Runjob Software Support

What is GPS (in one sentence)?

GPS is a system to estimate location on Earth by using signals from a set of orbiting satellites.

Achieving good initial GPS lock

To achieve fast startup and high-accuracy position estimates, you should provide:

Clear view of a large portion of the sky

Time to tune-in to the signals from the satellites

The keys to a GPS lock are clear access to the sky and patience. Any obstructions between the phone and the sky can adversely affect signal strength. A big tree is an obvious obstacle, but even a jersey or a backpack can cause problems for the very low-strength signals.

To improve signal acquisition time, keep the device in one place and make sure the device's data communications are enabled. This allows the phone's GPS to get hints about its approximate location. Even with a perfectly clear sky, it can take a few minutes before a lock can be established in some situations. Most Android phones made in the last couple of years have had fairly solid GPS sensors. That being said, not all GPS sensors are created equal.

Variable performance

The GPS system includes the chip in your device as well as the satellites above the Earth. So even if your device is in the same place and the same setting as before, it may behave differently from one day to the next. Typically, the device needs to receive signals from about 5 satellites to get an accurate estimate of its position. With the changing position of the satellites, changing weather patterns, and the changing nature of the Earth's outer atmosphere, there are enough parts of the GPS system outside of your direct control and observation that it is difficult to make conclusions about what specifically is causing inconsistent performance. We recommend you try repeatedly before making a judgment about the best ways to work with your device's GPS in your setting.

Steps to take when investigating GPS Issues

1. Turn phone off/on
2. Turn GPS off/on
3. Be sure Runjob is allowed to use your location. Settings > Apps > Runjob > Permissions > Toggle Location ON. Be sure that you've allowed Runjob to use GPS in the background
4. Be sure your phone's browser (Chrome recommended) is allowed to use your location. Settings > Apps > Chrome > Permissions > Toggle Location ON. Be sure that you've allowed Chrome to use GPS in the background
5. Set Chrome as your default browser.
6. Disable any battery saver settings.* Including Power Saving Mode, Battery Management or any third party apps. Please see below for more information on your specific device
7. Check that your location settings are set to High accuracy. Settings > Additional Settings > Privacy > Location > Set to High Accuracy
8. Perform an "AGPS reset": Install the App GPS Status & Toolbox, then in that app, go to Menu > Tools > Manage A-GPS State > Reset

Adjusting battery saver settings on different devices

• HTC: Access your phone settings > battery > power saving mode > battery optimization > select Runjob > don't optimize > save
• Huawei: Turn Energy Settings to Normal and add Runjob to "Protected Apps"
• LG If you're running Android 6 or higher: Settings > battery & power saving > battery usage > ignore optimizations > turn ON for Runjob
• Motorola If you're running Android 6 or higher: Battery > select the menu in the upper right-hand corner > battery optimization > not optimized > all apps > select Runjob > don't optimize
• OnePlus (using OxygenOS Settings): Battery > battery optimization > switch to 'all apps' > select Runjob > don't optimize
• Samsung: Access battery settings > app power saving > details > Runjob > disabled
• Sony If you're running Android 6 or higher: Battery > from the menu in the upper right-hand corner > battery optimization > apps > Runjob
• Xiomi (MIUI OS) If you're running Android 6 or higher: Access your phone settings > additional settings > battery and performance > manage battery usage > apps > Runjob

Final Steps

Try using the Maps app for 10 minutes, letting it search for signals with a wide open view of the sky, and keeping it completely immobile. If this does not produce useful location estimates, determine if GPS works in other apps.

If you are willing to get your hands a little dirty, try running one of the free apps that presents detailed GPS operating information. “GPS Status” is a free app that can reset your GPS and download fresh A-GPS data. The link to download the app is:

GPS Status & Toolbox

and you should see it eventually reporting 5 or more satellites acquired, and an overall accuracy range of fewer than 30 meters if everything is working properly.

More Troubleshooting

Your Android device* determines and provides your location to Runjob based on a combination of the following:

* WiFi-only tablet devices can only locate when connected to a WiFi network. GPS will work on Android phones and 3G tablets without a data plan. A-GPS (assisted GPS), which uses the internet in concert with GPS to more rapidly pinpoint your location, will work without a data plan as long as you have a WiFi connection.

On your device's home screen, open the Settings app.

Tap Apps or Application Manager (depending on your device, this may look different).

Tap Runjob.

Tap Permissions.

Next to Location, move the switch to the right until it turns ON or green.

If after confirming Runjob has access to location, and your location is still inaccurate, please confirm your devices location settings below.

If your location as reported by Runjob is occasionally inaccurate within a half mile (under 1 km)—especially while indoors or in hilly or urban areas—please consider the information above. If your location in Runjob is consistently inaccurate or reports that you are more than a half mile (or ~1 km) away from where you are, please try the following:

Location settings and modes

Open your device's Settings app.

Tap Location.

At the top, tap the On/Off switch.

Off - Location isn’t shared with any apps.

On - Choose location mode:

Refresh location services

Open your device's Settings app.

Tap Location.

Tap the On/Off switch to turn location Off

Restart your device (power off and on)

Open your device's Settings app.

Tap Location.

Tap the On/Off switch to turn location On

Choose location mode: High accuracy

Launch Runjob

If your location is still inaccurate

Open your Maps app and determine if your location is accurately being reported. If it is not, it is possible there is something wrong with your installation of Android OS and/or the hardware in your device.

If your location is accurate in the Maps app, but still inaccurate in Runjob, please contact us. Be sure that you have already tried forcing GPS services to refresh (as this will be the first thing we ask you) and confirmed your location permissions.

Make Sure You're Using Assisted GPS

Before you do anything else, you should make sure your GPS has all the help it can get. Android phones use what's called Assisted GPS, or AGPS, to determine your location. AGPS, to determine your location. AGPS uses not only GPS satellites, but also nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi networks to lock onto your phone, and you want to make sure you have this feature enabled. To do so, head to Settings > Location & Security and make sure both "Use Wireless Networks" and "Use GPS Satellites" are checked. By default, your phone only uses GPS satellites, so adding wireless networks should help quite a bit.AGPS, to determine your location. AGPS uses not only GPS satellites, but also nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi networks to lock onto your phone, and you want to make sure you have this feature enabled. To do so, head to Settings > Location & Security and make sure both "Use Wireless Networks" and "Use GPS Satellites" are checked. By default, your phone only uses GPS satellites, so adding wireless networks should help quite a bit.AGPS, to determine your location. AGPS uses not only GPS satellites, but also nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi networks to lock onto your phone, and you want to make sure you have this feature enabled. To do so, head to Settings > Location & Security and make sure both "Use Wireless Networks" and "Use GPS Satellites" are checked. By default, your phone only uses GPS satellites, so adding wireless networks should help quite a bit.

Reset Your Assisted GPS Data with GPS Status & Toolbox

Using AGPS, of course, can't always fix everything. In fact, sometimes your AGPS will keep trying to use satellites or towers that aren't nearby, which makes it hard to get a lock. If you're still having trouble, head to the Android Market and download:

GPS Status & Toolbox

Essentially, this app lets you flush and re-download your AGPS data, which can help re-acquire the correct satellites. Once you've downloaded the app, here's what you need to do:

• Launch GPS Status & Toolbox. You'll see a compass and some other stats. Hit the menu button for more options.
• Make sure you have an active data connection and go to "Manage A-GPS State". Then, tap the "Download" button in the menu that pops up. When it's done, exit the app.
• Now, go back to Google Maps (or whatever app you use to navigate) and try to get a lock. You should find that it's much quicker than before.

The one downside to this method is that it isn't necessarily a permanent fix. You may have to do this again every so often to get the GPS locking quickly again, but it's a small price to pay to be able to navigate again.