7" Ebay Chinese GPS

**Castlemainegold** · 17-06-09, 12:27 PM

Hi

I have a cheapie Chinese GPS which I have put Igo8 on and it has been working fine...until yesterday....

When I turned it on yesterday I won't pick up the GPS data. I have checked the comms settings within IGO8 (it says it is connected), and reinstalled IGO8 but still no go.

From the settings menu of the actual device, not IGO8, I have 'reset the GPS' and it seems to be receiving the GPS satellite data but it doesn't get passed to the actual long/lat location or altitude part of the unit...as nothing gets updated in this area; no matter how long it is left. It shows that it can see 12 odd satellites, show it receives data from them, but it is failing to show an actual location.

Just wondering if anyone has any clues on what I might try next to get it working again.

I also have tried alls sorts of power resets...with no result.

Thanks in advance
regards
J

**Downunder35m** · 17-06-09, 12:57 PM

That's why I use a real GPS and not a chinese copy...
Sorry for that - I could not help it.

**mattwalker** · 17-06-09, 01:41 PM

same issue here:

**alphredo** · 17-06-09, 01:48 PM

7 inch ... wow.

**urban_s0ulja** · 17-06-09, 03:59 PM

same issue with my aldi unit as a few days ago
havnt bothered to really look at it
thinking its time to get a tomtom

**hoe** · 17-06-09, 04:05 PM

i'd say it's stuffed, but i need another battery for mine if you want to sell it......

**Castlemainegold** · 17-06-09, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder35m

That's why I use a real GPS and not a chinese copy...
Sorry for that - I could not help it.

Well you must be very lucky!

**Castlemainegold** · 17-06-09, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by mattwalker1975

same issue here:

How old was your unit?
Mine has worked well for just 6 months...until now! :-)

Such is life!

**Downunder35m** · 17-06-09, 08:17 PM

@Castlemainegold (and all the other user of chinese GPS units) :
It is no difference if it is a GPS ,TV or even a Generator - you get what you pay for.
As long as everything is working fine you're on the lucky side.
If something breaks or you have a warranty claim you are lost - most of the cases anyway.
I was in exatly the same club : ordering a "bargain" on Ebay and being happy to safe big money - until I got the first problems...
Sending something back as a warranty claim is expensive ,takes for ever and often you will have the problem that the seller don't speak english (but uses something to translate ,more or less...).
Some of my stuff still works fine ,like a $2 card reader(inc.postage!) or the charger for my mobile phone.
Other stuff is in the bin ,like memory cards ,a 750GB hard drive ,portable TV...

If you buy local you can claim your rights - in China you are lost.
But don't get me wrong : I would try a cheap Gps ,PDA or something similar for a good price , as a "toy" - but never again something that I really need or have to rely on...

**Downunder35m** · 17-06-09, 09:48 PM

Well ,just to be really nice again :
I found some info in a German forum regarding the satellite problem on Chinese GPS systems ....
It is actually a problem with the Chinese Windows system - if you can't get a satellite fix anymor you need to update the system.
Most sellers admit that problem and will send you the files you need!
But be aware!! You are actually changing the flash rom by doing so - if you use the wron update your GPS won't start anymore.
If anyone els here can read German here is the link to that
- not very good...
The ppl in that forum are pretty sure that this "error" in build in on purpose!

**Downunder35m** · 17-06-09, 10:45 PM

ist the file from China that is supposed to fix the problem.
A tutorial with pictures is included.
The mentioned GPS systems were all running on WinCE5.0 and IGO8 originally.
It is not software problem it is problem with the inbuild GPS receiver(sirf3).

I hope someone here will find that useful after all that searching and reading

**Downunder35m** · 18-06-09, 02:56 AM

Some more info I found:
The trouble is caused by the US military - they change the code for the satellites!
These changes are normal and all legal GPS receivers can deal with it.
However some "cheap chinese" GPS units use the MSTAR chipset which is mostly an illegal copy without the proper firmware.
The next change in these codes is on the 20th ,so either way wait a few more days and if your GPS is still not working use the update in post#11 or do it now if you need it.
But be aware that you can brick your device if it is not compatible!!
It only happens on WinCe5 units - WinCe4.2 units are unaffected.
The installed software does not matter at all...

From a user in another forum :

hi, I got same problem in middle east,it is sounds the hardware bugs
all with MSTAR company made in china and SAMSUNG S3C2440A-40，GPS chipsets SiRF Star III, all GPS with those hardware need a patch to make it working fine or waiting after 12pm 20th june 2009.

this is what I get the answer.

I got a patch program,my gps now work fine.
I am not sure if it is ok for others.
my gps is 7inch sirf III+samsung

DONT USE IT WITH ANY CAR GPS UNIT
WITH BUILDIN GPS

**BCNZ** · 18-06-09, 09:43 AM

Such are the perils of buying cheap crap out of china.

I know it's tempting to do so, but do you really save in the long run? After the hours of frustration and loss of use of said item, is it really worth it?

Add to that, all this junk is closing jobs and businesses in your own country.

I don't see a win in any of it.

**mate** · 18-06-09, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by Studio1

Such are the perils of buying cheap crap out of china.

I know it's tempting to do so, but do you really save in the long run? After the hours of frustration and loss of use of said item, is it really worth it?

Add to that, all this junk is closing jobs and businesses in your own country.

I don't see a win in any of it.

Are you trying to tell us that TomTom, Navman & Garmin are made in Australia?
All anyone is doing buying a cheapy is cutting out the middleman.
If you get lucky like i did you find you buy a cheapy with a local middleman and one who is willing to back his product.

**tristen** · 18-06-09, 11:02 AM

"Made in China" does not automatically equate to an inferior product.
Today, much electronic equipment is manufactured in China, where production costs are comparatively low. Because of this, many of the so-called reputable name-brand products are now also manufactured in China.
Perhaps some manufacturing sites have inadequate quality control or use inferior components, but this has always been the case and in my experience is not necessarily related to country of origin.
I can remember when "cheap" products manufactured in Japan became available on the Australian market. The first units to appear were indeed inferior, but after several years the manufacturing quality had improved enormously. Eventually, Japanese-made electronics products became the standard to emulate.
The same has applied to equipment manufactured in other developing countries, such as parts of South America and nearer to home, in the Philippines.
Chinese-made products have gone down the same path, with poor quality initially, but now improved enormously.

I bought a "cheap" GPS device from China over two years ago and have never had a problem with it. Both internally and externally, it is of good build quality and I am very happy with its so far, fault-free performance.

Yes, in the event of a fault developing during the warranty period, the monetary cost and time involved in returning the product is indeed a problem, but this applies to any products privately sourced from overseas.
When making such purchases, one needs to acknowledge the risk involved, that some products do fail early in their life, and be prepared to accept that possibility. If you're not happy to do this, buy locally - but recognise that even this is no guarantee that all will be smooth sailing, as many can testify.

**Castlemainegold** · 18-06-09, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by Downunder35m

ist the file from China that is supposed to fix the problem.
A tutorial with pictures is included.
The mentioned GPS systems were all running on WinCE5.0 and IGO8 originally.
It is not software problem it is problem with the inbuild GPS receiver(sirf3).

I hope someone here will find that useful after all that searching and reading

Thank-you for your constructive input and assistance.
All the best
J

**Downunder35m** · 18-06-09, 05:17 PM

You're welcome!
I just hope that is doing any good to these non working GPS systems after I blamed everthing on China

The ppl in the German forum are happy now and there are a few good responses in the GPS Underground forum as well.
The big question is :
did it happen because the US changed the code or because they used fraudulent copies in China???

**mattwalker** · 19-06-09, 08:28 PM

Hi Guys,

When I try the (b) method I get a message like ' cant create Com port' ....is this suitable for a 4.3" GPS?

**Downunder35m** · 19-06-09, 09:34 PM

I'm not sure if it suitable for 4.3" divices - have you checked post #12 if you have the same hardware?
If in doubt wait a bit longer ,the U.S. changes the GPS codes tomorrow anyway.
If you are lucky it's all good till they switch to next set that is not supported ;-)
Or contact your seller and ask for a firmware update...

**thomsondk** · 19-06-09, 09:36 PM

hello.
is ther anyone there can help me to reset my unit or know what the problem is.
the unit model is-ZCSPEDG642 from "autodvdgps.com"
i have tried everything now ant nothing works.
when i push the gps button with the original polnav in the sd-slot the gps start normal
but when i push (start gps map) there is a (exclamation mark) pupping up and
it says (can not find the program to start) it do NOT say "can not find gps softwere".

is there anyone knows what the problem is???