Apparent GPS Failure

[spalding12]

I'd still really like a Verizon tech (who knows his rectal orifice from his elbow [meaning for a start that they don't work in a VZW store]) to explain what the heck is actually going on, what steps Verizon is taking to rectify the situation and give us a proper estimation for the fix. :icon_evil:

EXACTLY.....
but, will that EVER happen?
verizon is surely NOT impressing me with its seeming INability to handle THIS situation

where's that guy from the commercials:

"CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?"
i really don't think they can :icon_eek:

 

[spalding12]

The people at the store assured me that the GPS will be fixed with the DEC 11 update and that I am going to get another 30 days to return the phone if it is not fixed. Sounds fair, but I don't want another phone, I just want this one to work.

well....
they are clearly wrong
and, once again, prove to us that STORE EMPLOYEES DON'T KNOW ANYTHING

this december 11th "EVENT" is a motorola firmware update being given to us VIA verizon
it will have NOTHING to do with the gps problem
IF there even is a viable "fix" that will have to come separately....
and only be successful if verizon is willing and able to fully integrate alltel and verizon towers....
they've promised this 'BY THE END OF 2010'
i'm not sure they can ramp up anything to do it MUCH sooner

 

[spalding12]

I don't understand either why it needs to use the towers for GPS - isn't aGPS just a way to accelerate satellite lock times? I mean what should a cell tower ultimately have to do with the Droid's ability to lock satellites in the sky that should be visible from anywhere in the world with a clear view?

Ryan

ryan....
our droids (ex-alltel folks) have "network-mediated" locatability (not a word, of course)
this means that my phone can "SEE" where the towers are and can ATTEMPT to "triangulate" my position based on THEIR location

agps data "looks" at satellites....
and transmits the data to our droids so that the phone can act just like a regular garmin, etc gps device

there is no SIRF III chip in a droid that can see the satellites directly
the droid can only utilize what data the tower will give it

ex-alltel towers don't SEE GPS data and, therefore, cannot relay it to our phones

so.....
not sure how they can make the alltel towers "SEE" the gps data
alltel never used a system like this... so, while our ex-alltel towers actually are newer technology than the verizon ones (in my area of the country).... agps acquisition and transmission isn't on board, at all

 

[spalding12]

They have begun releasing the OTA update a few days earlier than originally listed. My phone updated yesterday and I am currently running Android firmware 2.0.1 and my GPS issues continue unimproved.

what exactly have your noticed about your droid AFTER the firmware update?

 

[spalding12]

I'm ex-Alltel as well, have the Alltel PRL (30050) etc, yet my GPS does work fine here in Arizona as far as I've seen. I'm positive I'm on Alltel towers - my network shows up as "Unknown", no Verizon network name on the lock screen, my roommate's "real" VZW phone has a better signal than mine etc...

my PRL is now 30050, as well
but....
it has made no difference to my gps woes, unfortunately

 

[ronsurf69]

roaming data usage

I tried setting my phone to use Data even when roaming today. It seems to work better, though the gps still can't keep up most of the time. I actually used Google maps to get to my house today. LOL Maybe someday it will work. It was the main feature I bought it for.

 

[Derekv]

Still no fix here in Carrolwood. I have got a signal maybe twice, and i am guessing that i was on a verizon tower. Anyone try switching to a Verizon prl? I would think that the drop in service would be negligible. I would gladly go verizon towers if it means gps, since this phone is very gps centric.

 

[ronsurf69]

new prl 65073 NAV still thinks I live on the other side of the river.

 

[spalding12]

Still no fix here in Carrolwood. I have got a signal maybe twice, and i am guessing that i was on a verizon tower. Anyone try switching to a Verizon prl? I would think that the drop in service would be negligible. I would gladly go verizon towers if it means gps, since this phone is very gps centric.

there is no way to make your phone accept a verizon PRL
because of your phone number..... IT TELLS THE COMPUTER what PRL to download.... when you dial *228

and.....
as for your "negigible" comment
that isn't true
especially in pinellas county
verizon signal is FAR WORSE than that of alltel....
it's been that way for years

 

[spalding12]

new prl 65073 NAV still thinks I live on the other side of the river.

maybe it's time to move..... :icon_ banana:

 

[papy72]

and.....
as for your "negigible" comment
that isn't true
especially in pinellas county
verizon signal is FAR WORSE than that of alltel....
it's been that way for years

In all the years I have had VZ for my wireless I've never had an issue with the signal in Pinellas.

 

[Derekv]

Still no fix here in Carrolwood. I have got a signal maybe twice, and i am guessing that i was on a verizon tower. Anyone try switching to a Verizon prl? I would think that the drop in service would be negligible. I would gladly go verizon towers if it means gps, since this phone is very gps centric.

there is no way to make your phone accept a verizon PRL
because of your phone number..... IT TELLS THE COMPUTER what PRL to download.... when you dial *228

and.....
as for your "negigible" comment
that isn't true
especially in pinellas county
verizon signal is FAR WORSE than that of alltel....
it's been that way for years

I understand that Alltel had many many many towers here. It is why I stuck with Alltel for so many years, and before that GTE, even though they had crap phones that came out months after the other major cell co's. I also know many friends with real Verizon plans and they have great reception on the Tampa side of the bay.

At the moment there are various people working on using different phone tools to manually load a PRL on their droids (mostly to switch to other CDMA providers).

 

[ronsurf69]

I spent an hour with tech support. the solution was to go to a tech and get the upgrade. the tech tried hard, but really had no clue about the Droid. No help. They don't even have a tech in the Sarasota area who could manually upgrade my phone. I told her nevermind, since we know it wouldn't help anyway. Well, at least I tried.

 

[ronsurf69]

guess I could finally convince my wife to get that Sailboat! LOL:icon_ banana:

 

[ronsurf69]

I found this article which may help to explain why we of the Alltel past are having trouble with the Verizon present.

GPS vs. aGPS: A Quick Tutorial | WMExperts