Mounting external GPS Antenna
Submitted: Monday, May 23, 2005 at 14:26
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Glenno
Have just purchased a Garmin G60. Rocking little unit. Also picked up an external antenna with a 5M lead. Dont like the idea of leaving a banana yellow device on my dash.
Just wondering how people went about mounting their external antenna. I was thinking about screwing it onto the top of the Air ram on the
snorkel.
Apparantly the antenna also works through plastic so it could also be mounted inside the Air Ram. It would just be a case of running the cable inside the
snorkel and pop it out of the air box in the engine bay. But not sure if the external antenna can be turned upside down or not.
Anyway just wondering if anyone had ay pictures or instructions of what they did. Any pictures emailed to glenno at glenno dot com would be apreciated.
Thanks heaps.
Glenn.
Reply By: Member - Glenn D (NSW) - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 17:07
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 17:07
How's it going Glenn.
GPS antennas are circularly polarized and have to be able to "see" the satelite consellation. Probably shouldn't mount upside down as polarity would be backward with respect to the sky. Should be mounted with no obstructions ie a clear view of the sky.
Have seen a few mouted on the snorkle ram but with the cable on the outside.
Hope this helps.
Glenn.
AnswerID:
112446
Reply By: Member -Dodger - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 17:37
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 17:37
My garmin external aerial is a small square unit which i mounted in the centre of the bonnett close to the screen. It required a small hole to be drilled in the bonnett then the lead was run through the usual rubber grommets on the firewall and into the GPS.
AnswerID:
112453
Reply By: JohnN - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 17:48
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 17:48
Glenn
Put
mine on a GME stainless mount on bar. Sent photo to email.
cheers
JohnN
AnswerID:
112455
Follow Up By: Glenno - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 18:12
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 18:12
Thanks
John - thats exactly what ill do.
Mine is a "Gilson" brand. Its all sealed so it will work perfectly out front.
Cheers.
Glenno.
FollowupID:
368716
Reply By: erekka - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 18:21
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 18:21
Hi,
I have my work one mounted on the top of the
snorkel and I've never had a problem getting reception.
In the past we've has Sat Phone aerials mounted on the bonnet near the windscreen and have managed to destroy it (but not the windscreen).
Cheers
AnswerID:
112460
Reply By: Member - Mungo Explorer (NSW) - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 20:25
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 20:25
As you seem to have used it already without the antenna, think about whether you actually need it. I have
mine on the inside of the front windscreen and it's never missed a beat anywhere - except on tunnels, dense forests and between very tall buildings where an antenna wouldn't help much either (I think).
AnswerID:
112482
Follow Up By: pjchris - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 21:30
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 21:30
I fiond around the City and in the Pine forests of Mt Gambier that an external antenna is a must. The GPS I have now when used with an external antenna will maintain lock when I drive under the
carpark deck at major shopping centers. One level only though...
I feed my cable out the sunroof and have the antenna just next to the sunroof (It's magnetic).
When I look at the signal strength of the satellites plugging in the active external antenna boosts the signal from all satellites by about 10dB. Most of the time the GPS uses all of the visible satellites for a fix, very rarely does it use 6 from 8 etc.
Peter
FollowupID:
368736
Reply By: Michael Carey - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 20:37
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 20:37
You should be able to get a good enough signal through the windscreen. I mounted my GPSMAP60CS on the front of my dash, and while I ran a cable for an external antenna, I found that I didn't need it!
Check out some pics at :-
http://www.users.on.net/~michaelcarey/pics/hilux/May2005/index2.html
AnswerID:
112485
Reply By: Skinnydog - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 22:48
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 22:48
I just sit my Etrex on the dash with no problems & no holes to drill. Never been lost or needed gps in undercover carparks before as my 4B dont fit.
Skinnydog
AnswerID:
112515
Reply By: Mad Dog (Australia) - Monday, May 23, 2005 at 23:31
Monday, May 23, 2005 at 23:31
Got mine smack bang in the middle of the roof. All it takes is an electric drill to drill the hole and a bit of fifddling with headlining and trim.
AnswerID:
112522
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at 20:22
Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at 20:22
Previously had it on top of the
snorkel - held in place by silastic.
Couldn't be bothered on the new truck - it sits on the dash (magnetic pad). Both positions work fine for me.
AnswerID:
112652
Reply By: Niko - Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at 21:50
Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at 21:50
You can also consider a re-radiating antenna so that your GPS is far more portable and easy enough to use anywhere in the vehicle. If anyone wants a Gilsson antenna, or for that matter a re-radiating antenna, Exploroz sells them both.
AnswerID:
112678