The Patch
I have created a simple patch to help Verizon Pre and Pixi owners with GPS aquisition times.
It is based on the crazy idea that the best way to enable better GPS for Verizon customers is to disable Verizon's aGPS server. The problem is Verizon's aGPS server just does not work. Not only does it not work, but it is slow at not working. This means when a Verizon phone seeks GPS data the server acts like it is going to respond but never does.
Palm did a good job with their GPS system. If an aGPS server is not available it rolls over to standard GPS. This patch simply speeds up the process by blocking the slow aGPS server.
Check out this thread on precentral.net for more details. Patch should be available in Preware soon
http://forums.precentral.net/web-os-development/268933-patch-disable-verizon-agps-server-improved-gps.html
Reports
Quoting from the forums:
I got it to work. Installed with Quickinstall. Disabled GPSfix. Google maps took about 1 minute to lock on, but it was accurate within 3 meters and followed me through a parking lot on foot fairly well. Good job.
I am running basically a stock Pre Plus on Verizon. Right now I am about 200 miles from my usual location and from the last place I had used GPS. I loaded your patch, went outside, launched Google Maps and had an extremely accurate fix within 40 seconds. That is the best performance I think I've ever had. In the past I had used GPS Fix with varying degrees of success and consistency. Tonight it was completely off, and I had not ever loaded its accompanying patch. Also in the past I had used the VZ Navigator "dance" with varying degrees of success.
The true test of this new patch will be how the GPS behaves over the next few days at different times and places. I will provide another report of my experience after I use it a few more times.
My first experience with this patch seems too good to be true.
I just installed the patch and glad to report it gps works great! It was able to get a more accurate position than before and a lot faster as well. It loads up google maps a lot faster, under 10 seconds, something that used to takke about a minute. I'm getting better accuracy with the foursquare app as well. So far so good. I will definitely keep using it and will keep you updated. Thanks for the patch!
I am using a Verizon Pre+. I took the plunge and tried this patch out. Walked outside my building, launched Googlemaps, and instantly saw location that was less than a mile from my location (and one that I KNOW does not have a cell tower). About 30 seconds later, location jumped to where I was standing. WOW. Will keep trying this several times through out the next two days.
Thanks! |
