GPS External Antenna Routing?

Boston Mangler · 08-26-05, 12:47 PM

Hey Guys

Curious for those of you running external antennas on the GPS's in your rig, how you routed the wire?

I want to mount the antenna between the windshield and the sunroof, on top of the rig

It appears there is enough play in the sunroof seal that it should work fine.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Beowulf · 08-26-05, 01:25 PM

My external GPS antenna is on the cowl between the rear of the hood and the windshield. It is a mag mount and sits between the wipers. The cable goes down through one of the louvers, along underneath the cowl, and into the cabin through the firewall on the PS, then to the glove box which is were the GPS receiver stays. The GPS receiver is Bluetooth so no cable is needed to the PDA/laptop.

-B-

Boston Mangler · 08-26-05, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beowulf

The GPS receiver is Bluetooth so no cable is needed to the PDA/laptop.

-B-

SLICK! Which unit is it?

Beowulf · 08-26-05, 02:11 PM

Holux GPSlim 236. It has the new SiRF-III chipset. We threw it in the glovebox of my wife's car without the external antenna and took a 2,000 mile trip. The thing worked great.

-B-

Boston Mangler · 08-26-05, 02:15 PM

Very Cool!

Anyone running any sort of cable out of the sunroof with no ill effect? There appears to be plenty of play in the large seal to have the cable go through and it still appears to seal good, i am just wondering how it works in the long term.

Thanks
Kevin

TX_TLC · 08-26-05, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boston Mangler

Very Cool!

Anyone running any sort of cable out of the sunroof with no ill effect? There appears to be plenty of play in the large seal to have the cable go through and it still appears to seal good, i am just wondering how it works in the long term.

Thanks
Kevin

Personally I would opt for a cleaner install that just running out the sunroof.

You might look in the "Outfitting" section for some more ideas.

Boston Mangler · 08-26-05, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX_TLC

Personally I would opt for a cleaner install that just running out the sunroof..

Yeah, me too, that is why i am looking for ideas!

Thanks

Rich · 08-26-05, 06:58 PM

Why not just mount on the windshield down low by the dash. No wiring to run external. That is where mine is, and I never lose lock on satellites.

elmariachi · 08-26-05, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boston Mangler

Curious for those of you running external antennas on the GPS's in your rig, how you routed the wire?

If Kaderabek hasn't changed it, my old truck had the antenna mounted with silicone glue on top of the snorkle. I ran the wire down the inside of the snorkle, through the aircleaner and into the truck through the firewall.

MoJ · 08-26-05, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Why not just mount on the windshield down low by the dash. No wiring to run external. That is where mine is, and I never lose lock on satellites.

Agreed. Why not mount it on the inside?

RWD · 08-26-05, 07:50 PM

I did what Rich did and it works great. I used a piece of velcro to hold in place.

reffug · 08-27-05, 02:08 AM

My antenna is mounted on the top of the snorkel as well. Wire is run through the snork, in through the firewall, up the A pillar PS and then through between head liner and roof until coming out to unit which is seated right where you are talking about.

-B- bluetooth for your GPS????

To fawkin cool dude.

Can't wait for you to lift up pristine's skirt so that all of us pervs can oggle her.

Boston Mangler · 08-27-05, 07:43 AM

I saw that snorkel antenna mount on slees site and thought it was VERY slick, however, i dont have a snorkel

Boston Mangler · 08-27-05, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoJ

Agreed. Why not mount it on the inside?

Inside is already going to be cluttered enough. Got a friend that runs one external and it locks ultra fast and NEVER loses lock!

sandcruiser · 08-27-05, 10:33 AM

we mounted our garmin antenna on the dash w/magnet mounts... right between the defogg vents. Worked really well and was untheivable and out of the elements. Also very easy to mount.

Once in a great while we would lose lock, but it was pretty rare.

norcal '99 · 08-27-05, 12:42 PM

How about a bulkhead mount antenna? It means drilling a hole and a permanent installation, but that could be a good thing. If you do a good job I don't think it would affect resale value.

If you are using a laptop with your gps you can get a bulkhead mount gps receiver .

sandcruiser · 08-29-05, 08:17 AM

And speaking of antennae... I broke the connector off of my Garmin antenna wire. At the gps end. Anyone out there know what i need to do to fix it? Is this something I can do myself or do I need special equipment. And what sort of connector do I need to order (I may have lost the doodad).

Looks like a very small coaxial 90* elbow. If that helps any!

Thanks

Rich · 08-29-05, 08:46 PM

Sandy, which model Garmin?

CDN_Cruiser · 08-31-05, 06:26 PM

Mine is in the same place as Beow's - with a bead of silicone around the edge. The wire drops into the engine compartment, then DS firewall and inside dash to centre console area

Cheers, Hugh

Kofoed · 09-01-05, 11:10 AM

Sandy, most garmins with the detachable antennae use a BNC style connector. If it is broken off in the unit, best send it back for repair.

08-26-05, 12:47 PM	#1
Boston Mangler IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Diego TLCA# 9060 Posts: 3,585	GPS External Antenna Routing? Hey Guys Curious for those of you running external antennas on the GPS's in your rig, how you routed the wire? I want to mount the antenna between the windshield and the sunroof, on top of the rig It appears there is enough play in the sunroof seal that it should work fine. Any ideas? Thanks __________________ Baja Overland www.bajaoverland.com 2006 XR650L TLCA #9060 Own a Land Cruiser? Join TLCA Today @ www.tlca.org

08-26-05, 01:25 PM	#2
Beowulf The quick brown fox ..... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somewhere in the foothills... Posts: 10,217	My external GPS antenna is on the cowl between the rear of the hood and the windshield. It is a mag mount and sits between the wipers. The cable goes down through one of the louvers, along underneath the cowl, and into the cabin through the firewall on the PS, then to the glove box which is were the GPS receiver stays. The GPS receiver is Bluetooth so no cable is needed to the PDA/laptop. -B- __________________ 97 FZJ80 - Wing Nut MAF, locked, 315 Toyos, 4.88s, Slee 4", George's sliders, Slee bumpers, M12000, OBA, Outback drawers + other stuff. Transformation in progress... Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere. And sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.

08-26-05, 02:11 PM	#4
Beowulf The quick brown fox ..... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Somewhere in the foothills... Posts: 10,217	Holux GPSlim 236. It has the new SiRF-III chipset. We threw it in the glovebox of my wife's car without the external antenna and took a 2,000 mile trip. The thing worked great. -B- __________________ 97 FZJ80 - Wing Nut MAF, locked, 315 Toyos, 4.88s, Slee 4", George's sliders, Slee bumpers, M12000, OBA, Outback drawers + other stuff. Transformation in progress... Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere. And sometimes in the middle of nowhere, you find yourself.

08-26-05, 02:15 PM	#5
Boston Mangler IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Diego TLCA# 9060 Posts: 3,585	Very Cool! Anyone running any sort of cable out of the sunroof with no ill effect? There appears to be plenty of play in the large seal to have the cable go through and it still appears to seal good, i am just wondering how it works in the long term. Thanks Kevin __________________ Baja Overland www.bajaoverland.com 2006 XR650L TLCA #9060 Own a Land Cruiser? Join TLCA Today @ www.tlca.org

08-26-05, 07:50 PM	#11
RWD IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: south burbs of Chicago Posts: 128	I did what Rich did and it works great. I used a piece of velcro to hold in place. __________________ 97 LX 450 stock 93 T 100

08-26-05, 06:58 PM	#8
Rich IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,810	Why not just mount on the windshield down low by the dash. No wiring to run external. That is where mine is, and I never lose lock on satellites.

08-27-05, 02:08 AM	#12
reffug grown up MOD Join Date: May 2004 Location: 'in dat der briar patch' TLCA# 14549 Posts: 4,133	My antenna is mounted on the top of the snorkel as well. Wire is run through the snork, in through the firewall, up the A pillar PS and then through between head liner and roof until coming out to unit which is seated right where you are talking about. -B- bluetooth for your GPS???? To fawkin cool dude. Can't wait for you to lift up pristine's skirt so that all of us pervs can oggle her. __________________ "If it wasn't a Landcruiser and hadn't been built the way it was you do realize you would be DEAD." VA State Police Officer

08-27-05, 07:43 AM	#13
Boston Mangler IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Diego TLCA# 9060 Posts: 3,585	I saw that snorkel antenna mount on slees site and thought it was VERY slick, however, i dont have a snorkel __________________ Baja Overland www.bajaoverland.com 2006 XR650L TLCA #9060 Own a Land Cruiser? Join TLCA Today @ www.tlca.org

08-27-05, 10:33 AM	#15
sandcruiser IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tamarindo, Costa Rica Posts: 1,831	we mounted our garmin antenna on the dash w/magnet mounts... right between the defogg vents. Worked really well and was untheivable and out of the elements. Also very easy to mount. Once in a great while we would lose lock, but it was pretty rare. __________________ 91 fj80 w/ 93 1HD-T. OME 850/860 w/ 1" front spacer, LEDs, HIRs, Hankook MT's 31x10.50r15, Tuffy center, ARB rear locker (in progress), in garage: lightforce lights, full rack, superwinch X9, maggiolina tent, hella horns. WTB: Tan DS mirror & housing '88 HJ60, "Louie" For Sale in Costa Rica.

08-27-05, 12:42 PM	#16
norcal '99 IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 25	Bulkhead mount? How about a bulkhead mount antenna? It means drilling a hole and a permanent installation, but that could be a good thing. If you do a good job I don't think it would affect resale value. If you are using a laptop with your gps you can get a bulkhead mount gps receiver .

08-29-05, 08:17 AM	#17
sandcruiser IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tamarindo, Costa Rica Posts: 1,831	And speaking of antennae... I broke the connector off of my Garmin antenna wire. At the gps end. Anyone out there know what i need to do to fix it? Is this something I can do myself or do I need special equipment. And what sort of connector do I need to order (I may have lost the doodad). Looks like a very small coaxial 90* elbow. If that helps any! Thanks __________________ 91 fj80 w/ 93 1HD-T. OME 850/860 w/ 1" front spacer, LEDs, HIRs, Hankook MT's 31x10.50r15, Tuffy center, ARB rear locker (in progress), in garage: lightforce lights, full rack, superwinch X9, maggiolina tent, hella horns. WTB: Tan DS mirror & housing '88 HJ60, "Louie" For Sale in Costa Rica.

08-29-05, 08:46 PM	#18
Rich IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,810	Sandy, which model Garmin?

08-31-05, 06:26 PM	#19
CDN_Cruiser IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,133	Mine is in the same place as Beow's - with a bead of silicone around the edge. The wire drops into the engine compartment, then DS firewall and inside dash to centre console area Cheers, Hugh __________________ 97LX450 OME 'regular' kit, Milford barrier, Slee harness, Slee 'rods', side markers, GPS w external antenna, custom 12V plug system, custom 1/2 drawer and custom drink holder. FT-857 HF/VHF/UHF Radio and ATAS-120 antenna

09-01-05, 11:10 AM	#20
Kofoed IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 366	Sandy, most garmins with the detachable antennae use a BNC style connector. If it is broken off in the unit, best send it back for repair.

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