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-- Can't seem to get a fix. Pleae help . . . . (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=12116)

I just got my Magellan GPS today and am not able to get a fix. I was a little suspicious from the beginning because the unit came with a pack of batteries but there were also two different types of batteries in the unit. (?) Anyway, I installed all the software and the updates and maps and all that jazz. I live in Manhattan on a pretty high floor and have no buiildings around me (believe it or not), at least they are all lower. Anyway, I left the unit trying to fix on a location for about two hours. My Visor batteries died and still no fix. I looked up the longitude and latitude for NYC and typed it in. another hour, still no fix. What am I doing wrong here? I was really excited about getting this but what good is it if it can't fix on the satellites? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks/
-Rod

follow up

by the way, i did have the unit outside the window pointing directly at the sky with nothing in between. it kept flashing what appeared to be the same codes over and over. this sucks . . . . . .

assuming that nothing is wrong with your particular unit, you may not have a clear enough view of the sky as you think. if it's sitting outside of a window, your building may still be blocking part of the sky. it would be best if you were on the roof of your building.

in any event, it sounds like your gps should have at least picked up 2 satellites. did it pick up any satellites or are you just not getting a 3D fix?

You said inside the the box there was the pack of batteries and two batteries already INSIDE? the unit? Sounds like the unit was returned because the first person couldn't get it to work. Did I read ur post right?

I would take the unit back and exchange it for a new one. It would appear that the one you have received is not only used but potential defective. I just purchased one this evening. I installed the patch before inserting the module in my prism. I had lock on 4 satellites inside my 2 story brick house in less than 2 minutes. I have only driven a few miles from my house as a test and it maintained a 3d fix the entire time. Good luck.

Frank

I'm in Manhattan 2

Its tough to get a fix sometimes in Manhattan, but if you have a clear sightline to the horizon ou should at least see the Magellan tracking some satellites. It needs solid locks on 3 or 4 satellites fot a 2D or 3d (altitude) lock. Sounds like your unit is defective.

update

thanks for all the advice. it did have batteries inside the unit plus a new pack. that is definitely fishy. anyway, i bought it from palmgear.com and i'm going to call them today and ***** them out.
i did finally get a 3d fix last night at around midnight but have not been able to do so again this morning. if i already got a 3d fix caould the unit still be defective? should i definitely return it? are there certain hours of the day when a 3d fix is surer than at other times? i live in upper manhattan which is pretty high (it's very hilly up here) so my apartment is the equivalent of a super high rise downtown since it is on a hill and i'm on the top floor. i'm thinking if i can't get a fix here can i get one anywhere in manhattan? not that that is where i'll be using it primarily anyway. thanks for all your advice and more would never be disparaged. thanks.

Magellan GPS Possible Solution

I just purchased a magellan companion gps for my visor and had the same trouble getting it lock on, I found after trying for an hour that there is a reset button on the back of the GPS. After resetting the gps BAM 3d lock on in under 1 minute. Oh and Tech support was unaware this reset button was even there, nor does my documentation say anything about it.

Magellan/No Fix

One of the things that I noticed was installing the batteries. The springs in the bat compartment are on the same side, which would lead one to believe that the batteries install in the same direction. WRONG,,, follow the diagrams on the plastic bottom and you will see that they install opposite. Should work, mine did. I guess I got in too much of a hurry, like most everyone else, getting it up and running. After "reading the directions", (I hate it when you have to do that} it works pretty good so far. Now, if I can just figure out the manual.......

good luck
iceman99

My fix for magellan problems

I just purchased a magellan gps for my visor deluxe and was not able to get a fix. I popped the gps into another visor (2mb) and it got a fix indoors in under 45 seconds. Called magellan and they said it was due to a radio frequency issue in the first generation of Visor DX and that I should call Visor for a replacement. After being on hold with Visor for approx 20 minutes, Visor agreed to send me a replacement unit with in 3-5 days. I had to provide them with a credit card in order to guarentee that I would send the thing back.

I understand the radio frequency issued has affected several other handspring modules as well.