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Problem with Sat Nav

4.2K views 8 replies 5 participants last post by  Digitalracer  
#1 ·
In the last few days my Sat Nav has suddenly started showing my a few miles away from where I actually am, sometimes in the middle of a field, then goes back to normal, then a problem again, and so on.
Anyone else experienced this 🤔
 
#2 ·
I had an experience of this during one journey where the car was shown parallel (in a field) on the Sat Nav to where I actually was. It seemed to sought itself out on the return trip, and then I had the major 'Over Air' software upgrade recently which stated many different improvements, so I hoped that this had solved the glitch. It hasn't happened since . . .
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the reply 👍 Still happening intermittently. Going in for 4yr service /mot in 2/3 weeks so will mention it then.
Friend told me sat nav needs GPS signal from 3 satellites and atmospheric conditions can have an effect.
 
#4 ·
Friend told me sat nav needs GPS signal from 3 satellites and atmospheric conditions can have an effect.
Minimum three to get a triangulated location, but the more the merrier (and the more accurate). And for direction you need to be moving (to draw a line between two location fixes for direction).
Atmospheric conditions can definitely have an effect (remember you are trying to communicate with satellites here), as can tall buildings, hills/mountains, even tall trees if dense enough. Basically anything that obstructs a clear view of the sky (similar to how a WiFi access point works best in the same room as you and doesnt work very well if there are a few walls between the two of you).

Timing is also an issue, GPS is VERY time sensitive. The maths is stupid crazy, but it needs to know the delay between the satellite sending and your car receiving the NMEA messages, and all the satellites need to be in very very tight time sync amongst themselves. But it can do amazing things (when it works), including telling you what your height above sea level is, just from those sorts of timing related delays. That something so mind bogglingly useful (obligatory shout out to the Babel Fish) is available for free use around the global is mind blowing.

On a more practical note:
One of the windows on the sat nav screen shows you the number of satellites the car can currently communicate with, so that might give you some indication of the issue if that is a low number.

PS. Go team Orange!
 
#5 ·
Just in for service and mot and been told they are no longer allowed to update the sat nav for me, despite telling me I would have free updates for life and doing it on the previous 3 services. And of course my data plug is now obsolete too!!
 
#6 ·
Service and mot just done. I enquired about the cost of cambelt change which I understood was due at next(5yr) service and apparently they have updated this and cambelt is now OK for 15yrs or 150,000 miles. But I still need to have DSG oil change at 5yrs.
 
#7 ·
If by update sat nav you mean maps, these are available online for customers to download and update themselves. I've never had this done for me at a service, maybe this was an extra courtesy service they were giving you and are rowing back on now.

Anyway, the maps have changed location and you have to log in with your VW ID and it's under my car I think.
 
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