Originally posted by Grey Area: Godspetmonkey; you're so right about the manual. I seriously think I have never actually had GPS turned on...the orange light only comes on when I enable logging. I've been trying to enable it from menus, but I suspect the only way to turn it on is the physical GPS button.
Need to run more tests, but the UK seems to be under permanent cloud (and I don't just mean Brexit).
Your detailed post a great help...thanks!
You should move down-under mate - better skies, same crappy politicians. Warmer too!
Anyway, just quickly tested my K-3II - with the GPS off, if I then enable GPS logging it'll override it and turn on the GPS as well (makes sense...). If I then turn logging off, the GPS returns to the off state. That matches what you are saying, so maybe this is the underlying issue?
Ok, in the GPS menu section, make sure that under Additional Settings you have the Indicator Lamp enabled, that will cause the orange light to come on when the GPS is. Exit the menus and turn on the GPS with the physical button - orange light should come on and you'll have a red satellite icon on the rear LCD as it attempts to locate the GPS signals. Don't worry about leaving the GPS on all the time, it sleeps when the camera does, and will spring back to life when you half press the shutter button - ends up being very battery friendly (I have gotten 1,000 shots on a single charge with the GPS on, but that was with the rear screen off).
Fingers crossed the problem was something as simple (and frustrating) as that.