[cyberhusky]

company's GPS cellphone failed

If I remember correctly GPS in mobile phones aren't true GPS but do need a special GPS signal send by the provider. As cellphone already have problems sending/receiving signals in buildings, their GPS module does have the problems too.

My SysOnChip BT GPS which I use with my SE P900/Route 66 mobile phoen and my iBook (Route 66 / GPSNavX) does acquire the GPS signal very fast. Even if the GPS is placed in my backpack or behind the front window of my car. Today the front windows in cars do often have a sun ray protection film which makes it difficult for GPS signals to access the receiver. I noticed this with Garmin/ Magellan GPS but GPS mice or BT GPS often don't have this problem. OTOH the GPS mice I used do have the new SIRF III chip whereas the Garmin / Magellan GPS do have their own chips. SIRF III is specially developped for urban GPS devices.

But to be on the secure side when sailing I always use my 2 Garmin GPS (12 and 72) connected to my iBook (GPSNavX) or Psion 5 MX Pro PDA (RealMaps). This way if either computer fails I still have a functional GPS. All GPS mice don't have their own display and are only usefull with a computer/AIS/DSC controller conencted!