How to Troubleshoot a Handheld GPS

Handheld GPS units are extremely handy devices for navigating outdoors. Whether you are hiking in a wooded area, exploring a city or boating in open waters, the units can be invaluable tools to help you find your way. Modern technology has greatly advanced the accuracy of handheld GPS units, but they are not completely infallible. Sometimes there can be problems with accuracy and mechanics.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Initialize your handheld GPS unit according to the manufacturer's instructions. Most devices come with a quick start guide or section at the front of the user manual that specifies how to perform an initialization.

2. Shut down the unit and turn it back on again. Powering down is usually the first step when you troubleshoot a GPS unit.

3. Replace the batteries with new batteries or recharge the batteries.

4. Avoid using the receiver for at least 5 minutes after you turn it on so that the unit has enough time to download all the data it needs from the navigational satellites. Keep the receiver in one place with a full "view" of the sky from as many angles as possible.

5. Move to another area to try to get a stronger signal. Heavy foliage, buildings, hills, rock formations and other structures can block the signal from getting from satellites to the handheld device. Close proximity to these structures can also interfere with the accuracy of the information provided by bouncing the signal.

6. Check that you have the latest chipset installed on your handheld. Without the latest chipset, your handheld may not be able to acquire satellites properly, if at all. You can usually download chipsets from the website of your handheld GPS unit's manufacturer.

Tips & Warnings

• Contact customer service to help you troubleshoot your problem. Most major GPS manufacturers like Garmin and Magellan can be reached by phone or email to help you troubleshoot. Because many problems are specific to the model of handheld GPS unit you are using, customer service technicians from the manufacturer are the best resources.
• If your unit is still under warranty when you are experiencing problems, it may be easiest to send the device back to the manufacturer for repair or replacement. Many serious problems that affect these devices require software to be reloaded to fix the problem.
• If you routinely save data on your handheld GPS, back it up on your PC just in case you have a software error that requires a hard reset. A hard reset will wipe the data off your unit.

[xman2774]

on 12/9/2008 how can i fix or reset my plenio vxa-2000? no voice and some wacky things going on... i dont see how can i reset it,no battery and no "reset button" there