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Sat Nav - FAQ |
Sat Nav frequently asked questions
I cannot get the sat nav to lock on to any satellites
The first few times your unit is used it takes up to 30 minutes to calibrate itself and find the satellites – after this it should only take a few minutes after you turn on. Satellite navigation units need a clear view of the sky and will not work indoors. Place it on your vehicle's dashboards so that there is a clear line-of-sight to the sky. Battery powered units will not work effectively when the battery is low. Try powering the unit from the car's cigar lighter socket to ensure your problem isn't a low battery. Some car windscreens reflect UV rays to reduce glare. These are called 'arthermic', and will not let the satellite signals through – if the vehicle has this type of windscreen, and external aerial is required.* Click here for more information. To determine whether your car has an athermic windscreen, take your GPS receiver out of the car, (when it's not raining and you have a clear view of the sky) switch it on and see if it gets a satellite lock. Then place the unit on the car, shut the windows and sunroof. Wait a few minutes to see if it keeps the signal or looses it. If the unit looses the satellite signal, you have an athermic windscreen and will need an external aerial to use the unit.
Sometimes my sat nav unit freezes or stops completely
Sometimes data needs to be written to the unit's memory card. Make sure the little switch on the side of the card is not set to the locked position.
Some roads appear to be missing or wrong
Just as a map book can contain errors or be out of date after roads are built or changed, so can the map information in your satellite navigation unit. To update your unit, please go the the manufacturer's website – see below for details.
Who can I contact with a further problem?
Satellite navigation units are rarely faulty – if you are still stuck and this guide hasn't helped, please try calling the manufacturer's helpline before returning the unit as there may well be a simple solution to your problem.