keep it lifted, so really there is no chance the tab would stop making contact spontaneously.

It appears this hardware fix only lasted a couple weeks for some strange reason, and my GPS is back to being 100 percent useless.

I have not flashed my phone or made any other major software changes since applying the hardware alteration.

For those who are no longer in warranty, I say...go ahead and open up your phone and give it a try, but don't expect the results to last.

This entire experience with Samsung has put such a sour taste in my mouth.

Anyway, I'm already in the market for a new phone(Samsung never again), just upset that I never really got to enjoy my Vibrant to the fullest.

ps...I don't really know how to vote above, wish there was an option for "yes, worked at first, then stopped working again."
[Vibrant General] neotoky:
+1

The same is happening to me. I did the hardware fix and worked really well even though I didn't put a copper wire in between but instead I put a rubber band. I will try the copper wire as a last resort, but I'm not holding my breath. This was a month of having the fix. Now it doesn't connect any satellites that my phone sees. I tried different roms and flashed the sgps files and it doesn't do anything anymore. Hate to say it, the hardware fix is a temporary fix.
[Vibrant General] sada23:
Here is my story for the fix. I read this post last night and thought I could give this a try as my GPS was not working inspite of trying all the software tips and tools.

I tried the first method of Harware fix by opening the phone and trying to lift the contact. In the process, I plucked out the tab itself. while the contact was out beside my phone, I notices a similar kind of contact on the other side and this time a little gentler and ended up breacking he top of the contact. I put back the phone to check what all was I missing because of the above actions.

The Wifi stopped working and GPS did not work at al and was as before. The Wifi would occasionally detect some access point, try to connect and fail.

Greatly disappointed and frustrated on my foolishness and stupidity, went to bed. Could not get sleep inspite of lying there for about 30 mins desperately trying to sleep.

Woke up and decided to try the solder method this time. Once again, opened the phone, pulled out the solder iron and put two blobs of lead at the places where I had plucked a contact and the other where i had broken a contact. Skeptically and wishfully put back the cover, screws and the back cover of the phone. Powered on the phone. The phone started booting and I was eagerly and anxiously looking at the phone. Every second passing by felt like eons. The phone booted up in about 2 mins. I unlocked the Screen, pulled down the notification bar, touched the Wifi icon to turn it on. A few seconds passed by as is started to turn on and Eureka,,,, the Wifi was on, it connected automatically to my Wireless Access point and i could browse. I then went into Menu->Settings->Wireless & Networks-> Wfif Settings-> and I could see a bunch of Access points detected as before.

Half the battle was won. Felt a great relief and was thinking that I could live without the GPS. I then pulled down the Notification bar once again to turn on the GPS. It turned on. I then started my navigation app and waited for it lock. After about 5 mins, it locked. Hooray... The entire battle was won.

Caveate: I do have the Angry GPS and the restoreGPS apps installed. At this point, I am not sure, if the combination of the apps and the Solder is working or its just the Solder.

The End.
[Vibrant General] Dlkiser:
The GPS on my phone has always been acceptable but the last week all of a sudden I couldn't get a lock unless there wasn't a cloud in the sky and I gave it a ton of time. When I did manage to get it to lock I used GPS Test to look at what SNRs I was getting and at best I would get 20.

I opened up the phone today(yes, the cover is a pain to remove) and gently bent the clip up as well as cleaning the contacts on the back of the cover. After putting it back together I went outside and immediately got locks with peak SNR close to 40. I am able to lock on inside my house which I was never able to do before.

I am disappointed in the design that this even had to be done in the first place but for what it is, this worked perfectly on my phone.
[Vibrant General] huchein:
did the hardware fix (adjusting the contacts). lost a screw in the assembly. but it was worth it. my gps is performing much better than before. but the first time i bent the contact too far and didnt even find any birds, there was no signal at all. so be careful before you assemble after adjusting and do not screw in unless you are sure it is done right.

Thanks for this fix.
[Vibrant General] adityamunshi:
I have a July '11 manufactured Vibrant but the GPS lock is very slow and inaccurate inspite of the software fixes. When indoors the phone sees 11-12 satellites but doesnt lock. Running stock 2.2 KB5 with Bali 1.8.8 UV.

What would be the best thing to do now?
[Vibrant General] donnygg:
Go outdoors?
[Vibrant General] adityamunshi:
It locks after a long time but accuracy is still poor ~40-60 feet.
[Vibrant General] donnygg:
Which software fixes did you use? I flashed s.gps.2.zip and Da_G fixes. Remember to change your supl settings etc. Also use GPS Aids to download the Xtra data.

Do you have an open sky? For good accuracy, you need to lock on to satellites across the sky. If half of the sky is blocked, the GPS can only depend on the info from half the sky, thus the calculations will be less accurate. 40ft is not too bad in my book.
[Vibrant General] test03:
Hi everyone.

Could you please advise me on which software mods to use on a Galaxy S I9000, running 2.3.4?

Thanks!
[Vibrant General] adityamunshi:
I have installed the s.gps.zip from http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=974702

How do i install the Da-G fix? It is posted in the captivate forum, so will it be safe to use on my Vibrant ?
[Vibrant General] donnygg:
Da-G fix works fine on Vibrant. At least I've not had any problem. Try the s.gps.2.zip as well. Not sure what's the difference from the original version though. Check your supl settings too (server:supl.google.com; server port:7276). Very important.
[Vibrant General] adityamunshi:
Ok, i got s.gps.2.zip but Jellete said it requires init.d support which i dont have on Stock 2.2 KB5 with Bali 1.8.8 UV kernel. How do i enable init.d ?
[Vibrant General] vcespon:
Thanks, this was just what I was searching for

After confirming that pressing on the top of the GPS antenna improved the signal, I saw this and since the plastic cover can be removed somewhat easyly, I tried and saw the little copper contact. I bended it up so that it makes better contact with the GPS antenna.

I also added a small piece of plastic so it cannot bend down so easily and lose contact. I must say that GPS signal is stronger now and I get better accurancy.
[Vibrant General] donnygg:
There may be an easier way but the only way I know is flash a custom rom that supports it.
[Vibrant General] Br1cK'd:
init.d support is dependent on the kernel, and the Bali supports init.d scripts.

Sent from my ZenDroid, meditating on the XDA App
[Vibrant General] lllll Nova lllll:
Thanks for the amazing tutorial!
[Vibrant General] cr3d1ts:
i did a combination of stuff but yeh it worked! finally getting some gps on my phone :D thanks so much!
[Vibrant General] adityamunshi:
Finally got s.gps.2.zip working. The init.d folder appears after installing the zip. But gps is still the same, very slow lock outdoors with poor accuracy.
[Vibrant General] d_bot:
Thanks for this. I got the vibrant on release day, and have NEVER had a working GPS. I got so frustrated today trying to navigate to an address that I decided I needed to fix this NOW. Found your post, wham bam thank you mam, im getting quick locks INSIDE! this is great. Thanks again.
[Vibrant General] vibrantboss:
GPS Hardware fix.. IT WORKS!!!!!

I would like to say THANK YOU !

TO: XDA, KWKSLVR, androidmonkey, THE YOUTUBE GUY (childspsongs) ...

With you guys help i was able to repair my Vibrant with ease.. the detail description of how to and the guy help from youtube made it less nerve wreckin!

THANKS A MILLION!:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

---------- Post added at 09:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:58 PM ----------

Thanks a million!
[Vibrant General] Burgscheinkerkdeiktraast:
Will it work on SGS II as well? I rarely get 5-10 meters of accuracy even in clear sky. Rarely I get above 40 of SRN.
[Vibrant General] rkantos:
Thank you for this fix! I found the soldering method to be the only choice after i bent the copper ribbon too much and it broke. After soldering a clump on top of the remaining ribbon the GPS seems to work much much much better. When walking it still seems to be about 2 meters off from the track, but when cycling or going by car it doesn't seem to drift in corners so much!

Meanwhile when I got the GPS fixed, I broke the headphonejack-proximity-lightsensor-speaker part

See here: http://www.cell-phoneparts.com/imag...ce_Speaker_and_Headphone_Jack_Replacement.jpg

Ordered one from eBay for like 15 eur.. now waiting for that.
[Vibrant General] test03:
Hi people!

I have applied this fix and the results are good, but I'm facing another problem: my GPS works (good accuracy and locking speed) only when the screen is on. As soon as the screen goes off, I lose the fix and precision, while using tracking apps like Runkeeper or My Tracks and diagnostic ones like GPS Status.

I've tried to force the CPU on 1000 MHz with Voltage Control but the problem remains so I'm guessing it's not a performance issue.

I've also tried to change kernels and ROM, but the issue is still there.

Any ideas?

Is there someone whose GPS stays locked even if the screen is off?

Everything else works fine.

Thanks!
[Vibrant General] nbhnohome:
I've never had such problem you describe. R u using Copilot ??? (I believe it is the only GPS Soft that has Screen off option while navigating). Try to go back to Stock 2.2 and see if problem persists (If not, the problem could be battery saving features from Custom ROM or Kernel you're using)
[Vibrant General] BrianGM:
I have the Samsung Galaxy GT i9000. Do I need to update with the JI6? As this thread is geared towards the Vibrant, is the fix appicable to the GT i9000? Is the copper contact to be corrected in the same way as explained?

Thanks
[Vibrant General] test03:
Thanks for your reply.

In 2.2 it stayed on, but I tried also with other 2.3 kernels and roms.

Searching with google led to intresting results: it seems that it's an issue that also other people are having, with various android phones, after updating to GB.
[Vibrant General] Hawkeye3:
Thanks so much for this thread. My phone's GPS reception worked perfectly fine for over a year and then just failed miserably. I barely ever managed to get a lock, so I just bit the bullet and opened the thing to fix it using this thread. It works very well for now even though I broke off the connector and had to replace it with just solder. (I'll investigate a spring from a pen or something similar if this doesn't hold.)
[Vibrant General] KWKSLVR:
Brian, as far as I'm aware, the I9000 is the same internally. I'm not sure what modems are compatible with the international version of the SGS, be sure you're flashing a modem package specifically for your device.
[Vibrant General] anoblenate:
I wasn't getting any gps reception and after trying lots of s/w stuff I tried this. I don't think the arm was making any contact. After stiffening it up I now have pretty good reception in my house. Thanks!
[Vibrant General] csaba2:
Thank you! It works! Great!

This is a very good description!

Thank you again! Very useful!

I'm very happy! :):)

After a long time you have a GPS signal!
[Vibrant General] murse:
I just did this fix. Thanks for the great description and pics. My GPS was functional, but never great, so I thought I would give this a try. Mine appears to have been making some contact before the fix, so I do see some improvement, but not the huge difference that some have seen. Overall, I think the Vibrant is a great piece of hardware and I don't plan on replacing it any time soon, so I was anxious about breaking something. Getting the plastic separated is the hardest part, no doubt. At first, the chrome trim began to flex and I was worried about breaking it. I used a plastic spudger that I have used to fix my macbook pro and carefully worked my way around the edge. The contact was pretty flat and I used very small flat blade screwdriver to bend it up; probably a tiny bit farther than what the picture shows. It went back together easily. Total time was less than 30min.

After booting up, first time to lock was 23 sec. Saw 11 and locked 9, which is the highest number I've ever seen locked, so something good must have happened. I turned off the GPS app and opened it again and the second time to lock was less than 10 sec. This was in my house standing behind the front screen door. In my one-story house sitting at my desk, time to lock was a bit longer, but less than 30 seconds. I saw 9 and locked 9 with accuracy reported of about 25ft. in GPS Info. My biggest improvement seems to be the number of satellites that I can lock.

Btw, this is on first gen hardware running MIUI Lithium v7 with the stock kernel.
[Vibrant General] T1001:
I found video on youtube "Samsung Vibrant Best GPS Fix EVER!!!!!" from user: childspsongs. He claims that he found a way to fix it properly. I'm planing to try it.

Any one tried it?

Please let me know if it actually works before I try it:)!
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
Please let us know if it works. I am guessing it is just a troll looking for hits in his video.
[Vibrant General] T1001:
I'm afraid to try it:) that's why I posted here to find out if it works or not?!
[Vibrant General] slegend:
Whether it fixed or not- i don't know. I installed bionix 1.3.1 after doing the hardware fix. It now works, though google navi is about 2~5seconds behind by position when I am driving. I get about 5~10m accuracy. So it works to a degree.
[Vibrant General] T1001:
I'm talking about this video on youtube: "Samsung Vibrant Best GPS Fix EVER!!!!!"
[Vibrant General] pramathesh:
Guys any experience to share on using Bluetooth gps Receiver on i9k? Preferably cyanogen mod rom?

Sent using my brain
[Vibrant General] PharmDaniel:
Hello, I got my Galaxy S I9000M from Bell Canada. It worked ok in downtown Toronto (30seconds), but when I travelled to London United Kingdom, I never get a signal there.

Is it the hardware problem or something else?

Anyone?
[Vibrant General] Stevethegreat:
I think I killed my GPS module and I don't know why...

I did the HW fix as described (I only *slightly* bent the wire upwards) and since then I've lost almost all capacity to even "see" the satellites...

Before that I would be getting 12 satellites inside but no lock (which was why I attempted the fix). After that I get no satellites inside and I can only get a lock after -about- 50 minutes outside. And when I do lose it (the lock), it's another 50 minutes of waiting (which is hugely impractical...).

For my experimentation I only use stock rom, so in the software side of things I'm tip top. Is there any advice from any of you guys to at least let me revert to the situation I was? I would be truly grateful... (I know Vibrant's GPS is garbage but it has often aided me in the past, I want to have this again in the future).
[Vibrant General] SamsungVibrant:
You could try what I did.

This has happend to me before. I've totally lost GPS functionality on stock, to the point where I don't even see any sattelites in view. I had considered it a complete loss, but I was able to revive it.

First off, just to get this out of the way, you aren't trying to get GPS to work with WiFi enabled are you? For some strange reason, if I have WiFi on first, then turn GPS on, I get zero GPS activity. Yet, if I turn GPS on first and get a lock, then it's safe to turn WiFi on. If this doesn't apply to you go on.

1) Download GPSrestore by Samsung available in the Android Market. Install it, reboot your phone. Go outside, fire up GPSrestore and let it do its thing. If it fails to lock a position then go to step 2. If it succeeds then you are done, your GPS should be working again. If not, then step 2.

2) Start with a fully charged phone and If it's not too much of a hassle, factory reset your phone.When your phone restarts and finishes setting up all your programs and stuff restart your phone again but don't turn on wifi.

3) Download and install GPSrestore as well as GPStest by Chartcross, both in the market.

4) Go outside, fire up GPStest, wait a few minutes, any luck?(if no luck, that means the factory reset wasn't the issue)

5) If still not luck, then you're going to have to leave it by a window for several hours or maybe even overnight. So make sure the screen doesn't go to sleep, keep your phone awake, you can adjust these in settings. Turn GPStest on, and prop your phone up against a window and just leave it there. Periodically check for activity. If your phone is completely dead it may take hours or even overnight. Slowly but surely you will see it go from zero in view, to 1 in view, then 2, then 3, etc. Then surely but slowly it will lock on to a few satellites. Again, may take several hours. As soon as GPStest locks onto some sats go to step 6.

6) Exit GPStest, open GPSrestore, get a position fix. You just jump started your GPS from death.

Last but not least, don't ask me why because I don't have the answer to the following, but do all of this at night. Something about the day time and Sats not being aligned or something lol, night time is the best to jump start it.

That's what I've had to do to bring my GPS back to life on stock rom. This is all assuming your tab didn't break and is still in contact with the antenna, so you may want to open the phone and double check.

I have no proof what I said above works other than my own exerpience with this piece of **** GPS on the Vibrant.
[Vibrant General] TrueYears:
Where can I find the S.gps2.zip file?
[Vibrant General] marce002:
CRAP!!! I BROKE MY EXTERNAL ANTENNA CONNECTOR

in my case my omnia has no signal with the operator or carrier because of this connector, then I realized that it is the cellphone signal antenna also, not only the gps antena connector, I tried the soldering method (made a small, smooth, shiny, and round mound of solder) with no luck at all, no signal with operator !!!!, what did i do wrong? see picture of my removed connector area, and please tell me what to solder or not solder inside a mound...

I also noted a white 6cm cable joining 2 parts of the phone, what is this for? and seems to be connected with this removed connector, should the mound join both inner pin and outer or only outer part?

THANKS IN ADVANCE
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
It looks like you tore into it a lot more and deeper than you should have. Do I see sanding on the board? What is the black plastic thing? Is that the speaker assembly?

Start by trying to get everything back where originally came from. If you get that far ok, then post a few more pictures of where you are at and I will try to help. If at all possible make them larger and use a good macro setting so you can get in close for detail and still be in focus. Also, take a picture showing the whole board for reference.
[Vibrant General] marce002:
Ok thanks, here one general pict. and a zoom into the disaster area antenna connector it is not related to GPS connector as i thought it would be, maybe in my i8000 omnia 2 phone is different.
[Vibrant General] T313C0mun1s7:
Yes, that is an entirely different phone not sure why you would tear into you phone this deep following a post in a forum that has nothing to do with your phone. This entire area of XDA is for the Samsung Vibrant.

That said it looks like there is some real damage there. The board itself appears to be broken. If I had to venture a guess I would say you could not get the plastic piece off (the instructions say nothing about removing anything plastic) and you pried on it. The bad news is that it is most likely damaged beyond repair. The only consolation is if you can find somebody really good at repairing damaged surface mount electronics they might be able to put it back together. This would depend on if you permanently damaged the plastic part, and if the broken board only has traces on both sides. Some boards are multi-layered, so even if you use jumpers to work your way around broken traces on the surface of the board, internal traces can not be fixed. You need to get that to an expert to look at personally for any chance of recovery.

In the future don't tear into something like that if you can't reverse what you are doing. Fixing a broken bit of metal with a solder mound is one thing, but when you use brute force to pry something off a board . . . well you can see for yourself what can happen.