Get your MTK6589 GPS Working - Method B

[MayhemVC]

So I've been more than a little disappointed with the GPS performance on my HX-9299A and was considering buying a new phone as I rely on my phones as a GPS.

What you will need:

Root Access on your Phone:
[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]

Mobileuncle MTK Tools:
[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]&hl=en

Root Explorer (File Manager):
[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]&hl=en

GPS Test (not required but helps):
[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]&hl=en

THIS SHOULD BE DONE OUTDOORS.

1. Turn GPS off on your phone.
2. Open Root Explorer and find the mtkgps.dat file in /data or /data/misc
3. Delete mtkgps.dat
4. Reboot phone
5. Open Mobileuncle Tools
6. Tap on 'Engineer Mode'
7. Tap on 'Engineer Mode (MTK)'
8. Scroll across to 'Location'
9. Tap on 'Location Based Service'
10. Tap on 'AGPS' and then make sure 'A-GPS On/Off' is checked
11. Tap on 'EPO' and then make sure 'Enable EPO' is checked
12. Swipe down (notification bar) and turn GPS on
13. Hit back and then tap 'YGPS'
14. Wait until you get position lock (mine took about 6 seconds).
15. This process should create a new mtkgps.dat file.
16. Hit home button and open GPS Test.
17. You should get a position lock reasonably quickly.

Even though you have enabled A-GPS and EPO you can now turn them off (although any subsequent position lock should be quicker if these are enabled).

I have managed to get a position lock on Google Maps with network data and WiFi turned off. I've also managed to get Sygic GPS to work with network data and WiFi turned off. Position lock took about 20s in both cases.

The above is a variant of the instructions given in this video:


I now have a MTK6589 phone with a very good GPS!
The main issue appears to be the initial mtkgps.dat file.

Great success!

[The187Hitman]

thanks man, ill try this when i have some time

[Digital Playworld]

Great News, that has just worked for me on my N9500, thank you.

[Wookash]

Didn't work for me, with Lenovo S750

[Wookash]

EDIT for thoose having chineese firmware, and cannot run GPS or google play store here's a method C solution [Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]

[MayhemVC]

If you have Chinese firmware you should still be able to create a CWM recovery for your phone using this method:
[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]

Once you have done this you should be able to flash Google Apps:
[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]

Just make sure you flash the correct Google Apps for your version of Android:
[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]

Once flashed you will have access to the Google Play Store and all its goodness contained within!

[Wookash]

If you have Chinese firmware you should still be able to create a CWM recovery for your phone using this method:
[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]

Once you have done this you should be able to flash Google Apps:
[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]

Just make sure you flash the correct Google Apps for your version of Android:
[Only registered and activated users can see links Click here to register]

Once flashed you will have access to the Google Play Store and all its goodness contained within!
Maybe it's a stupid question but what will I achieve by CWR recovery?
I managed to run google play store, without the CWR, so do I really need it?
Gapps gives more shit except of playstore, so IMO no need to flash the full gapps.

[MayhemVC]

Maybe it's a stupid question but what will I achieve by CWR recovery?
I managed to run google play store, without the CWR, so do I really need it?
Gapps gives more shit except of playstore, so IMO no need to flash the full gapps.

Not a stupid question. You are correct.
Provided you are rooted and have access to the Google Play Store then you should you should be fine.

[sjoerd]

Hi
after doing all of the above I do get an almost instant-GPS fix. So that is good.
What is bad is that I then regularly lose all satellites, and then it takes 5 minutes - half an hour to get a fix again.
Any ideas about that?
Thanks

[Wookash]

I had the same problem - the GPS is really poor
I have switched onto external GPS - there's no comparision with the built in one.