TomTom signal strength

[Fenny]

Hi everyone. This is my first post to the group, so be gentle with me

I have recently brought a TomTom Go, and just wanted to ask a few things about the unit, as I am new to GPS. While I think that the unit is beautifully designed, I am a little disappointed in the fact that most times it can take up to 10 minutes to get a first time fix. The signal also seems to fluctuate between full strength & zero quite often.

Does this affect anyone else with the unit?

Now reading through these forums, I can see that there is the issue about windscreens. I have a Peugeot 206 GTS HDi (which I believe I have seen on a ‘hit list’ somewhere). However, I am not sure whether I definitely have a UV treated windscreen or not, and it’s difficult for me to come to any definite conclusions.

On my journey to work, which is approximately 40 miles, it would loose the signal at least 5-10 times. This journey is mostly in open countryside. However, sometimes it picks up at full strength, which puzzles me. Is this the norm? It’s worse in built up areas, although not completely unusable. It’s just that it will get you so far, loose the signal for a few minutes, leaving you ‘high and dry’ to defend for yourself!!

Now I have also read about fitting a radiating antenna. Do you think that this would improve the situation any? I have tried to move the unit onto the roof of the car for a comparison, (not while moving I hasten to add), but as the bars are constantly moving, it’s not a ‘conclusive test’.

It would be nice if TomTom had already brought out the professional mounting kit, but I believe that this isn’t going to be available until later on in the year. TomTom CS were ‘vague’ to say the least.

So, basically,

1) Am I expecting too much?
2) Would you advise me to try fitting a radiating antenna?
3) Does anyone know anything more about the professional car kit & it’s release date?

PS – If I wanted to fit a radiating antenna, are there any companies that would fit this professionally? I don’t really like the idea of the cigarette lighter or batteries. I thought that it might be able to ‘hook’ it up internally to the car’s electrics?

[Dave]

Easiest way to tell if you need a re-rad is to try and see that you've got 0 sats and take GO outside of the car and see if you get sats back, or if you do say have 5 sats, take it outside the car and see if it increases. If it does, then you could do with a re-rad.

You also need to make sure it's got a good view of the sky, and that means as close to the windscreen as possible.

Losing sats that amount of time on a journey is unusual and I don't see that with my unit, you will see a loss of sats, or it drop to zero now and again, you'll get this with any GPS and it is quite normal, but not usually that amount of times in a journey unless you're being blocked by tall buildings or driving down avenues with tree's on either side of the road.

[Morris]

I had this problem with a Puegeot 406 (not all 406's are affected). One journey was quite urgent so I put the mouse in a plastic bag and put it on the car roof, hey presto - got a good signal. Now while I certainly would not recommend this for everday use, you could try it and see what you get.

Morris

Grzzzzzz

[MrT]

That does sound like a poor signal. The reason why it appears intermittent is quite likely that you are receiving signals from many satellites, but they are too weak to be of use. As you change direction, some of the signals will cross the usability threshold and you will get a signal. The directionality will be affect by the location of the receiver or aerial. On a dashboard it can usually see forwards, upwards and a little to the sides, but not backwards where it is shielded by the upper body parts. So if the satellite is in the filed of view from you dash you will get a signal.

The best place for a re-rad antenna is bang in the middle of your roof where it can see the whole sky with a nice earth plane around it. A good compromise can be had on hatchback feeding the cable through the top gap of the hatch (after checking that shutting the hatch won't cut the cable) and placing the antenna on the roof in front of the hatch. You can put it back in the car when you park. If you have a van, 4x4 or people carrier you are probably safe just leaving it in the middle of your roof as it cannot be reached without climbing on the car. I have sprayed mine the same colour as the car and it is a permanent fixture.


With a re-rad you get a greater signal if the "rod" on the end of the wire runs above and parallel to the longest edge of the TomTom BT unit. It makes quite a difference from perpendicular to it.

[Fenny]

Thanks for the information guys.

I have decided to buy one of the GPS Warehouse radiating antennas.

As I don' really like the idea of wires all over the place, I'll try to wire it in to the cars electrics to make a neater job of it. I have been down to Maplins and purchased a few 'bits and pieces', so will make a start when the kit arrives :D

There's a guy on the Internet who's posted an "idiots guide" to dismantling the console of a 206. Here goes....

[MrT]

Just make sure when you get it that you check the insides of the cigar lighter plug on it to make sure there is no voltage regulator.

Some devices have a 12V to 5V regulator built in the plug (eg TomTom and PDAs) so if you just cut the wire and connect it to 12V you could blow the device. If it does have a regulator you will either need to build it in the wiring or get an inline cigar lighter socket (£1 from Maplin) and wire this into the car and hide it behind the dash somewhere.

You may be fine and get a 12V device, but always check first.

Also check the wires when you remove them from the plug, the wiring colours are not always standard for example on the old TrafficMaster YQ cable, red was negative!

[fergyuk]

Guys

Most Peugeot's have a thermal coating on the screen, this will block GPS signals

There is normally a small section of screen which is not coated, this can be found behind and to the side of the rear view mirror

Try attacting the GPS receiver in that area (i have used velcro) and routing the cable behind the screen trim.

I did this for a freind in a 2002 406 and his fixes went from 2/3 to a almost constant 7/8

Hope this helps

Fergy

[Fenny]

Well, just to give you all an update…

The re-rad arrived this morning at 7:15am, so I was able to get to work on the project sooner than I had expected - very impressive service from GPS Warehouse!

I have managed to wire an ‘extension’ to my cigarette lighter, and feed it through the dash, completely out of sight. Like MrT suggested, I went to Maplins and brought an inline cigarette lighter socket, so there was no need to cut any of the wires. I have even got the TTG car charger hidden, so that as the unit sits on the cradle, it’s constantly on charge.

The internal aerial I was able to hide behind the plastic trim, on the driver’s side pillar. You wouldn’t even know it was there!

The best part however, is now the signal strength hardly goes below full strength!

Thanks for all the advice.

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