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paulkbiba
USA
5037 Posts |
 Posted - 05 juin 2005 : 23:42:53
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What you are seeing is not unusual, nor is it a defect in the Globalsat. Most GPS units have trouble getting a fix while moving.
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Don't forget the GPSPassion Club! |
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TimW
311 Posts |
Posted - 06 juin 2005 : 06:27:56
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really? I'm on my 10th GPS over the last 6-7 years, I've never needed to pull over for a fix. I've had it take awhile, like up to 2 mins. But I've never seen one that wouldnt fix for 10+ mins at 70mph, much less 4 restarts. I did have a buggy Fortuna that had a moving fix bug, but I sent that back. But even that was a matter of 2-3 mins.... not completely refusing to fix regardless of how long you waited.
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nor is it a defect in the Globalsat.
maybe I should get a Globalsat instead |
Edited by - TimW on 06 juin 2005 06:31:28 |
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bmwe30is
8 Posts |
Posted - 06 juin 2005 : 08:25:54
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Hello all!
Glad to have found this forum as I am actually intending on purchasing a GPS unit quite soon (next 2 days).
Would using an external antenna provide better reception for the 236 while moving? I intend to use the 236 primarily for car navigation with my iPaq and I would hate to have to stop completely for the unit to get a fix.
I'll also be using this GPS for navigating my family and I in Europe in July :) So I need to decide between the 338 and the 236.
Regards,
- Jonathan
Edit: I just bought the Holux unit from Semsons... Can't wait. I'm actually close enough to pick the unit up directly from Semsons, but I won't have time as they close before I get off work :-/
I also purchased the external antenna, so I'll let you guys know how well that works once I get the unit.
HP iPaq 5550 PPC
Sandisk 1gb SD |
Edited by - bmwe30is on 06 juin 2005 22:25:58 |
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Squaredancer
284 Posts |
Posted - 06 juin 2005 : 08:50:52
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Haven't used the 236, but I love my BT-338. Never had any trouble getting fixes with it. My only complaint is the "auto-off (which, I think I'm in the minority). Whichever you decide, you might have a minor issue going to Europe. Read the thread about "Jet Lag" http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27491
It's a SIRF issue, so it could happen to either unit. A cold restart solves the problem. |
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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6838 Posts |
Posted - 06 juin 2005 : 23:12:28
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Jonathan welcome to GpsPasSion Forums! I use an external antenna with my GPSlim236 as well. It is really not needed because of the power of SiRFstarIII. But I'm glad I bought it, and I'd buy it again ;-) When you plug the antenna in you will see a small but noticeable gain. In most situations this little bit of extra signal will make absolutely no difference, but in very difficult environments it may mean a difference between no satellite fix and good satellite fix ;-) Most people will not want to bother with the extra wire, and I understand that. But in my situation it is really a more permanent setup so an extra wire is not an inconvenience ;-)
This morning I wanted to test the issue some reported about not being able to acquire satellite fix when at high speed on highway. Normally every morning I start my computer in my underground garage and then I start driving. On the average it takes about 45 seconds from the moment I leave the underground garage to get a good fix. Today I decided to wait with starting my computer till I get on a nearby highway. I got on HWY-404 and when my speed started to exceed 110 km/h (~70 miles per hour) I started my computer. It took about 48 seconds for WindowsXP to boot and immediately I saw green GPS Gate icon in the system tray indicating I had a good satellite fix. My GPSlim236 is connected to my pc via a special USB cable, so when I start my PC the GPS receiver is automatically turned on as well. I only did this test once, and I realize users reported this issue being only intermittent. But I just wanted to mention that so far I've seen no problem of this kind.
Marvin Hlavac - Toronto, Canada |
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TimW
311 Posts |
Posted - 07 juin 2005 : 04:08:45
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| get a fix while moving, then turn it off after you've been at 70 for 10 mins. :/ |
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bmwe30is
8 Posts |
Posted - 07 juin 2005 : 07:07:43
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Do the 338 owners experience the same problem?
Tim, where are you placing your GPS unit?
I plan on just leaving the 236 connected to the 12v charger and leaving it on while I drive.
HP iPaq 5550 PPC
Sandisk 1gb SD |
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permutations
12 Posts |
Posted - 08 juin 2005 : 09:25:46
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I originally bought the GlobalSat BT-338, and returned it to Semsons because it kept turning itself off. It's supposed to only do that when it's not in active use, but apparently it doesn't sense the BT connection properly.
I exchanged it for the Holux GPSlim 236, and that's driving me crazy, too, because of the battery problems that others have mentioned here. I think what's happening is that the battery is overheating. The Holux battery will not charge above a certain temperature. After the unit has been on for a while, the battery gets hot and won't charge. I've found that if I take it out and let it air for a while, it will charge again - but NOT if the unit is simultaneously on. That's what seems to heat it up.
I haven't tried it in a car yet - I just turned it on for the first time today. I also have a lot of trouble at first fixing to satellites. A reset seems to have fixed that, but I still have the battery problem. |
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gpspassion
87495 Posts |
Posted - 08 juin 2005 : 09:32:45
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What TimW is describing could be a variation of the "jet lag" problem because with SiRFstarIII you don't generally need to wait without moving to get a fix, actually that's one of it's major improvements over SIRFstarII especially in an urban setting. When that happens send it a "cold reset" command http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=25575
If it doesn't help, your GPS may have other issues such as the antenna or possibly interference from other electronic devices or a coated windshield.
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Discounts and Assistance/Réductions et Assistance (Club GpsPasSion) / Où commencer? |
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TimW
311 Posts |
Posted - 08 juin 2005 : 17:09:12
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shutting down nav to send a reset is not desirable in many cases. Will GPSgate work for this ya think?
I'm fairly sure its the Sirf bug. The 236 just rocks when its fixed. |
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permutations
12 Posts |
Posted - 08 juin 2005 : 17:51:30
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Tim, did you ever resolve the battery problems with the Holux GPSlim 236? I have the same unit (also bought it from Semsons). Did they exchange it for you? Did a new one work better?
I'm also still not happy with how long it takes to get a fix. The GlobalSat BT-338 (which I returned because it kept turning itself off) connected much quicker. Any ideas?
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TimW
311 Posts |
Posted - 08 juin 2005 : 22:37:20
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I havent done anything about it. Just waiting on the consensus.
if an OEM Nokia battery can be had cheap and fixes the charge issue, I'll keep the included batt as a spare. As for the fix issue, if I can force it to fix with a reset with GPSgate, I'll probably just do that.. unless they release a revised GPS, then I'll ask Semsons to replace. |
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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6838 Posts |
Posted - 09 juin 2005 : 02:15:39
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Tim, I haven't done much highway driving during the last two days. Yesterday I did test it though. On three different occasions I turned off my GPSlim236 at around 110km/h (~70mph) and then I turned it back on at the same highway speed about 15 minutes later. It always acquires satellites instantly (within about 3 seconds). But I know you said most of the time it works fine for you, too, and it only happens occasionally. I would imagine it would be annoying if you are used to turning the unit off quite often. I personally just leave it on at all times ;-)
The only time I did experience something similar was when I picked up from the post office my second GPSlim236. I started it and it took in excess of 10 minutes to finally get a lock on satellites, but that does happen occasionally when GPS receivers travel a large distance (over several time zones).
Marvin Hlavac - Toronto, Canada |
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permutations
12 Posts |
Posted - 09 juin 2005 : 03:30:21
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| I've decided to return the Holux to Semsons for a refund. After the problems I had with both the GlobalSat BT-338 and the Holux GPSlim 236, my impression is that SiRFstarIII isn't ready for prime time. I'm going to wait another 6-12 months before buying. I don't want to spent that much money on equipment that doesn't work properly. |
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Marvin Hlavac
Canada
6838 Posts |
Posted - 09 juin 2005 : 17:32:54
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SiRFstarII vs. SiRFstarIII in difficult environment
I just spent a few moments inside a car repair garage of a local new car dealership. I ran side-by-side test with SirfStarII GPS mouse by CoPilot and the new SiRFstarIII GPSlim236 by Holux. While SS2 was useless in the indoor environment, GPSlim236 tracked with ease from one end of the building to the other ;-)
Marvin Hlavac - Toronto, Canada |
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