Remote antennas - where have you put yours?

[PanEuropean]

Howard wrote:

"Why do all these BMW navigator things need a remote aerial? I get a perfectly good signal on my SP3 with the little aerial sticking up behind the windscreen."

The SP 26xx family uses a different antenna than the SP III. In an effort to make the GPSR smaller and less obtrusive on a car dashboard, Garmin used a flat antenna that is mounted within the case. This antenna is generally as good as the 'stick-up' antenna on the SP III, but when reception conditions are difficult, it's not quite as good. Hence, many of us are adding aux antennas.

An external antenna on a SP III would also provide a noticeable improvement, but because the SP III does not process and respond to the satellite signals as quickly as the newer models, you often don't notice the loss of satellite reception.

PanEuropean

PS: The little antenna that Mike O has (see photo right above) is, in my opinion, the best one to get. It's really tiny, but really, really powerful. It also has a built-in magnet on the bottom, in case you want to use it on a car - just plop it on the roof and it will stay there. I used the that exact antenna, with the internal magnet holding it on the aircraft roof (against a steel backing plate) for the last two weeks - it stayed put at speeds up to 300 MPH.

 

[PanEuropean]

Ming:

Sorry, I can't answer your questions about antenna cable impedence - I have no idea what the answer is.

I suspect that the problem with poor satellite reception on Greg's 2610 (in the photo comparing the 2610 with the Geko, on page 1) comes from his Touratech mount. For Pete's sake, Touratech covered the entire antenna location of the 2610 with the metal mount! I'm really surprised they screwed that design up, because they are usually pretty careful about thinking things out.

That is the reason I prefer the Garmin mount - it's the only mount that does not obscure the antenna. Below is a photo showing where the antenna is inside a 26xx.

PanEuropean

 

[Ming]

Yes Pan knew the internal antenna was in the top hence the question to Greg about trying it out of the cradle

I personnally have the Bmw item so the cradle is not obscuring the antenna .


will try to source an Mcx crimping tool for princetown (not buying one at over a hundred quid though)

 

[PanEuropean]

Ming:

It will be far cheaper and far easier for you to just take the antenna to any avionics (aircraft electronics) shop, and have them cut the cable and install the new end on it for you.

Not only do avionics shops have the required tools (mil spec, not cheap quality), they have the testing equipment to make sure that the connection is perfect and there are no shorts in it. It shouldn't cost you more than USD 15, tops, to have them shorten the cable for you. Also, you can probably have the choice of a right angle or straight-on connecter, if you ask them. The straight-on connecter would be much easier to remove.

PanEuropean

 

[jimbo]

Low power consumption: 6 to 11 mA (max)

Where does the power supply for these little chaps come from ?

No sign of a battery, no mention of external source. do they draw it down the co-ax ariel cable

 

[DOWNUNDER]

Ming the impedance of RG174 is 50 ohms.

The answer is also in Greg Masters post in the specifications for the antenna:
Output impedance 50 ohms.

Jimbo-The external antenna is powered by the GPS.

Also as I think I said in an earlier post I have done an Avionics Technician course plus a degree in Electronics and would not advise just cutting and shortening the cable and adding a new plug unless you have a reasonable amount of electronic experience.
You need the crimping tool to do the job correctly. The crimping tools are expensive in Australia (and obviously UK) but you can get a (made in Taiwan) model HT301J in Hong Kong/Singapore for about 10 USD.

Here is the type of tool you need - by the way there are super expensive German crimping tools but you do not need to spend the money - the Taiwanese tools are OK. http://www.qintar.com/html/tools/ht-301.htm

If you lived in Australia I could do it for you.

 

[PanEuropean]

Downunder wrote:

...by the way there are super expensive German crimping tools but you do not need to spend the money - the Taiwanese tools are OK...

Yea, sort of like dual sport motorcycles - there are super expensive German ones, but you don't need to spend the money, the Taiwanese ones are OK... Click here: Taiwanese Motorcycles


Just taking the piss out of you, OK, don't take it seriously...

 

[(RIP) willstatt]

Clear line of vision

As I understand it.... GPS preferably needs an unobstructed line of sight between itself and the sats. My GPS V used to struggle a bit if the main sats were behind me... and blocked by my body. Garmin told me the external aireal should be located as high as poss, with widest 'field of view'

My mounting therefore much like Boundless' and since fitting results in perfect reception for 99% of the time.

I'm thinking of upgrading to one of the Quest units... anyone know if they take an external antenna?

Will

 

[PanEuropean]

Willstadt:

Geez, I'm a bit concerned that the bracket for the antenna shown above present a safety hazard to you if you ever hit anything and decelerate suddenly. It's almost as if you have mounted a knife on the aft side of your windshield, pointing right back at you. If you REALLY want to have the antenna that high, perhaps it might be better to put it on top of a mast, located behind you?

 

[(RIP) willstatt]

Don't panic

Blimey Pan... don't worry!

It's only on a soft bit of alloy.... and I'm sure my nose/eyeball/lip/teeth will bend it easily out of the way if I hit it.... unlike the rigid, narrow edge of that vicious perspex screen!

Anyway.... works brilliantly, so at least I'll know where I am when I call the paramedics!!


Will

 

[Charliem]

Willy

You are so old and decrepit that you wouldn't even notice the antenna jobby knocking those wooden teeth of yours out!

Your ever loyal friend

Chas

 

[MiGSel]

Here's where I put the antenna:

But I like MikeO's solution better I must admit

Advantage of mine is that I can remove the antenna quicker if I want to use in in the car.

More info here.

Both solutions only work for a GS Adventure though...

Cheers,
Michel

 

[AndyB]

On top of the beak

Put my antenna on top of the beak, just in front of the oil cooler.
Seemed as good a place as any and is quite unobtrusive. You only notice it if you are looking.

Andrew.

 

[beacon]

I,m seeing if this works!

 

[beacon]

As you can see by the above pic I just use the mag on the base of the antenna to stick it to the tank bag, I have an old fridge magnet in the map pocket to fix it too. If no tank bag then I just stick it to the tank beside the filler cap, seems to work ok! Chris

 

[PanEuropean]

Beacon - one tiny suggestion - try putting the antenna a bit further forward, in the front corner (on either side) of the map pocket. That will reduce the amount of shielding of the antenna that is created by your body.

PanEuropean

 

[beacon]

Thanks for the advice Pan. being an old CBer I tend to put any antenna right in the middle! ground plane and all that, old habits!