iPhone 3GS Inaccurate GPS - Solution (Temporary?)

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iPhone 3GS Inaccurate GPS - Solution (Temporary?)

The iPhone 3GS GPS is NOT ACCURATE when 3G is on, and we need a firmware fix for it. It can be off anywhere from a 1/4 mile to 5 miles in my case.

This does not occur with all iPhone 3GS models. I have the 16Gb. I don't know if it is limited to this model, or occurs randomly throughout.

The Solution is to turn off 3G and connect through Wireless.

1) Navigate to Settings>General>Network>Enable 3G
2) Turn 3G Off
3) Find your location in Maps.
4) Turn 3G back on.

This fixed moved my location 2 miles to my (very accurate) current position. Whether it is a permanent fix, I have not moved locations to find out.

-Pie

Message was edited by: EatingPie

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Jun 20, 2009 2:01 PM

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Answer 1

w7ox

Level 4

2,407 points

Jun 20, 2009 2:06 PM in response to EatingPie

Good to have a workaround. But it's not unheard of for dedicated GPSRs to be off by a fair distance on occasion. And they can't use cell towers or wi-fi locations as a workaround.

Phil

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Answer 2

EatingPie Author

Level 1

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Jun 21, 2009 9:37 AM in response to EatingPie

Looks like the hack survives a restart, so you only have to do it once.

But it still initially drops the pin about a mile away, then moves it to my current location.

If this is common of GPSRs, why is it only an affecting some customers? There is a bug somewhere in the build/firmware. And it still needs fixing.

-Pie

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Answer 3

Jun 21, 2009 9:41 AM in response to EatingPie

On initial start I also get an inaccurate current position. However, my solution is just to move the phone around a little or walk around a few feet and it will change to a very accurate position in a few seconds.

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Answer 4

EatingPie Author

Level 1

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Jun 21, 2009 5:02 PM in response to EatingPie

Interestingly, I tried the "figure of 8" compass calibration move, similar to the suggestion above. It moved my position from 100 feet off in one direction to about 200 feet off in another!

-Pie

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