No satellites with clip on BT : Please help

mortimere · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 15, 2004 Posts: 5

Hi,
I just baught a fortuna clip on BT, to work with my pocket pc Toshiba E740 BT, and tom tom navigator 1.53.
The BT connexion beetwen the E740 and the GPS works fine, but I can't get any position? I have tried all the differents set up, with ST and XT, but I can't get anything. I think the gps can't get any satellites. In fact, the setellite led on the gps is red. I just reset the GPS by removing the battery, still nothing..
Any ideas ???

Thanks for your help Smile

Dave · Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2004 9:39 pm Post subject:

If you've got a red light (middle light) then it hasn't got a fix, it should go green. Make sure you have a clear view of the sky and try it outside of the car first, you may have a UV coated windscreen which is blocking GPS signals.

mortimere · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 15, 2004 Posts: 5

Hi, Thanks for your reply . Unfortunatly, I have tried it outside yesterday, for one hour, and it a bright blue sky for the past two days here in Paris. I don't really know what to do. Any other tips ?
thanks Smile

Dave · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 10:17 am Post subject:

If you don't try to connect it to the Tosh, and just take the GPS outside and switch it on for 5 mins, does the red light go out ? I'm assuming that a factory fix has already been attempted since charging the GPS ? Sometimes a factory fix can take up to 15 mins to receive all the information necessary.

If the red light is still on after this, then you may have a faulty GPS. If you can get a valid Bluetooth connection to the GPS, following this article as this might help in diagnosing a little more.

mortimere · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 15, 2004 Posts: 5

You say "I'm assuming that a factory fix has already been attempted since charging the GPS ". What is a factory fix. My GPS is brand new, from the box, I just did a reset by removing the battery.

Dave · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 2:10 pm Post subject:

If a GPS has never been powered up before (e.g. come straight out of the factory) then you may need to do a factory fix. Most GPS's are now powered up, but when they fly all over the world sometimes the almanac data is out of date.

A hot/warm/cold fix needs to download the ephemeris data from the satellites (approx 30-60 secs) and you will see this on a regular basis depending on how much current data it has.

Then you have the Almanac which is current for a couple of months. You need to have a roughly accurate Almanac to be able to obtain quicker fixes. To download a complete Almanac will take a minimum of 12.5 minutes but can sometimes take 15-20 mins and have been known to take 30 mins. It all depends on your current signal strength, whether you are receiving multi-path errors (signals rebounding off of tall buildings) and whether you have direct line of sight (and of course the battery is charged).

Try putting the GPS outside for 30 mins, go back in-side and then return afterwards, power it off and on again and connect your Pocket PC and see if you can get a quick fix. If you do go outside, try and not be too close to any tall buildings or trees, just leave it out in the open there for a while and grab a coffee.

mortimere · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 15, 2004 Posts: 5

thanks a lot for your help. I 've the fix and position now, very accurate position in fact. I can start to try the software.
Many thanks Thumbs Up

Dave · Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:23 pm Post subject:

How long did you leave it to obtain a fix ?

mortimere · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 15, 2004 Posts: 5

hi,
It took about 15min yesterday to obtain a fix.
Unfortunatly, I can't get anything since last night, it sits outside by the window, for about 2 hours this morning, but nothing. Very strange. :|

Dave · Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 11:38 am Post subject:

All GPS's have a backup battery (or capacitor) that needs to have a good charge to retain the almanac. I'd guess you probably have charged it enough, usually a couple of hours should suffice. Even then if it wasn't charged then you should obtain a fix in about 15 mins.

If the GPS is by the house it may be shielding it's view, the GPS tends to prefer being away from tall buildings otherwise you may be blocking satellites (the ones that count).

If it still doesn't work, it might be you have a faulty Fortuna.

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