stopped getting 'gps signal' with MDPPC150 from Somerfield

Gacombe · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 30, 2005 Posts: 16

I installed TomTom5 on my MDPPC150 and it worked once I installed the fix thats mentioned near the beginning of this thread called 'cemonitor' (but it was a bit temperamental sometimes). However recently I have been getting "No GPS Signal" making the thing useless.

Ive done everything to overcome this - checked my settings (all correct), reset the damned thing several times (using switch on the back and the one on the side), run 'cemonitor' (and got a reading with this), laid the thing out in the middle of my garden for 10/20/30/40 minutes etc., several times with antennae open, set the NMEA command to 1,1,2,2,5,0,5,0,1,0, (as recommended).

What do I do? What can I do? Ive considered forgetting the TomTom5 software and going back to the original (?medion) software but I need the 7 digit postcode recognition that TomTom offers and anyway I dont feel that this is necessarily the problem. Help me please

mikealder · Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:04 am Post subject:

Why not try rolling the device back to the OEM state and prove that the hardware is actually working correctly, at least with a level playing field you know what you are dealing with, if it doesn't work like this then take it back for a repair - Mike

Gacombe · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 30, 2005 Posts: 16

What is "OEM state" and how do I get back to this?

mikealder · Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 1:41 am Post subject:

Original Equipment (as) Manufactured - i.e. put it back to how it was when you bought it and try to establish it works in this set-up, this way you eliminate the hardware from the potential causes of faults - Mike

philip4242 · Regular Visitor Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 123

Gacombe,

You are setting TomTom up to use 'Other Cable NMEA GPS', 'GPS Baud Rate' at 4800 and 'Serial Cable on SP2:' aren't you ?

You should then see the sectored circle on the GPS Status display rotating.

Then just wait (at least 20 minutes) with the GPS with a good view of the sky, until it gets a 'lock'

If the sectored circle is not rotating, try the other 'Serial' ports in turn, leaving the other settings alone.

If none of them work, there's a possibility that using 'CEMonitor' has left the GPS in a peculiar state.

(I normally use 'Winfast Navigator', which bears an uncanny resemblance to 'CEMonitor', even down to the incorrect spelling of 'Singal Level', rather then 'Signal Level !)

Anyhow, for 'CEMonitor', follow the directions in the 'General' section of the FAQs at http://www.pocketmap.com/accessories/troubleshooting.html to reset the GPS receiver.

Check that it then works at the correct settings in CEMonitor, then you'll have to re-apply the GLL and MSS 'messages' settings, so TomTom will show the number of satellites, etc.

As an aside, I'm stunned by the sensitivity of the latest generation of GPS 'kit'.

My Micromaxx MDPPC150 (MIO 168 clone) is sat on my computer desk showing a GPS lock using 7 out of the 11 available satellites.

The room is on the upper floor of my house, the nearest window (about 1.5m square) is about 4 metres away, otherwise the satellite reception is through standard UK breezeblock/brick walls or a standard tile roof, complete with foil/plastic heat/rain weather-proofing.

I was totally amazed to get a 'lock', when I first switched on the unit indoors !
_________________
Getting older and more senile by the minute !

Philip

Border_Collie · Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 10:42 pm Post subject:

As philip4242 says

philip4242 · Regular Visitor Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 123

'Later Mio168's work at 9600 Baud. '

That might well explain why a recommendation I'd read elsewhere to use 'TomTom Cable GPS setting' (where you don't get offered to set the Baud rate) DIDN'T work for me !

I just made the rash assumption that all NMEA GPS receivers worked at 4800 Baud, although I know that the 'standard' Baud rate under the SIRF protocol is much higher.

Since the amount of data to be transferred is relatively small and is 'bursty', I would have thought 4800 Baud would be plenty fast and robust enough.
_________________
Getting older and more senile by the minute !

Philip

Gacombe · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 30, 2005 Posts: 16

Many thanks for the advice Phillip....but still not having any success. I do appear to be running 'Winfast Navigator' but it is in a folder called 'CE Monitor'!!

Anyway, I am getting a reading/fix with 'Winfast Navigator' (at least 5 satelllites) but when I open up TomTom I am getting "No GPS device". and when I checkout the 'GPS Status' (greenish screen with NSEW) I get the same message. I can leave it like this for 30 minutes and nothing else happens.The GLL and MSS 'messages' settings are both 2 by the way.

Not sure where to go from here. More advice/help sought.

dabut · Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 7:49 pm Post subject:

i would try removing winfast from your machine and try tt5 again on its own.if it works but does not show signal strenght try the r3 firmware update
_________________
ipaq 4150 on powered cradle with tt6
medion md95000 with tt6
advent gp400 with tomtom6

Gacombe · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 30, 2005 Posts: 16

where do i find this 'r3 firmware update' ?

dabut · Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:56 pm Post subject:

hi gacombe try here http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=34420
_________________
ipaq 4150 on powered cradle with tt6
medion md95000 with tt6
advent gp400 with tomtom6

Gacombe · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 30, 2005 Posts: 16

dabut · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:06 am Post subject:

if you have the sat signal strenght showing and blue sats in gps view then upgrade is not needed
_________________
ipaq 4150 on powered cradle with tt6
medion md95000 with tt6
advent gp400 with tomtom6

Gacombe · Occasional Visitor Joined: Sep 30, 2005 Posts: 16

Thanks for the advice Dabut. Ive go the blue satellite signals working so I wont go for the update.

Baffled · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 25, 2005 Posts: 29

Still confused.....

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