GPS Mouse woes

cadence117 · 07-01-2004, 03:44 PM

So my carputer is great in every way possible....
except GPS

My carputer has only been running for 3 days, and i have only actually locked onto a sattelites 2 times and after about 40 minutes of driving.

I have the Uic Mate G-mouse (2nd one down) running with routis.

The software finds the GPS device and scans for sattelites... finding but never locking onto 6-12 sattelites. The GPS mouse is currently wedged right under the back window of my Subaru Impreza.. and i still get jack for results.

Should I try to take it out of its plastic encasing and put it under the window?
Or extend the wire so that I can stick the device outside of my car... or in the front windshield?
Or just what else?

dodgetimes2 · 07-01-2004, 03:52 PM

Sounds like you've got one of the cars that has glass that the GPS has a problem getting a signal through. Ideally GPS receivers should be on the outside of the vehicle on the roof (atleast that's how all the OEM factory units are).

b_nom · 07-01-2004, 03:57 PM

My brother's GPS mouse wouldn't lock when it was in the back, I had to move it to the front, and according to deluo:
Dense objects such as metals and concrete will block the GPS satellites and create shadows devoid of any GPS signal. Metalic car roofs, struts that hold up the roof, wiper blades, etc. can precent your GPS from getting a good reception. Reflective windshields and some tinting can also prevent your GPS from seeing the satellites above.

stevieg · 07-01-2004, 04:09 PM

Have you tried testing it outside the car? I.e. on your drive with the GPS sitting outside your car door or something - try that and leave it for at least 20 minutes to make sure it gets it's head in gear, some of them have a long warm-up time.

Also, heated windscreens/rear windows can cause problems, for example, I have mine mounted in the corner of the windscreen - but the front windscreen is heated and GPS won't work except in the far corners where it's not heated.

contrary to what dodgetimes2 says, not all factory fitted GPS receivers are on the roof - I chose my position based on where the Ford technical manual (workshop manual) says the factory GPS unit should be positioned - hence why they don't heat the windscreen in the corners for that model - the only difference being mine is on top of the dashboard while they fit theirs under the plastic.

cadence117 · 07-01-2004, 05:23 PM

alright I moved it outside, and will report back...
In the meantime, is it possible that the unit is over heating from direct sunlight.
Or...it has been cloudy the last 3 days... does that affect the signal?

stevieg · 07-01-2004, 05:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by cadence117

alright I moved it outside, and will report back...
In the meantime, is it possible that the unit is over heating from direct sunlight.
Or...it has been cloudy the last 3 days... does that affect the signal?

I can confirm I've had problems picking up sats on cloudy days, mainly near tall buildings.

I've had mine (BU-303) working in direct sunlight (on the roof) in the past for weeks, on some very hot days

NaFooEsi · 07-01-2004, 05:47 PM

Would you be able to tell if you get a lock from the gps mouse unit? (like a LED light indicator?)

Have you tried to turn off the lilliput lcd screen and see if you can get a lock?

My lcd screen is creating interference with my gps signals -> check the other thread I posted.

Almost a Ghost · 07-01-2004, 05:57 PM

Cadence117, I don'tk now about your model impreza, but my back window has the defroster, which is more or less a copper net.

dodgetimes2 · 07-01-2004, 11:01 PM

Stevieg, I should have said MOST factory GPS receivers are on the roof. I say this because all the ones I've seen (here in the states) are on the roof, and here the Ford Focus isn't even available with a factory GPS so I haven't seen one with a GPS system. Just curious as to why you moved yours from outside on the roof to inside on the dash?

Nevermind I just found this post of yours http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...92&postcount=4

I guess not all GPS mice are waterproof

cadence117 · 07-01-2004, 11:02 PM

yeah, it was the de-froster.

but now i do have a wire running through my window up to my roof......

Is there any clean/stock way of getting it to the roof?

dodgetimes2 · 07-01-2004, 11:16 PM

You could feed the wire through the trunklids weatherstripping, and mount the GPS to the trunklid (I've noticed the the Hertz Neverlost GPS receivers seem to be on the trunklid most of the time). Drilling a hole in the roof and siliconing the hole would be the only way I could think of to get the wire to the roof (unless you're car is a hatchback).

stevieg · 07-02-2004, 06:37 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by dodgetimes2

Stevieg, I should have said MOST factory GPS receivers are on the roof. I say this because all the ones I've seen (here in the states) are on the roof, and here the Ford Focus isn't even available with a factory GPS so I haven't seen one with a GPS system. Just curious as to why you moved yours from outside on the roof to inside on the dash?

Nevermind I just found this post of yours http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...92&postcount=4

I guess not all GPS mice are waterproof

Yeah the water ^ and thought it might get robbed

yuprules · 07-02-2004, 01:42 PM

Or you could do the lazy way...get an extension cord and get the GPS to the front windsheild

cadence117 · 07-13-2004, 03:22 PM

If I run the wire through the trunks weatherstripping,
won't it leak water into my trunk because i'm breaking the seal?

Is there any other way to mount it?

MrSpace · 07-13-2004, 03:53 PM

[quote=dodgetimes2] factory GPS receivers are on the roof. I say this because all the ones I've seen (here in the states) are on the roof,[quote]

hum, if you SAW them, that's because they are visible.

In mercedes, you can get the antenna in the C-Pillar, where you don't even know they have a GPS there

Etienne