Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 24

Magellan GPS Lock?

I am having difficulties getting a lock with the Magellan. Is it better to stand still you get a lock? Or can I just start driving? Any different at night -vs- the day? Any advice would be appreciated.

I have a gotten a lock twice out of about 5 times (waiting 30 minutes each time on the way to or from work), driving the same roads, etc...

Thanks in advance.
Matt

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Mineola, NY USA
Posts: 161

I often turn mine on when I get in the car and start driving. That doesn't seem to negatively effect getting a lock. In fact on an open highway may be better than some enclosed spaces.

30 minutes is way too long. Something is amiss. *Maybe* I'll go 5 minutes sometime. It does seem to take longer if I haven't used it in a while. If I've used it earlier in the day (and am now someplace else entirely) it gets a fix within 30 seconds.

Have you tried the initialization pointing out your approximate location on the map?

__________________
-Michael-

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

My guess is that Cohn has hit the nail on the head. If you don't give the Magellan a hint as to your approximate location at set-up, it takes a long time for it to acquire an initial lock.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 53

vehicle type matters for GPS!

I can get immediate GPS lock when in my Mitsu Eclipse but in my Chevy Venture Van, I have to dangle the GPS out the window to get any response.
I finally figured it out that the Chevy Venture van has a UV block coating sandwiched between its windshield glas and on the side window glass - this effectively blocks signals from many transponders including electronic trolway passes etc!

I wonder if it is possible to constuct some sort of automotive GPS antenna for my Garmin Etrex !!!

bye
AM

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Pembroke,MA
Posts: 307

I place mine on the dashboard while initally driving, then take it off teh dash no more than a couple of minutes later. It has always had a lock. If I keep it in the cupholder, where I normally use it from, and try to get a lock from there, it takes up to 10 minutes to get a lock sometimes.

Once I do the dashboard method, I put it on the cupholder, and it keeps a lock fine... Just don't go around a fast corners with the Visor up there. My wife caught mine the first time that happened. It's never happened since!

Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Hendersonville, TN
Posts: 4

I have owned an old Visor Deluxe for almost 2 years, it took forever to get a fix with it, last Saturday I got a Prism and now I get a fix in about 10 seconds, even when I am inside my house! I knew there was a RF problem with the old Visors, but I thought it just effected things like wireless modems, now I am begining to wonder if it didn't cause me problems with my GPS Companion as well.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Long Beach, CA,USA
Posts: 6

GPS fix

You also might not have downloaded the latest patches from Magellan. I also had a tough time getting a lock until I A) gave it a hint to where I was and B) downloaded the patches and installed them on my Visor.

Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Grass Valley, CA
Posts: 5

Re: Magellan GPS Lock?

quote:

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Originally posted by Codeworks
I am having difficulties getting a lock with the Magellan. Is it better to stand still you get a lock? Or can I just start driving? Any different at night -vs- the day? Any advice would be appreciated.

I have a gotten a lock twice out of about 5 times (waiting 30 minutes each time on the way to or from work), driving the same roads, etc...

Thanks in advance.
Matt

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