Re: Playbook GPS issues...
Originally Posted by
hkkelvinlee I heard, rightly or wrongly, this response time is typical of mobile devices without a phone module so that they cannot establish quick but rough co-ordinates by A-GPS first. It so, it will be fair to compare PB to similar GPS-enabled tablets which are also wifi-only.
Sent from my BlackBerry 9800 using Tapatalk
You are right but still, off the mark.... I have two android tablets-- Samsung Galaxy 7 plus, and Galaxy wifi only. The former fixes my location in seconds and the later (wifi only) has never taken more than 5 minutes at the latest (normally it takes a minute or two). Also Google Nexus GPS works the same way. I don't have it but I have tested it myself. So the problem is playbook related..
Re: Playbook GPS issues...
Originally Posted by
pacoman03 FWIW, my wifi only PB picks up my location in about 5 seconds or so.
So glad, it works for you. though a bit surprised.. It has never worked for me. Its clearly not reliable.
Re: Playbook GPS issues...
Originally Posted by
CarlJF Here are a few things I found out using the GPS on my PB:
1) Obviously, since it's unassisted GPS, you must have a clear view of the sky. Outside is best, but if you have to be inside put it at least in front of a window. You will also have a much better chance of it working if your on the top floor of the house than in the basement...
2) The initial GPS fix can take a long time (many minutes), so be patient. Things are much faster after that, unless you change location.
3) For the initial fix, it seems to work better if the PB is in a static position than moving.
4) Don't use Bing for the initial fix. Much better to use one of the free GPS apps for this.
5) Don't let the PB go to sleep during the initial position fix. Either change the sleep settings or touch the screen from time to time to keep it awake.
6) If it doesn't work from one location, just try somewhere else. For example, my PB will have a hard time getting an initial position from the back of my house but will get it in a few seconds if I move it to the front...
7) If possible, don't shutdown your PB since it seems to reset the GPS data and you will have to go again through to the long initial position fix. Instead, putting it to sleep keeps the GPS data and the PB remembers which satellites to look for.
8) Once this initial position fix is done, GPS works pretty well. If I take the example from my house, once the PB got his position in front of the house, it will still works if I move to the back of the house where it was unable to get its initial fix.
Hope these tips may help you!
Thanks a lot for all the effort. So many tips show that PB gps isn't intuitive. It does fix my location but takes ages.
Re: Playbook GPS issues...
Originally Posted by
thecsman The GPS is not the best there is out there, but it does qualify as functional.
It usually takes a few minutes to lock on a position. If it takes 25 minutes for you, you might be doing it wrong. What GPS applications do you use?
I have used Magellan Compass, Osmand, Maps for Google, Bing. It works, not as precise when travelling at high speed, but it does the job.
I have already mentioned it. I don't do anything wrong. Infact I have tried it in different possible ways to get faster lock ups. Its just that gps receiver is very week (to be precise, weakest of anything I've seen so far)
Re: Playbook GPS issues...
Originally Posted by
rkennedy01 On my wifi-only PB with no bridge and no network access of any kind (middle of nowhere), I get GPS lock in less than 30 seconds on average using Google Maps with a cached copy of the local map region. Occasionally, the PB will refuse to pick up the signal no matter how long I wait. Usually this is due to one or more Android apps having crashed and hosed that part of the runtime. A simple reboot restores it - I get a lock as soon as I load Google Maps.
Bottom Line: GPS on the PB has been highly reliable, even in an extremely remote location (Mauritius, in the middle of the Indian Ocean) without any assistance from wifi or bridge.
RCK
Care to say which version of google maps do you use?? I use 6.2 and it says 'unable to determine your location' .
Re: Playbook GPS issues...
Originally Posted by
rkennedy01 Version 6.11.1. Has been the most reliable for me to date and also the last version to start in the Map view as opposed to the "Local" view. Rock solid - I just stepped outside and it locked on immediately...literally the second the app loaded. And this is standing next to a three story house surrounded by huge (40-50ft tall) fruit trees (Litches, Mangoes, Longan, etc.).
Attachment 126545
Maybe I'm just lucky and got a good one? :straight-face:
RCK
Do u have the link to download this??
Re: Playbook GPS issues...
Originally Posted by
Cynycl With several different playbooks I've found that the gps seems to start working better the more it is used. Almost like it seems to learn how to obtain a fix. It took forever when they were all new but now I can get a fix in under 15 seconds in a variety of different apps. I use Poynt almost daily for a quick weather report and daily gas price report.
I can't explain it but it does seem to get "smarter" with use.
I don't get it how you guys get gps fix in under 15 seconds. Will you mind saying what apps do you use???? It would be great gelp for us it it works.