The reason you see the impressive time to first fix is that the unit uses A-GPS (Assisted GPS).
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Laptop GPS World
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The reason you see the impressive time to first fix is that the unit uses A-GPS (Assisted GPS).
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Laptop GPS World
I have one of these as well...and I'm not sure what the deal is ( I think it's defective actually), but it has a REALLY hard time getting a satellite fix in my car. In the front windshield, it works ok, anywhere else results in no sats at all. Even in the garage, nothing. And when it runs dead and the pc comes back on, the 818x will turn charge enough to turn on and then shut back off when the battery is drained. Does this continually until it has a good charge...which makes it next to useless to just jump in enter a destination and drive.
So I ordered a Canmore 730f to tide me over until I get a replacement. Come to find out...if you download the software from Canmore themselves...you can not only set the serial port baudrate all the way up to 230k...but you can set the position update rate from 1-10hz. I thought it couldn't possibly be true...but at 10hz the nmea data going by is just a blur and setting the update rate to a slower speed shows a slower speed of nmea data scrolling. So apparently it does do faster rates than 1hz.
The other thing I noticed in Canmore's software looked like the option to update the firmware on the gps receiver. Haven't seen that on other ones.
I paid $25 w/free shipping. Bought a second one since it was cheap and worked good. Going to use it in my wife's setup.
Does your vehicle have tinted windows? Mine does...and what's strange is that it worked FLAWLESSLY when I lived in Missouri. I had a globaltop g33 bluetooth that sat on the back speaker deck and then this 818x and both worked like champs. We moved to Houston and a few short months after, neither one will pick up on the rear speaker deck anymore, but pick up fine on the dash under the windshield or outside the car. Bizarre.
The bad performance is likely due to the metallic content in your tinted windows. An external GPS unit, such as BU-353, or another GPS you could mount outside of your vehicle, would likely perform considerably better.Quote:
it has a REALLY hard time getting a satellite fix in my car. In the front windshield, it works ok, anywhere else results in no sats at all.
Are all of your windows tinted? Isn't there at least a small area somewhere without tint? Some times there is a small area with no tint behind the rear view mirror, but I'm not sure if you could mount your existing receiver there easily, or if it would perform well in that location.
Actually...no, there is NO small places they're not tinted. The place that did the tinting for the dealer did a VERY good job of it. They removed the rear speaker deck and from top to bottom there is solid tint, no break or bubbles or lines of any sort. Same with the doors - they removed the panels and got the tint from top to bottom of the glass. Looks factory.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac
I've seen the bit about metallic content however what puzzles me is the fact that it worked for over a year up in Missouri. A few short months after moving to Houston is when it stopped working.
I'd say that other than the possible issue with window tints...the 818x is a very good unit ;) (except that mine seems defective with the power issue)
Then I'd say it's not the tint. Try to exchange the unit, if still under warranty.Quote:
it worked for over a year up in Missouri. A few short months after moving to Houston is when it stopped working.
yep, still under warranty...but it does it with the globaltop g33 too. Works fine up front under the windshield, nothing anywhere else. It's the most bizarre problem...especially when I've used GPS recievers on the rear speaker deck for 2 years in Missouri...but I'm not about to drive 13 hours back to where I used to live just to test it ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac
another good thing about the qstarz 818x, never have to manually turn it on if left on will stay on or turn on when power is restored if the battery died. best feature of all is no XPORT needed! I use the USB as one com port and bluetooth com port as another, both work flawlessly together without any use of port splitters :)
using it with windows 7 as well, RR old front end files with new exe's and new winamp working great
could someone please confirm that this unit DOES power on automatically when connected via USB even if the battery is dead (i.e. has not been used in several days). i bought the q890 and it does NOT do this, requiring me to manually switch it on. thanks!
yes its automatic, auto power up at 5hz too, it's a keeper!
i keep the usb connected for charging and it creates 1 com port, then i link the bluetooth to the computer and create the 2nd port, now the gps sends the signal to 2 ports without the use of xport, its a great device :)
Mine apparently doesn't work as well as Tracker64's. Mine will turn on...but then turn off again until the battery is charged just enough to turn on...and then shuts off when the battery is out of juice...and the cycle continues.
Not quite sure why it does that....design flaw maybe? It's not connected directly to the MB header, but to a powered hub...I suppose that could be why...but if the hub is powered (in theory) then it should get the same amount of power it would get straight from the MB header...so I dunno.
It is definately a good unit though...I highly recommend despite the power issue I have with it. It's super sensitive.