8" Touch screen

Submitted: Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 21:43

ThreadID: 44652 Views:2439 Replies:2 FollowUps:9

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Richard Kovac

Sorry

But has anyone had any problems with interference coming from the screen stuffing up the signal going to there GPS?

I have had a Garmin etrex for 7-8 years now and later hooked up to the PDA, Easter weekend we started a trip and the GPS started to play up, could fined sats. would only fined 1 maybe 2 bang 4 back to 1.. anyway got sick and spent 4 days asleep..

got over that, and last weekend, went for a drive .. happened again. after having a girly fit. I calmed down,,

Found the screen was interfering with it. with it was turned on 1 sat off 4 sats on 1-2 off 4,,

I lowered it to a point that the GPS would work OK but would still lose some sats.. just butting my hand in between the screen and the GPS it works Good..

I'm starting to hate these things..LOL

Have a good one

Richard

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Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 07:33

Reply By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 08:48

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 08:48

Hi Richard, Are you using a remote plug in active aerial ? i have one for my Garmin and I find the aerial on the outside of the vehicle gets a better view of the sky and always has heaps of sts in view. Perhaps this might help by getting the aerial away from the screen.

AnswerID: 235484

Follow Up By: Groove - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 11:52

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 11:52

I have an in-dash 7 inch touch screen and GPS with an external re-radiating antenna and no problems at all, so definately try an external antenna.

Actually I now have a USB mouse type GPS, it cost $80 of ebay and gets a lock much quicker than my magellan, and at $80 is cheaper than some antennas alone. These types of gps have no controls or screen they are purely designed to plug into the USB port of a laptop.

The advantages from my point of view is that it is powered from the laptop so less cables and when the computer is switched on so is the GPS automatically, its very small and sits on the roof with a magnet. I diped it in a liquid plastic coating (white to match the car) and it is very inconspicous although its now turned a bit red from dust.

I still use the magellan for walks and as a backup.

Cheers

FollowupID: 496640

Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 14:39

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 14:39

Kiwi Kia

No remote aerial, just sits in it's holder in the middle of the dash. worked fine for years..

Groove I have a mouse GPS hooked up to a data logger (I'm a bit of a nutter) and when the mouse was near the screen the LED stop flashing moved it too in front of me (driver) started flashing, on long trips mouse sits on the roof, but some time will not re-aquire the sat's also but I think that's a problem with the mouse (second one Ive had)

Cheers

Richard

FollowupID: 496676

Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 15:22

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 15:22

See if you can borrow a remote active aerial to try. They are about $30 - $50 and have a magnetic base. Just park the aerial out on the bonnet and give it ago.

FollowupID: 496687

Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 16:32

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 16:32

Kiwi Kia

Is the one your talking about made for the Garmin etex?

FollowupID: 496702

Follow Up By: Member - Kiwi Kia - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 16:48

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 16:48

Ahhh, good point. I should have checked that out first shouldn't I. Mine is a 76C. I do remember that the aerial had a great long list of all the gps that it fitted. I will do a search and see if there is one that fits the Etrex. Are all the Etrex the same ? Sorry in advance if there isn't one for the Etrex.

FollowupID: 496704