Where to put the GPS antenna?
 

Alright, who has been thru this? I want to hide it so the car doesn't get broken into, where has everyone put their remote mount antenna?

Re: Where to put the GPS antenna?
 

in my old bugeye it was at the between the glass and the dash hardly noticeable

Re: Where to put the GPS antenna?
 

See my concern is that a wise thief might spot it and then break into the car and take the headunit hidden behind the door. I didn't think of this until after I had ordered it, and it arrives on friday. I need to look in my Lexus and see where they put the factory one.

Re: Where to put the GPS antenna?
 

I placed my antenna in under the boot area - lift lid & open up the rear center light hatch - for better GPS reception (fit the antenna on a 60-75mm square metal plate (antenna relies on large gnd plane to work better), then run the wire internally under LHS (in USA) or the seating / carpets / kick panel / squeeze it beside edge of dashboard & then route it to unit - in my case Navman iCN635 (fits good inside the dash meter recess, so it is not to obvious to people from outside).

I worked as Navmans Senior PCB designer for nearly 7 years finished there 2 years ago.

posted some pictures a few years ago on the old site.....

Stephen in New Zealand

Re: Where to put the GPS antenna?
 

I want to install a hidden FM antenna in my car and currently have two top location picks:

1. Inside the trunk lid. As close the the front as possible so that and heavy trunk shutting (I try not to let others close my trunk, the struts are shot and most don't anticipate how heavy it is) doesn't cause too much jarring. Since the lid is fiberglass it shouldn't block the signals too much.

2. Remove the plastic "garnish" piece that sits directly in front of the trunk lid and put the antenna on the inside of it. I haven't seen how much room there is in there though. I've also heard that placing an antenna within 1/4" of a metal "ground plane" is bad for the reception.

Re: Where to put the GPS antenna?
 

In recent Imprezas and Foresters, Subaru places the OEM GPS antenna under the dash, above the instrument cluster. See picture here

http://static.opposedforces.com/epc_...1495086001.png

Near the windshield, is the SVX's dash similarly thin plastic?

If the GPS antenna has a stong magnet, just be sure not to get it close to the gauges (or remove the magnet).

Modern GPS antennas have improved greatly -- they're even able to pick up signals inside a building (if close enough to windows/doors/openings).

Re: Where to put the GPS antenna?
 

Nate-

I have mine in the cowl near the wipers.

Re: Where to put the GPS antenna?
 

Not very good to place it at bottom of window as it is not horizontal (also has a large metal no-go pickup in front - the bonnet).

My Navman is approx 6 years old and uses Sirfstar 2 chipset, hence not very good at picking up signals inside the car (except with sunroof open!!) signal strength was only approx 146-151dB

So my best bet is to place it inside the rear lid.....this non-signal strength is also partly caused by metalic window coatings.....

But with most modern GPS units now using Sirfstar 3 GPS chipsets, they actually now work even by placing external antenna INSIDE glass area, the signal pickup strength is now around 158 - 165dB.

And yes all this came about because of 9/11 requirements for cellphone location within buildings and other "void" areas that Sirfstar 2 could not address.

I now currently work at Rakon Ltd here in NZ - working on the next level of GPS chipsets for the home Femtocell market (which is just starting to take off in various countries around the globe).

Re: Where to put the GPS antenna?
 

I put it on the air mainifold directly behind the radio. I'm gonna post up some pics