Weird sceince? see post 32354 Quirky GPS

Submitted: Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 07:22

ThreadID: 32407 Views:2016 Replies:11 FollowUps:7

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Willem

This morning I had to do another run out to the west. It was just on dawn and there were some scattered clouds about.

I did as MikeDiD suggested and was stationary while I switched the GPS on. After 5 minutes there was no response on the satellite screen and so I drove off. After 20 minutes still nothing.

I suppose I got a bit cranky with the thing, yanked it out of its cradle, turned it upside down fitted it back into the cradle and said "See, if you work now you bastard.!"

And blow me down!!! within 3 minutes the GPS picked up 4 satellites.

Can anyone explain this?

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Reply By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 07:26

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 07:26

Science.....we should have an automatic Spell-check function....lol

AnswerID: 164202

Reply By: Wayne (NSW) - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 07:31

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 07:31

Willem,

Where is the aerial for the GPS. Has it got a good "view" of the sky.

I have a external aerial sitting on top of the snorkel, see rig photo, little white thing on top of the snorkel. It has given a very good reception 99% of the time.

Wayne

AnswerID: 164203

Reply By: Member - Troll 81 (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 07:48

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 07:48

When you take it out of the cradle does it turn the power off? maybe it just needed a reset ?

AnswerID: 164204

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 08:05

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 08:05

So it's really cold for a cold start in Peterborough at the moment Bro? Tell me how are the internal batteries in the GPS at the moment? I found mine was always better at starting when the batteries were able to keep some information such as the last place it was used but took ages for a cold start with DEAD batteries.

Now of course it is somebody elses problem while I decide how to spend the insurance payout on it as I have the Axim if I need to find my way home or get away.

Am recovering from my heavy schedule in Melbourne and Mt Gambier since then. Timboon today.

AnswerID: 164208

Reply By: Footloose - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 08:44

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 08:44

Hi Willem, I had to laugh at your "forcing" the GPS to work. Wouldn't be the first time that most of us employed that strategy I'd guess.
Even we had a cold night, the grass was white tipped this morning.
I'd go with the battery thing.

AnswerID: 164219

Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 09:55

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 09:55

"Can anyone explain this?"

Explanation A - you've had it in the wrong way round all this time, when you reversed it was the right way up at last :-)

Explanation B - check today's date.

Mike

AnswerID: 164225

Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 16:20

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 16:20

Its a bit dissapointing catching only 8 April Fools but them's the breaks....have been more successful in the past..............hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

FollowupID: 419148

Reply By: fatz - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 10:52

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 10:52

Willem, Mine refuses to work if i have a CD in the in dash player, (not sure if you have one). spoke to Magellen and they advised me to earth the CD unit directly to body somewhere, did this and it has worked fine since.

Mick

AnswerID: 164231

Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 17:30

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 17:30

Nope, a waste of time. You have to earh it direct to the negative Battery terminal.

Mike

FollowupID: 419164

Follow Up By: fatz - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 10:40

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 10:40

Really Mike, then mine must have been just luckey....it worked fine for me

FollowupID: 419391

Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 10:42

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 10:42

Then you must have used Deuterium-free copper for the Earth strap.

FollowupID: 419392

Follow Up By: fatz - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 10:51

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 10:51

No idea, just a bit of whatever i could find.....

FollowupID: 419393

Reply By: Member - Willie , Epping .Syd. - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 11:16

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 11:16

Willem ,

Mine did this occasionally when I still had an internal aerial , but as soon as the car changed direction it usually got locks , so I doubt if this is the problem .

If something works after I kick it or shake the crap out of it , it usually has had a bad internal connection .

Willie

AnswerID: 164234

Reply By: Joe King - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 12:02

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 12:02

It was because it was facing 01°04'06"

AnswerID: 164237

Reply By: Laura B - Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 20:01

Saturday, Apr 01, 2006 at 20:01

so yuo fianlly added stuff to ya rig set up!!Good on ya!

Who needs technology!!Never works when ya want it to and when it does ya cannt figure out how t work it!!

should get a sticker - "i may have a GPS but doesnt mean Im not lost!"

Laura B

AnswerID: 164309

Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 18:08

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 18:08

Willem I think you'll find that if you turn the GPS upside down it will register you going in the opposite direction, it obviously got back past your house and then the satellites came into view.

I had this happen once with a goat.