DU Techie types - GPS unit question

[KitchenWitch]

Why would a GPS unit suddenly stop picking up a satellite signal. I have tried resetting the unit (with the pinhole reset thingy) numerous times and it no longer even shows the satellite icon...

[PeaceNikki]

1. Alien interference with the satellites?

:shrug:

I dunno - what's the make/model?

[KitchenWitch]

2. It is a Navigon 2100

Yeah, I know, an off brand.

[Symarip]

3. Mine does that

What I do is I go into the options and adjust the brightness. Don't ask me why, it just works.

[KitchenWitch]

4. I will try that

I have an e-mail in to Customer Support (I know I will not get any answers from them.)

I may try to reload the software onto it and see if that works.

[MrScorpio]

5. Increased levels of magnetic interference from Sunspot activity

Plays havoc with all kinds of electronics

[KitchenWitch]

6. I was thinking that, actually

has there been a lot of sunspot activity lately?

Will the unit work again when there is less sunspot activity?

[MrScorpio]

7. Actually, we're experiencing a nadir now

Strike the sunspots

[KitchenWitch]

8. Dang.

Wondering if something got crunched in the software then.

[pokerfan]

9. it's not sunspots

as we're actually near the minimum in the cycle.





Could be a bad solder connection to the antenna that only recently loosened up. Antennas tend to have more metal than a normal electronic component. Hence they require more heat to form a good joint. Could be a lot of other things too but it sounds like hardware. You might try pulling the batteries and letting it sit for a day or so. Sometimes a power-on reset is different than a soft reset.

[petronius]

10. Selective Denial. The DOD is keeping an eye on you, and has decide that

you're too big of a risk to be allowed access to advanced positioning systems. Has there been increased helicopter activity in your neighborhood, or strangers with short hair and dark glasses walking around?

With mine, I've found when it can't find a position I can solve it by manually entering my location. Also, sometimes the geometry is really bad if there are obstructions around. Try again later, in a place with a clear view of lots of sky. Of course, it could also be a hardware problem - did you drop it recently?