android geolocation using phonegap code: 3 error

Question

I'm trying to use geolocation using PhoneGap API doc but getting below error message,

Alert code:3 message: Timeout expired

My code is,

    <script>

// Wait for Cordova to load
//
document.addEventListener("deviceready", onDeviceReady, false);

var watchID = null;

// Cordova is ready
//
function onDeviceReady() {
    // Throw an error if no update is received every 30 seconds
    var options = { timeout: 10000 };
    watchID = navigator.geolocation.watchPosition(onSuccess, onError, options);
}

// onSuccess Geolocation
//
function onSuccess(position) {
    var element = document.getElementById('geolocation');
    element.innerHTML = 'Latitude: ' + position.coords.latitude + '<br />' +
                    'Longitude: ' + position.coords.longitude + '<br />' +
                    '<hr />' + element.innerHTML;
}

// onError Callback receives a PositionError object
//
function onError(error) {
    alert('code: ' + error.code + '\n' +
      'message: ' + error.message + '\n');
}

Please advice me what I am missing.

Obi Obi · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-19T10:17:59

I believe this is a relatively common problem especially with Android devices. Some of the popular solution I have come across include

Do not specify the error callBack: For some really odd reason this works, your only problem will arise if GPS isn't enabled. I wouldn't advise this in a production app though.
Specify enableHighAccuracy: true in your options. This seems to work but not on its own, see #3 below
Specify maximumAge in options: I use this one and set it very high to maybe 1hour. What it does is that even if there is no GPS currently, cordova will give you the last known coordinates captured within the last hour, so this really depends on how accurate you want your coordinates to be with respect to time.

I usually use a combination of #2 and #3 and this works reasonably for Phonegap 3.x.

As an side, you could include an option to start an Intent via a plugin for the device's settings in your error callback so that the user can enable their GPS if disabled (Like google maps on the phone does when you use it for navigation).

I hope this helps.

android geolocation using phonegap code: 3 error

6 Answers