To users with slow GPS locks

[extorian]

flashhsalf - Here's what happens on mine... I have the GPS disabled when I'm at home automatically by the Locale app. It knows I'm at home because of the presence of my wireless network (neet huh?) so it's off to conserve power. I noticed, like you said, that the Mapp app does not automatically turn it on. So, I went to the settings and turned it on. I then hit Menu -> My Location on the Map App (this is important or it might not show your current location), and I got a huge blue circle (the size of the circle indicates the accuracy) indicating it was using cell tower location still. I went outside (clear view of the sky). About 2 minutes later (this could take up to 15 minutes with old almanac data) the circle became very small and the blue dot was right where I was standing.

kertesd - I don't think there's a way to tell if the almanac data is up to date or not. The API (Java commnads) for the GPS don't provide that kind of information.

However, there are a whole bunch of apps that like to use location data all of the time, and as a side effect will help keep the almanac up to date. ShopSavvy and Locale are both very good apps, and both use the GPS a lot.

The obvious response to this is "battery drain!", but then so would an app that sits with a GPS lock for 15 minutes every 4 hours.

[flashhsalf]

flashhsalf - Here's what happens on mine... I have the GPS disabled when I'm at home automatically by the Locale app. It knows I'm at home because of the presence of my wireless network (neet huh?) so it's off to conserve power. I noticed, like you said, that the Mapp app does not automatically turn it on. So, I went to the settings and turned it on. I then hit Menu -> My Location on the Map App (this is important or it might not show your current location), and I got a huge blue circle (the size of the circle indicates the accuracy) indicating it was using cell tower location still. I went outside (clear view of the sky). About 2 minutes later (this could take up to 15 minutes with old almanac data) the circle became very small and the blue dot was right where I was standing.

So when does the GPS icon appear on the notification bar? Does it pop up right when u enable the GPS or only when it actually gets a lock?

Im just confused as to the funcationality of how the OS enables teh GPS and what conditions have to be met for it to turn on the GPS icon because when the icon appears only then do i 'assume' that the GPS is now either locked or looking for satalites.

This only happens withe GPS app that i have installed and when enabling the GPS on its own, nothing happens. So im just curious as to what the app is doing different to get the GPS lock that is not happening when you enable the GPS on its own without an app running.

[extorian]

These are good questions. So I've been doing some experimentation. It seems when you activate the GPS in the phone settings all that does is allow other apps (e.g. Maps) to use it. Of course, apps can actually turn the GPS on themselves if they have the "modify global settings" security warning when you install them.

Turning the GPS on in the phone settings doesn't seem to do much on it's own. No icon is displayed for example.

If the GPS Is turned on in the settings, and an app tries to access the location information, then you get the icon being displayed in the status bar at the top of the phone. If the green lines coming out of the picture of the dish on the icon are flashing, then this means the GPS is looking for the satellites and is trying to get a lock. During this time, you may get a cell tower position some distance from your actual location.

Once the GPS has a lock the green lines stop flashing and the position on the map should be spot on.

[flashhsalf]

These are good questions. So I've been doing some experimentation. It seems when you activate the GPS in the phone settings all that does is allow other apps (e.g. Maps) to use it. Of course, apps can actually turn the GPS on themselves if they have the "modify global settings" security warning when you install them.

Turning the GPS on in the phone settings doesn't seem to do much on it's own. No icon is displayed for example.

If the GPS Is turned on in the settings, and an app tries to access the location information, then you get the icon being displayed in the status bar at the top of the phone. If the green lines coming out of the picture of the dish on the icon are flashing, then this means the GPS is looking for the satellites and is trying to get a lock. During this time, you may get a cell tower position some distance from your actual location.

Once the GPS has a lock the green lines stop flashing and the position on the map should be spot on.

awesome, thanks for the insight, it helps in understand how the system allows access to GPS for apps.

I guess now is a question as to why does it take Google maps so long to force the GPS into action which happens instantly when i run GPS Status app.

I mean I'm in a 8 story building right now and sitting close to center. I just turned on the GPS Status app and the GPS icon popped up just as the app started. I doubt its going to get the lock as im not near a window, but the fact that it is looking for a satalite gives me hope, now its just a matter of getting near a window etc etc.

I enabled GPS and turned on the Maps app, nothing happened...i would assume given that I activated teh GPS, it should know that i want it to use the GPS to give me my exact position, but it seems to never use the GPS.

[extorian]

Well that is really weird. If my GPS is active in the phone settings, as soon as I start the map application the GPS icon appears and the green lines start flashing.

Have you tried (in the Map application) hitting Menu and My Location? That should centre the map on your location. Maybe that kicks it into action. Having said that, for me, the GPS icon appears the instant I go into the Map application (within a second anyway), and disappears as soon as I exit it... so long as I have GPS active in the phone settings of course.

[flashhsalf]

Well that is really weird. If my GPS is active in the phone settings, as soon as I start the map application the GPS icon appears and the green lines start flashing.

Have you tried (in the Map application) hitting Menu and My Location? That should centre the map on your location. Maybe that kicks it into action. Having said that, for me, the GPS icon appears the instant I go into the Map application (within a second anyway), and disappears as soon as I exit it... so long as I have GPS active in the phone settings of course.

Yea it uses the cell towers to locate my position, it never really uses the GPS for some reason.

I just removed my battery without turning off the phone and booted the phone back up and it seems to have resolved the problem...now the GPS icon activates when i open the maps app. Don't know what might have caused this. I think i'm going to factory default my phone and reload my apps one at a time and see what app causes this issue.

Thanks allot for all your help