External GPS Antenna

[demione]

My Artemis did not come with an external GPS antenna. I've been looking online, but I can't find any sort of specification as to what kind of connector this external GPA antenna jack uses. What kind of antenna should I buy?

[zerimar]

The Artemis has a built-in Sirf III GPS antena which work even with cars having a reflective windshield.

[demione]

Yes, thank you. I would still like an external antenna just in case.

[Realflo]

in the Premium version, I bought, there was an external GPS-antenna included.
It has a very long cable.

But sorry, I can't tell you, what kind of connector it has.

[mikealder]

If you really think you need an external aerial for the GPS unit in your device (which I doubt to be honest) have a search for the part number 36H00352-00M it transpires that the same aerial was supplied for the I-Mate PDA-n, you can purchase one from http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=129590 (at least I can improve the reception on my PDA-n now I know that! and I have found a use for the external GPS aerial that was supplied with my Arte) - Mike

[PavelR.]

... there is one also available here (http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/product_details.php?id=5887).

PavelR.

[AD10]

I was thinking of this as well.
It may be necessary to get an ext antenae, because it takes a about 1 - 5 minutes sometimes for the handset to pick up (or connect as it shows in grey) a GPS signal

[victoradjei]

I was thinking of this as well.
It may be necessary to get an ext antenae, because it takes a about 1 - 5 minutes sometimes for the handset to pick up (or connect as it shows in grey) a GPS signal

Try the new update of Navigator 6 on the TomTom site before buying. Maybe there is some goodies there:)

[Longhair]

I upgraded to the 6.03 and it still takes a very long time for it to get a valid signal.

I inquired about HTC P3300 external antenna GPS signal booster (http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/product_details.php?id=5887) but they are out of stock and have no ETA when they are going to get them in.

Anybody have a source on where to get the above product from?

[Camstech]

The HTC 3300 uses the same external aerial as i-Mate PDA-n. I got mine through Expansys. It really boosts the signal, but makes no real difference to TTFF. It is much better in the concrete jungle though.

[jdl1306]

How much from Expansys? I'm in melb too so AUD is no problem for me. My last city trip saw signal drop out nicely! :(

good thing i was testing and knew where i was going!

[AD10]

How much from Expansys? I'm in melb too so AUD is no problem for me. My last city trip saw signal drop out nicely! :(

good thing i was testing and knew where i was going!


WOW - Lucky you.
Imagine nto knowing your way.


@Camstech - How long does it take before you get a valid GPS signal with the ext antenna connected ?

Rgds

[Hiznibz54]

Hi. Having used an Exec running the same version of CoPilot, but with a Holux GPSlim 236 BT, the Orbit is definitely slower to TTFF, and sometimes gets a little 'lost'. For a few seconds, it will jump to a street maybe a 100m away, then come back, and recalculate the route again. I feel that an aerial might just improve matters a bit. I have read the previous posts, and am still finding great difficulty in finding an external aerial to fit the Orbit. O2 have no information at all, and when I've contacted the suppliers listed above, they have all said that they don't carry aerials that fit. One suggested that they suspect that the connector for the Orbit is now actually different from the original Artemis - although that seems rather unlikely. Have now tried MMCX, MCX,and lastly SSMB - none of which fit. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[Philip]

Have now tried MMCX, MCX,and lastly SSMB - none of which fitAccording to http://www.gpsforless.co.uk/product_details.php?id=5887 it's a mini-MMCX.

[Hiznibz54]

Yes, I know, but when I rang them today, they were the ones who said that it wasn't the MMCX, that the O2 may be now different from the Artemis, and they had been asked quite a few times for a suitable aerial, but they definitely didn't have anything that fitted, nor did they know what it was.. The plot thickens.. The connector looks exactly the same as in the phone socket beside it, but a few phone companies I've shown it to don't know either.

[Longhair]

I just picked up a BT-359W Bluetooth GPS Receiver (http://www.globalsat.com.tw/eng/product_detail_00000076.htm) for 85- Euro new.

The only difference between the BT-359W & BT-359S is the design on the top.

I made sure the battery was 100% charged before I turned it on (old habits die hard) and after spending 5-10 minutes trying to configure the Bluetooth on the HTC P3300 - I am a newbie when it comes to this new technology - it was able to get 3 satellites while I was in the house right away.

The thing is very small also - 82 mm x 41 mm x 13.4 mm (Inches: 3.22" x 1.61" x 0.52").

I would have to say that this is a great alternative to a wired antenna.

Here is a review I read before making my final decision: GlobalSat BT-359 Bluetooth GPS receiver review (http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/globalsat-bt-359-gps-review.php)

[Hiznibz54]

I tried my BT Holux GPSlim 236, which I'd previously used with my XDA Exec, with the Orbit. It paired up automatically in about 20 secs, and the reception, and TTFF is MUCH better. Without 236, in my office, I was struggling to get more than 4 satellites, and a fix was at least 5 mins. Admittedly this was deliberately in a poor reception area. Swapping to the 236, by the time it had registered with the Orbit - as I said, only about 20 seconds - when I checked satellite status, it had already found 11, and had a 3D fix!! I had hoped for the simple life, with just the Orbit in an active car cradle, but I think if I can't get a simple plug-in aerial, it'll have to be back to the BT 236, and its charger.