Garmin I3 Street Pilot

Sarah1971

Hi,

I've just bought a Garmin Sat Nav and I am having problems with it locating satellites?

I've set up my home page with my post code, but it doesn't seem to want to do anything, I just keep getting the same message "Awaiting Better Accuracy" then it goes onto the screen with the map and it says locating satellites?

I have tried this in the car to on the road and it still doesn't work, any clues?

thanks


Sarah

PierceUK

Most GPS devices need up to 45 Minutes first run to aquire the required satellites to get a good signal, if possible leave on by a window for a while see if it helps.

If not take it back, at my work (Staples) we have had loads of these i3 back with various errors and problems, think that some of them were just built poorly.

Aiadi

Look here for more info:

https://www.pocketgpsworld.com

go to forums then Garmin streetpilot & nuvi thread and read the stickies there to see how much you can do with this little baby.
Hope this helps

C_Ronaldo

id recommend what pierce says,

Woby_Tide

the other possibility is the car has a heated windscreen which is why it still doesn't work once out of the house. If it can't lock after being sat at home (preferably in view of the Southern sky) for a good hour whilst powered up then take it back

Sput2001

We had the same problem...

As mentioned above, bear in mind the following:

1 - It can take quite a while to locate a satellite for the first time - up to an hour. Don't panic, once it's done so, it's much quicker (a minute or two) at picking them up again.

2 - It won't pick up satellites if you're indoors. I know it seems obvious, but they don't tell you this in the instructions! Leave it in your car to acquire a satellite for half an hour/45 minutes and see if that helps.

3 - If you're still stuck, bear in mind that some car windscreens will interfere with it, so you may need an additional aerial or to play around with where you position it.

wobbley

Sarah1971 wrote:

Hi,


I have tried this in the car to on the road and it still doesn't work, any clues?



Sarah

I don't understand that bit ?

I have a Garmin and it locks on in seconds - in my Golf. However if I try using it in my wife's Citroen it does what you describe. It because it's a dashboard mounted GPS and the windscreen has some sort of fine metal mesh in it to heat it. For the 'techies' it has the same effect as a 'Faraday Cage'.

I'm not sure if your dialogue I quoted meant that you had tried it outside the car or not. Try holding the actual unit outside the driver's window (Obviously not as you're driving !) or try it in a different car. It may be the same problem as in my wife's car or it may not. I know that some Peugeots also have the mesh in the windscreen too. If that is the problem then the solution would be an external aerial for the unit - I think they are usually about £20.

Aiadi

External antenna £9.99 here:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/search.aspx?MenuNo=1428&MenuName=GSM%20&%20GPS%20Antenna&FromMenu=y&criteria=GSM%20&%20GPS%20Antenna&doy=17m6&worldid=1

BigAl94

I have a Citroen C5 and the Maplin antenna cured my reception problems. Put it on the rear parcel shelf and concealed the cable easily round the rooftrim.

blinky

That maplin atenna does boost the signal reception significantly. Highly recommended.

The Garmin can take some time to get it's first fix from new. If you leave batteries in it after that it takes a minute or two. Many GPS systems take some time to get their first fix.

italiastar

wobbley wrote:

I don't understand that bit ?

I have a Garmin and it locks on in seconds - in my Golf. However if I try using it in my wife's Citroen it does what you describe. It because it's a dashboard mounted GPS and the windscreen has some sort of fine metal mesh in it to heat it. For the 'techies' it has the same effect as a 'Faraday Cage'.

I'm not sure if your dialogue I quoted meant that you had tried it outside the car or not. Try holding the actual unit outside the driver's window (Obviously not as you're driving !) or try it in a different car. It may be the same problem as in my wife's car or it may not. I know that some Peugeots also have the mesh in the windscreen too. If that is the problem then the solution would be an external aerial for the unit - I think they are usually about £20.

Odd - Mine works fine in our Fabia with a normal screen and Alhambra with the "wired" screen - only problem is, if it's switched off without batteries in it, it takes about 45 minutes to locate satellites, regardless of whether it's in a car or not ??? Any ideas?