PLEASE HELP: Tom Tom Navigator 5 - Bluetooth

[-IK-]

Sorry if this is a simple problem, but I couldn't find other threads that gave me any real help...Apologies if I've missed one.

I have the above mentioned Sat Nav software and hardware running on an O2 XDA Exec.

The software runs fine and is very nice, but it takes an age to find a fix to a satelite whether I have just started the software and turned on the hardware receiver, or whether I have turned on the hardware after it has briefly been off.

I'm talking upto and over 10 minutes to get a fix when I'm outside directly under the sky (no overhead obstructions).

What is wrong?

I need to know quickly, because if (as I believe) the hardware is faulty, it has to be returned ASAP...Some people have said that there is a battery backup memory in the hardware reciver that is faulty....

Please help me if you have any ideas....It was a birthday present from the girlfriend and I can't believe this is how it should be working.

Thankyou.

[mikealder]

Which GPS unit are you using? and has it been fully charged prior to use? - I have recently had problems with a unit taking ages to obtain a fix until it had been left on charge overnight for the third time, although this should not be required - Mike

[-IK-]

Cheers for the reply.

It is the complete Tom Tom Package for PDA version 5 that comes with a bluetooth receiver so the receiver is branded Tom Tom but I don't know who really makes it...The unit has been fully charged.

Thanks

[mikealder]

If the unit is doing this after being switched on and used for a few hours, and the next time you switch it on it takes 10 mins then it is clearly faulty, what was the duration between last usage, if more than a few days this can upset the location - my guess is a deffective back-up battery, SiRF-III chipset units seldom take more than a min to get going often much less, one other point you are stationary when trying this are you? - if you are at speed or moving the unit will strugle to lock on to the signal, and can take considerably longer than when sat still - Mike

[-IK-]

Yep...I am stationary and the unit does this literally whenever I turn it on...Whether it has been a couple of mins or a few hours.

Right, its going back.

I only hope that the discounted price my girlfriend got this package for off an ebay retailer wasn't because he had a dodgy batch.

This was a fully sealed brand new package with serial numbers so if the worst comes to the worst, can I get Tom Tom involved somehow?

Cheers

[mikealder]

I doubt its a faulty batch, the device is a reliable unit, it looks like you have just been unlucky. Take it up with the supplier and demand a replacement item, if they are reputable they will honour their contract and replace the deffective item - Mike

[-IK-]

Thanks for the help...Appreciated

[-IK-]

Just got my replacement unit, but it is worst than the last one.

I just can't get a lock onto the sattelites. I can see that the sats are being searched for through the software, but it never gets a lock even after 10 mins.

Has noone else ever experienced this before...Am I really unlucky or am I doing something wrong.

Any help appreciated.

[mikealder]

Lets try a different approach, run up the devices and make sure you are well away from any buildings etc (a park, or open spaced car park will suffice, outside close to buildings can cause problems due to reflected signals, unusual but it depends on the location), leave the units like this for 30 mins after which you should have acquired a sat lock (blue bars instead of grey) - don't move the unit and make sure it is outside, not in the car.
After the 30 mins put the device in the car and see if it still works - what type of car is this, certain vehicles are fitted with Athermic coated glass which does present a problem, hence my sugestion to take it all outside for a while first - once this initial alignment is performed the unit should work fine each day - Mike

[-IK-]

Ok...I'll explain a bit more.

I don't use the device in a car...i use it on a bike....The GPS unit is strapped down to near the handlebars and is always under the direct sky.

That was the old unit, I have not strapped this new GPS to the bike yet as it won't get a lock.

What I have done is hold the unit in my palm (again directly under the sky) and walk to my local Tescos to buy a sandwiche....There and back is about 15 minutes.

The XDA was seeing the GPS and through the Navigator 5 screen, I could see that it was constantly getting different signal strengths...Sometimes 4 bars and sometimes 3....This was continous for like 15 mins.

Not once however did it obtain a lock.

Grrr...This whole thing is p*ssing me off now as this was a present and it hasn't worked properly since day 1.

I will try the idea of leaving the GPS and my XDA outside for half an hour without moving either....After that I'm just going to get my money back.

Any other suggestions.

By the way, the GPS unit is not fully charged...I haven't charged it since taking it out of the packet, but it has a good charge as the light remains green and not red.

Help...Anyone?

Thanks.

[mikealder]

[-IK-]

Ahhhh sorry Mike, I should have read the bit about keeping still.

IT LIVES

So I managed to keep still for more than 5 minutes and a lock was found in that time....I turned off everything and rebooted the phone....Upon turning everything back on, a lock was found in about 10 seconds or less.

So everything works now....Even turning off, travelling 10 miles then turning everything back on resulted in a lock being obtained in about 30 seconds...WOOO

Thanks Mike....Great help mate.

We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?.
Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!