No Satellites on Windows 7 and Streets & Trips?

I have installed Microsoft Streets and Trips on a Dell M1330 running Windows 7 (a pretty close to final release version).

Purchased in Canada so I have the Navation receiver.

I can scan the ports and it sees the device but I am not getting any satellites. I am very close to a large window on the side of the house.

I am heading on a trip in 2 days and need to have this working.

Any tips for resolving the problem?

Yes:

- fill a cup or glass with your favorite beverage

- take the computer and GPS receiver outside

- make sure you sit them in a spot with a good clear view of as much of the sky as possible, including down towards the horizons

- connect the receiver to its USB cable, not directly to the computer's USB port

- set the receiver away from the computer a reasonable distance -- a foot or two is good

- sit yourself down in a comfy spot and relax for a few minutes while the receiver does what's called a cold start.

Trying to get the Microsoft GPS stick to cold start in the house is a losing proposition. It's not sensitive enough unless you happen to get it in just exactly the right spot ... if your house even has a "right spot" where GPS satellite signals can penetrate. Most houses don't. I have one but I found it using a much more sensitive receiver that already knew where my house is.

Go forth into the great out-of-doors and have patience, Grasshopper. Good locations will come to he who can wait.

...ken...

Oh yeah, a good spot is not necessarily near a window, large or small. In my house being near a window is precisely the wrong spot. My windows are somewhat energy efficient and they have some sort of coating that blocks the satellite signals. I actually get much better reception in the middle of the living room, or even in the basement, than I do right beside one of my large living room windows.

Just so ya know.

...ken...

Thanks Ken.
Very good post

Sure enuff I got it going right before your reply.
Likely the USB cable help and I was already down that path.
Not the most sensitive.

I'm glad you got it going.

Keep in mind that it's all relative. If you look in the forum about GPS Hardware I just did a comparison of three USB receivers including the new Microsoft stick. It's not a bad receiver at all. Marvin has been using his as his main receiver for a few weeks now, in T'rawna (that's Toronto, for the non-Canadian members) and is quite happy with it.

I don't think anyone has had much success trying to use it without the cable.

...ken...

I had read good reviews last year so I have to agree.

I thought it might have been my pre RC Win7.

All good now!

Hi Deemo,

:welcome: to Laptop GPS World.

• The new USB GPS Stick is indeed not the most sensitive GPS receiver available (due to its smaller size), but the physical design is better than the earlier GPS-500 unit included in Streets & Trips. This new one shouldn't break so easily.

• The long initial acquiring of satellites in your case had nothing to do with your Windows 7 RC, but it was likely related to not using the USB extension (the GPS receiver was exposed to more RF interference while being so close to your laptop).

What breaks easily on the GPS-500? I got that one with my S&T 2009. Also, working great with Windows 7 32 bit RC. I can't run 64 bit on my old Toshiba.

About to reinstall S&T keys to see if it is W7 friendly.

The Pharos 500 has an extra connection between the GPS module and antenna. This might be prone to stress. The uBlox (Navation 168) is all one piece. However the Pharos 500 extension cord is longer and more flexible.

Terry

Screech said:

And don't forget to give us feedback of your experiment