GPS won't find satellites...

[Bill M.]

My Garmin 770 has become almost useless because each time it is turned off it takes it a long time to fine satellites...up to 1/2 hoursor sometimes just not at all until the next trip or next day. I looked on the internet and found that one should check the settings. I did and clicked the box to turn the satellites off and then un clicked it. It immediately found the satellites. The next time I tried to use it it took 10 minutes to come up. Is there a know solution other than to just replace it? Is the 890 a good unit to get?

[Waterbeach]

As a compromise I purchased a Dual GPS 150 unit which links to Ipad via Bluetooth, and found it very reliable so far. Then use a rv mapping app on the ipad. Cost $150 in Canada - a lot less in the US!

[Acheron2010]

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/r.../best-car-gps/

[richard5933]

I've found on my Garmin GPS units that I have to clear the cache from time to time. I use the features that remember where we've been, and as this fills the memory the performance of the unit in general gets worse.

[B17drvr]

Clear the cache. Also, it may need a firmware update (it does that when you do the nav database update).
I had a 760 an recently upgraded to the RV 890 and it is a great unit.

[Bill M.]

Thanks for the help. I updated the software. That did not fix it. I will reset the unit and empty everything. And...I placed an order for the 890. My hope is that I can get the older unit working to use in my wife's car. For me and my truck I have become completely dependent on the GPS. I use it for my speed since the speedometer on this truck is more difficult for me to read, especially with my sunglasses on which is almost all the time now.

[richard5933]

There is an item in buried in the menu to delete the data it memorized about the routes, etc. Not necessary to do a reset to clear the cache. I'd look for it on my unit, but I'm overseas right now and not near it.

[InvertdEagle]

Others have mentioned the cache…clear that. Note that GPS units rely on their internal battery to keep a copy of the downloaded satellite ephemeris data in memory - so long as there is sufficient battery power to do so. Keeping a copy of the ephemeris data allows the GPS to ‘quick start’ without first having to download a copy of the ephemeris data from the satellites. That’s why for a ‘cold start’, GPS startup and initial lock-on can take a long time. It’s because it has to re-download the ephemeris data. So…long story short…if your older GPS battery goes completely flat, then it could take a longish time to startup and get a satellite lock.

On a more positive note…you’ll like the RV 890. It’s a good unit. You don’t need to buy the optional traffic receiver (I did) as long as you link it to your cell phone which needs to be running the companion Garmin software. It’ll get the traffic info from your phone and send it to the 890. If you rely only on the optional traffic receiver, it only gets traffic in the ‘big cities’…so kind of worthless for pure RV travel.

[InvertdEagle]

Also…one more thing for the 770. You mentioned you ‘turn it off’. On the 890 (and I’m assuming that the 770 works the same way), when you push the power button on the side to “turn off” the unit, there is a shutdown message that shows up on the screen. You have to ‘long press’ that shutdown message to actually turn off the unit. If you just use the button on the side, the screen will go dark but the unit is actually still “on” and will discharge even a fully charged battery in short order.

[SpikePoet]

bought an 890 before we took our first trip two years ago. very user friendly and valuable to us. has re-routed us around low bridges, and restricted load limited roads where we were too heavy. also appreciate the automatic updates, including the campground lists. am considering adding their linked rear camera to replace the AS stock camera (eliminate a needless additional display.) don't use garmin weather or traffic in favor of cellphone apps.
Spike

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

each time it is turned off it takes it a long time to fine satellites..?

Try turning it ON to find satellites?

[Bill M.]

I have the gps hooked to a power source that stops when the truck is off. The unit displays the turn off message and then turns off. Used to be when I restarted the truck the unit would come on and be ready to go. Then it started acquiring satellites each time. And now it says "acquiring satellites" for up to 30 min if it finds them at all. Went 3 days of "acquiring satellites" before I posted on the forum. I do think maybe from reading all the answers in this discussion the battery in the unit may have become weak.

[IanPoulin]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

Thanks for the help. I updated the software. That did not fix it. I will reset the unit and empty everything. And...I placed an order for the 890. My hope is that I can get the older unit working to use in my wife's car. For me and my truck I have become completely dependent on the GPS. I use it for my speed since the speedometer on this truck is more difficult for me to read, especially with my sunglasses on which is almost all the time now.

Bill -- When this happens with my unit, I startup the iphone Drive app, which connects traffic information to the unit; and also uploads current GPS, which in turn allows it to immediately connect to satelites.

Ian

[InvertdEagle]

Originally Posted by Bill M.

I have the gps hooked to a power source that stops when the truck is off. The unit displays the turn off message and then turns off. Used to be when I restarted the truck the unit would come on and be ready to go. Then it started acquiring satellites each time. And now it says "acquiring satellites" for up to 30 min if it finds them at all. Went 3 days of "acquiring satellites" before I posted on the forum. I do think maybe from reading all the answers in this discussion the battery in the unit may have become weak.

If you just let the unit ‘turn off’ when you power down your vehicle, the the 770 isn’t really “off” yet. It’s more like in screen saver mode. You have to actually long press the shutdown message on the screen for it to actually turn off. Press the power button on the side until the shutdown message appears on the screen. Then long press the shutdown message on the screen to actually power down the Garmin.

[DrivingDan]

I work in R&D for some equip that includes a GPS, so have spent much time with these devices. Main thing that gives poor performance is signal strength. For best conditions you need to be outside (not inside any metal box like a car, or a building of any form) with a free view to the sky (no obstructions of landscape or trees and such). If thats not good enough then upgrade to an external antenna, assuming the device supports it. Most of the time that’s the problem.

The built in antennas are rubbish and it doesn’t take much to kill your signal. We get nothing inside the building so have a special high gain antenna on the roof with a feed down to our desks for testing.

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

Bill, have you tried all of this trouble shooting and then contacting Garmin once complete if it continues to struggle?

https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?fa...Ak9EN1PyTFonN6