Interference from metal hips and knees

hips-n-knees · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 23, 2012 Posts: 6

I have a TomTom and a Binatone which both work perfectly well when I'm not in the car which is not much use when I need to find my way somewhere. I have had both hips and one knee replaced so far and my metal work interferes with the sat navs (and the TV reception at home!). Does anyone know of any sat navs that have strong(er) signals, or whatever it is they need to have to work properly when I'm in the car!! Thanks.

MaFt · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:59 pm Post subject:

If they both work perfectly well when not in the car then it can't be your personal metal-work causing the issue - if it was then they would not work when out of the car?

What car do you drive? Does it have an athermic windscreen (look's purple through UV glasses)? What model Binatone & TomTom are they?

Some of the older satnavs struggle with athermic windscreens and may require an external GPS aerial. Newer devices will have more sensitive GPS chips so can cope quite well with the reduced signal caused by the windscreen.

MaFt

PaulB2005 · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:34 am Post subject:

Have you tried them in someone else's car?

M8TJT · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:39 am Post subject:

hips-n-knees · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 23, 2012 Posts: 6

Thanks for your reply. They work wherever I'm not!! They work in both our cars as long as I'm not in the car as well! They also work out of the cars as long as I'm not near them. I cause havoc with the TV reception upstairs in our house, where portable aerials are used but downstairs where mains aerials are used everything is fine which is why I feel I need a sat nav with a stronger signal. I drive a Citroen C4 Grand Picasso - does that have an athermic windscreen? My husband drives a Citroen C1.

hips-n-knees · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 23, 2012 Posts: 6

Thanks for your reply. They both work fine in my car and in my husband's car as long as I'm not in the car as well :-(

Darren · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:13 am Post subject:

It's all rather bizarre. I can think of no reason why your artificial joints should have any affect. I've a nail through my femur and a lod of metalwork around the base of my spine and they've never affected GPS.

Without prying, can I ask if you have a pacemaker or an electronic hearing aid?
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Darren Griffin

hips-n-knees · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 23, 2012 Posts: 6

Hello again, no, no pacemaker or hearing aid, just plenty of metal!! Are any sat navs known for 'stronger signal' or do I just need to abandon the idea?

Darren · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 11:56 am Post subject:

I don't think you've answered with what devices you have? Citroen's do have Athermic windscreens and so older devices will have trouble with satellite reception in these vehicles. Newer devices should not be affected by Athermic windscreens.

What models are your TomTom and Binatone Satnavs?
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Darren Griffin

hips-n-knees · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 23, 2012 Posts: 6

TomTom One XL, TomTom XL IQ and Binatone G430. It can't be the windscreen though as they work perfectly when my husband uses them without me in the car :-(

Darren · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:54 pm Post subject:

Those devices are modern and, as you have said, they work perfectly in the same car when you're not in it, so they're not the issue.

It's bizarre I agree. I can't see why an artificial hip or knee joint should affect things but that doesn't help your issue. Wish I could be more help!
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Darren Griffin

hips-n-knees · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 23, 2012 Posts: 6

Thanks anyway, it was worth enquiring just in case there is a 'better' sat nav available that might battle with my metal. Next I think I'll have to try a smartphone with navigation and see if that's any good, or failing that, try and be better at remembering how to get to places!!!

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