GPS issue with i8000 and disabled phone

[Guest _Micha_]

I would like to share my GPS experience with my Omnia 2 i8000

Installed ROM: I8000NXXJB3 = orig. Samsung ROM with Win Mobile 6.5: PDA: JB3, CSC: JB3, phone: JB1.

At the beginning with my new Samsung phone I was not installing a SIM-card to prevent online cost due to not wished internet connections. I was trying to use all device features (beside phone) with active sync (connection to my online-PC). After some time I tried also the GPS-module. The software I used: GPS-Tuner, MagicMaps to go, Google maps, ... Result: Not even one application was able to get a satellite fix, independent of the chosen GPS setup (COMx, baud rate). I restored the (default?) GPS-settings: COM7 = program port, COM9 = hardware port, 4800 baud and GPS automatically controlled (by WinMob) and then stopped my GPS tests. Later on I installed my SIM-card and also tried again the GPS. Now all GPS progs had been working nicely! Hint: In program setup I selected: COM7 "ActiveDevice" and 4800 baud.

After a week I was hiking and here I usually use my phone to track my way (record a *.gpx file). To get the maximum battery run-time I disable the phone-module and then start the GPS-tracking. And what happened? GPS was again not working! I was much disappointed :). After some reboots and several tries without any progress I found the problem source: As long as the phone is switched off also the GPS is not working! After that I tried to disable the phone after GPS-tracking was started and here the GPS was not interrupted, it continued to work.

I would say this is a ROM bug. Why should the GPS-module not run if the phone is off???

A 2nd thing:

The aGPS feature "XTRA" is only working if "XTRA-Server" and "SNT-Server" are activated. I selected "Update data if ActiveSync connection is established" and deselected "If data are expired".

I hope to help other Omnia users with this report.

Bye!

Micha

2011-02-05:

It seems (see "bobhero, post Dec 12 2010, 20:18" below) that GPS is not only depending on activated phone-module but additional you need a radio network connection, this is more worse as mentioned above! :) :(

Edited February 5, 2011 by _Micha_

[Guest asus535]

your gps chip asking for a-gps data forever.

dial *#1472365# to run nogarder gps program.

choose standalone mode, instead of MS or MS Assisted.

this will cause longer ttf (time to first fix)

Edited November 4, 2010 by asus535

[Guest _Micha_]

Thanks asus535 but GPS is already in "Standalone" operation (and Nogarder GPS gets a ttff (time to first fix) in less then 1,2 seconds indoor :-)

Edited November 4, 2010 by _Micha_

[Guest bobhero]

Thanks asus535 but GPS is already in "Standalone" operation (and Nogarder GPS gets a ttff (time to first fix) in less then 1,2 seconds indoor :-)

Also tried this but it failed.

Really disappointed in Samsung for designing the GPS to require the phone radio be turned on and reaching a tower. Even my 2007 HTC Vogue could use the GPS in airplane mode.

[Guest Cadang]

I see that I8000 GPS too bad. weak and slow.

[Guest mpxxl]

ihmo gps in i8000 is ok..I don't have any problems

chceck this http://www.modaco.com/content/i8000-verizo...-fix-for-i8000/

[Guest bobhero]

ihmo gps in i8000 is ok..I don't have any problems

chceck this http://www.modaco.com/content/i8000-verizo...-fix-for-i8000/

My GPS works fine in fact very good (locks from as low as 1 second to 45 seconds, usually 10-15 seconds) without those agps fixes.

The problem is that you NEED to have the phone on and connecting to cell towers or it is IMPOSSIBLE to get a GPS lock. Try turning your phone radio off and using GPS it will not work. Try starting your phone without a SIM card. GPS will not work. Try going to area in the woods with no signal and GPS will not work. This is terrible and Samsung should be ashamed to release a phone with this limitation. GPS should not rely on cell phone signal.

GPS will continue to work if you start it in an area will signal and then travel to an area without signal without turning off the GPS. Once you restart the GPS in an area without signal it will NEVER get a lock. You can test this by getting a GPS lock and then disabling your phone radio. GPS will keep working until you restart it.

Samsung should fix the firmware/drivers.

I have contacted Samgung technical support and reported the problem. I hope they can fix this for us with new firmware/drivers.

Edited December 12, 2010 by bobhero

[Guest micmac]

i feel u bobhero, very useless/annoying for gps not working in flight mode :)

[Guest _Micha_]

...

I have contacted Samsung technical support and reported the problem. I hope they can fix this for us with new firmware/drivers.

And, what was the answer from Samsung? Something like: Blabla not a real issue blabla sorry for blabla ... (I would expect no help, not even a real answer but some standard text blocks).