problem with quest

[Dazzle]

my quest has developed an antenna problem, Garmin agreed to fix it wheres the problem I hear you ask ?
well they said they may not repair it just replace it with a quest 2 as they have no more quests, is this a step back wards as I remember hearing these were slower not as good as the originals.
whats the low down on the 2

 

[Fanum]

Don't bother- as you say , the Q2 is worse, by a fair margin.

Go to Maplins or use any online GPS supplier and get an external aerial puck- it'll cost you less than a tenner and you can fit it on a flat surface on the bike (mine's on the beak with the wire routed underneath then up to the bars) then just plug it in for use- you'll actually end up with better reception than when the Quest was new.

PS check the plug type- there are a couple of standard ones and they're not interchangeable.

 

[Blue Sweeper]

Yep, as Bill says, don't go for a replacement Q2, get an external antenna, which is what I did.

 

[Dazzle]

It works when the antenna is open fully but has stopped working when at 90' to the unit , so not the end of the world but its only 10 months old so just thought might has well get it done.
cheers I will send advice not to send a 2 just return if can't repair cheers

 

[nick]

You could try fixing it yourself if you are good at soldering!

The connector comes loose on the circuit board inside the antenna - that is why when you change the angle it sometimes works.

The antenna will split in 2 if prised apart carefully.

But, Garmins repair or replace deal is pretty good. I got a replacement Quest 1 for £65 and it was pre-loaded with 2009 maps and a 3 month warranty.

I tried the external antenna, but got fed-up having to keep connecting the external cable and remounting it.

 

[Fanum]

You could try fixing it yourself if you are good at soldering!

The connector comes loose on the circuit board inside the antenna - that is why when you change the angle it sometimes works.

The antenna will split in 2 if prised apart carefully.

I tried the external antenna, but got fed-up having to keep connecting the external cable and remounting it.

There's a thread about that somewhere here actually.....with photees IIRC.

As for the always plugging unplugging bit, there was also a thread with pics from someone who had the same problem, overcome it with a puck aerial but he'd shortened the cable and stuck it on the flappy antenna instead of mounting it separately.....it may be less convenient to slip in a trouser pocket, but it would mean no disconnecting etc, and with a bit of epoxy resin to 'pot' the wire on the back of the unit, a good long term solution
(and would still mount in a ram or similar cradle)