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Youi

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#199039 2-Aug-2016 00:08
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Hi geekzoners, I am hoping one (or more!) of you clever folks could please give any insight as to why my new (to me) second-hand, from America (I asked the seller where it came from), Galaxy S4, running android 5.0.1 is able to see 21-27 satellites (according to GPS Status and toolbox/ GPS Test apps) but is unable to lock to any. I've followed this http://androidforums.com/threads/gps-fix-dummies-guide.761247/ page several times but still after sitting outside for ages (clear blue sky today!) it still wont lock. My partner also has a second hand S4 but we're assuming its a NZ one as it is able to find and lock pretty quickly.


I'm not sure what info is helpful so here is everything I know/have done:

 

  •     Bought 32GB Galaxy S4 GT-i9505 on Trademe from well-known reseller of (most likely, mainly imported) second hand devices.
  •     Tried for a week to get GPS to work (with and without data or wifi on).
  •     With data/wifi on it gets me about 50-100m away from where I really am (using Google Maps and Pokemon to test) and there are dead spots all over the city where it puts me even further away. Close, but not close enough to be helpful lol.
  •     "Searching for GPS" keeps flicking in the notifications area and never goes away (I assume it goes away or becomes a stable icon when you "find" GPS?).
  •     Couldn't find satellites let alone lock onto any but followed the above mentioned fix guide in case.
  •     No GPS independent of data/wifi.
  •     Sighed, and put this first phone back in its box.


Round two:

 

  •     Seller sent a replacement phone which got here this morning (we'll call it 'second phone') and my partner and I have essentially spent the day trying to make second phone work to no avail, second phone can see 22 satellites right now (according to the GPS Status app) but cannot seem to lock to any (sat outside away from buildings for ages as the guide says, took it for a walk around Wellington city in case that would help but it didn't).
  •     Followed the guide mentioned above (which includes things such as: making AGPS data update more often, resetting and re-downloading AGPS data, compass and pitch and roll calibrations, reset data - flight mode - leave it for 20mins - flight mode off - re-download data) etc.
  •     Asked seller to tell us exactly what they did to confirm GPS was working on second phone before sending it, like they said they would. Seller says "we tested it outside, gps worked". Well thanks... that's not what I asked. I wanted to know if they used Google Maps or a GPS Checker app etc to make sure the GPS was working independently of data/wifi.
  •     We are assuming that its a software problem that might be caused by whatever the seller has done to the phone to make it ready for sale in NZ (updating Android or apps etc); Root Checker Basic app says it has not been rooted.
  •     I've tightened the screws under the back cover as some people have found that helped, it did not.
  •     I don't have Yahoo Weather installed to be able to remove, as some people found that was causing the issue for them.
  •     Un-installed the few apps I had installed (banking, music player, nova launcher, pokemon lol) and hunted for any other weather apps that might be interfering (turned off/disabled built in Weather app but it made no difference).
  •     Seller says send them both back for a full refund+postage. Which is lovely, but id REALLY REALLY like to get one of them to work with GPS so I don't have to go through the mental drudgery of trying to find another suitable second hand S4 on Trademe for under $250.



Here's all the info from the about section of the phone:
Device name: Galaxy S4
Model number: GT-I9505
Android version: 5.0.1
Android security patch level: 2015-11-01
Baseband version: sc04eomugoi4
Kernel version: 3.4.0-5770289, dpi@swhd4009 #1, wed sept 9 11:25:40 KST 2015
Build number: lrx22c.19595zhuhok2
SE for android status: Enforcing, sepf_sc-04e_5.0.1-1_0035, wed sept 09 11:28:42 2015
Secure boot status: type:samsung
Security software version: mdf v1.0 release 4, vpn v1.4 release 3
KNOX version: KNOX 2.3, standard sdk 5.3.0, premium sdk 2.3.0, customization sdk 2.0.0, container 2.3.0m cep 2.0.1, enterprise billing 1.0.0, se for android 2.3.0, sso 2.1.1, tima 2.0, vpn 2.2.0


Stuff that's in the Downloaded section of the App Manager that I don't recognise:
ANT radio service
ANT+ plugins service
SKMSAgentService


Stuff that's in the Disabled section of the App Manager:
Click to see full size

I know bugger all about this stuff but we feel we've done our best and still cant make it work. Help, please and thank you?


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tripp
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  #1602638 2-Aug-2016 06:50
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If you don't feel conformable about doing the stuff below then best to send the phones back for a refund, if you do flash the phone then the seller may also reject your request for a refund etc.

 

If you do the following it's at your own risk.

 

 

 

You could try flashing the non branded AU firmware on it via odin.

 

 

 

Download phone info and have a look at what CSC code the firmware/phone is, it will give you and idea of what they have flashed and what region the phone is setup for (each telco/country has a different csc, like sparks is TNZ, 2degrees is NZC, non telco AU is XSA).

 

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vndnguyen.phoneinfo 

 

 

 

Latest non branded firmware from AU

 

http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/database/GT-I9505/XSA/

 

Use http://updato.com/firmware-archive-select-model?r=XSA&v=&q=s4 to download firmware as it's a lot faster than sammobile

 

 

 

Odin (if you flash the firmware it will reset the phone due to the CSC change, make sure you backup anything you need too).

 

Search on google for how to use Odin with the firmware download, odin is up to version 3.11 so get the latest.

 

There is a very basic how to use odin on the link below, just ignore the top part about turning on pin etc.

 

http://forum.xda-developers.com/s7-edge/how-to/official-stock-firmware-update-odin-t3335065

 

 

 

 Using samsung release firmware will not trip Knox.  However if the phone has been rooted before then knox will already be tripped on the device.

 

 

 

Over all it's not to hard if you follow the "how to's".

 

Whatever you do however do not unplug the device if it's just sitting there while flashing, it might not look like it's doing anything but it will be.  First boots after flashing also takes a while.

 

 




Batman
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  #1602640 2-Aug-2016 07:07
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I had the same problem. I bought S2 and S4 from Australia. GPS never locks 99% of the time. Flashed all kinds of things on it. Firmwares, set the GPS satellite/regions etc. Complete waste of my time. Funny thing is, other people seem to have no problems with theirs.

 

So I went to iPhone. I want to call it names but afraid I might get told off by mods.


Youi

80 posts

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  #1602696 2-Aug-2016 09:17
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 Update: I had a feeling I had misremembered if the first phone was seeing satellites or not so I rechecked the first phone and it is. So both phones can see the satellites but cannot lock on to any.




NikT
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  #1602730 2-Aug-2016 10:01
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Whoa, that's a Superuser (root permissions management) utility in the 'disabled' section - I would not trust the software that device is running with a ten-foot pole, as it has clearly been modified.

 

 

 

I would suggest following tripp's instructions to flash either the AU open market build or the NZ build for the telco you're using ASAP, and wiping all data.





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Smartphones @ PB Tech | Headphones @ PB Tech


timmmay
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  #1602732 2-Aug-2016 10:13
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If stock ROM doesn't work try Resurrection Remix, which works great on my S4 GT-i9505. There's a great XDA thread on it. Basically you need to install a custom recovery, then from the custom recovery back up your phone to your external SD card, format the phone internal storage completely, then install RR. Everything works well, and with Amplify and Greenify battery use is great.


Dairyxox
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  #1602761 2-Aug-2016 11:04
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It might be a counterfeit device. I've seen a few fake Galaxy S4 phones around, that have dodgy software. They will misrepresent several device stats like cores, frequency, Nand flash capacity, Gps capability

Youi

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  #1602802 2-Aug-2016 12:04
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Dairyxox: It might be a counterfeit device. I've seen a few fake Galaxy S4 phones around, that have dodgy software. They will misrepresent several device stats like cores, frequency, Nand flash capacity, Gps capability

 

Huh, interesting, any easy way to tell if either of the phones are counterfeit?


 
 
 
 

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MikeAqua
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  #1602805 2-Aug-2016 12:09
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Geo-fenced?





Mike


Batman
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  #1602873 2-Aug-2016 13:12
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Not geofenced. Mine never locks in the country where I bought it either. Having said that, I did flash stuff, all the time. But reflashing stock doesn't seem to resurrect the GPS. I cannot say if the GPS worked when it was stock ... can't remember.


Dairyxox
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  #1602891 2-Aug-2016 13:41
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Youi:

Dairyxox: It might be a counterfeit device. I've seen a few fake Galaxy S4 phones around, that have dodgy software. They will misrepresent several device stats like cores, frequency, Nand flash capacity, Gps capability

 

Huh, interesting, any easy way to tell if either of the phones are counterfeit?

 

 

How much did you pay for them?

 

I cant remember how to spot them, but maybe open it up and look at the battery. See if it has all the official markings and logo. From memory even the samsung logo appeared in a slightly different font/style.

 

 

Try running one of the same benchmarks listed here or here and see if it matches the results from those pages.

 

 

Another list of benchmarks results here:

 

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Qualcomm-Snapdragon-600-SoC.90004.0.html

 

 

Also this site might help:

 

http://www.nairaland.com/1575459/fake-samsung-galaxy-s4-all/5

mentalinc
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  #1602896 2-Aug-2016 13:44
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As above wipe and start fresh.

 

Download GPS status. enable keeping the screen on.

 

Set the phone outside in the open (away from trees and builinds) for 10 minutes or so with GPS status running in the foreground.

 

This should be ample time to get a lock (maybe you';re not waiting long enough)?





CPU: AMD 5900x | RAM: GSKILL Trident Z Neo RGB F4-3600C16D-32GTZNC-32-GB | MB:  Asus X570-E | GFX: EVGA FTW3 Ultra RTX 3080Ti| Monitor: LG 27GL850-B 2560x1440

 

Quic: https://account.quic.nz/refer/473833 R473833EQKIBX 


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  #1602961 2-Aug-2016 14:13
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10 mins! My many year old iphone can lock indoors in under 3 seconds


xpd

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  #1602985 2-Aug-2016 14:46
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Wow.... didnt know they sold these things legally :D

 

http://www.dhgate.com/product/i6s-plus-5-5-inch-unlock-phone-mtk6572-dual/387685264.html#s1-0-1b;srp|2533448439





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gregmcc
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  #1603041 2-Aug-2016 15:46
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mentalinc:

As above wipe and start fresh.


Download GPS status. enable keeping the screen on.


Set the phone outside in the open (away from trees and builinds) for 10 minutes or so with GPS status running in the foreground.


This should be ample time to get a lock (maybe you';re not waiting long enough)?



it's not so much a GPS lock but downloading the data so that the GPS knows where in the world it is, this quite common with GPS's (and phones) when there is a big move in location while the phone is off

tripp
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  #1603095 2-Aug-2016 16:46
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NikT:

 

Whoa, that's a Superuser (root permissions management) utility in the 'disabled' section - I would not trust the software that device is running with a ten-foot pole, as it has clearly been modified.

 

 

 

I would suggest following tripp's instructions to flash either the AU open market build or the NZ build for the telco you're using ASAP, and wiping all data.

 

 

 

 

I did see that as well, that is why I put the line in about Knox being triggered if rooted.

 

But Nik is right, I would not really trust a phone that came with superuser already installed.

 

 

 

At this stage if I was you I think i would be asking for a refund.


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