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Scott Forman

12-24-2008, 06:28
Does a Garmin GPS unit need an external antenna to get a signal inside
a 'Bird? I tried an Audiovox unit once, and it could not get a good
signal through the steel.

What's the word on this?

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

Greg Young

12-24-2008, 07:08
We have a Garmin 7200 with an external antenna. It works a whole lot better with the external antenna plugged in. It would sometimes fail to get a good signal without it, depending on latitude and orientation of the windshield, but with it always nearly instantaneous and lots of satellites. Perhaps some of the newer units have better internal antennae...

Greg
'86 PT 40
Escondido CA
The first duty of love is to listen.
-Paul Tillich
From: Scott Forman <scottforman75@...>
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:28:39 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Garmin GPS-antenna needed???




Does a Garmin GPS unit need an external antenna to get a signal inside

a 'Bird? I tried an Audiovox unit once, and it could not get a good

signal through the steel.



What's the word on this?



Scott Forman

86 PT38

Memphis



Pete Masterson

12-24-2008, 07:19
All GPS units will be affected somewhat by the steel of the coach body. If the GPS is place in the dash board area, then it will see the satellites outside the glass, but may not be able to receive a clear signal from those behind the field of view blocked by the coach body. 
I use an external GPS antenna with a magnetic base placed on the metal housing where the radar detector once was mounted. This is high up on the windshield (behind the dark tint). My GPS usually reports receiving 4 or more satellites with the antenna located there. It is very slow in finding satellites when the external antenna is not used in the coach. Note that I did not have to drill through to mount the antenna outside -- but that would have been the next step, if it was necessary. 
The GPS works OK in my car without the external antenna -- but it sometimes needs to be placed on the dash board to get its initial fix -- then I move it to the console between the seats where it's less likely to slide off onto the floor. (California law does not permit using the suction-cup mount on a windshield.)
I also note that I use an external antenna for my Verizon "Air Card" modem. Usually, I get an acceptable signal with the antenna placed in one of the side windows (inside) -- but sometimes, I must place the antenna outside on the side of the coach. (I just open the window and reach out, sticking the magnetic base to the side of the coach.) In really poor reception areas, I need to place the antenna on the roof.
Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)
El Sobrante CA
"aeonix1@mac.com"
On Dec 24, 2008, at 10:28 AM, Scott Forman wrote:

Does a Garmin GPS unit need an external antenna to get a signal inside 
a 'Bird?  I tried an Audiovox unit once, and it could not get a good 
signal through the steel.  
What's the word on this?
Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

John

12-24-2008, 09:54

I have used my Garmin Nuvi in the bird with no problems.
I sat it on top of the CB in my 83 Fc
Thx
John
----- Original Message -----
From: "scottforman75@gmail.com"
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:28
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Garmin GPS-antenna needed???


Does a Garmin GPS unit need an external antenna to get a signal inside
a 'Bird? I tried an Audiovox unit once, and it could not get a good
signal through the steel.

What's the word on this?

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis


No virus found in this outgoing message
Checked by PC Tools AntiVirus (4.0.0.26 - 10.100.073).
http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/

Leroy Eckert

12-24-2008, 10:11
I stick mine on the windshield if I use it with the supplied suction cup supplied by Garmin.
No issues. Works fine.
Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
Dahlonega, GA
Royale Conversion

--- On Wed, 12/24/08, John wrote:
From: John
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Garmin GPS-antenna needed???
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 4:54 PM




I have used my Garmin Nuvi in the bird with no problems.
I sat it on top of the CB in my 83 Fc
Thx
John
----- Original Message -----
From: "scottforman75@gmail.com"
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008 10:28
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Garmin GPS-antenna needed???


Does a Garmin GPS unit need an external antenna to get a signal inside
a 'Bird? I tried an Audiovox unit once, and it could not get a good
signal through the steel.

What's the word on this?

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis


No virus found in this outgoing message
Checked by PC Tools AntiVirus (4.0.0.26 - 10.100.073).
http://www.pctools. com/free- antivirus/

Jack & Donna Smith

12-24-2008, 12:15
I have used my Garmin Nuvi in our Mercury, my Jeep and the Bird with
no problems. Also use it handheld in the passenger seat when my wife
has to drive.. No problems there either.
Jack Smith
1973FC31
SoCal

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Leroy Eckert
wrote:
>
> I stick mine on the windshield if I use it with the supplied
suction cup supplied by Garmin.
> No issues. Works fine.
> Leroy Eckert
> 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
> Dahlonega, GA
> Royale Conversion
>
> --- On Wed, 12/24/08, John wrote:
> From: John
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Garmin GPS-antenna needed???
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 4:54 PM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I have used my Garmin Nuvi in the bird with no
> problems.
> I sat it on top of the CB in my 83 Fc
>
> Thx
> John
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> Scott
> Forman
> To: WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com
>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 24, 2008
> 10:28
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Garmin
> GPS-antenna needed???
>
>
>
> Does a Garmin GPS unit need an external antenna to get a signal
inside
>
> a 'Bird? I tried an Audiovox unit once, and it could not get a good
>
> signal through the steel.
>
> What's the word on this?
>
> Scott
> Forman
> 86 PT38
> Memphis
>
>
>
> No virus found in this outgoing message
> Checked by PC Tools AntiVirus (4.0.0.26 - 10.100.073).
> http://www.pctools. com/free- antivirus/
>

hippieforever3

12-24-2008, 17:45
It depends.

The newer (2 year old or less) generation of receivers (Sirf III or
equivalent) will work just fine on the dash or any window. The older
generation won't work very well even with an external antenna. But you
can try. You just drape it out any window. The older generation also
usually isn't WAAS enabled and that makes a big difference in the
continental US too.

Ragards,
GPSGary

GARY MINKER

12-28-2008, 02:25
Heavilly metalized mylar film glass or metalized tint glass is fatal to GPS and all other wireless signals. If you are heavilly tinted, that is likely a problem

--- On Wed, 12/24/08, Pete Masterson wrote:
From: Pete Masterson
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Garmin GPS-antenna needed???
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 2:19 PM




All GPS units will be affected somewhat by the steel of the coach body. If the GPS is place in the dash board area, then it will see the satellites outside the glass, but may not be able to receive a clear signal from those behind the field of view blocked by the coach body.

I use an external GPS antenna with a magnetic base placed on the metal housing where the radar detector once was mounted. This is high up on the windshield (behind the dark tint). My GPS usually reports receiving 4 or more satellites with the antenna located there. It is very slow in finding satellites when the external antenna is not used in the coach. Note that I did not have to drill through to mount the antenna outside -- but that would have been the next step, if it was necessary.
The GPS works OK in my car without the external antenna -- but it sometimes needs to be placed on the dash board to get its initial fix --
then I move it to the console between the seats where it's less likely to slide off onto the floor. (California law does not permit using the suction-cup mount on a windshield.)
I also note that I use an external antenna for my Verizon "Air Card" modem. Usually, I get an acceptable signal with the antenna placed in one of the side windows (inside) -- but sometimes, I must place the antenna outside on the side of the coach. (I just open the window and reach out, sticking the magnetic base to the side of the coach.) In really poor reception areas, I need to place the antenna on the roof.
Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)
El Sobrante CA
"aeonix1@mac.com"
On Dec 24, 2008, at 10:28 AM, Scott Forman wrote:

Does a Garmin GPS unit need an external antenna to get a signal inside
a 'Bird? I tried an Audiovox unit once, and it could not get a good
signal through the steel.
What's the word on this?
Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis
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