Liquid E3 Duo - Poor GPS

Nebur
Nebur Member Posts: 12 New User
edited March 2023 in 2014 Archives

Hi there,

 

i recently acquired a brand new Liquid E3 Duo as a replacement for my Samsung S3. Although various other smartphones by Acer seem to have GPS related issues, googling or searching this forum for GPS problems with the Liquid E3 give no results.

 

So whats the issue?.. When using for instance Endomondo Sportstracker (but it also happens with other apps that use GPS like FlitsMeister), it takes a while before a GPS fix is found. When the device finally has a fix, it frequentsly loses the position (and then it takes about 1-2 minutes before it gets a fix again). This especially happens when passing by large buildings. 

Since I never had this issue with my former smartphone, I find this te be a real downer for the Liquid E3. Especially because I have no other complaints about the device! =)

 

Any hints on how to fix this issue? (I have already installed tools like GPS Status & Toolbox but its definately not getting better)

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Ruben

 

 

Best Answer

  • Dusky
    Dusky Member Posts: 5 New User
    Answer ✓

     

    But Im still waiting for a clear answer from Acer itself..

     

    [edited to comply with guidelines]

«1

Answers

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    What's your build number?

    system settings/about phone/ Build number

     

    Did you enable all the settings under the GPS setting?

     

    system settings/location access/GPS satellites (tap on the label not on the switch)

     

    GPS EPO

    EPO settings

    A-GPS

    A-GPS settings

     

    Some users reported issues with Endomondo but as far i know, was Endomondo issue with MTK devices, and was nearly 1 year ago and was with E2.

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • Nebur
    Nebur Member Posts: 12 New User

    Build number is Acer_AV052_E380_1.012.00_EMEA_GEN1

     

    I've enabled both EPO and A-GPS. EPO is set to automaticly download satelite positions.

     

     

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    Ok Nebur,

     

    i have no more ideas since you have the latest OS version and enabled all the GPS settings, maybe it will better to ask to Endomondo support too.

     

    do you have the same issue with google navigator or maps?

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • Nebur
    Nebur Member Posts: 12 New User

    Hi Ironfly,

     

    yes the problem exists also with Google Apps and other apps that use the GPS (such as FlitsMeister). Therefor I'm not sure if Endomondo can be of any assistance...?

     

     

     

     

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    as last chance, try a factory reset and re-check GPS fix.

     

    if you already did it or this not solve your issue, your E3 needs Acer service support.

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • phoenix
    phoenix Member Posts: 31 Die Hard WiFi Icon

    Had the problem on an E2: http://www.gizchina.com/2013/07/23/how-to-fix-poor-gps-on-mediatek-phones/ and installing FasterGPS from the Play store fixed it.

  • Nebur
    Nebur Member Posts: 12 New User

    Hi all,


    after the factor reset things didnt get any better so I used Mobileuncle MTK Tools acoording to the tutorial phoenix suggested. The device gets a faster gps fix now, i'll try it with Endomondo later this week..
    The FasterGPS app needs the device to be rooted.

     

    Searching for poor GPS related to MTK chipset gives me a lot of results though... SO i'm not really sure that servicing the phone at Acer is going to be a real solution...

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    HI Nebur, did you update your device to the latest build verion 1.016?

     

    Yes, MTK devices sometime have poor GPS fix.

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • Nebur
    Nebur Member Posts: 12 New User

    Hi Pioneer,

     

    yeah I updated the device to the latest build. After that Endomondo constantly lost the GPS fix during my workout..... (like 8 times in an 1 hour workout). So thats when I decided to give the factory reset a try..  

    I'll let you know if the tutorial phoenix supplied had better results... If it doesn't im considering buying an external GPS :<

     

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    Personally, i would send the E3 to Acer service before spending money for an external GPS device.

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • Nebur
    Nebur Member Posts: 12 New User

    Okay, so I've re-tested the GPS and I'm sorry to say that, while it gets a quicker fix, during the workout it constantly looses the GPS position. Then it takes about 2 minutes to get a fix again. This is especially true when wearing the device in a sport braclet (something like http://www.loopland.nl/winkel/avento-smartphone-sport-armband/)

     

    2 Collegues of mine also purchased the Liquid E3 Duo and experience the same loss of GPS signal during workouts.......

    Therefor sending it off for waranty probably wont matter? 

     

    Are there Acer officials present on this forum that care to comment?

     

  • IronFly
    IronFly ACE Posts: 18,413 Trailblazer

    i understand Nebur but it's always better to open a ticket with the Acer support so they can check for this issue and keep tracking if others are facing the same.

     

    Please, you and your collegues, contact Acer support.

    I'm not an Acer employee.
  • Cory-Acer
    Cory-Acer Administrator Posts: 1,449 Community Administrator

    Hi Nebur,

     

    I've been asking about the GPS on the E3 and some of our engineers would like to evaluate as many as all 3 of the E3's you've discussed as having this problem to determine what the cause is and it's extent. Could you send me a private message with the following information and I'll work with them to have someone in your region contact you and discuss the process?

     

    Name:

    Phone:

    Email:

    Location

     

    Thanks,
    Cory

  • Dusky
    Dusky Member Posts: 5 New User

    Same problem here.

    Looks like a lot of phones using the mediatek chipset have this problem.

    Its because of a software bug. I posted a solution yesterday, so I know acer knows of this bug. I think we just have to wait untill acer pushes an update with a bugfix.

  • Dusky
    Dusky Member Posts: 5 New User
    any news from acer??
  • Nebur
    Nebur Member Posts: 12 New User

    Yeah, euhhhhh

     

    They want me to send them my phone.. Bad idea. Based upon what I read about the chipset and the options that are available on a rooted phone, this issue seems software related to me, so I'm not sending over my mobile (besides the fact that I cant do without it for a undefined period of time).

     

    Hopefully 4.4 fixes the issue, otherwise it'll be the last Acer device I ever bought.

     

  • Dusky
    Dusky Member Posts: 5 New User

    Yeah, that's waht I think also.

    I posted the solution here so they should be fixing it. If they dont : i'll never buy acer again. I hop ethey do though, as I like my E3.

     

    cheers

  • WillL
    WillL Member Posts: 121 Troubleshooter
    I have a problem with GPS too, it is terrible. We can only hope this is fixed in a future update.

    Cory - can you find out an expected release date for 4.4?
  • phoenix
    phoenix Member Posts: 31 Die Hard WiFi Icon

    August 32nd.

  • WillL
    WillL Member Posts: 121 Troubleshooter
    I'm sure he is just making a joke! We are all in the same boat and need Acer to read these comments rather than just letting us rage over them.