Help please with Garmin Street Pilot III

[Oilseal]

I have just joined the wonderful world of GPS and I think I have a problem.

I have a Garmin Street Pilot III. Wonderful thing. Easily installed and working.

Here's my problem. I have a lot of trouble "acquiring satellite" and I get loads of "lost satellite reception" messages.

After trawling through the Net I think I may require a remote antenna. It would appear that Garmin have the GA26C

My question is are they worth the money. ie do they work and how easy (or difficult) are they to install. Are there any pitfalls I should avoid and is the Garmin antenna the only one I can get for this model.

I love the thing when it works but at present it's letting me down more than I care to say. My car is a Renault Laguna 2 and I think this may have a built in windscreen aeriel thats blocking the Gps signal.

Any advice or tips would be greatly welcomed.

Thanks in advance

Oilseal

[Stevie]

Oilseal the reason for the remote antenna or the re radiating antenna is if you car has a heat reflective windscreen this can block the GPS getting to the receiver. If you have a look at http://www.totalpda.co.uk/product4481_0.aspx

Most recent Renaults like your Laguna do come with the heat reflective windscreen, if you look closely at the glass you can see thin wires, if you can see this it is definitely heat reflective.

[Oilseal]

Hi Stevie

Yes I'm not sure the Laguna has the reflective thing but it certainly has a built in aeriel.

I've been running it now for a few more days and trying to get as much info as I could. The upshot of all this knowledge is perhaps my own impatience is def****** me.

Part of the art of GPS appears to be allowing the system to acquire the satellites before moving off. I would get pissed off after a couple of minutes and drive off. Wrong move. If I wait while the system acquires the signal (sometimes 5-7 mins) then the performance is much much better.

I also think that I didn't give the unit much of a chance as I was driving in and around Sheffield. I think all the clutter around there didn't help. I noticed better performance around Leeds (less industrialised)

I still may have to use a remote antenna but I think I'll use the unit a bit longer to learn about its foibles and such.

Thanks for your reply


Kind Regards

Oilseal

[Stevie]

Oilseal just remember when you first use a GPS system it will take longer to gather a signal due to it has to download the locations of the satilites again. Tell me how you get on.

[Barrykap]

Hi, I also have a Renault laguna and have just bought a Streetpilot III but it has not arrived yet. So I am very interested to read this thread in preparation. I believe there will be an external antenna supplied with mine but what worries me is how do you get the wire into the car and maintain a water-proof seal?