GPS Units May 30, 2008, 08:32:40 pm Yahoo Message Number: 93059Heck of a deal going around on a Magellan Maestro 3100 refurbished unit for $99.00, but I'm still "in hate" because with the cab overhang, it's necessary to run the ugly cable all over the place to reach the roof vent. It continues to escape my reasoning why the industry has not produced a WIRELESS antenna. After all, they've been around for a quarter century in many other applications. Question: Anyone have any luck with a GPS by simply sticking the receiver on the w/shield regardless of the overhang?
Re: GPS Units Reply #1 – May 30, 2008, 09:00:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 93060Richard, I used my $150 Tomtom just sitting on the drink console going from Northern California to San Diego and it worked fine.Susan Red 2003 FD
Re: GPS Units Reply #2 – May 30, 2008, 09:05:34 pm Yahoo Message Number: 93061On Sat, 31 May 2008 00:32:37 -0000, "Richard Quirk" wrote these inspiring words:QuoteQuestion: Anyone have any luck with a GPS by simply sticking the receiver on the w/shield regardless of the overhang? Our old Garmin rides on the dash. We have a good signal about 98% of the time. Thick gray clouds cause it to lose signal, not the cab overhang. I am yet to figure how it maintains signal when in my shirt pocket while hiking. I thought I would need an external antenna, but so far I see no need for one. A newer unit might not work as well???Cheers, Don
Re: GPS Units Reply #3 – May 30, 2008, 09:23:56 pm Yahoo Message Number: 93062Quote "Anyone have any luck with a GPS by simply sticking the receiver on the w/shield regardless of the overhang?" RichardRichardI know absolutely ZIP about the Magellan Maestro 3100.However, here's what I know about the Garmin Street Pilot 7200... I use mine, not on the windshield and not on the dash, but sitting down on the top of the engine cover where the cup holders are. With the exception of steep and narrow canyons and heavily forested roads I have NO problem acquiring the satelites and maintaining a route. I've considered a roof mounted antenna but have yet to purchase one.Steve S. Lazy Bones & Jiggs
Re: GPS Units Reply #4 – May 30, 2008, 09:27:51 pm Yahoo Message Number: 93063Richard:I have now experienced over 100,000 miles
Re: GPS Units Reply #5 – May 30, 2008, 10:04:18 pm Yahoo Message Number: 93064"with the cab overhang, it's necessary to run the ugly cable all over the place to reach the roof vent."I'd say try it first and see how well it works. Modern GPSs (which this may or may not be, since it's a refurb) that use the SiRFstar III chipset are pretty sensitive, and can often work satisfactorily on the dash, even with the overhang. If it should turns out that you need an external antenna, you can find a good Gilsson model for under thirty bucks. Its cable is very thin and easily concealed, so it's not particularly hard to run it up to the escape hatch or vent.Andy Baird http://www.andybaird.com/travels/
Re: GPS Units Reply #6 – May 31, 2008, 02:01:22 am Yahoo Message Number: 93073Question: Anyone have any Quoteluck with a GPS by simply sticking the receiver on the w/shield regardless of the overhang? Dear all interested parties, I purchased a Magellan Maestro 4050 with traffic kit and it works just fine stuck to the windshield. I get good reception without a separate antenae even with the overhang on my 26.5 RB. However, I believe in CA it is illegal to have something stuck to your windshield or something dangling from your rear view mirror for that matter. I have never been stopped for the windshield infraction. The bean bag approach on the dash didn't seem to stay in place so I went back to the windshield suction cup.Jakester
Re: GPS Units Reply #7 – May 31, 2008, 10:03:57 am Yahoo Message Number: 93077We have a Dash GPS (new company) that works fine attached to the windshield, inside the cabin, or even inside the house. Only time we have lost signal is driving through the redwoods. We can program the search functions on the computer & WiFi it to the GPS. The speech function is a little primitive - we live
Re: GPS Units Reply #8 – June 02, 2008, 06:55:14 pm Yahoo Message Number: 93134Quote from: Steven E. Holmstrom"We have a Dash GPS (new company) that works fine attached to the windshield, inside the cabin, or even inside the house. Only time we have lost signal is driving through the redwoods." We are currently in Alaska - our Garmin Nuvi 350 has been super, sitting on the dash in the LD - never lost the signal, all the way fm PA to AK, over 6,000 miles driven so far on this trip - we bought, from the Garmin web site, a beanbag-like thingie that we mount it on, so it sits nicely on the dash - and is readily moveable from vehicle to vehicle. Don't know how we managed before got the Nuvi - we've had it almost 2 years. Can't say much for the Sirius radio reception up here, tho.
Another GPS Tale Reply #9 – June 03, 2008, 02:55:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 93163Maybe some will enjoy my experience with setting vehicle to "Bus" as suggested here recently.Traveling through San Francisco, Ms. Garmin knows I can't turn left from Hwy 1 (aka Park Presidio Blvd north of GG Park and 19th Ave south of it). She knows to route me through a series of right turns instead.BUT, if you change vehicle type to "Bus", however, you'll be instructed to make a left turn which is legal for a city bus, but not for a car or RV! As usual, a GPS is a valuable tool, but not an infallible guide. /noel/
Re: GPS Units Reply #10 – June 03, 2008, 10:53:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 93171Richard I had a Garmin 2620 mounted on a beanbag on my dash for 3 years. I lost satellite with it thousands of times. Thankfully it died a couple of weeks ago on a cross country trip. I bought the new Garmin Nuvi 660 which mounts on the dash (not windshield). I have had no lost connections at all with it. Stan
Re: GPS Units Reply #11 – June 03, 2008, 11:38:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 93172There *was* a wireless antenna, or more correctly a wireless GPS signal repeater. It was called the Vertech and cost $70 IIRC. It was removed from the market thanks to the FCC. Those few who bought one early on (me included) lucked out as we get to keep using it. It has an outside antenna and an inside antenna. The inside antenna transmits a weak signal, good for about 15 feet or so, to any GPS units built-in antenna. So you can switch GPS units or use more than one at the same time. Works great. Don't know if any have been sold used on eBay.bumper Yonder"It continues to escape my reasoning why the industry has not produced a WIRELESS antenna. After all, they've been around for a quarter century in many other applications. "
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