low GPS sat count

neon_eddy · 04-19-2005, 09:32 AM

Forgive me for posting so much ..

can bundling your cables together cause bad GPS reception?.. or a long run of the USB cable/.. I assume the signial is digital.. either on or off..

I have a pharos 360 (MS Branded) .. I have all my cables wrapped in a spiral plastic wrap.

VGA, 3 USB, remote power line for relay for screen and firewire CD drive, Firewire, might be more I forget..

I'm just trying to figure out if it's just placement or what.. I used the sirfdemo thing, and I seem to get a lock quickly but it's using 3 sats maybe 4 .. I used to see 12 or so ..

could the seasons changing affect this?..

Kato · 04-19-2005, 10:07 AM

I'm in exactly the same boat as you. I thought it had something to do with my new car pc setup. I too have the pharos 360 unit ( came with MS Streets and Trips ), and i have noticed that its harder for me to get signal now. When i open the sunroof, bingo..8-10 sats....
The windows never had any impact in the signal before....wonder if its the seasons too.

Sonicxtacy02 · 04-19-2005, 10:22 AM

Have the same unit.. i noticed if you have the mouse any NEAR your radio antenna the sats drop. My antenna is in the rear window.. i moved it to the front and the fewest i see now are 6 sats

DJSmiley · 04-19-2005, 10:39 AM

I've noticed this as well, with my BU-303.

During testdrives with the laptop: 6-8 sats. Now, with all equipment build-in, the signal just seems to "go away", last weeks I was sometimes even unable to get a good fix, or it took ages to get one.

I've opened my BU-303, and have connected an external antenna (which I had from a few years ago), and mounted that on the roof of my car. Now I have 8-10 sats. However, during bad weather (rain, fog and so on), I have "only" 5-6 sats. So it depends on wheater conditions, but thats usually for any radio-signal.

neon_eddy · 04-19-2005, 06:23 PM

well I did some "testing" today .. I found if I moved it further up on my dash ( a more clear view of the sky I assume) I seemed to get better signal .. still 5-6 sats . it was rainy today though ..

I also made sure it was level.. before it was on a bit of an incline.. also in moving it close to my widshield I moved further from my LCD I wonder if that would be interfearing with it..

how do you go about making an antenna? .. I searched on the forums but found little..

I'm also using destinator now.. and it is MUCH less picky with signal strength than routis.

kiztope · 06-29-2005, 09:43 PM

This is a slightly older post, but I am having similar problems with my bu-303.... How did you mod it for an external antenna?

neon_eddy · 06-29-2005, 10:55 PM

I Have now since moved it to the roof.. and I get double the locks most times now..

I used a oil filter wrench ($3 plastic cover looking thing at walmart) it covers the gps well.. then I sealed it with hot glue, it easily removable and still keeps a good seal, no paint damage (they use hot glue for paintless dent repair)

Bugbyte · 06-29-2005, 11:10 PM

You can also use something called plasticote and dip the unit. Veetid did it and it worked well for him.

Here is the link.

KB5WID · 06-30-2005, 11:04 AM

I changed my iGPS260 to a serial connection from the USB and it made all the difference in the world. I am working on the documentation for the group so others can do th same.

c4shm0ney · 06-30-2005, 04:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by neon_eddy

I Have now since moved it to the roof.. and I get double the locks most times now..

I used a oil filter wrench ($3 plastic cover looking thing at walmart) it covers the gps well.. then I sealed it with hot glue, it easily removable and still keeps a good seal, no paint damage (they use hot glue for paintless dent repair)

Can you please post some pics of this?

c4shm0ney · 06-30-2005, 04:50 PM

I've been strugling with this myself with my reciever in the rearview mirror, From experimenting I've concluded that the reciever is getting interference from the heater wires and in this high humidty i've discovered that a small amoutn of moister on the rear window will also give block out almost all signals. The only way I can get a lock inside the car is to have the reciever at about a 30 degree angle and with the windows dry.