Inforad Switching Delay

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Mon 29 Aug 2005 06:37
Inforad Switching Delay - Honestjohn
This came in from Idris Francis, probably for the column. But there is such a long delay for that I thought better to post it here.

My new Inforad GPS speed camera system says in the leaflet that it can take 1 to 5 minutes from each switch on to lock on to the satellites.

Mine seems to take 5 minutes or more - on Sat on the A303 it took about 12 miles, on a completley open road! I drove 4 miles from Hanworth to Teddington later, and it finally locked on at Teddington, after I had passed 4 cameras!

As things stand, with my cigar lighter supply switching off with the ignition, even stopping for a coffee or to buy a paper means up to 10 miles without any warning available!

Also, from time to time it loses contact - even on the open road - but usually seems to reconnect within a few hundred yards.

Could anyone else who has a GPS system of any kind confirm whether this delay is normal? Not much good even with a pocket unit, if you have fallen into the muddy banks of a river and you want to tell the emergency services where you are before your head submerges!

Idris


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Mon 29 Aug 2005 08:32
Inforad Switching Delay - Tomo
I can only say this is not universal; my Inforad usually comes on in a minute or so. Assuming the instrument is properly placed and there is nothing odd about the windscreen glass, it may be faulty.
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Mon 29 Aug 2005 12:58
Inforad Switching Delay - Altea Ego
There are two main types of fix. A hot fix and a cold fix.

Hot fix. - GPS has not moved since it was last turned on, has a good signal, and therefore on power up does not have to work hard to confirm & fix position. Time approx 30 seconds.

Cold fix - thinks its never had a fix before, does not know what part of the world its in, signal is variable, lots of work to do to confirm postion. up to 5 mins - sometimes more.


I suspect, given the price, the inforad does not have a very good gps implementation (sensitivity and firmware), and the owner my have poor reception.


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