Is GPS that great???

nickb23 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 18, 2005 Posts: 25

hi there,
borrowed my friends navman bluetooth gps setup this weekend using tomtom, and noticed it kept on losing gps position. I was in the country driving down lovley lanes with leafy trees either side, but there was also not a cloud in the sky. I also did a little test today, and was walking around covent garden, and not being able to get a lock at all. the sat strength was appearing as gray bars, but could not get a lock at all.
I know that gps can be a bit tempremental, but i did not know it could be this level. As this was my first play with gps, i feel a bit disheartened, as i was expecting a miracle product to stop me getting lost ever again. - Oh and dont get me started on the map inaccuracies!!!!!
Am I being too harsh? Is this new SiRF III chipset that i have seen people mention going to stop this?
I really want to like it and get one myself, but i am now in 2 minds about it.

thanks all

nickb

MikeB · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 5:17 pm Post subject:

Hi Nick

GPS can sometimes be tempremental in cities with tall buildings. The new SiRF III receivers go a long way to help this but will never be perfect when faced with a narrow alleyway and no clear view of the sky.

Having said that the older GPS SiRFII and those with XTrac should still work well certainly down country lanes. The cloud cover is not a factor in the strength of the signal, but the leaf coverage can be. What GPS were you using? Some can be more sensitive than others, but in the years that I have been using GPS I have only rarely had problems, and those were mainly in the early days or in cities where there are lots of small alleys and tall buildings.
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Mike Barrett

nickb23 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 18, 2005 Posts: 25

hi Mike,
thanks for the reply. The unit I believe is the navman 4400 (looking at the ic number). It was also using tomtom software, but it seems to me like a gps issue rather than a software one.

thanks

nickb

MikeB · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 6:20 pm Post subject:

I havent actually used the 4400 myself so cant comment on the sensitivity of the unit. I would be suprised at drop outs just going through leafy lanes though.
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Mike Barrett

icsys · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 7:40 pm Post subject:

My Navman BT receiver seems very sensitive, once it has a healthy lock on several sats it manages to keep it even whilst placed in the centre console pocket of the car.
Even if it should lose the lock, when going under a bridge or heavy foliage, it picks them up again very quickly.

I dont think you have given it the justice it deserves. Borrow it again sometime and give it another chance.
_________________
Ian.
iPAQ 2210 | Navman 4100 BT Receiver
Navman iCN 635
TomTom GO
Anquet OS mapping

Rev-Max · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 27, 2005 Posts: 4

Theres always the trusty A-Z and the missus giving you instructions too late !

Go for it Smile

MikeB · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:13 pm Post subject:

nickb23 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 18, 2005 Posts: 25

thanks guys. I have got it till next weekend, so i will have another play around

Nick

MikeB · Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2005 10:41 pm Post subject:

One tip about getting a fix in the city is to go somewhere reasonably open and let the GPS get a strong fix. It will then be able to retain a fix better when you move to areas of lesser signal strength.
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Mike Barrett

slipknot · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 23, 2005 Posts: 5

Is it worth it??????

I do lots of driving to all parts of the coutry as a truck driver. Apart from a couple of dodgy routings (not good) and addresses which dont show up until you get right by them, it has been a godsend. (Routed me to a street in Garston, Liverpool instead of the city centre street with the same name)... but then I should have checked myself so cant really blame the kit!

The maps have stayed firmly in the bag.... but generally..... never leave your maps at home just in case... always have an idea where u are going.... and if all else fails, revert to the old method... stop and ask

Best £300 ever spent!
_________________
sLiPkNoT
Walk quietly up to a mobile Talivan... poke your head in and say, Oi' mate'!!' Watch the copper bang his head, then walk off laughing. Works every time. ICN610.

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