Samsung Galaxy S Series

[Northern-dj]

The point i was makeing is its not just Vodafone customers that have this problem 

XDA have on here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1062225

A Massive thread and there are people from all Networks 

and after all the shouting at Vodafone it may be Samsung  as the phones are unlock try a free simm in and you will find its the same problem 

This is why maybe Vodafone have not looked at this, as it also is effecting other networks 

also Featured on

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s2-international/349619-poor-gps-signal-galaxy-s2.html

so i was also pointing out that your not on your own 

[sc_uk_]

Northern-dj wrote:

The point i was makeing is its not just Vodafone customers that have this problem 

XDA have on here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1062225

A Massive thread and there are people from all Networks 

and after all the shouting at Vodafone it may be Samsung  as the phones are unlock try a free simm in and you will find its the same problem 

This is why maybe Vodafone have not looked at this, as it also is effecting other networks 

also Featured on

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s2-international/349619-poor-gps-signal-galaxy-s2.html

so i was also pointing out that your not on your own 

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If you read my post (quite early on in the thread) you'll see I put an O2 sim in and it worked fine.

I'm embarrassed for Vodafone if this forum is supposed to be staffed by moderators who typify their attitude to customer service.

[JSK73]

And the OP has Vodafone software.

Later posters have either rooted or suggest rooting your phone so can use the fixes that programmes like fasterfix can provide.

I'd love to do it but in terms of warranty it's a no brainer.

So, what we want to know is when will vodafone provide a fix?

[jimleshed]

Just a point of interest.

Researching this on the Web I have found a few instances of people fixing this fault by changing the preset NTP server from North American to European. This could be a total red herring, but it does seem a logical suspect. I cant see any reason why the GPS setting for a European phone should have default GPS setting for North America....

Does anyone who is following this thread have access to an SGS2 that works? And is the NTP_SERVER=north-america.pool.ntp.org setting the same, or set to Europe? I seem to recall there was a poster who had lots of these phones in his company....

Also I'd hope the Vodafone themselves might have a working one and could take 5 minutes of their time to actually look and report back???

JLS

[DJ_Sixty]

Northern-dj : There are two different isues discussed there.
Many people can't find GPS lock even without data connection.
That's not our case. So it must be a network related problem or a software branding related problem.

sc_uk_: Did you configure the O2 internet access so you can connect via O2?

[JSK73]

NTP server is a root file, as such you would need to root your phone to change it.

Not for the faint hearted and not sure about later warranty issues although someone will hopefully tell us...

[jimleshed]

Thanks, I know its a root file, and wont change it myself.

I was just trying to see if anyone could actually prove this works by comparing a working phone with a duff one.

Would be nice to know if this is a real fix, or a red herring.!

JLS

[vahgatsi]

For what it's worth, I have discovered that if I put my Galaxy S II in Flight Mode, it is much much quicker to get a GPS fix and what's more if I then turn Flight Mode Off it will continue to maintain the lock onto the satellites used.

I don't know why.

My Galaxy S2  has recently had a firmware upgrade to Android 2.3.5.

[peter789]

hello vahgatsi,

The reason why you get a gps lock when your phone is in flightmode, is probably because when it is in flightmode you don't have a dataconnection with Vodafone, it is the same result you get when you disable your dataconnection or take het sim from your phone.

As we see here on this forum the gps locks almost instantly when you have no dataconnection with Vodafone.

Once you have a lock and restore the dataconnection the lock indeed remains, but when for instance you start to navigate and loose the lock for instance when driving throuh a tunnel, the lock doesn't restore itsself as it should and the same problem starts al over again.

[Jules59]

COME ON VODAPHONE COME ON

 COME ON VODAPHONE COME ON

  COME ON VODAPHONE COME ON 

   COME ON VODAPHONE COME ON

    COME ON VODAPHONE COME ON

all together now ...

[Northern-dj]

right here is another test TAKE YOUR SIMM OUT

you do not need a simm in for it to work the only way a simm can effect is if there is a data connection effection the memory Hence why in flight mode it works

If with out your simm in then it is either the phone or Firmware

Now if this was just a Vodafone problem then others on XDA would not have this

So to all that have this on Vodafone try taking the simm out or go on flight mode

some of you guys start doing a proses of elimination

Does any one on here have the same problem on a un branded G2 ?????

Has any one spoke to a Service centre yet ????

Not samsung Tecnical they have no idea what day it is ......

But all that seems to be happerning is having a pop at Vodafone
Your not helping each other

and if you insist on not helping then why should i

as clearly you don't need it .

[proxima]

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Northern-dj wrote:

right here is another test TAKE YOUR SIMM OUT

[snip]

But all that seems to be happerning is having a pop at Vodafone

Your not helping each other

---

To be fair Northern-dj, dozens of people on this thread have done exactly what Vodafone asked, namely sending them the firmware details.  We've heard nothing from Vodafone since.  I looked at the XDA thread (didn't have time to read all 30 pages of it though), but didn't understand what conclusion the people there drew, if any.  

But so as not to be accused of not helping myself, I've done as you said with the following results:

SIMM card out (but still connected to WiFi):   Got a fix within 20 seconds, accurate to 15m, with 6 out of 7 satellites locked.

SIMM card back in, Flight mode selected:  No fix after several minutes.  0 out of 3 satellites locked.  (This is unusual, as this is the configuration that has worked on previous days).

SIMM card still in, Flight mode NOT selected, i.e. all connections up:  No fix, 0 out of 4 satellites locked.

It is very foggy here this morning, if that could affect it I don't know (note that all three tests were done within minutes of each other though, including the first successful test).

The small number of satellites even SEEN (i.e. 3 or 4) is different this morning - usually it sees 8 or 10 or more, but fails to lock them.

Now to your point about bashing Vodafone rather than going to a Samsung centre:  I am paying Vodafone for this phone, which is not working as advertised, so I have taken the issue up with Vodafone using the various channels they make available, namely the 'online chat' facility which was frankly comical, and this forum.  If Vodafone want me to take the phone to a Samsung centre, then I will do so when Vodafone ask me to.  

I'm not personally saying this is necessary a problem with Vodafone's network - it may be the phone, the firmware, whatever - but it IS Vodafone's problem to sort out for me - I am their customer; they are taking my money and have provided me with goods that are not working as advertised.

[mebs]

I always thought Vodafone provides the best after-sale service in this country - clearly I was wrong. Since this thread was opened we've seen 3 Vodafone tech support brief and unhelpful comments, no concrete plan, no regular feedback, hence no commitment to fix the problem. <<The eForum is geared towards technical assistance and product and service support. >> - clearly this is not working!

[jimleshed]

Just to reply to Northern DJ.

Yes, various people on here are trying various things. I've spent hours over the last week (since I got the phone) trying different scenarios, research on the WEB, sim in, sim out, flight mode, etc etc.

I have taken my phone back to a Vodafone shop, to get a response after 4 hours that I should reinstall the apps that gave me some form of GPS as the phone does not really support GPS...and I must have installed them incorrectly.I havent bothered to go back to the shop to point out in words of one sylable that they dont have a clue what they are talking about. The phone does have GPS, is advertised as such, and comes with preinstalled apps just for the purpose.

Why oh why didnt I get the Nokia Lumia, I was seriously considering that......Hmmmmm...its out now...

And just to Dig at Vodafone again...why are none of the tech staff replying at the moment? Even an update that they are looking into it would be good...silence just gets us all annoyed and petulant...

JLS

[Northern-dj]

Right now were getting some were, and thank for doing the tests

One conclution seems to be the simm card, as clearly the phone works with out it in, How the simm card can effect any thing i don't no

The key here being that it worked with out the simm in which proves the Firmware is working and the GPS is working

One last test to the Guys that found the phones GPS working with out a simm in have you tried another networks simm in.

If so did you get the same results as the Vodafone sim eg no GPS lock

If you get a GPS lock is it the same as with out a simm in

If with another simm card in from another network you get the same results as the Vodafone one then its a phone fault

If with another simm in you do get a lock them it looks like a simm problem effecting the phone

[jimleshed]

Hmmm...just had a quick look at some of the other providers for reported problems with the SGS2 and GPS.......could not find any.

While it was a quick look, I would have thought if it was a Samsung problem there would be some reports surfacing on other network provider forums.

Another possible indicator that its really Vodafone related.........and they they need to investigate it!

JLS

[Autherford]

Well I am having the same issues as others here - phoned Vodafone this morning - to be read an apparent script suggesting that I contact Samsung directly because it was not Vodafone's problem as all they do is provide a connection. 

When I pointed out that I also purchased the handset and associated software from Vodafone (including the GPS functionality), the operator read the script to me again.

Truly disappointed in Vodafone over this - problems are fine - denial and lack of information are not.

[Northern-dj]

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Autherford wrote:

Well I am having the same issues as others here - phoned Vodafone this morning - to be read an apparent script suggesting that I contact Samsung directly because it was not Vodafone's problem as all they do is provide a connection. 

When I pointed out that I also purchased the handset and associated software from Vodafone (including the GPS functionality), the operator read the script to me again.

Truly disappointed in Vodafone over this - problems are fine - denial and lack of information are not.

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Hold the Phone (excuse the Pun)

Thats Not write

and I agree with what has been said before you purchase this device from them, So you have a contract with them and there quick to point this out on other threads.

I would ring back and ask to speak to a Manager and ask what your consumer rights are and tell them what they have said this only adds to the problem

[proxima]

---

Autherford wrote:

...suggesting that I contact Samsung directly because it was not Vodafone's problem as all they do is provide a connection. 

Even more ironic, given that most people seem to be finding that switching off the connection (i.e. the one thing Vodafone say they provide) seems to make things work better.

Status update please Vodafone?

[Silanos08]

HI

In reply to all your messages re GPS on the SGS2, I m in the same boat.  My wife has a HTC Sensation XE on Vodafone and that wont lock onto GPS either.  However my next door neighbour has a SGS2 on '3' network and he has had no GPS issues with his at all.

Me thinks that this should rule out a manufacturer issue and lay the blame firmly on the doorstep of Vodafone. 

What are Vodafone doing to resolve this issue as at the end of the day whether it appears in balck and white or not, we are paying you for this service and are not getting value for money at this moment in time are we?