Quest mount

[nick]

The handlebar mount looks like it has the electrical contacts in place, but I presume no wires....

http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.jsp?sku=010-10507-00

If someone worked out which of the 4 pins did what then it would be simple enough to connect to the battery (using an appropriate accesory socket) and a headphone jack.

Can anyone confirm that the handlebar mount has electrical contacts that could be used.

Is nelsonkite correct that the unit takes a 5v charge? If so, forget my idea!!!

 

[SilentG]

I collected my Ram mount from Steve at the GPS Warehouse today to stick my Garmin Quest on my bike. I bought the clamp to attach to the ignition barrel on my R1100S:

It works but it does obscure some of the instruments, so I also bought another ram ball which I have attached to the top of my lovely technoflex front shock, which doesn't have the p*ss poor pre-load adjustment knob from the standard shock. Don't know if this would work with a standard shock or not:

With the arm and cradle mounted, it looks like this:

I think that this is going to be my preferred mounting option, since it does not obscure the other instrumnts and it doesn't move when I move the handlebars. I have offset the ball slightly to the right so that it does not foul the handlebars when I turn them from lock to lock. With the Quest installed, it's perfectly visible with my tank bag in place too.

Top banana kit, but I still need to rig up a power supply and sound output into my autocom. The Quest's battery should last about 20 hours on a single charge, but I would need the LCD back light on in winter to read it, so a power supply from the bike would be desirable. The cradle does appear to have a cut out to retrofit power and sound cables. I'm pretty sure the cable from the car mount supplied with the unit would work, but that would then leave me with a cigarette lighter plug and not very waterproof (or loud) speaker to accomodate into my bike set-up

As you can see in the image above, the Ram cradle allows you to fold back the antenna completely, unlike the Garmin car mount. That means there is no real need to take the Quest out of the cradle when I get off the bike, but simply remove the cradle and arm with the Quest remaining in situ.

Right, where to go now...

Cheers,

SilentG

 

[yellowwolf]

Is nelsonkite correct that the unit takes a 5v charge? [/B]

yes he is.you need to step down the voltage from the battery.

 

[gavinbell]

voltage...

Ok...so to run the quest on the bike...can you simply butcher the car power cable and attach a bmw plug...

or do you need to use something else to step down the voltage? i am feeling a little confused.

Gavin

 

[nelsonkite]

I used a converter plug from HG - if you butcher the loudspeaker and remove the transformer you will eventually damage the unit.(One of the FAQ's on the Garmin website is 'can I hardwire my unit to 12v- Garmin's response is no - and it will void the Warranty.) t

PS just returned from Spain & Morocco - The performance of the Quest was p. poor. Only manitained satellite lock for about 30% of the trip . CONSTANTLY losing satellite connection...Anyone else had this problem (seems to be OK in UK_)

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

Re: QUEST REVIEW

today!!

"send it back please and we'll repair it" "repair it?" says I "its only 2 weeks old!" "We have to try and repair it first then if the technician says its unrepairable we'll replace it"

So off it goes in the morning - I'll keep you informed

Sherps

As far as I’m aware the sale of goods act states that any thing under 28 days old and is faulty has to replaced with a new item!!! Or full refund. After that they have a reasonable time period to repair, replace with new one or refund you your money (28 days is the reasonable time period set for that too) as far as I know.

So after garmin has said it’s un-repairable you should have had a new one

I stand to be corrected. But I think I’m right

 

[birdseye]

Interesting comment about performance in Spain. My Garmin 76 on the boat had no problem in Spain - the signal strength was much the same as the UK, just as you would expect. And your Quest is listening to the same constellation of satellites in Spain as in the UK. So if it hears them OK in the UK then it should do so in Spain.

You say it seems to work in the UK but have you tried it since you got back? In other words, it hasnt broken on the trip, has it?

Difficult to imagine what problem could only affect it in Spain. Certainly doesnt sound like a design issue, or a machine fault if it works OK here. Were you using some other equipment nearby? Mobile phones, for example, often cause GPS to lose lock because the signal from the GPS satellites is so weak. Were you using personal radios?

 

[Deleted account W]

Interesting comment about performance in Spain. My Garmin 76 on the boat had no problem in Spain

Birdseye you mention being on a boat, were you the Captain of the boat?

If you were that would make you.............

 

[Wellsy]

I've done a side by side test on reception between the 76C and the Quest.
The 76C wins hands down. Ok it was not a lab test and was something I did at home.

I put the units up against the window on the sill at the front of the house and then at the back. The 76C picked up and held reception much faster than the Quest. The Quest sometimes didn't get enough receiption at all.

I sail too and the 76C is excellant and has much better reception over the old 60 which looses reception if it's upside down.

That said, in the car the Quest performs as you would expect.

 

[f4igrad]

I just came across this thread from a link on the ADVrider.com board. I purchased a Quest and want to hardwire it to my Honda F4i (FSport). I have bought a StemStand (American company that sells stands that mount to the center bolt of your steering head) and I will use the included Quest automount attached to the StemStand. What would be the easiest way to hardwire the Quest to my bike? I would like to also be able to use it in my car, so can I modify the auto adapter for use on my bike and my car (just move it back and forth) ? Thanks for the info!

 

[Fanum]

Got my Touratech bracket tonight.....nice little bit of kit....

 

[Fanum]

Nice mechanism, and it's all very nicely made as usual.

 

[Fanum]

There's a cut-out on the back for the USB port and the power/speaker connection, and a couple of plates to screw on to attach it........Nick at Touratech said they were expecting the power cables in this month.

 

[JAY]

I've just bought the Touratech mount too - very impressed with the quality. Wonder how much the new cable will be!!

 

[Les Wassall]

Fanum, which model mount is that one?

 

[ianf]

The MVG one has some rubber bushes on it in addition. It makes it a bit bouncy, but if it stops it getting rattled to death....

I've got the locking one, dunno if I'd trust the lever mechanism on it's own, it seems positive enough but I wonder what'd happen if you hit a pothole.

Great bit of kit though, better once the power lead and contact plate arrives.

 

[The Phantom Pieman]

The MVG one has some rubber bushes on it in addition. It makes it a bit bouncy, but if it stops it getting rattled to death....

I've got the locking one, dunno if I'd trust the lever mechanism on it's own, it seems positive enough but I wonder what'd happen if you hit a pothole.

Great bit of kit though, better once the power lead and contact plate arrives.

Is that the only difference between the std and the MVG?

Or is there more to it than rubber bushing. There is no product information on the site re the differences ... other than the price!

 

[ianf]

It's definitely more than just a rubber bush. There's 3 isolation things bolting the top and bottom plates together.

There's a bolt going through a fat neoprene type donut, then down to the bottom plate. It's isolated on the other side of the bottom plate by a rubber donut as well. It's a different material to the top, presumably to help the dampening.

Here's a piccy:-

 

[Sid]

Just a thought, but having got back from a maiden trip with the Quest on board, the "nice to show yer mates" trip meter showed a max of (ahem) 3 figures - can this be used in evidence against you if you are stopped by a GPS knowledgable occifer?

Fair enough if it shows you 'maybe' might have had the chance to go off to some private property for a blast, but what if your trip was reset 2 minutes ago and Mr Occifer has just followed you for the last 2 minutes? Just thunking (I know I shouldn't!!!) - but could it stand up in court?

 

[The Phantom Pieman]

It's definitely more than just a rubber bush. There's 3 isolation things bolting the top and bottom plates together.

There's a bolt going through a fat neoprene type donut, then down to the bottom plate. It's isolated on the other side of the bottom plate by a rubber donut as well. It's a different material to the top, presumably to help the dampening.

Here's a piccy:-

Erm ... that seems to be very over engineered ... does sit also fire rocket propelled grenades as well. or act as a bullet proof shield ?

Why did you pick that over standard?

Thanks