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I travel a lot, and I'm a minimalist. In other words, I'll travel for a week and take a paper lunch bag as my carry-on with hopes that I can get by with wearing the same outfit the entire week. I don't like carrying a full Navigation system and use my phone. This isn't an 'iPhone lovefest' because honestly, I hate everything about Apple, but I never had problems like this on my iPhone.
My problem though is the GPS. I'm on my third phone because of the GPS. The first phone would never get a lock on GPS. I could be sitting outside with a GPS satellite dedicated to me directly above me, and it would still say "Searching for Satellite". That phone went back and I took on another one.
Second phone had a problem where every now and then it would work, then stop working and never start working again until I rebooted the phone and even then it was questionable if it would start working again.
I just got my third phone a couple days ago. I did a stock root w/ no bootloaders, used Entropy's 11/13 Kernel, then threw on UnNamed ROM. This morning, I started up my car to drive somewhere and decided to test the GPS/Navigation. It took it a couple minutes to find the Satellite, then all seemed to be working ok. Then 20 minutes later it dropped the Satellite and it spent the next 40 minutes of my drive into the office saying "Searching for Satellite" no matter what I did.
This is really important to me as is the ability to tether when I want to (hence the reason I want a phone I can Root). So what can I do. At the moment, I've (In my head, so I could be wrong) narrowed it down to a couple things that could be wrong.
1. It's the ROM that's the problem. Though unlikely, it is a factor and it's me messing with the way the phone was designed and distributed.
2. It's the GPS in general. Seems like 95% of the people on here aren't having problems at all. There does seem to be 5% that seem to be having the same problems I am.
3. My region has crappy Satellite Coverage. Doubtful since my iPhone worked fine, and unless Apple did something amazing like put in an entire dedicated Satellite network to work with Jailbroke iPhones then this kinds of negates this though.
4. My cars are interferring. While this is entirely a possibility (I never do think to test this out in the open not in a car, so i can't say for sure) if it is the problem, then the device goes back as it's much cheaper to get a new device than to replace 2 cars. Again, though, my iPhone never had a problem doing this in these cars.
I love the phone, the speed, the Android OS etc... I don't want to go back to an iPhone because I"ll shoot myself. I just want to be able to have GPS work on this as it's the only hold up on the device. Any help anyone can do?
Take it back then. Honestly you say you have tried 3 different phones and all 3 are broken. I call bull****.
Never had a problem with it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
You didn't mention if you've tried in ANY of the three (3) phones if the GPS worked before rooting?? I'm not saying it's the rooting that's causing the problem, but I'm still running stock on my SGSII and have had no issues with GPS? Not saying it's not possible but three phones is kinda stretching it a bit to all have the same issue.
Yes, I know you took it back to STOCK rom with #3 but who knows if the STOCK ROM is really *STOCK*, you should try a new phone #4 stock without ROOT for at least a day or two to determine if it is a DESIGN/HARDWARE issue rule that out first and then try from there... If this still happens with STOCK phone, you may have to switch to another phone (iphone or otherwise)...
Good Luck!
I just took it back to stock and was going to go outside to see if it had problems finding service. Though as mentioned in many other threads on here, it's not so much it finding you when you're standing still. It's when you're driving the streets of Atlanta that things get crazy.
stalked_r/t said:
I just took it back to stock and was going to go outside to see if it had problems finding service. Though as mentioned in many other threads on here, it's not so much it finding you when you're standing still. It's when you're driving the streets of Atlanta that things get crazy.
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Hi Stalk,
Keep in STOCK mode and drive around with it and see if this is still an issue then... Also if you have an aluminum case, this has been a known issue where the TARGUS (SP?) korean made BEAUTIFUL/GORGEOUS case affected the GPS antennae. Try it stock no case on the dash away from DIRECT sunslight and begin troubleshooting there...
UNFORTUNATELY it may boil down to Stock and working GPS or ROOT with Tethering... You ***MIGHT*** not be able to do both...
Good Luck...
If you JUST root, it shouldn't affect GPS - but test without rooting first.
And I agree - if you've got a metal case, DITCH IT.
So far, my experience is that the GPS chipset is almost as good as any standalone GPS chipset I've used - Sirf StarIII, MTKv2, STM Cartesio (the latter being the chipset in my Garmin Oregon, the former being chipsets in various Bluetooth dataloggers I've used for hiking). Actually, the GPS in this phone beats the StarIII and is around on par with the Cartesio. So far nothing I've ever used can touch an MTKv2 though.
I'm used to phones having crappy awful GPS chipsets - this is the first device I would ever consider using for geocaching on its own.
Thanks for the replies. I did test just now on the way to and from lunch with stock everything. I do have a case that's part aluminum (Case-Mate). I didn't try it without the case. didn't even think it could affect this.
Running a stock setup, I attempted to get navigation to my lunch location The drive was about 6 miles each way. When I left the office, I started Navigation. It never found a satellite enroute to the restaurant. I never stopped it during lunch from looking, though I was in a building, so i didn't expect it to find anything. On the way home, same status. Searching for satellites. I'm torn. I want this phone bad, love the Dev support, and there's nothing coming from AT&T that makes me want to use an old Blackberry to wait for. I also don't know what I can do to test this further.
On the way home, I'm going to do something very simple. I'm going to wipe the phone. I'm going to skip all steps of the initial setup, just have service and that's it. I'll start navigation and have it direct me home. If it doesn't work, I'll look at my options. If it works, then I know it's an app that's causing the problem.
Unless someone else can think of something for me to try. I wish this just worked like I know it can.
Ok. So an update. Wiped phone, not even associated with Google, Removed my 32 gig SD card for the heck of it, removed the case. Started nav and INSANTLY inside a building it had me pinpointed and was directing me to the next turn point to get home.
Here's the case I have: http://www.case-mate.com/Samsung-Ga...rsion-Barely-There-Brushed-Aluminum-Cases.asp
In one of the reviews, this is said:
As much as I wanted to love this case, I couldn't. I've used many Case Mate products before and I am just disappointed in them for the lack of quality of this case. There is a noticeable issue with the case fitting the bezel on the top right corner of the phone. The lip of the case fails to properly wrap around the front bezel. There is also the connectivity problems that come with this case. GPS has especially weakened with this case on. Other than that, I like the quality material that this case is built out of and feels very sturdy. Unfortunately though as of this writing, this is really the only choice for a decent case for this phone on the market. Time will tell if better choices come about.
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I'm going to keep this setup through tomorrow, then root the phone if there's no difference in performance and all is well. If that works fine for 2 days, I'll throw the Kernel on and throw UnNamed on. If that works, I'll throw the case on and see what happens. I now feel like this could be the problem. Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'll continue my abuse of the "THANKS" button and thank you all.
ride home was flawless. If ride to work tomorrow is flawless, I'll root and flash.
Entropy512 said:
If you JUST root, it shouldn't affect GPS - but test without rooting first.
And I agree - if you've got a metal case, DITCH IT.
So far, my experience is that the GPS chipset is almost as good as any standalone GPS chipset I've used - Sirf StarIII, MTKv2, STM Cartesio (the latter being the chipset in my Garmin Oregon, the former being chipsets in various Bluetooth dataloggers I've used for hiking). Actually, the GPS in this phone beats the StarIII and is around on par with the Cartesio. So far nothing I've ever used can touch an MTKv2 though.
I'm used to phones having crappy awful GPS chipsets - this is the first device I would ever consider using for geocaching on its own.
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I haven't gotten enough free time to log the NMEA output, but I don't think our "SirfSTAR IV" chipset is actually even using DGPS/WAAS. Which makes the accuracy it get's even more impressive. The chip definitely supports WAAS, but who knows exactly how the implementation is done between Android & Samsung...
I've also owned a SirfStar III based Bluetooth GPS, a MTK-based GPS (also the best I've found), and several phones with dedicated and integrated GPS chipsets. Have to agree our GS2 is one of the best. I can't exactly wander around the house and have it track my every movement like my Bluetooth pucks can (also having a large ceramic patch antenna helps a bit no doubt), but my GS2 locks fast, and stays locked. What else can you want from a GPS?
Might be worth it to look into WAAS either way though. On any standalone GPS unit, WAAS is the difference between 15-30 meter accuracy, and 3-5 meter (or better) accuracy. That is unless you have a military GPS unit, and the appropriate keys to receive the high accuracy P(Y)/M signals...
If you want to get a good idea of how the GPS is doing, this app will show you the strength of your GPS lock:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.eclipsim.gpsstatus2
Also, upon further research, the NMEA output is reporting that WAAS/DGPS is not in use.
Example: "$GPGGA,222520.000,4218.460926,N,07111.901869,W,1,06,1.2,77.1,M,-33.8,M,,*53"
Where the bold "1" should be 2, and the null field right before the checksum "*53" should be the age of the DGPS/WAAS info if it were in use.
The chipset in our phones (http://www.csr.com/products/35/sirfstariv-gsd4e) clearly states that it supports WAAS. And since the choice of DGPS or not is solely in the hands of the chip and software (wiring/antenna connection/configuration is irrelevant) perhaps there is a way to enable the DGPS mode? If so, I'm sure we would all see MUCH better position and accuracy information.
WAAS probably requires modifications to the host processing binary (SIRFHost)
BTW, our chip is a GSD4t, not 4e.
I was having problems with my gps losing its lock for the longest time, i got a replacement phone and it started doing it again AFTER root. Im thinking some app might be causing the issue. I read somewhere that ROM Manager can cause issues. I deleted it and so far my gps has been working. I am really baffled on to what can be causing it.
stalked_r/t said:
ride home was flawless. If ride to work tomorrow is flawless, I'll root and flash.
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Its the case man. Great looking case, but kills the cell signal and terrible GPS. Mine went back after 3 days.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App
Yep. Ride into work today lost signal once. After letting it sit for a couple minutes, I rebooted. After reboot it worked flawlessly. Definitely the case at this point. Putting Root/Kernel/ROM on it today and seeing how the drive home is. If it's good, then the case can be tossed and I'll find a different one.
Entropy512 said:
WAAS probably requires modifications to the host processing binary (SIRFHost)
BTW, our chip is a GSD4t, not 4e.
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Good catch. Interesting. Haven't checked out the sources, but I'm assuming all the GPS binaries are blobs? And source is not available?
Always wondered why mobile phones never have WAAS support... course then again, if the hardware was developed in Korea, that would make a little bit of sense. Seeing as there isn't WAAS coverage there, although I do believe there is an alternate DGPS solution for Asia.
SO after all the people worrying me I got mine today from Game Stop. Opened it up, rooted it, installed root keeper, upgraded to ICS and upgraded the camera. Wifi works fantastic at my work so far, and GPS locked me on me as soon as I upgraded Google Maps. It wasn't 100% perfect but it was accurate upto 20 meters.
I know this isnt a blog site, I just wanted to give some positive feedback after reading all of these nightmares forever.
Also, I am using wifi and my bluetooth mouse with no problems either.
Now we just need some love from ASUS so we can get some custom ROMs/Kernels
Told ya..lol. Glad to hear its working well for ya.
DroidHam said:
Wifi works fantastic at my work so far, and GPS locked me on me as soon as I upgraded Google Maps. It wasn't 100% perfect but it was accurate upto 20 meters.
Also, I am using wifi and my bluetooth mouse with no problems either.
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I do NOT want to be the one to rain on anybody's parade and insist that someone shouldn't love the product they just bought. Hell, I love my Prime as well, although I'm still debating whether to return the one I have with broken haptic feedback in hopes of finally getting one where at least every major component just functions at all.
That said, we do need to keep the issues clear that actually do exist. So:
1. If you have GPS completely turned off, Google Maps will still locate you to 20 meters via wifi-based location services. In fact, you might find that your GPS actually is turned off by default (I can't remember whether mine was on or off out of the box and following the ICS update). However, locking to 20 meters accuracy when connected to wifi has pretty much nothing to do with working or non-working GPS.
2. If you have another Bluetooth device to try other than a mouse, it would be interesting to see if you can stream more data (say, a BT headphone and streaming audio) and retain full wifi performance at the same time.
Nice to hear, I hope it stays (almost perfect).
Just to worry you some more:
Make sure you are streaming audio to a bluetooth from a video or something online. YOu want to make sure your BlueTooth is actually streaming something, and not simply turned on.
Check the edges of your screen. Make sure your screen is not lifting away from the back. This may or may not be a problem for your, but for my prime and some others, the glass appears to be raised above the Back Panel and can basically be pushed flush against it.
I love my prime, I love it. Except, I cannot update it cause I have no Serial Number. Even with my screen a little raised, and some light bleed on the right hand side, I would keep it if I could update the firmware. But I cannot, and have to take it back.
DroidHam said:
SO after all the people worrying me I got mine today from Game Stop. Opened it up, rooted it, installed root keeper, upgraded to ICS and upgraded the camera. Wifi works fantastic at my work so far, and GPS locked me on me as soon as I upgraded Google Maps. It wasn't 100% perfect but it was accurate upto 20 meters.
I know this isnt a blog site, I just wanted to give some positive feedback after reading all of these nightmares forever.
Also, I am using wifi and my bluetooth mouse with no problems either.
Now we just need some love from ASUS so we can get some custom ROMs/Kernels
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Google maps locks on for me at 20 meters accuracy. Although when I try Google Nav. No such luck. Glad yours is near perfect
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
You all are funny..lol
Everything is nice on my Prime. The one thing I noticed on the native video player when playing mkv files. I would get these lines outside the playing video. But if played from a third party player like mx player I have no problems.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Mine is almost perfect save for a spec of dust under the LCD which causes a small greyish dark shadow on white/bright backgrounds...Problem is best buy where i bought it from is out of stock...and with the unknown serial number problem seemingly becoming more commonplace...i dont want to risk replacing this one that works perfect and has one small imperfection...and getting one thats unrootable and unupgradeable...im thinking i will just keep this one and RMA it later on if need be when the bugs and issues have been worked out down the line after all the tab is covered by a 1 year warranty with Asus.
3rdamention said:
Make sure you are streaming audio to a bluetooth from a video or something online. YOu want to make sure your BlueTooth is actually streaming something, and not simply turned on.
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I am not the OP...but ran this test with 20 minutes of streaming video from YouTube and Netflix without issues. I think some people got a bad bad batch.
mike infinity said:
I am not the OP...but ran this test with 20 minutes of streaming video from YouTube and Netflix without issues. I think some people got a bad bad batch.
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What Bluetooth device were you streaming to; presumably it was audio? While you were streaming to Bluetooth, did you do any SpeedTest runs? Would be interesting to see if you were able to maintain full Internet connectivity over wifi while streaming to Bluetooth...
my replacement ATP should be in today or tomorrow..i hope so.
They have one from a preorder that never picked up and the manager and I both agreed that it would be better not to open up one from the same "batch" but try fresh with this new batch..regardless if the units being released now are the same as before...(i doubt this from a production/shipping standpoint..otherwise if no new units were created...why the massive shortage upon release?)
the last question was more rhetorical.
Glad to see you have yours....I love mine other than what others are facing...screen separation, no GPS(none), WiFi is intermittently crappy...BT issue is intermittent..and something i haven't seen anyone talk about..i have a dead-zone right where the WLAN module seems to be. I've used both the developer screen visualizer and Multitouch Visualizer and have posted the video's confirming it "Skips" at the exact same spot and ONLY that spot.
Being an original transformer owner....I am in love with this one! IMO It is working great right out of the box smooth as butter.... I really don't know whats up with all these post about ICS being buggy,laggy,crashing.....?? This tablet is going to sell because its nice,fast,the screen is amazing and it's beat every other company off the line with cutting edge software & hardware... I'm not saying its perfect but it sure works for me.
I heared Gamespot have some problems with returning policy so im afraid to order one from them... happy to hear you got a good one tho.
but why did you root it? is that a MUST ?
vitalero said:
I heared Gamespot have some problems with returning policy so im afraid to order one from them... happy to hear you got a good one tho.
but why did you root it? is that a MUST ?
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My first Prime I got from GS non tablet store. I was able to return it within the 30 day policy. I just explained about the GPS and random shutdowns and that was that got my money back and now have my replacement from OD. I'm happy and rooted! Can't wait for the unlock bootloader tool.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
After messing around since christmas day trying to use my Gear S as a standalone to use for running i have finally given up and are putting up for sale . The fact that the GPS is super fast one day then no luck the next day just doesnt work for me . After the latest firmware which seemed to fix it , it now after a few days worse ? I have tested and tested everything / rebooted / turned things off that may confuse it but still no joy . I wanted to use one simple function that when working " was superb " but standing around in the cold waiting upto 40 mins for a fix is nuts . My old method of getting first fix then making sure battery never dies doesnt always work now ? Lastly i would like to thank those who have kindly offered help on this journey vis this forum . Ebay here i come
Sorry to hear that man... I recently bought Gear S hoping to have standalone device but most of all for my all day fitness/laziness tracker. I have run just once so far with it and finding GPS fix wasn't that bad... maybe a minute of stretching and I was good to go.
Have you tried (probably you did.. silly question) reset gear in settings? Like a... reflash?
Actually, now I remember, before I went run i left Gear S on the window with GPS on just to catch position - I always did it with my previous running device - 5 y/o nokia
I have mate . Re-set a hundred times . Kept watch unaltered etc and still good and appaling days . Tried a 1000 combinations and gave up . I was happy when i bought to lose functions but it is not consistent enough for running . Best of luck !
stick with it
sorry to hear that - I've struggled with mine for a couple of weeks also, wasted $200AUS buying an incompatible Samsung phone (my stupidity), re-entered my contacts and diary events 2/3 times after having to do a hard reset / re-pairing, have been underwhelmed & frustrated by the Samsung / Galaxy / Gear ecosystem (and the quality of their phones) but I still think this is the best device in it's class
have look at LPX Studios on youtube etc
I hope Samsung, the developers and the phone providers will address some of the problems (from what I've read, best not hold your breath)
I've decided to adopt a wait and see approach - this device almost satisfies my personal use case need (phone calls & texts on my wrist - plus cool extra functions like fitness essential email replies etc) decoupled from always-on temptations to check social media notifications, personal, work & junk emails etc, & to reduce the personal & financial costs of data consumption
I've not experienced "it just doesn't bloody work" - but I understand your frustrations.
I'm like "it's really great but yes it is a bit sh!te". I don't want to learn or be locked into yet another ecosystem but imho the Gear S has been worth a degree of patience / perseverance
in your use case fitness scenario (forgive me if i misread) I think the device does a half-decent job which is probably enough good enough. Why would you need GPS? Apologies if I've confused you with someone else whose UCS was to be able to send discrete messages to friends and family during meetings - but again thats the joy of a smart watch over a smartphone - one can't tap away so one won't tap away
If I can buy an apple watch with a simcard, and a macbook air with a simcard then i'm in, but I don't think thats going to happen. (I think i read some of the newer iPads in some locations have some kind of universal Sim but I don't want an iPad - I need a laptop & a phone and see the obvious use case for a watch phone - current minimal number of devices 3 .... ideal number 1 - the laptop workhorse - (I wear a wristwatch anyway) So I can check emails & notifications later at home or back at work tomorrow if I really need to - the untethered device is retro liberation from contemporary distraction
What I'd really like would be an old school Toshiba Toughbook (the one with a handle and strap), dual sim card slots, 2 massive hot-swappable hard drives & batteries and a Toshiba Smart Watch (with a sim) - I think they had something like that (without the watch) .... so your briefcase is your computer and your phone is your watch - versus say having get out your iPhone iPad & everything else at the airport or simply going for a coffee (but then I'd still have to go back to Windows and relearn that in its latest iteration)
vinceremos
Hi . I need the GPS to track and moniter my runs . I dont have a phone paired with this and as i said . When it works its spot on but usually it just doesnt pick a GPS fix unless i wait upto 30 mins . This applies to wherever i am ? Since i started this thread the bloody thing is now working ? Still selling it . Having to try again and again is madness
GPS is very handy when running. If it wouldn't work I would be &*:angel:*&
My medieval Nokia works with endomondo + gps so why newest toy which is worth x20 more (seriously) wouldn't?
Even if I wouldn't need it, for it's price it must work - I payed for it! And its also what Samsung promised.
Although, the thing is that... it works for everyone else. So maybe you have a defective one? Warranty? :good:
Its a South Korean one from Ebay . I actually believe its not technically defective . Other users reported dodgy GPS for serious runners . I did contact Samsung UK service and they are not interested in non European models . I really think for runners its simply not upto the job . However i could be wrong .......
I just got my gear s last week and I agree the gps sucks. I love everything else it does but to botch gps on a fitness tracker is a real stumble on their part.
Sorry to hear your bad experience, I've had mine with my note 4 and everything has been good for me. After the latest update I did completely uninstall and reinstall and it's been pretty awesome with good battery.
Hi . So are you saying when not paired and working standalone that your GPS works fine when running ?
Thanks
I agree the GPS takes forever on the S Health app to connect. I'm not giving mine up tho because I'm a bit of a Samsung fanboy and love all their products.
Have anyone tried to run without GPS on? It should count steps as a run + more less give you a distance.
I bought the Gear S for the same reason: I wanted something with GPS to track my runs, plus a Sim card slot so I don't have to run with my phone any more, and BT, so I can listen to audio over my LG Tone Plus.
(I actually also needed something with a camera and full Android, so I can put some apps I use for running on it., which is why I ended up buying a Galaxy Gear and flashing Null on it.)
I agree that the Gear S GPS does not always work and I am really mad standing around in the freezing snow waiting for the signal to lock.
On my last few runs, I had to run without GPS because no amount of waiting made a difference. On one run, the signal came on but only after 30 mins or so. It's really infuriating, but, as someone else said, there no competition in this space.
I have been thinking about trying my luck with an Android Chinese watch-phone from aliexpress, but who knows if the battery on any of those would last me through a run with GPS, phone, mobile data and BT on.
Anyhow, Tim, if you find something better, it would be great of you could post here. It sounds like we have the same use case for it.
eclipse05x said:
Have anyone tried to run without GPS on? It should count steps as a run + more less give you a distance.
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Yah it still gives you distance and time ran without the GPS.
Nike plus
Guys, have you tried to run with Nike Plus app? Is it better with GPS in this app in comparison with S? How is synchro after finish the run then right to Nike plus server- any problems? Can someone compare GPS accuracy between Garmin Fenix and Gear S? I' m on the edge of decision wheter to go with Gear S. I need it primary for running and standalone SIM activities as my private phone.
Thanks!
Dan
aeon101 said:
Guys, have you tried to run with Nike Plus app? Is it better with GPS in this app in comparison with S? How is synchro after finish the run then right to Nike plus server- any problems? Can someone compare GPS accuracy between Garmin Fenix and Gear S? I' m on the edge of decision wheter to go with Gear S. I need it primary for running and standalone SIM activities as my private phone.
Thanks!
Dan
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Someone over on Android Central compared it with the Fenix and other trackers. Here's the post. Since I don't use Nike+ (I don't want to have to sign up for yet another service I will forget my password for), I only ever track with S Health.
Many thanks Xendula, very useful!
xendula said:
I bought the Gear S for the same reason: I wanted something with GPS to track my runs, plus a Sim card slot so I don't have to run with my phone any more, and BT, so I can listen to audio over my LG Tone Plus.
(I actually also needed something with a camera and full Android, so I can put some apps I use for running on it., which is why I ended up buying a Galaxy Gear and flashing Null on it.)
I agree that the Gear S GPS does not always work and I am really mad standing around in the freezing snow waiting for the signal to lock.
On my last few runs, I had to run without GPS because no amount of waiting made a difference. On one run, the signal came on but only after 30 mins or so. It's really infuriating, but, as someone else said, there no competition in this space.
I have been thinking about trying my luck with an Android Chinese watch-phone from aliexpress, but who knows if the battery on any of those would last me through a run with GPS, phone, mobile data and BT on.
Anyhow, Tim, if you find something better, it would be great of you could post here. It sounds like we have the same use case for it.
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Click to collapse
Hi Xendula . Since yesterday i tried a few more attempts / tests and the reallity is this watch is ****e ( sorry Samsung Fans ) but i'm gutted . As of 20.00 pm UK time today it is on Ebay . Personally after messing around since Christmas day i cannot wait to see it go . Hopefully get a good price ? Nice talking to you guys . All the very best for the future
Tim
UK
i believe that children are the future
today i was accosted by a dozen eagle-eyed little kids (ages maybe 5-10) walking home from school (them not me) "hey mister is that thing a phone?"
I'm like "yes its a phone and a watch - let me show you the sad cat watch-face .... but you still need another samsung phone back at home, its a bit buggy, i'm told the charging cradle will break anytime soon, i don't understand the android / samsung / galaxy / tizen / gear S ecosystem, but I am a bit jaundiced by Apple, think this thing has potential and am persevering with it blah blah blah"
They were like "whatever dude - that thing is seriously cool!"
I related this little vignette to my work colleagues
" yeah see I've been telling you for the last two weeks but this is the proof - you can't fool kids - put your iPhone 6 on ebay and get one of these"
"Well you shouldn't go flashing it around - next thing one of them kids will be breaking into your house to steal it"
I'm like I wasn't flashing it around i was walking down the street just wearing it . Like any of my new six year old Galaxy S fanboys/fangirls are going to turn into cat burglers, break into my house and prize it from my wrist while I'm asleep?
I already told them "it can check how much exercise I've done, and I can wear it in bed to make sure I'm getting enough sleep - yeah like a fitbit but a phone & a watch too "
until Apple or Motorola or Sony or whoever put a sim in their smart watch I'm keeping mine
ideally i think more laptops should come with a sim card slot too
I''m disappointed i still need a proper phone to make the Gear S work, but would in practice still need one anyway for tethering the laptop when not at home. I'm no expert but would not a simcard in the laptop offer big battery and big ariel advantages compared to phone tethering ? (no i don't want to carry round or have a dongle sticking out - that's the point)
Several astute reviewers have commented positively on the back-to-the-future retro simplicity of the smartwatch concept as implemented by the Samsung Gear S (whilst highlighting problems in the current execution of that - as also clearly highlighted on these forums & elsewhere) Whatever
"after a few days I was really liking the freedom of not checking my emails & notifications every 5 minutes"
Imagine the freedom of a smartwatch connected (if necessary) to your laptop or whatever other larger device - phablet, iPad or whatever you use for work or pleasure. That's like two devices not 3 or more (smartphone, work phone, tablet, kindle, laptop etc) - in fact actually only one extra thing to carry if / when you need to because the phone is like already on your wrist.
Advantages
• Less economically zero-sum consumer consumption
The guy on the production line gets nothing. I pay several hundred dollars for the device, it jumps out of my pocket and i pay another guy in a mall $150 to fix the screen. Am i contributing to some kind of trickle-down / trickle-up dissipation or redistribution of wealth?
maybe locally to the screen-fixer and his family.
There is (but wasn't always) built in obsolescence in technology but designed to break technology is a really big con that is not (like indeed BIO) an inevitable or essential feature of capitalism & global trade.
To use an obvious example & pertinent example
I think I can understand Mr Steve Jobs drive & achievement in coming back (I'll show them [email protected]) and making Apple the biggest company in the world - but at what price?
Wage slaves in Asia committing suicide in Hi-tech sweat shops.
Drive down margins like everyone else, create the most expensive have-to-have consumer devices ever, choose form over function, lock people into an ecosystem originally justified by quality and consistency considerations now simply a lock-in. Make things designed to break.
Ok he was an ex-hippy not a socialist - he couldn't change the world but might have eventually leveraged his personal power and that of his company maybe a little more e.g.
"I believe our products are great and worth the money - they are not produced in sweatshops in Asia. The suicide rate amongst our subcontracted workers is no higher than the local average and we insist the wages are substantially better. We are not Nike (or whoever) we are Apple."
Sorry the iPhone and iPad screens shatter so easily - that wasn't the case with my first iPhone iteration.
I've spoken to my good friends Sir Bob Geldof, Bill Gates , Sir Elton John, Sir Bruce Springsteen and Bonio from U2 and have decided to create a legacy of value and enduring social change not shiny expensive useless f*cking toys
From Bill Nelson's Red Noise
The posters on your wall mark every fashion's rise and fall
Why try to keep the past alive
And though I know the time is almost 1984
It feels like 1965
from Michael Wincott playing Rene in the the 1996 film Basquiat
when you first see a new picture, you don't want to miss the boat. You have to be very careful because you may be staring at Van Gogh's ear.
• er less confusion
• less drowning in a sea of devices, chargers, wires, peripherals etc
Do samsung make laptops?
Alan
Remote Western Australia
all of the above did really happen today
Hey, I run with this nearly every morning. It's perfect.
I pull the sim card out of my Galaxy S5 and pop it in my gear S.
The NIKE ap does a good job tracking the gps.
And if something bad happens on my run I can call someone.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
Looking to see if anyone else has had BT issues in the past week-ish? I'll get some cutting out of the audio. It seems to happen no matter which app I'm streaming from or what device I'm streaming to. Also, I'm not sure if it is related but I've noticed some weirdness with my Fitbit Syncing too since roughly about the same time. (Some of the data is making it across to my phone because another app gives me credit for the steps taken but none of the info shows up in the Fitbit app and I can't get the time on the tracker to update. May 12th seems to be the last official sync.)
I responded to a post in the Tmo Oreo thread that I'm not really sure that it is related to the Oreo update. I did the update right when the OTA came out then went on a road trip. It didn't happen the first couple of days. I initially thought it was thermal cut out since I was driving a lot at the time and it was pretty hot out. But it still happened when I was driving at night when it was cooler. Then I was thinking it might be my car's BT but it's also happening as I sit here at my desk connected to a pair of BT headphones that were also reliable before my trip.
So it's looking like some sort of update did it but I'm at a loss as to which one so I thought I'd see if anyone else was having the same issues. Although, after a little looking around, I think the Fitbit stuff may just be Fitbit's issue.
CHH2 said:
Looking to see if anyone else has had BT issues in the past week-ish? I'll get some cutting out of the audio. It seems to happen no matter which app I'm streaming from or what device I'm streaming to. Also, I'm not sure if it is related but I've noticed some weirdness with my Fitbit Syncing too since roughly about the same time. (Some of the data is making it across to my phone because another app gives me credit for the steps taken but none of the info shows up in the Fitbit app and I can't get the time on the tracker to update. May 12th seems to be the last official sync.)
I responded to a post in the Tmo Oreo thread that I'm not really sure that it is related to the Oreo update. I did the update right when the OTA came out then went on a road trip. It didn't happen the first couple of days. I initially thought it was thermal cut out since I was driving a lot at the time and it was pretty hot out. But it still happened when I was driving at night when it was cooler. Then I was thinking it might be my car's BT but it's also happening as I sit here at my desk connected to a pair of BT headphones that were also reliable before my trip.
So it's looking like some sort of update did it but I'm at a loss as to which one so I thought I'd see if anyone else was having the same issues. Although, after a little looking around, I think the Fitbit stuff may just be Fitbit's issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was one of the reasons the Oreo update was halted.
R800x_user said:
This was one of the reasons the Oreo update was halted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said, this doesn't seem to be Oreo related. Just as oddly as it started, it has stopped. So it doesn't seem to be related to any visible front end update, OS or app. Looks like it is somewhere in a background update. (And I don't have any my apps set to auto update.)
FWIW, the only communication update that I can recollect at this point in time that is causing a ton of problems for mobile device users is the Bluetooth 5 that came out with Oreo 8.0. It is a bonifide mess. The version that came out with Oreo 8.1 was supposed to fix these issues, but I don't know that this actually happened. For the most part, manufacturer updates that are released for devices, such as BT Headphones, will try to incorporate a workaround or fixaround for the deficiencies in the underlying software, such as Bluetooth. But there is only so much that a manufacturer can do to circumvent the fundamental issues in an application such as Bluetooth. After all the promises and hype, the basic consensus is that Bluetooth 5 practical improvements are basically in range and some bandwidth. But it is also pretty well accepted, by now, that Bluetooth 5 is largely a mess right now, and not only for headphones, but pretty much about everything that you try to pair your phone to.
Hey guys!
Bought myself a Stratos 3 early this summer which was replaced under warranty because the battery was drained in a few hours, GPS unable to locate etc.
However, I could pair it with the (then) Amazfit App on my iPhone 11.
Last week I got my brand new replacement device which is impossible to pair with the (new) Zepp app. I’ve tried a million tips found online but it just won’t pair with my phone. I’ve scanned the QR code about 5000 times without success.
Tried with a friend’s Samsung model whatever and managed to link the device to my account. Then the watch is “unlocked”.
However, when trying to open the settings I keep getting the message “Unfortunately settings has stopped”. It still won’t sync with the iPhone and when resetting the device to factory settings I’m back at square one, unable to pair with iPhone.
Latest firmware in place according to the device when it’s “working”.
I’ve already contacted the company I’ve bought it from and I will return it the coming Monday.
However, I do like the looks of it and functions (when it’s working) so I thought I’d check with you guys if there are any ideas to get it working properly.
Thanks in advance!
Just update thé watch to latest Fw (search New Fw from the watch connected in WiFi) the app is unable to find it.
How do I do that when the watch says it has the latest fw?
Connect the watch to the WiFi then check update from the watch
So, i did pair it again with the Android, updated the device to latest fw.
It still won’t sync with my iPhone
Wonder if it’s something wrong with the Zepp app?
Anyway, I’ve had it with Amazfit. I’m returning it tomorrow.
I’m sorry to hear that, hope you approached [email protected]
I did the same thing, made a video and shared it with them selling hello. Eventually with a lot of issues. I gave up on the Stratos 3 Watch.
Now I don’t have to worry.
Plppppppppp
I haven’t reached out to their support, I cannot really see that they could help me out with this.
Anyway, fed up with trying to get it to work with me so it’s being sent back.
Might get an Honor Magicwatch 2 instead, they seem quite similar both in appearance and function.
Are you sure?? Does it work with iPhone as in iOS
As a last resort sort of try, I reached out to their support but to say the least, their support sucks a*s!
Haven’t sent it back yet, but will any day now.
Can anyone confirm that their Stratos 3 works fine with the iOS Zepp app? Particularly, Stratos 3 and an iOS iPhone 11? The fact that the watch works fine with Samsung Android devices but not with my (or anyone else’s iOS) device suggests that it’s their iOS Zepp app that’s corrupt!
Thanks!
Here many problems with iOS an Stratos 3. But same problems with both Zepp and Amazfit
New Zepp update for iOS released today
They’ve released numerous app updates during the past weeks/months but none of them has cured my problem
I’m traveling today but will check when I get home, fingers crossed.
Nope, doesn’t work.
With this I give up on any Amazfit/Huami watches (and all other products).
When clearly pointing out that Stratos 3 and the iOS Zepp app doesn’t work, total silence from the Amazfit support.
Never have I had a worser customer experience but I guess that I shouldn’t expect more..