Couldn’t find the satellite signal during my entire 5 mile run. Granted it was very cloudy but has anyone else had problems like this?
I was reading in the news recently where one of the Japan’s, or maybe China’s, satellites that they sent up failed to extend it’s antenna. This may be the culprit.
This is not what I wanted to hear.
The first thing you should do is make sure it is fully charged. Then turn it on, make sure it is looking for satellites, and leave it outside with a clear view of the sky for 10-15 minutes or until it has acquired a signal. I would also suggest that you immediately update the firmware and chipset software to the latest versions. The link for that is here:
http://www.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=010-00467-00
Generally, make sure you turn your unit on a few minutes before you begin to use it. If you start your run or ride without letting it acquire a signal first, you may have mixed results. With the 305, the only time I have had signal trouble, even when running and riding in a thickly vegetated forest and big city, was when I was not able to let it acquire signal before I started.
Check this forum out also. Lots of smart people here:
http://forums.motionbased.com/smf/index.php
Enjoy.
JK
You need to be still while letting the unit acquire the satellites. I generally walk to the end of my driveway away from my house (so that the unit has a good view of the sky) and then wait for it to acquire. This generally takes only about 1 minute or so. If you turn it on and start running, it will never acquire. If you have moved hundreds of miles since the last time it was on, you will need to give it extra time acquire. Clouds won’t have any affect, and once it acquires, it does a great job of keeping locked on to the satellites. I have run in very dense woods with mine and had no issues…I’ve even had it lock on to the satellites in the top floor of my house.
Spot
I echo the previous comments. Get away from buildings (including your house) and keep it still for several minutes for the first time. You cannot start running until the satellites have been acquired. Make sure it is fully charged. After the first acquisition, it should be much quicker getting a signal.
If it still fails, take it back. My first Forerunner 305 had a defective antenna. If there was ANY cloud cover, I could not get a signal or would lose the signal. My replacement has worked flawlessly in dense woods, overcast, and even rain.
I also agree with previous posters. I have had better luck when I turn it on in the house and do some other stuff. After a few minutes it asks you if you are indoors. Tell it no and put the unit outside (off your wrist), go tie your shoes or fill your water bottle or whatever, by the time I go outside it is locked on and no problems.
Would holding the 305 edge in a cell phone arm holder while running have any effect on it keeping signal?
did you get a lock before you started?
I’ve used my Timex GPX Bodylink System the last two days. It has worked great, don’t know if they are on the same satellite system as Garmin.
Just to put one more “I agree” statement on here, you’ve got to let it acquire first. The first time I acquire (or if you travel 100s of kms and then turn it on) it could take up to 15 mins. But after that is usually less than a min. I put it outside in a safe place a minute or so before I start while I finish getting ready. Same as above - the only time I didn’t get a signal was when I didn’t start it before I started running.
Would holding the 305 edge in a cell phone arm holder while running have any effect on it keeping signal?
It shouldn’t. I often run with my Forerunner fully concealed under the sleeve of a long sleeve shirt, and do not have any problems keeping a signal.
All of this is very helpful… Yes I charged it but no I didn’t let it acquire the signal before I started running… I understand now what I need to do. Its also great to hear that clouds don’t block the signal since I live in Michigan and we only see the sun a few times a week during this time of the year…
I doubt it. Once ithe Forerunner is locked on, it does a pretty good job of staying locked on.
Spot
Go to www.garmin.com and download the latest GPS chipset software and the latest firmware for the wrist unit. The new GPS chipset software is supposed to be better at locking during slight movement (still won’t acquire while running, but you can be moving a little bit, like stretching).
The lastest wrist unit software is supposed to fix known issues like real time pace, and the one time I checked, it seemed to be working much better than previously. I find myself using the average pace feature much more, however.
Spot
As you have learned, you have to let it acquire before you start. The good news is that, mentioned above as well, it doesnt take nearly as long to re-acquire when you use it, since it remembers where to look.
I live in MI too, and use it all over the State, all the time. Don’t run until the watch acquires the signal. Turn the unit on and place it outside for a few minutes - it will acquire the signal more quickly. Sometimes if I am in a hurry I will turn in on and place my arm on my head while I do my 5min warmup walk; it usually acquires the signal that way, but it is much slower to initiate if you are moving.
Couldn’t find the satellite signal during my entire 5 mile run. Granted it was very cloudy but has anyone else had problems like this?
It doesn’t work on the treadmill.
I have run with my forerunner 205 on a heavily wooded trail for 9 miles and it never lost a signal for even a second. Rock solid. Really, I have never had it lose a signal yet. I even get satelite lock in my kitchen. It takes 30 seconds or so to lock initially though. You shouldn’t move it during that time.
Mike
P.S. Did you download the latest software updates from Garmin. They are supposed to fix issues like that.