SatNav Signal Problems

[johnnybbad]

Hi all,

My highline sat nav is not showing my correct car position, also no little green dots around the world picture in top corner.

I have checked all leads at the back of the unit and they seem fine.

Went into the service mode as per one of reebs posts and it shows 8 satellites available but not connecting to any, also says "reecerr" in gps system check

Also Almanac says No

Any ideas ?

John

[Duotone]

Check the gps antenna, located under the parcel shelf. Also check the connection to the sat nav computer, located in the boot.



Dave T

[johnnybbad]

Originally Posted by Duotone

Check the gps antenna, located under the parcel shelf. Also check the connection to the sat nav computer, located in the boot.



Dave T

Hi dave,

Wire seems to be firmly attached to the back of the unit, will pull out the rear shelf tomm to check antenna side

Thanks

[Neil Coupland]

I would concur with Dave. When I installed Hi Line into my car I had the same problem, after replacing the gps antenna all was fine.

[HarryM1BYT]

It might be worth seeing if there are any water marks around the GPS unit/ CD. Several have suffered from ingress.

If its the antenna, you can buy a standard cheap one to fit, but be aware the antennas come with a variety of plug types on the end. You need the correct one and I cannot help with identifying the plug type required.

Even once reception is regained, it can take quite a time for a satnav to regain your proper position - possibly several minutes to regain the almanack, before it can begin to calculate your position.

[johnnybbad]

Bit of an update

I removed the gps antenna from under the parcel shelf, and connected it directly to the back of the gps unit with the boot open, and it now picks up satellites great !

Do these antennas need direct line of sight to work ?

[HarryM1BYT]

Originally Posted by johnnybbad

Bit of an update

I removed the gps antenna from under the parcel shelf, and connected it directly to the back of the gps unit with the boot open, and it now picks up satellites great !

Do these antennas need direct line of sight to work ?

They work in the same sort of band as your satellite TV. Step in front of your satellite dish and signal is lost entirely.

The signal can make its way through some materials, certain plastics, glass and similar, but not any metals or even metal foil. Which is why the rear shelf and the dash are good such good locations for the antenna, if the antenna must be inside the vehicle. It gets a good view of a wide area of the sky.

To get an accurate position, the GPS needs to receive several satellites - the more it sees, the more accurate the fix.

I think though, that your system may have started working simply because you have unplugged and re-plugged the antenna connection thus cleaning off any oxidation on the connectors. These things work on very low voltages with very low signal levels - oxidation can easily kill all reception. Try reinstalling it as it was and see if it still works.

[johnnybbad]

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

They work in the same sort of band as your satellite TV. Step in front of your satellite dish and signal is lost entirely.

The signal can make its way through some materials, certain plastics, glass and similar, but not any metals or even metal foil. Which is why the rear shelf and the dash are good such good locations for the antenna, if the antenna must be inside the vehicle. It gets a good view of a wide area of the sky.

To get an accurate position, the GPS needs to receive several satellites - the more it sees, the more accurate the fix.

I think though, that your system may have started working simply because you have unplugged and re-plugged the antenna connection thus cleaning off any oxidation on the connectors. These things work on very low voltages with very low signal levels - oxidation can easily kill all reception. Try reinstalling it as it was and see if it still works.

I will reconnect it and see what happens, thanks

[pm77]

Resurrecting an old thread, but I've got the same problems but I've got a tourer. Where do the aerial wires go to the shark fin? And if I do need a cheap replacement, where is best to locate it?

[Reebs]

Originally Posted by pm77

Resurrecting an old thread, but I've got the same problems but I've got a tourer. Where do the aerial wires go to the shark fin? And if I do need a cheap replacement, where is best to locate it?

Hello Paul,

The part number you need for a new sharks fin is XUC100950 and is still available from a Rimmer Bros

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-XUC100950

It has a short length of wire coming out of it to a connector. Then an extension wire with connector which runs along the headlining to the right hand side of the rear side windows and down into the area where your nav computer lives.

It is possible that the connector has become disconnected at the join though unlikely, but the only way to check is to pull down your headlining to check.

This is how to remove the headlining:




The seal on the base of the sharks fin can let water in, and I suppose that might be why it fails.

I would suggest getting an OEM replacement shark's fin antenna as it is designed specifically for the tourer. I have had two members report that replacing their Shark's fin cured the problem.