GPS signal booster kit ordered from China

I will post on here how it all works out and how easy it is to fit

Col wrote:

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.

UPDATE:

After all the feedback from the forum (many thanks everyone)and Thinkware Customer Support, it seemed conclusive that it was the heated front screen that was blocking the GPS signal.

So, I ordered a GPS signal booster kit from China (£7.76 on eBay) which arrived a couple of days ago. The booster kit comprises of an external antenna which has a magnetic base and an internal amplifier which has a USB cable connector for power. The external antenna and the internal booster are connected via a cable from each unit (with plenty of length for cable routing) which has a screw connector. I also ordered a power converter from 12v DV to 5v USB (£3.25 on eBay) so I could hardwire the internal amplifier into the car.

EXTERNAL ANTENNA



INTERNAL AMPLIFIER



POWER CONVERTER




Before deciding on how to hardwire the kit into the car and where to locate the external antenna, I decided to connect the kit and see what results I got. Prior to fitting of the booster kit the GPS connection time to my Thinkware F770 (with the car stationary) averages about 10 minutes, after connecting the booster kit the connection time is about 30 seconds, so I am very impressed with the results

I will update this thread again after I have semi-permanently fitted the components but so far so good

Very interesting,could you stick the external Ariel to the boot lid at the top out of sight with 3m double sided tape & same with internal one.? Andy.
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2014 RRS SC Santorini
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I would say from experience that it can be anywhere in the car as long as it has a reasonable view of the sky.

It does not need to be mounted outside the car. 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 was originally thinking about fitting the antenna externally on the front windscreen plastic scuttle just to the side and below the wiper arm mounting on the passenger side with some double sided tape. It would be less obtrusive there and would still get a good view of the sky. I could feed the cable under the scuttle and through the front firewall into the cabin.

But I might try a temporary internal fix on the plastic tray between the rear quarter fixed glass and the retractable boot cover

I will post the results on here

Excellent, look's like will be ordering one.

Cheers
Col

Evo5man wrote:

But I might try a temporary internal fix on the plastic tray between the rear quarter fixed glass and the retractable boot cover

I will post the results on here

I am sure it will work inside.  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!

Interesting thread. For what its worth, I've had a double cam Thinkware F770 for a few years now and most of the time its connected to GPS within a minute or so - so before I've even got out of my drive. But just occasionally it has a delay of about 5 minutes. And yes, I do have heated screen elements. Robin
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Hi Robin,

Thanks for your input to this thread

Out of interest, where do you have the F770 positioned on the front screen? I have been wondering for a while now if the positioning of the F770 on the screen has any impact on the satellite "lock-on" time?

Does anyone know if the heated screen elements extend into the 'hatched' area above the rear view mirror? Could it be that placing the body of the F770 in the 'hatched' area with the camera lens viewing angle just below the 'hatched' area would give a better GPS 'fix'?

Thanks again

Does this help?

Obviously you don't want the camera to be looking through the hatched area

Click image to enlarge

Thanks for the quick reply

The location of the F770 in your car seems to support the theory that placing the unit as near to the top of the screen in the 'hatched' area without interfering with the camera view MAY improve the GPS reception strength.

My F770 takes about 10 minutes to 'lock on' and here is where mine is located.



I have had a good look at the front screen heating wires but cant see if the wires extend into the hatched area above the rear view mirror. Probably need a good frost on the screen and see where it clears. It could be that if the heating wires do stop at the edge of the hatched area that is why your F770 'locks on' so much quicker than mine

I think you're right. However, just had a quick look at mine and it looks to me like the heating elements do go into the hatched area. I think I can see them glinting a bit in the sun - but it could be my imagination.

I just mounted my cam as high as I could without the hatching interfering with the view from the camera. Robin
2008 Range Rover Sport TDV8
Gone:
Jaguar S-Type V8 4.2 Sport
MGZTT 190 2.5

Mine is located here, sometimes connects straight away, other times forever especially if on the move. At one point if I remember correctly it was o.k. but since had screen replaced (twice) it has got worse.




Cheers
Col

Hi Col,

Thanks for your contribution to this thread

The location of your F770 inside the windscreen hatched area does not support the developing theory that location has a direct relationship with GPS signal strength

The GPS amplifier I purchased seems to be the way to go for me

I will update the thread when I have done a temporary installation with the antenna located inside the vehicle to see what the signal strength is like and what the satellite ‘lock on’ time is like

I thought the hatched area on windscreens was meant to be the area devoid of transflective coating/heated elements etc so that things that need to see 'sky' can? I remember the instructions for my French automatic toll dongle said to install it in the hatched area if one was present, for exactly that reason.. 2014 BMW 530d Touring, 2006 BMW 650i, 2018 Mini Cooper S