A229 Pro GPS

[RadonVRN]

I live in an area with almost constant air traffic, especially from Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA.

I think that an objective picture can be obtained if at the same time with the dashcam will work an additional device, which GPS antenna will be guaranteed to work well! I have such a device is a radar-detector (these devices are legal in Russia). And when I drive my car past a protected object or through an object (for example, a bridge over a river), I lose the signal from satellites EVERYWHERE! And on the dashcam, and on the Radar-detector and on the phone. And, judging by the fact that the phone and radar-detector support several navigation systems, I can conclude that all systems are jammed at the same time.

Therefore, when I have stable signal reception on my phone and radar detector, but not on the Viofo, I realize that it is the Viofo's problem and “little green men” and “conspiracy theories” have nothing to do with it.

A situation came to mind. Once, while crossing a bridge, I saw that the dashcam caught a GPS signal. I was surprised, but didn't think much of it. After some time the signal disappeared and did not appear again until the evening. At home in the evening I found out that the time on the dashcam had shifted by +3 hours. When I looked at the "movie", I found that the time had shifted exactly on the bridge and according to the GPS coordinates I was in a different time zone. That is, the signal can not only be jammed, but also falsified.

 

[Hack_man]

I think my brain cell is failing to understand something.
You ran tests where you installed A329 GPS modules with an A329 and Two (2) A229 Pro cameras so the modules are not a variable during this test.

You said:

I have never had any of the GPS issues / malfunctions as I've experienced with the A229 Pro.

The A329 always gets GPS signal within 10 seconds in my garage, and on the road.

However, I still can’t confirm & verify my malfunction is due to any Viofo component.

Why isn't the conclusion that the A229 Pro is at the very least less sensitive or possibly malfunctioning, considering that the A329 works fine?

 

[TheSpanishInq]

stable signal reception on my phone

FYI
Phones don't realy compare well as they use aGPS, which gives them a massive head-start in getting a GPS-lock.
The radar detector, which probably lacks cellular netwerk capabilities, gives a better comparison.

 

[lufa6977]

Confirm means that the truth is there and you double check.
Verify means that you doubt something is 100% true, so you double check.

Verification first, then Confirmation second. Verify and confirm....not confirm and verify.

1. Until the inside component of the A329 GPS Module is removed and compared to the inside component of the A229 GPS module you will be working with and unknown factor that skews the final analysis. Pictures would be nice.
2. It is known that using the latest firmware on the A229 Pro eliminates most GPS lock issues.
3. While windshield composition is a factor, it appears to be mostly a factor for the A229 Pro and not other models or brands.
4. There are multiple components to the GPS feature, the GPS antenna, main board, the IF board in the module, the IF board in the dash cam, the ribbon cable, software.
5. Use only one dash cam for testing for bad components. Use components from other units for isolation. Use a second dash cam is no resolution with first dash cam.
6. Use discipline and procedure for proper testing of hardware.
7. Use the latest firmware available.
8. Travis AFB may, intermittently jam GPS however, bases do not generally jam GPS 24/7. They will do short term jamming during 'testing' or other events. If it were 24/7 testing then it would probably screw up Nut Tree airport also, and other planes in the area. Not to mention drones, etc. So very unlikely this is a 24/7 jamming from TAFB.

Driving around for extensive time frames is useless, you either get a lock in a minute or less or there is an issues. It may not be a dash cam related issues, but an issue. Every toy I have in life will GPS lock in under one minute, most in a few seconds. Since this is happening in Europe and the U.S., driving for miles looking for a signal is wasteful in time and resources.

Unless a tester or influencer is willing, and capable of disassembly of the GPS module and dash cam for component swap and testing, then testing from them should probably end. Users and testers are lacking inside knowledge of the sync process from the antenna to the dash cam and VIOFO is highly unlikely to reveal anything. You can only get so far, even with swapping hardware components but, swapping components and determining if there is an actual difference between the A229 and A329 GPS modules will at least help to deal with VIOFO.

 

[Chuck McCoy]

Why isn't the conclusion that the A229 Pro is at the very least less sensitive or possibly malfunctioning, considering that the A329 works fine?

Post #72

 

[LateralNW]

My 2 cents
I've gone through hundreds of A229Pro videos starts and didn't find any without gps.
I did find a couple of times it took 30-60 secs to find gps signal and they where Sunny days.

I'm wondering if the hardwire kit has something to do with the problem.
The files I looked at from the A229Pro was powered via the cig light with Viofo's recommended unit.

Regarding being near an air base and not always getting gps doesn't surprise me.
I don't have any reason, just not surprised.

 

[RadonVRN]

Phones don't realy compare well as they use aGPS, which gives them a massive head-start in getting a GPS-lock.
The radar detector, which probably lacks cellular netwerk capabilities, gives a better comparison.

Probably not GPS, but GPRS(GSM)?
+
I use our local navigation system (yandex-navigator) and it shows when the phone gets a clear signal from the satellite and when it tries to position itself based on the signal from the cellular carrier. And also additionally the phone can determine its position via WiFi networks. And, as far as I could see, the connection with GPS the radar detector and the phone lose almost synchronously.
The radar detector does have the best GPS receiver I've ever had. So if I see that even the radar detector loses connection, I realize that things are really bad)))))

The files I looked at from the A229Pro was powered via the cig light with Viofo's recommended unit.

I've had experience with the out-of-the-box Viofo cable. It was a bad experience.

 

[lufa6977]

My 2 cents
I've gone through hundreds of A229Pro videos starts and didn't find any without gps.
I did find a couple of times it took 30-60 secs to find gps signal and they where Sunny days.

I'm wondering if the hardwire kit has something to do with the problem.
The files I looked at from the A229Pro was powered via the cig light with Viofo's recommended unit.

Regarding being near an air base and not always getting gps doesn't surprise me.
I don't have any reason, just not surprised.

In my case of no-lock / no-sync, I ruled out the hard wire kit as I had the same experience on the CLA and on a Dongar dongle for the rear-view mirror. With 3 different methods of powering the camera I had the same issue on the A229 Pro. In the end, replacing a interface board in the A229 Pro back and updating both A229 Pro to latest software corrected past issues. Of course, on cloudy, rainy, snowy, ugly weather days the sync is a little slower.

I am not surprised about the air base either. In the U.S. generally, something around 200 complaints are filed yearly by General Aviation and Commercial Aviation for GPS jamming and loss issues. However, those are temporary issues and are likely related to unknown issues...well, known to someone in the government but not to us. However, I would not expect it to be an everyday occurrence in an area.

 

[LateralNW]

replacing a interface board in the A229 Pro back and updating both A229 Pro to latest software corrected past issues.

Interesting. Which board and in what device, dashcam or gps

 

[lufa6977]

Interesting. Which board and in what device, dashcam or gps

It is the interface board that is located on the inside of the back half of the A229 Pro. The back side has a ribbon cable that winds around the heat sink and goes to a connector on the main board. The other side has the slots that receive the pins that are on the GPS module. The antenna in the GPS module picks up the signal, routes it to a board in the module, via a Molex type connector that is connected to the "male" interface board in the GPS module, from there it passes into the flat pins, then to the "female" interface board, through the ribbon cable into the main board.

There are multiple points of failure and interference that are possible. A poorly crimped pin in that Molex type connector, frayed wire, iffy components, poorly seated ribbon cable, well, there are just a number of places it can all go wrong. 🙂

I was very fortunate that VIOFO trusted my background in electronics, maintenance, and software and sent me a spare part. They may do that for anyone, I don't know, but I do know that seldom will a manufacturer send out this type of component to a customer. Having other A229 Pros to test with possibly helped me to convey to them where the issue was. In the end, it was less expensive to send me a board than a new camera. However, I do not think VIOFO would make a habit of this with all customers.

The image that has the IF board with the red on the connector, that connector is the bad one, I marked it with red so as to avoid confusion. Ignore the difference in the pink and white blocks. The pink is a thermal pad between the back and the heat sink. It also does double duty as a brace of sort to help keep the heat sink in place. I also moved the WiFi antenna so I could drill cooling holes in the top. I did not notice any loss of signal strength or connectivity by placing the antenna where I did.

 

[petrsms]

Hello,
on Monday arrived package with new A329 GPS module (Thank you very much Viofo support) which I installed immediately. I tested it whole day, about 10 drives with overall 100km and about 3-4 hours. Unfortunately I must consist, that situation was same as on A229 modules. So it not helped with my situation. But...
Now I had extra one module, so I leave it for my not yet installed A229 Plus and from two original modules I made "one" with splited antena. From one module I removed power electronic and from second GPS antena. Next I connected antena via about 20cm cable from power electronic from one module to second with antenna. Now my camera can be installed in right possition on the windshield (where is very poor GPS signal) and thanks antena installed on the dotted part of the windshield it has no more GPS issues.
Even under the metal roof and between buildings it has signal strength enough for GPS lock. Before the split - on the rare occasions when I had GPS lock on the camera, it always lost the signal every time when I drove under the roof here, and it never locked it again in this place. Great progress for me and the problem seems solved 🙂

 

[RadonVRN]

From one module I removed power electronic and from second GPS antena. Next I connected antena via about 20cm cable from power electronic from one module to second with antenna. Now my camera can be installed in right possition on the windshield (where is very poor GPS signal) and thanks antena installed on the dotted part of the windshield it has no more GPS issues.

Thanks for the interesting solution.
Maybe it's the components separated in different enclosures just stopped shielding each other?

 

[lufa6977]

Hello,
on Monday arrived package with new A329 GPS module (Thank you very much Viofo support) which I installed immediately. I tested it whole day, about 10 drives with overall 100km and about 3-4 hours. Unfortunately I must consist, that situation was same as on A229 modules. So it not helped with my situation. But...
Now I had extra one module, so I leave it for my not yet installed A229 Plus and from two original modules I made "one" with splited antena. From one module I removed power electronic and from second GPS antena. Next I connected antena via about 20cm cable from power electronic from one module to second with antenna. Now my camera can be installed in right possition on the windshield (where is very poor GPS signal) and thanks antena installed on the dotted part of the windshield it has no more GPS issues.
Even under the metal roof and between buildings it has signal strength enough for GPS lock. Before the split - on the rare occasions when I had GPS lock on the camera, it always lost the signal every time when I drove under the roof here, and it never locked it again in this place. Great progress for me and the problem seems solved 🙂

Excellent work and solution. It would be nice if @viofo made a setup similar to what you have done. I expect in the future, we will see more and more of these 'challenging' windshields. The picture of the GPS antenna and board, is that from the new A329 GPS module or the A229 Pro module?

 

[petrsms]

Excellent work and solution. It would be nice if @viofo made a setup similar to what you have done. I expect in the future, we will see more and more of these 'challenging' windshields. The picture of the GPS antenna and board, is that from the new A329 GPS module or the A229 Pro module?

Thank you. Picture is from A229 module (I don't opened new 329 modul). Today I installed last A229 Plus with new arrived A329 module in last car and it works perfect. It's Skoda SuperB (much smaller windshield then in my C4) and cam is installed in dotted part.

 

[RadonVRN]

Excellent work and solution.

In terms of solving one user's problem, then it's good of course. I have 2 modules right now too. But 2 modules are not available to all A229 users.

 

[lufa6977]

Yes, it is unfortunate this does not help you very much. This thread is long and I do not remember for certain, but I recall reading somewhere that VIOFO were working on firmware to improve the GPS for Russia, have you any contact with @VIOFO-Support over that matter?

 

[RadonVRN]

Yes, it is unfortunate this does not help you very much. This thread is long and I do not remember for certain, but I recall reading somewhere that VIOFO were working on firmware to improve the GPS for Russia, have you any contact with @VIOFO-Support over that matter?

I don't think there is any exclusive solution for Russia personally. I'm just waiting for the new global firmware. In the end, the most important thing is stable and high-quality video shooting. And it's not a fact that I have A229 for a long time) I'm looking at A329).

 

[Vergil]

I have also encountered the same problem and am seeking a solution. Personally, I believe it is a quality issue with the 229pro product.

 

[RadonVRN]

I currently have a stable signal outside of protected cities. And there came a point when I decided that I just had to let the situation go.
But still the dashcam detects satellites much later than the rest of my devices.

 

[Vladimirov]

С моим GPS проблема, не хочет включаться практически никогда. Мной были испробованы все варианты и даже мой старый датакам 5 работает отлично. Viofo предлагает мне прислать мой регистратор к ним, но так я остаюсь вообще без ничего. А по другому можно как то сделать?