Toast's Enhanced GPS Settings Guide (Version 1.07)

-This guide will NOT show:

---General GPS questions
---How to get or install GPS apps (links shall be provided, though)
---How to make cached maps (link shall be provided)
---Issues with individual GPS apps
---Your own favorite settings (post them on my research thread, with a link at the bottom of this post)

-So, if you don't want your post to be deleted, or cookies taken away from you, please don't bother us with posts concerning those things on these small problems.


Disclaimer: This forum and I cannot be held responsible for anyone being/getting lost from or with their Eternity, expecting their Eternity to save them, or for any GPS mishaps (e.g.: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/0yyKrS8jwSY&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/0yyKrS8jwSY&rel=1</a>) whatsoever. This is a phone, not a personal guide. The GPS will not work without service. See troubleshooting section for more details.


Step One


---Requirements before we get started:

-USB data cable (search on Amazon, costs less than $3 including shipping)

-You need a data plan for all methods. Currently, we are of the belief that all aGPS traffic uses data, although we are not sure how much. There might be a way to use as little data as possible (if any, we are not sure yet), and I will discuss this in the next step.

Step Two


---You need a "goatbroken" GPS app if installed through your phone's browser. If you have an app installed that you installed through this method, use this guide on how to goatbreak it: here . This is described for some specific GPS apps in this guide, along with a method to make them fullscreen if a D-Pad is showing up: here . If installing through TK File Explorer, use this guide: here .

-ALWAYS after installing apps or using any modification method to the file system (which goatbreaking does) it is safest to update the Java DB and the app database, found in steps 13-18: here.

-For general GPS location and direction (has decent driving directions as well) I recommend the special version of Google Maps with GPS. Found with guide: here . This has other useful information on using the eternity as an exercise partner as well.

-For runners, bikers, hikers, or any other athletes who want to track their distance should use this thread for reference to find a few different GPS apps: here.

-For those who do not have a data plan, download these to your computer: JAR and JAD. Use the "If installing through TK File Explorer" method of install mentioned above in the first part of this step. Mobile GMaps can use cached (offline) maps, which are stored on your SD card. Follow directions to make cached maps: here. Warning: make sure each maps file is under 100mb, or you will probably brick (make useless) your phone! Directions to "unbrick" are found here (in case you screwed up) : here. You will also need to use the Standalone method below in Step 3, because it should (in theory) not use data with GPS connections. In MGMaps, go to Settings >> Map Browsing and enable stored maps and offline mode, and find the map directory on your SD card. We are not certain that this does not use any data, and it at least requires cell service to operate. In theory, it shouldn't, but we haven't had this completely confirmed with data (yet). If it does use data, it shouldn't be much, but that is only in theory also. MGMaps also is a good, general location finder (best for finding coordinates and speed), which also has good maps.

-If looking for a turn-by-turn, directions GPS solution: there is no free version. See below on 1.05 revision edits if you want to pay for one.

--Recommended:
-re-organizing app order: here,
-how to delete locked apps: here,
-how to modify multitask with up to 5 apps: here,
-how to make apps still run while minimized: here.


Step Three


---How to access the GPS Settings menu:
Warning: some of these settings can brick your phone! Please be careful and follow exact directions. I and the members of this forum are not responsible if you screw up your phone. Refer to

-Open the dial pad on your Eternity. Dial *#6984125*# . This brings up the Admin menu.

-Go to Internals (4). The password is *#3818790*#. Confirm and you are brought to the Internals menu.

-Go to LBS Settings (11). Although there are other settings in this folder that effect your GPS, we are only going to use one of the menus, unless more is found that supports we should also change settings in other menus as well.

-Go to User Settings (3). This is the menu we shall use to change GPS settings to their optimal values.


Step Four


---Optimal settings guide. Default Settings are listed in Red, and New settings are listed in Green. Some fields have more than one optimal setting. In that case, a Yellow setting will signify that you must choose the most optimal setting according to your needs. Other information is default colored and italicized.

-LBS Mode: Standalone (Use this, however, if you do not have a data plan. It is not proven this does not use data, but we are sure the other setting does. Read the next note, and you will find that you cannot change most of these values.) A-GPS (Note that some of the settings below were not editable under Standalone, and therefore have no default value.).

-Assisted GPS Mode: A-GPS UP (A-GPS CP does not work; it resets when you exit.)

-A-GPS Option: MS Based (uses GPS that gets a new fix each time, which is better for tracking and driving), MS Assissted (uses GPS that tries to improve your position from the last fix, which is better when more accurate readings are necessary or you are having problems with the accuracy of MS Based).

-Service Option: Location Only (use this if you are having trouble getting a fix, as it uses less satellites than the optimal setting), Location and Altitude and Velocity (uses more satellites, but will provide your program with more data and usually a more accurate reading; use the default setting if this does not work).

-Session Type: Single Shot (good if you are using reasons that you chose MS Assissted, or if you have problems with the other setting), Tracking Mode (provides the fastest fix if used with MS Based, and if you have problems with this, switch to the first setting).



-SAVE settings at the bottom of the screen. I recommend you restart your phone afterwards, check to make sure your settings did not revert, and then use your GPS programs.


Troubleshooting: If you cannot get a fix, or have extreme accuracy/tracking issues


---Get within cell service. This phone's GPS will not work without signal. It requires cell signal for the entirety of the GPS tracking session. If you are going on a trip/bike/trek/etc., and want to use GPS to guide you the whole way, but are expecting possible service dropouts, don't. This device will not help you if you are lost without service. Bring a backup GPS device, an emergency GPS beacon, maps, and/or a different, primary GPS device if you are worried about being lost without service. (Note, 911 will work on roaming, but without any service whatsoever, your Eternity will be worthless if you are looking for it to help you)

---Go outside, or wait till clear skies. If you are in a car, stop, take a walk outside (not in traffic, please...), or if you cannot stop, leave it under your wind-shield, hold it outside your window/sunroof (carefully, please...), or check to make sure you are in a region with cell reception. Sometimes, you need to move for it to get a fix, but sometimes it needs you to be still. So, after a few minutes of trying both, you might want to move further into the troubleshooting section.

---Restart the app/phone. You probably want to try this before you change any settings for troubleshooting, maybe even before you try walking outside.

---Remember, the GPS will not track or fix if you have the hold button on, the app minimized (there is a possible fix for the last one is in step 2, fourth recommendation.), the app not being "goatbroken", and if your data connection is blocked (although standalone might work in this case?).

---Change the settings back to default if none of these "trial and error" troubleshooters work for you. If you want to try tinkering with some individual settings, you can change some values below:

-As stated above, if you are having issues with tracking, and not accuracy, use MS Based with Tracking Mode. If this does not work, try cycling through the Service Option settings.

-Accuracy issues (not with tracking): Use MS Assissted. Cycle through the Service Option Settings. Use Single Shot.

-Cold Start: Disabled, Enabled . Only able to change if in Session Type: Single Shot. Only use this option if your phone cannot find enough satellites, and this process of gathering satellite data can take as long as 15 minutes. <<------This could be a fix for the "Eternity GPS bug" which makes you restart every few hours or so to get a fix.

-Under LBS Settings >> System Settings, Enable Warm State is an option, set as No. Use Yes IF your GPS has problems with the speed of fixes or if it will not fix at all, although you should try this after using cold start for a quarter of an hour. <<------This could be a fix for the "Eternity GPS bug" which makes you restart every few hours or so to get a fix.


Step Five


-Thank iannb, FtroopDad, and Hazelette for providing me with valuable data for my research! We all love and appreciate cookies

-Post your data and results on my research thread. If these settings did not work for you, please post them on the RESEARCH THREAD, not here. Research thread: here

Version 1.01 fixes:
Some link errors in guide.

Version 1.02 fixes:
MGMaps working version now (not LG version).

Version 1.03 fixes:
Some link errors in the guide/shortens all links so page looks cleaner.
Adds:
Some extra troubleshooting steps, plus an added recommendation in step 2.

Version 1.04 fixes:
Fixed a few errors in guide.

Version 1.05 edit:
Removed Amaze. Very little functionality in the free version, compared to Google Maps or their old version, unless you buy their product now. I will not support their product on here until they appreciate the philosophy of a "downgrade", but still useful, product to promote their premium one. Their current "downgrade" is really useless, and it doesn't even give directions or puts a point on the map. As this guide strives to remain a free solution for GPS use and optimization, AmazeGPS does not fit that standard anymore, so I will not support that. This lowers them to the equivalence of AT&T Navigator app for me, because I will not use it.
Additions: talking about where to get a data cable, how cheap they are.
While removing instance of Amaze from the guide above, I pointed down here if anyone wanted to still pay for turn-by-turn GPS.
More troubleshooting info.

Version 1.06 fixes:
More info about "Standalone" capabilities as posted in research thread.
Also worded some troubleshooting steps better.

Version 1.07 additions:
Added disclaimer.
Added "Troubleshooting:" to the title of "If you are having trouble..." section.
Added info about no service, expanding on the Version 1.06 edits.

Some have told me on the research thread that it stayed for them. I haven't got acquainted with the setting yet so I have no idea for sure.

Thanks a ton, Toast, for pulling this one together! Glad that I was able to help, and, well, really glad that you stuck through with the project!

This has really helped the eternity become even better.

Have a cookie!

You rule Toast!  Does anyone know where the GPS receiver is?  How should you hold the phone for optimal signal?

Hold it outside, or if you are in a car, out the window (carefully) or on your dash/under your windshield. I don't think taking off the battery cover will help any, because the antenna uses the battery cover for better signal.

 I read this earlier and thought the same thing. The cover is plastic! But I took off cover and there is a tiny metal contact point that when on the phone makes contact and pushes in a metal pin on the phone. Is Quigs different than this?

Just thinking out loud, what if the back cover were made of a solid conductive material?  Wouldn't that in theory increase reception?

I do see that tiny contact point on the inside of his cover. I had it outside and had the cover removed to see if it increased reception and a big bird pooped all over it and hid that contact point.