Asus Transformer Prime GPS flaw to be fixed with dongle | Expert ...

Posted on 10 Apr 2012 at 10:39

Asus has admitted that its Transformer Prime tablet has a serious problem with its GPS satellite navigation system, but has a potential fix: a free external GPS dongle.

The issue stems from the Transformer Prime's attractive metal casing, which blocks much of the signal to the integrated GPS receiver's antenna - resulting in poor accuracy and a complete inability to locate the device in urban environments.

"The Asus Transformer Prime is made from a metallic unibody design, so the material may affect the performance of the GPS when receiving signals from satellites," the company admitted earlier this year. "Please note that this product is not a professional GPS device, and signal performance can be easily influenced by factors including, but not limited to: weather, buildings, and surrounding environments. Please understand there are limitations when using the GPS function. To avoid inconveniencing users who demand a powerful GPS device, we made the decision to remove it from our specification sheet and marketing communications. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused."

Those excuses haven't washed with tablet buyers, however, but Asus has another trick up its sleeve: a free GPS dongle which sits outside the body of the device for a vastly improved signal.

Although as-yet unconfirmed by Asus itself, an emailed leaked on the XDA Forums claims that the dongle will be release din mid-April, and will fit flush to the bottom of the unit and be finished in a matching colour to make it as unobtrusive as possible. The device will be free, the emails claim, as an apology to all Transformer Prime customers who feel let down by the GPS issue.

Author: Gareth Halfacree

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