GPS signal & 9500I

[CJR238]

My 9500I is mounted really high on my windshield above my RVM and partly covered by the dots. I know this decreases the ability to acquire GPS, but i really want it stealthy.
I went to RS and picked up all the chokes i could find. Below are the two (1-ferrite Choke Core & 2-EMI/RFI fighter Choke Core).
My new Blue 9500I takes a lot longer to acquire GPS signal, however its more consistent.
I was surprised how small they were, and the 2nd one is real small.
1

2


I mounted them by the RD and found no difference. I mounted them by the hard wired mute button and coiled around 2X and no difference. So far it doesn't work at all.
The one thing it did do is cut out the crackling in my amplified Escort remote speaker when i used on the + power to it.

It takes almost 5-8min or 2 miles or so. The plus is its almost exactly the same every time, the negative is its after a lockout point on my way to work. The only time i get faster acquisition is when its cloudy out. :shock:

Anyone know of a way to increase radar reception? If not I may be forced to mount my 9500I lower to receive a better GPS signal, and I don’t want to do that.

[MEM-TEK]

Care to post pics of exactly how your hard wire is run to your 9500i?

[CJR238]

Care to post pics of exactly how your hard wire is run to your 9500i?

Its pretty standard, from the fuse box on the drivers side up through the Mute button than through the drivers side pillar then through the headliner to the 9500I.

I think where i live with lots of tree coverage and hills doesn't help any, because anywhere else but from my home its pretty fast.

This is where i put the filter after it comes out of the mute button (smaller box above the sub woofer sensitivity adjustment) this is a picture under the dash.

then from the filter (you can just see it) up to the pillar.

than it runs up the side pillar.

across the head liner to the 9500I.


figured id throw this in too:

[MEM-TEK]

Hi CJR,

Now I see why the choke is working for me yet not for you. My hardwire power cord to my 9500i is run along the edge of my A pillar and along the top edge of my windshield rather than being behind the metal of the A pillar and underneath the metal of my car's roof.

Perhaps try running the portion of the wire from the top of the A pillar along the top edge of your windshield so that this portion of the wire can "see" the sky?

[CJR238]

Hi CJR,

Now I see why the choke is working for me yet not for you. My hardwire power cord to my 9500i is run along the edge of my A pillar and along the top edge of my windshield rather than being behind the metal of the A pillar and underneath the metal of my car's roof.

Perhaps try running the portion of the wire from the top of the A pillar along the top edge of your windshield so that this portion of the wire can "see" the sky?

I will try that. That was my guess too, but i figured i would of gotten some improvement. I will run it along the windshield and make something to hold it in place.

Thanks.

[allyoops]

Fitting those chokes isn't going to help your GPS performance and neither is running the power cable differently. Also trees and hills should make virtually zero difference too. You've got a SiRF star III chipset in there and you can't really get much better than that - we use it too - and it should easily get a satellite lock in amongst the worst of New York skycrapers.

The only thing that's going to majorly interfere with GPS reception is if you have an Athermic windscreen in your car. (I'm not familiar with the model so I don't know.) If you stand about 50 feet away and look at your windscreen in bright sunlight, does it appear to have like a blueish haze over it? If so, it got a high metallic content that's stopping most of the GPS signal getting through. You're only solution will be to buy another GPS antenna with an extra long cord to stick outside the car or in the rear window.

read this:
http://www.speedcheetah.com/scshop/p...qs_gps.html#q5

Beware, if you do have one of these screens (and I hope you don't) it is drastically going to affect your radar detectors range as well.

[Kayrac]

i agree with ally here, i dunno how people were seeing increased reception, the sirf is a beast, my gps(and my 9500i) were getting reception in my bottom floor of a 2 floor apartment, it should hold signal just fine, the trees and what not really shouldn't be an issue

[CJR238]

Thank you very much. I have a 04 Acura TL and it doesn’t have the Athermic windscreen because my detection range seems to be just fine.

Its actually kind of strange because I acquire a GPS signal after a leave work 1-2min tops but early in the morning from home it can take 6-8min.

There is no spot to put a GPS antenna on the 9500I, can i get a separate unit that amplifies the GPS signal into the car?

[allyoops]

You can get a product called a "Re-radiating" antenna - try a google search or speak to a specialist GPS reseller. Expect to pay quite a bit more expensive than a standard antenna.

Basically they collect the GPS signal from outside the car and re-broacast it inside your car. Could be your answer.

[Kayrac]

hmmm lets see, theres what 36 satellites in the sky?, 35 operating 24/7, and 1 backup, ofcourse they orbit the earth so theres 12-15? i think visible/usable at any given time, your sirf will pre-determine the location of these satellites, which is the reason you get such good reception if you only run into the store, that and i believe the chip stays active for quite a while after it's turned off

how long is your car at work, vs at home?, and what are temps looking like for each? otherwise the top of your car shouldn't be an issue at all, and as ally said windshields can effect it, but if yours isn't the type then i can only assume the extended period of time of being off, and perhaps cold, is just preventing it from getting a good lock