gps fix

[rms2005]

I recently switched from a one last edition to a one xl and the xl has never had a gpsfix display for it and it takes several minutes for it to lock on where as my one le would get it about once a week and lock on in a few seconds.Any ideas

 

[bkrell]

I have a similar situation on my One v3. What's interesting to me is that I was asked about three times to download the "quick fix" update to my One v3. Since I downloaded it for the last time I have actually had more trouble getting fixes on startup than I did before..... Still, it ends up acquiring within a minute. But when it does, and I switch to the satellite status screen, it shows it's got 12 or so satellites.... Whereas before, it was refreshing the map and showing me accurate positioning with just a handful almost immediately after startup.

 

[rms2005]

thats the way it was with my first one,The first fix a downloaded sucked then it got faster and faster with each download,but now with the xl,i have had it over a month now and still have yet to get a fix and this thing takes forever to lock on out in the open while sitting still at that...

 

[r028806]

Poor Satellite Reception

thats the way it was with my first one,The first fix a downloaded sucked then it got faster and faster with each download,but now with the xl,i have had it over a month now and still have yet to get a fix and this thing takes forever to lock on out in the open while sitting still at that...

Here is a fix for the problems noted. Download the GPS QuickFix (this is a weekly update). The software gives the TT a map of the satellite orbits for a 7 days stretch, allowing the device to quickly acquire the signals. After the download, with the TT on, perform a soft reset buy using a small metal paper clip and pressing down on the reset for at least 5 sec. to completely power drain the unit. power the unit back on and get outside or close to a window that has a clear view of the sky. Since GPS satellites send a signal once every 30 sec., you will not obtain 6 or 7 satellites instantly. Hope this helps.

 

[bkrell]

Thanks. I've been using GPS both recreationally and professionally for about ten years now and yes, I'm familiar with satellite acquisition times. But out of the box, the One v3 was locking on pretty instantaneously after flipping the switch the first week or so that I had it. Remember, you don't need 7 setellites to get a position fix. With the SiRF Star III churning away and picking up signals like no earlier GPS I've ever seen, I can see how this was happening. But now that I've downloaded everything from TomTom Home, the thing seems to react similar to older gps units I've owened or used, taking betweeen ten to thirty seconds to get a position fix. If anyone is familiar with professional units, it feels as if someone has raised the PDOP threshold......

 

[tomlouie]

Thanks. I've been using GPS both recreationally and professionally for about ten years now and yes, I'm familiar with satellite acquisition times. But out of the box, the One v3 was locking on pretty instantaneously after flipping the switch the first week or so that I had it. Remember, you don't need 7 setellites to get a position fix. With the SiRF Star III churning away and picking up signals like no earlier GPS I've ever seen, I can see how this was happening. But now that I've downloaded everything from TomTom Home, the thing seems to react similar to older gps units I've owened or used, taking betweeen ten to thirty seconds to get a position fix. If anyone is familiar with professional units, it feels as if someone has raised the PDOP threshold......

Maybe the ephemeris data that gets downloaded is wrong/stale and the GPS first tries searching for the sats at the (wrong) expected freqs, doesn't find them, and then has to do a full re-acquire. That would explain the delay.

I think you can unselect the QuickGPS download.

Tom

 

[wilder212]

GPSfix Software download question

First - I'm not sure I'm running a TomTom ONE that's compatible with the gpsfix software because I can't seem to verify if gpsfix is installed and when I launch Home it says that everything is up to date.

Heck, I'm not even sure which TomTom ONE model I own. On the bottom of the unit it says tomtom ONE (4N00.005).

Can anyone tell me which model I own (so I'll know from now on) and then if gpsfix is compatible and how to download it because the Home software isn't any help.

Also - I think my maps are out of date and I'd like to know how to download the latest version as well.

App 7.1.62 (8492/071121) OS:2327
29 MB RAM
GPS v1.21, Boot 5.3026
Map: 'USA_and_Canada' v665.1293

MacBook Pro - OSX 10.4.11 - Intel Core 2 Duo
Home - 1.5.106

 

[bkrell]

Maybe the ephemeris data that gets downloaded is wrong/stale and the GPS first tries searching for the sats at the (wrong) expected freqs, doesn't find them, and then has to do a full re-acquire. That would explain the delay.

I think you can unselect the QuickGPS download.

Tom

Yeah, maybe. Maybe, like everything else, TomTom just got a bit ahead of itself? I dunno. I'll keep trying a bit longer.

 

[millman22]

First - I'm not sure I'm running a TomTom ONE that's compatible with the gpsfix software because I can't seem to verify if gpsfix is installed and when I launch Home it says that everything is up to date.

Heck, I'm not even sure which TomTom ONE model I own. On the bottom of the unit it says tomtom ONE (4N00.005).

Can anyone tell me which model I own (so I'll know from now on) and then if gpsfix is compatible and how to download it because the Home software isn't any help.

Also - I think my maps are out of date and I'd like to know how to download the latest version as well.

App 7.1.62 (8492/071121) OS:2327
29 MB RAM
GPS v1.21, Boot 5.3026
Map: 'USA_and_Canada' v665.1293

MacBook Pro - OSX 10.4.11 - Intel Core 2 Duo
Home - 1.5.106

wilder212, you had Tomtom one Limited ED(same as 2nd ED).

Did you use Home 2.1 ?
Also you can update your map to V710 (30day limit).

 

[ceedee]

More HOME issues

I'm a noob too. I didn't know about V2 of HOME until you mentioned it in your reply to TomTom Newbie. I was following his questions because, like him, I'm a Mac user. Is V2 just for Windows?

I downloaded HOME for TomTom ONE and GO this morning. The software does not recognize my device as the ONE, but as the GO. Does this matter?

Thanks in advance for advice.

 

[vwsteve]

When I tried to run the quickGPSfix on my TomTom One 3rd Ed. I get an error saying it cannot create the file K:/epham or something like that....I'm assuming it is not compatible with the 3rd Ed. but it would be nice if they tell you that so you know something is not wrong...

 

[Pedro2NR]

When I tried to run the quickGPSfix on my TomTom One 3rd Ed. I get an error saying it cannot create the file K:/epham or something like that....I'm assuming it is not compatible with the 3rd Ed. but it would be nice if they tell you that so you know something is not wrong...

Delete the actual ephem folder from your ONE using windows explorer.
When downloading the quickfix, HOME will recreate the folder for you and install it correctly.

 

[rms2005]

Problem solved. I think that it was going from le to xl.I had uninstalled and reinstalled with no help but then tried again and also deleted all of the tomtom files,reinstalled home and first thing up was "GPSfix" now the xl is like going from dial up to t1.

 

[Jim101]

Am I reading this thread right, every week you have to hook your TT to the PC so the home program can load down a "GPS fix"? Every week?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[User Name]

Heck, I hook mine up every couple of days it wants to download a new "GPS fix" almost everytime for some reason. It doesn't seem to hurt, it locks on quick.... even in the house while I'm using it on the 'puter.

 

[Jim101]

What does GPS fix do?
So, if you and your TT are away from the PC for 3 weeks you won't be able to aquire any sats.? That can't be right....

Jim

 

[Pedro2NR]

gps fixes will tell your unit where the satellites are located.
You have to constantly download these to improve your fix.

 

[subyroo]

What does GPS fix do?
So, if you and your TT are away from the PC for 3 weeks you won't be able to aquire any sats.? That can't be right....

Jim

I'm curious about this GPS fix too.
Now people go touring the countryside all over the world and not everybody takes a laptop PC or has access to a PC with TT Home on it throughout their travels so what happens to their TT?

Does it take longer to locate the satellites - does it lose accuracy - what exactly takes place if the GPS fix is not updated for a few weeks or months?

 

[Jim101]

Subyroo,

That's what it sounds like......The TT will aquire the sats. after you download a weekly "fix" telling the TT where the sats. are..... Tell me that's not true. Do the other GPS systems do this as well?

Thanks,

Jim

 

[tomlouie]

The short answer is "No, the GPSfix download isn't mandatory. It just helps".

The slightly longer answer is that the GPSfix download gives the GPS unit data that it would have had to download itself from satellites. GPSfix saves the unit some time to get a lock.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gps.htm has a lot of good info.

Tom