Tomtom V3 in a Defender???

[richyb]

Has anyone found that satnavs (I was trying to use a tom tom v3) don't work very well in Defenders? I attempted to use mine in the works defender today and it kept losing the satellites. The unit worked in my hilux fine and worked 15 mins before I changed vehicles. I did wonder if the very flat windscreen had anything to do with it.

[thehawk]

Heated windscreen?

[richyb]

thehawk said:

Heated windscreen?

As in wired heating? Its basic spec so I doubt it.

[5 wh]

Yes it is to do with the heated screen.I have fitted a Becker Cascade 7944 in my 07 Defender and it has a seperate GPS antenna,so no probs for me.Before that I tried to use a Garmin but it always lost reception as I was getting close to my destination

[richyb]

5 wh said:

Yes it is to do with the heated screen.I have fitted a Becker Cascade 7944 in my 07 Defender and it has a seperate GPS antenna,so no probs for me.Before that I tried to use a Garmin but it always lost reception as I was getting close to my destination

Thanks, I'll have to remember the AtoZ when I take the defender out! The reception on it was very intermittent although it didn't work more often that it did, if you follow me. I only use the defender when I am towing a big load or doing some rough offraod work so not a major problem.

[SS HSV]

Its not so much the heated window, its a retro-reflective coating that is put on some screens which reflects infrared light back out so it doesnt fade your interior.

The only way you can get past this is to either get a GPS system which will accept an external aerial or get a very expensive windscreen replacement made from Pilkington glass like the police use

[league67]

I have external aerial for tomtom. Let me know if you want one.

[richyb]

league67 said:

I have external aerial for tomtom. Let me know if you want one.

Thanks but I don't really need one. I was just curious whether this was a common problem or just me.

[Soft Top]

richyb said:

league67 said:

I have external aerial for tomtom. Let me know if you want one.

Thanks but I don't really need one. I was just curious whether this was a common problem or just me.

It's the same in a lot of modern cars. My wife's 206 has the same. They call it an athermic coating which totally stuffs up the signal.

Easy solution was a GPS aerial with a long lead run to the back window for about £7 on e-bay.

[Jon C]

I have seen a lot of people struggle with Tom Tom's in athermic equipped citroens, peugeots, and mondeos with the heated screens.

My 99 quid tesco value navman has no such problems...

[Simpo Two]

My TomTom One V3 works fine in a Jaguar with a heated windscreen - it even had 10 satellites once; the usual is 7-8.

[richyb]

Jon C said:

I have seen a lot of people struggle with Tom Tom's in athermic equipped citroens, peugeots, and mondeos with the heated screens.

My 99 quid tesco value navman has no such problems...

They are coming down in price pretty nicely now. Mine was £85 and now the V3s are available for £70. (See recent thread)

[moleamol]

Jon C said:

I have seen a lot of people struggle with Tom Tom's in athermic equipped citroens, peugeots, and mondeos with the heated screens.

My 99 quid tesco value navman has no such problems...

Same with My Navman F10 in my C4, and it does absolutely everything I want a sat nav to do. Cracking piece of kit for the price.

[Jon C]

richyb said:

Jon C said:

I have seen a lot of people struggle with Tom Tom's in athermic equipped citroens, peugeots, and mondeos with the heated screens.

My 99 quid tesco value navman has no such problems...

They are coming down in price pretty nicely now. Mine was £85 and now the V3s are available for £70. (See recent thread)

I got mine from Tesco two years ago though!