Gner Vs Virgin

[Bassrock]

Ok,

 

Whilst on my way to a cache in deepest Lincolnshire, I took the opportunity to try out my GPS and TTM5. However, trouble with Virgin Voyager train heading south is that not even the tweeniest signal could I receive e.g. nothing, zilch, deed (guid scottish wurd). However, one train change later, tis a GNER train, hey presto were soon doing 125.2 mph and TTM5 is trying to jump the rails, signal lock is solid.

 

So

 

Anyone ever managed to obtain even the faintest of signals on a Virgin Voyager train.

 

Me thinks the windows are different ??!!

 

Bassrock

[+Tupperware Hunters]

they have that atmaspheric windows like in posh car winscreens should be called gps killer

[Bassrock]

Mmmmmm

 

Valid point, but, my "posh" Citroen has an athermic windscreen and my GPS works through that. Unless these train windows have a greater degree of athermiticity or its something else in the glass ??

 

Bassrock

[+davy boy]

The funny thing is i have a french car with a athermic screen and the garmin will not work but the pda will work with sd gps and the holux also works well!!

[+Alibags]

you seen this thread Hokes? See!!! I am not the only one with a French car (and no probs with GPS signal in it).

 

nyeh!

[+Learned Gerbil]

Not all French cars have the relevant GPS killer screens - and it can be bloody difficult working out in advance if the car you buy will recieve GPS signals through the windscreen. Signals can come through other windows meaning that a killer screen may allow a GPS situated in some locations on the dash to work. Plenty of discussion of this now and again in the Hardware/Software section.

[+davy boy]

The only place a garmin will work in my 307 is next to the quarter light or jammed up behind the rear view mirror.

[+The Hokesters]

you seen this thread Hokes? See!!! I am not the only one with a French car (and no probs with GPS signal in it).

 

nyeh!

I'm saying nowt - I would never take something off topic.

 

Best French Cars on the Market

 

10 cars in the bottom 13 makes you proud not to be French!

[+Tupperware Hunters]

my british ish vauxhall dont suffer

Edited December 1, 2005 by fruity&doggit

[+adambro]

You've got to go First Class on Virgin, really good. Might not help the GPS signal though.

[+Moote]

Surely this is immaterial; the train follows a defined route (usually) and you can only get off at defined places (which you are usually aware of). It's all out of your control so sit back and read a book, you might actually find relaxation is good

[+kbootb]

I still can't explain this one.

 

When I got my first GPS I couldn't wait to see it working, but it was lashing down outside. I have large patio doors and can see the sky pretty well, so I fired up the GPS and got no signal.

 

I have a double glazed back door, 4 feet to the right, facing exactly the same way. Moved the GPS there, signal lock. Moved it back to the patio doors, end of signal.

 

I then bought another GPSr. Tried it again with that, same problem.

 

It works fine through every other double glazed unit in the house, except the 6 foot high, 20 foot wide double glazed patio doors. There's nothing fancy about the glass to my knowledge.

[alistair_uk]

The Virgin Voyager trains make a great Faraday cage and getting any electromagnetic signal to penetrate them seems next to imposable. On the positive side I don't get interrupted but phone calls more of the time, but the down side is that I can rarely keep a GPS lock of an distance. Holding the eTrex at a right angle to the windows seems to work well for me on the old GNER trains.

 

I have never had much of a problem with any cars. I rented one every weekend for about a year and never got two the same, but the GPS always worked on the dash for me. Another thing I learnt by doing this is the speedometers in cars are horribly inaccurate.

[+The Hokesters]

It works fine through every other double glazed unit in the house, except the 6 foot high, 20 foot wide double glazed patio doors. There's nothing fancy about the glass to my knowledge.

Perhaps the patio doors are filled with a gas rather than a vacuum?

 

Alternatively the signal might be deflected by such a large piece of glass?

[+Pharisee]

It may be Pilkington's "K" glass. I believe that has a metallic coating or something on it to reflect heat radiation.

[+Bambi&Thumper]

I was trying to listen to my cheapy portable radio on trains a few weeks ago and found that while I was fine on GNER and 1st North Western I couldn't get anything out of it on a Virgin train. Thought the batteries were dead, but it was just fine on the next train...

 

Bambi.

[+KiwiGary]

You could also try standing on top of train, like in the old cowboy movies.

 

Be sure to take along a hair brush as it could ruin your hair

 

Also be sure to duck whenever you enter a tunnel.

 

See ya...Gary

[+Alibags]

I gather that one operator deliberately coated the windows with something or other to prevent people using mobile phones and hence annoying all the other passengers. Thought it was Chiltern though.

 

BTW, Alistair, you will have to tell me about how you get from where you are to this neck of the woods by Virgin sometime... I cannot find ANY information about that at all.

[+Nellies Knackers]

So you're on a train using gps.

1. How exactly are you going to go the wrong way on rails?

2. If you do go the wrong way what exactly are you going to do about it?

Unless of course you are the driver in which case jumping out would be a good plan!

[alistair_uk]

BTW, Alistair, you will have to tell me about how you get from where you are to this neck of the woods by Virgin sometime... I cannot find ANY information about that at all.

You can go via Tamworth if you desperately want to go by Virgin, and if you need to change at Watford it can be quicker than going in to London and out again. Personally I tend to use the Virgin trains when going to Middlesbrough by changing at Darlington.

 

So you're on a train using gps.

1. How exactly are you going to go the wrong way on rails?

2. If you do go the wrong way what exactly are you going to do about it?

Unless of course you are the driver in which case jumping out would be a good plan!

 

You are implying that we would not use a GPS when there is no need to do so. That confuses me slightly.

[NickPick]

You are implying that we would not use a GPS when there is no need to do so. That confuses me slightly.

[+Nellies Knackers]

Of course it's only fair to admit to holding a gps to a train window myself

And on an aeroplane, couldn't do much about the direction of that either, but they did get upset when I opened the window for a better reception

[+purple_pineapple]

I have personally witnessed canal boats with on board navigation systems. I mean, how much navigating does one need to do on a canal? You get enough notice of junctions so that you can wonder off to the galley and fetch a nicholsons guide! Besides, I'm not sure we ever moved fast enough for a GPS to register movement!

[alistair_uk]

I have personally witnessed canal boats with on board navigation systems. I mean, how much navigating does one need to do on a canal?

err....

You are implying that we would not use a GPS when there is no need to do so. That confuses me slightly. 

[+purple_pineapple]

I have personally witnessed canal boats with on board navigation systems. I mean, how much navigating does one need to do on a canal?

err....

You are implying that we would not use a GPS when there is no need to do so. That confuses me slightly. 

exactly - i didn't actually make that point, but I was agreeing with what you say! I have used my GPS in the car on the way to work - its not like I don't know the route!

[alistair_uk]

exactly - i didn't actually make that point, but I was agreeing with what you say!

…right, got you. I will still a little confused for before.

[+Nellies Knackers]

Oh dear, more admissions!

I use a gps a lot on board a boat (inland cruiser) for speed and distance, ok I admit it's just used because I can.

Mapsource actually helped out spotting a petrol station near the river on the middle level(glorified ditch) when we were running low on fuel, managed to moor up about 200 metres away!