Can't Acquire GPS Fix last few days

Mike 8 months ago

Since Monday my 255 Music is unable to aquire a GPS fix, despite being in the latest software version and in a clear view of the sky for more than 30 minutes.

Last Sunday everything worked as normal, with a fix being acquired within seconds. But now it seems impossible.

Anybody else with this issue?

Top Replies

Garmin-Sierra 8 months ago in reply to Mike +2

All,

If your watch is unable to locate satellites, please see Why Does My Garmin Watch Take So Long to Locate Satellites?

It doesn't look like we have any reports of this yet, but I will keep an eye out…
Mike 8 months ago in reply to carlo3k +2

I mean, I just can't understand how it stops working consistently from one day to the other, and the only attempt at a solution is to reset the watch. And when that doesn't work, the only thing they…
Mike 8 months ago in reply to 3361291 +1

Yesterday I was surprised in that I got a fix within a minute. However today it's been over an hour and it's still can't find a single satellite.

Hopefully we can find a solution to this instead…

All Replies

0 global_local 8 months ago

You should have a GPS version not 0.0 in system/about. If 0.0 do a reinstall last software.

Ephemeris status should be current. If not - do a sync with GC/GE.

0 3361291 8 months ago

Same error here, with Epehemeris: actual and GPS: 12.00 Host: 21.22
It takes a lot of time and sometimes it is impossible to acquire the signal.
Same spot as always, clear skies and without any tree...

0 Mike 8 months ago in reply to global_local

Thank you global_local.

GPS version says 12.00 and ephemeris is Current. Tried syncing with the phone, wifi and via Garmin Express but everything says it's up to date.

Yesterday I was able to get a fix after about 15 minutes, but today it hasn't been able to aquire the signal. Same spot, same weather..

Found this post on the Fenix 8 forum (forums.garmin.com/.../1898836) from 2 weeks ago, and am wondering if it might be a similar issue.

Although if it's happening to the 255, I would've thought it might be something more widespread. Could be affecting just certain countries?

+1 Garmin-Sierra 8 months ago in reply to Mike

All,

If your watch is unable to locate satellites, please see Why Does My Garmin Watch Take So Long to Locate Satellites?

It doesn't look like we have any reports of this yet, but I will keep an eye out for more reports. If the steps in the FAQ above do not fix it, please contact your local Product Support center directly. Thank you!

Garmin Product Support

0 Mike 8 months ago in reply to Garmin-Sierra

Got in touch with Product Support on Tuesday. They asked me to do a full reset, which I did but it didn't help at all.

Last couple of days I've been able to get a fix in about 10 minutes, but that still is way longer than it used to just 2 weeks ago (at most it used to take 10 seconds).

I think there has to be something wrong with the ephemeris file in my watch, since it's still able to get a fix sometimes.

0 carlo3k 8 months ago

Same problem here, just installed last fw, hope this help.

0 Mike 8 months ago

Yesterday I had no luck getting GPS signal. I waited outside for an hour before my long run, hoping it would get a fix, but it didn't even get a single satellite. I went on the long run anyway and to no surprise in over another hour it didn't get a fix.

I don't understand what's going on. Last week if I waited for 10/15 minutes it'd get a fix and then it'd be good to go for the next hour. Still a long wait, but at least it worked. But yesterday I just got nothing.

I don't think it's a hardware problem, since the watch is able to get a fix (at least some days). And it doesn't seem to be a base firmware issue since it didn't start with an update. With my limited knowledge I can only assume the ephemeris file or the way it's interpreted by the watch that's causing this, but I wouldn't know how to confirm that.

0 3361291 8 months ago in reply to Mike

I contacted with Garmin and they send me a new GPS, now, in the same spot, same conditions it is working.
I am almost sure that it is not a hardware problem but something related with the ephemeris file.

0 Mike 8 months ago in reply to 3361291

Yesterday I was surprised in that I got a fix within a minute. However today it's been over an hour and it's still can't find a single satellite.

Hopefully we can find a solution to this instead of replacing the unit (if that's even available to me, since I'm not in the US).

0 carlo3k 8 months ago

Today another workout with partial GPS data, too many problems Garmin!