Absolutely yes, the antenna must see the sky, not the ceiling. Even very sensitive GPS receivers must have a good view of the sky for the first fix, then you can bring the antenna indoor. You can try positioning the antenna very near a window for just a test but better a good view. The car roof is okay but you must wait several minutes (12 minutes at most) to let the receiver download the almanac.
On Sat, Jan 7, 2012 at 1:54 AM, Don Lewis <dlewis6...@austin.rr.com> wrote: > Maybe I didn't take positioning seriously. > > The antenna is currently on a shelf above my workbench, ....there is a > ceiling and an upstairs above it. Then the roof. > > Is it very critical to be outside in order to 'see' the sky? > > I did take it out once and set the antenna on my car roof, ....but still no > satellites. > > > -Don > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: time-nuts-boun...@febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-boun...@febo.com] On > Behalf Of bownes > Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 6:49 PM > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > Cc: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] Getting my Rockwell D200 GPS to work > > Step one...is the antenna in a location where it can see they sky? > > Sorry if it is a stupid question but you already said it was plugged in. :) > > > > On Jan 6, 2012, at 19:24, "Don Lewis" <dlewis6...@austin.rr.com> wrote: > > > Can someone please give me some pointers (my first time with a GPS > module). > > > > > > > > A little hand-holding, pls. > > > > > > > > I bought three of these Rockwell D200 GPS receivers. (It's little GPS PWB > > with an antenna connector and pins for connecting to the RS232- PC) > > > > > > > > All three 'appear' to work the same way (no apparent capture of > satellites). > > > > > > > > Here's what I have: > > > > > > > > 1. VisualGPS installed and running. > > 2. A small USB-RS232 card installed and appears to be operational. > > 3. Small GPS active antenna plugged in. > > 4. VisualGPS monitor just repeatedly displays: > > $GPGGA,,,,,,0,00,,,,,,,*66 > > 5. I think I understand this to be NMEA code to mean no satellites > have > > been acquired. > > 6. The Rockwell D200 draws ~180ma (5V) with no antenna and ~190ma with > > the small active antenna plugged in. > > > > > > > > What am I doing wrong? Other than maybe cheap china gps' and antenna??? > > But it is what I could afford and thought it would be cheap to learn on. > > > > > > > > Thanks for your help. > > > > > > > > -Don > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > > and follow the instructions there. > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.