TomTom GPS Help

[bumbo]

Hey guys

Bought TomTom a few days ago and been trying to use it but I've never been locked onto a GPS signal.

I've tried it everywhere - in my car, standing outside with no tall buildings around anywhere, at home. Nothing works. I was standing around outside for about 20 minutes waiting and still nothing!!

It won't lock onto where I am and all routing options give me the 'No GPS fix' error message.

Other apps, POI Lite and Speedometer - both dependent on GPS - don't work either but Google Maps is perfect.

Anyone else having the same problem? Any ideas on a solution? The TT help website isn't exactly brimming with assistance ideas...

Thanks

 

[dhy8386]

Restore phone from a backup. This seems to fix the prob

 

[ddrueckhammer]

Restore phone from a backup. This seems to fix the prob

First try:
Settings->General-> Reset-> Reset Location Warnings

someone else on here said that might help.

Make sure your phone has a clear view of the sky and is not in your pocket or something. I know this is obvious but there are people out there who don't know... Google Maps doesn't require the GPS chip to work I don't think as it can use the cell tower skyhook information to work even without GPS.

If restoring doesn't work take it to a genius. Your GPS chip may be bad.

 

[bumbo]

So I've done the reset Location Data, restored from backup and there seems to be a flicker of activity until I go to any navigate option where I am presented with the 'No GPS signal' error.

Is there anyway of seeing the GPS signal strength? Any app that does this?

Is the last option really restoring as a new phone?

I am really regretting buying TT at the moment...

 

[itsmequinn]

There has been a problem with the iphone GPS malfunctioning since 3.0 came out and I had always suspected that the introduction of more turn-by-turn apps would bring this problem to a head, since many people might not even know that their GPS was malfunctioning until they needed it for an application in which triangulation was simply not an acceptable form of location.

Go into the built-in apple maps app and see if your GPS ever locks on. You may get the blue circle but my guess is you never get the pulsing blue circle that indicates a GPS lock. I had this same problem too and I got my phone replaced to fix it. Only thing that would work.

 

[ddrueckhammer]

You could spend a couple more bucks and get Motion X GPS and see if it locks but I'm thinking there is something wrong with your chip. Take it to an Apple Store.

 

[bumbo]

So I installed Motion X Lite and went outside and waited. Next to a field with a clear view of the sky and nothing but houses around me. I'm in a large seaside city. It FINALLY murmured a GPS signal but didn't get past 2 red bars for a weak signal and the Long and Lat both remained with a "?" after the number.

Still no pulsating blue pin on maps. Luckily Apple have just opened a store here so I'll book myself in with a Genius tomorrow and see what's what.

My fear is they'll say the GPS IS working if it's locating a weak signal and I'm stuck with TomTom that's useless to me.

 

[ddrueckhammer]

So I installed Motion X Lite and went outside and waited. Next to a field with a clear view of the sky and nothing but houses around me. I'm in a large seaside city. It FINALLY murmured a GPS signal but didn't get past 2 red bars for a weak signal and the Long and Lat both remained with a "?" after the number.

Still no pulsating blue pin on maps. Luckily Apple have just opened a store here so I'll book myself in with a Genius tomorrow and see what's what.

My fear is they'll say the GPS IS working if it's locating a weak signal and I'm stuck with TomTom that's useless to me.

Wierd. I have had nothing but strong GPS around my area. I guess there could be holes in reception just like cellular networks but since it is satellite based that seems unlikely. I know you wouldn't want to spend the extra money on the TomTom cradle but it might be worth buying and taking back when it comes out to see if it improves reception. Also, maybe you could get ahold of a stand alone GPS unit to test out? Maybe there is interference of some sort.

 

[bumbo]

Just wanted to say thanks for the advice guys and put some closure here!

Went to the Apple Store where my genius opened maps on mine and his iphone. his locked onto a gps signal within 3 seconds whereas mine thought about where i was and gave up. eventually decided i was within a 25 mile radius of where i was rather than the actual position shown on his!

so my phone has been replaced and i'm just restoring and syncing now to get back on track. i'll re-try TomTom tomorrow and see if it's any better.

bottom line - go to the store!! those guys are uber helpful!