iPhone 3G GPS Accuracy

[nimda0]

How to fix the GPS on your brand new iPHONE!!!

I've been toying around with the Maps app on my new 3G, and have noticed some serious issues with the accuracy when grabbing my location...

See the map below? I'm where the bright red dot is. The iPhone keeps telling me I'm where the bright green dot is. That's a difference of ±380 miles.

Has anyone else had an issue with glaring issues with accuracy? It's making me think there might be a problem with my iPhone.



And the really scary thing is that the place it keeps pinpointing me at is where I used to live!

Here's how you fix it:

- Go to settings, general, auto-lock, change it from 1 Minute to NEVER
- Go to settings, general, reset, reset network settings (THIS WILL REBOOT YOUR IPHONE)
- Go outside, in a clear place with NO tree's, buildings, or anything blocking your view of the sky
- Open "MAPS", click NO on all that wi-fi crap, then click the little gps icon, and let it sync up with the satellites (this could take a few minutes)

It will work.... unless you don't do something right. You do not need to sync up with itunes or restore in itunes first.

SEND ME A PM if you have any questions, as I may or may not be answering this thread.

Oh, and the reason it messes up is because the first time you SYNC UP with the gps satellites, it uses Cell Tower assistance as immediate back-up. The first time is also the most important sync, which is why it typically takes the longest. It's finding a clear route to you and your phone remembers this. That's why we need to reset the network settings (clear it out). Also, the reason it's inaccurate is because the first time you did it there may have been issues with obstructions or just general issues locating. So, your phone used the cell tower location feature as the back-up, the first time.. and your phone remembered that.

 

[alphaod]

Now another reason not to get the iPhone 3G... I need my GPS

 

[nimda0]

Now another reason not to get the iPhone 3G... I need my GPS

It works fine, actually, mine works as good as my tomtom.

 

[hkftw]

That's weird, the GPS has been spot on for me, even while inside and when in a car

 

[john9876]

I think the problems (mine at least) may be due to conflicting information from the WiFi lookup.

I was on a train yesterday and finding my location on Google Maps initially worked fine, then suddenly it decided I was about 400 miles further south.

Turning off Wi-Fi in the Settings menu and trying again, it managed to find the correct location again. I guess that forces it to rely on either GPS or cell tower triangulation, both of which are probably more accurate than the WiFi-based location system.

A bit worrying that WiFi location overrides GPS results so easily though - even to the extent of suddenly moving you hundreds or thousands of miles from a location you've been at for some time immediately prior to that...

 

[cjandnw]

Here's how you fix it:

- Go to settings, general, auto-lock, change it from 1 Minute to NEVER
- Go to settings, general, reset, reset network settings (THIS WILL REBOOT YOUR IPHONE)
- Go outside, in a clear place with NO tree's, buildings, or anything blocking your view of the sky
- Open "MAPS", click NO on all that wi-fi crap, then click the little gps icon, and let it sync up with the satellites (this could take a few minutes)

It will work.... unless you don't do something right. You do not need to sync up with itunes or restore in itunes first.

SEND ME A PM if you have any questions, as I may or may not be answering this thread.

Oh, and the reason it messes up is because the first time you SYNC UP with the gps satellites, it uses Cell Tower assistance as immediate back-up. The first time is also the most important sync, which is why it typically takes the longest. It's finding a clear route to you and your phone remembers this. That's why we need to reset the network settings (clear it out). Also, the reason it's inaccurate is because the first time you did it there may have been issues with obstructions or just general issues locating. So, your phone used the cell tower location feature as the back-up, the first time.. and your phone remembered that.

This worked when I was outside.
NOTE after the reset network settings, I opened maps but it never asked me any questions about wifi.
It located me in less than 5 seconds to within 10 feet!

As soon as I went inside it relocated me to a highway outside of detroit. (I am in Mt. Laurel, NJ)

If it was using wifi (which i turned off but it still says I am in Detroit) wouldn't I wee the network ?

THanks for the assistance. If nothing else the reset made it locate me faster when outside.

edit: 3g black 16 gig locked to AT&T 2.0.1.

 

[wisnick]

I GPS and the skyhook system worked great with my 3g iphone until i upgraded to 2.0.1. Now, i do not get the refined accuracy indoors as i did with 2.0. With 2.0 when I was connected to wifi it would find me within the block. Now, I only get within 10 blocks, which is the same if I were to turn wifi off.

Has anyone else noticed a difference?

 

[stylinexpat]

My current IPhone 3G GPS is about 1-2 blocks off and I'm wondering if all the new 3Gs are also 1-2 blocks off.

 

[baypharm]

The 3Gs GPS is not very accurate. It doesn't utilize the orbiting satellites like a dedicated GPS does. The iPhone can't be all things for the price it sells for.

 

[steinschaukler]

thanx

worked fine. thanx a lot!

 

[sushi]

Here in Japan, I've had good results.

My location is usually very close. The only issue that I have is sometimes the compass gets confused and has me driving sideways down the road. But other than that, it works great for navigation.

On the trains, it depends on reception. Sometimes it's spot on, and others there is a lag and a jump, then a lag and a jump. Between Tokyo and Hiroshima, there were places when I was riding the Bullet Train that it tracked perfectly. Others, like in mountainous areas or places with many tunnels, it would be off quite a bit. It all depends on reception -- same as a dedicated GPS in that regard.