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:
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?