iFly GPS Forum

For all those having problems...specifically with Samsung. Can I get a quick summary of what Android version you are running? I am currently in Africa and not seeing any issues whatsoever with my samsung. However a quick search on the developer forums that I use shows that there might be one of two growing problems. So here are a few things to try:

1. If you are on Android 7.1 Nougat, there appears to be a bug with the GPS that needs an update. I dont have details on this yet.

2. If you have recently updated the google maps application, there appears to be a bug that messed up the GPS. (Doesn't affect everyone), however you can temporarily remove the update..go to play store, look at installed apps, go to maps, select uninstall...this will remove the updates only. Test and see if that resolves it. (BTW, you'll need to disable auto updates to prevent it from re-installing immediately)

3. Can someone install GPS Status / toolbox. Make sure you update your agps data before flying. Then go fly, and reboot the tablet, or turn off location back on or whatever it takes to make the problem appear, then run GPS Status and watch what it does...How many sattelites, so forth.

I haven't had a GPS problem in ages, I dont run the default Android, I run custom variants of it, or I build my OS from scratch. Most, of course, dont do this. I dont recommend it either. No one at Samsung or Google anticipates us using our tablets in the air at these speeds, so they dont test that scenario. The more information we can gather the better we can make it for others

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For every switch to iPad story there is there is a switch to story. 33 years as a micro-electronics engineer and software developer and I can tell you nothing just works. Every single iOS update ever released has had to be paused / revoked becuase they caused unintended consequences, some very serious. Lets focus on trying to get this problem fixed.

Of course, I'm not suggesting that everyone ditch their Android tablets for an iPad. However, for those getting ready to purchase a new Android, I am suggesting they consider an iPad. I really do think the iPad is a great option.
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@Don, it is difficult to say if external would be any better. If the problem is hardware related then it would. If the problem is in the interface between the hardware and applications then no. Both iOS and Android have an abstraction layer that allows multiple applications to receive GPS information. If the issue is in this layer then no GPS will do any better.

As I am currently in Africa and quite busy, I havent really been able to help research any of this. On my flight here I used iFly until we left US airspace with no issues. However, my tablet is still running Android 5.x and nothing newer. I plan on upgrading one of them when I get back. (I always fly with 2 tablets, but I have never had to pull my backup out).

Here are some of the things that would help greatly to troubleshoot this issue. Start by flying (prefereably as a passenger).

1. Run GPS Status or similar app and see how many sattelites are in view / locked. When iFly reports no lock, switch back to GPS Status and check again the status in view / locked

2. See if GPS Status can get a lock and maintain reasonable lat/lon changes without using iFly

3. update agps and test 1 and 2 again

The next two problems I find unlikely, but I did find some other developers who have reported:

4. the problem could also be a corrupt gps cache. I would have to research this for the specific version on how to clear the location cache without clearing the entire cache.

5. Low on storage on your primary sdcard / storage (internal not external).

I am highly suspicious of #4 and #5 as GPS requires very little memory and really no access to storage except maybe to write a temporary file prior to handing off the NMEA records.

I also saw a report that the latest maps application updates broke something. I am suspicious of this as well, however it's easy enough to uninstall google maps updates and try.

If iFly gets a lock and loses it when you switch to another app, then installing an application that keeps the gps running all the time might be a workaround (normally when you switch to another app, Android "suspends" the previous app and it no longer gets gps updates). It's doubtful, but yet another something to test.

Finally I have seen one bug report on Android 7.1 as having a GPS firmware problem...but I did not read the details of the bug report. In fact right now my internet connection is fading so I cant bring it back up...I'm hoping I can get this posted.

Sorry this post is so long, I'm hoping some of the users with problems wont mind doing a bit of testing. It would be of a great aid to the entire community.