TomTom One 140 can't find satellites

[Big Lenny]

One 140 worked fine until I did a gpsfix update. Now I just get gray bars and no connection to satellites. I updated 2 or 3 more times to new gpsfix versions, and still no connectivity. What could have happened?

 

[Willy875]

I assume your GPS is outside to pick up satellite signals?

 

[canderson]

It could be that you are fighting a bad ephemeris (QuickGPSFix) file.

• Delete the CONTENT (not the folder) within the folder on your 140 called "ephemeris".
• Then on your PC, find your TomTom\HOME\Download\complete\ephemeris folder and delete the CONTENT (not the folder) of that "ephemeris" folder as well. That will mean deleting one or more folders called "QuickGPSfix".
• Then hook back up to Home and get whatever QuickGPSFix file it offers and see if that doesn't get you a decent satellite fix after a couple of minutes.

If you need help finding that folder mentioned above, with Home open, look at
Tools / Home preferences / Folders / Downloads

 

[Big Lenny]

Thanks, I tried this 3 times, and no change. Still 3 or 4 gray bars. I think it sees the satellites, but can't communicate with them. It was fine until I did the Quick gpsfix. What else could cause this? I've seen this with my older One's, is this pretty common?

 

[Willy875]

When you test, are you outside with an orientation towards the sky, free of buildings and trees?

 

[Big Lenny]

Yes, each time I waited 15 or 20 min. to see if anything would change. When it's right, it only takes 60 to 90 sec.

 

[Big Lenny]

Ok. Now I removed any QuickGPSfix on my device, and it's working again! Hooked back up to Home, and updated to the latest GPSfix, and NO SATTILITTES! Removed new GPS fix, and it's working again. It seems Home is updating to GPS fix's that are not compatible with my One 140. This started last week. Has anyone else seen this, or know what's going on here?

 

[Big Lenny]

Do receivers wear/burn out on these older units? Could something like that be going on?

 

[Willy875]

It's electronic equipment, so it can break down like any other piece of equipment.

You mentioned Google Home? Normally, you update via TomTom Home?

If you say your GPS is working again...

 

[canderson]

Ok. Now I removed any QuickGPSfix on my device, and it's working again! Hooked back up to Home, and updated to the latest GPSfix, and NO SATTILITTES! Removed new GPS fix, and it's working again. It seems Home is updating to GPS fix's that are not compatible with my One 140. This started last week. Has anyone else seen this, or know what's going on here?

Rarely, but occasionally, the ephemeris data in a QGPSF file is defective. I haven't seen this occur for some years, but is why I was recommending a delete of all ephemeris data (on both device and PC) and download retry back a couple of posts ago. Sounds like the problem still exists in the data, which is why you're currently better off without the file than with. I'd give it a week or two before your next attempt to see if things improve.

 

[canderson]

Do receivers wear/burn out on these older units? Could something like that be going on?

Nope. The fact that you do OK without the ephemeris data and no good with it tells us it's a data issue, not hardware.

 

[Big Lenny]

It's electronic equipment, so it can break down like any other piece of equipment.

You mentioned Google Home? Normally, you update via TomTom Home?

If you say your GPS is working again...

Yes, TomTom Home.

 

[Big Lenny]

Rarely, but occasionally, the ephemeris data in a QGPSF file is defective. I haven't seen this occur for some years, but is why I was recommending a delete of all ephemeris data (on both device and PC) and download retry back a couple of posts ago. Sounds like the problem still exists in the data, which is why you're currently better off without the file than with. I'd give it a week or two before your next attempt to see if things improve.

Good advice. I didn't know the unit would work at all without qgpsf, but apparently it will. I'll try again in a few weeks. Thanks!

 

[Willy875]

Good advice. I didn't know the unit would work at all without qgpsf, but apparently it will. I'll try again in a few weeks. Thanks!

As long as your GPS can acquire a satellite signal, it will be fine. However, if your GPS takes too long to acquire one, you will need to update it.

 

[canderson]

Good advice. I didn't know the unit would work at all without qgpsf, but apparently it will. I'll try again in a few weeks. Thanks!

Yes, it will definitely work.

A BAD file will cause the device to misunderstand where satellites should be, and will foul attempts to find them. NO file will simply cause the device to occasionally need to pull down the 'almanac' from one of the satellites to obtain that same kind of information, at the cost of a minute or two of time that the file normally prevents.

 

[Big Lenny]

Ok, I'm beginning to understand this a little better. But, what would cause my 2 older units, a One, and a One 3rd Edition, to start up, find 4 or 5 satellites, last for an hour or 2, then start loosing them? One by one, they turn gray, until the whole screen turns gray, because the unit has lost all satellites. Updates didn't help, that's why I bought the 140, which has been great! That's also why I suspected the receivers going bad. I replaced the battery in the 3rd ed., but it didn't help. When the 140 failed, it was nice to have the others as a backup, but it would be nice to have them all working right. Thanks for your help. You guys have been great!

 

[canderson]

It would be rare for receivers to 'go bad'. That said, did you ever update your two even older units with the firmware (not QuickGPSFix) necessary to get around the old WNRO (week number rollover) problem? If not, they're going to act oddly in a couple of different respects, including never showing the correct time. All of that should have been done back in 2019, prior to the problem appearing in early April I believe.

Anyway, as long as you can live without fresh maps in the Lynchburg area, the 140S should treat you just fine. I do see you have a 50 as well? That one can still be updated with new maps.

 

[Big Lenny]

I updated the 2 older ones with some sort of a "date fix" I found on line somewhere. I don't remember where, but the time is always right now, and they're both usable for an hour or so, until they loose their satellites. ( it's like, one by one they fade away) Is there a real TomTom firmware update available for these older units?

 

[canderson]

I updated the 2 older ones with some sort of a "date fix" I found on line somewhere. I don't remember where, but the time is always right now, and they're both usable for an hour or so, until they loose their satellites. ( it's like, one by one they fade away) Is there a real TomTom firmware update available for these older units?

Yes, TomTom offered an official fix for many of their units. Whether Home will permit that if you've got some - ahem - 3rd party firmware - I really can't say. That would get us into a big discussion about bootloader vs. firmware versions, etc. It's been so long I cannot now recall which models were included/excluded.

What firmware versions are your ONE and ONE 3rd reporting?

 

[Big Lenny]

Firmware version? Is that the Application #?