[FIX] GPS antenna missing (Plus: Faster signal)

nichrs

My "Umi Plus E" came (right after unboxing) without GPS antenna signal. I tried several applications and searched intensively in this forum and on the internet but nothing was able to fix.

Using applications (like this one) to test it, no satellite was picked up by my phone, no signal, nothing. It was like my phone did not even have a GPS antenna.

It was impractical to contact the seller for the warranty and request a repair or a new (the phone was stuck in customs for three months and cost me € 70 to receive it, receiving a new one would mean staying several more months without a phone and paying another heavy sum).

I was about to buy a bluetooth GPS antenna, when I accidentally discovered a hidden setting disabling my GPS. So far I have no idea why my phone came with this option off.

If you're in the same situation, here's what you have to do:

1. Enter in the "Engineer mode":
Open your phone app and dial *#*#3646633#*#*

2. Go to the "Location" tab (in my case, the fourth tab), and select "Location Based Service)

3. A new window will open. In the first tab "GPS", will be a box "GPS (OFF)". Turn it on and thats it!



Go back to your home screen, open your favorite GPS app and go test the signal.

Plus: Faster signal

For a faster connection, do the following:

1. Your phone mus be rooted.

2. Install the free app "FasterGPS" on PlayStore

3. On NTP Server, select your region (continent and country).

I hope I have helped!

chance

What this GPS ON/OFF option do? When I switch in menu location to ON my GPS signal catch soon usually within 5 seconds. Even when this is OFF

Mikhail4

If I am correct, GPS ON/OFF can be turned on in the notification bar which is titled Location, there is no need to enter Engineering mode

nichrs

Mikhail4 replied at 2017-4-12 08:54
If I am correct, GPS ON/OFF can be turned on in the notification bar which is titled Location, there ...

I can assure you that, in my case, the GPS tile, nor the system configurations, did not turn the antenna on (stock UMI Android with official UMI updates). Entering the engineering mode was the only way my GPS came to pick up signal.

Also, every time I enter engineering mode, my GPS is disabled automatically, just by entering there, and I have to enable it again according to what I wrote in the first post.

When disabled in engineering mode, my GPS does not pick up any satellite even with the tile on and with high accuracy checked in system settings.

Unfortunately this device has many defects, one of them, with recurring complaints, concerns GPS. Even now that my GPS is working, the location is still a little inaccurate. When I am driving through small streets, it is very common that he does not know exactly where I am.

My device also has low touch sensitivity on the screen, especially on the bottom, close to the buttons. Typing on the virtual keyboard is a small exercise in patience, as it is common for some touches not to be registered.

I know that this brand has as main characteristic low prices and the quality is directly proportional. But I'm not complaining, I already knew the risks and overall I'm satisfied with my phone. It's cheap, beautiful, somehow powerful and I can live with the problems.

chance

nichrs replied at 2017-4-12 12:22
I can assure you that, in my case, the GPS tile, nor the system configurations, did not turn the  ...

Try to do master reset after you done latest update. I think this could help you as I really have no problem with this fone. Found no bugs.