ScrapMaker

First off, the u-blox receiver that comes with the software is flat-out the worst I've ever stumbled across. In my car, with a glass roof, I get 0 satellites, holding the receiver up, in the air, about 3 inches from the glass. To get ANY satellites, I have hang the receiver out of the window.

The software is really not designed for navigation. It's more of a big trip planner, with dozens of stops. It has no on-screen keyboard, and it takes many, many taps, to even get to the point where you can start navigating.

Does the iGuidance software/receiver work any better than this? I want one I don't have to mount ON my roof. Is that possible?

Thanks

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guino

I could have told you streets and trips is one of the worst nav software around for carpc use... Mappoint (far more $$$) has decent integration in some front-ends.. iGuidance is quite popular, and most front-ends integrate it one way or another...

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ScrapMaker

Originally I bought this suite because it seemed like a good deal just to get the GPS receiver, but now it looks like I got screwed on both fronts.

Would you recommend the iGuidance combo, that comes with it's own receiver? I also despised the way S&T looked inside Roadrunner... the program was definitely not usable, (but it really STILL wasn't, even with a keyboard, and running the program standalone.

I really wish I could just try/buy/download iGuidance. I hate the idea of waiting a week for a DVD to arrive.

ScrapMaker

Does anyone have good experience with the u-blox5 module? I read reviews all over the place that say this unit is "excellent," but I find it to be complete garbage.

Hanging it out my window, with direct line-of-site to sky, with no other obstacles, it takes anywhere from 2 minutes to 30 minutes to get a cold lock, (every time I start the car.)

If it is sitting IN my car, even next to the window, I cannot get a lock, ever.

This morning, on the way to work, I hung it out the window and got 5 satellites, but StreetDeck still said the signal was too low to use. The whole way to work it bounced between 1-12 satellites, as I held it up in the air, next to my glass roof.

Are all these units this terrible? I am used to my standalone+aGPS units in my mobile phones, wich lock in 1-5 seconds.

My TomTom would lock in less than 30 seconds cold, typically, even if it was in my house.

This is driving me insane. I guess I will need to buy another GPS unit.

Sonicxtacy02

the ublox must be rather new because for years they used pharos units in streets and trips. I believe i had the pharos-360 then later then 720 came out.. both paled in comparision to the BU-353 i have stowed in my dashboard now.

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ScrapMaker

I've seen many positive reviews for it, but I don't see how... I mean, even if I had it plugged directly into the usb port of my laptop, sitting in the passenger seat, it wouldn't even work.

I'm trying to figure out if this damn thing is defective, or if the antenna is so crappy that I can't expect it to work INSIDE my car.

My brother has a bluetooth receiver that works well, and I'm going to borrow it for a bit. I just find it silly that I would have to use a wireless solution, and remotely power it, when a USB cable is fairly easy to route...

I wonder if I could improve the dongle by breaking it open?

SjLucky

have you tried updating the firmware?
http://www.u-blox.com/en/firmware.html

trader007

streets and trips was cool back in like 2003... but its completely outdated and old now. i have 2009 as well, it IS useless for car navigation (my winmo phone with Bing! maps is a 100000000x better)

i like iguidance. it is very simple, hardly any settings to even screw up... and its put together in a way that allows you to find and get to places easily. i hear the garmin software has more features too, thats another good option.

as for the gps puck, search ebay for "royal sirf" and youll find good pucks for $27. mine sits just inside the back quarter window- picks up at least 6 satellites all the time.

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ScrapMaker

Thanks for the link, I will check this out!


What's weird is that I am constantly getting 6-10 satellites, but SD and S&T won't 'lock.' I had similar problems with a windows mobile phone previously, and it was fixed with driver/firmware updates. Perhaps that is what I need as well... Thanks and I'll keep everyone posted. Supposedly this ublox5 chip is as good, if not better than sirfIII but only time will tell

ScrapMaker

Wow, talk about an annoying experience... upgrading the firmware on this thing made me want to kill myself...

First off, the site doesn't mention what the "GPS Locator" really is, in terms of chipset, etc. I had to download a utility that upgrades the firmware, and does other diagnostic things, then I had to download ALL the firmware patches, and try them one-by-one... not a quick, or painless process, by any means.

All of the v6.0 firmware failed except http://www.u-blox.com/images/downloa....00_tim-5h.zip

I didn't notice any immediate differences. Sitting on my car's passenger seat, I got 0-1 satellites, and hanging out the window, I got 3 or 4... never got a lock of any kind, much less a 3D lock.

I am letting it run for a while to see if I eventually get SOMETHING.

P.S. Don't buy this receiver. Even though it has one hell of a chipset (supposedly,) the antenna and whatever else is just complete garbage.

trader007

i had random times it wouldnt lock either. the whole gps capabilities of the program are lame. everything about streets and trips is pretty lame by todays standards to be honest.... but i have hope. with the Bing! overhaul microsoft has been going through, i actually see them revamping streets and trips, and probably just calling it Bing Travel for Windows. new interface, touchscreen friendly, and complete bing travel search integrated. i havent heard anything about them doing this yet, but it almost seems inevitable (and 2010 is a year many software makers want to turn a new page)

Marvin Hlavac

"What's weird is that I am constantly getting 6-10 satellites, but SD and S&T won't 'lock.'"

6 to 10 satellites should be enough. The u-Blox5 based unit included in S&T09 is a usable unit. The chipset has a slightly better sensitivity than SiRFstarIII, but the antenna is smaller, so the over all performance is slightly worse than for example BU-353. But it is usable. I have been using it with no issue for at least a couple of months now (on a daily bases).

Here's a brief review: u-Blox 5 USB GPS Stick - New GPS 'Locator' for Microsoft Streets and Trips

The GPS receiver is not really made by u-Blox. Only the chipset is by u-Blox. The unit is made by company named Navation Technology, and the product name is Navation GPS 168 (it is on the sticker on the back of the unit). I'm not sure if it is a good idea to download a firmware from u-Blox site. Instead, you may want to check if there is a driver update available on Navation's site. But I'm not sure if that will solve your issue, which may or may not be related to the USB GPS receiver at all.

Have you tested your set up with another USB GPS receiver? If not, could you? Or could you test the GPS unit on another PC?
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