The smartphone has poor GPS reception. How to set up GPS satellite navigation on Android

Navigation in unfamiliar terrain, both in a huge metropolis or a small town, and in a village, in an open field, today is mainly carried out using a smartphone. It’s much easier for a person to buy a phone with a built-in GPS module than to deal with maps or ask strangers the road. I entered the coordinates - here is the complete route from point A to point B. But not every person can figure it out modern gadgets, especially if you have not used such devices before.

In this material we will tell you how to set up GPS on Android, what programs can and should be used for navigation, and what to do if GPS stops working correctly!

GPS – help or panacea for the user?

Before moving on to describing the correct settings, it is worth mentioning about this system, namely, its advantages and disadvantages. As you know, the geolocation system allows anyone to know their location, no matter where they are. However, two negative factors can be identified:

1. If you use the GPS option on your Android frequently, you will see that the battery drains quite quickly.
2. GPS system constantly monitors your movements, and all data, oddly enough, is stored under your account on Google. They even have special service, which lets you see where you were in certain time, what places you visited, what countries you visited and much more. And who knows what else remains Google when using this module...

Initial setup

So, you purchased a phone with built-in GPS or it was given to you by relatives. How to configure it? In principle, the service is disabled by default and to configure it you only need to activate it. To do this, go to the “Settings” item and find the tab "My location" and be sure to allow the system access to geodata on your smartphone. Also activate the items "By network coordinates", "By GPS satellites» .

In the future, you will only need to tap down on the start screen of your device so that the menu appears quick access and activate GPS service. There are also usually buttons and tabs for working with wireless networks, mobile networks, phone brightness. You can also place individual widgets on the desktop to manage services.

In the operating room Android system, as a rule, the location program is installed by default. These could be, for example, Google Maps or Yandex Maps, depending on the developers. Despite the fact that all Android phones are initially certified by Google, the software is supplemented by companies that use this operating system on their phones.

Setting up GPS on phones with a Media Tek processor

If you are not aware, all phone models are Android based are developed and completed different processors. Today, one of the leading companies is Media Tek, which provides processors of various configurations for smartphones. It also uses its own technology for correct and stable operation GPS modules.

We described above standard settings GPS, which are present in almost every smartphone. If your device runs on a chipset from Media Tek, then additionally in the settings there will be an item “GPS EPO Assistance Data”. Activate this tab and go to the “EPO Settings” menu. Have you come in? Great! Now activate the Startup tab. Moreover, if at the time of setup you have the opportunity to connect to the Internet, you can immediately download special data that provides information about the position of the satellites. To do this, in this menu you will need to click the “Download” button at the very bottom and wait until the files are downloaded.

GPS setup for advanced users

Attention! This subsection involves not only setting up, but also speeding up the operation of GPS in general on your smartphone. The fact is that the speed and accuracy of determining your current position is affected by information about satellites, namely, their location. As a rule, in most smartphones this data is out of date due to a long-standing software or operating system update.

Another reason is Chinese phones. In such devices, by default, settings about the location of satellites for their country are registered; accordingly, when using GPS in Russia, the GPS module works much longer, because the data in it is registered incorrectly.

Have you ever noticed that it takes 5-10 minutes for your location to be determined? We usually chalk this up to “phone performance,” but that’s far from true! What to do in this case? We suggest you set up GPS on your Android with a small “hack”.

The situation with slow work GPS is solved with A-GPS technology. Its essence is as follows: data on the position of satellites is stored on special servers and, using the Internet, your smartphone can connect to them and receive all the information in a matter of seconds. Thanks to this data, GPS connects much faster and determines your location more accurately.

But, as mentioned earlier, some smartphone models, especially Chinese ones, contain data for their region by default. To change them, you need to find the gps.conf file!

How to work with the gps.conf file! You can change the data in this file manually or download a ready-made one for a specific country. If you don’t want to bother, then download it for your country from the link -

If you are going to edit gps.conf yourself, then find instructions on the Internet that describe each line and what it is responsible for. To edit you will need to use the application Root Explorer and Root rights.

Attention! The file is located in the /system/etc directory. As soon as you replace or edit it in manual mode, save all changes and download it for yourself GPS app Test. This special utility, with which you can clear all old satellite records and check the correct operation of GPS. Just install it, launch it and click the AGPS tab, after which restart your smartphone. Once your phone has restarted, open the program again and check your location speed.

Operating modes of the GPS module in Android

And the last, no less important point concerns GPS operating modes. Every smartphone has individual settings for this technology, which can be set at your discretion.

Go to Settings on your phone and select the Location tab. Please note that in different Android versions Menu items may vary slightly. Next, click on “Operation Mode”. You will have three of them:

1. "According to all sources"
2. "By network coordinates"
3. "By GPS satellites"

Now specifically for each point!

The first mode is “Across all sources”. The GPS system will automatically connect to all possible networks, namely: wireless Wi-Fi points, mobile networks, satellites. This is precisely the A-GPS technology, which ensures the highest accuracy of the received data and increased speed work. But don’t forget about the downsides! The battery charge will be consumed much faster in this mode!

The second mode is “By network coordinates”. Mainly uses information only from access points and towers. But at the same time, the correctness of determining your location is slightly distorted. Approximately several meters, sometimes tens of meters.

The third mode is “By GPS satellites”. Completely deactivates A-GPS technology. Your smartphone will only determine its location using satellites. Moreover, if you enter any building, the connection will be lost or temporarily interrupted.

Which mode to use is up to you. If you need to accurately determine coordinates or location, then activate the first item. If the battery charge is low, but you still need to somehow determine where you are, then activate the last item.

As you can see, GPS setting can be implemented different methods and in ways, depending on the version of Android, software, manufacturer. Over time, everything appears on the forums more various applications and “hacks” to enhance GPS performance, implement additional options into your smartphone. Stay tuned for updates and test!

Modern gadgets are already so sophisticated that you can determine your location without resorting to GPS navigators anymore. Sometimes this is necessary for correct operation applications, sometimes to create the right route. When GPS doesn't work on Android, it becomes difficult. What could be the reason for this and what should be done to solve this problem?

Any device receives poorly or does not receive satellite signal in general, if it is located indoors. Therefore, it is better to determine your location on the street. Ideally, the space should be free even from tall buildings and trees, so that the sky is completely open, so that nothing prevents the gadget from searching for a working signal and connecting to the necessary satellites.

Incorrect GPS setting

All devices are equipped with two GPS modules. One is a standard receiver, which can be enabled in the settings (General - Location - Mode). When choosing mobile networks or Wi-Fi device will determine location from towers without connecting to GPS satellites. This method is the fastest, but it does not always give an accurate result.

When you select the “GPS Only” mode, the phone or tablet will connect to the satellites, but this will take some time for the device. In this case, it is advisable to be outside in an open area or at least put the gadget on the windowsill. It is for the operation of the second module that the correct configuration is needed. How to check if the device receives a signal? To do this, you will have to download and install GPS Test, a diagnostic application.

After starting the program, select Update only in the AGPS settings, and Keep Screen On in Settings. Now you need to return to the main program window, the GPS test on your tablet or phone will begin. It is important that Wi-Fi and mobile data should neither be enabled in the Location settings nor currently in use.

If the diagnostics show that the device does not find satellites, then you should check whether the GPS settings on Android are correct. How to set up GPS? To do this, you must first download any application that can process the GPS signal. If it does not help, you need to check the settings of the COM port of the communicator.

Unsuccessful flashing

After not the most successful attempts to flash a gadget or specifically a GPS module, not only the system, but also simply its individual parts, for example, geolocation, may stop functioning. It is also common for GPS to stop working on a Chinese device.

To correct this situation, you need to enable AGPS in the location and GPS settings. After this, you need to enter through the dialing window engineering menu(the combination is different for all phones). If you cannot enter it, you will have to use any special program, but already with root rights. Procedure in:

• On the Satellites tab of the YGPS tab, check if there is a signal, i.e. does the phone or tablet even try to find satellites;
• go to the Information tab and there, in order, press the buttons full, warm, hot, cold (this is necessary to reset previous settings);
• on the NMEA Log tab, click start;
• return to the Satellites tab and wait from 5 to 15 minutes until the device finds the maximum number of satellites and the scales GPS signal will not turn green;
• go back to the NMEA Log tab, click stop.

This method is shown in more detail in the video.

Primary binding and calibration

It happens that the device is located in some remote area. In this case, it is advisable to long time put it in an open area and wait for the search and binding to take place.
Sometimes navigation may stop working because the compass calibration is incorrect. Such a phone or tablet will be oriented incorrectly, resulting in a problem with the GPS on the device. To calibrate you need to download special application,GPS Essentials. After installing and launching it you need:

1. Click on the compass icon.
2. Choose a smooth, flat surface, place your communicator on it and remove all electrical appliances from it.
3. Smoothly rotate the device around each axis 3 times.

After this, you need to try to connect again and, if necessary, repeat the calibration.

Problems with the device itself

If a gadget, tested and configured in accordance with all the rules, still does not pick up satellites, check the GPS settings and find the reason only in service center. It may be that the problem lies in the device itself.

Today, all modern smartphones are equipped with built-in GPS module, which shows your location. You can use your smartphone as a navigator while playing sports or traveling by car, and also use it to receive current news or weather information in your city. Now let's figure out how to check the operation of GPS on Android, that is, whether the location module works on your device or not.

There are 2 options to resolve this issue, simple using the application, and a little more complicated using the standard capabilities of your smartphone (engineering menu).

Checking and setting up GPS using the app

Based on all the applications that we tried, the simplest and most effective turned out to be. This program can quickly help you find all the satellites in your region, pre-configure them and, possibly, use other functions.

Features of the GPS Test program for Android

• Shows information about visible satellites;
• Shows active satellites currently in use;
• Gives accurate data geopositioning;
• Shows exact coordinates;
• Gives information about the time zone at the location;
• Indicates the position of satellites in the sky;
• Can serve as an electronic compass;
• Provides a variety of data, ranging from time and date to altitude;
• Gives information about sunrise and sunset times in the place where the device is located.

How to check the status of your GPS navigator using GPS Test

We open the application, and if we see in the left top corner inscription " 3D Fix“This means that the navigator works correctly and performs all its functions without the slightest problem. Shows " No Fix"? Unfortunately, there is a problem with the device and its smooth operation is impossible.

Constant switching between the above modes may also be due to poor conditions for receiving a GPS signal. This is caused not only by being indoors; even unsuitable weather conditions, such as rain or strong wind, can affect it.

Shows " off"? Everything is simpler here. The receiver is simply turned off. To enable it, we perform an easy procedure: open “Settings”, go to the “Location” item. A new menu called "Location Services" opens. There are three modes in total:

1. "By network coordinates"
2. "GPS satellites"
3. Supporting Data.

For the most precise definition places, for example, in a car, we recommend activating all items at once. Of the networks, Wi-Fi works best, of course, but if conditions do not allow this (being on the street, etc., as is usually the case), use mobile Internet.

Using this program, you can learn a lot useful information about your phone and its additional features.

Setting up and adjusting GPS through the engineering menu

This method will help you check the quality of the established standards that indicate how well the GPS on your phone works.

1. To do this, you need to go to the engineering menu. Enter the code (where we usually write the subscriber number) *#*#3646633#*#*;
2. Next you need to find the YGPS item (or something similar);
3. As a result, a map should appear with many yellow dots on it. They may not appear immediately.

Just these points and talk about the number of satellites that were found. If you time the time from the start of the scan to full load of all satellites found, the quality will become known installed GPS. Later, this data can be compared with other devices, for example, by taking it from a friend.

Video instructions

Poor performance of GPS satellites indoors

But do not forget that GPS may have poor signal reception when you are standing indoors (especially in a high-rise building) or near electrical appliances. So it is better to use the location function in an open area (street) or, as a last resort, near a window.

It's worth remembering that GPS is better Do not leave it on all the time, use it only when necessary. This will save battery charge two or even three times longer. Using widgets, you can turn GPS on or off on your desktop.

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Navigation modules in currently manufactured Android smartphones are built in at the production assembly stage. As a rule, these useful additional devices not bad. Just turn on GPS using the settings menu and launch the downloaded “maps” application. In a couple of minutes the device will determine its location.

With GPS always on, determining coordinates will not take even one minute. However, sometimes this function does not work in android gadget. Most often, the problem lies in incorrect or completely absent GPS settings.

Required additional services

Data-lazy-type="image" data-src="http://androidkak.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/EPO-Mediatek.png" alt="epo-mediatek" width="100" height="100" srcset="" data-srcset="http://androidkak.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/EPO-Mediatek..png 150w, http://androidkak.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/EPO-Mediatek-120x120.png 120w" sizes="(max-width: 100px) 100vw, 100px"> !} In order to determine your location, you use the satellite receiver in your smartphone, but it is recommended to set up auxiliary services. They are without special problems run on an Android phone:

1. a-gps (a service that additionally loads location data from the Internet, using the services mobile operators. The determination accuracy of this option is of course worse, but thanks to its operation, accurate satellite determination is accelerated);
2. wi-fi;
3. EPO (a service from Mediatek that pre-calculates the movement in the orbits of navigation satellites.

However, the pre-installed EPO data in phones is designed for Asian countries and may only work with glitches in Europe. During 2012-2014, Mediatek began producing chipsets with excellent characteristics, which currently use the brands Sony, LG, and HTC in their products. Thus, in Android smartphones with an MTK processor, there is a problem with navigation, which consists in the incorrect functioning of GPS).

The procedure for eliminating the causes of incorrect GPS operation in a phone or tablet

General settings

IN modern smartphones navigation modules are built in by default. In most cases they work quite accurately. Just turn on GPS in Settings, launch the Maps app, and within minutes the program will determine where you are. And if you didn’t turn off the GPS, the determination will take a few seconds.

But what if GPS doesn't work? How then to determine the route, speed, your location? Don’t rush to take your smartphone for repair: most often this can be solved correct setting phone.

Auxiliary services

In addition to the satellite receiver itself, auxiliary settings are sometimes very useful for determining your location. As a rule, they are easily enabled on the phone itself:

• A-GPS. This service downloads your location data from the Internet using data cellular networks, to which you are connected. Of course, its accuracy is much lower, but it speeds up accurate satellite determination.
• Wi-Fi. Did you not know that according to the data Wi-Fi networks Can you also determine the location?
• EPO. However, more about it below.

When customization is necessary: ​​a Mediatek curiosity

Today, Mediatek (also known as MTK) is one of the leaders in manufacturing mobile processors. Even such giants as Sony, LG or HTC today create smartphones using MTK processors. But there was a time when the processors of this Taiwanese company were used only in poor iPhone clones or dual-SIM dialers.

In 2012-2014, Mediatek released quite decent chipsets, but they constantly had a problem: GPS did not work correctly. Satellites with such devices behave according to the quote: “I am difficult to find, easy to lose...”

It was all about the settings of the EPO auxiliary service. This service, developed by Mediatek, helps calculate the orbits of navigation satellites in advance. But here's the problem: preinstalled by default in Chinese phones EPO data is calculated for Asia and when used in Europe it fails!

This is corrected in modern models easily. Let us remind you that all these instructions are only suitable for smartphones with MTK processors:

• Open menu Android settings
• Go to the “Time” section and set your time zone manually. This is necessary to avoid network location for time.
• Go to the “My location” section, allow the system access to geodata, check the “By GPS satellites” and “By network coordinates” checkboxes.
• By using file manager go to the root directory of the memory and delete the GPS.log file and other files with the combination GPS in the name. It's not a fact that they are there.
• Download and install the MTK Engineering Mode Start application, which allows you to log into your smartphone (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.themonsterit.EngineerStarter&hl=ru).

• Move to an open area with good visibility. There should be no high-rise buildings or other objects around that would obstruct your direct view of the sky. The Internet must be turned on on the smartphone.
• Launch the application, select MTK Settings, in it - the Location tab, in it - the EPO item. As you may have guessed, we update the EPO data for OUR time zone and time!
• Click the EPO (Download) button. The download should happen in seconds even on a weak connection.
• Return to the Location section, select the YGPS tab. In the Information tab, press the Cold, Warm, Hot and Full buttons in sequence. With their help, information about the location of satellites in orbit is updated, so each time you have to wait for the data to be loaded. Fortunately, it's a matter of seconds.

• In the same tab, click the AGPS Restart button. The AGPS support service will now take into account already downloaded data and more accurately determine the position of the satellites.
• Go to the adjacent NMEA LOG tab and click the Start button. After that, go to the Satellites tab. You will see how the system detects satellites. This process should take 15-20 minutes, during which the satellite icons will turn from red to green. Make sure that the display does not turn off during this time, or better yet, disable sleep mode altogether. When all (or most) satellites turn green, return to the NMEA Log tab and click Stop.
• Reboot your smartphone.

Yes, this is far from the best simple procedure. Depending on version MTK processor(we described the steps for the MT6592 platform) the procedure may differ slightly, but essentially remains the same. But after these steps, GPS on your smartphone will work great.