Bu-303 Sux!

lusen · 01-26-2005, 04:10 PM

Just got to be loud for a bit:
THE BU-303 SUCKS! I can't get any reception either in my beemer or my alfa when placing it in the rear or fron window. It has to be on the fugging roof to work at all, and is it designed to stand the 10 below, snow and generally ****ty weather we've got in Sweden? Nooooooo, of course not. So, which receiver is da ****?
Could someone pass me some cheese with all this whine?

cold_fusion · 01-26-2005, 05:39 PM

Hey, sounds like you're having fun!

Yeah, the BU-303 isn't the best receiver in the world IMO. But if you wish to mount it internally heres a tip. Make sure its on something magnetic, as I believe it uses a magnetic grounding plate to get a better signal (or something like that).

For my situation I had it on the under the back window on the rear shelf and reception was crap, however reading around the GPS signal goes through glass/plastic etc (not metal tho). Fortunately under my plastic rear shelf is a metal shelf (ie the roof of the boot - car is saloon style).

I managed to get the receiver under the plastic shelf and on to the magnetic metal shelf underneath and reception is 10x better, get good locks, tho drops out a couple of times but is generally great! (note the signal is going through the glass, and also the plastic shelf now yet it is still good)

Another way to test it for all BU303 owners is if you have a plastic part of your car outside (like a spoiler) place it on that and see if reception is as good compared to placing on metal part of body.

Maybe this is all crap, but I know mine is better now!

I'd recommend the usb rikaline otherwise as reviews seem constantly good!

Enforcer · 01-26-2005, 05:44 PM

I have it set up on the rear parcel shelf of my beemer with no trouble whatsoever

xBrady · 01-26-2005, 05:52 PM

On the contrary the BUB-303 ROX3RS.

I rarely have problems with mine getting a lock.

Skipjacks · 01-26-2005, 05:53 PM

How strong of a magnet are we talking here?

I've got a few old speaker magnets I could stick on the metal under my Earthmate. (The magnet would be in the trunk but it's field would easily go through the thin shelf the GPS is sitting on.

Is that too much of a magnet? Or are we talking like refrigerator magnets here?

VanMan69 · 01-26-2005, 05:56 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by brady

On the contrary the BUB-303 ROX3RS.

I rarely have problems with mine getting a lock.

Yup...
Only problems I get are in downtown San Francisco.

NiN^_^NiN · 01-26-2005, 06:02 PM

If your windows are tinted it will block GPS reception.

Also if it's in the back window with the defroster directly under it's line of sight to the sky then it wont work either.

Also the BU-303 isn't weather-proof so keep it inside or make it weather-proof

0l33l · 01-26-2005, 06:03 PM

You get what you pay for

I'm happy with my earthmate, but I've used it in the car once, but always had 5 or more sats locked.

old_lou · 01-26-2005, 06:06 PM

Can't even get mine to work in the house (or outside on a laptop) think its going back to seller (again) third time lucky.

Chairboy · 01-26-2005, 06:14 PM

My BU-303 roxors. BTW, not working in the house is NORMAL. GPS signals are weak, I have 5 GPS units of different models, and none of them get coverage IN THE HOUSE.

I have my BU-303 mounted under the dash of my Buick. There's only plastic between it and the windshield, and it has great coverage. No defrost wires to mess with the signal either.

old_lou · 01-26-2005, 06:19 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Chairboy

My BU-303 roxors. BTW, not working in the house is NORMAL. GPS signals are weak, I have 5 GPS units of different models, and none of them get coverage IN THE HOUSE.

I have my BU-303 mounted under the dash of my Buick. There's only plastic between it and the windshield, and it has great coverage. No defrost wires to mess with the signal either.

Yes I know but I would expect it to at least get a couple of signals, even tried hanging out of the window by my toenails. Failing that a laptop in the garden should get something. all I get is one fix that keeps changing number

Chairboy · 01-26-2005, 06:25 PM

Well, then I guess the rest of us must be crazy and you're the only sane one, because it works great for almost all of us.

xBrady · 01-26-2005, 06:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Chairboy

Well, then I guess the rest of us must be crazy and you're the only sane one, because it works great for almost all of us.

I always knew there was something wrong with me.

old_lou · 01-26-2005, 06:39 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Chairboy

Well, then I guess the rest of us must be crazy and you're the only sane one, because it works great for almost all of us.

Do you mean it will not work on a laptop in the garden and that I have to wait till its mobile in a car. Or should I get something in the garden on a laptop??
Don't expect a lot in the house, thats why I had a friend test it outside both here and in his garden with the same result.(I don't have a laptop, or at least one with usb)

Chairboy · 01-26-2005, 06:42 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by old_lou

Do you mean it will not work on a laptop in the garden and I have to wait till its a mobile, or do you mean I should get something in the garden?? Don't expect a lot in the house thats why I had a friend test it outside here and in his garden.(I don't have a laptop, or at least one with usb)

Sorry, my brain exploded halfway through your post. Could you rephrase?