Using GPS Device - in other countries

[kumsworld]

Hi,

Just got back from Vietnam, and brought over my garmin gps unit loaded with the Vietnam map, but cant seem to get it working. For some reason the garmin unit could not find any satellites. It was kinda disappointing, as I wanted to capture some POI's to be update here, but for the past 4 days, been trying to lock into a satellite seems impossible. Anyone with similar experience to share, or is there something which I have not done right. Am using Garmin 1460 unit by the way... thanks. :confused:

[lurkin]

Hmmm, sounds weird.....

My first question would be if your unit works in your country?

Second - did you travel by road or by air?
When traveling by air you have to allow some time for the unit to adjust itself to the new location. That can take some time.
Few weeks back I had a visitor from overseas whose Oregon took 4 hours to catch the satellite signal.
But as a contrary, he brought a new Nuvi 1490 for me, it captured the signal after less that 10 minutes.

And my third question is what happened to your unit after you returned back home?
Did it capture the signal immediately?

[kumsworld]

lurkin

Thanks for the reply. The unit works fine here (Malaysia). I had the unit switched off on board the plane. Switched it back on when I was in Vietnam. It was trying to acquire satellite for about 10 - 30 mins. On the satellite chart, there wasn't many present (1 or 2 but very weak signals) to begin with. After about 40 mins, I switched the unit off cause the unit keep prompting to say.. Unable to acquire socialites, and asked if i wanted to use it offline.

Like wise, I tried again a few days later, and the same issue. Like you said, maybe i should have keep it on for a few hours. When i got back to Malaysia, it did take a few good minutes ( 3- 5 mins) before the satellites were acquired and for it to be working again.

[sudaphan]

lurkin

Thanks for the reply. The unit works fine here (Malaysia). I had the unit switched off on board the plane. Switched it back on when I was in Vietnam. It was trying to acquire satellite for about 10 - 30 mins. On the satellite chart, there wasn't many present (1 or 2 but very weak signals) to begin with. After about 40 mins, I switched the unit off cause the unit keep prompting to say.. Unable to acquire socialites, and asked if i wanted to use it offline.

Like wise, I tried again a few days later, and the same issue. Like you said, maybe i should have keep it on for a few hours. When i got back to Malaysia, it did take a few good minutes ( 3- 5 mins) before the satellites were acquired and for it to be working again.

I had this kind of problem some months ago with C60Csx after a firmware update and only in another country.
It seem that the information give by the GPS (very weak signal) was not true because I selected a city (or waypoint) and received GPS informations to go there "on spot". After another update that was ok.
If it take to long to acquire satelilites, it's much more fast to use the initializing function.

[kumsworld]

Thanks sudaphan,

Am planning a road tirp up to phuket soon, am hoping that i will be able to use the gps to find my way around..hehe. will try to look for any updates from garmin website.

[lurkin]

Thanks sudaphan,

Am planning a road tirp up to phuket soon, am hoping that i will be able to use the gps to find my way around..hehe. will try to look for any updates from garmin website.

I have published most of the available updates here in the forum:


You can see links before reply
You can see links before reply
You can see links before reply
You can see links before reply

All updates must be done via Garmin's webupdater, the latest version is here: You can see links before reply

But be careful !!!
Once you establish the connection between your Nuvi and Garmin's updates, you will be offered a variety of updates available for your unit.
Select the firmware update only in the first step. Download the only the firmware update and once installed allow your Nuvi to reboot until you can see the Where To and Map screen.
After that re-connect your device again to the webupdater and download the other available updates.
In case you find another firmware update, do that as the next and reboot again.
Finally you may download the rest of the updates in one step.

Not observing this vital instructions may render your unit non-operational and would require a Garmin repair.

Good luck.

[kumsworld]

Thanks lurkin. Will give the update a go. Am preparing for bike road trip up to Phuket in Nov. Hope to contribute more POI's after the trip.

[maxcheam]

i had the same problem in Ho Chi Minh city centre. but once i'm out of the city, my GPS can lock to satellites already. weird..

[lurkin]

i had the same problem in Ho Chi Minh city centre. but once i'm out of the city, my GPS can lock to satellites already. weird..

Interesting...... On which device?
And what happens after you lock on out of HCMC and you return back to HCMC?

[maxcheam]

Interesting...... On which device?
And what happens after you lock on out of HCMC and you return back to HCMC?

I was using iPhone 3GS at that time. To be more specific, I can't get any satellites lock in District 1. But once I got out of D1 and got a lock, it's much easier to get a lock back in D1.

I was with another colleague where he's using HTC Touch HD and same thing happened to him. We were puzzled why we can't get a lock in D1. Perhaps the government put some kind of a device to interfere the reception. :P

[lurkin]

Oh you are talking about mobile phones? Well, a mobile phone remains a mobile phone, some of them are able to display maps (under certain circumstances).
Keep in mind that GPS chips and antenna's used in mobile phone devices are much less sensitive and accurate then those used on PND's.

I also could not get any satellite signal in Shanghai using my HTC with Garmin XT. The next time I came to Shanghai I brought mine GPSMAP 60CSx.
Logged on after 5 minutes search on exactly the same location.

IMHO the present generation of mobile phones equipped with GPS facilities is far from perfect. Even the slightest obstruction, no matter if high rised buildings or trees is enough to create havoc on the GPS screen.
Driving below the elevated highway or the Skytrain in Bangkok using my HTC mobile phone with Garmin XT software will produce an offset of more than 50 meters. The same track with Nuvi 1490 will only show a deviation if I get stocked in a traffic jam whereas the GPSMAP 60CSx will not cause any distortion.

It might be a coincident, the current satellite constellation, a weak satellite signal or any kind of obstruction but most certainly a mobile phone based navigation is not as reliable and precise as with a dedicated PND (personal navigation device).

[Ryo]

Hi maxcheam,

I don't think it is anything government matter. It is just a matter of how wide you can see the sky and you moved your iPhone from at least several hundreds kilometers away. Usually, GPS remembers each GPS satellites orbital information at the last used location. GPS will re-calculate latest orbital information based on the last position. (almanac information)

If you start to use GPS to far away from the last position, GPS is still trying to find satellites based on the last position. If it close, some of the satellites can be found but if it is too far away, it need to detect where and when I am. (Oldest GPS I have will always do it (built in 1991)). It takes long time for GPS to find out "Oh, I'm lost!" and then it will require a little shorter time to calculate "OK, then where am I and when it is?" . If you have very small open sky from your position such as Quan 1, it will take long time to find out that your GPS has moved. This issue happens on any big city will small open sky. Garmin GPS has ability to set new position to override automatic positioning.

Ryo

[Chuparuedas]

Maybe its the use of smartphones which causes the problem. The govt. does not block satellites. I got good reception in District 1 in August with an Oregon 450.

[Chuparuedas]

You wrote earlier in this thread:
If it take to long to acquire satellites, it's much more fast to use the initializing function.
Question: how to use that initializing function?

[sudaphan]

You wrote earlier in this thread:
If it take to long to acquire satellites, it's much more fast to use the initializing function.
Question: how to use that initializing function?

Please refer to your user manual

[jim red]

seriously?
that was some issue.. i'll be going to Vietnam at the end of this month. Hopefully my unit works fine....

[phnompenhpaul]

I had a good signal in HCMC (6-8 birds) all the time, even walking around D1 (Q1).
In Hong Thien Loc Hotel,on Pham Ngu Lao, I still got at least 3 or 4 birds, but the signal was probably reflected off other buildings because it was about 100m off.

Riding round in Vinasun taxis, the accuracy of the new HCMC street map was SPOT ON!:congrats:

I use the Garmin Legend HCx.

I can still use Garmin XT mobile on my Nokia, but lock on time is about 5 minutes, compared to 1 minute cold start on the Garmin dedicated unit.

As the others say, a phone GPS is a useful tool, but not a replacement for a dedicated GPS unit.

I'll also be there again later this month, and this time I'll have the tracklog on 1 second (sorry Lurkin):banghead:

Good luck with your ventures:ciao:

[Ryo]

Hi phnompenhpaul

Please don't forget to UNCHECK "lock on the road" option when you take a log.

thank you,

Ryo

[kumsworld]

Ok, for some reason my 1460 didnt pick up any signal in HMC. Will try to leave it switched on longer in the near future.

[Chuparuedas]

Hi phnompenhpaul

Please don't forget to UNCHECK "lock on the road" option when you take a log.

thank you,

Ryo

Hi
There is a difference however between 'navigate on/off road' (for navigating) and 'lock on road' for determing your position / logging. The first = ok; the second not ok.
BTW interval 3 seconds should be enough I think?
Cheers.

[Ryo]

Hi
There is a difference however between 'navigate on/off road' (for navigating) and 'lock on road' for determing your position / logging. The first = ok; the second not ok.
BTW interval 3 seconds should be enough I think?
Cheers.

1. "Navigate on/off road" is a switch to indicate destination as turn by turn navigation or direct straight line.

2. "Lock on road" is an option to record "your position from sensor" or "adjusted on the nearest road if it is not too far".

From the map creation point of view, setting "Yes" on option 2 will make tracklog almost unusable.

Interval 3 seconds is ok for not fast vehecle such as bicycles or walking. But, it is better to have 1 second interval for the faster vehecle. Then I can determine diameter of the roundabout, hair pin curve etc.

best regards,

Ryo

[Chuparuedas]

Hi Ryo,
Thanks.
Correct. That is what I meant.
In February you get my recordings in Cambodia with 3-sec interval from the bike.
Cheers

[bmbk]

Hi, i am new to this forum :cool:

Do you guys talk about converting devices or it illegal here ?, i want to buy in different country and flash them to use in local country.

[lurkin]

Hi, i am new to this forum :cool:

Do you guys talk about converting devices or it illegal here ?, i want to buy in different country and flash them to use in local country.

Since you accepted the forum rules I assume that you have noticed we do not accept any illegal content on this forum.