command losing satalite

[johnshope]

Help! I had a command unit fitted in my ML by a well-regarded local company that i have used for many years to install electronics in many of our cars vans etc. they installed a new command unit a couple of months ago which all works fine apart from the sat nav which keeps losing signal i returned the car to them and they replaced the antenna which they assured me would 99 per cent sort it out as we only occasionally use the car for long runs I have only just noticed it has not cured the problem and keeps losing signal I would appreciate feedback so I can ask the right questions of the installer

 

[npuk]

What unit did you have fitted? If Comand NTG2.5 then it is a known bug. The solution in this thread may work for you - http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/elec...ellites-sd-card-i-may-have-potential-fix.html

 

[johnshope]

hi npuk thanks for your prompt reply not sure what my version is it has an SD card but I can’t find a compass setting in the control. I’m pretty sure the unit was new when installed about two months age if that helps it also does full post codes and has new roads on it that aren’t on my garmin which is about 4 yrs. old i have tried to hold the hang up button and the +* button simultaneously but no engineering mode came up

 

[markjay]

...not sure what my version is it has an SD card ...

NTG2.5 looks like this:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/941971-post140.html

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6083/6109470569_61158365c1_o.jpg

If this is the unit you have, then the suggestion is that the issue is not with the GPS antenna as such, but with the fact that the after-market internal antenna is usually installed under the dash (which is what MB say you should do). Original factory fitments will have an external GPS antenna.

It is possible that the problem will be resolved by installing an external antenna, or by locating the existing internal antenna in a different location (and have its wire routed differently to where it is now).

 

[richard]

Are you actually using music on the SD card ?

Richard

 

[richard]

PS, try holding the following 3 buttons together for 10 seconds for engineering mode: hangup * 6

R

 

[mct_cars]

If you think it's the placing of the GPS, try placing it on top of the dash and go for a run. If you stop losing satellites, then bingo, it's the placement of the GPS.

Things like a thick dash (especially metal strengtheners), solar reflect or heated windscreen etc. will play havoc with the signal.

 

[johnshope]

thanks for help we did have an sd card fitted i have just taken it out and started system sat nav still in the north sea but will take car out for a run later it is a NTG2.5 as per your pic single disc with dvd

 

[johnshope]

Again many thanks for valuable advice . I left unit on for a while on the drive the unit has now found its bearings but after going into engineering mode thanks for the tip Richard am only showing four satellites in blue the rest are still yellow can I assume gps needs to be moved? If so what do I need to remove unit?

 

[richard]

4 is enough for a 3-Dimensional GPS fix, which is what is needed. If were out in a very open place, i'd hope for 5 or more from a GPS antenna under the dash.

Ask the installer where they installed it. It should be on top of the instrument cluster (but under the top of the dash if you see what I mean). Theres metal work around in other places that could get in the way.

But, see if taking the SD card out has fixed the issue. It is a known problem ..

Richard

 

[zenman63]

And make sure it's the right way up, mind had a steel base, this is the bottom.

 

[johnshope]

just to say i have run car for a few days without sd card in and nav appears to be working fine many thanks to all for help and advice on another point how hard is it to retro fit a reversing camera?

 

[npuk]

Not hard, I have posted a thread about it here: http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/electronics/113912-reverse-camera-comand-ntg2-5-a.html You will need coding via STAR to activate the reverse camera input.

 

[johnshope]

do all the cables just plug into the harness at the back of car or do you need to run a dedicated cable all the way back to the comand unit?

 

[richard]

Dedicated cable from back of unit to rear. You can get official MB parts (see Comand Online Ltd who sell a kit) but for ML are expensive as the camera from MB is a few hundred pounds (but it is a super picture).

The reversing camera function needs turning on in the COMAND too, using Star Diagnosis

Richard