Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 10:48:14 EDT
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: GPS - what's best for 70 CT?
In a message dated 8/7/00 7:04:36 PM Central Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> currently using a trip mate receiver with my lib50 and have been having
> problems. it takes forever to initialize.
A few things to try first if you want.
1. Clean the battery contacts with a pencil eraser and put in known fresh
batteries. Tripmate and Earthmate both are very sensitive to low voltage
condition from either dirty contacts or old batts. Occasionally, a 12VDC
adapter cable that is old and about to break near the cig lighter plug will
cause the same problem.
2. Early tripmates are slower than later tripmates and all earthmates.
Probably a difference in the processor chip used. The newer the unit,
generally the faster and more efficient the processor chip in the unit.
Therefore, much newer unit means faster, more stable fixes, all other things
equal.
3. Put the tripmate somewhere it has a truly unlimited view of the sky and
boot the Lib. Car hood or roof, picnic table, etc. If it initializes
significantly faster, the location you are using it in the car is likely
shaded a little too much causing it to hunt for the most acceptable fix
using only half the satelite constellation. If shading is a problem, ALL
units will be slower to fix and accuracy will be less. Most people using
handhelds, earthmates, etc on the dash of a car have some shading problems
and do not realize it. Degraded accuracy, slower fixes, etc. Not bad enough
to be a annoying. Only way to really fix the shading problem is use a more
expensive handheld that will accept a remote antenna. Lot more money. The
remote antenna alone can cost as much as the eTrex or Earthmate.
If you have all the right cables, the eTrex apparently will output NMEA. If
the cost for eTrex and all cables is in line, I would try it. The one thing
the eTrex will not do is accept an external antenna to help with a shading
problem. Earthmate will not really help with a shading problem either
because it cannot be easily remote mounted. Some sporting goods stores have
good return policies. Find a good return policy before buying, be careful
with the packaging, take it back in a few days if it doesn't work well.
Alex H.
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