Satellite navigation is one of the most useful features of smartphones. Many apps need the location data for their service. In games like Pokémon GO are even mandatory. How to navigate with your Android smartphone as accurately as possible via GPS, we explain in this article.
How does GPS work in the smartphone?
To know how to optimize GPS, you have to understand how it works. GPS stands for Global Positioning System and was developed by the US Army in 1973. In 1995 it was released for civilian purposes. It was initially implemented by 24 satellites; There are now 31 GPS satellites in orbit.
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Our smartphone receives satellite signals via a GPS antenna, which is part of the hardware in most smartphones and tablets today. This hardware is connected to the software via a driver. Thus, there are four sources of error for the GPS signal in the smartphone:
- The number of GPS satellites at the current location
- The GPS Reception
- The quality of the GPS antenna in the smartphone
- The implementation of the drivers in the operating system
The last two points can be badly improved from your side, since they are in the power of the device manufacturer. If your device is remarkably inaccurate compared to other devices, you will need to contact the manufacturer.
As for the first point, we can optimize the positioning a little. Our smartphone has other methods of localization, which we will discuss below.
Enables high accuracy mode
Due to the small size and the unfortunate positioning, the GPS antenna of a smartphone is never as accurate as other devices. This balances Android with Advanced GPS, A-GPS for short . This form of location includes GSM triangulation , nearby Wi-Fi routers and Bluetooth, reducing inaccuracy to a few centimeters.
The setting can be found in different places, depending on the smartphone manufacturer. Consistently, the entry should be found on Android 7 in Location> Mode , where you can tap on High accuracy . Under Android 8 the settings are hidden behind the new menu item “Security and location”.
With the latest Android version 9.0 Pie, the options for the different location modes are completely eliminated. Here you can only switch the use of the location on and off in the settings under Security and Location – Privacy: Location.
Keep GPS signal active
What makes a lot of sense from a battery-saving point of view is a burden for the player of Pokémon GO , Ingress or any other similar AR Oyunlar.
. When switching between apps or in standby mode smartphones from many manufacturers turn off the GPS antenna. This reduces the accuracy and when navigating through the streets hints for turning are announced too late.
With the app GPS Connected you can prevent this behavior and keep your position determination continuously active. The problem here is, of course, that your battery life is significantly reduced. Only uses the app if it is urgently needed!
Make yourself visible to the GPS satellites
In fact, GPS satellites must be in sight. Even on cloudy days, the quality of the GPS signal goes down. The same is true for hiking in urban canyons, so that the mode of high accuracy (see above) is almost mandatory.
The following app can help you find GPS satellites and better position your smartphone for a more accurate signal.
First, the apps help you find satellites in sight. On the other hand, they serve as a diagnostic tool to check the quality of the GPS sensor in your smartphone.
Updates the GPS almanac
Another important factor for the good and above all fast GPS positioning is the GPS almanac. This is a list with less accurate, but longer valid satellite orbit data compared to ephemeris. Although this is not urgently needed for the location, but the search for the satellite signals when switching on the receiver by limiting the area in which to search, accelerates considerably.
The trick is to load this data directly over a fast data link instead of from the satellite. The app “GPS Status and Toolbox” helps you to force the download of current railway data. In the sidebar of the application, you can request a download of current information under “Manage A-GPS data”.
In the settings you can automate this so far, that the data will be automatically downloaded when starting the app, if they have reached a certain age.
Uses an external GPS antenna with the smartphone
If you need accurate GPS data and your Smartphone GPS is no longer sufficient, it is worthwhile for you to buy an external solution. This can be paired with the smartphone via Bluetooth and charged with the same charger. On Amazon, the Garmin solution costs just over 100 euros.
Author Bio:
Hi, my name is Jack. I work in a well-known firm as a content writer. I love to read and write article about technology. I always try to find the most unbreakable topics for encouraging myself and have to write many article like Augmented Reality App Development for IT Company that was really interesting for me. I like to keep things real and that is what I try to do in my blogs and articles.