Anyone else experience reception problems with handheld GPS's in their RRS? I have a Garmin Zumo 500 fixed to the windshield with the suction mount. The Zumo often gives up with an “Are you indoors” error. Holding it outside the vehicle, almost always result in instantaneous satellite lock on. I do not have the same issue in my other vehicles. (Prado / Audi A8) I've read somewhere that some vehicles (Renault if memory serves me right) have some or other coating in their windshields often causing GPS reception issues and I was wondering if the RR has the same kind of windshield?

It might have something to do with the heated front windscreen element. 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
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Do they have heated screens in South Africa?

Good point.

Do you have heated front screens in SA? 2005 Zambezi TDV6 - Gone but not forgotten
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I doubt it. I suppose it’s one of those things one would know if one have it? Sorry for sounding stupid and being ill-informed.[/url]

You would have a button on the dash and lots of very small lines in your screen.

Some solar reflective glass acts as a good insulator for radio waves, maybe that is the type of glass used in SA?

Im sure they do..... We have heated seats all round plus windscreen and this is Texas (Hot & Humid 90% of the time, 76F today so its "cold" and its raining).... think is just Std kit on any RRSsc. Now what I need is A/C for the seats

Checked the manual to see what the button looks like. We don't have it in RSA. (I suppose LR had to leave something out - just about all options are standard on the RR's coming to RSA, apart from heated seats (and windshields )

Check your screen though as the elements may be standard even if they are not connected.

Could the problem be that because the Zumo is specificaly designed for use on a Motorbike (effectively outside), rather than cars, that the arial isn't up to being enclosed in a car. The car acts like a Faraday Cage and if the windsheild has reflective coating (often contains metals), too keep heat out, then the effect is even greater. This is the same reason that devices like mobiles don't always work well in certain buildings where the metal girder construction again acts like a Faraday Cage blocking the signals. - Most Garmin units for cars have an optional external arial available but I don't think there is one for the Zumo.

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I don't think the Zumo's design is at fault, since it works well in my Audi A8 and Toyota Prado. I suppose the RR windscreen is to blame then. The Zumo will take an external remote antenna, but that will obviously mean an extra cable lying around in the cockpit, which I suppose we all hate.

Older GPS Receivers were often affected by athermic windscreen coatings or heated windscreens but the Zumo has a SiRFStarIII chipset which should not suffer such issues.

Can you pull up the GPS Signal Page and tell me how many satellites are reported in the RRS, it certainly sounds like a reception problem but it shouldn't be happening? Darren Griffin
Editor
PocketGPSWorld.Com

Unfortunately the Zumo does not have a GPS Signal page. The Zumo must be just about the only Garmin without such a page.

DarrenG wrote:

Older GPS Receivers were often affected by athermic windscreen coatings or heated windscreens but the Zumo has a SiRFStarIII chipset which should not suffer such issues.