In response to users' complaints about Transformer Primes not finding satellite signals, Asus is reportedly offering free GPS dongles.

Late last year, users complained about the poor GPS service on the Prime, in a thread on xda-developers, which has since been removed, compared to other Android devices. Some users claimed that it was working initially, but later became problematic.

"With a Galaxy Nexus and Transformer Prime side by side in and around our Manhattan offices, each with data connectivity turned off, our phone locked onto eight satellites straight away, but the tablet started with three, failed to lock, and took a long while to obtain the others," The Verge reported. They added that, over at the xda forums, Asus representatives haven't provided a conclusive solution: one employee told a user to turn Wi-Fi on while using GPS. The company then removed GPS from the specification page of the Prime, seemingly acknowledging the issue.

The company had also issued an update - HTK65.US_epad-8.8.3.29-2011202 - but it didn't fix the problem.

Since then, a post over at the xda forum says that a free dongle is being issued to solve the problem. "An attachment for the Prime that will "address the GPS function and be a full usable GPS that will lock onto many satellites and keep their lock with Wi-Fi active," CNET said.

The post shows an e-mail exchange between the users and an Asus product manager, who says the dongle will be available for free to existing TF201 Prime owners.

Another user, who claims to have tested the device, said the device is "minimalist," using the Prime's proprietary connector, fitting against the bottom of the tablet when held landscape. The e-mail also notes that more recent Primes, specifically those with the "C3" serial number, have improved Wi-Fi performance.

A listing for a TF201 GPS Extension Kit appeared in the National Radio Research Agency's database, a Korean version of the FCC. The e-mail thread said the device is expected to be released in mid-April. So there should be news on the device soon.

Asus has made no official announcement about the device.

(reported by Jonathan Charles, edited by Surojit Chatterjee)