XDA II and GPS

[maccboy]

Hi
I'm having problems with my XDAII and TomTom Navigator 2. I'm using a Leadtek GPS receiver but it's taking ages to fix a position - if at all. The GPS monitor displays the time (in little writing) within seconds, which tells me that it's made contact (I reckon!) but sometimes a fix can take 30 minutes. Am I missing something? Another problem is that I'm getting the sound that is played when you disconnect from Active Sync when I load up TomTom. I don't know if this is because there is no GPS connected at the time or some other reason.
Thanks for reading this!

[EastExpert]

It looks to me that you only have one problem, and that problem is slow fix. (TomTom plays a short sound normally when it RECEIVES the fix. Or finds that the fix was already obtained.)

Normally it's unlucky receiver position that is guilty of your slow fix. Or there is not enough sensitivity in your unit.

Open locations like big car parks, with clear sky & no trees or leaves overhead, normally guarantee a fix within 1 minute (in fact my current unit fixes sometimes in 10 seconds on these locations). Once the fix has been obtained the first time, subsequent fixing is way faster (I think it happens because the GPS receiver roughly knows where to start searching for satellites and so it takes less time). It makes sense to wait a bit before starting moving (1 minute or so) so the fix is more stable.

Your GPS receiver might also support an add-on antenna, which with my old Compact Flash format receiver looked like a rhombic piece about ¾ x ¾" with a lead, - you plug it into your receiver and it dramatically improves the reception quality and therefore shortens the fix time.

When I sit in my car, I just put the unit on the dashboard, while I'm buckling the seatbelts and preparing to move it usually gets the fix. I wait for some time if it wasn't quick enough, letting it "remember" where the satellites are, and then drop it down into cup holder where it fits snuggly and continues the reception during the trip.

[maccboy]

Thanks for your reply. I'm new to GPS! :( This morning it took 25 minutes to get a fix. I was on the M6, in the open country, and my receiver is positioned right at the front of my car at the bottom of my sloping windscreen. I don't understand why it takes so long. DOes it take longer if you're on the move, as opposed to stationary?
Do you think the 'disconnecting' sound is normal? Does your setup do the same?
Cheers.

[wilesd]

Couple of quick things spring to mind.

Check your car hasn't got a reflective windscreen. some of the newer cars do have, if yours does you'll have to get an external antenna or pop the receiver on the roof.

Also check in TomTom GPS that you have the right kkind of recever selected?

[cruisin-thru]

The way to find out if your screen is blocking signal is to put the gps outside the car then see if the signal is required quicker, some gps can take an inordinately long time for first fix but then retains the data to enable quick fix next time, if the windscreen isnt the problem it maybe that your gps has a problem with retaining this info.