No GPS symbol

cullinan18 · Jul 19, 2019

I have a 2017 with Sync 3 and Navigation. Sometimes, in the bottom left corner I will see a symbol with a red circle and a line thru GPS. The map follows along with where I am driving, but, apparently, there is an issue with the GPS for that drive. If I turn off the Expy and drive later, it usually works fine without that symbol. This has occurred when I start the car in the garage, on the driveway, or open parking lots. Thanks.

chuck s · Jul 19, 2019

I got curious and fired up the truck. Could see the speaker icon slashed, but no hint of the GPS icon -- but I'm pretty sure I saw an icon of some sort (not the speaker) it months ago and tried to turn it on. Couldn't. Regardless GPS didn't seem any affected.

Don't recall seeing it recently. I'm on the latest version of Sync 3 which I think is "Sync3 3.0."

-- Chuck

16plati · Jul 19, 2019

cullinan18 said:
I have a 2017 with Sync 3 and Navigation. Sometimes, in the bottom left corner I will see a symbol with a red circle and a line thru GPS. The map follows along with where I am driving, but, apparently, there is an issue with the GPS for that drive. If I turn off the Expy and drive later, it usually works fine without that symbol. This has occurred when I start the car in the garage, on the driveway, or open parking lots. Thanks.

Do you know anything about how satellites work with gps? If not, look it up and this question will be answered. It has to do with how many satellites are positioned overhead of your vehicle. It’s normal.

chuck s · Jul 20, 2019

Those days ended years ago when there were few satellites in orbit.

Today there are at least eight (8) satellites visible nearly everywhere on earth at all times. And ya only need 3 (4 for altitude).

-- Chuck

MuddySpokes · Jul 22, 2019

All well and good, but . . .

I downloaded Ford's most recent owner's manual and there was no mention of this in the GPS section. Searched on key words and nothing there either. Will admit that I did not read the manual in its entirety, so it is possible that there is a description of this and I am missing it.

So, this is looking like an unpublished 'feature' where nobody in the user community really knows its purpose.

My vote is to enter a record of it at safercar<dot>gov where it will get more visibility if nobody else is able to find anything about it in the '17 owner's manual.

bobmbx · Jul 22, 2019

Anybody live near a tunnel? Take a drive and see what pops up when the GPS signal is lost.

MuddySpokes · Jul 22, 2019

No change in mine . . . Even when ~75' under water.

Looking forward to whether others see this when they go through a tunnel.

Dorzak · Jul 22, 2019

I got the No GPS icon for a little while this weekend. Don't usually see it.

Trainmaster · Jul 22, 2019

16plati's reply is spot on. It means that the truck's not seeing enough satellites to dependably operate the GPS. The signal can be blocked by clouds, buildings, etc.

MuddySpokes · Jul 23, 2019

Agree with the logic of what that symbol might mean. And at the same time I'd expect to see a description in the owner's manual given that a loss of signal scenario is common, except that the manual is silent. This leaves us guessing as to what the indicator actually means. Maybe it is loss of signal, maybe it is equipment failure, maybe it is software error . . .

No GPS symbol

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