Radioguy WinCE unit slow to detect satellites

simdel1 · 22nd January 2016, 21:48

I've recently installed a recon head unit and I'm really pleased I finally made the switch, but I do have a nagging problem with the Satnav functionality.

It seems to be taking an excessively long time to detect enough satellites to start working. On my way home from work today it took 40 minutes before the satellites were detected! Even when it does have a decent gps signal, it seems to lose connection very frequently. At the moment the Satnav is practically useless.

The gps antenna is attached the the bulkhead behind the radio. Do I need to move the antenna to a less obscured location like the passenger a-pillar or are there any other things I can check to work out why I'm having so many problems?

Canonite · 22nd January 2016, 22:51

I've always ran mine up the A pillar and never had any issues

freck · 22nd January 2016, 22:58

My GPS antenna is attached to the metal frame behind the dash and the signal is excellent. Only takes seconds to acquire a fix once the Nav program boots up.

Is your antenna new? Might be worth buying a new one, or maybe borrowing one to try out?

HarryM1BYT · 22nd January 2016, 23:51

Is the antenna mounted horizontally?

The best place is sat on top of the steel reinforcing bar, the structural bar which runs side to side of the car, just behind the radio. Make sure it is to one side or other of the sunlight sensor, if you have a climate system.

There it will have the maximum view of the sky, through the thin plastic of the dash top. Mine has always worked great in that position.

There will be times when it takes a while to acquire the satellites. If it has been unused for a while, or if the power to the unit has been off. More rarely weather or local interference can prevent it getting a fix.

Les4048 · 23rd January 2016, 05:07

I just laid my one on top of the dash, I ran the cable up between the dash and the A pillar. Never had a problem as it has a clear view of the sky and you don't notice it sitting on the dash. It's not even stuck down and never moves

ceedy · 23rd January 2016, 09:36

Another vote for the A Pillar, mine was a bit slow under the dash , tried it up i nthe headlining, but it under metal there ... ended up inthe drivers A pillar.

There aresome days when the weather has a dramatic effect on Satelite aquisition though.
I can get to work 15 miles with no signal , or lock on before reaching the end of our road ( 30 yards)

C

simdel1 · 23rd January 2016, 19:51

Cheers guys. Just had a look at it tonight. I put the gps antenna on to of the dash, near the light sensor and left it 15 minutes or so. No difference. I watched the gps screen for a while. It seemed to lock on to one satellite, then lost it immediately. I checked that the antenna was securely attached to the plug on the back and it almost looks like the protruding terminal from the centre of the antenna isn't long enough to make a decent connection to the headunit plug.

The antenna is brand new from radioguy so I don't see that being the problem.

Les4048 · 23rd January 2016, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by simdel1

Cheers guys. Just had a look at it tonight. I put the gps antenna on to of the dash, near the light sensor and left it 15 minutes or so. No difference. I watched the gps screen for a while. It seemed to lock on to one satellite, then lost it immediately. I checked that the antenna was securely attached to the plug on the back and it almost looks like the protruding terminal from the centre of the antenna isn't long enough to make a decent connection to the headunit plug.

The antenna is brand new from radioguy so I don't see that being the problem.

I'd contact him, Sean is extremely helpful

190SETOURING · 23rd January 2016, 20:53

Its probably duff, needs to be replaced. No good if it dont work

simdel1 · 24th January 2016, 10:45

Indeed, I'll give Sean and Jeff a nod. It's the excellent after sales support that convinced me to but from those guys in the first place.

Just a quick update - I tried to leave the sat nav running on the way to Corby to see if it still had a long delay, but I got a "Load fail!!" message when I tired to load the nav software.

It's a real shame because the blue tooth functionality is great, the dvd playback is good and the radio function is perfect. Hopefully we can get these niggles resolved.

22nd January 2016, 21:48	#1
simdel1 Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Connoisseur SE CDTi, Porsche 944 Lux, MGF Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Stamford Posts: 1,088 Thanks: 4 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Radioguy WinCE unit slow to detect satellites I've recently installed a recon head unit and I'm really pleased I finally made the switch, but I do have a nagging problem with the Satnav functionality. It seems to be taking an excessively long time to detect enough satellites to start working. On my way home from work today it took 40 minutes before the satellites were detected! Even when it does have a decent gps signal, it seems to lose connection very frequently. At the moment the Satnav is practically useless. The gps antenna is attached the the bulkhead behind the radio. Do I need to move the antenna to a less obscured location like the passenger a-pillar or are there any other things I can check to work out why I'm having so many problems? __________________ Simon The Simdel1 Fleet: http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/447/sigmgf.png

22nd January 2016, 22:58	#3
freck Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDT Connie Tourer Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Preston Posts: 1,051 Thanks: 142 Thanked 274 Times in 226 Posts	My GPS antenna is attached to the metal frame behind the dash and the signal is excellent. Only takes seconds to acquire a fix once the Nav program boots up. Is your antenna new? Might be worth buying a new one, or maybe borrowing one to try out? __________________ Steve Teamwork makes the dream work! Mods planned - Cruise retrofit - Done, ZT front bumper - Done, 160 remap - Done...and probably one or two more This vehicle was the 15,751st 75 Tourer to run off the production line, out of 27,407 This vehicle was the 3,726th 75 Tourer CDT Connoisseur to be made out of 4,100 This vehicle was the 732nd 75 Tourer in Starlight Silver (code: MBB) to be made out of 4,100 Starlight Silver 75 Tourers

22nd January 2016, 23:51	#4
HarryM1BYT This is my second home 75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD Join Date: May 2010 Location: Leeds Posts: 17,273 Thanks: 2,160 Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts	Is the antenna mounted horizontally? The best place is sat on top of the steel reinforcing bar, the structural bar which runs side to side of the car, just behind the radio. Make sure it is to one side or other of the sunlight sensor, if you have a climate system. There it will have the maximum view of the sky, through the thin plastic of the dash top. Mine has always worked great in that position. There will be times when it takes a while to acquire the satellites. If it has been unused for a while, or if the power to the unit has been off. More rarely weather or local interference can prevent it getting a fix. __________________ Harry How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses... http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540 Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing. I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

23rd January 2016, 09:36	#6
ceedy This is my second home All Trophy Blue ,ZT260#50 , ZT CDTI Auto, ZR105+ and 1.8T Firefrost spoiling the Set . Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Nr Sherborne But in Somerset.. Posts: 6,092 Thanks: 916 Thanked 1,214 Times in 768 Posts	Another vote for the A Pillar, mine was a bit slow under the dash , tried it up i nthe headlining, but it under metal there ... ended up inthe drivers A pillar. There aresome days when the weather has a dramatic effect on Satelite aquisition though. I can get to work 15 miles with no signal , or lock on before reaching the end of our road ( 30 yards) C __________________ The Three Bloo's Wifey's Zr105, MY CDTI & 260 #50 and Number One sons 1.8T in Firefrost When I were a lad Zero to 142 in 10.25 secs at the Pod on my Blown Norton. 210 Kart Champ in 70's

23rd January 2016, 19:51	#7
simdel1 Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Connoisseur SE CDTi, Porsche 944 Lux, MGF Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Stamford Posts: 1,088 Thanks: 4 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Cheers guys. Just had a look at it tonight. I put the gps antenna on to of the dash, near the light sensor and left it 15 minutes or so. No difference. I watched the gps screen for a while. It seemed to lock on to one satellite, then lost it immediately. I checked that the antenna was securely attached to the plug on the back and it almost looks like the protruding terminal from the centre of the antenna isn't long enough to make a decent connection to the headunit plug. The antenna is brand new from radioguy so I don't see that being the problem. __________________ Simon The Simdel1 Fleet: http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/447/sigmgf.png

22nd January 2016, 22:51	#2
Canonite This is my second home BMW 330d Tourer, MG ZT 180 SE XPG, VW Polo 6R 1.2 TDI Bluemotion Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: York Posts: 6,029 Thanks: 363 Thanked 574 Times in 319 Posts	I've always ran mine up the A pillar and never had any issues

23rd January 2016, 05:07	#5
Les4048 This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer/ MG ZT-T 400 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lhanbryde Posts: 3,278 Thanks: 2,627 Thanked 1,523 Times in 869 Posts	I just laid my one on top of the dash, I ran the cable up between the dash and the A pillar. Never had a problem as it has a clear view of the sky and you don't notice it sitting on the dash. It's not even stuck down and never moves

23rd January 2016, 20:53	#9
190SETOURING Posted a thing or two MG ZTT 180se,MG ZT 260se Monogram Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Huntingdon Posts: 1,413 Thanks: 215 Thanked 263 Times in 169 Posts	Its probably duff, needs to be replaced. No good if it dont work

24th January 2016, 10:45	#10
simdel1 Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Connoisseur SE CDTi, Porsche 944 Lux, MGF Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Stamford Posts: 1,088 Thanks: 4 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	Indeed, I'll give Sean and Jeff a nod. It's the excellent after sales support that convinced me to but from those guys in the first place. Just a quick update - I tried to leave the sat nav running on the way to Corby to see if it still had a long delay, but I got a "Load fail!!" message when I tired to load the nav software. It's a real shame because the blue tooth functionality is great, the dvd playback is good and the radio function is perfect. Hopefully we can get these niggles resolved. __________________ Simon The Simdel1 Fleet: http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/447/sigmgf.png