u-blox 5 GPS and Galileo reciever

That is what my computer says is on com port 3. Both Microsoft Streets & Trips and the Garmin Mobile PC that came installed with it recognize it, but won't receive signals from it. Is this a problem with the receiver, the software of Vista 64?

BTW, Toshiba support said, "What? A GPS built in? I've never heard of that..."

Did I miss part of this thread? What computer are you talking about?

Ah, you have one of the new Qosmio line (F55?) with built in GPS. Did you take it outside to make sure you had a signal. Does Mobile PC show satellites when you select the icon in the top right corner and then the GPS Info button?

Terry

Tom, could you provide a bit more info? What laptop is it? Does it say in its owner's manual that it comes with a built-in GPS receiver/antenna?

The software, Microsoft Streets & Trips, did it include a small "USB stick" that reads "Microsoft" on it? That would be an external GPS receiver/antenna. The USB GPS stick indeed contains a u-blox 5 chip, and it is GPS and Galileo network capable. If the software can recognize it, but no useful signal is being received, then as Terry says, take it outdoors to give it better signal. Also, if the USB GPS stick is plugged directly to your laptop, it may suffer from interference, and it may never acquire GPS fix. Use (the included?) USB extension cable to keep at least a small distance between the USB GPS receiver and your laptop PC.

Yes, it is the qosmio F55 series. I spent some time with Toshiba last night and the gal was unfamiliar with it. I'm not even sure where the sensor would be on the laptop itself, but she did confirm that it is built into the computer.

I have taken it outside, using different orientations, and it isn't picking up any signal.

The reciever I got with my MS S&T does work fine, but the cable is becoming frayed, so rather than buy a new one, I thought I'd use the reciever that is suppose to be in this laptop, if I can get it to work.

It may be that it is having trouble with Vista 64, but I can't find anything on that.

Some initial things to check (you may have already done these) are: (1) Make sure that your software is set to use COM3 rather than the virtual port that the external GPS was exposing. (2) Make sure COM3 port is set to 4800 bps, 8-bit, no parity.

You could also try something like VisualGPS, to check the actual NMEA sentences (if any) that are being output by the chip.

Mobile PC in GPS info mode should give you a hint of what the problem is. If it says 'Searching for Satellites, leave it with a good view of the sky for a while. As it is in cold start mode, it might take some time. You can check by the satellite bars whether something is happening. As Ken suggested in another thread, you can probably help it find you by using the 'New Location' button and narrow it down to your location on the map.

THe GPS antenna is probably located at the top of the screen.

Terry