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Bluetooth GPS device freezing

khkarel shared this problem 6 years ago
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Hello,


I am using Locus Pro with external GPS module Holux M-1000 and mobile Lenovo a6000 (Android 4.4.4). I know BT GPS topics are not very popular, but I would to share the following issue.


Every few hours (e.g. 3 times in 5 hours or once in 2 hours etc.) it happens that Locus does not change the actual position (arrow) any more. It's still connected (green sat icon), but the position is not changing any more. If I look for visible satelites - no satelites are visible.

My workaroung: turn off and on GPS module, then connection is lost, then reconnected and then position is corrected. This is very annoying, I have several times missed the turning on bike ... :-)


My goal was to detect asap, that the connection was freezed and switch the gps (HW switch) off and on. I tried to add to dashboard: speed, visible satelites, accuracy - but all these values are frozen always - still showing the last actual figures.


I do not know if GPS modul always freezes or if the problem is in locus, but I think that locus should detect the problem.


I would like to have this problem resolved (to have no freezing any more) or at least detect immediately this problem.

E.g. is it possible to have time in seconds since the last gps fix on the dashboard? That could be great indication (next time I have to check if during the freezed mode, the last GPS fix time is being updated)


I am ready to prepare logfiles or try several things, if needed. Please let me know what I should do.


Thank you in advance

Replies (9)

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Hi

> or at least detect immediately this problem.


so e.g. "Position lost" is a first step to inform you when GPS is lost

menu/settings/GPS and location/Position lost/Enable

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Good day khkarel,

thanks @balloni55, very useful tip!


What you see in menu > more > Bluetooth manager screen when Locus Map is no more receiving GPS data? Is there visible that app is still connected to BT device?

Also is this problem repeat really everytime in mentioned time interval? May you please try it just at home by placing app & BT device near to window? I'm asking to be sure, problem may be repeated on your device, so it may have sense to create some special version that will print out some information into log. Thanks and sorry for a complications!

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On a phone with rather poor gps, I use an app Bluetooth GPS Provider to provide a connection to my Garmin GLO. It serves all apps on the phone, not just Locus and maintains a connection pretty aggressively.


Chris

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Hi Menion,

next time I will have this issue, I will check the screen. The occurence is unpredictable, random, it happened to me ca 100 times (rough guess). Sometimes more often, sometimes seldom. It is not always the same interval.


I can try to repeat the problem as you describe, but the question is: how can I recognize that the position is wrong, if I do not move the gps receiver. The detection could be little bit tricky, that's right. I can also test new version "in the field".


To describe the issue little bit more: I still see the blue arrow with actual position, even if the position is "frozen". But this position is old, not actual. That's why I think the tip from balloni55 will not work. The connection is not lost, the satellite icon is still green. That's the problem :) I think that I didn't have this problem with Locus last sommer (I am not completely sure, but definitely not so often.)


Using bluetooth GPS provider could be alternativa, but I like more the direct connection to Locus.


Thank you for you help

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Hi again,

I tried to reproduce the issue last 2 nights, on both cases the issue occured quite fast.

1st case:

Locus started, connected to BT, GPS position fixed, recording started, display switched off, after 8 hours: satellite icon was green, blue arrow still on the screen, bluetooth manager:sensor still connected, GPS coordinates listed, last fix: not actual! 6 hours old. Visible satelites: 0

I tried to restart the phone, but Locus was not able to connect to BT GPS. I had to switch the BT device off and on.

2nd case:

Everything was the same as in case 1, just: bluetooth manager: device was disconnected this time, GPS fix was 8 hours old. Satellite icon was green, but appearantly the device was disconnected.

This is what I could observe so far.

Thanks.

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Good day khkarel,

sorry for a delay. Hard task to solve from my point of view, without a problematic BT device or phone in own hands.

What I should suggest is same as wrote Christopher few posts above > external BT GPS application from Google Play. From what I read, many users has positive experience with it so you will then be at least able to say if problem is really in Locus Map ( and I should start to think how to find a reason of this ) or in BT GPS or device itself ( most probably ), so ... :). Thanks!

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Hi guys,

which app is the best? I see 3 similar apps in google play. I want to check it first before I make the final conclusion.

Thank you

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Hello,

you are right, there is more "BT GPS" related apps then I remember from past. Anyway I've always suggested this one, so you may give it a try.

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I'm using a Bad Elf Pro external GPS device successfully. It connects with my Android smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S7) without using a 2nd GPS connection app like "Bluetooth GPS" mentioned by Menion. Is anyone else using a Bad Elf Pro GPS device? They are about $149 US dollars.

Robert Baker

Oregon, USA

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Robert,

I am surprised the Samsung needs help with its GPS (I thought that a high-end phone would be OK by itself). Can you explain how the Bad Elf connects without BT? Does it use wifi?

Thanks,

Chris

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Chris,

The Samsung Galaxy S7 works fine with Google Maps in the city and suburbia here in Beaverton, OR. It uses several methods to calculate location: cell tower information, network information when available, and GPS. However, when out hiking "off-grid" so to speak, the built-in GPS receiver shows its weakness, especially when under forest cover, taking several minutes to calculate an accurate location. This is not very handy when moving. The Bad Elf Pro is a more sensitive and faster GPS receiver, providing accurate real-time GPS location.

The Bad Elf Pro does indeed use Bluetooth. Locus Map Pro just doesn't need a 2nd app to connect to it - it connects directly, configured in Locus' Bluetooth Manager. The Bad Elf Pro isn't listed as a device, but turning on "Enable GPS from a bluetooth device" does the trick. An added bonus is that is Photo Waypoints taken in Locus Map Pro have accurate location information embedded in their Metadata, providing photo location information regardless of whether the photo is used in Locus Maps or not.

Hope this clarifies.

Robert

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Robert,

Many thanks for the very clear explanation.

Chris

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