Cloud cover?

MP3DUB · 06-12-2003, 12:00 AM

So I've never used anything gps before, and I picked up the new Delorme reciever and sa2003 the other weekend, and finally got in installed this weekend. I've only used it a few times thus far, but the first few seemed to work quite well, full 3d lock, but I went to use it today, and even just sitting still with nothing obstructing my view of the sky, the gps would bounce between 3d lock, 2d, and no lock, and it did this for a good bit of my commute both out and back. I cant remember what the cloud cover was the other times I used it, but there was 100% cloud cover tonight, should that have this much of an effect on gps? or is maybe the unit i have going bad?

Telek · 06-12-2003, 12:11 AM

I'm pretty sure that GPS does not use anything in the 2.4GHz range (which is the range that is suseptible to water molecules)... Considering how GPS is desgined to work globally, it'd be pretty dumb if it wouldn't work through cloud cover, so I doubt that's the problem.

I also doubt that your unit is going bad. Try it again later and see how well it works. Did you do anything differently? What type of receiver do you have exactly?

cproaudio · 06-12-2003, 12:57 AM

He just said it's the new Delome receiver. my experience with bad weather is good and sometimes bad. My Copilot and Garmin both worked with full 3D lock in rain storms in downtown LA. And Copilot is notorius for requiring a full view of the clear sky. I must say that my Garmin is more reliable than the Copilot receiver.

Telek · 06-12-2003, 08:08 AM

Yes, I read the post, which one is the "new Delorme receiver", as I am not familiar with it...

MP3DUB · 06-12-2003, 10:57 AM

Their new Earthmate GPS Reciever. USB and WAAS for $100, which I was much more willing to part with than the $200+ for a gps16+adapters. I'm hooked on gps now tho, i used it to sidestep some traffic by spelunking through some subdivisions last night

. I might just take it back to CompUSSR and exchange it just to be safe. And on my first trip out it was sitting in the front passengers corner of dash, and its now in the middle of the rear shelf.

98_Prelude · 06-12-2003, 05:15 PM

I think the rear windshield defrost traces interfere with your GPS. I tried my GPS (same unit as your) in the back and it never lock.

MP3DUB · 06-12-2003, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 98_Prelude
I think the rear windshield defrost traces interfere with your GPS. I tried my GPS (same unit as your) in the back and it never lock.

WOOOOO! Cookie for you! I ripped it out of the rear and put it back up on the front shelf, and it worked wonderfully. Now I just need to work a powered hub into my dash some how.

Telek · 06-13-2003, 12:49 AM

That's a really good observation! I never had problems with my USB in the rear, but it was right up against the window... Where abouts in respect to the window was your GPS?

Interesting...

98_Prelude · 06-13-2003, 03:06 AM

basically I had it sit near the top-mounted brake light..and very close to the windshield. I wanted to put it there cuz it out of the way and I don't have to use an extension cable, but it never locked. I know that the traces would interfere with it but I didn't realize it that bad. I guess also cuz the radio antenna traces (my car has no external antenna) made it worse.

MP3DUB · 06-13-2003, 12:24 PM

I just had mine sitting on the back shelf, a few inches from the bottom of the window, and probably a foot over from the side of the car. In retrospect, it was also nearish the speaker, so I don't know if that had anything to do with it. Then again, its nearish the speaker in the front dash right now.

edit: this is what the rear of my car looks like in regards to the defroster filaments.

jshrieve · 06-22-2003, 08:32 AM

I have my Garmin GPS35 in the rear window, which has a defroster/radio antenna. in fact, it's inside my rear window brake light (which is sitting on the rear deck, not at the top of the window), and I've never had any locking problems.. but then the Garmin GPS35 can lock from inside my metal trunk..

Anyway, glad to h ear that repositioning it helped ya.

Skraggy_uk · 06-26-2003, 02:33 PM

Wow, you just solved one of my problems. From the rear window to a side window. Now I get 3d lock, and can get routing directions. Excellent.

Lytheum · 06-26-2003, 05:48 PM

Ill have to move mine also then. It works ok in the back window, but notice it will jump back and forth between 2d and 3d

Suprapc · 06-30-2003, 10:59 AM

Mine works in the back as long as it is far away from the glass (metalized tint + defroster strips) if it is like 10 in awy no problem but right up against it no go. I mounted mine external now so no problems at all.

Skraggy_uk · 07-10-2003, 07:40 AM

Mine (Deluo USB) was sitting on the rear shelf, roughly central and a good 12" away from the glass. No joy with a lock.

Once I attaced it with double sided tape and velco to the side window instead. It locked no bother.