How to check if GPS is working on Android?

How to calibrate GPS on Android?

Calibrating the compass using Google Maps

Click the blue dot on the map that shows your location.
Select Calibrate
compass.
Follow the instructions according to the animation shown.
Ready! The blue dot should now point in the correct direction.

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Problems with GPS

The first thing to do if the GPS sensor does not work is to restart your smartphone and scan it with an antivirus. It is possible that the device's RAM is full and there are not enough processor resources to activate communication with satellites. Or there was a glitch in the operating system.

First, let's determine how the navigator on the phone works. Yandex.Maps or navigation from Google contacts the system satellites and requests data about the user’s current location. Based on the information received, an optimal route is built or public transport is selected.

If the GPS module stops functioning, normal navigation operation is impossible, even using A-GPS technology. The main causes of failure are usually software problems, but in some cases the source of the malfunction is the failure of a hardware module.

Geolocation services do not work on Android if the settings are incorrect. The defect may also be caused by the installation of incompatible firmware or the lack of necessary drivers.

The navigator from Google or Yandex does not work well even with a weak satellite signal. It is worth remembering that programs do not always display location correctly, and you should not rely on the system when hiking or off-road. The error can be up to 30-50 meters; only the military can determine their location with an accuracy of 1 meter, but such accuracy is not available to the average user.

To troubleshoot, let’s look at the causes and solutions to popular problems.

Calibration

One possible problem that can affect the accuracy of your location is an incorrectly calibrated compass. In this case, the device receives incorrect orientation information, which causes problems when using navigation applications.

You can calibrate the compass properly in the same GPS Essentials. To do this, launch the application, click on the compass icon, and then follow these steps:

choose a smooth surface away from electrical appliances to avoid the influence of electromagnetic fields, and place the smartphone on it with the screen facing up
Slowly and smoothly rotate the device 3 full circles around each of its axes. The direction of rotation does not matter.

The process is clearly demonstrated in this video:

Hardware problems

Cheap Chinese smartphones (Leagoo, Oukitel, Ulefone and others) are often equipped with low-quality satellite communication modules. The problem can be corrected by replacing the corresponding module at a service center. Malfunctions occur on both Android and iOS phones.

It happens that the internal antenna (a small thing on the board) falls off, which also affects the quality of satellite signal reception. It's difficult to fix it yourself.

Visiting the settings section

In many smartphones and tablets, the GPS chip is completely disabled by default. In this case, the device determines its location using cell towers and Wi-Fi networks. To enable the navigation chip, you need to configure the device. To do this, do the following:

Step 1. Go to the “Settings” section.

Step 2. Here you should be interested in the “Location” item.

Step 3. This item may have a different name on different devices. For example, on Samsung tablets you need to select the “Connections” tab and click on the “Geodata” item, at the same time activating the corresponding switch.

Step 4: In this section, you need to enable High Location Accuracy. The device must use all sources for this - GPS satellites, Wi-Fi networks and data from cell towers.

It should be noted that in this operating mode, energy consumption increases. And if this is practically not noticeable on new smartphones, then owners of budget and older devices will definitely feel the reduced battery life.

Depending on the features of the device, GPS settings may be located in different subsections. Therefore, on more modern Android smartphones, these steps can be performed a little differently.

Call up the notification panel and long press on the “GPS” icon (may have a different name). In the page that opens, give applications access to the location and in the “Location determination” section set “High accuracy”.

Incorrect firmware

Users sometimes, at their own discretion, decide to change the firmware. This is done to speed up the operation of the device, but as a result of the manipulations, the main settings stop working fully. To prevent this, when carrying out flashing, you should follow the following tips:

Files should be downloaded only from trusted sources. Preference should be given to XDA and w3bsit3-dns.com;
You should not try to flash your phone using programs associated with other devices;
If the phone has become an ordinary “brick”, you should completely reset the activated settings.

If the last option is selected, you will have to perform it by simultaneously pressing the lock and volume up buttons. They will need to be held for at least 5 seconds.

As soon as the Android logo appears on the screen, you will need to download Recovery. Here you select the Wipe Data/Factory Reset item and confirm it via Hard Reset. This method is considered the most suitable for devices with damaged firmware. Proper configuration of the navigation option will quickly restore overall functionality.

Test run

To eliminate the possibility of the GPS receiver itself losing its functionality, you should use one of the special applications, for example GPS Essentials. Click on the satellite icon and the application will clearly show you where and how many satellites your smartphone is observing and which of them it is communicating with at the moment.

If the app shows that you are out of range of any satellite, try leaving the building or at least going to a window.
Often, Soviet “anti-missile” houses block not only the GPS signal, but also the cellular network. Application: GPS Essentials Developer: mictale.com Category: Travel Version: 3.2.13 Price: Free Download: Google Play

Incorrect setting

Correctly setting the smartphone parameters is the key to the correct operation of the GPS system on Android.

If Android does not find the location, go to the device settings, tab – “General”, and then open “Location and protection”.
On the Location tab, specify your preferred location method. If you select Satellites Only, Android will not use A-GPS technology, which collects data from nearby cellular and Wi-Fi networks to improve geolocation accuracy.
Try setting the “Mobile networks only” mode and check the functionality of the cards. If navigation turns on, there is a problem with the driver or hardware.
When GPS on Android does not turn on (the system does not respond to switching the option), there is probably a problem in the firmware. Perform a full reset, reflash your cell phone or tablet yourself, or contact a service center.
To reset your location settings, click on the “Backup and reset” tab, then tap on “Reset network and navigation settings.” Sign in to your Google account to confirm.

Important! All saved passwords from Wi-Fi access points, as well as cellular network data will be deleted.

The described method helps eliminate most problems with the software.

Why doesn't the taximeter see GPS?

GPS

may
not
work because: it is not in the phone; it is disabled in the phone settings; you are in a shielded area.

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Setting up and adjusting GPS through the engineering menu

This method will help you check the quality of the established standards that indicate how well the GPS on your phone works.

To do this, you need to go to the engineering menu. Enter the code (where we usually write the subscriber number) *#*#3646633#*#*;
Next you need to find the YGPS item (or something similar);
As a result, a map should appear with many yellow dots on it. They may not appear immediately.

It is these points that indicate the number of satellites that were found. If you record the time from the start of scanning until all found satellites are fully loaded, the quality of the installed GPS will become known. Later, this data can be compared with other devices, for example, by taking it from a friend.

Poor performance of GPS satellites indoors

But do not forget that GPS may have poor signal reception when you are standing indoors (especially in a high-rise building) or near electrical appliances. So it is better to use the location function in an open area (street) or, as a last resort, near a window.

It is worth remembering that it is better not to leave GPS on all the time; use it only when necessary. This will keep the battery charged two or even three times longer. Using widgets, you can turn GPS on or off on your desktop.

Nothing helps

Some smartphone firmwares themselves are not very good at working with GPS, so flashing the firmware can sometimes solve this problem. But this solution is not for everyone, but rather for a passionate user, because in this case you will have to read a lot of specific discussions, most likely not in your native language, in order to choose the optimal solution for yourself. For everyone else, it might be time to simply upgrade your device.

Does your smartphone replace a GPS navigator? Or cutlets separately, flies separately?

Reasons for no signal

There are two main groups of faults: hardware and software. The former can be fixed by qualified specialists in service centers, while the latter can be fixed at home.

Hardware - a component can fail after a mechanical impact on the device body, for example, a fall or a strong blow. The cause of the breakdown may also be liquid entering the main board, followed by oxidation of the contacts.
Software - infection with malicious software, incorrect firmware or update failures - all these malfunctions can damage the location driver.

How to calibrate a compass

If you cannot strengthen the satellite signal, you can influence the navigation in another way: adjust a digital compass. On most smartphones it is not calibrated, so the system does not immediately understand how the device is located relative to the cardinal directions. As a result, the sat nav may seem to be working poorly.

Download and install the GPS Essentials app.
Launch the application and enter Compass mode.
If the compass does not correctly determine the cardinal directions, calibrate it: rotate the smartphone with the screen up, turn it from left to right.

The same application for Android will help you clarify how many satellites the built-in module accesses. Old and cheap modules request a limited number of satellites, but if there are more than a dozen satellites, the problem is definitely not in the chip. To check this, find the Satellites item in the application menu.

If after all the above operations the navigator does not work better, the only remedy remains: buy a new smartphone model with a high-quality satellite sensor.

Analogues of GPS Test work in a similar way and generally display all the same information - only the interface and some details differ. For example, the GPS info tool also does a good job of counting the number of connected satellites and their signal strength. Among its advantages: the ability to display GLONASS satellites, a sky map, and the presence of Russian localization.

One of the best representatives of such programs is GPS Test.

GPS Test

Xakep #217. Hacking script

GPS Test has many different features, including obtaining information about the number and position of satellites, checking positioning accuracy, displaying geographic coordinates, a compass and displaying a bunch of other information such as speed of movement, altitude and even the time of sunrise and sunset at the current point .

In addition, the program draws various graphs in real time, such as changes in signal level and movement of the set positioning point. Using GPS Test, you can see how many satellites the device is truly capable of keeping and at what signal level.

Analogues of GPS Test work in a similar way and generally display all the same information - only the interface and some details differ. For example, the GPS info tool also does a good job of counting the number of connected satellites and their signal strength. Among its advantages: the ability to display GLONASS satellites, a sky map, and the presence of Russian localization.

GPS info

I suggest starting diagnostics of the receiver with a trivial thing - check whether it is enabled in the settings. Next, you can install the GPS Status & Toolbox application, which helps update the A-GPS cache and clear it if necessary. It also allows you to calibrate the compass and accelerometer. Please note that an Internet connection is required to operate.

Just in case, let me remind you that testing GPS is useless in a room without windows or while being away from them. If you don't want to go outside, it's best to put your phone on the windowsill. Powerful electrical appliances operating nearby can also interfere. And here's another trick: sometimes it helps to simply turn the phone a full rotation a few times.

Of the standard means of signal amplification, first of all try to look at the corresponding “Wireless Networks” menu item. Among the useful programs, I can recommend the GPS Aids application, which allows you to reset various settings and caches. Sometimes it helps a lot, but you need root to use it.

1) You need to enable AGPS in the Android settings, in the “My location” section, then open the top “curtain” on the phone to activate GPS.

It often happens that after changing the firmware on the device, or buying a new Chinese phone (sometimes not Chinese), we are faced with the fact that GPS does not work on the smartphone. It also happens that GPS does not determine the location for a long time. Why is this happening?

This is due to the fact that the phone often comes to us from the other hemisphere of the planet. And he has an Almanac that is not relevant for our area.

If your GPS is faulty, we will try to fix it.

I warn you right away that the recommendations given in this article will not help you if you have problems with hardware. This guide will help you fix GPS errors only at the software level.

So, I’ll show you ways to treat GPS:

GPS+AGPS method (ROOT required):

1) You need to enable AGPS in the Android settings, in the “My location” section, then open the top “curtain” on the phone to activate GPS.

2) Then in the dialer, you need to dial *#*#3646633#*#* - this is the entrance to the engineering menu.

Maybe a different number will work on your phone to enter the Android engineering menu:

*#*#4636#*#* *#*#8255#*#*, *#*#4636#*#* - for Samsung *#*#3424#*#*, *#*#4636#*#* , *#*#8255#*#* - for HTC *#*#7378423#*#* - for Sony *#*#3646633#*#* - for Philips, Fly, Alcatel *#*#2846579#*#* - for Huawei

If that doesn't work, look for information on how to enter the engineering menu on your Android phone. If you have a phone based on MTK processors (MT 6577, MT 6589...), you can use the “Mobileuncle Tools” program (ROOT required), it can be downloaded from Google Play. It contains a section Engineer Mode. That's what we need.

3) When you get (by any means) into the engineering menu of the phone, you need to go to the YGPS tab - and look on the “Satellites” tab to see if the signal scales appear. If yes, then the phone is trying to search for satellites, but cannot find them due to an incorrectly recorded Almanac. And this is not surprising, because the device came from the other “end of the world”.

4) The next step is to go to the “Information” tab, and then press the “full”, “warm”, “hot”, “cold” buttons in turn (to completely reset the old Almanac).

5) After this, on the NMEA Log tab, you need to click the start button. (recording of the new Almanac will begin)

6) Now for the GPS to work correctly, you need to go to the back “Satellites” and wait for 5-15 minutes until the maximum number of satellite scales is found (usually from 10 to 13 pieces) and their scales turn green.

7) When all satellites have been found, go back to the Nmea Log tab and click the “stop” button. Congratulations, a new almanac for your area has been written.

I did this procedure on many Chinese phones - as a result of the procedure, the phone should begin to find satellites faster.

Let me remind you that all the above actions to improve the quality of GPS must be carried out purely in open areas, away from buildings. And the last piece of advice - I recommend setting the exact system time and date on your phone.

GPS+EPO method (ROOT required):

1) Using a file manager that supports Root and root access, you need to delete the following files: /data/misc/ EPO.dat /data/misc/ mtkgps.dat , /system/etc/ gps.conf

2) You need to go to “settings - location data” and turn on GPS. Then you need to enable EPO and download (that is, you need to download again - after deleting EPO.dat)

3) Make sure A-GPS is turned off. (this is mandatory!) [and cannot be turned on after, otherwise it will stop working normally]

4) Turn off the phone, remove the battery, insert the battery, turn on the phone.

5) go to the engineering menu (see login methods above) - go to the location tab - there will be 2 sub-items (location based service and YGPS)

But if they all appear at the same time, EPO does not work

7) We check the operation of GPS in navigation programs.

If you click on this icon, a dialog box will open - GPS Status.

Summing up

The methods presented in this article for setting up and troubleshooting problems with the navigation module will allow you to use your phone or tablet to the fullest extent and on an ongoing basis. If you cannot get rid of the problem, if the location option does not turn on or does not work correctly, it is advisable to replace your Asus smartphone or computer with a more modern option. Even in this case, additional options should be used to eliminate the cause of the failure and reduce the amount of energy consumed by the battery.