scott9282

Actually LoJack does not use GPS. The system consists of an in-car transmitter with antenna and a battery pack that is hooked into the vehicle's power supply. The off-vehicle system is a series of transmitters and a computer system. The receivers are contained in police cars and helicopters. The way LoJack works is once a vehicle is stolen, when the report is filed the Vehicle Identification Number is fed into the National Crime Information Computer database. If it is a LoJack equipped vehicle, a signal is sent to all LoJack transmitters to activate the specific code for that vehicle. The code is a 5 digit alphanumeric specific to each vehicle. When the LoJack signal goes out to the unit to activate, that unit starts to transmit a signal with the alphanumeric code. Police vehicles will pick up the signal, and through the use of a signal strength indicator and a circular display that shows the direction of the signal. When first activated the incar unit transmits a signal once per second, then slows to once every 30 seconds. When a police officer either enters a valid LoJack code into his in car computer, or the dispatcher does the same thing, a signal is sent out again to the LoJack unit in the stolen vehicle speeding it up to once per second again. Through the use of the incar police receiver, the police track the vehicle and drive right up to it. In some ways it is unfair to the car thief. There is no indication that a LoJack unit is in the car, and even cutting the battery cable doesn't work, as the battery unit with the LoJack device is good for 5 days. The look on a car thief's face when he is cornered is priceless. Even during a pursuit, police can hang back since they know where the car is going anyway. GPS has nothing to do with this system. There are other systems that do use GPS technology, but they are dependant on dispatchers at remote sites interpeting the data from the system. And no, I'm not a LoJack salesman. But I have used LoJack to recover stolen vehicles. In fact, before I retired I held the NYPD record for most LoJack recoveries in a single year, 36. All the recoveries were within 24 hours of the car being stolen, although in a couple of cases the vehicles had already been stripped for parts.

Cheminer, I did receive the email. As you predicted I was unable to duplicate this problem on my Sportrak Map. Maybe it is specific to your model. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

Not only working, but there was no charge. They said that they had updated the satellite almanac, and that was the problem. So far so good. They also included a case and belt clip in the box. Another user manual too, although I am one of those obsessive types that keeps owner's manuals for as long as I own a product. Sometimes longer.

As promised, here's the update on the Sportrak Map. In actual use, while it does seem to take longer to settle down to a 13-20 foot EPE after powerup, the unit is working properly. I used it in West Hills County Park in Suffolk County, New York. Under trees and on trails. Once or twice my EPE did jump to about 30' but then went right back to 7(at the best) to 16 feet. Of course I managed to go one for two in finding caches, but after reading the logs, evidently there is a mis-coordinate issue with the cache I missed. So, with the new co-ords I'll go back in. I'll keep the Sportrak Map, at least until it gives out again. Then, who knows what I'll buy?

I am here but to serve my fellow geocachers.

Personally I use Mapsend Topo on my sportrak map, but I also print up a topo map with National Geographic Northeastern USA Topo. I also use a compass so that when, not if, the GPSr decides to take an unscheduled siesta, I can still at least navigate back to my jeep. You should always carry a compass regardless of what method you use, compasses as a rule tend to not need batteries (unless you went with an electronic compass, which is sort of counterproductive in this case) so they always work.

I have a Sportrak Map if that's any help. I'm willing to help out another Thales user, we have to stick together against the monolithic Thales conspiracy to drive us insane.

Sorry for the delay in posting, had to visit a giant rodent in central Florida. Anyway, Thales returned my SportrakMap with a newly installed or updated satellite almanac. When I initialized it yesterday I couldn't get any better than 60 or so feet for an EPE, which won't work for caching. Today while mounted in the car I am getting 7-13 feet with 20 feet under trees. I'll try it on a search in a couple of days in a heavily wooded area for a test. If Thales reads these, and I believe they do, thanks for the no charge update, and thanks for the carry case and belt clip. Likewise the instruction manual. However, if the fix doesn't work, I am not going to replace the unit with another Thales product. Fool me once...

I also just heard from Thales. The sportrak map is supposed to be returned to me tomorrow, unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view) I will be in FLA hugging giant mice and assorted other cartoon characters. However there was no mention of a bill being sent, although the e-mail did state that they found a software problem that has been corrected. I guess I'll have to wait a week to find out, although not being able to geocache in WDW is a bit of a disappointment. I will report on the results on my return.

Dot-com, don't sweat the problem. I have a sportrak map also, and it is currently a guest of Thales Navigation while they decide why after two years and a couple of months it forgot how to find satellites. I too have the mapsend topo, and now, with the going concensus that I am looking at a repair bill of around $150, it is time to go with another. I understand planned obsolescence, I just don't like it. Looks like it's going to be a Garmin this time. And before anyone asks, yeah I've considered Lowrance, but it seems like they have too many "proprietary" issues in that they want you to only use their software and their memory cards and readers and such, according to their website. I've also heard (read actually) that there might be compatability issues with GSAK although I can't seem to confirm that.

In reference to the constant 20° difference between the two units. Depending on where you are, you might want to check to see if one is set to Magnetic North and the other to True North. While I'm not sure if the declination (the difference between where true and magnetic north are) can get as high as 20 dgrees, I suppose it is possible and that might account for the discrepency.

As far as the Amazon credit card, or any other credit card application for that matter just to save some money, it might be a bad idea. When companies do credit checks, one of the things that counts against you is how many credit card applications you have made. Even if you are approved for the card, it counts against your credit score. While that might not mean much now, try to apply for a car loan, or big money-a home mortgage. Even a couple of points difference on your credit score can mean the difference in paying big bucks. You might be saving some money now, but those applications will come back and bite you later on.

Mine should get there on Monday, 4/11 also. I will report the results when I have them. To say that I am disappointed in this sort of repeating failure in a piece of electronic equipment would be understating the situation.

Go back to the website and read it again. The title has been changed. It. Was. A. Joke.

As far as the Sportrak Map, which is currently undergoing evaluation by Thales for repair, not happy with it at all. Even after updating the software to ver 5.34 and doing all the happy little things Magellan says you should do when the Sportrak Map "forgets" where the satellites are, the system still doesn't work. In fact, before sending it off, my EPE was anywhere from 45 feet to over 500 feet. Not good for geocaching. After going through this board, I found that I was not alone in this happening. Since my GPSr is out of warranty, I'm sure that when Thales (Magellan's parent company in case you were wondering) tells me that the cost of repairing the unit exceeds the cost of replacing it, I will do so. However it does look like it will not have the Magellan logo on the case when I once again go out geocaching.

This is the exact same set of problems I have with my Sportrak Map. In addition I noticed a faint but noticible high pitched whine when the unit was on for a while and trying to keep a lock on the satellites. My Sportrak would also "forget" where the birds were, giving me a blank upper satellite screen with a full lower satellite number list. As far as accuracy, what accuracy? The unit has been bouncing from 16 feet to a mind boggling 560 feet for EPE. And this is with at least 10 satellites over the horizon according to the satellite screen. I did the whole software download, and a bunch of memory purges and re-initializations, with no luck at all. After a series of e-mails with Thales Nav, I sent the unit back to them to see what the problem is. No response yet, but I'm waiting. Also considering a new and different make GPSr. Evidently I am in good company here. Sadly I have to wait for a verdict before I decide what to do next.

Thank you to all for your well reasoned responses. I am still open to comments, but I will take all the above into consideration.

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of my Magellan Sportrak Map. To be sure, I have sent it off to those fine people at Thales Navigation, but I know what they're going to tell me. It's not worth repairing. So, keeping in mind that I had the use of a Sportrak Map, with the mapping capabilities (although somewhat limited), what recommendations for a replacement unit can you give me. I'd like to keep mapping ability, and more memory is a plus. So I'll take any honest suggestions as to brands and model types. Nothing is off the table. Please don't let this devolve into a flame war, I just want suggestions. Thanks.

Look for caches by JerryMonkey. He has an evil mind and you can spend the better part of a day trying to figure out what he wants. But the "aha" moments when you find the caches are worth it. West Hills park is loaded with caches, as is the Greenbelt trail as GPS Dave stated. Basically there are caches all over the island, just pick a spot and do a zip code search and you'll get a bunch of hits.

Keep one thing in mind when you deal with the police, and this is good advice anytime you get stopped, for whatever reason. You know what you are doing out there is harmless, the cop doesn't. He may have received a report of a prowler or a suspicious person in the area, you. He will be acting as if you are a threat, because until he knows better, you are. Cops have one overriding goal every day. Go home at the end of the tour with the same amount of working body parts you started the day with. What to do if stopped: First and foremost, keep your hands where the officer can see them. If possible, splay open your fingers so the officer can see you don't have a weapon. Follow all directions, verbal or motioned, to the letter. This is not the time to argue. Do not play games with the cop. This is going to sound ridiculous, but I had people make motions as if they had a weapon in their belts, just to p!ss me off. They call it street baiting or some such idiocy. It's a good way to get an up close and personal view of the business end of a semi-auto pistol. Generally speaking, once you make yourself understood, and explain fully what you are doing, you will be sent on your way, assuming you aren't tresspassing or committing some other infraction. Do not attempt to BS the cop. Any cop with more than 6 months out of the academy knows a line when he hears one. Nothing raises a cop's suspicion faster than someone who is lying, and lying for no apparent reason. Tell the truth, explain the sport and you'll go on your way. Play games with the cop, and he'll play games with you. Remember, he's paid to be there, and overtime pay straightening out something like this is still pay. Just cooperate.

Just as a matter of curiousity, does a cell phone affect a GPSr? I know that cell sites, the towers with those odd looking antennae, can have an effect. But does a cell phone itself do anything, or is it too low powered?

You look on e-bay and see a box of "scouting" compasses for sale and buy the lot. You're now known as the "Compass King" of the neighborhood. You give out compasses for Halloween. You realize you're optically challenged in the distance estimating department and obtain a bow-hunter's rangefinder to help when you get close in. You look at GPSr's the way you used to look at your girlfriend/wife/hubby/whatever. And they understand.

Just as a matter of curiousity, assuming I had a ham license, would a hand held ham radio (geez, try and say that sentence fast) be able to function on the FRS band? I know they can be tuned to many frequencies, is FRS or GMRS amongst those freqs?

Just curious if Rocky could answer that earlier question. Are the GPS satellites directional? Is the signal focused down towards Earth, or could a receiver "above" the GPS constellation work as usual?

This is a photo test. If it works, try not to laugh. If it doesn't, go ahead and laugh.