Problems with Neverlost
Oct 30, 2002 | 6:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,394
Problems with Neverlost
I am a huge Neverlost believer - hate to rent a car with out! Over the last 3 rentals I have had problems with the Neverlost not working during rain storms!! Last night in Washington, DC the Neverlost wouldn't track until it stopped raining, 2 weeks ago another Neverlost put of PHL again wouldn't work in the rain.
The agent at Hertz said they have not come across this problem before, but had NO problems in crediting me for the Neverlost charge.
Anybody else have any experiences??
The agent at Hertz said they have not come across this problem before, but had NO problems in crediting me for the Neverlost charge.
Anybody else have any experiences??
Oct 31, 2002 | 9:22 am
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 6,932
It doesn't work so well in cities with narrow streets and tall buildings. And it REALLY doesn't work in DC. I have a paranoid suspicion that FedGov intentionally scrambles the DC signals to prevent guided missile attack.
Oct 31, 2002 | 9:38 am
#3
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K/*G
Posts: 2,397
I do not believe that it is possible to do what you describe. Additionally, if this was a specific concern, selective availability would not have been disabled in May of 2000 which allowed consistently "real" data to be provided to GPS units without the need for DGPS.
Oct 31, 2002 | 11:10 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,673
Neverlost definitely has problems in heavy rain. During my last rental in BOS it cut out in heavy rain and started working immediately after the rainstorm in the same area.
For GPS to work the receiver needs to have unobstructed line of sight to 3 satellites.
Tall buildings easily obstruct satellites, and a large concentration of raindrops weakens signals (ever watched a satellite TV channel in heavy rain/snow?)
An inexpensive nav system (like Neverlost?) relying on full-time availability of GPS signals will always have such problems. An expensive one with accelerometers/gyroscopes to take over when GPS signals are not available will work in tunnels, parking lots, city centers, and rainstorms.
For GPS to work the receiver needs to have unobstructed line of sight to 3 satellites.
Tall buildings easily obstruct satellites, and a large concentration of raindrops weakens signals (ever watched a satellite TV channel in heavy rain/snow?)
An inexpensive nav system (like Neverlost?) relying on full-time availability of GPS signals will always have such problems. An expensive one with accelerometers/gyroscopes to take over when GPS signals are not available will work in tunnels, parking lots, city centers, and rainstorms.
Nov 3, 2002 | 11:28 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Department of Homeland Sincerity
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I love Neverlost too. But it's crapped out me several times. The GPS receiver / antenna is often in the trunk, and I have to stop and reset the GPS by using a pen to press the reset button...
Nov 4, 2002 | 2:03 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Austin, TX -- HH Gold, CO Plt, AA Plt, Hertz 5*
Posts: 219
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dbaker:
I do not believe that it is possible to do what you describe. </font>
I do not believe that it is possible to do what you describe. </font>
Sam Wormley, a researcher at Iowa State University in Ames and manager of an authoritative GPS resources and accuracy Web site, said that the Pentagon "definitely" has the capability to jam civilian GPS signals in a given area without interfering with more precise military signals. Wormley said that's because the military signals occupy a different and smaller slice of the GPS frequency band than that used by the civilian signals.
http://www.idg.net/go.cgi?id=621855
Also, the WSJ had an article on it a while back. If you're a subscriber the article is entitled: "US Bombs may not find targets in Iraq due to satellite 'jammers.'"
As to NeverLost, Tampa is a very bad city for usage as well. Interesting that there's a major military base there....
Nov 4, 2002 | 3:27 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: ATL
Programs: No status no more, no where, no how.
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by monahos:
Neverlost definitely has problems in heavy rain. During my last rental in BOS it cut out in heavy rain and started working immediately after the rainstorm in the same area.</font>
Neverlost definitely has problems in heavy rain. During my last rental in BOS it cut out in heavy rain and started working immediately after the rainstorm in the same area.</font>
Nov 4, 2002 | 8:12 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,394
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UALOneKPlus:
I love Neverlost too. But it's crapped out me several times. The GPS receiver / antenna is often in the trunk, and I have to stop and reset the GPS by using a pen to press the reset button...</font>
I love Neverlost too. But it's crapped out me several times. The GPS receiver / antenna is often in the trunk, and I have to stop and reset the GPS by using a pen to press the reset button...</font>
Nov 5, 2002 | 7:27 am
#10
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: MIA / EZE
Programs: Lord of Malbec & all Wines Argentine. AA EXP / Marriott Lifetime Gold / Hyatt Explorist / Hertz PC
Posts: 36,206
Im also a NeverLost junkie... and yes, Ive had issues, surprisingly in Las Vegas. But the system works very well most of the time.
Nov 5, 2002 | 7:59 am
#11
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by dbaker:
I do not believe that it is possible to do what you describe. Additionally, if this was a specific concern, selective availability would not have been disabled in May of 2000 which allowed consistently "real" data to be provided to GPS units without the need for DGPS.</font>
I do not believe that it is possible to do what you describe. Additionally, if this was a specific concern, selective availability would not have been disabled in May of 2000 which allowed consistently "real" data to be provided to GPS units without the need for DGPS.</font>
Nov 5, 2002 | 8:41 am
#12
Moderator: CommunityBuzz!, OMNI, OMNI/PR, and OMNI/Games & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Gaucho100K:
Im also a NeverLost junkie....... But the system works very well most of the time.</font>
Im also a NeverLost junkie....... But the system works very well most of the time.</font>
Nov 7, 2002 | 12:56 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Putnam County, NY
Programs: Delta-Platinum/Million Miler, Marriott-Lifetime Titanium. Priority Club-Platinum
Posts: 1,214
The only problem I ever have with Neverlost is if I hop in the car and start driving before it can obtain a satellite lock. It then falls back onto speed/compass navigation which most often places the car out in empty fields and/or inside buildings!
I have found that if I wait until the unit gets a lock (green arrow in lower left hand corner) before moving the car, it works flawlessly even in bad weather.
I have found that if I wait until the unit gets a lock (green arrow in lower left hand corner) before moving the car, it works flawlessly even in bad weather.
Nov 12, 2002 | 11:47 pm
#14
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by back seat:
I find just turning the car off for a few minutes will reset Neverlost. Hitting the power button when the system is hung doesn't do anything.</font>
I find just turning the car off for a few minutes will reset Neverlost. Hitting the power button when the system is hung doesn't do anything.</font>
Nov 13, 2002 | 9:02 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,394
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UALOneKPlus:
I'm not talking about the power button. In the trunk, or wherever the Neverlost data unit is located, there is a small red button for reset. Try it sometimes...</font>
I'm not talking about the power button. In the trunk, or wherever the Neverlost data unit is located, there is a small red button for reset. Try it sometimes...</font>
I find turning the car on and off will re-boot the system. By the way I have had to do that at traffic lights a couple of time! Works great!