If you are able to enter the driving screen but the GPS and map do not load, this guide will help you troubleshoot and fix the issue.
Why does this happen?
Your EarthRover driving experience depends on:
A live GPS signal sent from the EarthRover (via 4G)
A real-time map displayed in your browser (powered by WebGL & GPU acceleration)
A stable internet connection on your device is required to download map tiles and receive GPS data.
If any of these parts break, your map may appear blank or won't load.
Common Causes & How to Fix Them
Hardware Acceleration is Disabled in Chrome
Our map system uses GPU-based rendering (WebGL). If you turn off hardware acceleration, the map may fail to display.
How to enable it:
Open Chrome → Settings
Go to System in the left menu
Enable Use hardware acceleration when available
Restart Chrome
👉 This is the most common cause when GPS and maps do not load.
2. Your Internet Connection is Slow or Unstable
A poor internet connection on your side can:
Prevent map tiles from loading.
Cause delays in receiving GPS updates.
How to check:
Run Speedtest.net → You should have at least 5 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload for a smooth experience.
Try switching to a faster connection (WiFi instead of mobile data, if possible).
3. The EarthRover’s 4G Signal is Weak
The EarthRover sends live GPS data over 4G. If the robot is in an area with poor cellular coverage:
The GPS data will stop updating.
The map may freeze or show an outdated location.
What you can do:
Try moving your EarthRover into a better coverage area.
4. Using an Outdated Browser
Older browsers may not support the latest WebGL features used by our map.
✅ How to check:
Make sure you are using the latest version of Chrome.
(We recommend Chrome for the best experience.)
5. VPN or Network Blocking
Some VPNs or corporate networks can block:
Map APIs
WebSocket connections used by the GPS stream
✅ How to check:
Try turning off your VPN and accessing https://rovers.frodobots.com/.
If you're on a school/corporate network, try a different network.
6. Temporary Map Service Issues
Sometimes map services can have temporary outages.
What to do:
If the issue happens across multiple browsers and devices, it may be temporary.
💡 Need further assistance?
Click the chat widget in the lower-right corner to connect with us.
We're here to help you daily! 😊