Problem with tomtom External Antenna

[eddyj443]

Hi, could someone please offer me some advice on a problem I have.

I have been using a tomtom go 700 with an external antenna for a couple of months which has been working fine. But the other day as I was on the M6 my tomtom suddenly lost all GPS signal and did not regain it.

After playing around I realised it works as normal when connected to the standard shoe that came with it (but is not reliable as I have a thermionic windscreen) but as soon as it is connected to the shoe with the external antenna it loses signal.

If I undo the connector between the shoe and the antenna it works just as if it was connected to the original shoe but the second I reconnect it is loses the signal.

I have checked all the wires and they are not damaged and have emailed tomtom (as they NEVER answer the phone) but i am still waiting for a reply.

Has anyone had a similar problem or could anyone offer advice?

Thanks

Edward

[zardoz]

A number of posibilities, all based on the assumption that the external antenna is an ACTIVE unit and not just a patch antenna on the end of a cable.

a) The power to the external antenna has failed. I suspect it uses a 5volt feed down the cable to power a MMIC inside the external unit. This will need the GO repairing.

b) There is a break in the coax. Try flexing it gently and see if it makes contact... Hard to fix yourself, but not impossible.

c) The MMIC or other component inside the external antenna has failed. Get it repaired or bin it. You can't fix it yourself. I had a Garmin one go like this.

d) anything I have not thought of already.

[Eldar]

Sounds like your external antenna is faulty - your 700 switches to the external input, but there is no RF signal coming through, which means either a short or a faulty component in the active external antenna.

[eddyj443]

hi, thanks for your help guys. yes the antenna was faulty, took it back to staples and they tested it then gave me a new one. works great now.

thanks for your help

Edward

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