Captivate - GPS Issues

Theres a few howtos out there.  Do a quick google search.  Anyway, this has been shamelessly pilfered from another site:

If you just got your hands on a new Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant or Captivate, you may have noticed some GPS issues. Samsung reportedly has as well, and may address this in a coming OTA fix.  In the meantime, it's not hard to fix the problem yourself -- provided you go slow and follow the instructions, which are detailed after the break.  [Xda-Developers via Intomobile]

• Step 1 -- Open menu > settings > Location & Security.  Uncheck the box next to "Use Wireless Networks"
• Step 2 -- Open the dialer (the phone button) and enter the following: *#*#1472365#*#* .  Then press "send" to open the Vibrant's LbsTestMode menu.
• Step 3 -- In the LBSTestMode menu, press “Application Settings” and change “Operation Mode” to “MS Based.”
• Step 4 -- In the LBSTestMode menu, find “SUPL/CP Settings” and change the SERVER & PORT to supl.google.com and port 7276 (DO NOT use www. in front of supl !)
• Step 5 -- Reboot your phone.
• Step 6 -- Open menu > settings > Location & Security.  Check the box next to "Use Wireless Networks"

If you want to reverse these changes, the original specs are:

Operation Mode: Standalone
SERVER: www.spirent-lcs.com
PORT: 7275

This should make locating and locking on to GPS satellites faster, and make locations services more accurate.  Just take your time, and follow the directions closely.  And no, this won't affect your warranty or need root.

Thanks I've tried that and about a half dozen other fixes as well. None of them have any effect.

Also - I think you have the port number wrong there. I think it's 7276.

Yup, I had the same experience.  I tried everything and nothing works.  I wound up returning the phone since I don't know when/if this will be fixed and it impacts too many apps that I use.

Anyone know of an offical fix yet?

I had the same problem. Samsung kept saying that they're weren't responsible for the issue and blamed at&t saying it was an issue with their network. I lost all faith in the Samsung rep when he kept referring to GPS as the company. LOL He kept saying I had to call whoever provided GPS. I finally just thanked him and hungup.

I started a chat with at&t and they said it sounded like a problem and offered to do a software reset and/or replace the phone. I decided knowing that either way I was going to end up with the problem again. Sigh......

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@TonySturch wrote:

Theres a few howtos out there.  Do a quick google search.  Anyway, this has been shamelessly pilfered from another site:

 

If you just got your hands on a new Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant or Captivate, you may have noticed some GPS issues. Samsung reportedly has as well, and may address this in a coming OTA fix.  In the meantime, it's not hard to fix the problem yourself -- provided you go slow and follow the instructions, which are detailed after the break.  [Xda-Developers via Intomobile]

• Step 1 -- Open menu > settings > Location & Security.  Uncheck the box next to "Use Wireless Networks"
• Step 2 -- Open the dialer (the phone button) and enter the following: *#*#1472365#*#* .  Then press "send" to open the Vibrant's LbsTestMode menu.
• Step 3 -- In the LBSTestMode menu, press “Application Settings” and change “Operation Mode” to “MS Based.”
• Step 4 -- In the LBSTestMode menu, find “SUPL/CP Settings” and change the SERVER & PORT to supl.google.com and port 7276 (DO NOT use www. in front of supl !)
• Step 5 -- Reboot your phone.
• Step 6 -- Open menu > settings > Location & Security.  Check the box next to "Use Wireless Networks"

If you want to reverse these changes, the original specs are:

Operation Mode: Standalone
SERVER: www.spirent-lcs.com
PORT: 7275

This should make locating and locking on to GPS satellites faster, and make locations services more accurate.  Just take your time, and follow the directions closely.  And no, this won't affect your warranty or need root.

 

 

 

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If you make the changes above, make sure you also turn off the secure socket in SUPL settings. I found this made the difference for me.

I gave up and took the phone back. I ended up asking for another Captivate. I tried the GPS at the store and it didn't work any better.

Left the store and used the fix mentioned above in this thread - which I had tried along with many other fixes on the old phone - and the new one now has a good GPS lock in about 10 seconds. 

There are some things about this new unit which make me think it was of a different/new build than the old one.

Two days ago there was an update on my phone for google maps. I downloaded it and now my GPS works perfect.