Signal Strength

[NeilS]

I have been using Navigator for a few days now and although it finds my position acurately the GPS Status never shows any of the statelite positions or signal strength. I have run the Leadtek Navigator software and that doesn't show signal strength either. In the developer view the GPS receiver sends the following sequence of codes $GPGGA, $GPRMC, $GPVTG (there could be more but that seemed to be all). Is this common? Could there be a fault with the GPS receiver?


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Neil Sleightholm

[Dave]

Neil, are you using the Leadtek 9531 ? The one that comes with Navigator.



If so, you should also see GPGSA and GPGSV which gives a satellite count on how many satallites you have a fix on and also their signal strengths. If you switch to development mode and after about a minute pause the screen you should be able to scroll up and see if you're getting these come through.

[NeilS]

Yes it is the one that came with Navigator (a Leadtek 9531 I presume). No sign of any GPGSA or GPGSV signals though. It can see 6 satelites and has and acurate position.
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Neil Sleightholm

[Dave]

Neil, run up WinFast Navigator again and connect, check you've got a valid connection by going to the development screen. Then goto TOOLS | COMMAND and make sure the two Messages boxes are ticked. Then goto NMEA tab, make sure the Baud Rate is set correctly (4800). Document the settings you've got in this screen and post them here for me. Whilst you're doing that, set every option to 0 and then re-set GSA and GSV to 1 and tap OK. This will take you back to the Development screen. You should start seeing GPGSA and GPGSV here. If you don't tap the CONNECT icon to disconnect and RE-CONNECT and see if you get anything. If you don't then there's a problem with the receiver. If you do get something go back to the TOOLS | COMMAND | NMEA option and use the following settings:-



GGA 1 VTG 1

GLL 0 MSS 0

GSA 5 User 0

GSV 5 User 0

RMC 1 User 0

[NeilS]

Dave, the 2 checkboxes were set, on the NMEA tab it was set to 9600 but in the status bar is read 4800 (I think it auto negotiated the correct speed). I changed to 4800 but it didn't change. The settings I have were:

GGA 1 VTG 1

GLL 0 MSS 0

GSA 5 User 0

GSV 5 User 0

RMC 1 User 0

Changing them as you suggested didn't make any difference. Still no GPGSA and GPGSV signals so it sounds like the receiver is dodgy. I bought it from TotalPDA so I guess they will exchange it for me.



Thank you very much for your help.
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Neil Sleightholm

[NeilS]

For anyone else that has a similar problem here is an update.



I had quite a lot of problems getting TotalPDA or TomTom to provide me with a replacement GPS. In the mean time I ordered a Brodit mount for my car (highly recommended by the way). The iPaq mount I went for takes the orginial LeadTek/iPaq connector. Strangely after changing to this mount the signal strength is displayed. The only thing I can think of that might cause this was a dodgy connector but as it works now I'm not going to fiddle.
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Neil Sleightholm

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