Erratic SatNav Reception E55

[JohnV]

My SatNav reception seems very erratic, varying from times when no satellite signal at all is displayed (not even a '0') to getting up to 8. This is totally independent on weather etc. as I sometimes get nothing at all on cloudless days as well as fair reception in bad weather.

Usually each good or zero reception period seems to last a long time (ie. it's not a case of OK one minute and good the next). Interestingly I have just been abroad in Europe for a couple of weeks and on the way out it worked 100% on docking in Rotterdam after the North Sea crossing, picking up its new location immediately; however, on my return from Calais to Dover it insisted we were still in Calais for the whole journey from Dover to Cheshire! (It finally relocated itself 2 days later!).

I guess it may well have something to do with the aerial connection being dodgy..... if so where should I look or how can I test this?

Or have any of you smart gurus got any other ideas as to why this could be happening?

Thanks for your time
John

[glojo]

I would not be concerned about what model E-class it was in apart from the shape 210 or 211 but it does sound very much like the aerial. is it a saloon or estate?

[JohnV]

Saloon

[Diesel Benz]

Does it show "-" when you say at times it does not even show "0"?

GPS antennas fail relatively often, also on estate models even if the antenna is not equally visible as on the sedan but more often on the sedan.

[JohnV]

Yes. As do the other three parameters (Lat, Long & Alt).

[richard]

The navigation processor is in the boot (being 05, its a W211) , in the back of the unit is a blue fakra connector, which is a short (about 2 feet) loom that then connects to a WICLIC connector which then goes to the roof antenna.

You can therefore change the roof antenna (pain) or if you have a saloon just put the Mercedes retrofit antenna under the rear parcel shelf (facing up through rear windscreen) and it has a WICLIC on it, so plug it into the existing wiring.

If you were near Woking ever, i'm sure Alfie (pm him on the forum) would check out what is broken and replace appopriately.

Richard

[JohnV]

Thanks for your thoughts Richard.... sadly Woking isn't isn't on my itinery at the moment, otherwise I'd certainly pay a visit to the legendary Alfie!

Do you think it is the antenna connection or is it more likely that it's the antenna itself that is intermittently breaking down as per Diesel Benz's comment?

Also, can you tell me exactly where to look for the connectors you mention in your post..... are they behind the unit that the Nav DVD goes into in the boot?

Sorry to be a bit thick.... I'm just mean when it comes to paying MB dealers!!

Diesel Benz.... did my response of "-" help in any way?

Thanks again for your help guys.

[Diesel Benz]

Originally Posted by JohnV

Diesel Benz.... did my response of "-" help in any way?

This "-" should actually indicate a faulty connection. Usually a broken antenna gives "0" but since your Comand is alternating between the two (and good readings), I'm afraid it could be either one.

One connector is at the rear of the Navi processor (the device you put the DVD in). I believe there should be another connector (GPS splitter on US cars) at the left top, deep in the boot, close to the boot lid hinge, behind the linings of course. I would check the connectors first.