GPS situation

Emphrath · 18 Mar 2020, 02:31

hello everyone ! I meant to answer an old thread here but was proposed to create a new one. I wondered if gps actually works in UT, and if so, to what extent. It doesn't on my FP2. I understand it's a known, unsolved issue, that used to have a fix consisting in a change of provider (from wolfclue to sth else). if I run "$ ps aux | grep [l]ocation-service | grep provider" it appears I have no provider at all (hence cannot use that fix), but test_gps does find my coordinates. Now my question is: is it linked to ut being in a constant gps "cold state" (having to permanently fetch all satellites position to get first position) in which case will I get any position at all if I do wait 15 mn ? Or is it FP2 specific and other devices handle Gps without too much hassle ? If so, I would like to understand how gps works in ut. many thanks !

AppLee · 18 Mar 2020, 09:03

@Emphrath
Hi,

I don't know the details about the FP2, but yes first fix is always very long.
A way to workaround this issue is to prevent suspension and let it wait near a window for tens of minutes until the first fix is acquired.

I use pure maps and force a navigation between two favorite places.
When navigating, the default setting in Pure Maps is to force the screen on.
You can also disable the auto lock feature in the system settings and use any GPS app to get your position.

Once the position is acquired it should be better until next reboot.

Emphrath · 18 Mar 2020, 10:40

@AppLee alright !! thank you

pglushkov · 18 Mar 2020, 22:45

Hi all! Sorry for a bit of an off-topic, but I've already seen several mentions of this 'test_gps' utility in different topics on this forum. Could you please explain what that is and how to acquire it?
Thanks!

flohack · 19 Mar 2020, 07:22

@pglushkov The tool is part of libhybris, the layer that connects the Android parts with Ubuntu. To run it, you can either use terminal-app or better, enable developer mode and use adb shell to connect to your device.

Then use sudo test_gps to start the test. It will start printing strange informations, but eventually you will see a list of satellites, and after some minutes hopefully it will also print longitude and latitude somewhere in this lines.

pglushkov · 19 Mar 2020, 12:05

@Flohack thank you very much for the explanation! So it should basically be available in every Ubuntu Touch device from the terminal? (on device or via mtp)

AppLee · 19 Mar 2020, 13:08

@pglushkov said in GPS situation:

(on device or via mtp)

It is available on most UT devices because of libhybris.
It is available via adb shell or ssh, MTP is to expose the default data folder to your host computer.
And yes it's also available on the device using the terminal app.

Finally to be more accurate I should mention that both adb and ssh are technically on device.

Edward Wilhelm · 10 Jun 2020, 16:58

The GPS has not been working on my phone since I installed ubuntu touch. None of the apps are able to obtain my location.
I ran sudo test_gps
It printed some information, and then finished by repeatedly printing

tracking....
tracking....

I'm not really sure what you guys are talking about in this thread. Is there anything you guys can suggest I do to make apps have the ability to get my location? It would be very helpful if I could use pure maps et cetera.

AppLee · 10 Jun 2020, 18:34

@Edward-Wilhelm
As suggested to the OP, instead of re-opening an old thread it's best to create one for your issue.

Then you'll have to give some information for us to help you out.
What is your phone ?
What release of Ubuntu Touch, what channel are you on ?
What tests have you done and what was the outcome ?
What happens when you run Pure Maps ?

The more details you give the more we can help.
Be as specific as you can and tell us what you don't understand, we know many people are not tech savvy, but nonetheless we tend to take some things as common knowledge when it is not.

Lakotaubp · 10 Jun 2020, 20:24

@Edward-Wilhelm The basic advice is to stop the device from sleeping when idle in battery settings, switching location settings on, granting permission to the app and leaving the device by a window or such till it gets a fix. This can take twenty mins or more.
As @AppLee said the more info you can provide the better.

Edward Wilhelm · 11 Jun 2020, 02:51

@AppLee

As suggested to the OP, instead of re-opening an old thread it's best to create one for your issue.
I apologize. Now that people have responded to this do you want me to repost, or leave the discussion here?

Then you'll have to give some information for us to help you out.

What is your phone ?
This is stated in every post I make as my signature.

What release of Ubuntu Touch, what channel are you on ?
These are also stated in my signature.

What tests have you done and what was the outcome ?

I ran sudo test_gps
It printed some information, and then finished by repeatedly printing
tracking....
tracking....

I have read and followed all of the documentation presented here: http://docs.ubports.com/en/latest/userguide/dailyuse/location.html

What happens when you run Pure Maps ?
An icon makes a spinning motion next to where I input current location.

The more details you give the more we can help.
I have tried putting my phone in places that are accessible to satellites, yet still in the shade as to not overheat the battery. I then go to pure maps and create a route from my current location, to an arbitrary location. An icon spins next to my current location. Today for the first time in a shady spot on the north side of my building it finally worked after 10 to 15 mins. It then worked very well for several hours, even in a moving automobile. Afterwards, I tried to use it again and I am back to the same spinning icon. It no longer works.

Edward Wilhelm · 11 Jun 2020, 03:02

@AppLee

Also,
What is an "OP"?

I do not understand this abbreviation used in your sentence that follows.

"As suggested to the OP, instead of re-opening an old thread it's best to create one for your issue."

Lakotaubp · 11 Jun 2020, 05:04

@Edward-Wilhelm Have you created an account and added the app key for that provider in Pure map settings. Try uNav for first location.

AppLee · 11 Jun 2020, 07:33

@Edward-Wilhelm

OP here stands for Original Poster ; the one who created the thread.
Some people use it also to refer to the first message of the thread.

Well given those details, my guess is that you probably turned off the location service after the first use.
I let it turned on all the time to avoid having to let my phone out for 10-20min.

After a reboot and I guess after turning off the location service you'll have to go back to the long step of leaving your phone out in the open for tens of minutes.
Usually next time you'll use the GPS it will get your location within 5 minutes most of the time I'm under 2 minutes.

Emphrath · 11 Jun 2020, 08:00

Be patient. For me, first fix after a reboot sometimes take one solid hour. After that it's fine. Actually what I do is everytime the phone reboots for some reason, I first search my location in Pure maps and wait for the fix, so that when I really need navigation it starts fast

Edward Wilhelm · 12 Jun 2020, 03:21

@Lakotaubp said in GPS situation:

@Edward-Wilhelm Have you created an account and added the app key for that provider in Pure map settings. Try uNav for first location.

No. I will look into this. Thanks.

Edward Wilhelm · 12 Jun 2020, 03:27

@Emphrath said in GPS situation:

Be patient. For me, first fix after a reboot sometimes take one solid hour. After that it's fine. Actually what I do is everytime the phone reboots for some reason, I first search my location in Pure maps and wait for the fix, so that when I really need navigation it starts fast

There was no reboot between it working and not working, and I never turned off location services. This is why I am quite perplexed.

I will keep playing around with it and see if I can figure something out. If I do, I will report back. All of your suggestions are very welcome. Thank your help.

Keneda · 6 Dec 2020, 18:32

@Edward-Wilhelm
Dumb question : are you trying GPS fixing indoor or outdoor?
Or under athermic windshield?

Edward Wilhelm · 13 Jun 2020, 03:39

@Keneda
I do it outside because I want my phone to get line of site radio communication with the satellites.

Fun Fact: you can contact astronauts on the ISS with 3 watts of rms power on a handheld when they are over head. :beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Also, if you want to talk me with audio, I have been known to monitor 27.32500 megahertz on double side band amplitude modulation from time to time. I may or may not be able to get out with 500 watts. Heck of a time when the sunspots are in line.

Sorry, its Friday and I'm on a rabbit trail.