GPS on Android - why is it needed and how to enable it. How to set up GPS satellite navigation on Android How to set up navigation on Android
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Navigation modules in today's Android smartphones are built in at the production assembly stage. As a rule, these useful additional devices function well. It is enough to turn on gps using the settings menu and launch the downloaded "maps" application. After a couple of minutes, the device will determine the location.
With the constant gps turned on, determining the coordinates will not take even one minute. However, sometimes this function does not work in android gadget. Most often, the problem lies in incorrect or completely missing gps settings.
Required additional services
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In order to determine your location, you use a satellite receiver in your smartphone, but it is recommended to set up auxiliary services. They run without any problems on an android phone:
- a-gps (a service that additionally downloads location data from the Internet, using the services of mobile operators. The accuracy of this option is of course worse, but thanks to its operation, accurate satellite determination is accelerated);
- wifi;
- EPO (a service from Mediatek, which calculates in advance the movement of navigation satellites in orbits.
However, the pre-installed EPO data in phones is designed for Asian countries and may only work intermittently in Europe. During 2012-2014, Mediatek began to produce chipsets with excellent characteristics, which are now used in their products by Sony, LG, HTC brands. Thus, in Android smartphones with an MTK processor, there is a problem with navigation, which consists in the malfunctioning of gps).
All modern Android smartphones and tablets are equipped with a GPS module. This allows these devices to be used as GPS navigators. In addition, the presence of a GPS module allows you to leave GPS tags on photos and use many other useful features. In this regard, many novice users are interested in how to enable GPS on Android. This article will guide you on how to enable Location Services (GPS) on your Samsung Galaxy.
Why do you need GPS?
GPS signal helps to understand where in the world you are now. This is useful for several reasons:
- Navigation application will help you not to get lost in the forest;
- With navigation, you can navigate even in an unfamiliar city;
- You can easily find the address you need;
- You are saved from traffic jams - the Traffic Jams service helps to avoid them;
- Various apps show you nearby eateries and malls;
- GPS helps determine the speed of movement.
WHAT IS THE ARTICLE ABOUT?
Two ways:
- Through the notification bar
- Via phone settings
Method 1: Use the notification bar
1. Open the notification panel
- To do this, swipe down from the top of the screen.
2. Swipe down again on the notification bar
- This will display several additional icons.
3. Swipe to the side on the icons
- The second page of icons will be displayed.
4. Click the Location icon
- The icon will turn blue, which means your GPS is on.
Method 2. Through the phone settings
1. Open "Settings"
2. Click "Connections"
3. Scroll down and tap Location
4. Move the switch to the "On" position
All modern smartphones and most tablets are equipped with a GPS location module. GPS “lays” routes through unfamiliar terrain, can determine your location with an accuracy of several tens of meters, and also automatically launches some programs or turns on reminders in specific places. Perhaps the only disadvantage of GPS is that it drains the battery of a smartphone (tablet) very quickly. Before starting GPS, let's figure out how to properly configure its mode of operation. Let's take a closer look at how this can be done, and also explain how to configure GPS using the engineering menu in case of incorrect operation.
Modern devices combine the functions of several devices at once
Setting the GPS Operation Mode
GPS is enabled in the notification bar. It is marked with an icon resembling a needle. You can determine the operating mode by going to “Settings - Personal data - Location - Mode”. The system will offer you three options: "High accuracy", "Battery saving", "By device sensors". In newer versions of Android, they may be called: "By all sources", "By network coordinates", "By GPS satellites". Let's take a look at what's behind each of them.
- "High accuracy"(“According to all sources”). The most accurate, but at the same time the most “gluttonous” mode. Determines coordinates by all available means: GPS, Wi-Fi and using . The space is constantly monitored for the presence of a signal, determines the location both in open areas and indoors. This mode is also called A-GPS. If ordinary navigators catch signals exclusively from satellites, then not every smartphone and tablet is capable of this. Additional service information downloaded from the World Wide Web will greatly speed up the search and communication with satellites.
- “Battery saver”(“By network coordinates”). Uses only wireless networks- the GPS module is not enabled. In this case, the accuracy of determining the coordinates decreases somewhat. Indoors, the location is determined quite accurately by the Wi-Fi signal, in the mobile operator's network - by the signal from the radio tower.
- “By device sensors”(“By GPS satellites”). The specified mode works only in open areas - the location is determined by the satellite signal. Indoors, the signal is lost, and the location, accordingly, will not be determined.
For optimal battery consumption, select the "Device Sensors" mode and disable location in the notification panel. If you need to plot a route, then you turn on the location determination again and follow the instructions of the navigator. If you want you to have, and you are not embarrassed by a slightly increased battery consumption, then select the "Battery Saver" mode. If battery consumption issues do not bother you, and you like it when the system determines your location with an accuracy of up to a meter, then your mode is “High Accuracy”.
Setting up GPS through the engineering menu
A flawlessly working GPS module (search for satellites, fast connection to them, stable connection with them) makes life much easier, especially when you are moving through unfamiliar terrain.
But in Chinese models running on the MTK processor, with prolonged GPS operation, the connection may be unstable, in the worst case, the location may not be determined at all. All due to the fact that the module is not configured correctly to work in our latitudes.
In order to correct the work of GPS, enter in which you have to make a number of simple settings. We want to warn you that you will perform all actions at your own peril and risk.
So, the device must get the superuser right (it is also called Root).
- Turn on GPS and Wi-Fi and go out to the balcony, or better to any open place.
- Enter the engineering menu. To do this, on the keyboard, enter the combination *#*#3646633*#*#, or *#15963#*, or *#*#4636#*#*. It may differ from the combination for your smartphone (tablet). In the event that none of the above combinations fit, download the Mobileuncle ToolHero program and select the appropriate menu item in it. The program itself is Russified, but the engineering menu is in English.
- In the program menu you will see several tabs. Scrolling to the left, select the Location tab, in it go to the Location Based Service item.
- In the EPO tab, check the Enable EPO and Auto Download options. EPO is system file, containing information about the coordinates of the satellites and their flight paths. This item is not active in all devices. How to download EPO can be found on specialized Internet forums, for example,
Any modern gadget has GPS in its arsenal. This is a special receiver that allows you to determine your exact location, indicate a short route, familiarize yourself with a map of the area.
If you need to constantly use GPS, then you should figure out how to enable it on your tablet. Let's start with the main points:
- the connected Internet does not guarantee the quality of the GPS;
- it is worth setting all the parameters yourself, since by default they may show inaccurate data;
- the absence of a signal indicates an incorrect selection of the type of GPS.
How to enable GPS on a tablet
Open the curtain at the top, you will see an item with a pointer icon (always used in Google Maps). Click on it. That's it, you turned on the GPS.
Open up a charting app and see if it shows you how good the signal is. If nothing works, then you should wait five minutes. It goes without saying to stand on the street or close to the window. Naturally, the subway will not work.
The GPS function is very useful for tablet owners. This is especially true for people who constantly move around, travel to different cities or are simply afraid of getting lost. It connects within minutes. Additional settings are not required.
Android is one of the two (second IOS) most common operating systems for tablets and smartphones samsung galaxy, lg, lenovo, etc.
Its advantage is in a large number of free applications that support GPS navigation. Unfortunately, the quality of many of them leaves much to be desired.
Some of the most popular and free gps applications running on a phone running Android 6.0, 5.1, 4.4, 4.4 2 and so on are Google Maps, Yanosik, MapaMap, Navatar.
Your android tablet or smartphone offers great possibilities and can serve as a perfect guide.
It can lead you directly to your residence using various audiovisual aids.
To enable the gps module on your android, make sure that it is built into your phone.
This can be determined by the GPS Test application and then run the global positioning system on our device.
How to check that a tablet or smartphone has GPS and turn it on
The easiest way to find out if your phone has built-in GPS and enable it is to use the dedicated GPS Test app.
If you know that your device has it, then you can go directly to turning it on.
If you are not sure, then download the application from the play market, which automatically determines the signal level. Once installed, you should see a screen similar to the one below.
If the status window has a green icon in the upper left corner, it means that the GPS is enabled. If the icon is red, then it is off - then you need to enable geodata.
The application will automatically take you to the geolocation options, where you must enable GPS (geodata). Please note that the location of this menu may vary depending on the device and operating system version.
How to enable gps on a smartphone with android 6.0 and android 5.1
If you haven't installed the app, open "Settings" and go to the "Privacy and security" section.
Then click on Geodata.
Now just move the slider to the right to enable the built-in gps module in your android phone.
NOTE: the pictures above are taken from a Samsung galaxy a3 smartphone on android 6.0.1.
How to enable gps on a tablet with android 4.4 and android 4.4.2.
To enable navigation, open "Settings", go to the "My Location" section and check the boxes in the appropriate places.
Then enter the desktop, go to "Menu" and click on the "Navigation" icon.
How to enable voice gps on android phone
AT Google Play The market has a lot of programs for gps navigation. Unfortunately, most of them either have very limited functionality or require payment.
Open the app, read the terms of use and accept them. On the next green screen, click Next.
Then select a country from the list and click "Import" to download road maps. You can download more later.
Maps take up many megabytes and downloading them using mobile internet(eg 3G) can be quite costly. Therefore, it is better to use wifi.
Downloading the maps may take several minutes, depending on the speed of your internet connection and the size of the map. After loading, you will see a green screen, slide it to the left and then click "Let's get started"
In order to make it easier to use the application, I recommend starting with your home address (or the one you will use most often).
To do this, go to the main screen in the upper left corner and enter the address in the search field, and then select an item from the list and press Enter.
The map will open. Click the gray block with the address. In the new window, click set as "Home" from the list below. In the new window, click set as "Home".
The app will display the map. To return, click on the icon with three lines in the lower right corner.
Over time, you will find that Navfree has many advanced options. For example, a route can be changed in many ways. You can add stops, choose a tour and set a security mode.
If you are traveling internationally, I recommend downloading additional maps in the update.
Navfree settings also allow you to switch to walking mode, which is useful when walking.
Note also the night mode. Thanks to him, your smartphone or tablet will not distract you with too high brightness.
How to enable gps without internet
When using gps, it takes data from antennas. The accuracy and quality of such navigation is not perfect.
It is much better if the data comes directly from the satellites. Then navigation occurs without the Internet.
As for me, the best for this is the Navitel Navigator application, it uses the locator built into the phone, but it is paid.
Despite the growing infrastructure in our country, you can still find places where wireless Internet access is not possible, so gps without a navigator will come in handy and not only in places without Internet coverage.
Today, there are many applications that allow you to download your previously selected maps to your smartphone or tablet for later use.
Programs for gps navigation and their brief description
- Google Maps is one of the most popular applications on the phone. Works quite well on the line and has the ability to display Google orthophotos.
- Yanosik - works on the Internet, the service is a little complicated, but the user has access to current information about traffic jams, accidents and radars.
- MapaMap - Works offline (no internet), but the most useful feature is only available with a subscription.
- Navatar - works online and has many useful features.
- OviMpas - work via the Internet. Available for Nokia phone users.
- Route 66 - works offline (no internet) and online version after purchase.
- Vito Navigator - works offline (without internet), the basic version (free) is very modest.
- NaviExpert - works online, free trial only.
- Skobbler- free version offline only, modest selection of features.
That's all. Good luck.
