Nokia GPS - either Really sucks, or im doing something wrong - help

I assume that you have all the "basics" right. That is: keypad open, staying outside when trying to get a fix, no "tall" surounding buildings. First time to get a fix (e.g. phone brand new or after a firmware upgrade) can take some time. I've heard of people having to wait for up to 30 minutes so take a chair with you...

Well, let's start and locate your problem... 😊
Have you pressed the right keypad ("GPS pos"😉 when in Nokia Maps? This will take you to GPS position everytime when you have "browsed" the maps.
In addition, in lower right corner you should see a sat.dish. If it has an "X" it means that the GPS has no lock on any satellites. Select Options\Map alternatives\Sat.info to see the status of signal receiving. Numbers with bars "empty" means getting info but still no lock. Bars filled (black) means lock on sat.

If no luck with the above:
1. First, check your firmware version (*#0000#). If not 12.x you should run Nokia Software Updater and update. With 12.x came support for aGPS which significantly enhances time to fix (=get a sat lock. For me it did great work. TTF reduced from 2-6 minutes to <30 seconds).
2. The first time (cold start) to get a fix with N95 internal GPS can take a while. For some 10-20 min. During this first time stay outside under "clear sky" (e.g. not between tall buildings). Remember, keypad should always be open since the GPS chip is located bottom of phone.

Regarding "Do I need to install a different GPS program because Nokias one sucks?": It's a matter of opinions and there are a lot of them in this forum... 😊. I've used TomTom for many years (both v5 and v6) and it's a (=the) great application. No one above or on the side. Nokia Maps ain't as good but since the problems with getting a quick fix with the internal GPS has been resolved with firmware 12.x I seriously think that N.Maps is not as bad as some want's it to be. For my use (once a week, shorter trips, it fills it's purpose and I don't really see the big need for another software. It has one noticable bug though; the ETA is allmost always seriously wrong. For trips that I know takes 1h it always says 2-2,5 hours, although it takes me on the same route. No big deal for me since I calculate my own ETA based on the distance I'm going.

Your post was extremely helpful. Thank You so much. My reply :

Yes, everything is exactly how you said (being outside, no huge buildings, etc. I do get a good signal, and everything seems fine - though, , as per your post ( version on phone ) it seems the version on my phone is 10.*.*.*. That might be the major problem. I cannot update now as I am at work, but as soon as I get home, that will be the first thing I will try.; I wont be using it much either, but if a not too expensive program (TomTom Navigator at this point) will have it run much greater than the Nokia Maps - I can see a great point into investing on that program.

Thank You so much for your help once again.

Dont buy tomtom yet, as it doesnt support the internal reciever. Either get copilot (which does support it) or wait till tomtom release a new version.

But obviously, try the update first as thats likely to give you the best result.

DdotRoq wrote:Your post was extremely helpful. Thank You so much. My reply :

Yes, everything is exactly how you said (being outside, no huge buildings, etc. I do get a good signal, and everything seems fine - though, , as per your post ( version on phone ) it seems the version on my phone is 10.*.*.*. That might be the major problem. I cannot update now as I am at work, but as soon as I get home, that will be the first thing I will try.; I wont be using it much either, but if a not too expensive program (TomTom Navigator at this point) will have it run much greater than the Nokia Maps - I can see a great point into investing on that program.

Thank You so much for your help once again.

OK, so how are U getting on. What exactly is your problem? You wrote that you do get a good signal. Do you with this mean that you have sat.bars in "Sat.info" but never get them filled black (=fix)?

- Long time to get a fix? => Which will be resolved by updating to firmware 12.x
- Can't get a fix (..only "X" on sat.dish in N.Maps)?
- Get a fix but map does not show GPS position?

Report.... 😊

I won't post details as others are saying pretty much the same as me but I am very happy with the GPS as far as free, or included, GPS software goes. I can route plan and then follow the route in real time very successfully (I don't have the real time voice tracking but it looks good if you would use it). My only real grip was time to get the first fix (TTFF) but with Assisted-GPS now in V12 of the firmware I can't even complain about that!

the internal gps seems to take a long time to get a signal, a friend of mine reported it took nearly 10 mins to finally find one where as for me it takes around 15mins. my tom tom however finds it within minutes and so does my pda

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A|ex wrote:the internal gps seems to take a long time to get a signal, a friend of mine reported it took nearly 10 mins to finally find one where as for me it takes around 15mins. my tom tom however finds it within minutes and so does my pda

On firmware 12.x or earlier? 12.x has support for aGPS which has taken mine down to approx 10-20 seconds to get a lock, everytime!!!

Yes , after upgrading to V12 I am able to get a lock in my balcony, earlier never got a lock there. :icon14:

BTW, the 'GPS data' app , why does it require an access point. I mean, I just see it connect after the 'Calculating GPS data' pop up and then the connection goes. Also this connection thing does not happen at times. Wonder why its needed.

If anyone knows the answer plz comment on this post : http://symbian.avinashrathod.com/2007/07/n95e90-gps.html

Never works properly. I updated to 12.*.* (newest version) and though I HAVE tried it with voice guidance and all, It seems to take forever. I drove 25 miles today, and got to my location before it even found me. Crappy GPS. If its not the hardware, then someone reccomend me a software thats not a POS.

Sounds to me like you didn't have agps enabled in the phone settings and/or you don't have a data plan with your telephone company setup properly.

avithe1 wrote:Yes , after upgrading to V12 I am able to get a lock in my balcony, earlier never got a lock there. :icon14:

BTW, the 'GPS data' app , why does it require an access point. I mean, I just see it connect after the 'Calculating GPS data' pop up and then the connection goes. Also this connection thing does not happen at times. Wonder why its needed.

If anyone knows the answer plz comment on this post : http://symbian.avinashrathod.com/2007/07/n95e90-gps.html

With firmware 12.x comes aGPS. aGPS uses dataconnection to supl.nokia.com to download sat.info. This is why you get a fix this quick with firmware 12.x

I think it is as much down to software as hardware. I use Nokia Maps which is OK but yes its ability to lock is not as good as when I use a GPS mapping software called Viewranger. It is also a bit jumpy and navigation isnt great. I have also used Route 66 with the N95 internal receiver. It is pretty good but isnt as good as say TomTom or Navicore. I have been told that Navicore N95 update is to happen in the next 1-2 months and I will definately use that because in terms of the overall software package its the best I have used.

Dont blame the N95 GPS receiver so much, its not as good as SiRFIII receivers but it isnt bad and its how the software used uses the data it is fed.

Also to not the latest update to maps has some significant improvements!!

In summary I never though it would be the case but I am going to ditch my bluetooth receiver in favour of permanently using the n95, I'll have to purchase a few spare batteries though 😊

Hello all

The current situation with the navigation options with the N95 is making me age prematurely and develope bald spots

1. old software (nokia maps still funtional with tracking option)
2. New Nokia maps although pretty has lost its tracking function in the planned oute section.
3. Route66 needs to be signed (the only N95 int gps compatible version v7.3.486) but symbiansigned broken (there is no other way.
4. Tomtom up to V6 still doesnt support internal gps

5.sob

If anyone can help me or direct me to a more appropriate thread i would be most grateful

webtwitcher

http://www.allaboutsymbian.com/forum//forum/thread/63286/

Costs about the same as tomtom.