Omnia i-910--Getting GPS to work after new ROM flash

[Guest bikercr]

Solution for GPS problems after ROM flash:

Once you've got the upgraded ROM in there, forget about VZ Navigator (at least I couldn't get it to work). Google Maps and Live Search Mobile work fine. If you have a problem getting the GPS to work:

First, go to Settings-->Personal-->Phone-->Services-->GPS (change settings): Whatever setting, change to the other and click OK. Then, if it isn't on Location On, go back in and set it to that. Soft reset after you're done with settings.

Google Maps should work either on Managed by Windows, or manually to COM 8, baud 57600. Leave it in an open sky location to get your first lock.

Live Search will only work if you have the latest build: Version 2.5.2908.31943 (or newer). The prior version WILL NOT WORK. Set GPS to Intermediate Driver. Takes a short while to lock. Then you're in business!

[Guest TheDrizzle]

googlet maps seems to take forever to get a lock. I was able to get a lock once successfully but ever time I try I get either "Seeking satalites (0)" forever or the weak GPS error. what can be done to improve lock accuracy?

[Guest bikercr]

googlet maps seems to take forever to get a lock. I was able to get a lock once successfully but ever time I try I get either "Seeking satalites (0)" forever or the weak GPS error. what can be done to improve lock accuracy?

It may help to leave the phone outside under the open sky for several minutes. The GPS chip needs to build a catalog of overhead satellites. After that, ordinarily, lock is fast and more accurate. That may not be your problem, however.

Regarding Windows Live Search Mobile-- I was wrong about the setting. "Intermediate driver" is erratic, but setting the GPS to COM 8 works great. The latest version is now 4.5.3129.0 It's easy, via Google serach, to download an older version--probably Google's plan all along.

[Guest urbanricer11]

It may help to leave the phone outside under the open sky for several minutes. The GPS chip needs to build a catalog of overhead satellites. After that, ordinarily, lock is fast and more accurate. That may not be your problem, however.

Regarding Windows Live Search Mobile-- I was wrong about the setting. "Intermediate driver" is erratic, but setting the GPS to COM 8 works great. The latest version is now 4.5.3129.0 It's easy, via Google serach, to download an older version--probably Google's plan all along.

ive tried google maps and igo8 and i still get nothing, i have followed all the directions and have my location set to on. any more info on why i cant get it to work would be appreciated. in igo8 it does auto set my port to com8 and baud to 57600, but will not show my location.

[Guest krelvinaz]

I've not had any luck hard coding the GPS port. Using the Intermediate setting works better for me (Windows Managed)

I've not been outside all day. Sitting in my Home office with a lot of computer noise around me.

[Guest bikercr]

Thought this might be helpful to everyone:

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Q: Dear Sir

Had a question about windows live using the GPS now that i got the Rom too work, I have managed too get Google Maps too find me and can see about 7 satellites, I have not yet been able too get windows live search too be able too lock onto a satellite yet, i have tried the intermediate driver , no luck! i have tried com 8 no luck and yes i have the locate me checked and it is the latest version of Windows live search.

Have you had any sucess with Windows live Search? if so could you tell me what your settings are that are working and how long it took for you too find a satellite

Anything on this will help a lot

I appreciate it if you can help

Sincerely

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A: Live Search version I'm using is 4.5.3129.0

I set up Live Search to use the intermediate GPS driver and checked all the other boxes on that page-->Done. On the home page click Map-->Menu-->Track Me Using GPS. Give yourself an open view of the sky. Live Search initially can take 5-10 minutes to build a satellite catalog. It will give you a message, "Locating position" until it locks in.

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Q: I thank you very much for taking the time too e-mail me here and let me know what your settings are, i finally got live search the newest update too work, except the locate me button will still not find me, i did however also use the track me using gps and i can use it that way , i do not know what the problem is still with the locate me button not finding me but it is not too big of a deal, I will also download that BAF GPS Toggle i did read about it on the forum and i had saved it as a favorite too go back too it and download it but have not had the chance. I have also got Google Maps working very well, it was much easier too get too work than Windows Live for some reason. I did try your setting and i also tried the Com 8 setting and both seem too work for me but i really had some trouble getting the GPS too work in Live, but once i gave up on the locate me button and just went in and used the track me button on the maps i got it too work.

I wonder if there are any other worth while GPS programs worth downloading too the phone and trying out? Well anyways again thank you very much for your reply it is cool that people will take the time out and do that.

Sincerely

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A: Don't install BAF GPS Toggle. It doesn't really do much and caused my Omnia to overheat and eat up batteries faster. It's really not necessary. Just leave the GPS setting for the Omnia on Location On.

Windows Live Search: Locate Me should be checked in Settings, but won't work on any other pages. It's necessary for GPS location to work, but when clicked itself is supposed to triangulate via cell towers I think (a faster but less accurate means of location)--something that the Omnia is blocked from doing (I think that VZ Nav is the only program that will do this with the Omnia (called aGPS--assisted GPS--VZNav functionality lost with the ROM upgrade).

There's a great program: GPSCycleComputer. It's free and logs everywhere you go including mapping you in real-time, your speed (current and max), change in altitude from the start, etc. and creates tracks that can be opened in Google Earth and Garmin mapping software. As a cyclist, I find this fantastic--just stick my phone in my back pocket and log my ride for later re-living. The program blocks the phone from going into sleep mode (which would shut down the logging) but provides a software button to turn off the screen to save battery life. To turn the screen back on, you just tap whatever button(s) you originally set up to wake up the unit.

I'm going to post this back-and-forth on the website for everyone's benefit.

[Guest extrospektive]

This thread has been quiet for a little while now, but I am still having problems with the GPS after flashing to the new rom.

The first day that I flashed it, and the next day, I had no problems getting my location with google maps and never was able to get windows live to work.

I have my location on in the omnia settings, and let windows configure my gps settings on google maps.

The only thing that happens when I try to get my location on google maps is the weak gps signal error message over and over. I have tried to get a fix in dozens of different places, to the same result.

[Guest necosino]

I don't bother with google maps or Windows Live, I just use iGo Amigo.

What you may want to do is download BAF GPS Toggle (Google it). It's a today plugin that will keep a constant lock on the GPS satelites, thus giving you an instant lock on in a GPS program like Google Maps or Live Search.

Give that a shot :D

[Guest somedude]

BAF GPS Toggle is garbage, just like someone said in the post above.

It sucked the life out of my battery, which pretty much defeats the purpose of using it.

Edited June 26, 2009 by somedude

[Guest extrospektive]

Okay-I will try the IGO and see what happens. What I don't understand is why the GPS lock on Google maps worked for two days and stopped without me consciously changing anything. And if we have the same phones, same rom, and same software and GPS, why do some of us have problems and some dont?

Does the GPS toggle enable you to get locks with google maps (even though leaving it on kills the battery)?