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    How to use GPS with no pain?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Volla Phone X
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      • Y Offline
        ygrex
        last edited by

        This is the usual scenario of geolocating on my phone. I open maps in Morph, geolocation sign highlights in notification bar, and I wait for 15 minutes. in a while it either starts showing my position, or I give up.

        Suppose it all went well and it found the geoposition. But in couple days when I need it again, I would expect it to have more or less up-to-date ephemerides, but what I see is the same waiting for 15 minutes with some success chances.

        On the other hand it happens often that it does not show my position in 15 minutes. I understand it may take longer, but since the whole process is quite obscure, there are high chances it will never show anything for me (I tried waiting for >1 hour with no success).

        Any tricks to have GPS less painful?

        arubislanderA KenedaK 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • arubislanderA Offline
          arubislander @ygrex
          last edited by arubislander

          @ygrex yes, use it daily.
          UT does not use Assisted GPS and relies solely on satellites to get a position fix. That is why it a fix is quicker under unobstructed sky outside.

          Once the first fix is done, if it is used regularly, it has been reported that subsequent fixes are quicker. When not used, the satellite info becomes stale and a new cold fix is initiated.

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          • mihaelM Offline
            mihael
            last edited by

            I don't know if you use waydroid or not but if you do, what I understand is that if waydroid is used after a phone start up then gps will not work unless you restart the phone.

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            • KenedaK Offline
              Keneda @ygrex
              last edited by

              @ygrex
              You really need to be in an open wide to the sky place to have a fix that works good.

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              • Y Offline
                ygrex
                last edited by

                For sure, this is what I get without Waydroid. In fact I stopped using Waydroid primarily because it breaks GPS.

                Tried GPS location two times today under apparently clear sky in wide open area. Both times it did not succeed in locating me in somewhat 30 minutes.

                I know it will occasionally work, but would help if there is any trick to know in advance if it is going to work or not without the need of waiting that long.

                KenedaK 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • KenedaK Offline
                  Keneda @ygrex
                  last edited by Keneda

                  @ygrex
                  Do you experience the same with real GPS app like uNav or PureMap ?
                  Morph is outdated, so maybe your problems come from it.

                  Also, you can try GPS toolkit app to see GPS sensor status and data.

                  When I used my UT phone as my primary GPS in my old car that did not have some, I never had a "no fix at all" issue with uNav. (At that time there where not PureMap as other GPS app)

                  2015-2023 : Meizu MX4 ☠️⚰️✝️
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                  2024-***** : FPOS Fairphone 5 waiting UT for freedom πŸ˜‰
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                  Y 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • Y Offline
                    ygrex @Keneda
                    last edited by

                    @Keneda
                    yes, tried it a few times with unav with the same outcome

                    but today it found me in 3 (three) minutes, that makes me thinking that all ephemerides were quite uo-to-date and it did not work for some other obscure reason

                    the whole point of this thread is to say that geolocation is that obscure process with certain failure rate (quite high for me) and there is little one can observe about it

                    will check it next day to see what happens

                    Y 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • Y Offline
                      ygrex @ygrex
                      last edited by

                      tried it today at the same spot it worked last time

                      gave it up after 15 minutes, as per my understanding I did exactly the same thing but it just did not work today

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                      • AppLeeA Offline
                        AppLee
                        last edited by arubislander

                        There is no fool proof trick to get a faster first fix.
                        Just follow these rules :

                        • Put your device in a well open location with clear line of sight from the sky in most directions.
                        • Keep your device unlocked and screen lit up.
                        • The active app should be using the GPS, meaning the GPS icon should be filled.

                        In good conditions it will be fast, but depending on your hardware and the constellations it can take some time.
                        An additional tip would be to set the device in flight mode to avoid disturbing the GPS signal with WIFI or the modem...

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