APS50/COMAND performance

[bobmedley]

I have factory fitted APS50 in a 2003 E Class & often the unit fails to lock onto any satellites (especially if it's cloudy or raining). It then defaults to dead reckoning (??) & has a nervous breakdown telling me to turn right across the M6 crash barriers, do the hokey-cokey etc, etc.

Is this a peculiarity of APS50 & is COMAND better/worse because it uses the same antenna?

Grateful for any info

 

[RichieRuss2000]

I have APS50 and have never had any of the problems u mention... I'd have yours checked out by a technician as perhaps your antenna is faulty.

 

[Brett]

I have factory fitted APS50 in a 2003 E Class & often the unit fails to lock onto any satellites (especially if it's cloudy or raining). It then defaults to dead reckoning (??) & has a nervous breakdown telling me to turn right across the M6 crash barriers, do the hokey-cokey etc, etc.

Is this a peculiarity of APS50 & is COMAND better/worse because it uses the same antenna?

Grateful for any info

Just had similar problems travelling through Europe. Sat Nav told me I was in Luxemborg as I pulled into Zeebrugge! Happened on numerous occassions on our travels, usually just when we needed it most! We resorted to tried and tested methods - the missus with a map!

 

[BonzoDog]

APS 50 Luxembourg

As one living in Luxembourg I think I would have noticed if, vice versa, it had us positioned in Zeebrugge. If you look at the manual, it does say that ferries will disorientate the system and that having landed it might take a few minutes until it gets its bearings. It advises you to press GPS a few times. Travelling on the ferry in both directions I have never had these problems and am amazed at its accuracy.
You will find though, on the A13 in the south of Luxembourg, that the system does get lost where this new motorway suddenly ends and makes a detour. This is to circumnavigate a field that a local farmer will not sell. APS50 seems to support him as it has you marked as off road and takes a good few minutes to find itself again. Farmers in mainland EU are still a force to behold.

 

[Brett]

As one living in Luxembourg I think I would have noticed if, vice versa, it had us positioned in Zeebrugge. If you look at the manual, it does say that ferries will disorientate the system and that having landed it might take a few minutes until it gets its bearings. It advises you to press GPS a few times. Travelling on the ferry in both directions I have never had these problems and am amazed at its accuracy.

Unfortunately the bit I hadn't told you was that I'd just travelled from Turin to Zeebrugge and enroute it got "confused" and hopelessly lost. By the time I arrived in Zeebrugge, it thought I was in Luxemborg heading south.