No valid GPS

Hello,
I have an ipaq 4150 and a Thinknavi Free wired gps cradle using tom tom5. I'm new to all this sat nav lark and am having a big problem getting a signal. I did managed to get a signal the other day and everything worked fine. It took ages for the gps to get the signal. went to use it today and despite sitting with my hand out of the window in the biting cold it could not lock on to a gps signal.

I have turned off the infra red and performed a soft reset. still nothing. Just the message ' no valid gps signal'.

Any ideas? Any help would be gratefully received.

Originally Posted by toolsalival

Hello,
I'm new to all this sat nav lark and am having a big problem getting a signal.

Yeah, me too! Sometimes a signal lock is pretty well instant, other times, it can take up to 10 minutes to lock on. I haven't got your hardware combo (just the TT 700), but I'd give it a bit more of a chance...

And just read in the latest PCWorld that it's a good idea to leave a standalone unit on overnight so that the signal isn't lost. Guess that would be the same for an Ipaq combo?

Good luck...

Unfortunately the ThinkNavi Free is wired so gets power from cigarette lighter and I wouldn't like to leave my ipaq in the car overnight either. Thanks for replying though.

[Martin Laverty]

Some cars have heat reflective windshields wich can block GPS signals. It mostly Renault Citroen and Peugeot that have the worst problems. If you have tried the unit outside the car without success though then it could be a problem with the unit.

Originally Posted by toolsalival

Unfortunately the ThinkNavi Free is wired so gets power from cigarette lighter and I wouldn't like to leave my ipaq in the car overnight either. Thanks for replying though.

Citroen Xsara Estate - Athermic windscreen. Mio168 with TTN5.21.

Trying to get a lock inside the car takes forever, if at all.

Holding unit outside window, sometimes works fairly quickly, other times ages.

Stand outside the car, lock usually within 2 minutes or less, then set-up in car and it holds lock without problems, even though the signal will be weaker through the screen.

There is an uncoated area at the top of the screen behind the rear view mirror, place your unit in the middle of your dashboard. More chance of getting signals from sats in front of or to the side.

Make sure you have no programmes running in the background.

Get a lock before setting your route.

I park my car some way from the road and quite often find, when getting a lock, that I'm shown as being in another road which is closer than the one I live. However, when I set off and reach the end of shared drive/my road, it shows me in the exact position.

One final thing, I've found if I have used my unit to navigate to a destination but knowing the return route I switch it off. Next time I use it it takes longer to get a lock. It's like it thinks I'm still at my destination.

Hope some of this has helped.

Thanks each for your replies. My car is an 'S' reg Vauxhall Vectra so I don't think the screen is the problem. I tried again today. I sat holding the unit out of the window for over 15 mins but it didn't lock. It worked once yesterday but a couple of times plotted me in the wrong road (one parallel to which I was driving in). I think it's a problem with the unit.

Just to let you know that I returned the gps cradle for exchange. The replacement locked onto the signal within 20 minutes. Within 10 minutes the next time. All seems fine now. Thanks for your time.

Good result