N900 GPS problems: slow to lock or never locks, particularly without data connection
 

Hi,

Wondering if other people have this problem, and if so, if it is hardware or
firmware related.

Most of the time, I cannot get a fix on my location using the internal GPS.

This problem occurs in different scenarios. For example, when I open the map
program that ships with the phone it sometimes can get a fix but most of the
times it cannot. I have compiled and run on the phone the sample GPS program
provided in the wikis and have the same issue there.

I seem to have better results when I am at home, maybe that's because I am
also connected to the wifi when I am there..?
Two people I know have been unable to get a fix at all since they got the
N900..

Anyone had the same issues?

-Sveinn

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

Known issue: https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=5337

please see if you can contribute further information.

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

And here I was hoping that the N900's GPS would be better than the N810's, which almost never worked for me... :-)

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

there have been claims on twitter that the new firmware (42-11) has better GPS responsiveness. so will have to wait and see,

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

Sæll,
Ertu með einn af símunum frá Maemo ráðstefnunni?

This GPS lag is disappointing, even more so after reading the bugzilla entry. The N95-1 could take 10 minutes to get a lock unassisted, but being completely unable to do so is not very good for the new Nokia top dog.

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

those 10 minutes, are a <12minutes spot it takes to get a fix unassisted, a device started in a new (does also mean not used for a longer period of time) location needs to download (receive in this case) the satellite data of at least 3 satellites to get a fix, this delay can be up to 12 minutes due to the data rate the satellites are streaming. on my sony it takes about 8 minutes and then it pops up with 6+ satellites following

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

I'm actually having a problem myself. The GPS won't connect and the connection times out because it thinks ovi map is inactive. From what I see, the bug is only limited to not having a network connection, but obviously I'm getting 3.5G data.

I also want to confirm if the location server under, network positioning is correct. Is the location server suppose to be supl.nokia.com?

One more thing, since I've gotten the phone, not once have I got a gps connection. I've also tried different places too, but no luck.

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

Well my N900 gets a fix very quickly. I can confirm that your location server entry is correct (at least the same as mine)

So I get good GPS, but no MIC and no auto focus!! Can't have everything I suppose ;-)

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

while I waiting for my N900... continue to use my N800 + external bluetooth and I can get a fix in about 20sec. on N95 may wait 10-15min before I get a fix.

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

Maybe I'll have to trade in my N900 for another one. Seeing how you guys can get a fix and I can't what so ever. Could be a defective unit.

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

I received my N900 today i have the same problem wondering if its a software bug or more of a hardware issue

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

supl.nokia.com doesn't work very well for a lot of people on T-Mobile. Luckily, it seems that Google's server does.

N900 GPS cannot lock without Data connection?
 

Hey guys, Hello.
I just want to know if it even possible to use the GPS at somewhere without wifi connection or without credits in your sim card.

I tried to get mine locked yesterday without data connection and it took 20mins but still not locked. So is this normal or not?

I have seen the N95 locked in in just 5mins without data connection aid. Why can't the N900 do the same?

Re: N900 GPS cannot lock without Data connection?
 

This is a known problem, you should vote for it in bugzilla:
https://bugs.maemo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=7026
Apparently the can't lock without network connection, that's definitely a bug.

Re: N900 GPS cannot lock without Data connection?
 

first, they must speed up Maps.

Re: N900 GPS cannot lock without Data connection?
 

I think that before the speeding up they should make Ovi Maps 3 compatible with the N900, so that we could search for locations without any network connection. Even before, of course, the offline Gps lock...

Re: N900 GPS cannot lock without Data connection?
 

I thought my n900 GPS is faulty at first :) but I guess it just nokia at fault right now.

Re: N900 GPS cannot lock without Data connection?
 

Please remember that the Ovi Maps version numbering for N900 and S60 (or any other platform) is completely different. In fact they are essentially two parallel products...so I don't think that we will see "Ovi Maps 3" ported over to N900...but we can see *features* from Ovi Maps 3 being ported to Ovi Maps for N900.

But I agree that Ovi Maps on N900 could get some love and be vastly improved (I'm missing the good old Maps application from the N800 :( )

GPS without internet
 

hello,
maby its bug, maby not. I using offline ovi maps, but whene try use gps without GPRS or WiFi device cant find satellites(waiting ~10 mins). try search in google but cant find answer.

Re: GPS without internet
 

this has been addressed in several threats, theres also a bug report on it in bugzilla.

I believe it has something to do with ovi, that stops searching for gps after 30sec, other apps (ecoach) has successfully gotten a gps location with out any online assistance.

Try using the advanced search feature in the menu on the right, and see if you can find some threats to read up on it.

Re: GPS without internet
 

thx man :)

Re: GPS without internet
 

N900 GPS Problems
 

I was wondering if people are still having problems getting a GPS lock with Ovi maps even after the update, it seems comments on the GPS have died down and i'm starting to think that my devices hardware is faulty.

Terrible GPS
 

Anyone else got this issue? The GPS is dire - it takes 5 mins to get a lock, Even when you do get a lock it fails to track you. Ovi maps is still insanely slow and ecoach usless because the GPS doesn't track you. I used to use GPS regularly on my N82 and Samsung Galaxy - the GPS on the N900 is effectively usless.

Anyone else got these issues? This needs to be fixed if possible (On top of MMS, portrait SMS/Media player etc)

Re: Terrible GPS
 

Nope...with just GPS it tracks me within 15 seconds indoors and within 10 seconds outdoors. With A-GPS (with the internet connection on) it takes outsides roughly 4 seconds... and the tracking is great!

Re: Terrible GPS
 

Make sure from the settings->location that you are using also the network based positioning.

Re: Terrible GPS
 

gps track me indoor in 2secs (no lie) longest was 15

Re: Terrible GPS
 

Try to change supl.nokia.com to supl.google.com. That's worked for some people... I've had no problems...

Re: Terrible GPS
 

i get a lock straight away and it tracks but i hate ovi so i never use it

Re: Terrible GPS
 

sry 4 offtopic, but in my case, I used to see just terrain/map but no streets or anything Oo... why is that?

I just see streets names and everything one time, did nothing, then again all pure terrain/map only.

do u guys know how to fix it?

Re: Terrible GPS
 

Using the Near Me plugin, for the Firefox browser, finds me almost instantaneously.

Re: Terrible GPS
 

Yes. I do have the same problem.

I don't have data connection so I unchecked the Network Positioning (and A-GPS).

Also when you start the MAPS application, it straight away connects to maps.ovi.com before actually starting the GPS.

Also it won't show the location you are at present unless you ask for directions. And that it starts from the previous location you set or used the GPS last time.

It needs some fix. I also tried changing it to supl.google.com. I don't see any added benefit.

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

I am having problems with my phone. My GPS does not locate my position. I'm trying to figure out what might be the problem. I don't know if the problem is about the OVI maps or the hardware.
BTW I got the device from Amazon, and I live in FLorida. I guess this is not a fake Chinese stuff and there is GPS satellites serving in the state.

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

there isno problem with you GPS. mine is in the same situation. why? because the software OVI map cannot search for satellites long enough and it's gave up too early to get the GPS locked without network connection. if you connect to the internet through wifi or 3g then walk outside then it will licked in just 15seconds. Otherwise just download LOCATION TEST application from the repos then run it, let it search for satellites and when it found just fire up your map application and wait until it's locked on. This may take some what between 20 minutes to 1hour long. But it work! after you have it connected, you can reconnect almost instantly afterward. Goodluck!

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

maximus are you saying that the n900 gps can only get a lock when connected to the internet and without it, it takes around 15 minutes to 1 hour without it. is this standard for all gps phones or are there better options out there?

Re: Terrible GPS
 

I also thought that my GPS was broken or something, 'cause it would never catch up with the satellite signal. But reading this 3d, I noticed that the "network based positioning" was disabled. When I enabled it, worked just amazingly...it gained the signal in 1 sec I think. And it worked offline. I just downloaded the all the maps I needed from the nokia map loader. It take some time, but works perfectly. Since now I feel very lucky, 'cause everything works the way it should on my N900. Even after the update, it' the best device I've ever had...way better than the iphone...

Re: N900 GPS Problems
 

The longest my N900 has taken for a lock without an internet connection is around 5 minutes. And that's pretty standard for phone-based GPS systems from what I understand as they are designed with the assumption that a data connection will usually be available (and thus don't have internal satellite ephemeral data like a "normal" stand-alone gps would).

Re: Terrible GPS
 

you think the gps on this is better than the iphones- well then you have never had one then - thats for sure..

the n900 is better at many things- but gps is not one of them.

Re: Terrible GPS
 

Are you talking about GPS chip or what? Because Maep gets lock really fast at least for me. As we all know the Nokia Maemo Maps seems to be under heavy development and not ready for consumers. Or actually it is good if you have never ever used/seen other navigation software :)

Re: Terrible GPS
 

How to download the maps and upload them to N900?? where to start ploxxxx