GPS accuracy iOS 13 and/or 11 Pro Max

AW5 user here and seeing exactly the same issues with wonky GPS tracks. Me and some fellow runners nailed down the issue to cellular. Whenever we have activated cellular, we get wonky tracks, whenever it is off, the tracks look very good.

Yes, I know. Just wanted to point out that it is most probably an issue that can be fixed with software as it happens on a different Apple platform in the same manner. Most probably the same faulty algorithm that takes cellular data and uses that for position calculations. Gone now.

Based on what I’ve observed, it seems there is some kind of issue with the handoff to cellular from WiFi. I’ve noticed that when using several apps (including Runkeeper, Pokémon Go, Wizards Unite, etc... ), my GPS accuracy significantly improves when I turn off WiFi. I’ve been in contact with Apple and showed them the association with WiFi. They confirmed that it was an issue and said it would be fixed in a subsequent update. However, there have been two updates since then and still no fix. ☹️ For now, I’m turning off WiFi any time I need accurate GPS as a workaround, but it’s super annoying to have a brand new iPhone 11 Pro and having to do that just to get usable GPS.

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately turning off WiFi does not help on my phone. Accuracy is still the same (+/- 16 feet) with or without WiFi. But the GPS Signal still jumps slowly around +/- 50 feet when I am not moving but turning my iPhone slightly to the left or right. No matter if WiFi or cellular is on or off)

Location Services uses GPS, Bluetooth beacons (where available) along with crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot information, a cellular towers to approximate your location.

I'm wondering if some cellular towers aren't properly programmed for their location, leading to wonky tracks as the phone cycles between where the cell tower is telling it it is and where GPS says it is.

To quote Apple:

Core Location provides services that determine a device’s geographic location, altitude, and orientation, or its position relative to a nearby iBeacon device. The framework gathers data using all available components on the device, including the Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, magnetometer, barometer, and cellular hardware.

aefting wrote:

I’ve been in contact with Apple and showed them the association with WiFi. They confirmed that it was an issue and said it would be fixed in a subsequent update. However, there have been two updates since then and still no fix.

Note "a future update" means just that… a future update.

I could be the next release of iOS, or it could be iOS 14.

I have been having an issue with Maps that has expanded into my SmartThings app. The iPhone 11 Pro GPS location tends to drift FAR more than my previous iPhone 7 did. When it drifts, it moves my more than 500 ft (while I am stationary). This was causing my SmartThings location-based routines to run. I adjusted the routines to only act after a location was established for a minute or more, and I am still seeing issues. The distance is drifting so much and for so long that it is basically useless for tracking my position while I am at my house. Is there a way to fix this severe GPS drift?

E78merlin, yes the 11 Pro does seem to be slow to acquire GPS - this can be seen by running the app GPSdiagnostic which gives you a direct look at the hardware. But if you rely on something that needs GPS *inside* your house then the location will be inaccurate due to not getting a good GPS signal inside. If you can adjust both the time to acquire and the distance then maybe you will have more luck.

Dear all,

Just found a new study on smartphones GPS accuracy comparing different phones. Thought it might be relevant for this discussion group.

We Tested Mobile GPS/GNSS Accuracy and Found Some Surprising Results

https://medium.com/@importanttech/we-tested-mobile-gps-gnss-accuracy-and-found-some-surprising-results-b9ec35873e2e

It is worth mentionning that I heard that Apple will upgrade significantly their iPhone GPS capabilities for the next generation of device. This will be welcomed.

I would be INCREDIBLY happy with these numbers out of my 11 Pro. I have my SmartThings device set to a 5000 ft radius around my house to differentiate between me being “home” or “away“ and it STILL sets me to away 2-3 times per day, while I am sitting 20 feet from the set hub location.

I feel like it is something more than this. I have worked with civilian and military GPS systems for over 20 years. I have never had a system drift by over a mile for over a minute (like mine is doing) simply because of a roof. ESPECIALLY when it is cueing off of items other than GPS satellites.

Hi everyone, is anyone aware of any fixes for this?

I am having the same "GPS drift" issues with my 11 Pro.

I upgraded to iOS 13.6, tried working with Apple (they even sent me a new phone bc they thought it was a hardware issue), but the problem persists.

Thank you

This is an ongoing problem for me as well with my iPhone 11. I hike a lot and use GPS to track and record my hikes. There's a lot of misinformation in the recorded tracks from my phone. When I stop during a hike it adds may meters of distance I guess by trying to locate me. When will this be fixed? There should be a fix without waiting for and having to buy the next generation of iPhone.

Has anyone heard anything new on this problem?

Do you think there is anything that can be done on the user’s end to adjust the Wifi and make it more accurate? I had a similar issue with the only Android phone I ever owned....and it, along with many other less critical issues, was a reason I just said “the only Android phone I ever owned”.

I'm using Alltrails Pro. Have been in touch with their support people and they say they have had other reports of erratic results from iPhone 11. I have been on hikes with people using the same app with iPhone 8 Plus and they do not have the same problem. As far as I know the Alltrails app does not have GPS filtering but will have a look in the settings again.

Thanks for the tip... will check out Guru Maps Pro.