Where To Site Gps Receiver?

[Guest izal47]

I have just ordered the Tomtom3 bluetooth satnav package to run on my pda in the hope of never getting lost in the car again....

I know this is a fairly constant theme but I couldn't see any topic relating to the optimal position for sighting the bluetooth satnav receiver so if any other pda/tomtom owners could tell me the best place to position this I would be most thankfull.

Many thanks

[johnb80]

The TomTom reciever seems to work anywhere in my Gal (I was doing tests with it compared to the installed Clarion unit). The permanently installed unit has its receiver at the left hand side of the dash under the tax disk, it's unobtrusive and hidden from onlookers.

 

Regards - John

[iainkirk]

It probably won't work very well except at the outer edges of the windscreen - the heater elements block the satellite signal.

 

I've got a Viewsonic V35 with a Haicom GPS receiver and am currently running TomTom 2 (waiting for my Version 3 for 49 Euros to arrive).

 

My Pocket PC is mounted on a suction mount flexi-arm on the RHS of the windscreen, at a height such that the bottom entry cable just touches the dashboard on a gentle radius. The Haicom receiver is sitting in the little triangular window on the driver's side, mounted on Velcro pads.

 

I usually get 9ish satellites indicated.

 

Out of interest, I'm also running TrafCam, which is a commercial speed camera gps-based locator.

[johnb80]

It probably won't work very well except at the outer edges of the windscreen - the heater elements block the satellite signal.

 

Out of interest, I'm also running TrafCam, which is a commercial speed camera gps-based locator.

[Guest wolfman62]

I hard wired mine by the rear nearside window, on the shelf above the power sockets. Used the power from the back of the sockets and it is on permanently. I have had no problems with power usage etc and get good reception. I have had a few problems since upgrading to TTN3 from TTN2 though.

[_dg]

On the back of the rear view mirror

[Guest nimrod]

Shame on you stating in public that GPS has saved you points on your license !!!!!

 

Regards - JB

I dont see that as a crime or anything to be ashamed of! I personally run a GPS Gatso location device in all my vehicles

if you consider the fact that the majority of speed cameras are supposedly located in accident black spots or in positions where speeding would be extremly dangerous ie. outside a school. then to be warned of this area in advance and being in a position to take the correct action of slowing down earlier and being more alert to the possible dangers is surely a good idea?

[iainkirk]

Here in Cumbria we have a plague of so-called "Safety Camera Vans", hence advance warning of their regular locations is highly valuable.

 

Don't tell me that you are 100% sure that you drive at or below 32 miles per hour in a 30 limit, 100% of the time, 43 or below in a 40 limit, 54 or below in a 50, 65 or below in a 60 and 76 or below in a 70??? ALL THE TIME, WITHOUT EXCEPTION??? Even when you overtake??? I think not!

 

I drive approximately 50,000 miles per year. I am therefore approximately 5 times more likely to be inadvertantly caught by a money generator than most normal drivers on the road.

 

don't start me off....

[johnb80]

I personally feel that speeding is as bad as drink driving, what makes drivers think they know more about appropriate speeds than the engineers that have loads of data on road conditions, surfaces, locale etc. I whole heartedly am in favour of speed cameras, a local road to me between Gainsborough and Bawtry used to be terrible with maniac speeding. We now have specs camera's fitted and everyone without exception is driving at 50mph. Now I can drive on this road with the appropriate gap to the car in front without some prat overtaking me and invading my stopping distance (275' or 2 seconds). I also feel that estate roads should be down to 20mph. The motorways however should be de-restricted BUT more tickets issued for dangerous driving eg sat on the back bumper of the car in front at 80mph.

For my part yes I stick to the limits, I drive in excess of 40,000 miles per year as an I.T. Consultant and I use the cruise control all of the time to keep to the limit and keep my license, I use my SatNav speed display to make sure the speed is right (amazing how far out the speedo can be).

So far as you being 5 times more likely to get a ticket thats not so UNLESS you exceed the speed limits!

Some people may think I'm a sad old git BUT I don't spend my time watching out for the yellow boxes or the boys in blue behind. Speeding these days simply is not worth it in terms of your license OR in the danger you put yourself or everyone else in.

 

Regards - JB

[Richmond]

I imagine that I break the speed limit as much as anyone, possibly more than most (why else do I have a V6?), although I like to think that I only do so where it's 'safe'. I don't do a very high mileage, and (tempting fate) I've never been nicked (except in Canada, oddly, and I've been ticked off by a copper in New Zealand - nothing here).

 

Nevertheless, I don't think that it's anything to boast about. The fact that we all do it (except perhaps John B80) doesn't make it any less dangerous. I can understand why high mileage drivers use various gizmos to avoid being caught (I would), but they should acknowledge that they are doing so to enable themselves to break the law and drive more dangerously than they should without suffering the consequences, not because they're striking a blow for individual liberty, speed cameras are only there to raise money, blah, blah.

[johnb80]

Nevertheless, I don't think that it's anything to boast about. The fact that we all do it (except perhaps John B80) doesn't make it any less dangerous. I can understand why high mileage drivers use various gizmos to avoid being caught (I would), but they should acknowledge that they are doing so to enable themselves to break the law and drive more dangerously than they should

I'm pretty sure it's just old age setting in B) I've had fast cars in the past and driven them hard, in fact very hard (Broadspeed bullit, Triumph Dolomite Sprint, Caterham 7, Cobra Replica etc), but having been involved from a medical point of view with some RTA's it makes me wonder if it's all worth it. I'm now contented to sit back in my comfy chair, climate control set, CD's playing and let the world rush by.

 

Caio - JB

[MrT]

My TomTom receiver is inside the middle "glovebox" on top of the dashboard just in front of the clock. The plastic lid does not stop the signal and it keeps it out of sight.

[Xenonman]

I have the IPAQ 1940 with Tomtom Bluetooth, I use the double adaptor that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket.

I run 1 wire under the dash, up by the passenger side of the dash then it is pushed in behind the plastic cover, it then goes into the left hand storage box away from prying eyes, the wire is pushed in on the dash in the little groove that is next to the air vent on the dash.

The TT gps receiver works absolutley fine in there, I see some people seem to think that the heated screen stops the GPS signals, totally wrong, maybe on inferior GPS units but not the tomtom GPS.

As for powering the IPAQ, I modified the cradle because the fuse blew on the circuit board inside, dont know why so i removed the board and fitted the adaptor clip that you use to charge the IPAQ with the Mains 5v adaptor, a bit of dremeling the base of the cradle for a neat fit gave me a 5v power input, I then wired the 2nd 5v power lead to the IPAQ much the same way as the GPS, under the dash then up the side, it works fine and is very neat. I wouls be quite happy to attach some pics but im currently in hospital in the internet cafe.