Yet another BU 303 issue

G-Han · 10-02-2004, 12:46 AM

hey guys i just bought the 303 off ebay and i cant seem to get a lock.

ive got the gps info software open, ive selected the right com port

When i start the gps, i get a whole bunch of writing, but when i go to look at the satelites they are all either aligned in a nice straight line or they are all sittin in the same spot. Plus, the led light is always on, not flashing

im in sydney, and it is fairly cloudy

could this be the reason im gettin no lock?

cheers fellahs

xBrady · 10-02-2004, 01:26 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by G-Han

hey guys i just bought the 303 off ebay and i cant seem to get a lock.

ive got the gps info software open, ive selected the right com port

When i start the gps, i get a whole bunch of writing, but when i go to look at the satelites they are all either aligned in a nice straight line or they are all sittin in the same spot. Plus, the led light is always on, not flashing

im in sydney, and it is fairly cloudy

could this be the reason im gettin no lock?

cheers fellahs

My light never blinks, don't think it is supposed to. The writing that comes up is supposed to be there and that program that comes with it sucks so the best thing to do is try it with some GPS software.

carpcnoobie · 10-02-2004, 02:10 AM

Dumb question, but the mouse has a clear view of the sky, I'm assuming? Try attaching it to the outside of a car, pointing up. That should really help you get a lock. I remember the first time I started mine it didn't get a lock for a long time. Now it's very quick and gets four sats sitting in the window of my apartment.

BTW, the BU-303 is supposed to blink when it has a lock.

SAScooby · 10-02-2004, 03:06 AM

If i watch my unit, the light flashes when acquiring a signal, steady when on, if in a garage or so, the light flashes all the time, i think you need to put in a place with an unobscured view of the sky and go have a beer while it acquires its bearings, mine took about five minutes to sort itself out, use the gps info software to force a cold start and leave it for a while

faichiu · 10-02-2004, 07:26 AM

What OS are u using? Have u updated to lastest serivce pack?

stevieg · 10-02-2004, 12:58 PM

I'm assuming you installed the drivers OK hence the bunch of writing, and you're using a supplied utlity to check the operation of the GPS.

To check it works, use it without anything on top of it - not even a windscreen, if you have a car PC handy sit the BU303 on top of the roof and see how many satellite you get. You should in clouds get at least 5

ShawJohn · 10-04-2004, 12:15 PM

Well I have finally found a good location for my BU-303... On top of the luvred blind for the sunroof. Even though my sunroof has like a metal mesh liner on the inside to make it a 50% tint I still get between 5 & 7 sats with a decent lock. Through my windscreeen it will only pick up 3 or 4 and even then loses lock regularly and takes an age to re-aquire. Looking through the sunroof though seems perfect. Only catch is I can't let the sunroof open all the way without slinging the 303 out onto the roof, its not really a hardship, but it will prove costly if I forget and my roof swallows the 303 and rips the cable out of it ;-) Still I don't have to worry about it getting damp any more and I can see the lock LED easily too.

One thing to ensure with the 303 is that the Baud rate is only set at 4800 both in the port setup and in the GPS software. Also check that nothing else is using the com port you've picked.
'Leadtek's Winfast Navigator' is one of the nicest programs I've seen for varifying GPS data reception.

G-Han · 10-05-2004, 04:59 AM

Thanks for the replies guys

i took some of your advice and hung it out the window the other day with clear skies. and i got a lock!
so everything seems to be working fine, its just a matter of moving it around to find the best spot now

thanks again!