GPS problems with Focus S

[SteveF101]

Hi all,

I'm having a pretty serious problem with the GPS on my Focus.

I have a Samsung Focus S (i937) I got it a few weeks ago and have been over all VERY pleased with it except for one major problem, the GPS seems to work rarely if at all when initially it worked great.

I wanted to use it as a in car navigation system, so I tried out a couple of apps and was pretty pleased overall with it so I ponied up the bucks ($50.00 ouch!!!) for the Navigon app intending to use it to replace my ancient GPS unit. It worked great for a few days but then stopped working, I wasn't able to get a GPS signal most of the time, every once in awhile it seems to work briefly but then stops.

I tried AT&T technical support but they were no help, after many hours on the phone with them, they transferred me to Samsung customer support who had me turn the Use Glonass setting off, remove the battery, wait a bit, put the battery back in and turn Glonass back on. This will work for a day or two but then it dies again and I have to go through that process again.

Other things I've tried, all updates to the phone have been installed, and I've tried other apps (GPS info, GPS Sattellite) to see if they can get a GPS signal and none of them can except briefly. I've tried turning off the phone outside and powering it back up while outside, removing the battery and letting it sit for awhile, turning off Bluetooth and Wifi to see if they might have been interfering, turning location services (GPS) on\off and still can't get a signal.

I have been letting it sit in the open outside with a clear view so physical signal blockage should be an issue as well as trying it in the car. I've also left the Nav app running to\from work plugged in and charging and every once in awhile it will briefly connect and provide navigation but it will lose signal after a few minutes.

Any thoughts or advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Thanks!

 

[idrewpage]

GPS problems

This really seems like a hardware problem. My Focus S, with the Glosnass assist, gets a GPS lock faster than any other smartphone I've had. I've not seen any problems with holding a signal either. See if you can get AT&T to replace your phone.

 

[SteveF101]

This really seems like a hardware problem. My Focus S, with the Glosnass assist, gets a GPS lock faster than any other smartphone I've had. I've not seen any problems with holding a signal either. See if you can get AT&T to replace your phone.

Yeah, that was what I am afraid of. AT$T was fighting that tooth and nail, they kept saying that because I was using it as a GoPhone it wasn't "supported" and that some features might not work. I called BS on that and asked them how to explain to me how a standalone GPS signal that doesn't require a data or cell signal wouldn't work, they couldn't and kept saying that it wasn't supported before they gave up and transferred me to Samsung. Totally pissed me off big time. I'm going to try Samsung again tonight and see what they say and then try AT$T again to see if they have a solution, but not holding out any hope that they will replace the phone. The rest of the phones features work great, so it isn't a total loss but I would still be out $50.00 bones for the darn Navigon app.

 

[idrewpage]

Yeah, that was what I am afraid of. AT$T was fighting that tooth and nail, they kept saying that because I was using it as a GoPhone it wasn't "supported" and that some features might not work. I called BS on that and asked them how to explain to me how a standalone GPS signal that doesn't require a data or cell signal wouldn't work, they couldn't and kept saying that it wasn't supported before they gave up and transferred me to Samsung. Totally pissed me off big time. I'm going to try Samsung again tonight and see what they say and then try AT$T again to see if they have a solution, but not holding out any hope that they will replace the phone. The rest of the phones features work great, so it isn't a total loss but I would still be out $50.00 bones for the darn Navigon app.

Really. I can understand if using it as a Go Phone caused data problems, but GPS? How is that affected? Anyways, the navigon app is great, and if you get a phone with working GPS, you'll love it. I used it on my iPhone 4 (when I had the iPhone 4). It should be interesting to see what WP8 devices come out this fall. I am looking at either one of those, or an iPhone 5. We shall see.

 

[SteveF101]

Really. I can understand if using it as a Go Phone caused data problems, but GPS? How is that affected? Anyways, the navigon app is great, and if you get a phone with working GPS, you'll love it. I used it on my iPhone 4 (when I had the iPhone 4). It should be interesting to see what WP8 devices come out this fall. I am looking at either one of those, or an iPhone 5. We shall see.

Well here's my latest saga with this problem...

I added a prepay data package to my phone and GPS still didn't work, so I called up Samsung directly, they said this time that the phone was defective and that they would fix it but it would take about 2 weeks to get it back, they told me to contact AT&T again and see about getting a replacement phone. I asked Samsung if the lack of a data plan would cause no GPS signal, they wouldn't answer, go figure...

So then called up AT&T, went through the whole troubleshooting spiel with them again but this time the support person agreed with Samsung that there was a problem with the phone and transferred me to warranty dept. to get a replacement phone. Warranty dept said that the data plan I was using wasn't "supported" since it was a GoPhone account data plan.

I asked her to explain to me how a "supported" data connection and not a "unsupported" data signal differs and how it would affect a GPS signal, she couldn't. Basically after another long back and forth hassle, they flat out said that unless the phone was being used on a contract plan that they would not replace or fix it and that the 4g "contract" data is somehow different from the GoPhone data, sigh... I'm tempted to sign up for a contract plan for just a month just to find out for sure but hate to give those pricks any more of my money.

Also I never could get an answer from them why the GPS worked fine for a few weeks without a data plan if it was needed for a GPS signal.