Hike502 Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 So I am new to this game and I am using my android Galaxy S 4g phone. My husband is using a G2 android phone. We go geocaching together and he always finds the cache because my gps is always70 to 80 feet off. My location seems to be accurate but the cache seems to be off. I have downloaded several apps that I thought might help but had no luck. Gps test and a couple of others. So frustrated. Is there anything I can do? I would be ok if it was 30 feet off. Any advice appreciated. Quote Link to comment
+eusty Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Get yourself a bluetooth GPS which will only cost your £15 or so (plenty on ebay). Turn off your phones GPS and use this to connect to your phone and you'll find the accuracy will improve a LOT! I bought a Holux GPSlim236 for my Galaxy, before getting a Colorado Quote Link to comment
+Unobtainium Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 This could be a datum issue. Ensure the map datum is set to 'WGS 84' Quote Link to comment
+jacklad Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Seconding the suggestion of the BT gps. I have a Galaxy S variant and all these phones are known for having poor GPS. Didn't think your newer 4g model would have the problem, but I'm not surprised. I went with the BT option and it works very well. However, these phones also often have poor compasses as well. Quote Link to comment
+dakboy Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Is it always off by 70-80 feet in the same direction? Or is it random? Quote Link to comment
Hike502 Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 It's usually 70 _ 80 feet off in any given direction. Where do I go to change the map datum? Thanks for your help as I fumble my way through this. Quote Link to comment
Hike502 Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 Going to check out the blue tooth thing on ebay. Quote Link to comment
Hike502 Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 Would the upgrade to the premium geocaching app help me? Quote Link to comment
+dakboy Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Would the upgrade to the premium geocaching app help me?Why do you think giving a website $30 will change the behavior of your GPS? Quote Link to comment
+Cartman67 Posted April 11, 2011 Share Posted April 11, 2011 Having the same problem on my HTC Desire HD, am about the same 70ft off, checked it with a friend who knew where one was (73ft off) whats this datum WGS84 thing and where do i find it. Or should I go with the BT thing, cheers in advance Quote Link to comment
+Unobtainium Posted April 12, 2011 Share Posted April 12, 2011 WGS84 is a map datum. If you have the wrong datum set you will introduce a repeatable offset in one direction. I have no idea of the hardware your are using, byut if you can change the datum I would look in the settings or options menu. Quote Link to comment
Hike502 Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 Would the upgrade to the premium geocaching app help me?Why do you think giving a website $30 will change the behavior of your GPS? Quote Link to comment
+coggins Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 (edited) Any advice appreciated.You might want to see if your devices have WAAS and that it's enabled. This is for corrections and can help in the right situations. Edited April 13, 2011 by coggins Quote Link to comment
Hike502 Posted April 13, 2011 Author Share Posted April 13, 2011 Because outside of that application my gps locates me accurately. Within 10 feet at least. I guess I just don't understand all this. So my location is accurate but the cache location is off. Quote Link to comment
+dfx Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Because outside of that application my gps locates me accurately. Within 10 feet at least. How do you figure that? Because the phone tells you so? Quote Link to comment
+Gitchee-Gummee Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 I am using my android Galaxy S 4g phone. My husband is using a G2 android phone. We go geocaching together and he always finds the cache because my gps is always70 to 80 feet off. Clue #1: The highlighted portion(s) tell the story. That is, if you tell the story correctly. Your unit is off, be it the phone, or the program app. I'm guessing it would be the chipset in the phone. Changing apps probably won't help the phone work any better. Clue #2: If he always finds the cache because his phone is on, how would that make the placement off? Clue #3: Re-read Clue #1 and use it in conjunction with Clue #2. Membership has nothing to do with how your phone operates. Quote Link to comment
+GrateBear Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Would the upgrade to the premium geocaching app help me?Why do you think giving a website $30 will change the behavior of your GPS? Maybe like when you are approaching a traffic light, you just know if you put your turn signal on it's gonna change to red? Quote Link to comment
+coggins Posted April 13, 2011 Share Posted April 13, 2011 Because outside of that application my gps locates me accurately. Within 10 feet at least. I guess I just don't understand all this. So my location is accurate but the cache location is off. Within 10 feet is good. When someone places a cache they can be off by a bit, so add to that your phone can be off a bit. Once you get near it's time to put the smartphone or GPS away and start searching in all the likely places. Oh and feel free to ignore the rude posters in this thread, they know they should be a little more forgiving to a self proclaimed newbie. Quote Link to comment
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