IG vs MM SAT locks

**mike-e-mon** · 10-05-2005, 09:56 AM

Hello,

In my setup I'm using the MS re-branded pharos 360. With MM my average number of sat locks is 7-9, where IG is 2-5. This morning on the way to work I ran IG for 40 minuets and it locked on 2-3 sats, switched to MM 8 sat locked. Anyone know what gives?

Mike

**PURDooM** · 10-05-2005, 10:33 AM

As far as I know the sat count in IG and MM is just based off of the output stream your GPS makes. So the sat count is just an indicator of how things are going with your GPS reciever.

There should be no difference between the usability of the signal in both programs regardless of what it reports for sat count.

**mike-e-mon** · 10-05-2005, 11:05 AM

I left out the fact that I'm using the GPS driver from the M$ Streets and Trips CD. I'm going to try the USB to Serial PL 2303 driver to see if that helps.

Mike

**mike-e-mon** · 10-05-2005, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by mike-e-mon

I left out the fact that I'm using the GPS driver from the M$ Streets and Trips CD. I'm going to try the USB to Serial PL 2303 driver to see if that helps.

Mike

The PL 2303 driver didn't change anything. PURDooM, I was also under the impression that the GPS HW determined the number of SAT locks. But there is definitely a difference in the number of SAT locks between MM and IG, in my system anyway. Does anyone else see this as well?

**mike-e-mon** · 10-06-2005, 12:35 PM

Today I tried using Xport3, to run MM and IG at the same time. Again MM got 7 sat locks and IG had 1-2 sat locks. Do any of you know if their is a log file or something that might shown what's going on in IG? Have any of you tried the MS GPS with MM and IG, have you had this problem or not?

Mike

**MatrixPC** · 10-06-2005, 12:43 PM

It's doesn't matter how many sats each programs count.
What matter is when one work and the other is NOT.
Try it out to see what going on.

**mike-e-mon** · 10-06-2005, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by MatrixPC

It's doesn't matter how many sats each programs count.
What matter is when one work and the other is NOT.
Try it out to see what going on.

It does matter, IG and MM won't show your location on the map if you have less then 3 sats locked. Most of the time IG just sits showing that red arrow and does nothing for ten minutes at a time. Once in a while I get enough sats to lock and it will eventually update my position on the map. I would prefer to use IG, that's why this is bugging me so much.

Mike

**mike-e-mon** · 10-11-2005, 11:36 AM

OK this is the route I choose; Earthmate not weatherproof need help

Now the M$ GPS receiver is now mounted on the top of my trunk. The surprising thing is that MM was not affected at all, 7-9 sats locked. IG on the other hand now gets 6-8 sats locked. I've been using it for the past four days in the rain and it's still working well. I also took the time to add a magnet to the base of the M$ GPS, which in my opinion is a must.

Mike

**ddn** · 10-11-2005, 04:36 PM

Thats pretty wierd. I'm with everyone who says it shouldnt make any difference what software is running, the output from the GPS is the same. I wonder if this is in some perverse way related to my iGuidance crashing problem.