Satmap - Faulty on delivery?

Dave_the_Hiker · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 13, 2008 Posts: 48

Hi,

After reading many good reports off the SATMAP on this forum I finally decided to buy one.

The SATMAP was delivered yesterday (13/1/09) and after unpacking it the first thing I did was update the firmware to v1.3

On switching on and positioning myself in the middle of a large field the unit took 22 minutes to establish satellite lock. I was a bit concerned about the length of time it look but am aware that there is a lot of data transmitted from the satellites initially. I then switched the unit off and got ready for a walk. Five minutes later I again switched the unit on and this time it took 7 minutes to obtain lock. I was now more concerned as I was again in the middle of a field with a clear view of the sky in all directions. The unit held lock for the next two hours and performed as expected.

This morning, twelve hours after last using it, the SATMAP took 18 minutes to lock; again with me stationary in the middle of the same field. I doubt it would ever lock if I was in a built up area.

Do I have a faulty unit? SATMAP seem to think so and have asked me to send it to them for replacement.

At the moment I am more inclined to ask for a refund. My Garmin Vista HCx always locks within 40 seconds in the same field and is supposed to have an inferior chipset.

Can I ask users how long their units take to lock? I would think anything longer than 3 minutes or so is unacceptable. Even at my advanced age it doesn’t take me 18 minutes to get my boots on!

johntw669 · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 4:50 pm Post subject:

Hi Dave,
Well mine's never taken anything like 3 minutes outside to achieve lock.
It's usually less than 1 minute (it takes longer indoors).
John W

Dave_the_Hiker · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 13, 2008 Posts: 48

robs1972 · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject:

I've used mine for over a year now and have never really had any problems with getting a signal in open areas. I tend to turn mine on 50-150 miles away from where I last turned it off with a signal obtained by the time the map title page has loaded.....once in a while I have managed to cycle 2 or 3 miles (turned on for the first time of the day in Cheltenham) before it has found a signal but not something I've worried about.....maybe as I turn it on whilst on the move.
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Dave_the_Hiker · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 13, 2008 Posts: 48

Even the latest Garmin and Tomtom units can take a long time to lock if you are on the move. I've always found it best to obtain lock before moving.

I'm pretty sure the Satmap is faulty as "the field" is 125 metres asl on top of a hill in the North Downs and it couldn't have a better view of the sky.

terry8 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 03, 2005 Posts: 44

Hi Dave I like you had mine delivered Tues am. It took 6 mins for the initial lock on, and approx 3 mins thereafter and that is indoors. You have certainly got a faulty one unfortunately. Used mine extensively today and they are certainly the "mutts nuts"

Terry

rickwiggans · Lifetime Member Joined: Feb 09, 2006 Posts: 77

Mine's 3 or 4 minutes generally. I fairly reliably get a fix in 5 minutes even inside my office, so generally I'm very pleased with the unit. Not quite as snappy as my Garmin units, but far superior in most other aspects.

Rick

Bosun · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:41 pm Post subject:

I have occasionally found that the red "no satellites" cross has been visible for a while if I inadvertently start the unit showing the Planning screen.

If I then change to the Map screen it immediately shows a satellite lock as if it has been there all the time.

Whether this is intentional or not I don't know.

Ian

Dave_the_Hiker · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 13, 2008 Posts: 48

Hi,

I have just had this response from Satmap. I don't know what it means but I have returned it for tuning!

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Hi David,

If your unit is faulty we will quite happily replace it, however I very much doubt that it is faulty, the antenna just needs tuning, this happens in about 2 of 50 new units. It is because they are made in China and are tested on “artificial” UK signals.

Many thanks,

Lewis Price

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If the unit has to be returned for "tuning" then I think most people would regard the unit as "faulty"

If 4% of units need to be returned for "tuning" then they need to improve their testing/quality control.

Dave

Bosun · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:36 pm Post subject:

I may be shot down in flames for this,but wouldn't Chinese GPS signals be much the same as UK ones,so if they were using "artificial" signals produced,I presume,from some sort of signal generator wouldn't Chinese and UK signals be the same ?

Ian

Darren · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 10:36 pm Post subject:

They may well be tested on simulated GPS signals but a GPS signal is a GPS signal so the reference to 'UK Signals' is just BS!
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Darren Griffin

Dave_the_Hiker · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 13, 2008 Posts: 48

What they are really saying is that their final testing is lousy.

All GPSs should work equally well wherever they are located in the world provided they have an unobstructed view of the satellites. You all appear to have a better understanding of GPS technology than Satmap.

I have no doubt that the antenna may require some tuning but it will be the same wherever in the world the GPS is located. I suspect that a lot of Satmaps out there could perform a lot better if they were properly tuned.

Dave

robs1972 · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 11:11 pm Post subject:

Can it be tuned with a hammer?
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I like mapping, I like mapping, I like mapping and I like to map!

Dave_the_Hiker · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 13, 2008 Posts: 48

I thing Satmap the company need tuning with the hammer!

mooza · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 15, 2009 Posts: 1

Hi Dave

I've had exactly the same experience as you. Similar sorts of lock times. I returned it to the seller for a refund, but they're playing silly

insisting there's no problem with it. I contacted Satmap who sent me a response of the "wow that sounds really strange" kind, and tried to suggest I was holding it wrong, when the web seems to be full of complaints like this. They obviously know there's a problem with the device.

Let us know how you get on with the replaced device.

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