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GPS no more working on S9+ for some apps since 1.2

  • /e/ version: dev 1.2 Q, 1.3 Q, 1.4 Q, ... up to 1.11 Q
  • Device model(s): Samsung Galaxy S8, S9, S9+
  • Device rooted: no

Summary

Since the update to 1.2, TrackBook and Naturalist apps fail to locate me, while OsmAnd~, GeoPortail, GPSTest, SatStat work correctly.

Naturalist is a MUST WORK professional app. for me, with no replacement possible : if it can't locate me, it becomes of no use, and so I can no more use /e/-OS and support it :-(

The problem

Steps to reproduce

  1. deactivate advanced privacy ; or activate it, but using the "real location" (not the fake one)
  2. activate location on the phone
  3. open TrackBook (open source app), tap on the "locate me" button

What is the current behavior?

After possibly some minutes, the app locate me at some kilometers from my real location, probably using a network location (nearly certain there's a cell phone relay here, next to the motorway).

What is the expected correct behavior?

TrackBook should locate me at my real place, as correctly reported by other apps at the same time, like OsmAnd~, GeoPortail, GPSTest, SatStat.

Technical informations

SatStat and GPSTest report a correct = real GPS location, BUT a "wrong GNSS time", on 2003-01-19, that is nearly 19.6 year in the past ...

GPSTest says it can be caused by the GPS week rollover issue : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPS_week_number_rollover

Solutions

Workaround

NO workaround found.

You can get some GPS for only very few minutes following this (afterwards, it stops working) :

  • on TrackBook and Naturalist (the apps with broken GPS location), after clearing the app cache, clearing app data and forced app to stop, the app gets again to locate me correctly, but only for 1, 2 or 3 minutes ... and then the location gets blocked again.
  • when the location is blocked in the 2 apps, after clearing the cache, data and forcing to stop for one of the 2 apps, then the OTHER app gets exactly 1 correct GPS fix, and then gets blocked again (while the first apps gets correct location for 2or 3 minutes, and then get also blocked)

I have also tried to clear app cache, clear app data and force app to stop ... for many other location-related apps / processes (Advanced privacy, Fused Location, all microG processes, ...) and even reboot phone after ... but no luck :-(

Possible fixes

The developer of the other app that fail to locate me (Naturalist) just told me it could be related to microG updates coming with e-OS 1.2 / 1.3 that broke the workaround of "GPS week rollover issue". I don't know for TrackBook, but Naturalist uses some Google Play Services Location API.

Checklist

  • License
  • Translations
  • Documentation
  • Test plan
Edited by Ahmed Harhash