My SGS2 GPS didn't work in spain

Alt-F4 · 15-01-2012, 21:42

My samsung galaxy II did not pick up a GPS signal at all in spain (andalucia) does anybody know why that might be?

Would like to use it in France next week, just wondering if there's a setting or something...

wilt · 15-01-2012, 21:52

How long did you allow it to search for satellites for? Assuming that you turned off data abroad (therefore disabling A-GPS) it may have just been taking ages to get a lock on your new position.

Alt-F4 · 15-01-2012, 21:59

About an hour, it didn't work at all.

Ah right AGPS - that would explain why google navigation/Latitude updated in mcdonalds

battlezone · 17-01-2012, 16:57

I think you need a Wi-Fi signal or switch data roaming on.

Alt-F4 · 18-01-2012, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by battlezone

I think you need a Wi-Fi signal or switch data roaming on.

Well that's a load of cock and bollocks since when does GPS require packet data?

I have been browsing the internet and have found lots of people have had problems with weak signal on vodafone gps, firmware problem? I don't know, I know jack shit about it. I'm with talk mobile which I believe to be vodafone network so could be related.

Anyway I'm no closer to solving this and am going to the netherlands and france soon I hope it works there otherwise my SGS will be taking a swim in the Keizersgracht

cribology · 18-01-2012, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alt-F4

Anyway I'm no closer to solving this and am going to the netherlands and france soon I hope it works there otherwise my SGS will be taking a swim in the Keizersgracht

Is was in Paris, France over the New Year and my SGS2 CoPilot Europe / Google Maps didn't work (unless I had wifi access) (on Orange) in hotel lobby. I deactivated the Data Network Mode but turned GPS on. Did I do something wrong

Alt-F4 · 18-01-2012, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by cribology

Is was in Paris, France over the New Year and my SGS2 CoPilot Europe / Google Maps didn't work (unless I had wifi access) in hotel lobby. I deactivated the Data Network Mode but turned GPS on. Did I do something wrong

I don't know the ins and outs of it, from my understanding of it GPS does not require data network access, BUT if people are specifically having trouble with vodafone GPS then that would suggest that they are somehow tied to the network?

battlezone · 18-01-2012, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alt-F4

Well that's a load of cock and bollocks

It uses wi-fi and/or data to get a better location by working out where you are in relation to the masts or wi-fi hotspot.

Tosser!

Alt-F4 · 18-01-2012, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by battlezone

It uses wi-fi and/or data to get a better location by working out where you are in relation to the masts or wi-fi hotspot.

Tosser!

I thought that was AGPS which isn't GPS? I want to use GPS without data roaming to avoid the extortionate £/mb charge

!!11oneone · 18-01-2012, 14:20

Could it be that it DID work, but didn't load any maps because you didn't have a data connection? In other words, the phone knew it's location but couldn't show you a picture of it...

Alt-F4 · 18-01-2012, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by !!11oneone

Could it be that it DID work, but didn't load any maps because you didn't have a data connection? In other words, the phone knew it's location but couldn't show you a picture of it...

No I downloaded the maps using the free WiFi in mcdonalds, the GPS lock is blinking the whole time and only goes solid/locks in WiFi areas like mcD's

Roush · 18-01-2012, 15:06

Did you change the time on the phone when you were abroad? And if so, did you manually change it, or do it by changing the time zone?

Alt-F4 · 18-01-2012, 15:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roush

Did you change the time on the phone when you were abroad? And if so, did you manually change it, or do it by changing the time zone?

The phone automatically adjusted the time itself.

tealady · 18-01-2012, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alt-F4

The phone automatically adjusted the time itself.

Isn't that from the network though? It doesn't sound like you are connected to a network.

Alt-F4 · 18-01-2012, 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by tealady

Isn't that from the network though? It doesn't sound like you are connected to a network.

I was connected to the network, for phone & txt, but did not have data roaming on. The phone did it all on it's likkle own

tealady · 18-01-2012, 21:31

Tried a rough emulation of this earlier by making sure I had no data or wifi connection. Copilot had no trouble locating me exactly by GPS.
Perhaps your GPS.conf file is corrupt or has the wrong strings in it meaning it is not finding the right servers. Though that sounds pretty unlikely.

late8 · 18-01-2012, 22:07

My GPS doesn't work in the UK if I have no wifi or network data in a new location.
I tried it today and Navigation couldn't find a route or at one point the map.
This however was in a location i have never been with GPS or Navigation/latitude before.

Navigation needs a data connection. Unlike a true satnav the maps and route information needs to be accessed from Google servers because the whole EU road map is not stored on the phone. Known locations and routes are partially downloaded if there is a loss of data connection for used and common routes. This is why some get navigation and map with all data off.

alanwarwic · 18-01-2012, 22:16

Unless you have installed a off-line GPS app like Scrobbler or better then obviously you can't use navigation.

My cheap Pulse has never failed to get a signal on-line or off-line yet my SF failed me the other week.
I'm not sure if the signal is too low 'to get started' when in a hidden pocket with Airplane Mode on.

I installed GPS Test which shows it working and signal strengths while getting a fix. It certainly takes a while to get a fix from a cold new location Airplane Mode start.
Its useful to use to get to know signal qualities.

grumpyoldbat · 18-01-2012, 22:24

OP, if you want "offline" maps then you need an app that has them built in. Then you should be able to use them just with the device GPS (although it may still take a while to get a first fix, as the phone mast triangulation or wifi helps that). You'll need plenty of space on your SD card for the app though, maps of whole countries often take around 1GB!

If you don't want to do that, maybe look at getting a roaming SIM where data is often cheaper (although not free). I got a Truphone SIM for my holiday and data in Spain was £1.50 a MB instead of £3 per MB. The prices vary from country to country - some are much cheaper than that.

Alt-F4 · 18-01-2012, 22:41

RIght just want to get a few things straight here - it's not a map problem.

Forget Navigation - In lattitude/map mode you can download maps by simply browsing that area, the maps are saved for future use.

In the status bar there is a GPS symbol which

1. flashes when trying to lock

2. goes solid when it locks

It flashed constantly - One thing that was working constantly without GPS/data was the compass on the map (so although the arrow would not actually move from it's last known location it would rotate).

tealady · 18-01-2012, 23:00

Similar issue here:
http://5ch1_x.ta2.at/t5/Samsung/SGS2...ock/m-p/925317

Perhaps your gps.conf file is set incorrectly requiring update or root to fix.

alanwarwic · 18-01-2012, 23:06

Exactly why the GPS FIX app is useful so you can see the list of satellite signal levels. If all 12 are zero then obviously the GPS needs a reset.

funlovingirl · 18-01-2012, 23:23

OP I had a similar problem to yours while I was on holiday in Tenerife about 6 weeks ago.

I updated Google Maps using the WIFI from the hotel I stayed in. But when I tried to run Google Maps it told me what was new in the update and that I'd need a data connection to use the newly updated maps for the first time after updating.

As I was outside and lost, I had no alternative but to use a data connection so that I could use G maps and find my way back to the hotel.

Alt-F4 · 18-01-2012, 23:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by tealady

Similar issue here:
http://5ch1_x.ta2.at/t5/Samsung/SGS2...ock/m-p/925317

Perhaps your gps.conf file is set incorrectly requiring update or root to fix.

According to that thread it looks like it's a problem with google maps - need to download latest version, looks promising. I'll check it out when I get to the Dam

Thanks

late8 · 19-01-2012, 01:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by funlovingirl

OP I had a similar problem to yours while I was on holiday in Tenerife about 6 weeks ago.

I updated Google Maps using the WIFI from the hotel I stayed in. But when I tried to run Google Maps it told me what was new in the update and that I'd need a data connection to use the newly updated maps for the first time after updating.

As I was outside and lost, I had no alternative but to use a data connection so that I could use G maps and find my way back to the hotel.

The phone needs some sort if data connection in order for GPS and navigating to work correctly. Maps, services, road networks, petrol and traffic data are not on the phone like a proper satnav.

So if you get to a new location never used before you won't have that data available to get any use. So a wifi or network data connection us needed.

I

15-01-2012, 21:42	#1
Alt-F4 Inactive Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 10,128	My SGS2 GPS didn't work in spain My samsung galaxy II did not pick up a GPS signal at all in spain (andalucia) does anybody know why that might be? Would like to use it in France next week, just wondering if there's a setting or something...

15-01-2012, 21:52	#2
wilt Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Potterspury Posts: 930	How long did you allow it to search for satellites for? Assuming that you turned off data abroad (therefore disabling A-GPS) it may have just been taking ages to get a lock on your new position.

15-01-2012, 21:59	#3
Alt-F4 Inactive Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 10,128	About an hour, it didn't work at all. Ah right AGPS - that would explain why google navigation/Latitude updated in mcdonalds

17-01-2012, 16:57	#4
battlezone Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Oxford (formally Newcastle) Posts: 1,813	I think you need a Wi-Fi signal or switch data roaming on.

18-01-2012, 13:43	#5
Alt-F4 Inactive Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 10,128	Quote: Originally Posted by battlezone I think you need a Wi-Fi signal or switch data roaming on. Well that's a load of cock and bollocks since when does GPS require packet data? I have been browsing the internet and have found lots of people have had problems with weak signal on vodafone gps, firmware problem? I don't know, I know jack shit about it. I'm with talk mobile which I believe to be vodafone network so could be related. Anyway I'm no closer to solving this and am going to the netherlands and france soon I hope it works there otherwise my SGS will be taking a swim in the Keizersgracht

18-01-2012, 13:59	#6
cribology Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,950	Quote: Originally Posted by Alt-F4 Anyway I'm no closer to solving this and am going to the netherlands and france soon I hope it works there otherwise my SGS will be taking a swim in the Keizersgracht Is was in Paris, France over the New Year and my SGS2 CoPilot Europe / Google Maps didn't work (unless I had wifi access) (on Orange) in hotel lobby. I deactivated the Data Network Mode but turned GPS on. Did I do something wrong

18-01-2012, 14:09	#7
Alt-F4 Inactive Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 10,128	Quote: Originally Posted by cribology Is was in Paris, France over the New Year and my SGS2 CoPilot Europe / Google Maps didn't work (unless I had wifi access) in hotel lobby. I deactivated the Data Network Mode but turned GPS on. Did I do something wrong I don't know the ins and outs of it, from my understanding of it GPS does not require data network access, BUT if people are specifically having trouble with vodafone GPS then that would suggest that they are somehow tied to the network?

18-01-2012, 14:14	#8
battlezone Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Oxford (formally Newcastle) Posts: 1,813	Quote: Originally Posted by Alt-F4 Well that's a load of cock and bollocks It uses wi-fi and/or data to get a better location by working out where you are in relation to the masts or wi-fi hotspot. Tosser!

18-01-2012, 14:18	#9
Alt-F4 Inactive Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 10,128	Quote: Originally Posted by battlezone It uses wi-fi and/or data to get a better location by working out where you are in relation to the masts or wi-fi hotspot. Tosser! I thought that was AGPS which isn't GPS? I want to use GPS without data roaming to avoid the extortionate £/mb charge

18-01-2012, 14:20	#10
!!11oneone Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,807	Could it be that it DID work, but didn't load any maps because you didn't have a data connection? In other words, the phone knew it's location but couldn't show you a picture of it...

18-01-2012, 14:24	#11
Alt-F4 Inactive Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 10,128	Quote: Originally Posted by !!11oneone Could it be that it DID work, but didn't load any maps because you didn't have a data connection? In other words, the phone knew it's location but couldn't show you a picture of it... No I downloaded the maps using the free WiFi in mcdonalds, the GPS lock is blinking the whole time and only goes solid/locks in WiFi areas like mcD's

18-01-2012, 15:06	#12
Roush Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 2,938	Did you change the time on the phone when you were abroad? And if so, did you manually change it, or do it by changing the time zone?

18-01-2012, 15:10	#13
Alt-F4 Inactive Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 10,128	Quote: Originally Posted by Roush Did you change the time on the phone when you were abroad? And if so, did you manually change it, or do it by changing the time zone? The phone automatically adjusted the time itself.

18-01-2012, 18:54	#14
tealady Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: colchester Posts: 15,352	Quote: Originally Posted by Alt-F4 The phone automatically adjusted the time itself. Isn't that from the network though? It doesn't sound like you are connected to a network.

18-01-2012, 19:12	#15
Alt-F4 Inactive Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 10,128	Quote: Originally Posted by tealady Isn't that from the network though? It doesn't sound like you are connected to a network. I was connected to the network, for phone & txt, but did not have data roaming on. The phone did it all on it's likkle own

18-01-2012, 21:31	#16
tealady Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: colchester Posts: 15,352	Tried a rough emulation of this earlier by making sure I had no data or wifi connection. Copilot had no trouble locating me exactly by GPS. Perhaps your GPS.conf file is corrupt or has the wrong strings in it meaning it is not finding the right servers. Though that sounds pretty unlikely.

18-01-2012, 22:07	#17
late8 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 7,052	My GPS doesn't work in the UK if I have no wifi or network data in a new location. I tried it today and Navigation couldn't find a route or at one point the map. This however was in a location i have never been with GPS or Navigation/latitude before. Navigation needs a data connection. Unlike a true satnav the maps and route information needs to be accessed from Google servers because the whole EU road map is not stored on the phone. Known locations and routes are partially downloaded if there is a loss of data connection for used and common routes. This is why some get navigation and map with all data off.

18-01-2012, 22:16	#18
alanwarwic Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: the wild world web Posts: 28,132	Unless you have installed a off-line GPS app like Scrobbler or better then obviously you can't use navigation. My cheap Pulse has never failed to get a signal on-line or off-line yet my SF failed me the other week. I'm not sure if the signal is too low 'to get started' when in a hidden pocket with Airplane Mode on. I installed GPS Test which shows it working and signal strengths while getting a fix. It certainly takes a while to get a fix from a cold new location Airplane Mode start. Its useful to use to get to know signal qualities.

18-01-2012, 22:24	#19
grumpyoldbat Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,636	OP, if you want "offline" maps then you need an app that has them built in. Then you should be able to use them just with the device GPS (although it may still take a while to get a first fix, as the phone mast triangulation or wifi helps that). You'll need plenty of space on your SD card for the app though, maps of whole countries often take around 1GB! If you don't want to do that, maybe look at getting a roaming SIM where data is often cheaper (although not free). I got a Truphone SIM for my holiday and data in Spain was £1.50 a MB instead of £3 per MB. The prices vary from country to country - some are much cheaper than that.

18-01-2012, 22:41	#20
Alt-F4 Inactive Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 10,128	RIght just want to get a few things straight here - it's not a map problem. Forget Navigation - In lattitude/map mode you can download maps by simply browsing that area, the maps are saved for future use. In the status bar there is a GPS symbol which 1. flashes when trying to lock 2. goes solid when it locks It flashed constantly - One thing that was working constantly without GPS/data was the compass on the map (so although the arrow would not actually move from it's last known location it would rotate).

18-01-2012, 23:00	#21
tealady Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: colchester Posts: 15,352	Similar issue here: http://5ch1_x.ta2.at/t5/Samsung/SGS2...ock/m-p/925317 Perhaps your gps.conf file is set incorrectly requiring update or root to fix.

DS Forums

My SGS2 GPS didn't work in spain

18-01-2012, 23:06	#22
alanwarwic Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: the wild world web Posts: 28,132	Exactly why the GPS FIX app is useful so you can see the list of satellite signal levels. If all 12 are zero then obviously the GPS needs a reset.

18-01-2012, 23:23	#23
funlovingirl Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,764	OP I had a similar problem to yours while I was on holiday in Tenerife about 6 weeks ago. I updated Google Maps using the WIFI from the hotel I stayed in. But when I tried to run Google Maps it told me what was new in the update and that I'd need a data connection to use the newly updated maps for the first time after updating. As I was outside and lost, I had no alternative but to use a data connection so that I could use G maps and find my way back to the hotel.

18-01-2012, 23:48	#24
Alt-F4 Inactive Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 10,128	Quote: Originally Posted by tealady Similar issue here: http://5ch1_x.ta2.at/t5/Samsung/SGS2...ock/m-p/925317 Perhaps your gps.conf file is set incorrectly requiring update or root to fix. According to that thread it looks like it's a problem with google maps - need to download latest version, looks promising. I'll check it out when I get to the Dam Thanks

19-01-2012, 01:20	#25
late8 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 7,052	Quote: Originally Posted by funlovingirl OP I had a similar problem to yours while I was on holiday in Tenerife about 6 weeks ago. I updated Google Maps using the WIFI from the hotel I stayed in. But when I tried to run Google Maps it told me what was new in the update and that I'd need a data connection to use the newly updated maps for the first time after updating. As I was outside and lost, I had no alternative but to use a data connection so that I could use G maps and find my way back to the hotel. The phone needs some sort if data connection in order for GPS and navigating to work correctly. Maps, services, road networks, petrol and traffic data are not on the phone like a proper satnav. So if you get to a new location never used before you won't have that data available to get any use. So a wifi or network data connection us needed. I