I performed the 3.0 upgrade (sorry I did that)and now, the Maps programs and my GPS program constantly show the wrong "current location". Anyone else have this problem after the upgrade?
I used my phone to track the location in the ocean for about a week (where there are no cell towers) when I got back the GPS was VERY VERY SLOW, I think the problem was that the OS uses the cell towers to estimate the location and the GPS to pinpoint it, and since the date from the towers (non existent) did not coincide with the GPS it decided no to use the towers any more, thus it became very slow, the solution was to go to settings and restore every thing, loosing all the data in the phone. Fortunately the restore recover my data 🙂 and now is fast again
Reporting back: my replacement iPhone GPS is still working great over a month later.
It seems that the problem (in my case) was NOT anything corrupt in my system or backup, because the backup from the bad phone restored to the new one, and the problem did not happen again.
I’m amazed to have gotten TWO iPhones that both lost GPS functionality within days. But #3 is fine, and warranty covered me. So I guess I’m among the lucky ones.
So my vote is now “hardware problem.” (Although I’m sure multiple different causes can interfere with GPS usage.)
Maybe I should add that I suspect my replacement iPhone is a new model: still 3G (not[s]), still 16GB, but a new version that is now the low end model alongside the 3G[s]. I haven’t heard anything to suggest the iPhone 3G has changed, but this new model is different from my previous three 3Gs. (The first one had a mic problem but GPS was fine; the other two had GPS problems.)
Differences:
* Screen color is a little different (oranges and bright purples are less brilliant—but not a big deal)
* Speaker is no longer easy to block with a pinky finger. I could practically mute my other iPhones that way, but with this one, the sound seems to come out of the speaker hole AND the dock connector (like an iPod) which is nice.
* And of course working GPS 🙂
(It’s different, but definitely not an [s] in disguise: no compass, no speed increase.)
Also reporting back here : Brought my faulty-GPS iPhone away for repair and got a new 3G back (refurb actually).
This one works flawless, even after restoring from back-up.
So, vote for "hardware problem" here too.
Didn't notice any difference between this 3G and my old one. My old one was build wk 6 2009, this one says wk 52 2009 but since it's a refurb this will be the refurb date, not the original date of manufacturing.
I just wanted to throw my message on this topic as well. My GPS has been broken for quite a while now. I can't even pinpoint exactly when it started, but something around 3.0 sounds about right.
I had gotten a replacement iPhone around September or so and paid $199 for it due to a water sensor getting tripped without ever being in water. Then I started having this issue (and I don't really think it started exactly at 3.0 come to think of it) and in January or so I decided to get them to take a look at it. They said I'd have to pay $199 again to get it replaced and tried to tell me every excuse they could think of as to why it was probably my fault and not the phone's.
The manager at the Apple Store tried to tell me it could be my computer's fault (though she faded away from this as I told her I'd used a Mac most recently to restore). She also said it could be other peripherals on my system and even went so far to say it could have been a Time Capsule's fault. First, I've tried restoring MULTIPLE times in every way possible, upgrades, restores, DFU mode restores, backups and no backups, on both a PC and a Mac (and all suggestions online). Also, this woman had no idea what Skyhook is, I can assure you that, so she didn't mean that when she said Time Capsule, so to basically tell me that it could be my router or some other peripheral was incredibly insulting from a company I'm used to getting straight forward answers from and very good support.
At this point I've found the solution to the issue. Switch to an Android phone. After paying $199 for a replacement because of a phantom water sensor tripping, then having them try to milk another $199 out of me only a few months later, I've had enough and I will never buy another iPhone again. After being a huge Apple supporter, I'm actually second guessing my suggestions to people to get iPhones and Macs at this point.
My GF & I had the same while trying to Geocach... Guess what.. Her son said...turn on your WiFi.... Perfect...Spot ON.. Everything that requires GPS WORKS !!!! TRY IT. We are very happy now that eyerthing is working perfect !!!
Please fix this problem in 4.0. I understand why you haven't even acknowledged the issue (disappointed but understand). But please do not ignore it. You have done several OS updates since you broke our phones, none with a fix. Please don't hang us out to dry permanently.
New iPhone will be out soon...but I'm thinking of changing to a blackberry for 18 months to see if their back up is any better.I think they are trying to ram to much into that new iphone.
It's been quiet on this thread for a while now. Just because it's quiet doesn't mean the issue is gone. I just thought I'd chime in with my experiences/frustrations with my iphone's lack of gps.
I've had issues with gps for since early February 2010. GPS issues first showed up while running 3.0 firmware. I would restore my 3g 8gb iphone and gps would usually work the first time for hours on end. After letting the phone rest in a locked state and gps would most likely not work again. Restore from a backup and I'd have the same "work the first time never again experience".
Occasionally a "reset network settings" attempt would bring it back to life but only temporarily. I've also tried the "turn off wifi, location services, 3g, auto-lock, and restart" procedure and it occasionally works. Tried deleting the locationd cache, very limited success (only reason I finally jb the phone was try this).
I've tried every firmware since 3.0 and get the same usually working the first time, let the phone lock and try again later (10minutes to a few hours later) and most likely nothing.
I replaced the wifi/gps antenna myself, and gps worked instantly upon starting the phone back up. Yay! Fixed it! But once again, 30 minutes later couldn't get a signal.
When it works it works in my house or out in yard. When it doesn't work, it doesn't matter whether it's a bright blue sky, starry night, cloudy and stormy, or in the house. What a fickle iphone..... Seems many know my frustration.
My wife's identical phone works without issue. I'm a little ocd about gps not working on my phone and wasted an absurd number of hours trying to find a way to will it into working as it should again. Big frustrating timesink I carry around in my pocket....
Hoping 4.0 will resolve the issues for me and all you others....
I'm writing to say I have the same exact problem with daojman7, GPS chip kicks in once in tens of Iphone restart attempts and it's been like this since around times when OS3.0 first came out. I'll get an Iphone 4 next week but still... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that iOS4.0 will solve my Iphone^3G's GPS problem, it's just unacceptable and I refuse Apple's manner on this situation...
