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Can anyone tell me how long this sat nav takes to warm-up on each journey?

I was told it would take about 15 mins to boot when I first bought it but I didn't realise that I would have this problem for every journey I make.  This morning it couldn't get a signal at all and it took about one hour.  After that it would take about 5 - 10 mins.

Do you think I live in a dodgy area (Heathrow) or is this just normal sat-nav behaviour? 

I've only just bought the thing and I am looking forward to using it, but now I'm not sure about it!

Any views or tips would be welcome.

Hello Moppy.

Has your car got a heat-reflector windscreen(not a heated screen). If so, then this maybe your problem. I have use of two cars, one of them has one of these screens. The performance of my tomtom is definitely worse when used in this car(although it still works). Try it in another car or move the unit to a side window to check for improvements.

Quote: Originally posted by PeeWee on 05/11/2006

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<!--bmi_SafeAddOnload(bmi_load,"bmi_orig_img");//-->Have you put a battery in it?? the i3 takes a single AA battery, which you replace now and again, this helps it keep its lock on.

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hello moppy, i work with sat navs and i have worked with that particular unit, first of all have you done any software updates as these help with little issues with the unit, so try that first,

if the previous two problem mentioned with the windscreen are an issue then yes an external antenna will be needed.

go to garmins website and go to the support pages and this should guide you on how to update the unit

hope this help

We took a Garman StreetPilot i3 back because it remained frozen all the way up from South Wales, only coming to life when we were a few miles from home. It would regularly just stop and freeze so it was exchanged for a Tom Tom. Halfords took it back no problem and said they had a lot of returns due to freezing and not picking up the Sat.

Carol

I have the garman i3 and have found it to be a great sat nav for a great price.  It has started giving me my directions before I get to the end of my street. which is about 2mins. it does have the batteries in but is always run from the cigar lighter. I have not downloaded anything to mine it was up and running straight out of the box.

Lorraine

Thanks for the replies guys.

It has the batteries in situ, I haven't updated via the pc with anything as yet and I have no idea about whether I have a reflective screen in my car - it's a Scenic 2002.  I have been using it on my steering wheel column.  Howver, I shall move it about and see if that helps.

I tried it immediately I bought it (stll in Comet's carpark) and it took the 15 mins to boot and then worked well, but having problems since.  I shall try all you've suggested but I'm not very techie minded so hope I can fathom it out.

I'm depending on it to get me to a part of London I don't know on thursday so if it fails then I shall consider returning it/exchanging it. 

I'll let you kow how it goes

By the way, what's that little plug-hole on the left hand side on the unit?  Is that for the antenna?  I thought maybe it was an earphone port.