HTC Touch Pro: GPS problem tweaking

Since the day that I get my HTC Touch Pro, I’ve been making countless attempts to get the GPS working. But all of my attempts failed. Just to make sure that it’s not GPS satellite problem, I bring along my previous Nokia N95 for testing. It just works fine. N95 is getting satellite fix normally.

Consulting HTC Touch Pro manual is no use as well. Suprisingly, this is the only page in the manual that talks about GPS feature on HTC Touch Pro.

So lets do what is suggested in the manual. I open up QuickGPS application,

and download the latest satellite data.

Still. No sign at all that my GPS is working. So many scary thoughts coming to my mind of whether I’m got a defect product.

Frustrated with that, I tried to consult a friend of mine who is using HTC TyTN II, and he said that he’s got no problem with GPS. Upon searching numerous forum on the net, it seems I’m not alone. There are so many forums talking about GPS lag problem on HTC Touch Pro. So, what is GPS lag anyway? The following photo should explains everything.

My case is even worse. I cannot get the satellite to fix the connection on my at all. So how do I know that I’m getting no fix? I have this MapKing 2007 software installed. Once I’m in, I just click the GPS icon on top right hand corner.

Now I’m in the GPS navigation screen. Nothing happened here since no GPS fixed on my device. So I tap anywhere on the screen to bring the option screen.

Once I’m in the option screen, I tap the GPS Status icon to look at what really happening.

So I’m on the status screen. I bet the red dots are the satellites that scattered around the earth orbit. See the status that says No Fix. Well, this is the screen that I see all times whenever I test the GPS function. It annoys greatly to see those red bars picking up high signal, but still no satellites fix.

Keep digging the forum, I finally come across this thread, which suggest the following tweaks to enhance GPS performance on HTC Touch Pro:

A. With Advanced config 3.2

  1. disable A-GPS
  2. disable GPS logging
  3. logfile name must be empty
  4. old logfile name must be empty
  5. maximum size of logfile must be 0
  6. delete the files :
    \windows\GPSLogFile.txt and \windows\GPSLogFileBack.txt

With those changes car usage will be quite perfect

B. Then edit registry with TotalCommander
Under: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\

  • Drivers\GpsOneDevice\PollInterval -> 100 (default is 1000)
  • Drivers\InputBufferSize -> 512 (default is 4096)
  • Drivers\OutputBufferSize -> 512 (default is 4096)
  • Drivers\SleepOnNoData -> 100 (default is 1000)
  • Multiplexer\MaxBufferSize -> 512 (by default not present, you have to create it)

With those tweaks pedestrian usage will be much better but not perfect.

Plain texts never work for me. So here is the very graphics tweak that I did on my HTC Touch Pro, based on the above steps. But first, lets download the following free tools that will be used first

Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 3.5 (Advanced Configuration Tool needs this)
Advanced Configuration Tool 3.3
Total Commander 7.04a

First, I open the Advanced Configuration Tool application.

Once in, I just navigate to the GPS tree. This is what I see initially. Assisted GPS (A-GPS) is disabled by default.

Go to Log File option. By double clicking, I set the option to No Logging.

Then, I delete the entry for Old Log File. Max. log file size is set to 0 by default. And this is how the screen showing the final setting for this. I’m done here. When I close this utility, it will warn me to soft reset the device for the effect to take place. I don’t do this first as I will do it after the next section.

So next, I open up the Total Commander application.

I actually need to edit the registry here. First, just double click the \\Plugins folder,

then I will see the registry folder.

Then I need to navigate myself this this location HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\. I do this by doing by starting with HLKM first,

and all the way to HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\GPS Intermediate Driver\Drivers\GpsOneDevice\, as they key that I need to edit is located there – which is PollInterval. Just double click the key to edit the value.

So I repeat the same thing for all other keys, and here is the summary of what to be editted again

  • Drivers\GpsOneDevice\PollInterval -> 100 (default is 1000)
  • Drivers\InputBufferSize -> 512 (default is 4096)
  • Drivers\OutputBufferSize -> 512 (default is 4096)
  • Drivers\SleepOnNoData -> 100 (default is 1000)

For the last key, which is Multiplexer\MaxBufferSize, the key doesn’t exist yet, so I have to create it. So what I need to do is to tap on the +Add Value+ option,

and specify the name of the key that I want. In this case, it should be MaxBufferSize. Make sure DWORD is selected for the Type. I tap OK button to confirm.

Then it will ask me to enter the value for that newly created key. So I enter 512 here.

Here is the new key that I just created.

Finally, I exit Total Command, and soft reset my HTC Touch Pro. One I’m in, I get into MapKing 2007 again, and to the same GPS status screen in MapKing 2007 again. It’s the moment of truth of whether my trouble of tweaking the settings worth or not…. drum rolls…..

Yippe! It works! I’m very happy. Finally, the satellite is able to fix my device. Oh dear, what a relief to see this.

So, let test this in Google Map. Yeap. That is my location at this instant. It’s very accurate I have to say.

I guess my worries are over. I’m quite happy with this tweak for the time being, until HTC release the updated ROM for HTC Touch Pro that will fix this issue. Patience is what I need most now. I have been testing this on the road as well, and it’s pretty good. I don’t face GPS lag at all.

Read my other entries relating to HTC Touch Pro

Imran

Technical Manager at one of the market researcher company in KL who does blogging on his free time. Love cats very much. Always fascinated with new technology (as well as spending money on it)

36 Responses

  1. PanAdoL7e says:

    Quite complicated for a lazy surfing user like me! So which one better? N95 or HTC? My phone starting to shows menopause symptoms… haih…have to start surveys for any consequences

  2. Imran says:

    i like this kind of tweaking very much. it gives so much satisfaction when things that we tweak finally works.N95 no a bad phone itself. N95 8GB is better. But N96, not much improvement compared to N95 8GB. But if the "cool" factor of owning latest model that you after, then go for it ;)Software wise, there's so many symbian software that you can install.But if you prefer touch screen, and even more softwares that you can use, then go for HTC πŸ˜‰

  3. r4st4 says:

    Thanks man. Nice guide. I had the same problem with new HTC Touch Pro and your guide worked perfectly except for one thing: the totalcommander you are pointing to seems to be Windows version. I used the Totalcommander 2.51 for PocketPC (processot type ARM).
    I also had another problem. In my case, the GPS was not detected by Mapking 2007. I had to go inside the mapking menu: TOOLS -> GPS/Track -> By User [COM4]
    Search GPS…
    And then only mapking found the GPS.
    Cheers.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Nice and useful guide. It works on my touch pro as well, fast fixing within seconds. It happened once gps was not detected again this morning inside mapking. I loaded up fastgps and after that mapking detected gps. Why?

  5. Matt Jackson says:

    IΒ΄m test it very hopefully with my german HTC Touch (no Pro) but no advancement to my old/original settings. Same GPS lag and amazing Sat fix time πŸ™

    1.37GER ROM & 05 Radio

  6. Anonymous says:

    EXCELLENT GUIDE
    thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks

  7. earl-ku says:

    there was some issues regarding the gps issue on 1st and 2nd generation of TP …

    must be unlucky to get that sort of set …

    anyway … my touch cruise -> diamond -> touch pro alllhad no gps issues

    ***fingers crossed …

  8. Anonymous says:

    AWESOME! my gps works great now. All that is left is finding a map program that does not need the data connection to pull the maps.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Hello,
    I had upload the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework 3.5. But when try to install on my HTC Touch 3G. I getting “there is no application associated with “NETCFSetup35”. Run the application fisrst, then open t he file from within the application”….
    So you guys know why t his happen ??

  10. Pavneet Singh says:

    Hi Imran,

    Fantastic guide.. thanks a ton.. As someone else pointed out, the total commander version for ppc is different (ARM processor needs to be chosen).

    I am in love with this phone albeit it is sluggish at times..

    I see some issues with Wi-Fi browsing at home. It used to work like a charm with my previous WM 5.0 device (Samsung). I guess it is because of the Wireless-N router I am using.

    I also faced some problems with the Java emulator JBlend. I purchased a game and then it did not work

    Do you have a suggestion for a conversion application? Any suggestions on a good site for free / chargeable applications?

    Thanks!

    Cheers
    PSB

  11. marutg says:

    Great guide, Thank you. However, cold starts on this device are rediculous. Where can I get QuickGPS for my touch pro?

    Thanks,
    Greg

  12. Anonymous says:

    Addition to the above:

    I only did the A part, points 1-5. Did the trick for me.

    Cheers again!

  13. Nicholas says:

    Well, the part A works for me as well. Did that last night and saw no improvement. don't know why doesn't the advance config save and I select no log. Have to select browse then cancel then the option would be no log. Same with the old log file. Wouldn't save if I click on done. After soft reset it will revert back. So as I've said above need to click on browse then cancel for the log file & old log file then done. Then delete the log file then only soft reset. It worked perfectly then. The fix was very fast but the lag happened half of the time. Thanks anyway as now I can finally use my GPS πŸ˜›

  14. Anonymous says:

    This fix also work with a scenario where the gps unit intermittently disappears. I've had my software started (Tomtom Navigator, probably v. 7.450) and this is what is displayed perhaps every other time the software is started (translated from swedish):GPS Unit missing (this is normal at startup)GPS Signal disappeared X seconds agoGPS Unit missingGPS Signal disappeared X seconds agoGPS Unit missingand so on…I had to do a lot of fiddeling to get it started properly. No fun at all, esp. if I'm driving. The fix described here solved it for me, now it always start the way it should. Thanks to the author!

  15. Anonymous says:

    Wow I Cant believe this actually works… Wow! Thank you so much!

  16. Anonymous says:

    Thank you very much for this incredible tip. I was really going crasy. I am a Garmin distribuitor in Mexico and had just bought an HTC Touch Pro to show coustumers how Garmin Mobile XT works on a smartphon, so I wasn,t doing very well with. This. Tks

  17. Usman says:

    Thank you so much for this. I had recently purchased copilot live7 for my htc touch pro but it would take a very long time to determine current position and then would keep losing signal. Unusable as a sat nav device. This teak has solved half the problem. It still takes a long time to determine current position but once it does, it works perfectly. Thanks again

  18. Andre says:

    Hi, I have the HTC touch 3G and it says always, no device! I tried almost every navigator out there! I’ve the new ROM installed

  19. IS says:

    hi .. i already follow ur instruction but status tab mapking still No fix.. do i miss step.. actually how to delete GPSLogFile.. i try delete but always got notify cant delete that file.. any sugestion?

  20. IS says:

    hi .. i already follow your instruction but status tab mapking still No fix.. do i miss step.. actually how to delete GPSLogFile.. i try delete but always got notify cant delete that file.. any sugestion?

  21. JRShield says:

    Thank you so very much, great guide!!!

  22. bakri says:

    Imran,
    saya Install garmin utk my HTC Touch 3G tapi tak boleh detect GPS signal.Ada cara tak nak solve?

  23. hans kr. says:

    thank you —- thak you … thank you… i have struggled with my HTC touchpro for ages… and now the freaking GPS is finally working….

    This is really really great !!

  24. Pepe Ramirez says:

    OMYGOOOODD thank you very much really you don't know how much trouble i've passed for this, you are my hero, THAAAANKS

    keep it hard

  25. spz says:

    I couldn`t believe that it will work… but IT WORKS! πŸ™‚
    Fix is quick and stable.

  26. adi costenco says:

    it is working on a htc touch hd?
    thanks

  27. Abey says:

    I have HTC Touch Diamond with WinMo 6.1. Find extremely frustrating since there is no auto redial in this.

  28. G James says:

    This Worked PERFECTLY on my Touch Pro 2 (1.18 ROM). THANKS!

  29. PenangKia says:

    where can Download GPS software
    mail me can??? gong4you@hotmail.com thxxxxxxx

  30. jeff says:

    Also if you get no satellites You must enable Start, Settings, Personal, Phone, CDMA Services, Location Settings, Get Settings, LOCATION ON.

  31. htc user says:

    so if you need to use the gps in htc you have to be a hacker or something. these fuckers should give my money back. you did great , thanks

  32. Mizan says:

    Salam. My brother baru tukar from HTC Touch Pro to HTC HD2. So, dia punya Touch Pro dia bagi kat saya but GPS not functioning (maybe sbb dia reformat phone b4 give it to me). Dah sebulan tak tau nak buat macam mana…dia advise just go to Low Yat Plaza and get IT people there to configure balik GPS….anyhow, terjumpa you punya blog and saya just follow step by step of what u have suggested and it works..it really works…. thanks for sharing this info….millions thanks and may God bless for your kindness…..:)

  33. ARON says:

    salam imran, sy baru pakai htc pro2. macammana nak install mapking. darimana blh dload.tq

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