Waterproofing Garmin Ique

[JOP]

Hi y'all.

I'm currently fixing up the GS with a better way to mount my Garmin Ique than the tank bag map pocket.
I know some (most) people here considers my choise of hardware to be completely wrong for bike use, but I have my reasons...
Anyway, I WILL use the Ique on my bike, but I need something to protect it from water/insects/vibrations etc.

The obvious choise would be Otterbox Armor-All 3600, but I feel that even though using a GPS is sweet, it could come in handy to actually be able to see the road too...
Also, paying over €100 for a plastic box does feel a bit tough (even if it is as big as a barn door).
The smaller sibling 2600 could be an alternative. I will need to drill a hole and mount an external antenna connector, as the internal antenna must be closed in this (smaller) box. The drawback of that is that such a mod will most likely void the life-time warranty, but I still need to get power in and audio out, so the drill will be out anyway.

The 2600 is priced at a more moderate ~ €60. Now after researching the subject for a week it is starting to feel OK, but that feeling drops whenever I go to a department store and see some food storage/lunch box that goes for ~1€...

As you all gather I am looking for alternatives to the otterbox (no I will not go for the lunch box, not even Tuppereware, as enough people are having fun of my bike as it is) .

The Peli Case is an option. It goes for around 25€, but the functionality cannot compete with the otterbox as far as I can see.

Finally, a few requests for help & inspiration:
1, Can anybody give me a hint on other box options?
2, What could be the best way to mount the box, apart from screwing/glueing a RAM mount ball to it?
3, Has anybody out there any experience of shoving an Ique into an Armor-All 2600 or a Peli Case?

Thanx in adv.
JOP

 

[RAM-man]

JOP,

1, Can anybody give me a hint on other box options?

>>RAM shall introduce a weatherproof pod (case) for GPS and PDA in Spring '05 - so just around the corner. This shall attach onto the RAM diamond base so normal handlebar mount (RAM-B-149 or 149Z) is Ok. I have seen basic pre-release info which shows the case with an inlay for the GPS device. The RAM Pod will be come in 3 sizes.

2, What could be the best way to mount the box, apart from screwing/glueing a RAM mount ball to it?
>> ditto - see above. as far as I know it attaches to the diamond base (so it two screws and no glue).

3, Has anybody out there any experience of shoving an Ique into an (Otterbox) Armor-All 2600 or a Peli Case?
>> The Otterbox often needs their KIT012 bridge and the attach onto the diamond base (RAM-B-238) or if the case has four fixings holes, in this case the RAM round base (RAM-B-202) does the job. Otherwise, if these cases can be drilled with two holes then you can RAM it!.

RAM-man

 

[richie]

Jop, do some searches on here. There are photos available and it has been done with the otterbox and diamond mount.

 

[YoYo]

Too little work again?

 

[JOP]

RAM-man:
This sounds extremely interesting!
Is there any info available on these pods? I cannot find anything on the RAM web page.

YoYo:
Yep. I will sleep when the worms are going three-shift...
Obviously you have the time to surf around on UKGSER during office hours?

 

[half_empty1]

some good info in the links in the thread below, instead of a box mount it on the bike and then stick a waterproof bag over it.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29325&highlight=pda+mount

http://www.thehopstop.co.uk/productlist.php?stock_group=BEAC+N+BAGS

 

[birdseye]

visit the yacht chandlers at a local marina and you will find waterproof heavy plastic bags for use with vhf radios at sea. One of these might work

 

[JOP]

Well, one of my early plans involved some sort of PDA-holder combined with some sort of plastic bag.
But; Now when I'm bringing my little extra-brain out on such adventures I want to make sure she is completely safe and snug as a bug in a rug. That means no water, no insects, no road dirt, no flying debris, no condensation etc... Also, if I bang my tank bag into it while fueling up I might break the delicate connectors, or rip the plastic.
Wit any sort of plastic bag there is always the problem of waterproofing the place where the cables run through. With a regular freezer bag you could use a rubber band, but with an aqua-pac I cant really see a good, safe solution of getting the cables in.
Nope, it's gotta be a hard case of some sort.

JOP

 

[JOP]

AHA!
I'm right now in Taiwan, and will be travelling home via Hong-Kong. It seems that Otterboxes are a lot cheaper there!
Does anybody know of any other "must buys" in HK?
/JOP

 

[(RIP) Geriatric Germ]

AHA!
I'm right now in Taiwan, and will be travelling home via Hong-Kong. It seems that Otterboxes are a lot cheaper there!
Does anybody know of any other "must buys" in HK?
/JOP

JOP, if you find the answer to your IQUE3600 mount box in HK and it is foolproof to use the standard flip up aerial, and it's right cheap. could/would you get me on as well please?as I prefer the IQUE to my new 2610

 

[YoYo]

Does anybody know of any other "must buys" in HK?
/JOP

Rice with fried noodles!

 

[JOP]

rcc54:
Sorry, but what I'm working on now is far from a "drop-in" solution. I will try to get a otterbox armor-all 2600 instead of the 3600 that is recommended for ique. The 3600 is far too bulky IMO.
This means that the antenna must be folded in and I must use an exterior antenna.
This could of course be solved with a reradiating GPS-antenna, but as I still must drill a hole in the box for a audio/power connector, I could might as well drill another hole and mount a coax connector (BNC or similar, the MCX coax on the ique is far too fidgidly to handle on a GS).
I will add a switched power module inside the box to supply the 5VDC, so I can connect the box directly to the supply of the bike.
The audio will in the future be connected to an audio multiplexer that will recieve GPS, Cellphone (via bluetooth), PMR, audio and send to the helmet.
This design will have to wait until the next winter, so for this season I will use the ique for GPS guidance and mp3 with the audio output connected wireless to the helmet (one way only, so no HF for cellphone included in these plans).
/JOP

 

[JOP]

WTF!
Are you online too YoYo?
It seems that my quiet shopping weekend in HK is seriously reduced anyway as I now have to go to Dou Men in China...
/J

 

[Beemer]

JOP, if you find the answer to your IQUE3600 mount box in HK and it is foolproof to use the standard flip up aerial, and it's right cheap. could/would you get me on as well please?as I prefer the IQUE to my new 2610

Have PM'd you Rob.
Cheers

Steve