Chinese 2-din with no GPS signal

Hi everyone,

I have purchased a 2-din chinese DVD+GP+BT+IPOD unit. It's used but I'm 99% sure it is this one, as the software looks the same.
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So the first 4-5 days the GPS worked perfectly, then it began to lose signal every now and then for a few days, and after that it would take 15-20 minutes to find 5-6 satellites, and now it never connects, it only sees 1 satellite very rarely.

I have tried 4 different antennas, cause I thought the problem was coming from that area, but I had the same results. No signal almost.

I have tried with Garmin and 2 different versions of IGO, same results.

Any ideas of what could be the problem?

Thanks

Ricky G

Four different antennas and three different software builds all with the same problem, the common denominator here is the unit itself, it could be something simple like a loose plug or dry solder joint inside the unit, or a more serious hardware problem.

In the device menu is there any kind of GPS setup option, sometimes it will show what the device actually sees from the satellites, so you can rule out the GPS software?
Or you could try disconnecting from the power supply as this is the only way to properly reset these units.

Yeah, I have tried disconnecting the power supply, the radio antenna, everything! And I get nothing.
There is no GPS tools in the GUI that the unit comes with.

I have also installed Sirftech, and the tool sees the GPS ports, there are actually 2, one in port 1 with 4600 of baud rate, and also in port 2, with 9600 of speed. Both gives me readings of "messages NMEA", but 0 in "baudrate NMEA".

I get a reading of Latitude, longitudes and all that, but I don't really what all of this means.

Normally one com port is for the GPS application, and the other is for the device clock.

Do you actually see the nmea sentences, can you export them to a text file, believe it or not a lot of useful information is contained in them.

They usually start with $GP***

Grab a few seconds worth.

My wife has the car, so I'll do it tonight. Thanks for your replies!

Here are some screeshots of Sirftech.
What do you think? Doesn't look good, eh?

Thanks!

562056215622

Sorry for the late reply, 24hr bug!

HDOP 100 is not good, It should be nearer 1, I doubt there is anything you could do software wise other than try different antennas, which you tried already.

I would open up the unit (If not still under warranty) and check the GPS plug from the inside.