I'm on the verge of buying a TomTom Go, but am concerned that the GPS signal won't get through the windscreen.
Does anyone have 307 XSi and a TomTom Go and if so, can they confirm whether you get a signal and if so, where best to place the unit etc. I've been unable to find a definitive response from other posts / sites etc.
I asked the question of TomTom support but got a generic response about GPS not working with athermic windscreens. I think the 307 XSi has one of these, but they mentioned also that there "might" be a hold behind the mirror where the signal could get through. I'm not about to buy one just to try that out.
I know you can get aerials, but I don't particularly want extra wires in the car and I don't know where I could hide the external aerial on the roof and still make it look neat - especially as it's black and my car is silver.
If 307 / TomTom owners do have to use the extra aerial, can you suggest how best to fit / route it.
If anyone has any similar experience, please let me know.
This was a comment from somebody in last months PC-PLUS magazine, they had a
307 i think and the windscreen is made from an aluminium type substance. They could only use the gps system if attached near the drivers door, close to the quarter lite.
They ended up upgrading to a system with an aerial though.
Afraid I can't be more specific, I have forgotten the article, I will try and find it.
I've got a 406 Coupe, which has an athermic windscreen.
I've fixed my Tomtom Go to the bottom right of windscreen and it works well there. I did have it fitted to the driver's side door, but the pillar blocked the satellite signals.
Similarly, my Snooper radar-detector works with the same windscreen too.
I had a Garmin etrex legend and it was such a suprise to see that it has a very poor performance near the windscreen!! Luckily, mine is 307sw, so it had a far better reception from the roof glass, even through the hatch closed! This is how I had it operating fine.
Now I bought a Garmin gpsmap76c with an external antenna, which is far more sensitive.
Octavian
PS: yes, the statement about a better reception near the drivers door, close to the quarter lite is right. I tested it also with legend it that's what I noticed. however, it's a bit inconvenient to place the gps unit there.
I have found the article in last months PC-PLUS and have OCR'd it on my scanner, so do not be supprised if there are funny mistakes in it.
This is the article. Through the windscreen Your August issue (PC Plus 219) carried a Hardware Lab Test featuring GPS Kits, which I went straight to when your magazine popped through the door. I found this Lab Test an interesting read but, having been an iPAQ/GPS owner since 2002, your article missed two very important factors that other readers would need to consider if they're looking to purchase a GPS kit. I purchased my iPAQ 3850 when it was bundled with the original iNS (IPAQ Navigation System) and two problems immediately came to light. Firstly, no matter what I did, this GPS unit would not work when attached to my car windscreen and, secondly, when I did manage to get a signal, it took anything up to 10 minutes to get an initial fix on my current location. Your article gave the Editor's Choice award to the Navman iCN 630 v2, which I know wouldn't work as illustrated on the dashboard of my Peugeot 206. The reason for this is that Peugeot, and many other car manufacturers, put in heat-reflective windscreens to keep things cool in summer. However, heat-reflective windscreens also block GPS signals and prevent dashboard- or windscreen-mounted devices from working properly unless an external wired antenna is also fitted. My original problem was overcome by mounting my GPS device on the side window, as my hardware didn't accommodate an external antenna. When I wanted to wind down my window, off came the iPAQ and GPS unit and there went my signal! Today I'm using the same iPAO with a Bluetooth Sleeve and a Globalsat 308 GPS Unit that comes with an external antenna, and I can now have my iPAQ positioned discreetly on my windscreen, communicating via Bluetooth. With this new hardware comes a better TTF (Time To Fix) - measured in seconds as opposed to minutes - so when starting out or emerging from a tunnel, the device quickly re-establishes where it is and gets on with the directions. I'm seriously impressed with the iPAQ Navigation system running either TomTom or CoPilot software. Each title has its benefits but, given that I've had to speak to ALK Customer Service at least three times for problems I shouldn't really have encountered, puts the Co-Pilot Software second to TomTom. I used TomTom software a couple of weeks ago while navigating around the Lake District, and was able to find small, twisty roads bringing me alongside the lakes that, otherwise, I would have missed. Despite the little glitches from time to time, I wouldn't leave home now without my PAQ and GPS unit. I'd be lost without them. Martin O'Connell Editor, Ian Robson, replies: It seems that not all heat-reflective technology is the same. While Peugeot's windscreens feature aluminium-based heat-reflective coatings, which have an adverse affect on GPS signals, Saab's design is more sophisticated. Our reviewer reinforced his Editor's Choice recommendation by stating that, not only did the Navman work perfectly well in his Saab 93, but also in a number of other vehicles. The only way to be sure is to ask the car and/or GPS manufacturer for a compatibility list.
Regards, Andy
PS: - I know I probably have just broken several copyright laws.....
"webbo73" wrote in message news:sxSdd.152$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
I have a 307s Hatchback with Athermic Screen. You can mount the TTG beside the rear view mirror but the signal is patchy at best. I would strongly recommend you purchase the external aerial.
I have mine mounted on the right hand side of the windscreen adjacent to the door pillar. I run my power cable behind the dash and pop it up through the gearstick gaiter and plug it into the power socket there. I have run the aerial cable along inside the headlining seal to the rear of the car and have it mounted vertically in the void where the hinges are.
I get a very strong signal by doing this and the aerial receiver is not visible and therefore will not attract the light fingered!
In my opinion this box of tricks is one of the best things ever invented and I guarantee you will have no regrets buying one.
Thanks very much for that informative reply Nick - any chance you could reply to me offline so I can ask you some more detailed questions regarding the installation of the aerial etc.?
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