SFOS shortcomings & workarounds for Xperia 10 II

[robang74]

@robang74

Workaround : the GPS should be kept always on because its cold start takes minutes to fix the satellites despite the native MLS packages and several GSM/Wifi position backend services has been installed and running.

• State : under investigation because new installation of Google Play Services, and its configuration might solve the problem.

ALMOST A SOLUTION

GPS problems have two different sources:

• GPS signal very bad - #45 by robang74 - it is possible that your smartphone arrived with Android 12 pre-installed and yous *“should”" downgrade to Androd 11 before installing SFOS. The instructions are in the reply reported here. In this case, it would not work at all.

• Installing microG on Sailfish OS - #13 by lkraav - the bad signal and long time to fix satellites is related to the MicroG version like explained in this reply reported here. It is a 2 weeks ago fix and that version is still in preview state. Those install from MicroG website download page are suggested toward the stable one, instead. Fortunately but erroneusly, F-Droid market consider the preview as a stable version and proposes the upgrade.

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KNOWN ISSUE

I have entitled as “almost a solution” the previous section because it is pretty clear using GPSinfo that fixing satellite in a house is still a problem. I am living in an appartment under a plain roof above many others building and no any one of my previous Android smartphones nor this one with Android 12 shows this issue.

You might argue that the GPS is useless in an apartment because we just know where we are. Unfortunately, some apps like ToGoodToGo require a precise geolocalisation in order to give the available PoS/offers within walking range. Using the GSM triangulation by MPL services the accuracy is 9000m (9km). In this specific case, it is fine because adding an address will fix the problem. In some others cases can be quite annoying.

Moreover, it is supposed that the smartphone hardware can work as well with SFOS as much with Android or even better. Otherwise, the competition will be impaired as much as the performances are not going to meet the users expectations. By the way the Xperia 10 III seems not be affected by this issue:

@vige

Xperia 10 III, indoors: instant accurate fix.

WORKAROUD

Bring the smartphone near the glass from which a portion of the sky is visible and it will fix some satellites. In my case: 3 of 34, giving a position with an accuracy of 30-40m.

Warning: keep close the windows to avoid the risk of let your smartphone flying away!