Slow to find satellites
Tue, 03/31/2015 - 1:48pm
  12 years
|
I have a Garmin Nuvi 265WT in my car. For last 6 months or so it has been having trouble finding satellites from time to time. Sometimes no issues at all and the other extreme it can take 5 minutes of driving down the road before it kicks in. Is there an easy fix for this or has my Nuvi become E-waste.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
couple of things
I have a Garmin Nuvi 265WT in my car. For last 6 months or so it has been having trouble finding satellites from time to time. Sometimes no issues at all and the other extreme it can take 5 minutes of driving down the road before it kicks in. Is there an easy fix for this or has my Nuvi become E-waste.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
There are a couple of tings that would impact this. First off, you are driving down the road which means the data is constantly changing. Secondly, how long has it been since the unit was last on?
If the unit has been off for more than 24 hours, it would have to download and update the almanac as the list of satellites that should be in view would have changed. Driving while trying to load the data increases the time it takes.
As to shortening the time, I keep my unit in the house with the car parked outside. I turn on the unit before walking out the door so it starts searching for satellites as soon as it is clear from being undercover. By the time I get in the car, place the unit, connect the power cable and start the car, most times it has developed a lock even after being off of a week or more.
Illiterate? Write for free help.
It changes from day to day
but most times mine is ready before I turn the corner, yes the longer between use the longer usualy
It has changed.
I don't believe what I am experiencing is normal and due to lack of use. I drive almost everyday and unit never leaves the dash. This unit has been in my car for years and it has always worked well until about 6 months ago. It has changed. Even stopping at a store for 5 minutes it has difficulty finding satellites afterwards. Another symptom I have seen is after turning a corner it really slow in updating the direction I am travelling.
PS in the past it always found the satellites immediately after driving out of the garage.
System reset?
Have you tried a system reset? It is amazing how many issues that can resolve.
Are you using a different vehicle? Some window glass has been known to interfere with GPS signals.
Alan - Android Auto, DriveLuxe 51LMT-S, DriveLuxe 50LMTHD, Nuvi 3597LMTHD, Oregon 550T, Nuvi 855, Nuvi 755T, Lowrance Endura Sierra, Bosch Nyon
Solar cycle 24 is at its peak
When solar flares increase, that interferes with radio communication on earth. Believe it or not, our GPS units use radio to work. This solar interference adds to whatever else causes weak signals, such as high terrain or buildings, the location inside the car, or coated windshields previously mentioned.
Solar cycle 24 has had a second peak through 2015, and there was a very strong solar storm from March 17th through 25th.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/sun-solar-maximum-solar-cycle-...
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/powerful-solar-storm-sm...
http://www.spaceweather.com/
dobs108