GPS and Maps not working after 3.0 upgrade

iPhone OS 3.1 (Beta) is available for developers
please check if Apple fixed this GPS issue before they release the final version.
if they didn't, please send them a message or talk to them directly

So... I commuted back and the Maps and GPS functionality was good. MotionX-GPS was able to create a track. So that part is fine now. (It's a great way to get rid of power. I left with fully charged - been charging it for 4+hrs, and got home when the battery indicator showed 3/4 left after 40 min.)

But... as soon as I turn ON Airplane Mode, GPS is no longer available to either Maps or MotionX-GPS. Noticing that Location Service button is available when Airplane Mode is ON, this seems to be an unexpected result. This is tested at a location where the GPS signal strength reported by MotionX-GPS is full green bars, and reconfirmed by Maps accuracy circle being about 2 to 3 times the centre blue dot.

Hopefully Apple can review this issue and try to fix it.

Thought that I would let you know that I tried your solution and its worked for me. Thanks for that.

I have a solution which worked for me!

1 - Go to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Location Warnings
2 - Restart Iphone
3 - Open Maps or MotionX or any other GPS app
4 - Wait patiently, I got a GPS fix within 20 sec, in-house behind my window.

Seem like a software bug indeed. Try this and get back with your results. Succes!

This doesn't work for me. I even went to the effort of completely erasing the iPhone and start from scratch (not recover through iTunes). To no avail. I followed Forrest Gump's suggestions, but still I get no GPS fix, only triangulation.

*** isn't Apple commenting this? It very much affects the reputation of Navigon. Just read all the comments there that give Navigon the fault for not working properly. All sound like they are due to 3.0 killing GPS. Ach.

BTW: Is there a way of downgrading an iPhone back to a previous OS-version?

Annoyed,
Ben

Just wanted to add my name to the list. I noticed that GPS was not locking on my 3G when I updated to 3.0. I also got a 3GS and it has the same problem. Sometimes if I turn off Location Services and then turn it back on I will get a lock on my location when I first open Maps but as soon as I start moving (driving) it looses the lock and starts triangulating.

I reset the Network Settings on my 3GS and restored 3.0 on my 3G (as a new device) and GPS started working well on both. I drove around a little and scrolled in Maps pretty smoothly.

Just now I turned on my 3GS and it did not lock on my position only triangulation. I turned on my 3G and it locked on my position in a few seconds. I tapped on the back of my 3GS (like knocking on a door - very softly). I noticed a slight rattle when I knocked between the apple logo and the camera on the back (my 3G does not do this). Then I loaded up Maps again and the 3GS got a lock on my position! I wonder if the GPS antenna is loose.

The exact same thing is happening to me too. I tried doing a factory restore, starting as a new iphone rather then restoring my old backup, resetting location warnings and I got nothing.

I don't know what sequence of actions I did some days ago that made it work once, just when I was showing my dad with his iphone side by side how mine didn't work.

Getting a new one under warranty is being a pain here in Brazil since my carrier's store stated that they ran out of 8gb iphones. Thanks "Claro Brasil"!

Does not work for me...

For the record, those steps (Reset Network Settings then stand outside) did NOT help for me. But thanks for sharing them, and I will repeat a few times 🙂

Interestingly, your method DID give me a single precise fix when I did it (almost instantly too) but immediately afterward, it went back to being miles off.

Then again, ever since 3.0 it will OCCASIONALLY get a good fix, so getting a good fix once is nothing new (getting it quickly was a surprise though--so you may be onto something even if it doesn't help every time).

Also, GPS accuracy did COME BACK for me for a day or two--and then went bad again. It seems pretty random.

3.1 to the rescue? I hope!

So, finally made it to the Apple store for a genius bar appt - after a thorough interrogation and several diagnostics, they replaced my phone. Everything working well now, although it just seems like GPS reception was overall a bit better with the 2.2.1 OS - if i'm inside at all, i get triangulation - where as before i remember getting a GPS lock indoors without too much trouble. I dunno, just seems like 3.0 has a very buggy GPS system, even if your phone is 'working'. Hopefully they'll be resolved in the upcoming 3.0.1 update.

Just wanted to add that the GPS on my iPhone also seemed to be working quite fine before I ugraded to version 3.0, and ever since I upgraded it does not seem to be working at all. I have read many posts from people complaining that their location is no longer accurate after upgrading, and is now placing them a few hundred metres or a few kilometres from where they really are - well since the upgrade I am being 'found' on literally the other side of the world from where I actually am! I am in Vietnam at the moment and my iPhone is now very confidently locating me in NJ, USA - Every time! It had no trouble locating me relatively accurately before I upgraded to version 3.0.... even in Vietnam (and elsewhere in Asia)!

I really hope someone from Apple has taken note of this issue, and that they are working on finding a solution.... or if anyone else discovers a fix please, please let us know!

Thanks
🙂

Christ, what is apple doing? It is clearly not a hardware fault, since after downgrading to 2.2.1 the GPS started to work again.

So, my question is: How come the devices that got replaced by Apple have a working GPS on 3.0?

I tried everything. All kinds of resets, restores, deleted the ipsw and re-downloaded from iTunes and only google maps locks my position. Any other GPS app that doesn't use triangulation does not work and I can't get a position.
Before reseting everything and restoring, google maps was telling me that I was in long beach, even though I'm in Brazil.

2.2.1 = working just fine.
3.0 = hardware fault, globally? Even with some brand new 3GS models? If that's the case Apple NEEDS to make a recall on almost all iPhones affected by the "supposed faulty hardware" that they claim to be the problem.

I feel like going back to N95. I hate symbian, but at least their hardware doesn't get messed up when you upgrade the FW. And I sure miss VIDEO RECORDING and accurate GPS.

I guess we get copy&paste, push notifications, a free voice recording app and the trade off is no more GPS.

If at least we had an Apple Store in Brazil to attend. We can't just get a new one like most people on USA or Europe by taking it back to an Apple Store.
Now what Apple?

😟

Message was edited by: DaN_Himself

Same problem with my 3G
GPS works, but is jumpy, slow, and not as accurate as it was before i updated to 3.0. Hopefully 3.1 will fix the boat load of issues.

So far i am not impressed with this 3.0 update.. seems as if it were rushed, and not as thoroughly tested as it should have been. I've had a couple other issues since I've updated to 3.0 but i wont get into it in this thread.