Bassrock Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 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 Quote Link to comment
+Tupperware Hunters Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 they have that atmaspheric windows like in posh car winscreens should be called gps killer Quote Link to comment
Bassrock Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 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 Quote Link to comment
+davy boy Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 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!! Quote Link to comment
+Alibags Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 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! Quote Link to comment
+Learned Gerbil Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 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. Quote Link to comment
+davy boy Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 The only place a garmin will work in my 307 is next to the quarter light or jammed up behind the rear view mirror. Quote Link to comment
+The Hokesters Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 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! Quote Link to comment
+Tupperware Hunters Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 (edited) my british ish vauxhall dont suffer Edited December 1, 2005 by fruity&doggit Quote Link to comment
+adambro Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 You've got to go First Class on Virgin, really good. Might not help the GPS signal though. Quote Link to comment
+Moote Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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 Quote Link to comment
+kbootb Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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. Quote Link to comment
alistair_uk Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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. Quote Link to comment
+The Hokesters Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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? Quote Link to comment
+Pharisee Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 It may be Pilkington's "K" glass. I believe that has a metallic coating or something on it to reflect heat radiation. Quote Link to comment
+Bambi&Thumper Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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. Quote Link to comment
+KiwiGary Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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 Quote Link to comment
+Alibags Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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. Quote Link to comment
+Nellies Knackers Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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! Quote Link to comment
alistair_uk Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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. Quote Link to comment
NickPick Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 You are implying that we would not use a GPS when there is no need to do so. That confuses me slightly. Quote Link to comment
+Nellies Knackers Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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 Quote Link to comment
+purple_pineapple Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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! Quote Link to comment
alistair_uk Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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. Quote Link to comment
+purple_pineapple Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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! Quote Link to comment
alistair_uk Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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. Quote Link to comment
+Nellies Knackers Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 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! Quote Link to comment
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