You and your family recently moved to a new city. None of you know that much about the roads of the new town, but thanks to modern technology, with the help of your car GPS device, it’s easy for you to move from one location to another inside the city.
Suddenly, you notice that your car GPS shows wrong location. Navigating the city will be difficult for you without precise information about the site, and you don’t know why your car’s GPS is showing the wrong place.
Well, this error happens in GPS devices for various reasons, such as if your GPS device has been inactive for too long or is unable to connect with required satellites. But every problem comes with a solution, right?
We are here to help you with why your car GPS device shows the wrong location and how you can fix those errors. So, without any delay, let’s jump into the discussion.
What Is a GPS Unit, and How Does it Work?
Before digging into why your GPS shows the wrong location, you need to know what a GPS unit is and how it works. It will help you to understand what a GPS requires to work accurately.
Most of you already know what GPS stands for, right? GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It’s a satellite-based navigation system, and the system is known as (GNSS) which stands for global navigation satellite system.
This sat-nav system comprises 30 satellites orbiting the Earth, ground stations to operate those satellites and GPS receivers.
This satellite navigation system was developed by the United States Department of Defense and is administered by the United States Air Force.
Receivers in GPS devices or smartphones can calculate their location (latitude, longitude & altitude) using the signals they receive from satellites in space.
These constant data or signals are sent from GPS satellites in continuous motion, and receivers on the ground need to connect with multiple satellites to determine precise locations. Receivers need at least one connection from four satellites or more to calculate accurate location and time.
GPS devices are widely used for navigation or tracking purposes, but there are some other major platforms, such as emergency services and transportation companies. It is also widely used for civilian personal use or commercial purposes such as map-making or tracking the movement of vehicles.
Some people think GPS is the only navigation system in the world, which is not. Other satellite-based navigation systems include GLONASS, developed and operated by Russia, BeiDeu by China, QZSS by Japan, and Galileo by the EU. But among them, GPS is widely used because of its high accuracy capability.
What Is a Car Specific GPS Unit?
A GPS, installed in your vehicle and allowing you to navigate the environment while driving, is known as a car-specific GPS unit.
A car GPS device is unlike the GPS you have on your smartphone. Instead, it’s a device that mostly comes pre-installed with a car, and its primary goal is to provide you with all the information you need to reach your destination or find the best route for your destination while you drive your car.
A car-specific GPS unit determines its position by constantly transmitting data with at least four or more satellites. This transmission between satellites and receivers determines your position on Earth. The more satellite networks it can connect, the more accurately it can assess your situation and time.
All the car-specific GPS units come with a pre-installed detailed map and other information about the land surface. You can see a digital land area map when you use a car-specific GPS unit. While using a car-specific GPS unit, you will get to know:
- Your position in three dimensions (latitude, longitude & altitude)
- The perfect route for your destination
- Speed of your vehicle
- The time you need to reach your destination
- Traffic status of your route
And some other necessary information.
Why Car GPS Shows Wrong Location?
Solutions do not come without knowing the right reasons, right? Suppose your car’s GPS is not working correctly, or not able to determine your location or the location of your destination, or shows any other errors which are not usual. In that case, it is indeed happening for some reason.
Let’s discuss some of the common reasons why GPS shows the wrong location:
Insufficiency of Satellite Signals
It is the most common and regular problem that happens in GPS devices. To calculate your precise location, a GPS device must have a clear view of the sky to connect itself with multiple satellites.
Suppose the GPS device is used in a crowded area, under a heavy tree cover, or in areas without clear sky visibility.
In that case, the GPS receiver may not be able to get strong enough signals from satellites to determine the accurate location and can end up showing the wrong place or other wrong information.
Inactivity for a Long Time
If your GPS device has been turned off for a long time, it may show you the incorrect location.
If a GPS device stays inactive for an extended period, it requires downloading some data before transmitting between the receiver and satellites to determine your precise location and time.
This action takes five to ten minutes to be corrected; in the meantime, it can show you the wrong place or information.
Interference
Interference between satellite signals and the receiver can cause your car’s GPS device to show the wrong location. As discussed above, satellites in orbit constantly beam data to ground receivers.
Buildings, statues, or other structures can reflect the GPS signals transmitted by satellites which can cause errors in the location reported by the GPS device.
Also, some devices, such as Wi-Fi routers and cell phones, can release signals that can interfere with GPS signals and cause errors such as showing the wrong location.
Outdated Software
All GPS devices require software to work correctly and determine location accurately. Suppose the software or map of your GPS device is outdated.
In that case, it will not be able to choose your location accurately and can’t provide information about new roads and or if any changes happen in existing ones.
Hardware Issues
Errors in GPS devices do not always happen due to software issues; sometimes, hardware issues can be the main culprit behind these errors.
If any damage happens to the significant components of your GPS device, such as a broken antenna or any damage in the critical parts, it could cause your device to show the wrong location or other inaccurate information.
Multipath Signal Errors
Incoming signals from satellites tend to bounce off buildings or other structures before they reach the receiver.
And when this happens, the receiver sometimes gets confused by the delay of signals or picking up multiple calls, which can cause errors in the location reported by the GPS device.
It commonly happens in areas with tall buildings, and GPS devices are less accurate in these situations.
Car GPS Shows Wrong Location – Fixing Ways
You might think that fixing this issue will be complicated for you but don’t panic because every problem can be fixed with easy and suitable solutions, and your car GPS device error can also be set.
Let’s discuss some of the solutions you can try to fix your GPS device that is showing the wrong location.
Move to A Place with a Clear View
If you are using your GPS device in an overcrowded area or an area with tall buildings where the view of the sky is limited, move to a location where you can have a much better idea.
It will ensure your car’s GPS device receives strong signals and connect with multiple satellites and will help improve the determined location’s accuracy.
Restart Device
There is a myth we all know that restarts can sometimes fix issues. Well, it actually can. Sometimes an initial glitch happens in GPS devices, and with a simple restart, the problems can be fixed, causing it to provide inaccurate location information.
Check for Software Update
As discussed above, outdated software can be a big reason for the wrong location in your car’s GPS device. Make sure your GPS has the latest software updates.
It can fix bugs causing the device to provide inaccurate location information and add new features to improve accuracy.
You can update the software of your car GPS device by connecting it to a computer or laptop, or you can follow the instruction book of your GPS device. This YouTube link below will help you with the assistance of updating your GPS device software.
Check for Interference
Ensure your GPS device is not close to any electronic devices that can release signals and interfere with GPS signals. If you use your GPS device near a cell phone or a Wi-Fi router, keep them as much away as possible from your device.
Clear Cache and Data
Clearing the cache and data of your car GPS app on your device can also help fix any issues caused by outdated information stored there.
Use A GPS Signal Booster
If the issue is not solved and your device is continuing showing inaccurate location information, you can use an external GPS signal booster. It can help amplify signals from satellites, improving the accuracy of location information determined by your device.
Check for Hardware Issues
If the solution above does not fix the problem, then a hardware error might be causing inaccuracy in your device. Check the device antenna, power sources, and connectors. Make sure that they are all connected and working correctly. Also, check if you have enough battery to power your device.
Final Words
GPS devices are one of the greatest inventions that have been a big help in our daily life to navigate unknown places and have information about them.
All electronic devices face errors for various reasons, but they can be fixed by applying proper solutions and following ethical guidelines.
If your car GPS shows wrong location, it would be best for you to contact the device manufacturer or retailer you purchased the device from to see if the device is still under warranty and get further assistance about fixing it.