GPS losing lock when driving?

[Guest Metoo]

Anybody find that the GPS in the Streak loses lock / signal frequently (sometimes every 15 minutes or so) when used in a car dash mount? I thought that it would be ideal for a main car SatNav with Google Nav and the big screen etc, but in practice mine has turned out to be too unreliable to depend on (e.g. losing lock just when you need it!). GPS inital fix times seem fine in comparison to other phones (even indoors) and on the road it eventually regains lock after a minute or so, and it doesn't seem to matter if the sky is cloudy or clear. When working, the satellite meters on the apps seem to show 100% (ie. it's all or nothing). So I'm figuring it could be a radio "dropout" issue like the one people had with early Streaks losing 3G connections [1]? I get the same problem irrespective of which software I use (tried Google Nav, Copilot and NDrive). Other phones (HTC/Blackberry/Nokia) in the same dash mount don't suffer the problem so I know it's not the car screening to blame. Using the "official" O2 2.1 ROM.

I guess I'm asking if anyone else has experienced the same, or on the other hand, has used the Streak on a long road trip and found the GPS receiver to be 100% solid?

[1] Most of the time my Streak is used at home as a web browsing tablet (over WiFi) so haven't had much opportunity to judge the radio performance as a 'real' phone.

Edited November 14, 2010 by Metoo

[Guest Gopu]

Anybody find that the GPS in the Streak loses lock / signal frequently (sometimes every 15 minutes or so) when used in a car dash mount? I thought that it would be ideal for a main car SatNav with Google Nav and the big screen etc, but in practice mine has turned out to be too unreliable to depend on (e.g. losing lock just when you need it!). GPS inital fix times seem fine in comparison to other phones (even indoors) and on the road it eventually regains lock after a minute or so, and it doesn't seem to matter if the sky is cloudy or clear. When working, the satellite meters on the apps seem to show 100% (ie. it's all or nothing). So I'm figuring it could be a radio "dropout" issue like the one people had with early Streaks losing 3G connections [1]? I get the same problem irrespective of which software I use (tried Google Nav, Copilot and NDrive). Other phones (HTC/Blackberry/Nokia) in the same dash mount don't suffer the problem so I know it's not the car screening to blame. Using the "official" O2 2.1 ROM.

I guess I'm asking if anyone else has experienced the same, or on the other hand, has used the Streak on a long road trip and found the GPS receiver to be 100% solid?

[1] Most of the time my Streak is used at home as a web browsing tablet (over WiFi) so haven't had much opportunity to judge the radio performance as a 'real' phone.

I have used it for short trips. Did not find any issue so far

[Guest blankers]

I have used it for short trips. Did not find any issue so far

I have used it for long trips and had no problems at all........

[Guest Cue_32]

I have used it for long trips and had no problems at all........

Same here

[Guest Metoo]

Same here

OK thanks for the responses. Maybe my radio has a problem then? Is it something the Froyo update might improve?

[Guest Tim6772]

Questions for you.

What car do you drive?

Is it new?

Does it have a heated front windscreen?

Does it have an 'auto thermostatic temp sensor for front OR rear windscreen?

Some new cars have heated front and rear windscreens, the circuitry involved in heating and firing the temperature sensors causes a negative earth sheild within the car. Like an earthed metal mesh cage that blocks radio waves, the GPS signal can't penetrate the windsheilds.

BMW, Audi, Skoda & VW employ auto sensors on a timer. Maybe that, not your Streak.

Worth a try in a few vehicles. Mines fine in an 03 car.