“Lost satellite reception”

[Mconn2]

I purchased a 66 plate fabia mk3 Monte Carlo back in October last year. Since then it randomly tells me it’s “lost satellite reception” every so often. Happens regardless of having phone connected

or playing the radio, can’t seem to find anything about the satellite reception in menus (doesn’t have sat nav). 
 

Hoping this has happened someone else and you’ve found a fix before going to garage!
 

 

[KenONeill]

3 hours ago, Mconn2 said:

it randomly tells me it’s “lost satellite reception” every so often

I see you're fae Embra. Furry boots do these signal loses happen? I've got an idea what it may be but I need to know where it happens first.

[TerFar]

Yes, this happens to me occasionally. It is usually because instead of attaching my phone to the magnetic phone attachment on the dash where the phone has a 'clear view' of the satellites in the sky above, I have left it in my coat pocket, so the sky is partially obscured. The result is the occasional announcement 'lost satellite reception'.

 

Obviously, if I'm just popping down to the shops or going somewhere familiar, I am unlikely to want to use my phone, so I leave it in my pocket. So this is normal.

[KenONeill]

17 minutes ago, TerFar said:

I have left my phone in my coat pocket, so the sky is partially obscured.

That makes sense. Tall buildings (relative term; 3 or 4 stories a few feet from the carriageway can be tall) can also do this.

[rum4mo]

Satellite phone - as in mobile phone that uses satellites for reception, most of us only have cell phones as mobile phones and they need to be in "line of sight" of a cell mast.

[TerFar]

Most mobile phones have a location chip based on receiving satellite signals. This is why we can use Google Maps or installed GPS Apps. It has absolutely nothing to do with making phone calls. 

[KenONeill]

8 minutes ago, TerFar said:

Most mobile phones have a location chip based on receiving satellite signals.

Exactly; I'm pleased someone else knows this.

[Mconn2]

Thanks everyone for replies. I suspected it could be gps signal but never known a car to tell me it’s lost satellite reception especially when not even using gps signal. Currently sat in IKEA car park and happened twice, 5 bars of 4G and no buildings around me. 
Anyone aware if you can turn her off?? It’s starting to bug me!

[Mconn2]

Right, I’ve disconnected my Phone from the car, switched Bluetooth off and it still has said “Lost satellite reception” twice in past 5 minutes… no sat nav in the car, does the car have its own gps chip?! 

[AGFalco]

Has the car got a SOS button?

 

Thanks, AG Falco

[Mconn2]

1 minute ago, AGFalco said:

Has the car got a SOS button?

 

Thanks, AG Falco

No, not that I’m aware of

[AGFalco]

Is your radio on DAB or FM?

 

Thanks, AG Falco

[Mconn2]

32 minutes ago, AGFalco said:

Is your radio on DAB or FM?

 

Thanks, AG Falco

DAB, it doesn’t cut out at all though

[rum4mo]

23 hours ago, KenONeill said:

Exactly; I'm pleased someone else knows this.

 

Yes of course, just shows how little I use my mobile phone for "other things" like mapsme and what3words etc, I was just willing to believe that position was done by triangulation from multiple cell masts so never really thought about it.  I only use stand alone satnav.

[TerFar]

Originally, the did try mast triangulation, but the accuracy was poor because invariably the phone couldn't see sufficient masts and/or the signals bounced off buildings. 

 

There are now so many satellites in geosynchronous orbit, that it is possible to 'see' as many as 7 at a time! 

[AGFalco]

49 minutes ago, TerFar said:

There are now so many satellites in geosynchronous orbit, that it is possible to 'see' as many as 7 at a time! 

 

31 in view and using 19 now in my back garden on my mobile phone.

 

My mobile also uses 4 different satellite systems:- A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO & BDS.

 

Using a navigation app on the mobile while in a plane is fun. 600 MPH and 10,000 Ft altitude.

 

A car with a SOS button in it will have a satellite chip inside.

 

If you live/work in North Dorset you cannot rely on mobile signal.

When you have customers in the middle if a forest/field then what3words becomes useful.

 

Thanks, AG Falco

[KevP]

On 19/06/2021 at 14:24, Mconn2 said:

Thanks everyone for replies. I suspected it could be gps signal but never known a car to tell me it’s lost satellite reception especially when not even using gps signal. Currently sat in IKEA car park and happened twice, 5 bars of 4G and no buildings around me. 
Anyone aware if you can turn her off?? It’s starting to bug me!

Hi. Did anyone get an answer for this ? Would also like to turn this off. 
 

thanks 

[Mconn2]

23 hours ago, KevP said:

Hi. Did anyone get an answer for this ? Would also like to turn this off. 
 

thanks 

No solution as yet! Going to ask the garage when my car goes in for a service later in the year.