Unable to acquire sattelites even in area without obstructions in sky

https://www.sky.com/help/diagnostics/no-satellite-signal/no-satellite-signal-home

try this for Garmin GPSMap 178C

Unable to acquire satellites with a GPSMAP 172/178
There could be a few causes of the device not acquiring satellites. If the device has moved a large distance since the last time it has acquired satellites or has been turned off for longer than a few weeks or months, the device may not be able to acquire the satellites correctly.
The first troubleshooting step is to perform an Auto Locate procedure. This procedure will clear the device's memory of previous satellite information, and try to download new information.
Note: This will not clear any user data like waypoints, routes, and tracks.
To perform the Auto Locate procedure, please follow these steps:

1. Start with the device powered OFF
2. Press and hold the Page button and Power ON the device
3. Continue to hold both the Page and Power button until the I Agree button is highlighted in the lower right corner of the screen
4. Press the Enter button

The device should now switch to the GPS satellite screen. Leave the device in clear view of the sky for at least 10-20 minutes to acquire satellites. If the device acquires the satellites before 20 minutes, the device can be used or powered off.
If the Auto Locate procedure does not correct the issue, the next step is to update the internal operating software of the device to the latest version. Please refer to the related FAQ for more information.

Make sure to flip your antenna horizontally or 90 degrees and not vertically or 180 dgrees. I see to many people try to use their older nuvi this way and it does not function well.
Try also updating your unit with the latest firmware from Garmin, this helps sometimes.
You may have moved to a location that is far away from the last location your Garmin nuvi 350 was last use, try to keep your unit on for 30 minutes or more to see if it will acquire GPS sattelites.
Last, certain vehicles have shielded windshields and GPS does not work well with these windshield, this can be eaisly verify by simply taking your nuvi 350 out of your vehicle and turn it on with a clear view to the sky, if that still does not work, it could be a defective GPS receiver or GPS connection in which case you should consider sending it in to Auto Nav 2000 Plus, Inc in San Jose CA or Garmin.
You may also consider replacing your nuvi 350 with a newer model nuvi with fresher map.

Good luck

Try moving your GPS to another location that is more accessable to the sky. You might want to take it out of the card and turn it on while standing outside the car and holding the GPS by hand. This will give you a better un-obstructed path to the sky. If this solves your problem then the location you are using in the card needs to be changed. Good Luck.

When you change geographical locations with any GPS it will take a lot longer for the GPS to acquire the sattelites. Hold the GPS out in an unobstructed area and switch it on. Be patient it will acqurie the signals if it was working before you left home.

My eMap was doing the same thing. Try putting in fresh batteries and make sure you are in a good reception area. While turning the eMap on, hold the on button and the ESC button at the same time until the system is on. It will ask if you want to reset. I opted for yes. My eMap started working again!

Regardless of which GPS unit you use, finding sufficient satellites can be difficult if you are working in an area with trees/mountains/hills or other obstacles. Here are some suggestions to locking onto satellites:

1.) Mission Planning. If you think you're going to be working in a tricky area, but sure to check mission planning. This software allows you to input a location and obstacles, and gives you the times when satellites will be best.

2.) Wait. It takes the GPS units varying amounts of time to "find" satellites, but if satellites are visible, the unit should lock on within 5 minutes.

3.) Move. If possible, move into an area that has a clearer view of the sky.

4.) Face south. This is especially important if you are using the GeoXT. Turn the GPS antenna so that it is facing the southern sky. The majority of satellites have their orbit so that they appear in our southern sky. There are also satellites in the east and west, and almost no satellites to the north.

5.) Rotate around. If facing south doesn't work, slowly rotate the GPS around 360 degrees.

Hello ebadaloni,

In order for your GPS to pick up satellites it needs a clear view of the sky. Obstructions such as tall buildings, trees and local terrain such as mountains and hills can affect your receiver's ability to "see" the sky. This is also true of GPS's used indoors or inside of a vehicle.

A GPS receiver without a clear view of the sky can take a long time to get a fix on its own location. The process can also take additional time if the GPS has been powered off for an extended period of time or if you have traveled a long distance (greater then 500 miles) since it was last turned on.

If the GPS is taking longer then five minutes to achieve a satellite lock when used outdoors in a clear area this could be a sign that the GPS needs service. If you are using the GPS indoors or inside of a vehicle with no external antenna then the GPS could take a long time to acquire a satellite lock or could fail to achieve a lock.

Hope this helps!
Ken
"Go Ahead. Use Us."

Hello balander,

In order for your GPS to calculate its own location, it needs to receive data reports from four or more GPS satellites. In order to receive these signals, the receiver must have a clear view of the sky. The GPS may be unable to receive these satellites if it is used indoors, inside of a vehicle (without an external antenna) or is around obstructions such as tall buildings, trees and local terrain such as mountains and hills.

I’d recommend that you try operating the GPS outdoors in a clear area away from obstructions. Turn the GPS on and allow up to five minutes for it to acquire satellites and get a “lock” on its current location. If it isn’t able to do this then your GPS or the antenna may be damaged and in need of service.

Best Regards,
Ken
"Go Ahead. Use Us."

place the GPS outside with a clear 360 degree view of sky or as much of the horizon as possible and leave it for a few hours it needs to download the almanac from all satellites before doing this

from the Acquiring Satellite page press menu and make sure that the topline of the menu reads "Use With GPS off" if it reads "Use With GPS on" (this means it will not find any SAT's ie for indoor use) press enter to turn the GPS Receiver on