Mitac Mio 168 digiwalker / TOMTOM s/w not working

Achilles2K · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 02, 2006 Posts: 8

Hi all,

I have just bought the above unit from ebay. It came with TT nav 3 which I installed and registered on the TT site - all fine and dandy.

Problem is I can't get TT to see the GPS (which is built into the MM168). I have tried ALL the options in the drop down menu. Just keep getting "GPS position unreliable". :x I was up until 3am this morning trying to get info from websites forums etc. Evil or Very Mad

I hope you guys and girls can help. Please. Exclamation

Any ideas most welcome.

Cheers.

neil01 · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:03 pm Post subject:

Not being familiar with TomTom 3, I can't provide you with a walkthrough.
But I am familiar with the MIO 168 which I know works with TomTom 5 & 6.

You will need to configure your GPS reciever with the following settings:

Other NMEA GPS receiver
GPS baud rate 4800
Serial Cable on SP2

On v5 & 6 this is effected through Main Menu | Change Preferences | Show GPS status (not on the first screen) | Configure.

You may also need to check out the GPS receiver, Winfast Navigator being suitable.

WinFast Navigator 1.3

This program is hard to find (most downloads give you an old version - v1.3 adds an undocumented feature allowing you to save the GPS log).

Download link:
ftp://www.leadtek.nl/mirror/gps/Tools/WinCEMonitor.zip

This is a direct link to the file, so you will get a File Download Open/Save box, rather than going to a list of files.

In the version I originally downloaded, they messed up with the file names, so the cab you would expect to use isn't the one to use - however, if you use active sync, it installs without any problems directly from the PC.

Like TomTom, WinFast Navigator needs to be configured to connect to the GPS unit.
Open Winfast Navigator ('Navigator' in Start menu - it installs there rather than to the Programs folder).

Set port:
Tools | Port Setting... |
GPS Protocol: NMEA
Port: Select whichever you use for TomTom
BaudRate: Select whichever you use for TomTom
OK

For MIO168 this will be:
Tools | Port Setting... | GPS Protocol | NMEA | Port | Serial2 COM2: | BaudRate | 4800 | OK

View | Development

Connect to GPS
Either, first icon next to 'View' on the toolbar OR
Tools | Connect (when connected, it will say Disconnect)

It should start filling the screen with data.

View | Singal Level (Signal!) | And wait for a fix
Screen will display all the satellites which should be in view, as a fix is obtained, they will first turn blue, then spread out, then selected ones will turn green. When you have 3 or more at green,you have a satellite fix (May take sone time, even up to 30 minutes (typically less than 5-10) the first time you use it, or after it has not been used for some time, or you have moved some distance after it was last turned off)

When you have a fix:

Disconnect:
Either, first icon next to 'View' on the toolbar OR
Tools | Disconnect (when disconnected, it will say Connect)

It is essential to disconnect, because if you don't the GPS signal will not be available for other applications (ie TomTom) to use.

If you have confirmed that you are getting a fix (ie green satellites) and are still having problems with TomTom, Go back to Winfast Navigator, and Connect (as above) then Tools | Command | Initialize (this screen should be the one presented so will not need to be selected) | Ensure that the Factory button in reset mode is selected then press OK and try again.

mikealder · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:24 pm Post subject:

Go to the GPS set-up page and select the GPS TAB the top drop down box needs to be set to NMEA0183v2 4800 (although I seem to remember some later devices were shiped using 9600, so if the rest of this fails try the higher speed).
Second dropdown box needs to be set to select your inbiult GPS receiver "Serial Cable on SP2" sounds about right.
Once you have these values selected make sure you tick the grey/ Blue box top left, then return to the "Status" tab and see if the information is flowing, look at the two icons on the midle right of the screen, one depicts a sat dish the other a PDA, the dotted lines between the two should be animated, if they are take it outside and wait for a position fix - Mike

Border_Collie · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:04 pm Post subject:

Just to add to Neil01's advice.

When setting Tools | Port Setting, select 57600 as the Baud Rate.

If click on the second icon at the bottom, two chasing arrows, Winfast will select the baud rate for you.
_________________
Formerly known as Lost_Property
And NO that's NOT me in the Avatar.

neil01 · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject:

Border_Collie · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 7:13 pm Post subject:

Achilles2K · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 02, 2006 Posts: 8

I knew you guys would be able to help. Exclamation

Why can't the manufacturer's just put in some simple instructions. How much effort does it take to put:

Other NMEA GPS receiver
GPS baud rate 4800
Serial Cable on SP2

just as neil01 did Question

I have used those settings and they work FINE. Got action out of the unit as soon as they were entered. Got a lock in anout 90 seconds. :P

I have since tried each of the other baud rates - but none of them give any action at all - the dotted line is just frozen. Put it back to 4800 and it works again.

Not sure of the significance of WinFast - would that give me improved performance:?:

Thanks again for all of your inputs.

Now I just need to figure out how to get the different voices I have heard about. Quite fancy having Yoda giving me directions. Laughing

Cheers all.

mikealder · Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:23 pm Post subject:

Glad to hear you are up and running, leave the Win Fast alone unless you find you need it at some future point, on your device you shouldn't need it to run the software you have.
At the beginning of this thread you mentioned TomTom Navigator version 3 - this cannot support custom voices, they are intended to be used with versions 5 and 6, get used to the new unit and if you find it useful while driving but would like more upto date maps look into TTN5 or TTN6 where you can do more messing around with voices and colour screens etc. Mike

Achilles2K · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 02, 2006 Posts: 8

Thanks for the further advice.

Hope fully it will be of use to some other users. . .

Cheers. :D

neil01 · Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:52 am Post subject: Re: THANKS!

Border_Collie · Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:35 am Post subject:

Achilles2K · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 02, 2006 Posts: 8

I really do appreciate your help with this guys.

It is only good manners to say "Thanks" - I know what you mean about single posters never replying. I managed an IT help desk for a while and rarely got thanks from any users!

Slight aside from original Q. What is the easiest way to get updated maps Question

- I was traveling along the A46 today and according to the screen I was driving through the middle of fields 8O Exclamation

- it was upgraded to dual carriageway and re-routed 18 months ago. ('bout time too). My mapping is obviously out of date.
Cheers,

Nigel

Border_Collie · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 9:01 pm Post subject:

Achilles2K · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 02, 2006 Posts: 8

Thanks.

Home - Newark = LN5 9UT - NG24 2J

Gotta go to work in Milton Keynes now. Back Friday night.

Cheers

Border_Collie · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 1:04 pm Post subject:

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