GPS Lock Taking Too Long? Try Google Location Server supl.google.com

December 16th, 2009 • Mark Guim • Filed Under •

If you’re waiting too long for a GPS lock, try the location server supl.google.com instead. When I was using the Nokia N900 in Amsterdam, I was able to geotag photos in seconds. I became very suspicious when I came back in the US and it took much longer. I shrugged it off until a tip from the Maemo community suggested to replace Nokia’s location server with Google. I’m happy to report that I now get a GPS lock in seconds!

Supl.Google.com

I’m not sure why this is the case, but others in the US have confirmed changing the location server from supl.nokia.com to supl.google.com makes the GPS faster to find their location. I also got better results after replacing the server on the Nokia N97 mini as well.

Assisted GPS (A-GPS) uses the device’s data connection to talk to these location servers to help triangulate positioning data even where GPS signal is poor, like when the device is surrounded by buildings or is indoors. You can change the server under your device settings. On the Nokia N900, it is found on Settings – Location.

Is it possible that Nokia’s location server is broken in the US or am I being delusional? Try Google’s and let me know if you see improvements.

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  • Great article, actually you know I have settings like you said in my Samsung I8910 lol.
  • adan
    it works on my 5800!! im from malaysia, thanx!
  • Soundje
    Well i tried it on my 5800 and it works like crazy! GPS lock with A-GPS online within 5 seconds without any crash. One thing i must say, the GPS is much better in the 5800 XM then in the N97. It took ages for the N97 mini to lock on a signal and even then, it kept it for a few seconds and dropped it again. Switching to GPS only and A-GPS off and offline worked a bit better but not that well.
    *Netherlands / Noord Holland*
  • arkadinho
    I tried this on my N900 from Almere, the Netherlands (45 minutes from Amsterdam by car) and I didn't notice any difference between the Nokia and the Google servers' lock time. As you said it was already quite fast for you in Amsterdam but I figured I'd give it a try. How long should a GPS-lock take at the very least anyway? It takes about 20 seconds for me on average, which isn't a lot but I'd still wish it could be about half that time.
  • Steeb
    New n900, ovi maps 1.01, Orlando FL.

    Thoughht it was broke, reporting me 15 miles from my actual location, and slow to load. Google's server is faster, and more accurate, no crash so far.
  • Elad
    It looks like supl.google.com is down today (Apr 14). Does anyone know what's happening?
  • Elad
    It looks like Google changed the IP of supl.google.com to 72.14.221.192 and it took some time for the change to propagate through the DNS servers. Now it is working fine.
  • Tnmanju
    I am trying to connect to supl.google.com. Please let me know if root certificate is required to obtain connection. If yes, could you please let me know how to obtain root certificate for this ?
  • thanks for the update!
  • karl
    switched the location server as advised and can attest to the fact that switiching to the google server brought an immediate and marked improvement in lock times. in the u.s. and am able to get a lock in seconds whereas before a lock would be obtained a third of the time and then after a long wait. thanks for the tip!
  • Leon
    Tried it in Monterrey, Mexico
    Works much better..! Thanks
  • I just used Nokia Sports Tracker and it didn't crash like Ovi Maps. In fact, the GPS lock was lightening quick in ways Sports Tracker has never been. A MASSIVE improvement.
  • hedline
    Try this instead, start google maps, then start Ovi maps. By starting Google maps 1st your device will lock on GPS much faster. Then all you have to do when you find enough satellites is exiting Google maps. This will hopefully solve GPS-lockdown-waiting-time for OVI maps.
  • Ravi
    As posted by Mike Lockwood (Google Android division employee) about the supl.google.com server: "It should be OK to use this for testing, but if you want to ship a phone using this server you will need to talk to us first."

    link: http://groups.google.com/group/android-platform...

    Chances are, Nokia doesn't have permission to use google's agps server, so the agps request is denied, and this causes the Maps program to crash for some. The denial from google is probably more prevalent in certain areas where the google servers are wise to this new Nokia trick.

    Ravi
  • I've tried that and really works! The gps fix becomes faster!!

    I'm from Portugal!
  • fhuynh
    Twin Cities, Minnesota US - N82-NAM

    Wow, great tip. Thanks so much!

    Google server greatly improves the lock speed with Nokia maps 3.01. It used to take over 2min with nokia server. N82 NAM locked within 5s (solid 8+ satelites).
  • It's definitely not faster than the Nokia servers here in Canada. It does work tho on the N900
  • vaolo
    I tried from france it works like a charm, merci beaucoup !
  • avogl
    The google change causes ovi maps 3.01 to crash the phone immediately on my N86 RM-485, as well. Everything works fine once I went back to supl.nokia.com.
  • crash my 5800
  • RaphiBF
    I tried it on my N97 in Germany and the phone crashes immediately if you open up OviMaps and want to go to your location. "supl.nokia.com" works quite good, so it's not that bad at all :)

    Greets, Raphi
  • Rhode Island, rural, USA.

    Nokia N85. GPS lock comes substantially faster. I'd estimate 15 seconds faster. Total time about 30 seconds. It's very impressive.

    Works well in Google Maps. Crashes my phone in Ovi Maps. I don't mind. I've stopped using Ovi Maps.
  • KnoedelDealer
    Using supl.google.com ovi maps crashes the whole phone (N97) reproducible (i'm in germany)
  • RaChi
    DC
  • RaChi
    Great tip. The GPS lock is much improved.

    Thanks.
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