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GPS on 68 Nova 3s

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16012FH

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GPS on 68 Nova 3s - Posted: October 29, 2019 - 9:39 PM Quote and reply
Last week I did three York to Lime Street returns covering both the sets in use.My GPS is a GPSmap60CSx which I consider very good except as well known the glass on 220/221s. But I had a lot of problems on this new stock.I got a signal but it either jumped around a lot or no signal at all or on coming back with in a few seconds froze. In the end I just gave up just using passing times. Have any other members had any better luck and if so what are they using.

Thanks Andrew Clark.

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CTAYLOR

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68's - Posted: October 30, 2019 - 9:15 AM Quote and reply
Yes I have had the same problems on these trains. Speed can jump up and down eratically. I have the same GPS Garmin. I have found them better if you get a good strong signal/fix before getting on the train, although signal on board is not as good as the 185's which is not particularly good.

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8001F

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Re: GPS on 68 Nova 3s - Posted: October 30, 2019 - 8:47 PM Quote and reply
16012FH said:
Last week I did three York to Lime Street returns covering both the sets in use.My GPS is a GPSmap60CSx which I consider very good except as well known the glass on 220/221s. But I had a lot of problems on this new stock.I got a signal but it either jumped around a lot or no signal at all or on coming back with in a few seconds froze. In the end I just gave up just using passing times. Have any other members had any better luck and if so what are they using.

Thanks Andrew Clark.


I've just finished writing up a Oct 3 run from Leeds-Scarborough-Liverpool-York on the same diagram. This proved a little more difficult than anticipated.

The train was 20 mins late and the time spent undercover at Leeds probably contributed to some dodgy readings in the first 10 miles. I can't recall losing a signal with my Garmin 64s and this records data every tenth of a mile which I upload. There was one 106 mph reading! The open sections from Church Fenton to Scarborough and Broad Green to Ashton were no problem but Stalybridge to Diggle produced some unlikely speeds not helped by some erratic driving by a driver starting at Man Vic.
Having said that my only other later run, from Leeds to Hudds was a complete failure but I was once again under the shed for 15-20 mins before departure.

Better than my first NOVA 1 run from Leeds to Liverpool and back which produced a flicker or two outward. The tunnelled exit from Liverpool is challenging and produced nothing but the unit burst into life at Newton-le-W and was faultless after. No problems York to Leeds yesterday apart from a 26 mph check at the foot of Micklefield Bank which may provide some useful data as we reaccelerated to reach 89 by Garforth.

I'll try to keep out in the open air for my next trip from Leeds and report what happens.
Ian U 30.10.19



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heatonj

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Re: GPS on 68 Nova 3s - Posted: October 30, 2019 - 10:08 PM Quote and reply
8001F said:
16012FH said:
Last week I did three York to Lime Street returns covering both the sets in use.My GPS is a GPSmap60CSx which I consider very good except as well known the glass on 220/221s. But I had a lot of problems on this new stock.I got a signal but it either jumped around a lot or no signal at all or on coming back with in a few seconds froze. In the end I just gave up just using passing times. Have any other members had any better luck and if so what are they using.

Thanks Andrew Clark.


I had jumping and unavailable on my first trip which was hudds scarb lpl.. also then poor the following day lpl york. Later that day yk man vic was no problem. More or less same seats each journey.
JH

I've just finished writing up a Oct 3 run from Leeds-Scarborough-Liverpool-York on the same diagram. This proved a little more difficult than anticipated.

The train was 20 mins late and the time spent undercover at Leeds probably contributed to some dodgy readings in the first 10 miles. I can't recall losing a signal with my Garmin 64s and this records data every tenth of a mile which I upload. There was one 106 mph reading! The open sections from Church Fenton to Scarborough and Broad Green to Ashton were no problem but Stalybridge to Diggle produced some unlikely speeds not helped by some erratic driving by a driver starting at Man Vic.
Having said that my only other later run, from Leeds to Hudds was a complete failure but I was once again under the shed for 15-20 mins before departure.

Better than my first NOVA 1 run from Leeds to Liverpool and back which produced a flicker or two outward. The tunnelled exit from Liverpool is challenging and produced nothing but the unit burst into life at Newton-le-W and was faultless after. No problems York to Leeds yesterday apart from a 26 mph check at the foot of Micklefield Bank which may provide some useful data as we reaccelerated to reach 89 by Garforth.

I'll try to keep out in the open air for my next trip from Leeds and report what happens.
Ian U 30.10.19





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9102

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Re: GPS on 68 Nova 3s - Posted: November 3, 2019 - 12:57 PM Quote and reply
16012FH said:
Last week I did three York to Lime Street returns covering both the sets in use.My GPS is a GPSmap60CSx which I consider very good except as well known the glass on 220/221s. But I had a lot of problems on this new stock.I got a signal but it either jumped around a lot or no signal at all or on coming back with in a few seconds froze. In the end I just gave up just using passing times. Have any other members had any better luck and if so what are they using.

Thanks Andrew Clark.


I have a Garnin GPSmap76CSx, which I believe has a similar spec to the GPSmap60 series. On one occasion, at Lea Green, I was distracted and forgot to get a signal before boarding - and failed to get any signal on the Garmin on the way to Leeds - but a GPS app. on my Android Phone got a signal soon after Manchester Victoria.

When I have established a signal on the Garmin before boarding, I have always kept some signal throughout each trip (except in tunnels, etc.), but the speed readings in Nova stock can be "unstable" or "erratic", so in some areas, I sometimes have to make a "user judgement" about the speed.

Regarding IU's comment - I also find the Stalybridge / Standedge / Huddersfield section "difficult" in Class 185s - with unstable speed readings. The same problem arises in "hilly" or "heavily wooded" areas with some other "modern" stock including 390s. I have often noted spurious 130+ mph speed readings in 390s, for example.

I would probably have made more trips from nearby Lea Green with Class 68 / Nova stock, but currently I find myself unable to trust Trans Pennine to get me back to Lea Green without excessive delay. Far too many trains are being cancelled, or terminated at Manchester Victoria, with TPE not making any efforts to get passengers back to Lea Green without enormous delays (Outside peak hours, there are no alternative trains between Manchester Victoria & Lea Green.)

BP




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djackman

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Re: GPS on 68 Nova 3s - Posted: November 3, 2019 - 2:07 PM Quote and reply
Are you using a GA25MCX antenna? (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ANTENNA-GPS-for-GARMIN-GA-25-MCX/362743417509?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649 - this is the clone version but works as well as the Garmin version; fits GPSMAP 60/62/64 but not 66, maybe others). I attach mine to a window with a rubber sucker (aka "Double Sided Suction Cups" - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01D3CXTZY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).

The other trick is to ensure your GPS is turned on for a while before boarding (and I'm talking an hour or so here, especially if you haven't used it for a while) - when reception is poor the unit may be able to track satellites it has already found but won't be able to acquire any more.

I have not managed to track down any of the Novas yet but ended up on a 195 yesterday and reception was not a problem.

David

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