funny GPS

[eupa]

(here is the full spec - i got it via my US system for 89$ and landed in Europe
all taxes and cost paid about 50quid. new.( retails in the UK for about 110 quid)

Item Detail





Name:
TN-200 USB GPS
Item#:
TN200
Price/ea.
$112.99




The TripNav TN-200 GPS Receiver has improved accuracy by utilizing WAAS-capable GPS positioning when connected to your Laptop or PowerBook or iBook's USB port. Travel positions are updated in real-time on your laptop with use of your own street or navigational mapping software.

TripNav is fully NMEA-compliant and employs the powerful SiRF IIe low-power chipset imbedded into its internal design that requires up to 75% less power to operate than comparable technologies with quick cold-start times of less than 45 seconds while enhanced technology also provides improved tracking in weak signal areas.

The TripNav TN-200 is a 12-channel GPS receiver which includes a built-in LED that indicates satellite acquisition status: Flashing RED indicates searching for satellites, while solid RED indicates satellites are in view and data is being received.

The TripNav TN-200 GPS Receiver is designed to plug into any laptop's USB port without the need of an additional source for power! Forget dealing with extra batteries, keyboard pass-through cables or 12VDC cigarette lighter adapters, because power and data are both transmitted through a single cable connected to the USB port! The 60" cable with a suction cup clip and the water-resistant housing with a built-in magnet allows flexibility for in-vehicle or external placement.

Features:

Supports Windows & Mac OSX !!
"SiRF Star-II high performance and low power consumption chipset
WAAS capabled engine board for greater accuracy
All-in-view 12-channel parallel processing
Built-in active antenna
High sensitivity to satellite signal
Superior urban canyon performance
FoliageLock for weak signal tracking
Build-in SuperCap to reserve system data for rapid satellite acquisition
Supported NMEA 0183 command: GGA, GSA, GSV, RMC, GLL, VTG
Super-cohesive magnetic for mounting on the car with non-slip on the bottom
USB interface connection port
LED indicator for GPS fix:
LED OFF:GPS receiver is off, LED FLASHING: No fix, searching for GPS signal, LED ON: Position fixed, GPS receiving signal
Specifications:

Electrical Characteristics (Receiver)

GPS Chipset: SiRF StarII

Frequency: L1, 1575.42 MHz

C/A Code: 1.023 MHz Chip rate

Channels: 12

Sensitivity: -170dBW



Accuracy

Position Horizontal: 15m 2D RMS (SA off)

Velocity: 0.1m/ sec 95% (SA off)

Time: 1 micro-second synchronized to GPS time

WAAS: 10m 2D RMS

[Swifty]

I do believe dear chap that WAAS (or Wide Area Augmentation System) is for the yanks. It dont work over here. We Brits have EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service) which is not yet fully up and running.
My Navman was constantly messing about until I turned off EGNOS.

Tim'mers.

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by eupa

Software problem? NO - same soft on another laptop
Connectivity problem? NO - no as it worked later without any adjustmen

Have you never had any sort of intermittent Windows/USB problem? I know I have. Did you reboot the laptop?

Antenna problem? NO - transmitter is in the antenna itself

Is there any way its view of the sky could have been obscured?

User error? NO - I am not a bloody moron

Oh, I hadn't realised that you are an infallible superhuman, incapable of making a mistake. Sorry!

Used another portable in the house 6 hours later- no detection

If you really were in the house, then there's every chance that it wouldn't see any satellites.

Bottom line though, since you appear to have ruled out any other problem, is that either the entire GPS constellation was switched off, or your "dirt cheap" GPS isn't very good. I know where I'd put my money!

John

[eupa]

John - thanks for feed back

YES I AM A BLOODY MORON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"when waas is enabled" - it wont detect and I had switched the WAAS function on by mistake- and of course waas was trying to correct a signal-
but couldnt find anything as waas does not exist outside the US. Swifty gave me the clue... Of course it takes a "great man " to admit a mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sincerely mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Jonathan

[John Kennett]

Glad you got it sorted!

John

[eupa]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Have you never had any sort of intermittent Windows/USB problem? I know I have. Did you reboot the laptop?Is there any way its view of the sky could have been obscured?Oh, I hadn't realised that you are an infallible superhuman, incapable of making a mistake. Sorry! If you really were in the house, then there's every chance that it wouldn't see any satellites.

Bottom line though, since you appear to have ruled out any other problem, is that either the entire GPS constellation was switched off, or your "dirt cheap" GPS isn't very good. I know where I'd put my money!

John

( see further reply)

on usb - use the system set up/device manager to check USB/com ports (xP
pro)- problems if any can esily be fixed by using the advanced porrt settings
buttons.

as regards sitting in the house with another laptop- chucked the attena out of a skylight window. Just one thing that amazes me is that most of the GPS's I know are working at only 4800 buad- seems very slow when my adsl is up to 3 mega now

Anyway read the previous post and you will see its not the "dirt cheap" GPS
just a cracked up human being trying to be clever.

jonathan

[Swifty]

Glad you got it sorted.

By the way mine's a pint...

Tim'mers.

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by eupa

John - thanks for feed back

YES I AM A BLOODY MORON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"when waas is enabled" - it wont detect and I had switched the WAAS function on by mistake- and of course waas was trying to correct a signal-
but couldnt find anything as waas does not exist outside the US. Swifty gave me the clue... Of course it takes a "great man " to admit a mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sincerely mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

Jonathan

Hmmm. WAAS not detected --> should fall back to uncorrected GPS function.
Should not lock everything out.

My Garmin does this at least.


jky

[eupa]

Hmmm. WAAS not detected --> should fall back...

My Garmin does this at least.

jky

I think the problem is a relative new chipset. and dont forget the tripnav fits on your thumb nail and perhaps the makers havnt thought about backward europe.
Garmin units are monsters compared to this thing- the usb cartridge reader on my garmin 2010 is twice as big

jonathan