In-car GPS signal booster

In-car GPS signal booster

Author
Discussion

Ducky11

Original Poster:

5 posts

42 months

Thursday 13th May 2021
quotequote all
Hi everyone,

Was hoping you could help me with a problem I've been having.

For some reason, my phone (Huawei P20 Pro) keeps losing GPS signal in my car (Jaguar XE S). I have tried multiple Satnav apps (Waze, Google maps etc.) and it never picks up a signal in the car, unless I move it near the windows far away from the dashboard. There is definitely not a problem with the phone, as I have used the GPS in friends cars and it works fine. I'm at my wits end and don't want to replace my phone and don't want to use the in-car Satnav, so was wondering if anyone knew of any hassle-free gadget that I could purchase and plug into either my phone or the lighter socket or USB drive of my car that would enhance the GPS signal inside the car so that my phone can pick it up.

Thank you smile

Spare tyre

10,353 posts

137 months

Saturday 15th May 2021
quotequote all
Is it always on charge when in your car?

Try unplugging any 12v accessories
I had a charger than generated electrical noise and stopped my gps working

markiii

3,847 posts

201 months

Saturday 15th May 2021
quotequote all
heated windscreen perchance?

Ducky11

Original Poster:

5 posts

42 months

Saturday 15th May 2021
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies both.

Spare tyre said:
Is it always on charge when in your car?

Try unplugging any 12v accessories
I had a charger than generated electrical noise and stopped my gps working
It doesn't work regardless of whether it is charging or not and I don't have anything else charging in the car.frown

markiii said:
heated windscreen perchance?
I don't think that's the issue because it doesn't pick up the signal even when the car is off.

markiii

3,847 posts

201 months

Saturday 15th May 2021
quotequote all
but if its has a heated windscreen it still has a wire mesh in front of it. I'm constantly amazed portable GPS works so well in a mobile farady cage to start with. Add a mesh on the windcreen and its just gets worse


Ducky11

Original Poster:

5 posts

42 months

Saturday 15th May 2021
quotequote all
markiii said:
but if its has a heated windscreen it still has a wire mesh in front of it. I'm constantly amazed portable GPS works so well in a mobile farady cage to start with. Add a mesh on the windcreen and its just gets worse
True... Hence why I was wondering if there was a device to boost the signal in the car?

blank

3,579 posts

195 months

Sunday 16th May 2021
quotequote all
Almost certainly the windscreen.

Assuming you can't use Android auto (which would use the car's GPS I think) then you need an external GPS antenna. Should be able to get a usb or Bluetooth one.

You'll need to find a good place to put it but I guess a side window might work.

Ducky11

Original Poster:

5 posts

42 months

Sunday 16th May 2021
quotequote all
blank said:
Almost certainly the windscreen.

Assuming you can't use Android auto (which would use the car's GPS I think) then you need an external GPS antenna. Should be able to get a usb or Bluetooth one.

You'll need to find a good place to put it but I guess a side window might work.
Thanks Blank. Would the external GPS antenna need to be plugged in / connected to my phone or to the car? Any recommendations? I got a few results on Google but there is a bunch of technical jargon that I don't really understand.

blank

3,579 posts

195 months

Sunday 16th May 2021
quotequote all
Garmin Glo looks good but not cheap.

Basically the Glo would be on a side window or somewhere that gets a signal, this then acts as the GPS receiver for your phone (sending the data via Bluetooth) so it doesn't matter if the phone itself is in a "bad" GPS position.

The GPS device might need power but it looks like the Glo has a decent battery so should just be a case of switching it on and pairing with your phone.

Ducky11

Original Poster:

5 posts

42 months

Sunday 16th May 2021
quotequote all
blank said:
Garmin Glo looks good but not cheap.

Basically the Glo would be on a side window or somewhere that gets a signal, this then acts as the GPS receiver for your phone (sending the data via Bluetooth) so it doesn't matter if the phone itself is in a "bad" GPS position.

The GPS device might need power but it looks like the Glo has a decent battery so should just be a case of switching it on and pairing with your phone.
Thank you. I had a quick look and there were a few reviews that said it was not compatible with Waze, which is unfortunately a deal breaker for me. That might not be entirely true and I will investigate further, but in the meantime are there any other recommendations? Ideally something that would just amplify the GPS signal so that I don't have to connect to it via Bluetooth?

thebraketester

14,710 posts

145 months

Sunday 16th May 2021
quotequote all
Aftermarket sunroof?

craigjm

18,482 posts

207 months

Sunday 16th May 2021
quotequote all
It will be the windscreen either heated or solar attenuated will both cause issues. The only solution is an external antenna

TEKNOPUG

19,337 posts

212 months

Monday 17th May 2021
quotequote all
Have you tried a different phone? Flaky GPS is a common complaint with Huawei devices.