Microsoft Street and Trips

I bought Microsoft's Street and Trips software with GPS over the Christmas holiday, and seem to be having problems with it, and was wondering if anybody else had the same problem?

I've installed the software, i've configured my GPS, and i've driven across half of iowa, and my GPS still cannot find a satellite. I go into the route planner, i've input a starting address and my final drop address, then click to process the route and get directions. All my program does is say "proceed to route..." and cuts off because it is looking for a satellite.

can anyone help with some advice if you've owned or if you own this product?? i've read the instructions, but dont seem to be working. Maybe i've got a bad GPS unit. i dunno.....

 

It is plugged into a USB port. The port is recognized. I went to task pane and configured the GPS. the GPS when plugged into the USB port has a blue light from it. i can only assume that when you plug it in, and configure the GPS, that it is "on"...yes?

I have it mounted on a window, so it has clear view of the sky. I drove half way thru iowa, and i'm sitting just outside denver with clear night sky...and it still dont work. about to throw it out the window....

 

well after spending another 50+ minutes on the phone with help desk, i found out that my GPS is bad. The guy had me download a GPSdiag program, and it was receiving data (i think) but it wasnt connecting to any satellites. So i think i am going to drop my trailer here at the Flyin' J, and run across the street and exchange this GPS for another one.

My computer had tried to put the GPS on COM12, but the guy had me switch it to COM2. Only COM1, COM2 and COM12 and higher were available. 3-11 were taken already.

oh, and i am going to take my laptop in, and hook it up right there, and if it dont work with a new GPS receiver, i'm asking for my money back.

 

well, i found out my receiver was bad. The tech from Microhard, had me download this GPSdiag program, and found it was my receiver. I dropped my trailer, headed a mile away to Best Buy, and returned it. I plugged in the new GPS, and it didnt work. I was about to flip, then the guy said "well you might have to uninstall the original program, and re-register the new program with the new register number. I did, and it worked.

what a headache.....so now i will never get lost...right?

 

well i would like to think it is quality, but not as GOOD as the quality you get with DeLorme. The TomTom/Garmin GPSs i saw at Wally world, were just about $110. Thought about buying one of those, but i wanted something with a huge screen....like my sony viao with just over 18" widescreen. Easier to see that, not to mention Streets/trips has a 'nighttime' map, that makes it easier to read the map at night.

Problem is no GPS out there is 100% reliable...even the Co-Pilot isnt 100%. Just figure for the price, S and T does the same thing as TomTom, and the screen is bigger. they both have their trade offs.