GPS Signal loss after most recent release

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What steps will reproduce the problem?
1.  Since the most recent update, My Tracks loses GPS signal in areas where it 
was not lost before.  I have been a user for several years and track all my 
bicycle rides.  Since the last update, my rides do not track completely and 
have gaps in them.

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?

What version of MyTracks are you using? On what version of Android? On what
phone?
V2.0.6
Driod Razr
Android 4.1.2

If possible please provide a log by uploading here.
Detailed instructions can be found here:
http://code.google.com/p/mytracks/wiki/HowToReportErrors

Please provide any additional information here:

Original issue reported on code.google.com by blyburn...@gmail.com on 23 Feb 2014 at 3:06

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I have the same problem after new update.

V2.0.6
Nexus 4
4.4.2

Original comment by fluidwor...@gmail.com on 5 Mar 2014 at 12:52

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I see this too on my Nexus 4 with Android 4.4.2. GPS signal is routinely being 
lost, leaving most my recent bike rides incomplete. This wasn't a problem with 
earlier versions. Unsure if it's Android or KitKat related, but something has 
changed and it isn't for the better. 

Original comment by alban...@gmail.com on 16 Mar 2014 at 2:48

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Issue 1463 has been merged into this issue.

Original comment by jshih@google.com on 2 Apr 2014 at 12:26

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Issue 1373 has been merged into this issue.

Original comment by jshih@google.com on 2 Apr 2014 at 12:34

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Issue 1450 has been merged into this issue.

Original comment by jshih@google.com on 2 Apr 2014 at 12:36

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On further review.  If I run my tracks and map my ride at the same time, my 
tracks performs better and records more completely.  Still not as well as map 
my ride alone.  Any updates to this concern?  Any suggestions?  Thanks.

Original comment by blyburn...@gmail.com on 16 Apr 2014 at 9:04

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Im having the same issue on nexus 4

Original comment by jacobha...@gmail.com on 25 Apr 2014 at 6:39

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Same issue, galaxy S2 Android 4.1.2 Mytracks 2.0.6

Original comment by JBol...@gmail.com on 2 May 2014 at 1:11

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I'm having the same issue when I recorded a biking trip yesterday. 
HTC One X and MyTracks 2.0.6

Original comment by Varj...@gmail.com on 15 May 2014 at 6:56

Attachments:

• [Rondje Ruben Groep.kmz](https://storage.googleapis.com/google-code-attachments/mytracks/issue-1464/comment-9/Rondje Ruben Groep.kmz)

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I always use My Tracks on my bike rides. During pauses the running time 
continues but the real travel time was well kept. After several updates that 
does not work properly anymore. Total time is ok, but real triptime differs 
from actual triptime. What can I do to get back the correct real triptime ??

Original comment by PD7...@gmail.com on 18 May 2014 at 9:32

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If you continue to notice gps signal losses, please let us know the Google Play 
services version on your phone.

Phone Setttings-> Apps -> Google Play services -> version number.

Thanks
Jimmy

Original comment by jshih@google.com on 13 Jun 2014 at 10:31

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Still having this issue.

Play services 4.4.52 (android 4.4.3, Nexus 5)

Original comment by Java...@gmail.com on 15 Jun 2014 at 9:57

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I have this too.  I go for 4 mile walks, and my speed graph shows a bunch of 
erroneous sudden drops to zero speed, and then back up a while later.  Like 
notches in the graph. So it will, for example, show my total time as one hour, 
but my moving time as only 40 minuets, even though I was moving the entire 
time. Google Play Services version 4.4.52.

Original comment by kgladst...@gmail.com on 17 Jun 2014 at 4:47

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Same issue as #13. Google Play Services 4.4.52 (1174655-38), Xperia Z2 with 
Android 4.4.2.

If I connect a Sony SmartBand I do not see this issue... only if My Tracks is 
the only running app using fine grained location services.

Original comment by fred...@elestedt.com on 17 Jun 2014 at 8:35

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Having the same issue as above on Galaxy Note 3.  My Tracks seems to work when 
starting a run, and the duration of workout is correct, but GPS signal is lost 
repeatedly throughout exercise and when reviewing the route the map shows me 
jumping around all over the place with as many gaps as there are tracked areas.

Device: Galaxy Note 3
Androd: 4.4.2
MyTracks: 2.07
Google Play Services: 4.4.52

Original comment by steven.h...@gmail.com on 24 Jun 2014 at 10:26

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To help us debug this problem further, if you see this behavior during a 
recording, wondering if you can include an Android bug report. See

https://support.google.com/nexus/contact/bugreport

Original comment by jshih@google.com on 26 Jun 2014 at 9:54

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[deleted comment]

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One hypothesis is that when the Location mode is set to "High Accuracy", it 
might report Wifi signals even when GPS signals are available. If you 
frequently experience this on your phone, can you try setting the Location mode 
to "Device only" to see if it helps.

Original comment by jshih@google.com on 10 Jul 2014 at 1:02

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I observed that the problem went away, i.e. I got a clean record of my morning 
walk, after a re-boot a couple of days ago. Before the re-boot I had had 
several other GPS related apps running. Could GPS apps be interfering with each 
other by somehow corrupting the data provided from the GPS module?

Android 4.4.4 on a Nexus 4. 

Original comment by gadgettr...@gmail.com on 10 Jul 2014 at 1:52

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Mine has gotten a lot better. I have erased everything (delete data), but
think that this is not the reason of improvement. I had set my Location
settings set manually to "high accuracy" (I'm translating from german), but
now that I check, they are at "Energy saving", which is strange (used
MyTracks the last time 3 days ago since it's raining non-stop).

It's important to point out that I'm using Tasker together with joaomgcd
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=joaomgcd>'s AutoLocation,
which is tracking my position in parallel to act upon me entering
geofences. My goal is to have real-time email notifications to my home
server of enterings into geofences via tasker/autolocation while also
storing the entire track in high resolution via MyTracks, so that I can
export it upon arival and post process the kml/x and csv data.

In this context I'd like to comment that I'd love to be able to export kml
and csv data in one click, and then be able to use autoshare ny michale
haar
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dngames.autoshare&hl=en
in order to send both files attached to one email. The email step is not
that important since I'd prefer to be able to use Titanium Media Sync to
upload the two files automatically, but since it's now all that messed up,
I'm doing it manually via email, so that I can the post process them via a
python script.

I was looking at the source code at the repo last week in order to add the
stuff I need, but I then noticed that it has been pulled out of the open
source domain. That's quite a bummer, but well then... no comment.

Regarding the position accuracy, I believe that the theory of WLAN messing
up the GPS data is bogus, as Runtastic was getting 100% perfect location
info, always. In fact, when I was once using Runtastic, and MyTracks was
running in the backround and that Time I had the worst MyTracks recording
ever; I did this once to test. Of 12km about 2 got recorded, split up into
about 5 different (sub?)tracks, some really weired stuff, which really
pushed me to inspect the issue, as MyTracks used to be 1A last year.

I wanted to look at the source code because of that, to see what changed.

It's hard to tell, but I think that it's getting better, will be checking
it during the next couple of weeks.

I'd love to see an API letting me act automatically upon the STOP event in
order to export CSV and KML onto the sd card at once (CSV file doesn't
contain the summary which is included in the kml files and kml files don't
contain the ease of parsing, in order to analyze it further with google
maps).

It's also a pity that the calory counter doesn't get stored in the kml
summary. How about copying the kml summary into the csv file? I'd love that.

Original comment by soundlin...@gmail.com on 10 Jul 2014 at 3:29

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I am having the problem of the program "Waiting for GPS signal" Sometimes it 
never finds the signal other times it will take an hour or more. I have version 
5.084 Google Play Services.

           Mike

Original comment by siammi...@gmail.com on 23 Jul 2014 at 3:23

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[deleted comment]

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Hi, I'm having the same problem - I'm losing gps when using Mytracks

v2.0.6
Samsung galaxy note N7000
Android 4.1.2
Google play services version 5.0.89 (1307510-036)

Many thanks,

Neil

Original comment by NB52...@gmail.com on 25 Aug 2014 at 6:54

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Same issue. Nexus 4. Android 4.4.4. Google Play Services 5.0.89 (1307510-036).

My Tracks has trouble acquiring GPS when other apps do not/show strong GPS. 
Each time I open My Tracks to view status, it's attempting to acquire GPS. I'm 
spending too much time thrusting the phone to the southern sky and waiting. 
(Was once a terrific app. No longer.)

Original comment by djm89...@gmail.com on 28 Aug 2014 at 4:44

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I'm having the same problem. LG G2, Android 4.4.2, Google Play Services 5.0.89 
(1307510-038)

Original comment by pongr...@gmail.com on 16 Sep 2014 at 8:33

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My Tracks gets its locations from the Google Play Services. So please make sure 
you have the latest Google Play Services. In "High accuracy" mode, the Google 
Play Services will return both gps and wifi locations. Wifi locations tend to 
add lots of noise, so in My Tracks, we filtered out the wifi locations, thus 
causing the gaps.

This problem should get improved in the latest version of Google Play Services. 
A temporary workaround is using the "Device only" mode. We are also looking for 
solutions to filter out wifi signals without causing substantial gaps.

Original comment by jshih@google.com on 14 Oct 2014 at 8:26

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Today, I used My Tracks (hadn't used it for a while). It's now at v2.0.8.
It was absolutely HORRIBLE! Orange bar "Waiting for GPS services" every time I 
took my phone out and unlocked it. BIG gaps in the data.

It USED to keep on ticking away, while I walked for HOURS on end (although at 
times a little inaccurately while in my pocket - understandably). Now it seems 
every time the screen turns off, it lost GPS location. The only way to get it 
to get a location seemed to be to quickly turn GPS off and back on again, but 
that would last only a short while. This was way out in the country, far from 
any WiFi.

I try to conserve battery power.  Have I done something to turn off GPS while 
the screen is off?

I'm running a stock Android 4.4.2 on a Samsung Galaxy S4.

PLEASE, can I get back to what it was before?

Original comment by PJFa...@gmail.com on 13 Dec 2014 at 9:27

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@jshih - How do I determine if my "Google Play Services" is up to date?
I can not see anything like that at the Play Store, I can only check my device:

If I open MAPS, (v9.1.2), and go to Settings/Google Location Settings, I see 
"Google Play Services" there [When I tap on it, I see it's v6.5.87 
(1599771-038), and  it is enabled], and If I tap on "Mode", I see the 3 
sources, mentioned in your post (GPS, WiFi Mobile networks), and I'm currently 
using all 3 ("High Accuracy").

If I go to "Application Manager" and swipe right to "Running", I see Google 
Play Services running (1 process and 1 service).

Is there anything else I can check?

Original comment by PJFa...@gmail.com on 13 Dec 2014 at 10:07

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Yes I'm also getting the same problem "Waiting for GPS signal" Sometimes it 
never finds the signal other times it will take an hour or more. Also sometimes 
it breaks GPS signal time to time.

My Tracks v2.0.9
Google Play service 6.5.87(1599771-034)
Android 4.2.2

Please look into this issue.

Original comment by din.k...@gmail.com on 15 Dec 2014 at 6:09

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Well, things are looking up.  I went for a hike today, and it faithfully 
tracked me for 90 minutes with the screen off, and in my pocket.
What I changed:
1) Turned off "Power saving"
2) Reset to "Recommended" all of the settings for how frequent/far track points 
are recorded
3) Turned on cellular data.

More testing, with one of the above set at a time will be needed...

Original comment by PJFa...@gmail.com on 15 Dec 2014 at 7:44

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I am also experiencing this problem of "gaps" in the My Tracks recoding and as 
also reported find My Tracks is very slow to capture the positioning data from 
the GPS compared to other tracking applications.  My Tracks used to work 
flawlessly so something has changed in an update of My Tracks to cause this 
problem.

Original comment by pwoodro...@gmail.com on 7 Apr 2015 at 7:35

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Also experiencing "waiting for gps"
Note 4
Andriod 4.4.4
Google Play Services 7.0.99

Original comment by thinkbe...@gmail.com on 14 Apr 2015 at 3:03

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Since May, 10th I am experiencing the same problem on my Samsung Galaxy S5 
(then running stock 5.0). My Tracks 2.0.10 lost the GPS signal during a workout 
and never recovered it even though the phone had a GPS fix in other apps. I 
downgraded the phone to stock 4.4.2 afterwards and still experienced the same 
problem with My Tracks 2.0.10. Then I downgraded to 2.0.9 and today I had the 
problem again.

I seem to be able to record full workouts if My Tracks never loses the GPS fix 
but it seems that once it is lost it won't get recovered.

Original comment by alexande...@gmail.com on 17 May 2015 at 9:55

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Also experiencing "waiting for gps"
Nexus 5
Andriod 5.1.1
Google Play Services 7.3.29
My Tracks 2.0.10

I try clear cache, uninstall/reinstall still not working
Other apps work fine, gps status takes less then 20 sec to fix position...

Original comment by oxy...@gmail.com on 26 May 2015 at 8:39

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I am also having issues with my device
Oneplus One
GPS status has a fix with 3m accuracy but MyTracks does not track.. And always 
has gaps in the track even though the accuracy limit is above 20m.

Original comment by winroot...@gmail.com on 26 May 2015 at 8:51

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Even I am facing the same problem with My Tracks not able to get a GPS fix. 

Original comment by hariragh...@gmail.com on 18 Jun 2015 at 6:57

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Hi #35. It is relates with the data services somehow. A while back my OPO was 
having issues as well, playing INGRESS. It turns out it works perfectly con 2g 
network, but as son as you get into 3g or LTE problem starts. Instead of 
keeping a constant signal. It stays at one spot, then after a while it jumps to 
the current position.

I had fixed the issue a few months back. By downloading a GPS.conf file from 
WWW.derekgordon.com . But a few days ago I got an update from cm12. And I'm 
lost again.

I'll post here what the GPS.conf looks like with this patch.

##################################################
### NTP IS NETWORK TIME PROTOCOL AND PROVIDES  ###
### A TIME-HACK TO DEVICES THAT HAVE SYNCING   ###
### MADE READLIY POSSIBLE.  MANY XDA PATCHES   ###
### MISINTERPRET WHAT NTP IS AND IMPORTANCE.   ###
### NTP PACKETS HAVE BUILT-IN MECHANISMS FOR   ###
### TRANSMISSION LOSS.  NTP PACKETS ARE VERY   ###
### SMALL.  LASTLY, NTP MATTERS FOR PARSING    ###
### THE XTRA.BIN.  BUT, IT ONLY MATTERS WHEN   ###
### YOUR DEVICE HAS ITS TIME EXTREMELY OFFSET  ###
### COMPARED TO REALITY.  THUS, I BUILD THIS   ###
### PATCH FOR WORLDWIDE OPERATION.  RARELY     ###
### WOULD LOCAL NTP SERVERS BE REQUIRED.       ###
##################################################

NTP_SERVER=ntp.derekgordon.com

###

##################################################
### AGPS AND XTRA TELL THE AGPS DAEMON WHERE   ###
### IT MAY LOCATE THE AGPS DATA.  THE DATA     ###
### OPERATES AS AN ALMANAC WITH THE LOCATION   ###
### OF GPS SATS STORED WITHIN IT.  THIS DATA   ###
### IS ONLY VALID FOR 24 HOURS.  IT WILL BE    ###
### DOWNLOADED AND CACHED.  IT IS NO LONGER    ###
### KEPT IN THE /DATA/ PARTITION PERMANTENTLY. ###
### THERE IS NO POINT TO KEEP IT THERE!        ###
##################################################
### MY SERVER PROCESSES THE XTRA.BIN EVERY 30  ###   
### MINUTES.  TYPICALLY IT UPDATES EVERY HOUR  ###
### WHEN NEW DATA IS AVAILABLE.                ###
### SHOULD MY SERVER BECOME OVERLOADED, I WILL ###
### NEED DONATIONS TO KEEP THIS SUCKER STORED  ###
### AT MORE LOCATIONS.                         ###
##################################################

AGPS=http://derekgordon.com/gps-files/bin/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_1=http://derekgordon.com/gps-files/bin/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_2=http://xtra3.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin
XTRA_SERVER_3=http://xtra2.gpsonextra.net/xtra.bin

###

##################################################
### NOT GOING TO GO INTO DETAIL HERE.  THESE   ###
### NEED TO BE CALLED FIRST IN GPS DAEMON      ###
### STARTUP.  RELATES TO AGPS AND SUPL.        ###
##################################################

DEFAULT_AGPS_ENABLE=TRUE
DEFAULT_USER_PLANE=TRUE
DEFAULT_SSL_ENABLE=FALSE

###

##################################################
### INTERMEDIATEPOS RELATES TO USING GPS DATA  ###
### FROM SATS THAT ARE NOT FULLY LOCKED.       ###
### THE ACCURACY VARIABLE IS A THRESHOLD MAX   ###
### ON DEVIATIONS FROM THE ASSUMED LOCATION    ###
### WHERE THE DEVICE WILL DISCARD DATA.        ###
### THIS VARIABLE IS =0 IN ALTERNATE BUILDS    ###
##################################################

INTERMEDIATE_POS=1
ACCURACY_THRES=3000

###

##################################################
### THIS IS QUALITY OF SERVICE INFORMATION FOR ###
### PROCESSING THE GPS DATA.  MOST SHOULD BE   ###
### SELF-EXPLANATORY.  GPS DATA OUTSIDE THE    ###
### ACCURACY AND THRESHOLD RANGE WILL NOT BE   ###
### USED WHEN POSITIONING DATA.                ###
##################################################

QOS_ACCURACY=50
QOS_TIME_OUT_AGPS=95
QOS_TIME_OUT_STANDALONE=80
QosHorizontalThreshold=1000
QosVerticalThreshold=500

###

##################################################
### THESE VARIABLES RELATE TO AGPS. IT SAYS TO ###
### USE AGPS.  THIS WILL NOT BE USED IF YOUR   ###
### ROM HAS AGPS DISABLED IN THE CODE.         ###
### THE SERVER IP IS FOR AN INTERNAL IP FOR    ###
### ACCESSING THE AGPS DAEMONS DATA WHEN IT    ###
### IS OPERATIONAL.                            ###
##################################################

AssistMethodType=1
AgpsUse=1
AgpsServerType=1
AgpsServerIp=3232235555
AgpsMtConf=0
AgpsMtResponseType=1

###

##################################################
### THIS SUPL DATA IS TO MATCH THE SUPLROOTCERT ##
### IF IT IS REQUIRED BY THE SUPL SERVER.      ###
##################################################

SUPL_HOST=supl.google.com
SUPL_PORT=7276
#SUPL_SECURE_PORT=7275
SUPL_NO_SECURE_PORT=3425
#SUPL_TLS_HOST=FQDN
#SUPL_TLS_CERT=/etc/SuplRootCert
REPORT_POSITION_USE_SUPL_REFLOC=1

###

####################################################
### Carrier tags used univesrally in GPS configs ###
####################################################

CURRENT_CARRIER=common
PHONE_TYPE=UMTS

###

I'm guessing it has to do with the way 2g communicates with the gps modem. 
Somehow on 3g it doesn't keep track as fast as on 2g.

From that config. I am guessing probably the accuracy threshold or something.

I'm hoping someone could helps us here.

Cheers

Original comment by aegime...@gmail.com on 23 Jun 2015 at 2:14

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Someone just needs to get this done, and done correctly! It's amazing how often 
this BASIC GPS ISSUE shows up!

If this was the case in my engineering team, there would be a HUGE meeting to 
get this taken care of and to ensure GPS problems NEVER EVER come back ...

Original comment by SGlai...@gmail.com on 7 Aug 2015 at 3:42

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Actually what solved this issue for me was that I removed Google Fit from my 
device. It seems to somehow interfere with the ability of mytracks to keep 
receiving a GPS signal. Additionally, my devices battery life has much much 
improved since the removal of Google Fit.

Maybe there are other pieces of software like Google Fit that might interfere 
with applications like MyTracks in the area of GPS usage. Google Fit at its 
current status is a piece of crap in every way - I'm sorry I have to put it 
like that.

Original comment by alexande...@gmail.com on 7 Aug 2015 at 11:54

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This started to happen for me with the latest update (in July or so). I had 
just returned from a trip abroad in which I had to swap my sim card so I 
thought this was the issue. I'll try uninstalling Fit and report back.

Original comment by MarioCor...@gmail.com on 10 Aug 2015 at 10:55

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Hi,

nexus 4, same issue: lost GPS after 1-2 min of working, then lose it ..wait ~1 
min to get it back, or more, or ..no GPS back till I got the destination :(

google play services version:  7.8.99 (2134222-436)

also I request a call from google assistant, they call me and send me an email 
with instructions. I did everithing they send to me via email and still NOT 
wotking

please help me guys, someone!
lauguta@yahoo.co.uk

thank you,
Laurentiu

Original comment by laurenti...@gmail.com on 16 Aug 2015 at 3:32

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Somewhere I picked up the tip that the problem with My Tracks can be overcome 
by "tweaking" the recording settings. Since making the following changes I have 
had no further problems. 

Recording time interval is set to "Adapt for battery life" instead of the 
recommended setting of smallest.

Recording distance interval is set to 20m instead of the recommended setting of 
10m.

Worth a try to see if these settings will also work for you.

Original comment by pwoodro...@gmail.com on 19 Aug 2015 at 11:55

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Thanks @pwoodro... I'll give it a shot when I go for a run tonight!

PS: Obviously the other suggestions didn't work for me and for now I gave up 
and used Runtastic Pro on my iPhone work phone.

Is any My Tracks developer looking into this yet?

Cheers,

Original comment by MarioCor...@gmail.com on 20 Aug 2015 at 12:02

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I have seen the same problem with google play services version 7.8.99.
For me it was solved by turning off Wifi and disable "Scanning always 
available" in advanced Wifi settings.
MyTracks seems to only accept locations from GPS, locations from other sources 
are discarded.

Original comment by hakangus...@gmail.com on 21 Aug 2015 at 5:45

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Earlier suggestion didn't work, so I'll try hakangus' suggestion and post my 
findings... Currently using Map My Run Anyway...

Original comment by MarioCor...@gmail.com on 21 Aug 2015 at 3:16

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Thus far it is working (walked home while recording Track). No other app was 
running though (usually have Play Music running at the same time to listen to 
music).  Let's try in hot when I jog tomorrow and see if is taken care of as a 
workaround.

I do hope it is fixed someday so we don't have to tinker with the phone 
settings themselves...

Original comment by MarioCor...@gmail.com on 21 Aug 2015 at 7:55