All
Based on the report on the AAS home page where Steve takes his phone to a Nokia Care Point for the new lens/slider mechanism and the new improved GPS antenna under warranty I decided to do the same.
1) The lens/slider was replaced but I've still got the 'blue' bit underneath but the guy who did it swore blind this was the new 'non-scratching' design;
2) I'm please to report that the Maps application is now actually useable!! The difference in GPS locking and accuracy is night and day.
The bad news is that I had to pay for the repairs as my phone was detected as being out of warranty caused by a change of product code. Despite protesting that these hardware issues are nothing to do with the software/product code I ended up having to pay �63 for the work. 😡
So for all of you out there waiting for v20 to fix your GPS - it won't! The only fix appears to be to get the antenna swapped for the new shielded version OR implement the 'DIY' modification.
Regards
I thought you were going to say more than �63 actually. Good that it's all working now. :icon14:
Personally, I don't beleive what he said about the slider - surely it's to do with the gap between the slider and the lense? That being the case then the bloke at the Nokia Service Centre surely would have said that.... but I hope I'm wrong!
Out of interest, how long did it take for the work to be done? I want these repairs done but don't really want to send the phone off. I've heard though that some service centres can't do these repairs? :con?
Out of interest, how long did it take for the work to be done? I want these repairs done but don't really want to send the phone off. I've heard though that some service centres can't do these repairs?
They quoted 2 hours (as I had rung the day before to check that they had the parts in stock) but it was down within an hour or so.
can i ask where this was done?
using nokia's repair centre search I went to the CPW, but they just send it to nokia
it will be helpful to everyone who may be near the repair centre to know where it is, and that they are 'with it' enough to get the problems sorted out
I searched for local Nokia Care Points and used Town and Country in Sandhurst (Surrey).
Has anyone used the one in Kingston Upon Thames?
PS, does anyone know how much it would cost to have a new screen fitted?
Can you check Locations, and see how many satelites you're connected to thats full?
Sent mine in to the NokiaUSA Customer Care center for the GPS antenna fix.
Already having N97 withdrawal symptoms!
Can someone please tell me any Nokia reference bulletins or anything for the GPS issue? Two Service Centres, CPW refused to replace, and another one just did a factory reset and said it was resolved! And no ones taking me seriously.
I don't want to send the phone away for two weeks when I could get it repaired in two hours!
sjdean wrote:Can someone please tell me any Nokia reference bulletins or anything for the GPS issue? Two Service Centres, CPW refused to replace, and another one just did a factory reset and said it was resolved! And no ones taking me seriously.I don't want to send the phone away for two weeks when I could get it repaired in two hours!
is the service centre in Surrey too far away for you? might be worth giving them a ring (given that they know what needs to be done) and taking a day out to sort it once and for all (hopefully)
Well it would be about 100 miles from where I live. I wouldn't mind driving there TBH providing they can fix it! More than happy to drive there.
sjdean wrote:Well it would be about 100 miles from where I live. I wouldn't mind driving there TBH providing they can fix it! More than happy to drive there.
give them a call tomorrow, if they have parts in stock, know what they are doing and can/will do the job in a couple of hours it could be the solution you're waiting for!:icon14:
can someone do a before-after comparison by looking at the gps signals, then posting it here?
managerxxx wrote:They quoted 2 hours (as I had rung the day before to check that they had the parts in stock) but it was down within an hour or so.
That's great! If my local one (Stockport) can do the same, then I can just make a day of it.
Reading this thread, where people have reported the shop just did a factory reset and claimed it was fixed, made me think... Besides checking the lens to see if it had no scratches, how can you physically tell if everything has been replaced (Lens & GPS)? Is there something that looks different inside when you remove the battery cover?
I've taken my phone to Next Communications in Southampton. I'll post back with the results.
Reading this thread, where people have reported the shop just did a factory reset and claimed it was fixed, made me think... Besides checking the lens to see if it had no scratches, how can you physically tell if everything has been replaced (Lens & GPS)? Is there something that looks different inside when you remove the battery cover?
I can't see anything different but maybe someone could post a before shot for comparison.
Can you check Locations, and see how many satelites you're connected to thats full?
Accuracy is dramatically improved. Previously I was getting anything from 20m-200m which clearly isn't useable whereas now I'm seeing around 15-20m accuracy with 6-8 satellites showing 70%+ signal strength.
spirit44 wrote:give them a call tomorrow, if they have parts in stock, know what they are doing and can/will do the job in a couple of hours it could be the solution you're waiting for!:icon14:
Give who a call? I don't know who it is or what the number is!
managerxxx wrote:I can't see anything different but maybe someone could post a before shot for comparison.
See enclosed - some close ups of my unfixed N97... complete with dust!
Thanks for the pics. I honestly can't see any difference but Steve mentions the mod is related to shielding were the antenna is connected so I guess it may not be possible to see a difference without further dismantling of the phone.
I did a 30 mile journey tonight and it maintained an accurate signal throughout and at no point was I shown to be driving in a field or a housing estate on the side of the motorway!
Just need V20 now! 😊
The shop i went into (Luton) said she had checked the computer and there were 2 service bulletins relating to this -she had not heard of these problems before!!
sjdean wrote:Give who a call? I don't know who it is or what the number is!
Town & County in Sandhurst, according to the OP
http://maps.google.co.uk/places/gb/sandhurst/yorktown-rd/104/-town-&-country
I live in the US and there are no Nokia centers here and I can't afford not to have my phone for weeks. I did fix my GPS but I was wondering whether Nokia could just send me those protected antenna strips that I can attach myself?!??!
Seft wrote:I've taken my phone to Next Communications in Southampton. I'll post back with the results.
Dropped off on Friday 16th. Received it back today (they sent it to Nokia). GPS appears to be fixed, but I haven't given it a proper test yet.
Still has a squeaky back cover. The shop suggested Nokia didn't fix it as it wasn't a warranty issue. Has anyone managed to have theirs replaced?
MonarchX wrote:I live in the US and there are no Nokia centers here and I can't afford not to have my phone for weeks. I did fix my GPS but I was wondering whether Nokia could just send me those protected antenna strips that I can attach myself?!??!
I too live in the US (Houston, Texas). According to NokiaUSA.com repair locator, my nearest Customer Care center is in Huntsville, Alabama.
I sent mine in on a Tuesday and had it back by the following Tuesday.
The GPS repair is MORE than just the antenna strips. It turns out that the early units were missing some shielding in the right location. The whole backplain assembly is replaced so you need special tools and skills (and don't want to void the warranty).
On the NokiaUSA repair web page, they will validate your warranty status from your IMEI number and then give you a form to complete...you have to send a copy of it in with your N97 (keeping a copy for yourself). After beginning the process you have 10 days to get the unit to them.
Since we're all waiting for v20 firmware, now would be a good time to send it in. BTW...they did a factory distribution firmware update to my N97...using v12 and I got all the games and bloatware back that went aware after the v11 and v12 self-firmware updates.
To those that got their GPS antennas replaced, does the GPS still work flawlessly with a car charger plugged in? I had my N97 replaced a few months ago because the old one had a completely useless GPS. The replacement one worked better, as long as I wasn't charging it. As soon as I plugged in my car charger the signal would keep dropping, almost as bad as my first N97.
I don't have a car charger to see if it makes any differnence.
I could try using an A/C inverter and the conventional mains charger, but it might take me a day or two to thoroughly test it.
I did read in another forum to consider buying a clamp-on "choke" from Radio Shack or other electronics parts store and installing it on the charging cable, near to where you plug into the N97.
A "choke" is just a wrap-around magnet that prevents the cable from becoming an antenna by surpressing any superimposed frequencies.
theshocker wrote:To those that got their GPS antennas replaced, does the GPS still work flawlessly with a car charger plugged in? I had my N97 replaced a few months ago because the old one had a completely useless GPS. The replacement one worked better, as long as I wasn't charging it. As soon as I plugged in my car charger the signal would keep dropping, almost as bad as my first N97.
I'll try it out in the next few days. The revised hardware has more shielding installed, so hopefully it will fix that too.
