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.

[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:

• [Dear Guest/Member you can't see link before replyclick here to register]
• [Dear Guest/Member you can't see link before replyclick here to register]
• [Dear Guest/Member you can't see link before replyclick here to register]
• [Dear Guest/Member you can't see link before replyclick here to register]

All updates must be done via Garmin's webupdater, the latest version is here: [Dear Guest/Member you can't see link before replyclick here to register]

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