Need help with activating the GPS in blackjack II (i617)

[Guest kenngao]

Sorry to bother those not interested. I bought an AT&T i617 last month, and still have some troubles in activating the GPS inside.....and can not use it at all.

Well...Here are the steps that I made:

1. Run Paul's program from this website:

http://www.modaco.com/content/Smartphone-Standard-News/262074/Samsung-Blackjack-II-GPS-ACTIVATED/

2,3. Then I got this it was designed for a previous prompt and shows it was installed successfully.

4,5. Then I used GPS Utilities to test whether the gps has been activated, set it to COM4.

6,7. Then I chose Start GPS, I got the failure information.

8. Even in Google Maps I can get pretty the same information.

PS, I tried staying in the cold weather outside for hours and it did not work, and I believe my trouble is not the signal strength of the satellites but no GPS hardware detected.

Could anyone tell me whether this is the same as yours or where I got wrong?

Thanks.

Kenn

Edited February 12, 2008 by kenngao

[Guest jyalexop2003]

Sorry to bother those not interested. I bought an AT&T i617 last month, and still have some troubles in activating the GPS inside.....and can not use it at all.

Well...Here are the steps that I made:

1. Run Paul's program from this website:

http://www.modaco.com/content/Smartphone-Standard-News/262074/Samsung-Blackjack-II-GPS-ACTIVATED/

2,3. Then I got this it was designed for a previous prompt and shows it was installed successfully.

4,5. Then I used GPS Utilities to test whether the gps has been activated, set it to COM4.

6,7. Then I chose Start GPS, I got the failure information.

8. Even in Google Maps I can get pretty the same information.

PS, I tried staying in the cold weather outside for hours and it did not work, and I believe my trouble is not the signal strength of the satellites but no GPS hardware detected.

Could anyone tell me whether this is the same as yours or where I got wrong?

Thanks.

Kenn

Why install the hack?

Many (including myself) are getting Google Maps (with 'Set By Windows' setting)

and Windows Live Search (with Intermediate Driver setting) to work out-of-the-box

with no hacks. Many are now reporting using Garmin as well with the Intermediate Driver.

[Guest Athenon]

I had the same problem. I did a hard reset and like magic everything seemed to work.

[Guest gdplayer]

HEEEEEEEELLLP! Please!

I downloaded the activator. Nada. my IE no longer could connect to the internet - consistently. Some sites yes - others not - like I could not get ggoogle or googlemaps. I then saw the microsoft update and I downloaded the cab and it installed easily. But I am stymied and cannot use the web and cannot get googlemaps/GPS to work or anything ese via explorer.

Any suggestions? I get a "connection not configured properly. ps verify your settings in onnections."

[Guest vandion]

All -

If you've got WM6 on your BlackJack 2, like I do, you'll see the aforementioned problem when installing the hack (ie it wasn't designed to work with this version of the OS).

However, as someone posted earlier in this thread, setting Google Maps to use the "Set by Windows" option works like a charm. Haven't played with any other GPS/Map tools yet...but give GMaps a try and see if you can make it work.

If you aren't running WM6 and have installed the hack or are running WM6 and haven't at least gotten GMaps to work with the "set by windows" option, please reply!

[Guest gdplayer]

Thanks - so I have the google GPS working. What do I do about the IE and the message about the Internet connection not being configured properly? Can I delete the Activator? How do I go back if possible. From the thread I never saw the same issue. Is that what the hard reset is about? Is that the only option?

All -

If you've got WM6 on your BlackJack 2, like I do, you'll see the aforementioned problem when installing the hack (ie it wasn't designed to work with this version of the OS).

However, as someone posted earlier in this thread, setting Google Maps to use the "Set by Windows" option works like a charm. Haven't played with any other GPS/Map tools yet...but give GMaps a try and see if you can make it work.

If you aren't running WM6 and have installed the hack or are running WM6 and haven't at least gotten GMaps to work with the "set by windows" option, please reply!

[Guest kenngao]

Thanks for the reply.

However, I believe many users are using *PS which is ** Position System determined by the mobile phone signal from towers in Gmap, sorry I can not remember the first word, but not by the GPS inside.

In my city, it is not quite accurate, the location of the phone shows is 1700 meters far from real, useless to me.

please turn off your service of AT&T (not shut down the system), see what happens, if you can not see your movement in Gmap, I think you are not using the GPS inside.

My another problem is I don't want to use the AT&T data plan, because I have already had TOMTOM5 for smartphone version, but it can't find the GPS either...

All -

If you've got WM6 on your BlackJack 2, like I do, you'll see the aforementioned problem when installing the hack (ie it wasn't designed to work with this version of the OS).

However, as someone posted earlier in this thread, setting Google Maps to use the "Set by Windows" option works like a charm. Haven't played with any other GPS/Map tools yet...but give GMaps a try and see if you can make it work.

If you aren't running WM6 and have installed the hack or are running WM6 and haven't at least gotten GMaps to work with the "set by windows" option, please reply!

[Guest Sed8ed]

Thanks for the reply.

However, I believe many users are using *PS which is ** Position System determined by the mobile phone signal from towers in Gmap, sorry I can not remember the first word, but not by the GPS inside.

In my city, it is not quite accurate, the location of the phone shows is 1700 meters far from real, useless to me.

please turn off your service of AT&T (not shut down the system), see what happens, if you can not see your movement in Gmap, I think you are not using the GPS inside.

My another problem is I don't want to use the AT&T data plan, because I have already had TOMTOM5 for smartphone version, but it can't find the GPS either...

If you guys read the threads you would know there's a built in GPStest app in the BJII. All you have to do is cut and paste the shortcut to the app in your sart menu folder. It's available for download from the GPStest thread....

It can be used to jump start certsin apps. Google maps an windows live search should work without it though. If you installed other hacks i suggest a hard reset and start from scratch first application unlocking the phone thoroughly.

[Guest Craysh]

If you guys read the threads you would know there's a built in GPStest app in the BJII. All you have to do is cut and paste the shortcut to the app in your sart menu folder. It's available for download from the GPStest thread....

It can be used to jump start certsin apps. Google maps an windows live search should work without it though. If you installed other hacks i suggest a hard reset and start from scratch first application unlocking the phone thoroughly.

I've tried to use that. Didn't work.

I can't hard boot because I'd lose all my info and downloads.

[Guest domenic Taft]

tried it with google maps and mobile yahoo, not workin, thread to reset? write me back on any suggestions whatsoever pertaining to this issue

[Guest Sed8ed]

tried it with google maps and mobile yahoo, not workin, thread to reset? write me back on any suggestions whatsoever pertaining to this issue

Basically I have mentioned all you have to do. Hard reset. Then apply the unlocks. Then apply the gpstest shortcut to you start menu folder. No other hacks. Installing the other hacks causes the gps chip to fail..another forum member has mentioned this in another thread " thelostsouls thread of tips" covers all this. I too had to hard reset my device.. In fact 5 times.. In which 3 of those the gps worked. You have to install methodically or the gps seems to fail to work. There's no need for hacks at all.. They only stuff the device. Having installed the other hacks is your problem. Without a hard reset there's registry entries that conflict with the clean install of what you actually want. If you use good backup software you won't have to spend ages setting everything back up again.

How did you hard reset??? Are you sure you did this properly? Its basically a reset of the device putting it back to factory settings and wiping all data from the devices memory.. All settings are wiped bar the standard AT&T ones. if you hard reset and even placed gpstest shortcut into your start menu folder I can gaurentee it will work without even unlocking... You must stand outside to get a lock... Not indoors!!!

Edited February 13, 2008 by Sed8ed

[Guest omahawk]

Sorry to bother those not interested. I bought an AT&T i617 last month, and still have some troubles in activating the GPS inside.....and can not use it at all.

Well...Here are the steps that I made:

1. Run Paul's program from this website:

http://www.modaco.com/content/Smartphone-Standard-News/262074/Samsung-Blackjack-II-GPS-ACTIVATED/

2,3. Then I got this it was designed for a previous prompt and shows it was installed successfully.

4,5. Then I used GPS Utilities to test whether the gps has been activated, set it to COM4.

6,7. Then I chose Start GPS, I got the failure information.

8. Even in Google Maps I can get pretty the same information.

PS, I tried staying in the cold weather outside for hours and it did not work, and I believe my trouble is not the signal strength of the satellites but no GPS hardware detected.

Could anyone tell me whether this is the same as yours or where I got wrong?

Thanks.

Kenn

I have installed the unlock, the shortcut to gpstest but I am still unable to use/find the GPS Test Utilities on my BlackJack II. Any suggestions would be great. I have no problems with using GPS on my device, everthing works great.

[Guest Nio]

Hello People,

Just wanted to say that I purchased my BJII last week. I had to pay full price($400) :D because I'm on the GoPhone Pick Your Plan. I'm also very new to modding phones! Needless to say I've been excited about all the modding possibilities this forum has to offer! However, I'm also very cautious about what mods I want to do and what aren't needed. This is also based on my experience level with modding. But I am no fool! Ok, I'll get to the point....

The only "mods" I have made to my phone are; the "3" app-unlock hacks(SDA, secpolicies, and SurrealNetworks App). I have made just a few others such as the start video, sms sent notification, mp3 size limit, and IE home page mods!

As far as the gps side of things, the "only" things I have done are download the GPSTest link(BJII internal) and Gmaps. The "total" time it took from starting GPSTest, finding "5" sats to GMaps finding my current location took less than "2" minutes tops!! Without any other gps hacks! And I've never had to "Hard reset" my phone...ever!! :D

Just thought I would shed some light for those like myself that have little experience with phone modding. Works flawlessly! I love my phone! Just wish it wouldda came with voice rec and wi-fi! :)

[Guest Devan W]

On the same note, It took me a while to finally get my GPS working, I installed the hack and then put in the shortcut to the GPS test. It would not work in Google maps for the longest time. I eventually uninstalled google maps and reinstalled it and it worked right away. Maybe this will help some of you.

Cheers to the moderators for a great hack!

[Guest foyota86]

I can't seem to get the gps utilities to work either, all other gps apps. work? I get the same error "unable to connect gps receiver" I would really like to use the gps utilities too, this sucks!

Edited February 20, 2008 by foyota86

[Guest farshid_arman]

I have performed the following steps in this order and still no GPS on my BJII :-(

1) first, I installed MoDaCo.SmartphoneGPSActivator.COM4.CAB (unlocks COM4)

2) restart the phone

3) then, I installed Microsoft_Smartphone_GPSID_Settings.cab (configures GPSID)

4) restart the phone

5) un-install and re-install Googlemap

6) use GPSID setting to set the following

program Port = COM4

hardware Port = (None)

Baudrate = 9600 (and some of the higher baud rates)

checked "Manage Automatically"

7) in google map used the GPS settings to match the above.

8) finally, in google map I check "use GPS" ... then I wait ... and, wait ... and, wait ... nothing happens.

9) I get out of google maps, I can not re-start google maps. it just hangs.

stumped in northern CA,

thank you for any help.

[Guest mariner3]

Where do I find this GPS Utilities screen?

I got GPS working fine with Google Maps and

Live Search, (hadn't much luck with Garmin CAB)

but for some reason I can't find any

setting for the GPS other than in Google maps

or Live Search on my BJ2.

[Guest omahawk]

Where do I find this GPS Utilities screen?

I got GPS working fine with Google Maps and

Live Search, (hadn't much luck with Garmin CAB)

but for some reason I can't find any

setting for the GPS other than in Google maps

or Live Search on my BJ2.

I will ask again, does anyone have a shortcut or .cab file we can install to acces the GPS Utilities?

[Guest Tozz]

I will ask again, does anyone have a shortcut or .cab file we can install to acces the GPS Utilities?

We just spent a couple of hours trying to get the GPS to work on this Blackjack II. With Windows Mobile 6.x, the hack seems to prevent the GPS hardware from being detected. Once we uninstalled the hack, GPS began to work. :D I believe the hack and it's utility only will work for Windows Mobile 2003.

Mike

[Guest farshid_arman]

We just spent a couple of hours trying to get the GPS to work on this Blackjack II. With Windows Mobile 6.x, the hack seems to prevent the GPS hardware from being detected. Once we uninstalled the hack, GPS began to work. B) I believe the hack and it's utility only will work for Windows Mobile 2003.

Mike

Hi Mike, what do you mean by "began to work"? google map began to see GPS? what settings did you set google map? and, did you also remove GPSID Settings application? or, just the COM4?

Thanks.

Farshid

[Guest H.Flores]

This may be the cause for most of the issues! in order for the GPS to work it should be set to set by windows(via start>setting) I had the same issue until I saw it war written somewhere, changed the settings and worked right away(had to be in an area with good reception first) now even works perfectly with garmin Mobile XT(love that program)

[Guest Tozz]

Hi Mike, what do you mean by "began to work"? google map began to see GPS? what settings did you set google map? and, did you also remove GPSID Settings application? or, just the COM4?

Thanks.

Farshid

As far as Google map, there was no special setup for it - we just simply used the defaults and it worked ONLY AFTER going to "Remove Programs" and removing the COM4 hack.

We could never get the GPSID application (the utility) to come up (again, because we're not using Win2003Mobile) We downloaded GPStest which showd that the GPS hardware was working. Uninstall of the hack allowed Google Maps to recognize the "out of the box" hardware and setup.

Hope that helps

Mike

[Guest amelot]

Here's another twist: I have a new BJii, installed activator and google maps--gps worked GREAT, but then i lost my internet. is this common?? i'm getting replacement phone tomorrow and want to unlock the gps on it, but now i'm a little skittish!