Home PageFacebookRSS News Feed
PocketGPS
Web
SatNav,GPS,Navigation
Pocket GPS World - SatNavs | GPS | Speed Cameras: Forums

Pocket GPS World :: View topic - Problem with antenna
 Forum FAQForum FAQ   SearchSearch   UsergroupsUsergroups   ProfileProfile   Log in for private messagesLog in for private messages   Log inLog in 

Problem with antenna

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Pocket GPS World Forum Index -> Garmin Portable Navigation Devices
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
locksmith
Lifetime Member


Joined: Aug 16, 2005
Posts: 221

PostPosted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 1:52 pm    Post subject: Problem with antenna Reply with quote

Anyone else had this?

My quest has been working perfectly since I bought it last August.

Gave it it's first real test with a 6 day French motorcycle tour last week. Within an hour of hitting French soil it kept losing satellite coverage. As it was terribly overcast I put it down to cloud cover although it's never happened before. Well further south and the skys were blue and the sun shining and still it was not working a lot more than it was working. it mattered not whether it was on the bike or in my hands.

A couple of days later after a lock up and a reset I discovered that with the antenna fully flipped up a bit of pressure on it pushing it to the right and it worked! So 1 cable tie later around the antenna keeping the pressure on and it worked for 600 miles - which was very helpfull around Paris !!.
Then around 50 miles before Calais it went again and no amount of fiddling would persuade it to work.

Back home I can't find the receipt so I guess Garmin will not do it under warranty Sad

So I try it again and the flipping thing is perfect again. I've been using it constantly to try and get a re-occurence of the problem and it will not go wrong. Poinless contacting Garmin I suppose.

So is this a one off or has anyone else experienced
this problem?

I'm off to Germany in July so will it conk out again!!!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
bigbob
Regular Visitor


Joined: Feb 13, 2005
Posts: 108
Location: Highlands Scotland

PostPosted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I would be inclined to get an external antenna :-
http://www.globalpositioningsystems.co.uk/c-accessories-apla3669c94.html
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Berisford
Regular Visitor


Joined: Mar 13, 2004
Posts: 97

PostPosted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd still try Garmin for a repair.

Give 'em a call and explain.

What have you got to loose?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Kritou
Lifetime Member


Joined: Nov 25, 2004
Posts: 263
Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 12:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Threw my bike and two year old Quest down the road recently. Rang Romsey the next morning to explain that the antenna was now b******d but the machine was OK otherwise. "Here's your RMA and give us four working days" Sure enough it was home three days later, fixed and FOC

Yet again great customer service
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
locksmith
Lifetime Member


Joined: Aug 16, 2005
Posts: 221

PostPosted: Sat Jul 08, 2006 2:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Been using it trying to get it to go wrong again and it finally did this morning in the van even with the ext aerial connected. Gave the unit flip up aerial and good wiggle and hey presto started working again. Looks like a lengthy telephone call on monday Sad Still cant find the receipt, wonder how much they charge for repairs?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
adrianh
Occasional Visitor


Joined: Apr 30, 2006
Posts: 19
Location: Hambleton, North Yorkshire

PostPosted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 6:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I also had a similar experience this past weekend on a trip to London. While driving along an open stretch the unit said "Lost satellite comms"
I found the following and could simulate it at regular intervals. With the unit in its cradle and attached to the windscreen with the suction cup the flip up antenna could not click into the horizontal position so I had it half way between horizontal and the fully flipped up position. This is when it lost comms. As soon as I flipped it to the full "click" position the comms was restored. As I said before I was able to simulate this a no of times just by moving the flip-antenna off of the full "click" position. It takes approx 2-3 min before losing comms. I can therefore only conclude that the connection of the antenna only makes contact with the internal motherboard when in one of the 3 "click" positions. Would like to know from Garmin if the antenna should be in a "click" position to operate correctly. Anyone else have this strange anomoly and can you simulate comms failure as I was able to ???
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
locksmith
Lifetime Member


Joined: Aug 16, 2005
Posts: 221

PostPosted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 5:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

After two days of trying to phone garmin eventually got through only to be told their systems were down and they couldn't raise a return reference Evil or Very Mad Was told to email the details across. Well three days later I get a reply Evil or Very Mad

What sort of customer service is this?

Is it worth trying to complain - probably not.

I'll be looking at the next phone bill to see how much a couple of hours queing has cost Evil or Very Mad

Been told a 7 day turn around, I've got 14 till I need the quest for my German trip - I wonder Confused
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Berisford
Regular Visitor


Joined: Mar 13, 2004
Posts: 97

PostPosted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you'd sent it in June when you first complained it'd been back by now, fixed, probably FoC!

If it isn't working I think the only option you've got is send it to Garmin, First Class Next Day Special Delivery with a grovelling letter and keep your fingers crossed!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
locksmith
Lifetime Member


Joined: Aug 16, 2005
Posts: 221

PostPosted: Thu Jul 13, 2006 6:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
If you'd sent it in June when you first complained it'd been back by now, fixed, probably FoC!

Kind of wish I had, although the flipping thing was working perfectly again - Laughing
Posted it today, recorded before 1.00 pm delivery £4.50 8O

As a side note, is it this difficult to talk to TomTom ? because up till this I'd been recommending the Garmin Quest left right and centre!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Kritou
Lifetime Member


Joined: Nov 25, 2004
Posts: 263
Location: UK

PostPosted: Fri Jul 14, 2006 6:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

locksmith wrote:
Quote:
If you'd sent it in June when you first complained it'd been back by now, fixed, probably FoC!

Kind of wish I had, although the flipping thing was working perfectly again - Laughing
Posted it today, recorded before 1.00 pm delivery £4.50 8O

As a side note, is it this difficult to talk to TomTom ? because up till this I'd been recommending the Garmin Quest left right and centre!


Impossible - they will only deal with emails
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Berisford
Regular Visitor


Joined: Mar 13, 2004
Posts: 97

PostPosted: Tue Jul 25, 2006 11:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Is it back yet Locksmith?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
locksmith
Lifetime Member


Joined: Aug 16, 2005
Posts: 221

PostPosted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 9:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It arrived yesterday, a brand new Quest !!!
Top marks for the repair men, replacing it even though I didn't have proof of purchase :D
On the down side, I spent two and a half hours on the phone on hold without getting through :x
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Berisford
Regular Visitor


Joined: Mar 13, 2004
Posts: 97

PostPosted: Wed Jul 26, 2006 12:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well there you go, just as I said, good company for aftersales Garmin.

I've had three problems over the last 12 years and all have been sorted swiftly without charge by Garmin.

I even got a upgrade from a II to a IIplus on one occasion.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message







Posted: Today    Post subject: Pocket GPS Advertising

Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Pocket GPS World Forum Index -> Garmin Portable Navigation Devices All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Make a Donation



CamerAlert Database

Click here for the PocketGPSWorld.com Speed Camera Database

Download Speed Camera Database
22.105 (30 Oct 24)



WORLDWIDE SPEED CAMERA SPOTTERS WANTED!

Click here to submit camera positions to the PocketGPSWorld.com Speed Camera Database


12mth Subscriber memberships awarded every week for verified new camera reports!

Submit Speed Camera Locations Now


CamerAlert Apps



iOS QR Code






Android QR Code







© Terms & Privacy


GPS Shopping