diff --git a/src/helpers/sensors/EnvironmentSensorManager.cpp b/src/helpers/sensors/EnvironmentSensorManager.cpp
index b5e23b3fe8..8db2788afd 100644
--- a/src/helpers/sensors/EnvironmentSensorManager.cpp
+++ b/src/helpers/sensors/EnvironmentSensorManager.cpp
@@ -168,16 +168,26 @@ class RAK12500LocationProvider : public LocationProvider {
   void begin() override { }
   void stop() override { }
   void loop() override {
-    if (ublox_GNSS.getGnssFixOk(8)) {
+    // The numeric arg is maxWait (ms) for the I²C poll, not a field index.
+    // The previous 2/8 ms values were below the ublox response window, so polls
+    // routinely timed out and returned stale/garbage PVT data (observed: random
+    // wrong-hemisphere longitudes despite getGnssFixOk() returning true).
+    // 250 ms matches the SparkFun library's typical response time.
+    //
+    // Require BOTH gnssFixOK (DOP/accuracy mask passed) AND fixType==3 (3D fix).
+    // Ublox reports gnssFixOK=true with bogus coords during cold start (e.g. an
+    // unfixed module on first boot reporting coordinates from factory almanac);
+    // requiring fixType==3 filters those out.
+    if (ublox_GNSS.getGnssFixOk(250) && ublox_GNSS.getFixType(250) == 3) {
       _fix = true;
-      _lat = ublox_GNSS.getLatitude(2) / 10;
-      _lng = ublox_GNSS.getLongitude(2) / 10;
-      _alt = ublox_GNSS.getAltitude(2);
-      _sats = ublox_GNSS.getSIV(2);
+      _lat = ublox_GNSS.getLatitude(250) / 10;
+      _lng = ublox_GNSS.getLongitude(250) / 10;
+      _alt = ublox_GNSS.getAltitudeMSL(250);   // height above mean sea level, not ellipsoid
+      _sats = ublox_GNSS.getSIV(250);
     } else {
       _fix = false;
     }
-    _epoch = ublox_GNSS.getUnixEpoch(2);
+    _epoch = ublox_GNSS.getUnixEpoch(250);
   }
   bool isEnabled() override { return true; }
 };
@@ -702,16 +712,25 @@ void EnvironmentSensorManager::rakGPSInit(){
   //search for the correct IO standby pin depending on socket used
   if(gpsIsAwake(WB_IO2)){
   }
-  else if(gpsIsAwake(WB_IO4)){
-  }
-  else if(gpsIsAwake(WB_IO5)){
-  }
-  else{
-    MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("No GPS found");
-    gps_active = false;
-    gps_detected = false;
-    Serial1.end();
-    return;
+  else {
+    // WB_IO2 controls the 3V3_S switched peripheral rail on these RAK boards.
+    // gpsIsAwake() leaves the pin as INPUT on failure, which drops the rail and
+    // takes I²C peripherals (RTC, display, the GPS itself) down with it.
+    // Restore it before probing other sockets.
+    pinMode(WB_IO2, OUTPUT);
+    digitalWrite(WB_IO2, HIGH);
+
+    if(gpsIsAwake(WB_IO4)){
+    }
+    else if(gpsIsAwake(WB_IO5)){
+    }
+    else{
+      MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("No GPS found");
+      gps_active = false;
+      gps_detected = false;
+      Serial1.end();
+      return;
+    }
   }
 
   #ifndef FORCE_GPS_ALIVE // for use with repeaters, until GPS toggle is implimented
@@ -801,6 +820,7 @@ void EnvironmentSensorManager::stop_gps() {
 
 void EnvironmentSensorManager::loop() {
   static long next_gps_update = 0;
+  static uint8_t gps_debug_skip = 0;   // throttle: print roughly every 10th update tick
 
   #if ENV_INCLUDE_GPS
   if (gps_active) {
@@ -813,17 +833,21 @@ void EnvironmentSensorManager::loop() {
     if ((i2cGPSFlag || serialGPSFlag) && _location->isValid()) {
       node_lat = ((double)_location->getLatitude())/1000000.;
       node_lon = ((double)_location->getLongitude())/1000000.;
-      MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("lat %f lon %f", node_lat, node_lon);
       node_altitude = ((double)_location->getAltitude()) / 1000.0;
-      MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("lat %f lon %f alt %f", node_lat, node_lon, node_altitude);
+      if (gps_debug_skip-- == 0) {
+        gps_debug_skip = 9;
+        MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("lat %f lon %f alt %f", node_lat, node_lon, node_altitude);
+      }
     }
     #else
     if (_location->isValid()) {
       node_lat = ((double)_location->getLatitude())/1000000.;
       node_lon = ((double)_location->getLongitude())/1000000.;
-      MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("lat %f lon %f", node_lat, node_lon);
       node_altitude = ((double)_location->getAltitude()) / 1000.0;
-      MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("lat %f lon %f alt %f", node_lat, node_lon, node_altitude);
+      if (gps_debug_skip-- == 0) {
+        gps_debug_skip = 9;
+        MESH_DEBUG_PRINTLN("lat %f lon %f alt %f", node_lat, node_lon, node_altitude);
+      }
     }
     #endif
     }
diff --git a/variants/rak3401/platformio.ini b/variants/rak3401/platformio.ini
index 20a8a548b9..2040faa4df 100644
--- a/variants/rak3401/platformio.ini
+++ b/variants/rak3401/platformio.ini
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ build_flags = ${nrf52_base.build_flags}
   ${sensor_base.build_flags}
   -I variants/rak3401
   -D RAK_3401
+  -D RAK_BOARD
   -D NRF52_POWER_MANAGEMENT
   -D RADIO_CLASS=CustomSX1262
   -D WRAPPER_CLASS=CustomSX1262Wrapper
@@ -13,6 +14,8 @@ build_flags = ${nrf52_base.build_flags}
   -D SX126X_CURRENT_LIMIT=140
   -D SX126X_RX_BOOSTED_GAIN=1
   -D SX126X_REGISTER_PATCH=1       ; Patch register 0x8B5 for improved RX with SKY66122 FEM
+  -D FORCE_GPS_ALIVE               ; on RAK3401, gpsResetPin ends up = WB_IO2 (kills 3V3_S rail) or
+                                   ; pin 4 (= SX126X_RESET, holds radio in reset). stop_gps() must not run.
 build_src_filter = ${nrf52_base.build_src_filter}
   +<../variants/rak3401>
   +<helpers/sensors>