Touch Diamond GPS signal

[astrauss]

My wife's Touch Diamond does not like sitting in a windshield mounted cradle. When using it as a GPS this way, it get very little signal if any at all. Take it out of the cradle and hold in in your hand and it works perfectly. This is obviously not ideal when driving alone, which is exactly when she wants to be using the GPS.

Any tips/tricks/hints on ideal position/angle etc for best GPS use in a vehicle?

 

[Tsimo]

i have found that it works the best when lying flat. i think it has something to do with bigger reception area.

 

[astrauss]

Not very useful in the car though...

 

[Arthur]

Just a wild thought: maybe the cradle has some embedded metal that's acting like a faraday cage? Though I don't have a Diamond anymore (upgraded to Touch HD), my TD worked fine in the el-cheapo all-plastic cradle.

 

[astrauss]

Thanks, I check into that

 

[CORY]

FWIW I have an old garmin Etrex I use when walking in the bush. When driving I put it in a cradle or simply on the dash when driving. recently I encountered a weak/lost signal when in my SSangyong. No problem in my old BMW car or datsun bakkie. I phoned Boltons (Garmin people, v helpful and knowledgeable) and they suggested the windscreen had some kind of metal content in the glass for sun filtering. Theyre right, it works well against the OUTSIDE surface of windscreen, compared to inside. So I either get anew GPS w antenna or put my cradle on the bonnet! Should be OK at low sspeeds, I reckon

 

[astrauss]

Mmmmnnn.... the windows on this particular vehicle (Scenic) is tinted

 

[Arthur]

... or put my cradle on the bonnet! Should be OK at low sspeeds, I reckon

You'll need to fit a set of stabilising wings on the bonnet cradle; not good for washboard whoop-de-doo roads, though.

 

[LandyMan]

Mmmmnnn.... the windows on this particular vehicle (Scenic) is tinted

The tint shouldn't have an effect on it, but the comment about the metal lining is true. The same happens to the automated units for toll booths. In some cars you will see a little rectangle block underneath the mirror, where they cleared the metal for the toll receivers to fit in.

The same problems occur with GPS units through those types of windows

 

[astrauss]

... you will see a little rectangle block underneath the mirror, where they cleared the metal for the toll receivers to fit in....

I'll check it out tonight, thanks!