Best sat nav for athermic windscreens?

[bluebolt30]

Hi,

I have recently purchased a Navman PiN 570 (with SmartST 2005) which comes with a built in GPS receiver. However, I cannot get a signal in my car which I believe could be due to having an athermic windscreen - I have a 306 (x reg -2000) - it works fine in my Toyota Rav4!

So the question I have is - is there a similar PDA style sat nav system that works well with the athermic windscreens?

I would rather not have to bother with an external antenna as it looks like a load of hassle to be honest although it would probably be the cheapest solution.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks

[pip510]

Ive not got one myself but everyone else raves about the Tom Tom One as being very good for exactly this kind of issue, I have the Go range but from reading regulary on here the one seems to be a good bet for you.

Hope this helps
Try searching for the asthermic windscreens im sure you will come up with some threads on this issue as it has been discussed previously
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[Tim Buxton]

The Mitac Mio A201 is a PDA with a built-in SiRFStar3 GPS receiver. Although I haven't used the Mio myself (nor have I seen one, for that matter), I have two SS3 GPS receivers, both of which work fine in my athermic screened Renault Megane.
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Tim

[PaulB2005]

The problem isn't any interaction between the device and the screen but the fact the screen blocks the signal regardless of which model PDA or GPS you have.

If your model comes with a plug for an antenna then get one of those for about £10. I have a Renault Megane and a Hyundai Coupe. Coupe fine. Megane - no signal. Installed an antenna and ran it to the boot. Works fine now. The antenna is no hassle. I run it from the boot round the door trim which can pulled back and the cabel pushed behind to the dashboard where the cable hangs out to be plugged into my i3.

[Border_Collie]

Citroen Xsara Esatate - athermic windscreen.

Setting up in car and wait and wait... zzzzzzzzz!

But try standing outside to get a good lock first then set up in car positioning your unit near to the centre of dash. The signals then pass through the clear part of the screen, behind the rear view mirror, and it should, as with mine, hold the lock.

I know this also works with a Xsara Picasso and a 206.

[rossb]

Any sat nav system using the Sirfstar III chipset should be okay in a car with athermic windscreen.

Your choices are:
-pda and sirfstar III bluetooth receiver
-pda and sirstar III receiver connected to pda via CF slot or SD slot
-sat nav system with Sirfstar III: I would recommend either the Tomtom One or the Garmin Nuvi depending on your budget.

[Tim Buxton]

[ebo9r]

i dont know if this is of any help to anyone but i work in the automotive glazing industry and the "athermic" windscreens you are talking about are actually normal laminated windscreens but with an added titanium coating in the laminate to reflect the heat on hot and sunny days it also darkens in extreme sunlight to give that familiar "purple look".
Some screens have certian parts that dont have this coating like near the rear veiw mirror or at the bottom in the center, the only reason i can think of for this is so radar detectors can be used and sat nav systems ? if you have an external ariel try placing ot near these spots.
On sunny days you should be able to see the coating in the glass if you look close enough and should be able to see if there are any clear patches.

[GPSinC3]

I used to have the windscreen problem with a Citroen but as said, there is an area at the middle top around the mirror which works, stuck my aerial inn there and was fine, in French cars like Citroen, its actually for the Liber T autoroute pass for French motorways, if you get one you can go through the T lanes on the autoroutes and the barrier detects you and opens, you get a bill later, really good on long trips and nice when everyone else is queuing to pay, just sweep through, you do have to slow down through !

My seat doesn't have the problemm and I now have a PND with built in aerial which is OK

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