GPS in the SVX

[Chicane]

Hey all. I sorta acquired a Garmin GPS III plus to play with for a while, but I've found something weird. What exactly, in the hell is in our windshields?! The little handheld GPS unit could be dashmounted, which would be sweet, but it gets REALLY poor reception, often losing where it is. If I open the sunroof, and hold it in that area, it gets GREAT reception. In my moms focus, I sat it on the dash and it also got great reception.

If I recall correctly our SVXs cannot use that iPass system for tollway roads, because of something funky in the glass. What is it?

BTW, autoPC users, how is your reception???

- Rob

If I remember correctly it was posted that our windshields have some sort of titanium oxide coating. I think it has something to do with the tinting. I know that my E-Z pass doesnt work in my car, I had to get a plate mounted version. In that thread I remember some people saying that their GPS and digital compass dont work very well either. Hope that helps.

Hey Rob,

There are also about 1/2 million posts about trouble with radar detectors in the car as well. Titanium seems to be the answer.

Your arm is gonna get tired holding that thing up to the sunroof.


Randy ii

ps: Can you lose a GPS?

[Landshark]

i had to mount my AutoPC GPS antenna on the rear deck - no worky on the dash. not as easy for a Garmin-type device.

as a bonus, no warped/cracked dashes and faded leather in our cars.

[Mr. Pockets]

Rob, I have a Magellan GPS receiver in my SVX. When it was using its own antenna, reception was hit or miss. For some reason, it didn't work at all at night. As soon as the sun went down, no more signal at all.

I bought an active antenna and mounted it in the trunk. It's a 'covert' type that's very flat and fits inside the trunk lid's carpet-trim piece. I used some velcro tape to stick it on.

It works great. The antenna was about $20 on eBay. Make sure you know what kind of connector is on your GPS - of course every brand uses a different type.

[Chicane]

I'm going to go snap a pic of it, it looks AWESOME. I'm going to mount it right on teh steering column. It partially blocks the 'info bar' of warning lights, but I'm sure I'll see that stuff somehow. Plus its only a velcro mount, so I can always take it off. But the colors match! SHIBBY!

- Rob

PS: Yeah, I can get an external antenna for it.

PPS: Stupid windshield. Why did they coat it with titanium??!?!

[Ron Mummert]

PPS: Stupid windshield. Why did they coat it with titanium??!?! [/B][/QUOTE]



Because cast iron would have blocked vision as well.

Ron (Heavy metal fan).

[ensteele]

Rob

Why?

Originally posted by Landshark
... as a bonus, no warped/cracked dashes and faded leather in our cars.

I just use an external antenna and that takes care of the poor reception.

Maybe it's from the metal plates deep inside our heads?

[Chicane]

Check it out.

Sweet lookin eh?

- Rob

mean mounting location

i should post a picture of my "electronics cluster" aroudn the shifter..

sony minidisc recorder, cellphone, CB radio, power strip, battery indicator LED's, radar detector (which, btw, works GREAT through my windshield.. maybe i have an aftermarket unit?)

-adam

[ensteele]

My radar detector seems to work ok too. It isn't quite as sensitive as in my other rigs, but it does work ok. One of them works better in the SVX than another one I have.

[Subafreak]

So it won't work through the windsheild but the antenna will work though the trunk? I'll admit my radar detecter is pretty much for looks, it only goes off when the cop is right in front of me. I got a free GPS from Napa it's preety cool and works well through the windsheild of the Loyal. I got it in an old cell phone holder and it's good for not getting compleatly lost in the woods plus it has an accurate speedo in it. The 31 inch tires throw the speedo of by exactly 15MPH, so when i'm doing 65mph it's really 80mph.