topic Re: GPS issue SOLVED!!! (me thinks) in XPERIA archive

GPS issue

rbl — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 12:52:17 GMT

So I've followed what's listed in this post in detail a couple of times and double and triple checked all settings, and I still can't get a GPS-fix in neither Endomondo nor GPS Status. Google Maps locates my position though. What on earth can it be? What can I have overlooked?

problem with gps

lonelyhead — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 09:27:57 GMT

gps continues to work after you disable the location

Re: problem with gps

Uliwooly — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 09:37:03 GMT

which apps do you see listed on

settings > location

Re: problem with gps

MyAliasIsGary — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 17:56:15 GMT

@lonelyhead wrote:
gps continues to work after you disable the location

Hi all

I can confirm this problem too.

It only occurs in certain GPS related apps.

Current offenders are:

MyXperia (0.0.A.0.71)

Endomondo (10.4.5)

No matter what you do (e.g. moving from "high accuracy" to "battery saving" in Location, turning Location off entirely, force stopping the app), the GPS remains active.

This is proven via battery usage graph / stats.

Only a handset reboot stops this occurring.

It's either application bugs or an OS / firmware issue.

Other GPS related apps are well behaved. For example, google maps, CoPilot GPS, GPS Test.

Here I can enter Location, switch from "device only" to "battery saving" and the GPS de-activates correctly.

I'm not the only person to report that the GPS stays active when it's been swtiched off and it seems to happen in different apps, which would suggest it's a firmware issue.

Hope this can be resolved by Sony, as it's a complete pain.

EDIT: my firmware is 23.0.A.2.105 on a Z3 Compact.

Regards,

Gary

Re: problem with gps

MyAliasIsGary — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 12:19:05 GMT

bump.

Surely other people have had issues?

If you turn off high accuracy location (i.e. using GPS receiver) when you don't need it, please check your battery usage, to make sure GPS is switching off.

It doesn't sometimes.

Please post here if you have a problem, so we can establish whether there's an issue with certain apps.

Regards,

Gary

Re: GPS issue

MyAliasIsGary — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 15:42:32 GMT

@rbl wrote:
So I've followed what's listed in this post in detail a couple of times and double and triple checked all settings, and I still can't get a GPS-fix in neither Endomondo nor GPS Status. Google Maps locates my position though. What on earth can it be? What can I have overlooked?

hi RBL

I wrote a long waffly reply then thought it better just to get you to tell us what you've done etc (and how you did it)!

One useful bit of info for us - to what accuracy does google maps locate you?

And how are you using google maps? With data, wifi or what?

Finally, when you say you can't get a fix in GPS status, could you describe what happens (or rather doesn't happen)?

Regards,

Gary

Re: GPS issue

rbl — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 17:47:55 GMT

Thanks for reply.

The following I have tried multiple times: I have of course restarted the phone and been outside away from blocking structures for up to 20 minutes, I have re-installed the GPS apps (Endomondo, GPS Status), I have mobile data, wifi and "high accuracy" enabled (though I'm not always in a wifi-zone of course), I've checked APN settings, I've purged assistance data, I've updated phone software (it was alrady up to date) and I've reset cached GPS data through the GPS Status app. I think that's about it.

The Google Maps fix is pretty good, it misses with about 10-20 m. With only GPS activated ("device only") it is not capable of giving me a location, so I suppose it manages this by using mobile data.

GPS Status just shows "Looking for GPS location...", compass and other gauges are working.

And of course I've been googling like crazy trying to find a solution.

Help is enormously appreciated!!

Re: GPS issue

Hadee — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 08:01:37 GMT

I've got the same problem with my Z3C.

I followed several guidelines to try to get my GPS to get a fix, but nothing seems to work anymore. Anymore, because it used to work when I first bought my phone...

I installed several apps (GPS test, GPS status, GpsFix, ...) to help and to check what is happening, and with GPS test I can see like 12 or more "in view", but I never get a fix (also tried to clear agps data and update agps data).

Location based on the combination of GPS, wifi and mobile gives a rough indication of where I am, but clearly the GPS part is not working!

Re: GPS issue

rbl — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 08:06:27 GMT

So could this be a manufacturing defect? This is very annoying, GPS tracking is vital to me.

Re: GPS issue

Hadee — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 08:34:54 GMT

I think it could also be a bug caused by one of the updates of the software?

I've read some sites where android 4.4.4 seems to cause some problems with the GPS...

Re: GPS issue

rbl — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:36:02 GMT

So what to to do here? Still no luck. Take it back to the dealer?

Re: GPS issue

Hadee — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:03:26 GMT

still no luck here either... 😞

I've tried to do a complete reset to factory settings to check if it would be some software issue that caused the problem, but still no luck.

I installed some GPS test programs, and in most cases I can see a lot of GPS sattelites, but the connection seems not good enough to use them (cf attached picture).

I guess I will take it back to the store to let them have a look at it...

Re: GPS issue

MyAliasIsGary — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 13:26:28 GMT

@rbl wrote:
So what to to do here? Still no luck. Take it back to the dealer?

@rbl and @haddee

sorry about being so sucky with my response.

I'm not sure what to suggest.

GPS should work - it does on my z3 compact.

I use GPS test and you really should get a signal / fix from it.

You've done what I would have done. I've certainly found with other handsets that not getting a fix can be cured by clearing AGPS. Also, sometimes, just switching GPS off and on can sometimes fix inexplicable non-fixes.

You've done all that though.

There was a post somewhere else on the forum, where one of the sony support guys told you to use a code which allows you to access service tests. I noticed that there's a GPS test there on the 2nd link. maybe try that, then at least you can tell Sony Support you've tried it.

Original thread:

/t5/Xperia-Z3-Compact/GPS-not-working-on-Z3-compact/m-p/844329/highlight/true#M363

link which tells you how to access service tests:

http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/FAQ/GPS/m-p/351902

Critical excerpt from above link:

"If the GPS is unable to get a fix with free sight to the sky, first try purging the assistance data and then restart the phone. To purge the assistance data, open the dialer and dial *#*#7378423#*#*, select Service tests -> GPS -> Purge assistance data and then restart the phone."

Try that again and try the GPS test too (out of curiosity).

If you approach Sony, be aware that, if you return phone to them, it will get wiped / returned to factory defaults (it will certainly occur - or so I've been told - in the event of a repair), so you must as well try that before returning (if you decide that's the best course of action).

Only other thought would be to try testing GPS in the phone's safe mode.

Please excuse me for saying this but in the first link I supplied, the person who had problems was trying to use GPS indoors. I must just confirm that you're testing outside and are not overshadowed by tall buildings, etc?

Another test which just occurred to me - I've not used this in a while but I believe you can still store google mapping detail for offline use. Maybe download your immediate area as an offline map, then try just using GPS only ("device only" in location) to locate you (so the phone's not using any other location data)?

btw, in reply to an earlier observation that google maps finds you to an accuracy of 10-20m, that'll be off your wi-fi (cellular data simply can't be that accurate).

Personally I think you've got hardware problems.

Regards,

Gary

Re: GPS issue

Hadee — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 10:41:26 GMT

Hi Gary,

thanks for your reply, but I already tried almost all those suggestions, without any luck... And yes, I was trying outdoors, or driving around in my car (which is the main reason for using the GPS app for me).

the safe boot option was something I didn't try yet, but I did that now. But still Google maps, with GPS set to 'device only', wasn't able to provide a location (the other apps where not accessible in safe mode).

I'm now sending it back to my dealer...

Regards,

Hans

Re: GPS issue

rbl — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 10:02:20 GMT

I complained to the dealer and they sent it to repair, anxious to see what they make of it.

GPS NOT WORK Z3 Compact

Xoripain — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 10:19:14 GMT

GPS not fix, detect satelite but not fix,

old post other users with the SAME problem:

/t5/Xperia-Z3-Compact/problem-with-gps/m-p/911557#M4732

/t5/Xperia-Z3-Compact/GPS-not-working-on-Z3-compact/m-p/911897#M4776

/t5/Xperia-Z3-Compact/GPS-issue/td-p/894627

I've tried all your suggestions and nothing works

http://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/FAQ/GPS/m-p/351902 <--nothing works

SONY please answer me!

Re: GPS NOT WORK Z3 Compact

rbl — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 11:28:43 GMT

Got my phone back from "repair", and nothing har changed They did the usual stuff, reset and updated software and testet it (probably once), and who knows if they even bothered to thoroughly check for GPS fix...

In any case, the problem i still there!! I cannot get a GPS fix in neither Endomondo, GPS Status or GPS Test (I get the same display as Hadee earlier in this thread).

There is definitely an issue here!

Re: GPS NOT WORK Z3 Compact

Hadee — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 07:55:25 GMT

I just received mine back from the 'repair', and the same goes for me: nothing changed, although they claim to have replaced some parts and to have tested the system!

I'm not really happy with this situation, as I bought my phone about 3 months ago and already lost it for 1 month for 'repairing' ...

Re: GPS issue

DagsJT — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 17:57:07 GMT

Had my Z3C for a week and just tried my GPS to find it's not working. It's finding satellites but not locking on at all. Tried factory resets, PC Companion software to "repair" the phone, different apps, nothing is working. The diags on the phone just sit waiting for the location to be detected.

I've spent a good few hours on this and I'd rather not send it back for a replacement if there's a fix that Sony are aware of.

Re: GPS issue

lukj — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 20:16:03 GMT

I have same problem. Try connect some charger (powerbank) outside. This help me.

Edit: after some hours no fix again (now 3weeks without gps)...