topic Re: GPS problems in XZ Series

GPS problems

Shoebox — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 20:15:49 GMT

I've tried 3 different walk tracking apps now and not one of them is giving me anything like an accurate track. I've tried giving the apps power saving exceptions but the GPS tracking is still all over the place.

All worked fine on my Z3 compact.

Re: GPS problems

Shoebox — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 22:11:00 GMT

Just as an update, used the phone as a Sat nav on a drive to the coast today and it was faultless so the problem isn't hardware at least.

Re: GPS problems

Uliwooly — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 19:35:22 GMT

@Shoebox

Just to clarify, you have stamina enabled or a battery app?

Re: GPS problems

Shoebox — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 19:53:20 GMT

No, I haven't done a factory reset, I don't have stamina enabled or a battery app.

I've found a tracking app that works now - Geo tracker - so I'm assuming it's an Oreo conflict with the others.

Re: GPS problems

NorUser — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 18:48:53 GMT

I'm experiencing GPS problems aswell. In google maps, ingress or zombies run (the GPS-based apps I use the most) whenever I loose the GPS-signal, driving through a tunell, jogging under a bridge ect the phone never catches up again. I used Android 8 on my last phone also (Nexus 5X) and never had any problems with this before. The only way I have found out that works is to manually force close the app and restart it, only then will the apps get a new GPS signal from the phone. This is espesially frustrating when driving using navigation and the phone never realizes that I have left the tunnel and are very keen on getting new instructions based on where I am. Equally frustrating is it when I'm out running and I notice that the phone stopped giving GPS to the fitness app 3 miles ago. The zombies run app is story based and I can't just restart it, and do not want to stop my jogging to solve this issue either. Did you find out what caused your GPS problems?

Re: GPS problems

Shoebox — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 12:05:00 GMT

No I didn't, the apps that didn't work still don't work, I just found one that did work OK. I've never had a problem with using the GPS as a Sat nav with Google maps though.

Re: GPS problems

Xperia_compact_ — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 19:58:02 GMT

I am having the exact same problem. It's VERY annoying, because i have to restart the phone to get the gps fix back. I use the phone a lot with gps based apps, like Runtastic, Ingress, Google Maps. And the problem is the same with all of the apps. When the problem occurs it's the same for all gps based apps. None are getting GPS fix. Is there anyone that know of a way to contact Sony direct and give them the error log?

I don't use stamina or any other energy saving apps. I just have vanilla Xperia xz1 compact firmware 47.1.A.2.374 with no extras.

Re: GPS problems

aag69 — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 14:40:06 GMT

I got my XZ1 Compact one week ago and I have also noticed a few times where location-enables apps suddenly stops receiving new positions. Today it happened again and I used a GPS-test app (GPS Test by Chartcross Limited) to see what the problem might be. I discovered that the location system had lost track of all the GPS-satellites. The funny thing was that it still could track Glonass and even Beidou satellites, but apparently with less good location accuracy. I force-closed all apps and the phone then seemed to be able to re-establish contact with all satellite systems.

So something seems to be buggy with the satnav-system in the phone. Hopefully it can be fixed in a software update. I am currently on the 47.1.A.2.374 firmware.

Re: GPS problems

Lauri2 — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 10:12:10 GMT

This is just a metoo-post, and also a rant

I use the phone for navigation, Google Fit and Ingress. The location seems to be all over the place whenever near buildings, on cloudy weather, etc. For example Google Fit tracks the steps taken accurately but on some days the travelled distance that gets tracked is half of what it has been on the same route with previous phones. Previous ones were Xperia Z3, Z5 compact, XA1 and X compact (I have switched phones many times during the past years...).

The location in Ingress seems to be the worst, this is on par with my 2010 Samsung Galaxy S, first version, which came with Android 2 and had only GPS, no Glonass. Location is off by hundreds of meters and drifts all over the place, carefully avoiding the spot I´m actually at. Getting a GPS fix can take minutes and may require rebooting the phone. GPS Status app´s feature for flushing AGPS data and downloading it again sometimes helps but the most reliable way to get location back is a reboot of the device.

Last week there were two updates from Sony that at least fixed the "google location services has crashed" error that was consistent and happened on each boot.

I am considering returning the unit for repair under warranty or switch to another brand entirely as to be honest, Ingress is the main thing I even have a phone for. I have had multiple Sony phones even back when they had Symbian as their OS. I waited and pre-ordered the XZ1 compact because it was a decent phone in this size category - possible to use with one hand - but if there is no reliable location, it is as good as a paperweight for me.

Re: GPS problems

eziitiss — Fri, 24 Nov 2017 01:24:50 GMT

Same issue here

I hope this is not a HW issue and it will be fixed soon. GPS is one of the most used feature in my case.

Re: GPS problems

eziitiss — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 17:03:30 GMT

I have done some research and found out that this looks to be a strange HW issue.
I installed GPSLocker to look for signal strengts and found out an interesintg thing.
If you are holding you finger on the side where SD card is located - about 1.5cm from top, you get almost instant increase in signal strengt from 25-50%., when I release my finger - it drops. I'm able to repeat this all the time. Can someone else try this ?
It's like the "death grip" for iPhones, just this time it's a GPS grip for Xperia

Re: GPS problems

TheRealEasy — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 15:19:57 GMT

Can't confirm.

I've been trying this multiple times in GPS-only mode.

No such behavior.

App -> GPS-Status

Re: GPS problems

eziitiss — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 05:10:10 GMT

I made a short video how it looks for me: Video

Re: GPS problems

TPProgrammer — Wed, 27 Dec 2017 11:46:49 GMT

I just got my xz1 compact less than a week ago and already stumbled upon the GPS problem while driving. My experience was similar to a previous poster here where I was traveling thru the lower level of George Washington bridge from New York to New Jersey and lost the gps signal coming off the bridge. I use Android auto and switched from Waze to Google maps but neither app couldn't get a GPS location fix. I had to restart the phone to get it fixed.

I had pixel running Oreo before the Sony and not once I had this issue driving thru the same bridge and so many other bridges/tunnels. So this problem is specific to Sony.

To me this is a serious issue. GPS stops working while you driving is a deal breaker for me. I bought xz1 because I like small phones but xz1 is going back and going to grab the pixel2 if Sony is not fixing this issue/acknowledging this problem.

Re: GPS problems

Yekollu — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 08:28:23 GMT

Hello from a fellow Ingress Player!

I had issues with GPS drift and it was fixed after i turned off Wifi and Bluetooth scanning. Comapared to the previous phones i have had, the screen size is perfect for glyphing

Re: GPS problems

SirRobin — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 09:54:23 GMT

What setting option is that exactly?

Re: GPS problems

pseudonym — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 13:59:30 GMT

Settings - Google - Location - Scanning

You can disable both options and see if it makes a difference for you.

Re: GPS problems

SirRobin — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 12:40:31 GMT

So what is a good value for gpx fix outside? I´m not sure but i think my device needs a lot of time for that. even in pokemon go i´ll sometimes get the message "no gps found" so maybe it´s a problem with my device itself?

Re: GPS problems

alucardunit1 — Sun, 20 May 2018 14:50:45 GMT

Yes I am experiencing the same issue. I did a factory reset on my phone ~1 month ago. This did take care of the issue for a while but it eventually returns. I have tried the *#*#7378423#*#* purge assistance data and this does not help the issue at all. This phone use to work flawlessly with no issues.

Re: GPS problems

alucardunit1 — Mon, 28 May 2018 06:18:22 GMT

I tried doing this and no improvements.