My garmin gps 12 is not acquiring any satellites. Just appears to have one satellite and says it is acquiring and searching the sky?

Take the GPS out of your van to an area with a clear view of the sky. Power the unit on. If the unit is working correctly, then it will acquire the satellites. You can then put the unit back in your van. You may have to reposition the unit to keep the satellite lock.

If the unit does not acquire satellites outside, then the unit is defective.

Hello there,
As GPS units are used, data is gathered which helps them acquire satellites quickly at the start of each use. If a device is used daily it should be able to acquire satellites in a minute or less. Using a GPS device while it is outdoors with a clear view of the entire sky is the ideal condition for acquiring satellites. Please know that there can be several different factors that may cause a GPS unit to not acquire satellites:
If your unit is trying to acquire satellites for the first time, it may take longer than normal to establish an initial position. If the unit is powered on and outdoors with a clear view of the sky this should not take more than 3-5 minutes. If your unit has not been used for an extended period of time (more than a month), it may take 3-5 minutes to acquire satellites. If your unit is indoors, it may not acquire satellites. Even standing next to a window indoors will block a majority of the sky which is needed for a device to locate and lock onto a satellite signal. If you have just finished updating the software in your unit or you have performed a master reset, your unit may take 3-5 minutes to acquire while outdoors as the data that is used to locate satellites may have been erased. If your unit has traveled over 500 miles while turned off or not tracking your travel, it may take 3-5 minutes to acquire even in ideal conditions. If your vehicle has a protective coating on its windshield or electronic devices which interfere with the unit receiving signal, your unit may need an external antenna* in order to acquire satellites. If you suspect this to be an issue, try taking the unit outside of the vehicle with a clear view of the sky for 3-5 minutes so that the unit can acquire satellites. If your unit loses satellites once moved back into your vehicle you will most likely need an external antenna*. If your unit is still having trouble acquiring satellites, please ensure that it has the latest version of operating software by using our WebUpdater program. Once your unit is updated please allow the unit to acquire satellites outdoors in a stationary position with a clear view of the sky.
*Note: Some units may not be compatible with an external antenna. Please check the Compatible Devices tab on the external antenna's page to see if your unit is listed.
Hope this was helpful to you. Goodluck Elect_Comp

No, you do not need to be on a course for it to acquire satellites, however new units sometimes need to be left outside with clear sky view for up to 30 minutes to fully acquire signals.

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• If your unit is trying to acquire satellites for the first time, it may take longer than normal to establish an initial position. If the unit is powered on and outdoors with a clear view of the sky this should not take more than 3-5 minutes.
• If your unit has not been used for an extended period of time (more then a month), it may take 3-5 minutes to acquire satellites.
• If your unit is indoors, it may not acquire satellites. Even standing next to a window indoors will block a majority of the sky which is needed for a device to locate and lock onto a satellite signal.
• If you have just finished updating the software in your unit or you have performed a master reset, your unit may take 3-5 minutes to acquire while outdoors as the data that is used to locate satellites may have been erased.
• If your unit has traveled over 500 miles while turned off or not tracking your travel, it may take 3-5 minutes to acquire even in ideal conditions.
• If your vehicle has a protective coating on its windshield or electronic devices which interfere with the unit receiving signal, your unit may need an external antenna* in order to acquire satellites.
• If you suspect this to be an issue, try taking the unit outside of the vehicle with a clear view of the sky for 3-5 minutes so that the unit can acquire satellites. If your unit loses satellites once moved back into your vehicle you will most likely need an external antenna*.

If your unit is still having trouble acquiring satellites, please ensure that it has the latest version of operating software by using our WebUpdater program. Once your unit is updated please allow the unit to acquire satellites outdoors in a stationary position with a clear view of the sky.
*Note: Some units may not be compatible with an external antenna. Please check the Products tab on the external antenna's page to see if your unit is listed.

Hello there and happy new year
If Your Unit Cannot Acquire Satellite Signals
1. For your Garmin GPS unit to acquire the satellite signals it needs to function properly, the unit must be taken outside, away from mountains, tall buildings and heavy foliage where it can get a clear view of the sky. Keep the unit stationary for several minutes while the GPS unit acquires the necessary satellite signals.It may take several minutes for the unit to locate a good solid signal
2. OK
   
3. Hope this is very helpful please keep me posted on this ok?
   Best regards Michael
   

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• If your unit is trying to acquire satellites for the first time, it may take longer than normal to establish an initial position. If the unit is powered on and outdoors with a clear view of the sky this should not take more than 3-5 minutes.
• If your unit has not been used for an extended period of time (more then a month), it may take 3-5 minutes to acquire satellites.
• If your unit is indoors, it may not acquire satellites. Even standing next to a window indoors will block a majority of the sky which is needed for a device to locate and lock onto a satellite signal.
• If you have just finished updating the software in your unit or you have performed a master reset, your unit may take 3-5 minutes to acquire while outdoors as the data that is used to locate satellites may have been erased.
• If your unit has traveled over 500 miles while turned off or not tracking your travel, it may take 3-5 minutes to acquire even in ideal conditions.
• If your vehicle has a protective coating on its windshield or electronic devices which interfere with the unit receiving signal, your unit may need an external antenna* in order to acquire satellites.
• If you suspect this to be an issue, try taking the unit outside of the vehicle with a clear view of the sky for 3-5 minutes so that the unit can acquire satellites. If your unit loses satellites once moved back into your vehicle you will most likely need an external antenna*.

If your unit is still having trouble acquiring satellites, please ensure that it has the latest version of operating software by using our WebUpdater program. Once your unit is updated please allow the unit to acquire satellites outdoors in a stationary position with a clear view of the sky.

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} make sure you are in view of clear sky, large buildings, trees and even clouds will make it harder to track satellites.

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• If your unit is trying to acquire satellites for the first time, it may take longer than normal to establish an initial position. If the unit is powered on and outdoors with a clear view of the sky this should not take more than 3-5 minutes.
• If your unit has not been used for an extended period of time (more then a month), it may take 3-5 minutes to acquire satellites.
• If your unit is indoors, it may not acquire satellites. Even standing next to a window indoors will block a majority of the sky which is needed for a device to locate and lock onto a satellite signal.
• If you have just finished updating the software in your unit or you have performed a master reset, your unit may take 3-5 minutes to acquire while outdoors as the data that is used to locate satellites may have been erased.
• If your unit has traveled over 500 miles while turned off or not tracking your travel, it may take 3-5 minutes to acquire even in ideal conditions.
• If your vehicle has a protective coating on its windshield or electronic devices which interfere with the unit receiving signal, your unit may need an external antenna* in order to acquire satellites.
• If you suspect this to be an issue, try taking the unit outside of the vehicle with a clear view of the sky for 3-5 minutes so that the unit can acquire satellites. If your unit loses satellites once moved back into your vehicle you will most likely need an external antenna*.

If your unit is still having trouble acquiring satellites, please ensure that it has the latest version of operating software by using our WebUpdater program. Once your unit is updated please allow the unit to acquire satellites outdoors in a stationary position with a clear view of the sky.

Shut off the Receiver...

Press and hold Page + Menu + Power...

Then select "Yes" to erase all user data...

Leave it on with a clear view of the sky without moving for about 30 minutes to acquire the satellites.

The "New Location" fix above brought my GPS 60 back to full operation. I did reload the GPS software from Garmin but the recovery depended on well charged batteries and as above: turn the unit on
press MENU button
scroll to "New Location"
wait 10 minutes for the GPS to recover.