Does anyone have a Thinkware F770 fitted in their RRS that is slow to 'lock-on' to a GPS signal?

When I start the car and the F770 goes into continuous recording mode, the GPS light flashes for about 10 minutes before it finally reports that the GPS is connected and this is before I start my journey. If I start my journey before the GPS is reported as connected, often the GPS light flashes for the whole journey. Is this normal?

I initially suspected that it may be the heated windscreen or location of the unit on the screen that may be partially blocking the GPS signal but I have checked the GPS signal strength when it is connected using the mobile app and it reports that it has a strong signal, so I am not sure why it takes so long to “lock on” to the GPS signal.

This is not a recent issue, I have had the F770 fitted for over a year now and it has always been very slow to “lock on” to the GPS signal from new, taking from 10 to 20 minutes with the car stationary.

Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.

I’ve got the 770 & sometimes it connects to gps within a few minutes & other times it takes 7-10 minutes.When I had it in my14 SC it would usually take about an hour before connecting to gps,I’m sure it has something to do with the windscreen,if you open the sunroof it does connect quicker. Andy.
21 Ford Ranger
Gone but not forgotten
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2014 RRS SC Santorini
2016 VW Amarok
2014 RRS AB Fuji
2012 RRS Red Edition Fuji
2015 Nissan Navara
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I've had a Road Angel HD cam for a few years. It's always been very slow to find a GPS signal. I've been on several journeys where it hasn't picked up a signal at all.

I think the reasons that that been mentioned above are all factors, including the geographical location. Barrie.
2017-Jan 2024: 2005 RRS 2.7TDV6. Best car I ever had - until now!
Current: 2018 Ford Ranger Wildtrak 3.2

Tyrefitter wrote:

I’ve got the 770 & sometimes it connects to gps within a few minutes & other times it takes 7-10 minutes.When I had it in my14 SC it would usually take about an hour before connecting to gps,I’m sure it has something to do with the windscreen,if you open the sunroof it does connect quicker.

Hi Andy, thanks for the reply. Seems that it is not just me then. I agree that it could be the windscreen, perhaps the heating wires are distorting the GPS signal? But if that was the problem, I would expect the 770 to report a low GPS signal strength when checked using the mobile app. Once my 770 has locked on to the GPS signal and the green light stops flashing it always reports a strong signal?

I have contacted Thinkware Technical Dept and I am awaiting a reply. I will post the reply on here to inform others

Steve

But the mobile app is not attached to the screen?  2023 P440e SE Dynamic on order -cancelled

2022 HSE Dynamic P400e

2017 Discovery 3.0 HSE Silicon Silver Nimbus interior and a few extra toys SOLD

2013 HSE Black, Orkney Grey, Ebony Seats and Ivory Interior SOLD

2006 HSE

Plus a few other cars inbetween!

The mobile app connects via WiFi to the Dashcam, you can then use the mobile app to change settings, view recordings and check the GPS signal strength received by the Dashcam

My 770's exactly the same in this part of the world, sometimes locks on straight away, other times up to 10 mins. Has been like it all the time from new (3-4 years) even in UK. Might try it with sunroof open to see if that makes any difference on mine just out of curiosity.

Cheers
Col

Mine is exactly the same. Had similar problems with both Jags I owned prior to the RRS- simply down to the elements in the heated windscreen There is a very narrow path that is unaffected in a line downwards from the centre of the rearview mirror, but my Thinkware has clearly missed this! On my XFR my dashcam was sucker-mounted so could be moved easily and with that I found that just a cm out would be the difference between a GPS signal or not. 2013 L494 5.0 SC in Chile Red

Have you thought about buying a GPS repeater?

Something like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/SBG-190-Re-radiat...B001UI4Z2A 2023 P440e SE Dynamic on order -cancelled

2022 HSE Dynamic P400e

2017 Discovery 3.0 HSE Silicon Silver Nimbus interior and a few extra toys SOLD

2013 HSE Black, Orkney Grey, Ebony Seats and Ivory Interior SOLD

2006 HSE

Plus a few other cars inbetween!

I believe that it is the heating elements in the windscreen that interfere with the gps signal. Mine was always the same, could take up to 10mins to connect, but since moving the F770 to the Lexus it connects within seconds.

Exactly right, that's why you need a repeater in the car positioned away from the front screen to "rebroadcast" the GPS signal.  2023 P440e SE Dynamic on order -cancelled

2022 HSE Dynamic P400e

2017 Discovery 3.0 HSE Silicon Silver Nimbus interior and a few extra toys SOLD

2013 HSE Black, Orkney Grey, Ebony Seats and Ivory Interior SOLD

2006 HSE

Plus a few other cars inbetween!

Many thanks for all the replies which has confirmed that it is the heated front screen that is causing the problem, not the F770

I will investigate installing a GPS repeater as suggested

If you find and install a GPS repeater that fixes the issue, do post any results as probably be quite a few people who would be interested.

I have the twin camera Thinkware 770, connects within seconds.....no Heated Screen In Spain - 2018 F Pace - Frightened away from the Sports due to crank failures
Gone - A couple of RRS, A couple of Disco's. However thinking of another Sport.

Evo5man wrote:

Many thanks for all the replies which has confirmed that it is the heated front screen that is causing the problem, not the F770

I will investigate installing a GPS repeater as suggested